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The Longest Yard arrives as a comedy directed by Peter Segal, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Adam Sandler and Burt Reynolds give The Longest Yard a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Longest Yard comes into focus without a long explanation: Prison inmates form a football team to challenge the prison guards. Across its 1h 53m running time, Peter Segal keeps The Longest Yard alive in individual scen

Hitch arrives as a comedy directed by Andy Tennant, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Will Smith and Eva Mendes give Hitch a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Hitch comes into focus without a long explanation: A smooth talking man falls for a hardened columnist while helping a shy accountant woo a beautiful heiress. Across its 1h 58m running time, Andy Tennant keeps Hitch engaging in bursts but unable t

Mr. & Mrs. Smith arrives as a comedy directed by Doug Liman, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie give Mr. & Mrs. Smith a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Mr. & Mrs. Smith comes into focus without a long explanation: A husband and wife struggle to keep their marriage alive until they realize they are both secretly working as assassins. Across its 2h running time, Doug Liman ke

Madagascar arrives as an animated adventure directed by Eric Darnell, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Chris Rock and Ben Stiller give Madagascar a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Madagascar comes into focus without a long explanation: A group of animals who have spent all their life in a New York zoo end up in the jungles of Madagascar, and must adjust to living in the wild. Across its 1h 26m runnin

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory arrives as a comedy directed by Tim Burton, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Johnny Depp and Freddie Highmore give Charlie and the Chocolate Factory a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory comes into focus without a long explanation: Charlie, a young boy from an impoverished family, and four other kids win a tour of an amazing chocolate fa

Batman Begins arrives as an action film directed by Christopher Nolan, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Christian Bale and Michael Caine give Batman Begins a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Batman Begins comes into focus without a long explanation: After witnessing his parents' death, billionaire Bruce Wayne learns the art of fighting to confront injustice. Across its 2h 20m running time, Christopher

Wedding Crashers arrives as a comedy directed by David Dobkin, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn give Wedding Crashers a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Wedding Crashers comes into focus without a long explanation: John Beckwith and Jeremy Grey, a pair of committed womanizers who sneak into weddings to take advantage of the romantic tinge in the air, find themselves at odd

King Kong arrives as an action film directed by Peter Jackson, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Naomi Watts and Jack Black give King Kong a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in King Kong comes into focus without a long explanation: A greedy film producer assembles a team of moviemakers and sets out for the infamous Skull Island, where they find more than just cannibalistic natives. Across its 3h 7m runnin

War of the Worlds arrives as an action film directed by Steven Spielberg, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning give War of the Worlds a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in War of the Worlds comes into focus without a long explanation: An alien invasion threatens the future of humanity. Across its 1h 57m running time, Steven Spielberg keeps War of the Worlds careful about tone an

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire arrives as a mystery directed by Mike Newell, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson give Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire comes into focus without a long explanation: Harry Potter finds himself competing in a hazardous tournament between rival schools of magic, but

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe arrives as a fantasy directed by Andrew Adamson, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Tilda Swinton and Georgie Henley give The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe comes into focus without a long explanation: While playing,

Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith 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 III Revenge of the Sith a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith comes into focus without a long explanation: As the Clone Wars nears its end, Obi Wan Kenobi pursues a new thre