THOSE of us who are largely fed up with comic-book movies can breathe a sigh of relief following this week’s slate of films, as Venom: The Last Dance marks the final four-colour release for 2024.

Promised to be the last instalment of the series starring Tom Hardy and Michelle Williams, this version sees Eddie Brock and the living costume – Venom – on the run from a military unit led by Chiwetel Ejiofor, and apparently another alien creature.

The original Venom was shockingly successful (as was the sequel) in the way that only modern B-movies can be.

Everything on the screen is utter nonsense, but the filmmakers are all perfectly aware of this and the actors are having genuine fun making a “bad movie”.

In contrast is a film that is clearly geared for prestige, Lee, a biopic of 20th Century cultural icon Lee Miller.

Miller is known for her work as a photographer for Vogue magazine close to the front lines of WWII, though the images she captured were not published at the time.

Kate Winslet holds this film together as the feisty and determined Miller, though the story makes a lot of demands as it attempts to focus both on gender inequality and the grim realities of war.

The film also looks incredible, thanks largely to director Ellen Kuras, who is well-served by her many years as a cinematographer.

The darkly comic A Different Man is also in cinemas this week.

Starring Sebastian Stan as Edward Lemuel, an aspiring actor who suffers from neurofibromatosis (facial tumours), the film questions the extent to which our attitudes towards disability, or disfigurement, may be little more than a state of mind.

After being offered an experimental treatment to cure his condition, Edward discovers that his life’s problems may be way more than skin deep when he meets Oscar.

Oscar is played by Adam Pearson, an actor who actually lives with neurofibromatosis and who steals the film completely from the star player.

Pearson’s performance is sweet, charming, funny and charismatic, and challenges many assumptions about those with disabilities.

To be clear, this is not a sweet, feel-good family film, as the focus is most definitely on the dark turn Edward takes as he faces his own flawed character.

For those looking for a family experience on the weekend you can take the opportunity to check out Australian/Irish production My Freaky Family.

A sort of fairy tale/coming of age story, young Betty Flood is about to turn thirteen and wants nothing more than to be magical like the rest of her family.

As she learns the truth about where they come from, she discovers that there may be just as much power in the music she makes.

Featuring a mostly Irish cast led by Evanna Lynch (of Harry Potter fame) this quirky tale looks like a fun, if forgettable, family adventure.

By Lindsay HALL