This week's new films

Super 8 (12A) (JJ Abrams, 2011, US) Riley Griffiths, Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler. 112 mins With Steven Spielberg producing, neo-sci-fi superstar JJ Abrams harks back to the kid-friendly action fantasies of the 80s (ET, The Goonies) while adding a few modern monster-movie scares of his own. The two genres don't always sit well together, and the retro lens flare becomes wearing, but Super 8 has character and charm, especially in the three young leads, whose plans to make a super-8 zombie movie are scuppered by the arrival of a dangerous creature. French Cancan (PG) (Jean Renoir, 1954, Fr) Jean Gabin, Françoise Arnoul, Maria Félix. 104 mins Digital restoration of Renoir's salute to the swinging, sensual Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec et al. Gabin stars as the ambitious entrepreneur whose plan to spice up his new nightclub, the Moulin Rouge, with dancing girls creates a new star, a new craze and a love triangle. Knuckle (15) (Ian Palmer, 2011, UK/Ire) 97 mins Ireland's real-life Fight Club underground is explored in this eye-opening documentary about the world of travellers and their traditions of bare-knuckle boxing. It's not a pretty or even dignified sight, but the non-judgmental approach does result in some extraordinary insights. Mr Popper's Penguins (PG) (Mark Waters, 2011, US) Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Angela Lansbury. 94 mins Jim Carrey plays the workaholic dad who has a Scrooge-like epiphany thanks to a gift of six penguins that arrive courtesy of his late father. Very young children will appreciate the animation and penguin-related anarchy; adults will bemoan the abrupt end to Carrey's "interesting" years. The Referees (15) (Yves Hinant, Eric Cardot, 2009, Belg) 81 mins Slightly delayed comes this revealing football documentary about the referees at the Euro 08 finals. Although the games are dramatic enough, more comes from the off-pitch animosity faced by referees who make unpopular decisions; their professionalism is rewarded with death threats and bomb scares. Sarah's Key (12A) (Gilles Paquet-Brenner, 2010, Fr) Kristin Scott Thomas, Mélusine Mayance, Niels Arestrup. 110 mins Affecting Holocaust drama focusing on the 1942 Vel' d'Hiv roundup of Parisian Jews, told from the viewpoint of a modern-day investigative journalist (Scott Thomas). The past inevitably catches up with the present, but Scott Thomas has the necessary gravitas to keep things grounded. The Tree (12A) (Julie Bertuccelli, 2010, Fr/Aus/Ger/It) Charlotte Gainsbourg, Morgana Davies, Marton Csokas. 101 mins After Malick's Tree Of Life comes a tree with more morbid baggage, with Gainsbourg as a widowed mother who refuses to accept the death of her husband. Symbolic of his demise is a giant fig tree, and when its branches intrude on the house, some serious decisions must be made. Out from Friday Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes The latest in the 43-year franchise takes the prequel route. The Devil's Double True-life, Gulf war thriller about a man forced to double for Uday Hussein. Out on Wed The Smurfs In 3D Kid-friendly animation, rebooting the squeaky blue Belgian phenomenon. Out on Wed Aarakshan Professor-pupil Bollywood love story, set on a Bhopal campus. Elite Squad: The Enemy Within Sequel to the tough Brazilian police drama. Beautiful Lies French romcom, with Audrey Tautou as a hairdresser who plays cupid. The Salt Of Life Gentle Italian comedy from the director of Mid-August Lunch. The Interrupters Documentary about urban violence from the director of Hoop Dreams. Project Nim Doc about a failed 1970s science experiment to raise a chimp as human. The Taqwacores Film about the Muslim punk-rock scene in New York. Coming soon In two weeks … Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford lead genre mashup Cowboys & Aliens … The TV teens hit Crete for The Inbetweeners Movie … In three weeks … Almodóvar's surgical thriller The Skin I Live In … The rebooted Conan The Barbarian … In a month … Look out for superior British horror thriller Kill List … Terrence Malick's dazzling keynote film Days Of Heaven is reissued …