ANGUS, THONGS & PERFECT SNOGGING (12A) (All major cinemas)

LOUISE Rennison’s successful series of teen novels are brought to the screen by Gurinder Chadha who was responsible for both Bend It Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice. A 14-year-old girl (Georgia Groome) keeps a Bridget Jones style diary about her desperate attempts to get herself a boyfriend.

STAR RATING: **

BABY MAMA (12A) (All major cinemas)

COMING across at first as a kind of lighter, safer version of Juno, this charming comedy is another little gem from the wonderful Tina Fey who is worshipped by lovers of intelligent humour in the States but remains an acquired taste over here.

STAR RATING: ***

THE DARK KNIGHT (12A) (All major cinemas)

AN ASTONISHING combination of thought-provoking ideas, compelling character interplay and breathtaking action sequences, Christopher Nolan’s Batman sequel sets a new standard for the comic book genre which is unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon.

STAR RATING: ****

DONKEY PUNCH (18) (Vue, Cheshire Oaks)

THE young people in peril on holiday sub-genre gets a British entry which actually has a brain in its head even if the characters and treatment make it an unpalatable experience. A night of sex and drugs leads to a girl’s death which prompts a panicky conflict over what they should do with the body. STAR RATING: **

THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (12A) (Vue, Cheshire Oaks)

A MARTIAL arts family film should never really be allowed to happen but that’s what you get when you team up Jackie Chan and Jet Li and put the director of Stuart Little in charge. STAR RATING: **

HANCOCK (12A) (All major cinemas)

ENTERTAINING comedy with the ever charismatic Will Smith as a reluctant superhero. STAR RATING: ***

JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH (PG) (Vue, Cheshire Oaks)

THERE is very little of Jules Verne in this latest version of his classic adventure which has Brendan Fraser leading a bunch of kids through what is a glorified cinematic series of theme park rides.

STAR RATING: **

KUNG FU PANDA (PG) (All major cinemas)

A GREAT title is further assisted by the presence of Jack Black providing the voice for the unlikely titular hero in this animated adventure.

STAR RATING: ***

MAMMA MIA! (PG) (All major cinemas)

A BUNCH of non-singing actors come together to belt out some of the greatest pop songs every written and somehow it works! Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan take on the best of Abba. STAR RATING: ***

MEET DAVE (PG) (All major cinemas)

THE once brilliant Eddie Murphy continues to resort to toilet humour for laughs in this unwise reunion with Norbit director Brian Robbins.

STAR RATING: **

NIM’S ISLAND (U) (Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, Monday-Friday)

HOME Alone on a desert island seems to be the ideal shorthand description of this family adventure.

STAR RATING: **

WALL-E (U) (All major cinemas)

PIXAR and rave reviews often go hand in hand and so it proves again with this ambitious science fiction animated tale.

STAR RATING: ***

COMING SOON

August 8: THE MUMMY: THE TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR (Brendan Fraser)

Dates subject to change.