Pfangirl Through the Looking Glass

Following yesterday's glut of reviews, today is my (very brief) look back at the most memorable movies of 2016. All in all, I think it was a pretty satisfying year at the cinema, with many high profile releases falling in the "Yeah, that was okay" to "Great" side of the spectrum. But what were 2016's standout surprises and the worst disappointments? I weigh in below. Also, let me take this opportunity to wish everyone reading this Happy Holidays. If you celebrate it, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas. This clip should form part of The Movies.co.za's big Year in Review video, coming soon.

I realise I've let the reposting of my various Pop Culture pieces, reviews and other content get away from me the past 2 months. I aim to be back on track in the New Year. However, in the interim, here's the full list of what you can read, and where. Movie reviews: Don't Breathe - Horror that's simple, taut and satisfying [The Movies] Jack Reacher - An entertaining popcorn flick; nothing more [Geek Node] Arrival - Sci-fi for the thinking person [Geek Node] Doctor Strange - Magic or Muggle effort? [Geek Node] Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - A solid spin-off with its own identity [The Movies] Underworld: Blood Wars - Tries and fails to be Game of Thrones [The Movies] Sing - A feel-good, foot-tapping charmer [The Movies] DVD reviews: Regression - An intriguing but seriously overwrought thriller [The Movies] Sing Street  - A charming, musical coming of age tale [The Movies] Last Days in the Desert - The Bible goes full-blown art house ...

Out now, and out tomorrow, in South African cinemas, are animated adventure Moana and real-life romance A United Kingdom . They're just two of December’s big movie releases. But are they worth a few hours of precious vacation time? Moana (3D) – Mixes up the Disney Princess formula with mostly success Even though Big Hero 6 and Zootopia have both released since Frozen ; the latest from Disney Animation Studios , Moana, is receiving the most comparisons to the smash hit 2013 release. It makes sense. Both movies are musical adventures with distinct geographic settings. And in both, a princess must venture forth from the safety of her kingdom to save her people. Honestly, I still think I prefer Frozen’s story more, but Moana delivers many pleasures: lush Pacific Island and oceanic animation, catchy songs, some touching moments and very strong vocal performances. For the record, Moana has the restless title character (voiced by newcomer Auli'i Cravalho ), defying the wi...