This week, the third instalment of 20th Century Fox's Planet of the Apes reboot finally swung into Australian cinemas. If you've been feeling jaded by the endless parade of superhero blockbusters, we recommend giving War For The Planet Of The Apes a shot: it's not perfect, but damn if it doesn't get you in the feels. (For a movie that primarily stars talking chimpanzees, that's quite a feat.)

Torn and stained screens in shabby old cinemas aren't helping the film industry's quest to win Australians back from movie piracy. Something's got to give.

The movies of 2017 are a truly star-studded bunch. There's Spider-Man, Batman, Wolverine, Thor and Wonder Woman. King Kong, the Gunslinger, Power Rangers. Luke Skywalker, Peter Quill and Jason Voorhees. The return of Rick Deckard, Jack Sparrow and Optimus Prime. The list goes on and on.

To help you keep track of them all, here's our handy guide to the science fiction, fantasy, horror, superhero and generally weird movies coming out between now and December. We've also included trailers for the most exciting releases - so bring yer popcorn!

The HandiTheatre is a blow-up home theatre solution that comes with (almost) everything you need to set up an outdoor cinema in your backyard. The star of the package is a custom-built inflatable screen of up to four metres in length. We tested out the HandiTheatre with a screening of Grease (as you do.) Read on for the Lifehacker verdict.

Consumer projectors, while not exactly mainstream, have gained some popularity and some people use them in backyards to host their own mini cinema screening of movies. But with all the high-profile copyright infringement cases flying around in recent years, it's worth looking at whether running your own backyard cinema is legal or not.

These days, a trip to the cinema can cost up to $30 per person -- and that's if you go easy on the snack bar and veto 3-D. For those sick of paying exorbitant ticket prices, here's an almost foolproof ploy to score two movie screenings for the price of one. (Note: Some "acting" may be required.)

One of the chief justifications for pirating movies in Australia is the lengthy delays we're forced to endure by local distributors. Various film bodies have rubbished this argument, with Village Roadshow claiming that the majority of Australian release dates are roughly comparable to the US. This infographic paints a picture that's somewhere in-between.

In 2012, Sony Pictures decided to reboot Spider-Man a mere five years after Sam Raimi wrapped up the original trilogy starring Tobey Maguire. As comic book adaptations go, the resulting movie was perfectly serviceable, yet the hasty turnaround time left a sour taste in many people's mouths. Which leads to today's question: how long should filmmakers wait before they hit the 'reset' button on a movie franchise? How soon it too soon?

Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street is currently playing in cinemas around Australia. It clocks in at exactly three hours (not including ads or trailers). According to most critics, it could have got its point across in a more bladder-friendly running time without feeling truncated. Could the same be said of every lengthy movie? Discuss.

Movies are better on the big screen, but cinema attendance can be expensive and filled with hassles.
Our guide will get you from the box office to the credits like a pro.

This week, we were invited to an advanced screening of Monsters University by Pixar Animation Studios, the follow-up to the Academy Award-winning Monsters Inc. The film is an enjoyable romp for all ages... but does "enjoyable" really cut it when you're paying through the nose? These days, a family trip to the cinema costs around $50 -- and that's if you forgo 3D and the snack bar. So the question is: does Pixar still have what it takes to put your bum in a seat?

Last night, we were invited to an advanced screening of M Night Shyamalan's After Earth, starring Will Smith and his sprog. As the first movie to be shot in native 4K on Sony's F65 digital motion picture cameras, After Earth is easily one of most visually sumptuous flicks we've seen. On the downside, it's also a bit of a bore. So can the sheer spectacle of 4K resolution outweigh its story shortcomings? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Kind of.

In today's cinema, 3D is almost as synonymous with the movies as popcorn. You simply can't escape it. Even classic films that were released decades ago are getting dusted off for some 3D treatment, alongside an endless stream of shiny comic book movie sequels. If you've been holding off from 3D cinema due to the inflated ticket prices or fear of motion sickness, here are the facts you need to know.

You're ready for a big-screen experience, but there's one annoyance to overcome: all those people in the queue ahead of you. What are your best tactics for cutting down on how long it takes to get the ticket?

Cinema 5 at Hoyts in Blacktown has what is said to be Australia's largest conventional cinema screen. It's 28.1 metres wide, and needs two digital projectors to fill the screen. That's going to give you an impressively big image, but does that really matter?