Thoughtful Koichi (Koki Maeda) lives with his mother beneath ominous volcanic clouds in Kagoshima whilst his fun-loving little brother Ryu (Ohshirô Maeda) persists with their idler father in Fukuoka. Ryu remembers only fights but Koichi recalls happy times and determines to reunite the family by making a wish during the magical eruption that occurs when two bullet trains pass. Director Koreeda creates exceptional warmth in this simple tale of brotherly love not least through the shepherding of several fantastic young…

Launching ‘phase two’ of the Marvel cinematic universe is Iron Man 3 (2013), possibly the final outing for Robert Downey Jr’s Shellhead. Shane Black takes the reins and his blistering dialogue and sharp wit fit Stark even better than his tailored suits. The nemeses on this occasion, amoral scientist Killian (Guy Pearce) and theatrical terrorist The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), manage to hit Tony where it hurts; now it’s time for him to prove his heroic mettle. The climactic battle is…