Exberliner DEC: Wreck-it Ralph, The Man With The Iron Fists, Around the world in 14 films

Rich Moore's Wreck-It Ralph.

"Just because you're a bad-guy, doesn't mean you're a bad guy". This is the mantra of Rich Moore's Wreck it Ralph; an animation of great tenderness and craft, gushing with nostalgia for the arcade game world it inhabits. After 30 years acting as resident bad-guy in 8-bit game "Fix it Felix", Ralph (John C Reilly) is understandably jaded. Every evening spent watching squeaky-clean hero Felix polish off his medals and bask in his public's adoration. Seeking a change Ralph decides to head out into the arcade world to claim a medal of his own and some long overdue recognition. 

RZA's The Man with the Iron Fists.

Wu Tang maestro RZA pours his Staten island brand of eastern philosophy and decades of Kung Fu fandom into this cluttered tale of revenge.

We're in Feudal China and Gold has been stolen; a peaceful leader has been usurped by a cruel tyrant; a man made of steel is on the warpath; a mysterious hooded assassin is killing people with deadly poisoned darts; a bunch of other stuff is going on too. It's all a bit of a mess. An iron-fisted Blacksmith (RZA himself) joins up with a hedonistic Englishman named Jack (A plump-and thoroughly enjoying himself-Russell Crowe) to sort it all out.

With Eli Roth on the script and presented (whatever that means) by none other than Quentin Tarentino, RZA's clearly called in some favours. The all-star soundtrack features Kanye and The Black Keys and while the tunes are solid they rarely compliment what we see on screen. This sort of over indulgence is rampant; with RZA plundering his resources when you feel a lighter touch would have done the job.

Whenever a director speaks of ‘The Movie they’ve always dreamt of making’ it's wise to approach with caution and Iron Fists is no different. The winks and nods to kung fu lore are plenty of fun but the project feels about as over-gestated as you might expect from something that’s spent a lifetime in production.

Around the World in 14 Films. Neighbouring Sounds (Pictured).

Around the world in 14 films hits Kino Babylon this month to showcase a selection of films from around the globe, each plucked from the cream of this year’s festival circuit. It all kicks off with Sundance hit/indie juggernaut Beasts of the Southern Wild (30 NOV/19:30, 2 DEC/21:45), but alongside Benh Zeitlin’s excellent debut there are plenty of (somewhat) more hidden gems to savour. Directors Jessica Woodward and Peter Brosens blend sinister aesthetics and apocalyptic eco-fear to chilling effect in rural terror piece The Fifth Season; as when spring refuses to arrive, a small farming town in the Ardennes turns to chaos (4 DEC/22:15, 5 DEC/20:00). Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s **Hail**, concerning an ex-con’s decent into madness and violence, is a fine slice of stylised Australian realism (7 DEC, 22:15). Having brokered a surprisingly simple deal to become the Liberian ambassador to The Central African Republic, Danish filmmaker Mads Brügger investigates the shady dealings of diamond-smuggling faux-diplomats in undercover expose The Ambassador (1 DEC/22:00, 4 DEC/20:00). After suffering a stroke, a housemaid finds friendship and solace in her young ex-employer in Ann Hui’s A Simple Life (3 DEC, 22:00). In the vibrant Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho explores the banality of some intertwining urban lives in the affluent Brazilian city of Recife (DEC 1/19:30, DEC 7/20:00).