Genre: Family

Director Huang Hong conjures up a few powerful moments that even the most cynical viewer will be touched by, utilising his excellent cast and some exceptional village scenery.

It’s not intended to be a stinging critique, but more an affectionate look at something that weaves together every culture on the planet: the way we mourn.

This sumptuous work was lauded on its release and in this reviewer’s mind was not deserving of quite the reception it got at the Japanese Academy awards.

An easy recommendation as it’s still a fun-filled family adventure that is suitably heart-warming and easy on the eye.

‘Bug Me Not!’ is an extremely lightweight production that is often so cringeworthy that you’ll have to resist the urge to hurl your remote at the screen.

‘Cala, My Dog!’ is, as so many modern Chinese films are, a way of observing a misunderstood country on a detailed level.

Sentimental, yet never schmaltzy, inspiring though certainly not preachy, ‘Canola’ strikes a beautiful balance between its elements that makes for a hugely admirable whole.

‘CJ7’ is a warm-hearted sci-fi comedy with solid special effects and a winning performance by newcomer Xu Jiao.

‘CJ7: The Cartoon’ is a definite step down from the original, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still a fun companion piece that can be enjoyed by all the family.

Clifton Ko has been behind the lens for quite a few of these family comedies though the box-office hit ‘It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World’ is one of his best efforts.

Another superbly constructed piece of cinema that really captures the imagination and warms the heart.

If they’d actually bothered to spend some time on the script or even just made a more likeable leading character, ‘Looking For Jackie’ could have been a half decent underdog story.