FILM REVIEWS

• 'Big Miracle' a wholesome family heartwarmer

  In 1988, countries came together in a rare demonstration of solidarity to free three grey whales stranded in the pack ice near Barrow Point in Alaska.

• 'The Woman in Black' visually appealing but dramatically bland

  There isn't much of a twist to this haunted house tale: man goes to a creepy, old house, runs into an angry ghost, and mayhem ensues.

• 'Man on a Ledge' ridiculous but engaging

  In the cinematic desert that is the January-February movie-release schedule, one gains a greater appreciation for mere competence.

• 'Jack and Jill' sets new low for comedies

  In the opening scenes of the new ''comedy'' Jack and Jill, commercial director Jack Sadelstein (Adam Sandler) and his business partners take a break from the set of their Regis Philbin-starring Pepto Bismol commercial to discuss the prospect of landing Al Pacino for a new Dunkin' Donuts spot.

• Unknown cast perform well in 'Chronicle'

  As weakling Peter Parker discovered to his cost before his transformation into web-spinning superhero Spider-Man, with great power comes great responsibility.

• 'Carnage' an acting tour-de-force

  Director Roman Polanski strips away the veneer of civility that supposedly separates man from beasts and reduces two well-to-do couples to snarling adversaries in this film version of the award-winning stage comedy 'God Of Carnage'.

• 'Young Adult' very funny despite bleak characters

  Director Jason Reitman made a very smart decision when approaching his new film, 'Young Adult'.

• 'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island' preposterous but great fun

  When the going gets tough, the tough get soppy in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, an old-fashioned, gung-ho adventure.

• Mesmerising performances elevate ‘Like Crazy’

  Falling in love is just as frighteningly easy as falling out again in Drake Doremus’s low-budget romance ‘Like Crazy’.

• 'The Descendants' introspective and heart-warming

  Director Alexander Payne's new film opens over sprawling landscape shots of Hawaii's scenic suburbia, accompanied by George Clooney's character, Matt King, caught in a predicament.