HIGH FIDELITY (15) (East Finchley Phoenix, Finchley Warner Village, Staples Corner UGC)

STUART LITTLE (U) Barnet Odeon, Finchley Warner Village, Hampstead ABC, Staples Corner UGC)

THE PATRIOT (15) Mel Gibson reprises his Braveheart role in this enjoyable, but cheesy, wannabe-epic about militiamen fighting against evil British soldiers in the American War of Independence. (Barnet Odeon, Finchley Warner Village, Hampstead ABC, Staples Corner UGC)

THOMAS AND THE MAGIC RAILROAD (U) Americanised version of the old children's favourite with stars such as Peter Fonda and Alec Baldwin playing the people alongside the animated trains. (Barnet Odeon, Finchley Warner Village, Staples Corner UGC)

ESSEX BOYS (18) Sean Bean and Alex Kingston star in yet another British gangster flick. This time it is set in Southend and was 'inspired' (if that's the right word) by real life murders. (Finchley Warner Village)

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 (15) Action sequel starring Tom Cruise. The plot is largely irrelevant to the slow-motion martial arts and stunts. (Barnet Odeon, Finchley Warner Village, Hampstead ABC, Staples Corner UGC)

CHICKEN RUN (PG) Tongue-in-cheek twist on The Great Escape from the makers of the Wallace and Gromit series. A group of plasticine chickens desperately try to escape from Mrs Tweedy's farm. Great fun for all ages. Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha voice the lead characters (Barnet Odeon, Finchley Warner Village, Hampstead ABC, Staples Corner UGC)

THREE TO TANGO (12) A weak comedy starring Matthew Perry who has to pretend to be gay while falling in love with Neve Campbell. Don't ask. (Finchley Warner Village)

BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE (12) Martin Lawrence plays an FBI agent who disguises himself as a very fat and loud woman. A comedy for those that are easily pleased with obvious gags, a total lack of characterisation and a bad plot. (Finchley Warner Village, Staples Corner UGC)

GLADIATOR (15) Unmissable Roman epic starring Russell Crowe as general-turned-gladiator Maximus who seeks vengeance on the erratic Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Fantastic ensemble acting is only bettered by the breathtaking special effects and high-adrenalin action sequences. (Barnet Odeon, Finchley Warner Village)