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The Karate Kid arrives as an action film directed by Harald Zwart, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith give The Karate Kid a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Karate Kid comes into focus without a long explanation: Work causes a single mother to move to China with her young son; in his new home, the 12 year old boy embraces Kung Fu, taught to him by a master. Across its 2h

Tangled arrives as an animated adventure directed by Nathan Greno, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi give Tangled a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Tangled comes into focus without a long explanation: The magically long haired Rapunzel has spent her entire life in a tower, but now that a runaway thief has stumbled upon her, she is about to discover the world for the first

How to Train Your Dragon arrives as an animated adventure directed by Dean DeBlois, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jay Baruchel and Gerard Butler give How to Train Your Dragon a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in How to Train Your Dragon comes into focus without a long explanation: A hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns ther

Shrek Forever After arrives as an animated adventure directed by Mike Mitchell, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz give Shrek Forever After a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Shrek Forever After comes into focus without a long explanation: Rumpelstiltskin tricks a mid life crisis burdened Shrek into allowing himself to be erased from existence and cast in a dark alternate tim

Despicable Me arrives as an animated adventure directed by Pierre Coffin, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Steve Carell and Jason Segel give Despicable Me a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Despicable Me comes into focus without a long explanation: Gru, a criminal mastermind, adopts three orphans as pawns to carry out the biggest heist in history. Across its 1h 35m running time, Pierre Coffin keeps De

Inception arrives as an action film directed by Christopher Nolan, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Leonardo DiCaprio and Joseph Gordon Levitt give Inception a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Inception comes into focus without a long explanation: A thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O., bu

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 arrives as a mystery directed by David Yates, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson give Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 comes into focus without a long explanation: Harry Potter is tasked with the dangerous and seemingly impossible task

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse arrives as an action film directed by David Slade, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson give The Twilight Saga: Eclipse a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse comes into focus without a long explanation: As a string of mysterious killings grips Seattle, Bella, whose high school graduation is fast approaching, is forced

Iron Man 2 arrives as an action film directed by Jon Favreau, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Robert Downey Jr. and Mickey Rourke give Iron Man 2 a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Iron Man 2 comes into focus without a long explanation: With the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father's legacy.

Alice in Wonderland arrives as a mystery directed by Tim Burton, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp give Alice in Wonderland a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Alice in Wonderland comes into focus without a long explanation: Nineteen year old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true dest

Toy Story 3 arrives as an animated adventure directed by Lee Unkrich, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen give Toy Story 3 a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Toy Story 3 comes into focus without a long explanation: The toys are mistakenly delivered to a day care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it's up to Woody to convince the other toys that t