Latest releases reviewed.

This lavish version of CS Lewis's classic novel is, like its source material, a bit too keen to wag a righteous finger at perceived immorality, but it moves at such a cracking pace one hardly has time to care. There are rumours of a planned extended cut on DVD, but, until that arrives, the generously appointed two-disc edition should do nicely. Donald Clarke

FACTOTUM
Directed by Bent Hamer. Starring Matt Dillon, Lili Taylor, Marisa Tomei, Fisher Stevens, Didier Flammand, Adrienne Shelly 16 cert
****

Hamer's adaptation of writings by the late Charles Bukowski features a nicely dishevelled performance by Dillon as the author's alter ego. There is not much plot here - he boozes, he shags - but the grubby atmosphere is so well maintained, and the bleak humour so effective, that the picture proves hard to resist. The best Bukowski film to date. Donald Clarke

THUMBSUCKER
Directed by Mike Mills. Starring Lou Pucci, Tilda Swinton, Vincent D'Onofrio, Keanu Reeves, Vince Vaughn, Benjamin Bratt 18 cert
****

Yet another angst-ridden coming-of-age movie set against the stifling blandness of American suburbia, but there is a welcome freshness to this first feature from music video virtuoso Mills. Heading a an eclectic cast, Pucci shows subtlety and flair as the skinny, lank-haired and insecure student protagonist. Michael Dwyer

DOOM
Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. Starring Karl Urban, The Rock, Rosamund Pike, Dexter Fletcher, Ben Daniels, 16 cert
*

Sitting before your TV, you become inflamed with a desperate urge to relive the first-person thrills of that brilliantly violent video game with the big guns. You could rent this terrible film, in which The Rock and his chums stomp about Mars killing zombies. Then again, you could just play the bloody game.