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Die Another Day arrives as an action film directed by Lee Tamahori, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry give Die Another Day a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Die Another Day comes into focus without a long explanation: James Bond is sent to investigate the connection between a North Korean terrorist and a diamond mogul, who is funding the development of an international s

Catch Me If You Can arrives as a crime drama directed by Steven Spielberg, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks give Catch Me If You Can a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Catch Me If You Can comes into focus without a long explanation: Barely 17 yet, Frank is a skilled forger who has passed as a doctor, lawyer and pilot. Across its 2h 21m running time, Steven Spielberg kee

Chicago arrives as a comedy directed by Rob Marshall, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta Jones give Chicago a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Chicago comes into focus without a long explanation: Two death row murderesses develop a fierce rivalry while competing for publicity, celebrity, and a sleazy lawyer's attention. Across its 1h 53m running time, Rob Marshall keep

Ice Age arrives as an animated adventure directed by Chris Wedge, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Denis Leary and John Leguizamo give Ice Age a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Ice Age comes into focus without a long explanation: Manny the mammoth, Sid the loquacious sloth, and Diego the sabre toothed tiger go on a comical quest to return a human baby back to his father, across a world on the brink o

Men in Black II arrives as a comedy directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith give Men in Black II a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Men in Black II comes into focus without a long explanation: Agent J is sent to find Agent K and restore his memory after the re appearance of a case from K's past. Across its 1h 28m running time, Barry Sonnenfeld keep

Austin Powers in Goldmember arrives as a comedy directed by Jay Roach, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Mike Myers and Beyoncé give Austin Powers in Goldmember a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Austin Powers in Goldmember comes into focus without a long explanation: Upon learning that his father has been kidnapped, Austin Powers must travel to 1975 and defeat the aptly named villain Goldmember, who i

Signs arrives as a thriller directed by M. Night Shyamalan, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix give Signs a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Signs comes into focus without a long explanation: A widowed former reverend living with his children and brother on a Pennsylvania farm finds mysterious crop circles in their fields, which suggests something more frightening to come.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding arrives as a comedy directed by Joel Zwick, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Nia Vardalos and John Corbett give My Big Fat Greek Wedding a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in My Big Fat Greek Wedding comes into focus without a long explanation: A young Greek woman falls in love with a non Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her herita

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets arrives as a mystery directed by Chris Columbus, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint give Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets comes into focus without a long explanation: Harry Potter lives his second year at Hogwarts with Ron and Hermione when a message

Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones arrives as an action film directed by George Lucas, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman give Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones comes into focus without a long explanation: Ten years after initially meeting, Anakin Skywalker shares a forbi

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers arrives as an action film directed by Peter Jackson, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen give The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers comes into focus without a long explanation: While Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mordor with the help of the shifty Gollum, the divided

Spider Man arrives as an action film directed by Sam Raimi, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst give Spider Man a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Spider Man comes into focus without a long explanation: After being bitten by a genetically modified spider, a shy teenager gains spider like abilities that he uses to fight injustice as a masked superhero and face a vengeful en