Much ado is made about the gay subtext, but the power of this shipbound film more concerned with character psychology than naval action lies in its depiction of the often unnoticed distinction between law and justice - an almost didactic indictment of the inadequacy of the cold letter of the law when faced against the nuances of human behavior. Among the ensemble cast, Robert Ryan stands out as the sadistic, repressed Master of Arms.

Peter Mullan's powerful (and undervalued) The Magdalene Sisters may be a straight drama, but it's scarier than this exceedingly modest retread of found-footage aesthetics and demonic-themed horror movie tropes.

Tongue-in-cheek, it disembowels the conventions of the 'Evil Dead'-type of horror stories and, surprisingly, makes for a frightening self-reflexive indictment of the audiences' thirst for human blood onscreen - all masked as silly entertainment.

Majestic, dead-serious epic about innate decency and innate treachery in intelligent species. Character interaction betrays not a hint of foolishness - they all survived devastating tragedies and still manage to go on, even if unable to be completely happy or carefree again. A summer blockbuster tinged with melancholy.

A Roland Emmerich production this ain't.