THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

You are going to be surprised to see what the top pick to see this week is... ready?

TOP PICK TO SEE

Top of the list is FAST & FURIOUS 7. Yes, that's right. Believe it or not, audiences are rating it an average of 4 stars and critics 3.5 stars. For Variety's Scott Foundas, Furious 7 provides both a satisfying chapter in the movies' preeminent gearhead soap opera and a tactful, touching memorial to Walker.' According to Rotten Tomatoes, the consensus of critics is that is 'Serv[es] up a fresh round of over-the-top thrills while adding unexpected dramatic heft, Furious 7 keeps the franchise moving in more ways than one. Better check it out!

OTHERS TO SEE

THE BOOK OF LIFE is about Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart, who embarks on an adventure that spans three fantastic worlds where he must face his greatest fears. It's and animated adventure comedy.  The A.V. Club says, The characters move around in a thoroughly realized universe full of imaginative and beautifully rendered detail. Too bad the rest of it isn't more interesting.  Apparently the animation is breathtaking. But the story is not quite up to the visuals. But critics and audiences are rating it a bit higher than 3 stars.

The comedy drama SAMBA might be ok. Samba migrated to France ten years ago from Senegal, and has since been plugging away at various lowly jobs. Alice is a senior executive who has recently undergone a burn-out. Both struggle to get out of their dead-end lives. Samba's willing to do whatever it takes to get working papers, while Alice tries to get her life back on track until fate draws them together.  (Toronto International Film Festival) There's no information from critics yet but general audiences are giving it around 3-3.5 stars.

And then there's THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER. When a diabolical pirate above the sea steals the secret Krabby Patty formula, SpongeBob and his nemesis Plankton must team up in order to get it back. Rating around 3 stars for audiences and critics, it will probably be appreciated by Spongebob fans. For Tribune News Service's Roger Moore, The gags, puns mostly, skew quite young. And those things Spongebob does that drive his onscreen castmate nuts - the shrieks and giggles and songs - are pitched to be a lot more irritating to adults than to small fry. Definitely one for the younger crowd.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

I know one member of my family loves the Tinker Bell movies. On our screens this week is the next episode: TINKER BELL AND THE LEGEND OF THE NEVERBEAST. Fun and talented animal fairy Fawn believes you can't judge a book by its cover, or an animal by its fangs, so she befriends a huge and mysterious creature known as the NeverBeast. While Tinkerbell and her friends aren't so sure about this scary addition to Pixie Hollow, the elite Scout Fairies set out to capture the monster before he destroys their home. Fawn must trust her heart and take a leap of faith if she hopes to rally the girls to save the NeverBeast. (DisneyToon Studios) The highest ratings for this one are coming from females under 18 (no surprise there) rating it around 4 stars. Males under 18 are giving it around 3.5 stars. The average for all ages and genders is around 3.5 stars. According to The Guardian's Mike McCahill, Though our heroine remains more self-reliant than most Disney princesses, the film is too mild to constitute any kind of statement. If you are a Tinker Bell lover, then this one is especially for you!

Finally for this week, there is THE DUFF. A high school senior instigates a social pecking order revolution after finding out that she has been labeled the DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) to her prettier more popular friends. According to critics, it's not a great teen movie. But there is enough here to make a worthwhile watch - at least, for some critics. Others, though, are not so positive. For The Hollywood Reporter's Sheri Linden, it's More a middle-of-the-road rom-com than a teen-spirit sendup, the pic weaves its lighthearted mix of silly and serious with increasingly heavy-handed spiels on self-esteem. It's a pity because the theme is very timely given the bullying that seems to be prevalent in schools.

That's it for this week. See you at the movies!

*NOTE* Movie summaries are adaptations of movie summary on IMDB. Opinions are mine unless credited.