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Pitch Perfect arrives as a comedy directed by Jason Moore, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow give Pitch Perfect a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Pitch Perfect comes into focus without a long explanation: Beca, a freshman at Barden University, is cajoled into joining The Bellas, her school's all girls singing group. Across its 1h 52m running time, Jason Moore keeps Pitc

Battleship arrives as an action film directed by Peter Berg, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Alexander Skarsgård and Brooklyn Decker give Battleship a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Battleship comes into focus without a long explanation: A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals. Across its 2h 11m running time,

Madea's Witness Protection arrives as a comedy directed by Tyler Perry, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Tyler Perry and Eugene Levy give Madea's Witness Protection a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Madea's Witness Protection comes into focus without a long explanation: A Wall Street investment banker who has been set up as the linchpin of his company's mob backed Ponzi scheme is relocated with his f

Looper arrives as an action film directed by Rian Johnson, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Joseph Gordon Levitt and Bruce Willis give Looper a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Looper comes into focus without a long explanation: In 2074, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent into the past, where a hired gun awaits someone like Joe who one day learns the mob wants to 'close the l

Contraband arrives as an action film directed by Baltasar Kormákur, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Mark Wahlberg and Giovanni Ribisi give Contraband a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Contraband comes into focus without a long explanation: To protect his brother in law from a drug lord, a former smuggler heads to Panama to score millions of dollars in counterfeit bills. Across its 1h 49m running tim

This Is 40 arrives as a comedy directed by Judd Apatow, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann give This Is 40 a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in This Is 40 comes into focus without a long explanation: Pete and Debbie are both about to turn 40, their kids hate each other, both of their businesses are failing, they're on the verge of losing their house, and their relationship is thr

Act of Valor arrives as an action film directed by Mike McCoy, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Alex Veadov and Roselyn Sanchez give Act of Valor a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Act of Valor comes into focus without a long explanation: An elite team of Navy SEALs embark on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent. Across its 1h 50m running time, Mike McCoy keeps Act of Valor alive in indiv

John Carter arrives as an action film directed by Andrew Stanton, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins give John Carter a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in John Carter comes into focus without a long explanation: A war weary former army captain is inexplicably transported to Mars and reluctantly becomes embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions. Across its 2h 12m running ti

Parental Guidance arrives as a comedy directed by Andy Fickman, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Billy Crystal and Bette Midler give Parental Guidance a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Parental Guidance comes into focus without a long explanation: Artie and Diane Decker agree to look after their three grandchildren when their type A helicopter parents go out of town for work; Problems arise when the

Dark Shadows arrives as a horror film directed by Tim Burton, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer give Dark Shadows a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Dark Shadows comes into focus without a long explanation: An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection. Across it

Jack Reacher arrives as an action film directed by Christopher McQuarrie, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike give Jack Reacher a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Jack Reacher comes into focus without a long explanation: Jack Reacher, a homicide investigator, digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper responsible for a mass shooting. Across its 2h 10m running

Wrath of the Titans arrives as an action film directed by Jonathan Liebesman, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Sam Worthington and Liam Neeson give Wrath of the Titans a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Wrath of the Titans comes into focus without a long explanation: Perseus braves the treacherous underworld to rescue his father, Zeus, captured by his son, Ares, and brother Hades who unleash the ancie