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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty arrives as a comedy directed by Ben Stiller, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Ben Stiller and Kristen Wiig give The Secret Life of Walter Mitty a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty comes into focus without a long explanation: When both he and a colleague are about to lose their job, Walter takes action by embarking on an adventure more extr

After Earth arrives as an action film directed by M. Night Shyamalan, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jaden Smith and David Denman give After Earth a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in After Earth comes into focus without a long explanation: A crash landing leaves Kitai Raige and his father Cypher stranded on Earth, a millennium after events forced humanity's escape. Across its 1h 40m running time, M.

Prisoners arrives as a thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal give Prisoners a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Prisoners comes into focus without a long explanation: Keller Dover is facing every parent's worst nightmare. Across its 2h 33m running time, Denis Villeneuve keeps Prisoners controlled while retaining warmth. ⁠ The directoria

Ender's Game arrives as an action film directed by Gavin Hood, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield give Ender's Game a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Ender's Game comes into focus without a long explanation: Young Ender Wiggin is recruited by the International Military to lead the fight against the Formics, an insectoid alien race who had previously tried to invade Ear

Last Vegas arrives as a comedy directed by Jon Turteltaub, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Robert De Niro and Michael Douglas give Last Vegas a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Last Vegas comes into focus without a long explanation: Billy, Paddy, Archie and Sam have been best friends since childhood. Across its 1h 45m running time, Jon Turteltaub keeps Last Vegas engaging in bursts but unable to main

The Purge arrives as a horror film directed by James DeMonaco, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey give The Purge a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Purge comes into focus without a long explanation: A wealthy family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12 hour period in which any and all crime is legal. Across its 1h 25m ru

Jack the Giant Slayer arrives as an action film directed by Bryan Singer, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Nicholas Hoult and Stanley Tucci give Jack the Giant Slayer a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Jack the Giant Slayer comes into focus without a long explanation: The ancient war between humans and a race of giants is reignited when Jack, a young farmhand fighting for a kingdom and the love of a p

Warm Bodies arrives as a horror film directed by Jonathan Levine, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer give Warm Bodies a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Warm Bodies comes into focus without a long explanation: After a highly unusual zombie saves a still living girl from an attack, the two form a relationship that sets in motion events that might transform the entire life

A Good Day to Die Hard arrives as an action film directed by John Moore, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Bruce Willis and Jai Courtney give A Good Day to Die Hard a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in A Good Day to Die Hard comes into focus without a long explanation: John McClane travels to Russia to help out his seemingly wayward son, Jack, only to discover that Jack is a CIA operative working underco

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters arrives as a fantasy directed by Thor Freudenthal, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Logan Lerman and Alexandra Daddario give Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters comes into focus without a long explanation: In order to restore their dying safe haven, the son of Poseidon and his friends embark on a quest to the S

The Best Man Holiday arrives as a comedy directed by Malcolm D. Lee, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Monica Calhoun and Morris Chestnut give The Best Man Holiday a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Best Man Holiday comes into focus without a long explanation: When college friends reunite after 15 years over the Christmas holidays, they discover just how easy it is for long forgotten rivalries and

The Smurfs 2 arrives as an animated adventure directed by Raja Gosnell, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays give The Smurfs 2 a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Smurfs 2 comes into focus without a long explanation: The Smurfs team up with their human friends to rescue Smurfette, who has been abducted by Gargamel, since she knows a secret spell that can turn the evil