ATTACK THE BLOCK (15)
TRAINEE nurse Sam (Jodie Whittaker) is mugged on her way home by wayward lads Moses (John Boyega), Pest (Alex Esmail), Dennis (Franz Drameh), Jerome (Leeon Jones) and Biggz (Simon Howard). The assault is thankfully cut short by a meteor shower and when the youths investigate, they come face to snout with a creature from another world. The kids slay the snarling beastie and drag its lifeless, furry carcass to the top-floor drug den run by Hi-Hatz (Jumayn Hunter) and his lay-about door man, Ron (Nick Frost). A second downpour of meteors heralds more creatures and the lads gleefully grab weapons to attack the aliens which have descended on the unsuspecting south London council estate.
STAR RATING: ****
BLITZ (18)
DS TOM Brant (Jason Statham) has a knack for getting into trouble and is often splashed across the front pages thanks to local crime reporter, Harold Dunlop (David Morrissey). Threatened with suspension, Brant is enlisted to work under newly promoted and openly gay DS Porter Nash (Paddy Considine) to catch a cop killer. While Nash plays by the rules, Brant turns to his former boss, Chief Inspector James Roberts (Mark Rylance), for advice. He also keeps an eye on one-time undercover drug cop WPC Elizabeth Falls (Zawe Ashton), who is recently out of rehab and still has valuable informants in play. As the investigation continues, Nash and Brant bond and the men point the finger of suspicion at Barry Weiss (Aidan Gillen).
STAR RATING: ***
HANNA (12A)
SIXTEEN-year-old Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) lives in snowbound Scandinavia with her father Erik (Eric Bana), honing the fighting skills she will need for the perilous mission that lies ahead: to kill ruthless CIA agent Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett). Once she is trained and primed for action, Hanna bids farewell to her father and embarks on her quest to kill Wiegler with trained assassin Isaacs (Tom Hollander) and his henchmen on her trail.
STAR RATING: ***
INSIDIOUS (15)
JOSH Lambert (Patrick Wilson) and his wife Renai (Rose Byrne) move into a new house with sons Dalton (Ty Simpkins) and Foster (Andrew Astor). Late one night, Dalton hears a strange sound in the attic and foolishly goes to investigate. He glimpses a shadow and lets out a blood-curdling scream. The next morning, Foster tries to wake his brother but the boy has slipped into a coma. Three months later Renai senses something terribly wrong in the home and Foster adds to Renai's discomfort when he whimpers about an intruder. So Josh's mother Lorraine (Barbara Hershey) invites her supernaturally gifted friend Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) to survey the property.
STAR RATING: ***
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES (12A)
JOHNNY Depp hoists the mainsail once again, embarking on an action-packed adventure directed by Rob Marshall. This time, Jack Sparrow (Depp) joins forces with Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) to locate the Fountain Of Youth: one of the world's last undiscovered treasures. The quest becomes infinitely more perilous when Jack is forced aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge captained by legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), who is also seeking the Fountain, aided by his sexy daughter, Angelica (Penelope Cruz). Using all of his guile, Jack must somehow outwit Blackbeard and Angelica and reach the Fountain before his rivals. En route, he crosses paths with King George II (Richard Griffiths) and his father, Captain Teague (Keith Richards).
STAR RATING: **
THOR (12A)
IN THE fantastic realm of Asgard, ruled by Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and his wife Frigga (Rene Russo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is an arrogant heir to the throne. He acts first and thinks later, endangering the lives of his trusty companions Volstagg (Ray Stevenson), Sif (Jaimie Alexander), Hogun (Tadanobu Asano) and Fandral (Joshua Dallas) by launching a suicidal attack on the Frost Giants led by the menacing Laufey (Colm Feore). Odin strips his son of his powers and his legendary war hammer, and dispatches him to Earth as punishment, where the fallen god befriends scientist Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard), protegee Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and intern Darcy (Kat Dennings). The spark of attraction between Thor and Jane is palpable but without his powers, the fallen god must face the same trials and tribulations as any other mortal.
STAR RATING: ***
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (12A)
POISED to take his final veterinary exam, Jacob (Robert Pattinson) learns that his parents have been killed in a car accident and abandons his studies. With debts to pay and no roof over his head, the young man hitches a ride on a passing train, unaware it belongs to the circus run by August Rosenbluth (Christoph Waltz). The tyrant physically and mentally abuses animals and performers, including his beautiful wife Marlena (Reese Witherspoon) who rides the horses. When Jacob falls under Marlena's spell, he tries to resist his feelings. However, when August notices the way that the young man stares at Marlena, he exacts a horrific revenge.
STAR RATING: ***
WIN WIN (15)
MIKE Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) is struggling to survive in the harsh economic climate. Mike thinks his prayers have been answered when he agrees to act as legal guardian to elderly client Leo (Burt Young), who has early Alzheimer's – a role which brings in a monthly stipend of 1,500 dollars. Matters become complicated when Leo's grandson Kyle (Alex Shaffer) turns up unannounced, having run away from his negligent mother (Melanie Lynskey). Mike's wife Jackie (Amy Ryan) is reluctant to allow the wastrel to stay, locking Kyle in a room in the basement. In time, the Flahertys become a surrogate family for the troubled lad and the emotionally wounded teenager unexpectedly provides the catalyst for change.
STAR RATING: **
