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Love Actually arrives as a comedy directed by Richard Curtis, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon give Love Actually a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Love Actually comes into focus without a long explanation: Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Chr

Shanghai Knights arrives as a comedy directed by David Dobkin, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson give Shanghai Knights a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Shanghai Knights comes into focus without a long explanation: When a Chinese rebel murders Chon's estranged father and escapes to England, Chon and Roy make their way to London with revenge on their minds. Across its 1h 54m

Mona Lisa Smile arrives as a drama directed by Mike Newell, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Julia Roberts and Kirsten Dunst give Mona Lisa Smile a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Mona Lisa Smile comes into focus without a long explanation: Katherine Watson teaches art history in 1953 at the respectable all female Wellesley College. Across its 1h 57m running time, Mike Newell keeps Mona Lisa Smile ca

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider The Cradle of Life arrives as an action film directed by Jan de Bont, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Angelina Jolie and Gerard Butler give Lara Croft: Tomb Raider The Cradle of Life a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider The Cradle of Life comes into focus without a long explanation: Adventurer Lara Croft goes on a quest to save the mythical Pandora's Box,

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen arrives as an action film directed by Stephen Norrington, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Sean Connery and Stuart Townsend give The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comes into focus without a long explanation: In an alternate Victorian Age world, a group of famous contemporary fantasy, scie

Big Fish arrives as a romance directed by Tim Burton, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney give Big Fish a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Big Fish comes into focus without a long explanation: A frustrated son tries to determine the fact from fiction in his dying father's life. Across its 2h 5m running time, Tim Burton keeps Big Fish careful about tone and generally effect

Kangaroo Jack arrives as a comedy directed by David McNally, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Anthony Anderson and Jerry O'Connell give Kangaroo Jack a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Kangaroo Jack comes into focus without a long explanation: Two childhood friends, a hairstylist and a would be musician, are forced to deliver $50,000 in mob money to Australia, but things go haywire when the cash is ta

Holes arrives as a comedy directed by Andrew Davis, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Shia LaBeouf and Sigourney Weaver give Holes a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Holes comes into focus without a long explanation: A wrongfully convicted boy is sent to a brutal desert detention camp where he joins the job of digging holes for some mysterious reason. Across its 1h 57m running time, Andrew Davis keeps

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 arrives as an action film directed by Quentin Tarantino, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Uma Thurman and David Carradine give Kill Bill: Vol. 1 a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 comes into focus without a long explanation: After waking from a four year coma, a former assassin wreaks vengeance on the team of assassins who betrayed her. Across its 1h 51m running tim

Old School arrives as a comedy directed by Todd Phillips, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn give Old School a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Old School comes into focus without a long explanation: Three friends attempt to recapture their glory days by opening up a fraternity near their alma mater. Across its 1h 28m running time, Todd Phillips keeps Old School alive in ind

The Haunted Mansion arrives as a horror film directed by Rob Minkoff, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Eddie Murphy and Marsha Thomason give The Haunted Mansion a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Haunted Mansion comes into focus without a long explanation: A realtor and his wife and children are summoned to a mansion, which they soon discover is haunted, and while they attempt to escape, he learns

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre arrives as a horror film directed by Marcus Nispel, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jessica Biel and Jonathan Tucker give The Texas Chainsaw Massacre a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre comes into focus without a long explanation: After picking up a traumatized young hitchhiker, five friends find themselves stalked and hunted by a deformed chains