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Prometheus arrives as a mystery directed by Ridley Scott, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Noomi Rapace and Logan Marshall Green give Prometheus a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Prometheus comes into focus without a long explanation: Following clues to the origin of mankind, a team finds a structure on a distant moon, but they soon realize they are not alone. Across its 2h 4m running time, Ridley Sc

Silver Linings Playbook arrives as a comedy directed by David O. Russell, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence give Silver Linings Playbook a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Silver Linings Playbook comes into focus without a long explanation: After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with h

Argo arrives as a thriller directed by Ben Affleck, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Ben Affleck and Bryan Cranston give Argo a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Argo comes into focus without a long explanation: Acting under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hosta

21 Jump Street arrives as a comedy directed by Phil Lord, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum give 21 Jump Street a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in 21 Jump Street comes into focus without a long explanation: A pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring. Across its 1h 49m running time, Phil Lord keeps 21

Taken 2 arrives as an action film directed by Olivier Megaton, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Liam Neeson and Famke Janssen give Taken 2 a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Taken 2 comes into focus without a long explanation: In Istanbul, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills and his wife are taken hostage by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed while rescuing his daughter. Across its 1h 32m running ti

Hotel Transylvania arrives as an animated adventure directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Adam Sandler and Kevin James give Hotel Transylvania a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Hotel Transylvania comes into focus without a long explanation: Dracula, who operates a high end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy discovers the resort and fa

Les Misérables arrives as a romance directed by Tom Hooper, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe give Les Misérables a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Les Misérables comes into focus without a long explanation: In 19th century France, Jean Valjean, who, for decades, has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after breaking parole, agrees to care for a factory worker's

Snow White and the Huntsman arrives as an action film directed by Rupert Sanders, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth give Snow White and the Huntsman a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Snow White and the Huntsman comes into focus without a long explanation: In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becom

Ice Age: Continental Drift arrives as an animated adventure directed by Steve Martino, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Ray Romano and Denis Leary give Ice Age: Continental Drift a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Ice Age: Continental Drift comes into focus without a long explanation: Manny, Diego, and Sid embark upon another adventure after their continent is set adrift. Across its 1h 28m running tim

Django Unchained arrives as a comedy directed by Quentin Tarantino, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz give Django Unchained a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Django Unchained comes into focus without a long explanation: With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner in Mississippi. Across its 2h 45m runni

Men in Black³ arrives as a comedy directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones give Men in Black³ a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Men in Black³ comes into focus without a long explanation: Agent J travels in time to M.I.B.'s early days in 1969 to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history. Across its 1h 46m running time,

Lincoln arrives as a biographical drama directed by Steven Spielberg, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Daniel Day Lewis and Sally Field give Lincoln a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Lincoln comes into focus without a long explanation: As the Civil War rages on, U.S President Abraham Lincoln struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on his deci