OPERATION RED SEA

One of the year’s biggest hits ($579m worldwide) skipped a UK cinema release. Perhaps it was because this gung-ho account of an elite naval unit taking on terrorists is unadorned military propaganda. Nonetheless, it’s a riveting example of how the Chinese film industry is taking on Hollywood. Director Dante Lam’s sustained set-pieces are the definition of overkill, outdoing even Michael Bay. And, given the level of gore, they’re not kidding about the red, either… Simon Kinnear