Guardians of the Galaxy (3D) (12A)

Directed by James Gunn

5/5

Marvel is extending its universe on the big screen with a lesser known band of super heroes who — on the face of it — show little promise but in reality have surpassed all (my) expectations.

Who knew that tree Groot (Vin Diesel), raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper), a blue-coloured strongman Drax (Dave Bautista), green-skinned alien woman Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and a half-earthling Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) could make such compelling heroes.

After stealing a mysterious orb Quill is forced into an uneasy alliance with the above four misfits to ensure it doesn’t fall into the megalomaniac hands of the powerful villain Ronan (Lee Pace).

Directed and co-written by James Gunn, this is a truly spectacular ride. It combines great action-packed scenes with funny and emotional sequences and at times keeps its tongue firmly in its cheek.

It contains great gags, is terribly moving and has the best use of ’80s music — it should appeal to non-comic book fans.

Pratt, who apparently lost 60 pounds for his role, makes a worthy superhero while Diesel steals the film by uttering his one immortal line “I am Groot” over and over again.

It is so much fun and Marvel have already announced that a sequel is on its way. Personally, I can’t wait.

A Promise (12A)

Directed by Patrice Leconte

2/5

For a period romantic drama that promises to ooze with sensuality and sexual frisson it falls disappointingly short on all fronts.

Based on Stefan Zweig’s novella Journey Into the Past, it is set in 1912 Germany and centres on young married woman Lotte (Rebecca Hall) who falls for her husband Karl’s (Alan Rickman) protege Friedrich (Richard Madden).

When Friedrich is told to go to Mexico for two years to oversee Karl’s mines the couple confess their love to each other and promise to wait for one another. 

Unfortunately, they have a very long wait as WWI breaks out just as Friedrich is due to return.

The problem lies in that there is zero chemistry between Hall and Madden last known from Game of Thrones, who looks like he is sucking on lemons most of the time rather than a man battling his love demons.

The sexual tension between them is as forced and laboured as the dialogue.

The only saving grace is Rickman, who rises above the film’s pretensions to give another commanding performance.

Blackwood (15)

Directed by Adam Wimpenny

3/5

It is wise to pay attention to the details in this re-edited version of Blackwood because it isn’t the cliched haunted house horror that it first appears.

Set in England, it centres on college professor and TV celebrity Ben Marshall (Ed Stoppard) who, recovering from a nervous breakdown, moves to the countryside with his wife (Sophia Myles) and young son (Isaac Andrews).

Slowly he is beginning to be plagued by ghostly visions. Is it the house or is his just cracking up?

Cue large eerie country house, creepy village folk (Russell Tovey and Paul Kaye), a broken clock which chimes mysteriously in the early hours and things that go bump in the night.

These are all the main staples of your regular supernatural horror but it is the final act which gives Blackwood its edge and makes it stand out from the crowd.

It features a solid and surprising twist which will make you wish you had paid closer attention.

The Nut Job (3D) (U)

Directed by Peter Lepeniotis

3/5

A maverick exiled squirrel is forced to help his former park animal community rob a nut shop in this sweet and inoffensive animation aimed squarely at kids.  

Canadian animator and director Peter Lepeniotis’s 2005 animated short Surly Squirrel was the kernel for The Nut Job in which Surly (Will Arnett) and Andie (Katherine Heigl) team up to raid the store owned by bank robbers.

Meanwhile Liam Neeson voices Raccoon — the animal community’s evil leader — who promotes democracy yet rules the group with an iron grip, keeping them hungry and frightened so he can control them.

It isn’t a ground-breaking animation but the youngsters who saw this with me thoroughly enjoyed it.