The 2014 Boxing Day Movie Smackdown

Deck the halls and unpack the plastic tree. The festive season is well and truly upon us, and with it come some of the biggest films of the year. Along with the cricket and stampeding through shopping centres, going to the movies is one of our favourite Boxing Day traditions. After all, what better place to recover from your post-Christmas food coma than in a nice, dark, air-conditioned cinema?

Of course, not all of the end of year titles measure up. That's why we're reporting in with our annual Boxing Day Battle Royale, to ensure that you get maximum bang for your Kris Kringle gift voucher buck.

ST VINCENT

See it if: you've always dreamed of having Bill Murray for a neighbour

We give it: 4 stars

A crotchety old man gets a new lease of life when he becomes the reluctant babysitter to the 12-year-old kid next door. Sounds pretty unbearable, until you factor in that the old man is played by Bill Murray. First time writer-director Theodore Melfi doesn't reinvent the wheel, but the film's formulaic plotting is offset by sharp dialogue and the natural comedic chemistry of its cast. Melissa McCarthy and Chris O'Dowd are standouts in supporting roles, while newcomer Jaeden Lieberher is a revelation. Unsurprisingly though it's Murray who steals the show, delivering the perfect mix of irritable wit and genuine emotion.

Read our full review.

MR TURNER

See it if: you're an art lover

We give it: 4 stars

Grunting and wheezing, Timothy Spall gives one of the best performances of the year as famed British painter J.M.W. Turner, in this two-and-a-half hour biopic from writer-director Mike Leigh. Strictly for arthouse crowds, the film doesn't have much of a narrative through-line, but as a portrait of a lonely artist it's surprisingly compelling. The film also contains some absolutely gorgeous cinematography, the painterly quality achieved by director of photography Dick Pope seemingly inspired by the work of Turner himself.

Read our full review.

BIG HERO 6

See it if: you're babysitting, or just want to indulge your inner child

We give it: 3.5 stars

Disney's follow-up to the phenomenon that was Frozen is an adaptation of a Marvel comic book about a plucky teenaged inventor who joins forces with an inflatable robot named Baymax in order to bring down a supervillain who is terrorising the city. As animated superhero films go, it's not a patch on The Incredibles, but kids will gets a kick out of it, and there's some great physical comedy courtesy of the film's plus-size robotic co-star. Frankly, if Baymax toys aren't flying off the shelf come January, someone in the Disney merchandising department should be out of a job.

Read our full review.

THE WATER DIVINER

See it if: you're a really big Russell Crowe fan

We give it: 2.5 stars

Russell Crowe's directorial debut follows a father searching for the bodies of his sons after they're killed in combat at Gallipoli. Given Australia's tendency to mythologise that particular battle, it's refreshing to see how measured Crowe is in his approach, presenting the Turkish perspective as well as our own. Unfortunately, on a more technical level, Rusty still has quite a lot to learn. Flat photography and harsh lighting makes the film look as though it was shot for community television, while the overly earnest dialogue likewise leaves a lot to be desired.

Read our full review.

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES

See it if: you really, truly can't be bothered reading the book

We give it: 1.5 stars

We've had mostly nice things to say about this series up until this point, but that all ends now. After beginning with a dragon-sized anti-climax, the final part of Peter Jackson's painful protracted Tolkien adaptation turns out to be exactly what we all feared it would be: 2 hours and 20 minutes of padding. Comprised of one long, generic battle sequence, it's difficult to think of a recent film in which you feel less invested in the outcome. It's a sad, flabby end to what will likely be remembered as one of the most pointless movie trilogies of all time.

Read our full review.

Also out on Boxing Day: family flick Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.