All this week's cinema releases reviewed

Arthur Christmas – 4/5

In short:
It's Christmas night, and the world's most precision-engineered operation is about to take place. Santa Claus (voiced by Jim Broadbent) is aided by a team of eager elves as he delivers millions of presents around the world. It's high-tech stuff, and computer whiz Steve Christmas (voiced by Hugh Laurie) is the man behind the smooth execution of the age-old tradition. Steve's younger brother, Arthur (voiced by James McAvoy), is just happy that it's Christmas. From his comfortable back seat, he seems to be the only one concerned when one little girl fails to get her present. Teaming up with Grandsanta (voiced by Bill Nighy) and Bryony the elf (voiced by Ashley Jenssn), Arthur heads off to make it right: in the vintage model, reindeer-powered sleigh.

What we think:
A great film with sackfuls of nods and winks to festive favourites from our youth, 'Arthur Christmas' is almost perfect.

The word out there:
Empire: A great, big joy. Even if you’re a bit bah humbug, just delight in the supremely clever Aardman comedy.
MovieVortex: Totally clued and plugged into to gadget generation, it’s sure to be a massive Christmas hit for years to come.
Total Film: There are plenty of ho-ho-hos here, most of them coming from Ashley Jensen’s helium-voiced elf Bryony. But there’s definitely something missing, and we don’t just mean the plasticine...
TimeOut: What makes this festive fantasy engaging is the savvy way in which it debunks cold efficiency in favour of more wholesome values. It’s just a pity Arthur himself is so bland.

Release date: 11 November
Runtime: 97 mins
Rating: U

[See also: 'Arthur Christmas' clips and pics]

Immortals – 2/5

In short:
King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) and his savage band of warriors are scything their way through ancient Greece in a search for the Epirus Bow, a weapon of unimaginable power that will make the evil king an unstoppable force. The location of the weapon is a closely guarded secret, but Hyperion knows that the Oracle Phaedra (Freida Pinto) can act as a guide, and sets about finding her. The Gods can watch on but are forbidden from interfering in the affairs of Man, a rule that Zeus (Luke Evans) is intent on enforcing. So it is left to lowly peasant Theseus (Henry Cavill) to stop the carnage: and help is at hand from an unlikely source. Just as well when the fate of humankind hangs in the balance.

What we think:
Arguably the most appealing thing about this movie is in the way it allays fears over the casting of Henry Cavill as the new 'Superman'. And the fact that we'd rather be talking about a film that is over a year away should tell you all you need to know about 'Immortals'.

The word out there:
Empire: It won’t do anything to win over those not already partial to Tarsem’s style, but it has more than enough blood, guts and glamour to satisfy – and Cavill looks like a superman.
IndieLondon: Quite simply put, the director seems to have fallen so in love with his visual style that he neglects the notion of the need for a coherent screenplay or the idea that actors should be allowed to act.
The Telegraph: Tarsem’s full-blooded enjoyment of kitsch has a kicky resonance — next to the nervous corporate sheen of so much multiplex product, it’s a misfit with guts and soul.
Time Out: The dialogue is dire, vacillating between blunt heroic declarations – ‘Fight for honour! Fight for your future!’ – and clunky cod-Homeric poetry.

Release date: 11 November
Runtime: 111 mins
Rating: 15

[See also: 'Snow White and the Huntsman' gallery]

The Rum Diary – 2.5/5

In short:
Eager to escape the confines of Eisenhower-era America, journalist Paul Kemp (Depp) flies to Puerto Rico to take a job at ailing local paper the San Juan Star. There, the printers are rioting in protest at their low pay and the staff are mostly rum-soaked losers. Kemp is little different. He soon befriends affable journo Sala (Michael Rispoli) and falls headlong into the booze-fuelled lifestyle of the sunny island. Things are complicated when local property investor Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart) offers to bring Kemp in on a huge deal and Kemp is torn between the ethics and the money; he's also very distracted by Sanderson's fiancée Chenault (Amber Heard).

