'The Hobbit' is enjoyable, but more lightweight than the original 'Rings' trilogy, while 'Lay the Favorite' is a rare misfire for a great director.
'Hyde Park on Hudson' is an aimless period piece, while 'Playing for Keeps' is a cliched romantic sports comedy.
'Killing Them Softly' is a cynical but clever crime picture as political allegory, while Chile's 'Young and Wild' tries too hard to be controversial.
Ang Lee's 'Life of Pi' is a visual and narrative marvel, while 'Rust and Bone' features strong performances, 'Hitchcock' is light and amusing if not revelatory and 'Red Dawn' is a disaster.
'Silver Linings Playbook' is an energetic, off-the-wall romantic comedy, while 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2' is better than its predecessors and 'Anna Karenina' favors style over substance.
'Lincoln' is Spielberg's best film in seven years and 'Skyfall' marks a triumphant return for James Bond.
'Flight' marks a return to form for Washington and Zemeckis, while 'The Man with the Iron Fists' is a moderately amusing, but mostly forgettable kung fu film.
'Cloud Atlas' shoots for the moon and makes it halfway, but 'The Loneliest Planet' and 'Chasing Mavericks' are just average.
'Paranormal Activity 4' is the last gasp of the found footage genre, while 'The Sessions' features great performances and 'Holy Motors' is a work of demented genius.
'Argo' marks a big step up for director Ben Affleck, while 'Seven Psychopaths' and 'Sinister' are solid genre entries.
Andrea Arnold's gritty version of 'Wuthering Heights' is a unique spin on Emily Bronte's classic, but 'Taken 2, 'The Paperboy' and 'V/H/S' are not recommended.
"Looper" is a good - if not great - science fiction mindbender, while "Pitch Perfect" is occasionally funny, but overly familiar.
'End of Watch' and 'Trouble with the Curve' are both decent, but 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' is a genuinely surprising film on the joys and pains of growing up.
'The Master' is a mesmerizing masterpiece, while 'Arbitrage' is a solid character study and thriller.
'The Words' is an occasionally intriguing mixed bag, but 'Bachelorette' is a bitter pill.