PLANNING ON HEADING out to the cinema this weekend?

There are a few new movies out, but which is a must-watch, and are there any you should avoid?

We take a look.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge

What we know

It’s the fifth in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and this time a ghost from his past tries to mess things up for Captain Jack Sparrow.

What the critics say

• “To be fair to Norwegian directing team Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg (who proved their cinematic sea-legs with 2012’s Kon-Tiki), there’s some innovation on show in the earlier slapstick-swashbuckling (slapbuckling?) set-pieces.” – Empire
• “No-one is going to pretend that this is a masterpiece. However, for most of the running time, this delivers precisely what you want from a summer blockbuster.” – The Independent

What’s it rated?

• RottenTomatoes: 4.8/10
• IMDB: 8.3/10

The Other Side of Hope

What we know

This Finnish film is about two refugee men who flee to Finland. From the man behind the great film Le Havre.

What the critics say

• “Without sacrificing his usual drollery, Kaurismäki explores the humdrum reality of what it might mean to be a refugee, and ends up finding common ground between these lost souls and the usual outsiders and misfits who populate his work.” – The Guardian 
• “The Finnish-born director has established himself as an adroit creator of wry, often surreal, humour that can often alienate audiences with intentionally artificial set designs and unusually stiff performances.” – Film Ireland

What’s it rated?

• RottenTomatoes: 8.9/10
• IMDB: 7.5

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul

What we know

The latest in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid franchise sees Greg being forced to take a road trip for a relative’s birthday. Stars Alicia Silverstone.

What the critics say

• “Unfortunately, the fresh blood has been saddled with a tired story, the family road trip that goes outlandishly awry, and the result is another forgettable film.” – The New York Times
• “ And while none of the previous films fully captured the spirit of the popular Jeff Kinney books that inspired them—a silly and smart mix of cynicism and heart—they came way closer than this new installment does.” – RogerEbert.com

What’s it rated?

• RottenTomatoes: 4.2/10
• IMDB: 3.3/10

Which one would you go see first?

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