What we think:
Though it fails to live up to the billing of the huge wealth of talent involved in it's production, 'The Rum Diary' offers a few laughs and some neat glimpses into the genesis of gonzo journalism, as well as a rare chance to see retired 'Withnail & I' director Bruce Robinson back in action.

The word out there:
Empire: A fitting tribute to Hunter and the demise of the American Dream, but first and foremost a thrilling and funny snapshot of a country on its knees and a writer finding his feet.
Total Film: Full of affection for the late Dr T, this droll if bitty frolic is destined to form a triple bill someday with Fear And Loathing and Where The Buffalo Roam.
TimeOut: It’s funny as hell in places and touchingly warm. But, like Thompson without gonzo, ‘The Rum Diary’ is directionless and a little lacking in tone.
The Telegraph: Bruce Robinson’s adaptation of a long-lost Hunter S Thompson novel, starring Johnny Depp, is distressingly turgid.

Release date: 11 November
Runtime: 119 mins
Rating: 15

[See also: A-list films that flopped]

The Awakening – 3/5

In short: It's 1921, and England is still reeling from the tragic losses suffered during the First World War. In this troubled time, Florence Cathcart (Rebecca Hall) is angered by the rise of mysticism, which she sees as cashing in on people's grief. She dedicates her time to debunking imposters, and does so rather well, until she is confronted with a ghostly presence haunting a school building deep in the English countryside.

What we think: A high-calibre chiller, 'The Awakening' oozes atmosphere and boasts a fantastic central performance from Rebecca Hall. Sadly the great work establishing this suitably creepy tale unravels somewhat in its corny conclusion.

The word out there:
DIY: The elaborate twist will annoy plenty, but at least it gives this finely-shot hokum a decent, entertaining send-off after two hours without a single shiver.
Total Film: Creepy, jumpy, if somewhat samey, it’s set above the spooker norm by its strong visuals, grief-steeped period setting and lingering ambiguity.
TimeOut: A ridiculous revelation and a redundant sexual assault undercut all good sense, as fierce rationality gives way to absurd contrivance and hysteria.
WhatCulture: For a slow burning but consistently chilling horror, which manages to be scary, erotic, intellectually and emotionally engaging you wont find anything coming out at the moment that is quite as satisfying as The Awakening.

Release date: 11 November
Runtime: 107 mins
Rating: 15

[See also: World exclusive 'Harry Potter' behind-the-scenes clip]

Wuthering Heights – 4/5

In short:
Deep in the Yorkshire moors, Mr. Earnshaw (Paul Hilton) has brought a new family member into his home. Heathcliff (Solomon Glave) is a homeless boy from a far-flung part of the British Empire. His English is shaky, but Heathcliff soon work out his place in the family. He is instantly opposed to oldest son Hindley (Lee Shaw) who resents the attention afforded to the new arrival. In contrast, his sister Catherine Earnshaw (Shannon Beer) is a kindred spirit. Together they roam the moors, exploring, growing, and falling in love. But the two will soon be separated, both metaphorically and physically. When the fully-grown Heathcliff (James Howson) and Catherine (Kaya Scodelario) meet again, their love no longer promises the universe. Instead it brings only bitterness, and grave misfortune.

What we think:
Andrea Arnold seizes her classic source material from the pen of Emily Bronte and carves her own raw, intense story from it. Every single scene in this film is an assault on the senses, and we don't expect anyone in the audience to survive. This is visual storytelling at its most potent.

The word out there:
Empire: An astonishing-looking adaptation that captures the setting of the book, and its darkness, wonderfully, but goes too far towards edgy in its quest to avoid the usual literary clichés.
Total Film: Forget Kate Bush’s flailing gothic fancies – Arnold’s lit-pic embraces the novel’s rough-hewn core and emotional cataclysms head on.
TimeOut: By the end, you feel as shut off from this world as Heathcliff, a stranger in his own story. It’s a smart approach – but not fully satisfying to share.
MovieVortex: Arnold gives a wildly refreshing revival of an old classic with a raw and poignant twist that makes a little more sense to a contemporary audience.

Release date: 11 November 
Runtime: 128 mins
Rating: 15