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Lord of War arrives as a crime drama directed by Andrew Niccol, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Nicolas Cage and Ethan Hawke give Lord of War a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Lord of War comes into focus without a long explanation: An arms dealer confronts the morality of his work as he is being chased by an INTERPOL Agent. Across its 2h 2m running time, Andrew Niccol keeps Lord of War clear enough

Ice Princess arrives as a comedy directed by Tim Fywell, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Michelle Trachtenberg and Kim Cattrall give Ice Princess a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Ice Princess comes into focus without a long explanation: With the help of her coach, her mom, and the boy who drives the Zamboni machine, nothing can stop Casey from realizing her dream to be a champion figure skater. Acr

Elektra arrives as an action film directed by Rob Bowman, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jennifer Garner and Goran Visnjic give Elektra a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Elektra comes into focus without a long explanation: An assassin's change of heart leads her into a war against an evil crime syndicate. Across its 1h 37m running time, Rob Bowman keeps Elektra uncertain about tone and dramatic emp

Unleashed arrives as an action film directed by Louis Leterrier, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jet Li and Bob Hoskins give Unleashed a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Unleashed comes into focus without a long explanation: A man enslaved by the mob since childhood and raised into behaving like a human attack dog escapes his captors and attempts to start a new life. Across its 1h 43m running time, L

Thank You for Smoking arrives as a comedy directed by Jason Reitman, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Aaron Eckhart and Cameron Bright give Thank You for Smoking a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Thank You for Smoking comes into focus without a long explanation: Satirical comedy follows the machinations of Big Tobacco's chief spokesman, Nick Naylor, who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to r

Dark Water arrives as a horror film directed by Walter Salles, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jennifer Connelly and Ariel Gade give Dark Water a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Dark Water comes into focus without a long explanation: A mother and daughter, still wounded from a bitter custody dispute, hole up in a run down apartment building, where they are targeted by the ghost of a former resident.

Serenity arrives as an action film directed by Joss Whedon, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Nathan Fillion and Gina Torres give Serenity a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Serenity comes into focus without a long explanation: The crew of the ship Serenity try to evade an assassin sent to recapture telepath River. Across its 1h 59m running time, Joss Whedon keeps Serenity confident enough to trust qui

Æon Flux arrives as an action film directed by Karyn Kusama, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand give Æon Flux a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Æon Flux comes into focus without a long explanation: Æon Flux is a mysterious assassin working for the Monicans, a group of rebels trying to overthrow the government. Across its 1h 33m running time, Karyn Kusama keeps Æon

The Descent arrives as a horror film directed by Neil Marshall, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Shauna Macdonald and Natalie Mendoza give The Descent a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Descent comes into focus without a long explanation: A caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators. Across its 1h 39m running time,

Elizabethtown arrives as a comedy directed by Cameron Crowe, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst give Elizabethtown a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Elizabethtown comes into focus without a long explanation: During a hometown memorial for his Kentucky born father, a young man begins an unexpected romance with a too good to be true stewardess. Across its 2h 3m running tim

xXx: State of the Union arrives as an action film directed by Lee Tamahori, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Ice Cube and Samuel L. Jackson give xXx: State of the Union a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in xXx: State of the Union comes into focus without a long explanation: Darius Stone, a new agent in the xXx program, is sent to Washington, D.C. to stop a coup attempt against the President of the Unite

Doom arrives as a horror film directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Karl Urban and Rosamund Pike give Doom a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Doom comes into focus without a long explanation: Space Marines are sent to investigate strange events at a research facility on Mars but find themselves at the mercy of genetically enhanced killing machines. Across its 1h 45m running