This period between Christmas and New year is a very popular one for cinema going.

Many may have been lucky to have a WTW cinemas Gift Card in their stocking this year and eager to use others will have family visiting and want to get out and a good plan is the cinema for some escapist peace.

Wonka and Aquaman cover most ages but this week we have another interesting film which will tick a lot of boxes and older families to enjoy.

Next Goal Wins

The big release this week and it has been hugely anticipated as Taika Waititi’s latest project, his films all have a good deal of originality and this is looking like another winner for the Oscar winning director.

Based on the true story of making an absolutely atrocious football team into something less shambolic. The American Samoa team in 2001 faced the international shame of a record 31-0 defeat to the mighty Socceroo’s, Australia.

Just over a decade later from that result and 2014 qualifying looming the country decides to take action and improve their recent results. Dutch coach Thomas Rongan born in Amsterdam but spent most of his life in the USA had mediocre success in the US soccer system.

A risk from both parties as Rongan works with a very amateur set up to try and achieve professional results. Michael Fassbender plays Rongan and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarök, JoJo Rabbit) directs. A great fun feelgood film and a great soundtrack too.

It is of course my review of the year edition this week and I will be taking a quick look back over the best and worst films of the year and some memorable moments too. This is of course my own personal opinion and whilst I may rate or scathe a film, I know others may feel the opposite.

Here are some which will get universal love (Paddington 2) and others that get equal disdain (Keith Lemon Movie).

This year is a fairly steady ship and not many real turkeys but there are certainly some standout performers.

We might as well get the pink elephant out of the room to start with and cover the Summer’s big two with Barbie and Oppenheimer ‘Going Head to Head’ in the battle of the blockbusters. ‘#Barbenheimer’ was trending and the battle lines were drawn, except we all knew it was a great marketing ploy and most would watch one or the other with a few crossing over. But you have to say the PR team and the Barbie marketing department smashed it out of the park, I did say well before the summer and major hype it would be the biggest film of the summer, thank you.

Oppenheimer was a Nolan epic and a stellar cast that is difficult to pick just who was the best supporting actor. Cillian Murphy and Leonardo Di Caprio will be scrapping it out for top dog next spring at the Awards ceremony, but who from Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, Josh Hartnett, Jason Clarke and so many more do you put forward, Oppenheimer needs its own supporting actor category to nominate who goes forward.

Killers of the Flower Moon was another epic running over three hours and that was a theme this year, many long running movies. It could be to do with the bingeable TV content nowadays films can go that extra distance to incorporate more within the plot.

There have been some great family films this year and Super Mario Bros. The Movie really hit the spot, the animation and feature really delighted all of the fans and we can expect more in the future, Elemental was an improved offering from Pixar and was a hit through the summer months.

Action films from franchises were also dominating early summer with the latest Mission Impossible and of course a return for our favourite whip cracker Indiana Jones in the Dial of Destiny, I’m still a little undecided on that one as it started off amazing and there were some good moments but it did have a strange conclusion.

One genre to really dominate, much to my annoyance was the abundance of horror films this year. I am not a fan but to be plagued throughout the whole year was ridiculous.

There is a time and a place and The Pope’s Exorcist, Renfield and Evil Dead Rise released in successive weeks during April is not that time.

A few musical offerings and whilst I enjoyed the Take That inspired Greatest Days it was poorly received at the box office which is a shame and considering the groups fan base it was bit disappointing.

One film that did really baffle me this year was Saltburn, I really enjoyed some elements and really detested others, it is a very unusual film and not an easy watch.

The biggest disappointments though are the Marvel offerings and most notably Ant-Man, whilst it’s not the worst film of the year it certainly fell very flat. I think Marvel are taking a less is more approach next year luckily.

Plus, a notable mention to Barbara Broccoli for still no James Bond casting, keeping everyone hanging, I get asked quite often and my current picks would be Aarron Taylor-Johnson and Daryl McCormack. Let us hope a decision is achieved soon!