YOUR GUIDE TO THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

Only one mainstream movie release coming to cinemas this week (along with some limited release movies), and it's a blockbuster getting good ratings. The movie is...

TOP PICK TO SEE

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROGUE NATION starring, who else but, Tom Cruise, in which Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate - an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF. Critics are calling Tom Cruise "an action star without equal" and the movie is being enjoyed by critics and general viewers alike. Empire's Ian Nathan describes Rogue Nation as being, 'Easily, almost nonchalantly, best in franchise... Rogue Nation dispenses with the dead weight of realism or relevance for state-of-the-art thrill-making in a classical mould. The series has finally found its voice.' Looking forward to seeing it!

OTHERS TO SEE

FAR FROM MEN (in limited release) is set in Algeria, 1954. Two very different men thrown together by a world in turmoil are forced to flee across the Atlas mountains. Daru, the reclusive teacher, has to escort Mohamed, a villager accused of murder. It's a deeply moving, profound story relevant for our age. Slant Magazine's Chuck Bowen says, The film often suggests a less defiant cover of The Defiant Ones, yet it's a must-see for Viggo Mortensen's characteristically wonderful performance. I will post my review of this excellent film shortly.

Another movie in limited release, NOBLE, is about Christina Noble who overcomes the harsh difficulties of her childhood in Ireland to discover her destiny on the streets of Saigon. A true story. For Washington Post's Stephanie Merry, Writer-director Stephen Bradley may make some missteps, but he capitalises on this underdog story's inherent thrills.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

Finally, another movie in limited release, MAX tells the story of a dog that helped US Marines in Afghanistan returns to the U.S. and is adopted by his handler's family after suffering a traumatic experience. Critics, generally, are not greeting this one favourably. TheWrap's Inkoo Kang warns us that, None of [the] plot points are run through with any thoughtfulness or panache. Despite a great, unaffected performance by Wiggins - the only one among the cast - and the primal joy of seeing the dog actors sprinting, leaping and maybe even emoting, the film is sunk because the characters never transcend their seeming origins in a Disney Channel movie project.

That's it for this week. See you at the movies!

*NOTE* Movie summaries are adaptations of movie summary on IMDB. Opinions are mine unless credited.