FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD (12A)

3 stars

The events of this uneven adaptation of Thomas Hardy's novel take place in Dorset in 1870, where Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan) contends with a trio of suitors while trying to run her own farm. Independent, strong and educated, she's not your typical Victoria woman, which quickly emerges as one of the film's most striking and worthwhile aspects.

Nearby farmer Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts) is rugged and honourable, and doesn't mess about as he proposes to her after their first meeting. She refuses his offer, but soon after he faces financial ruin when his sheep are killed by his inexperienced sheepdog, while Bathsheba inherits her own farm and takes him in as her shepherd.

Bathsheba works hard on her farm, with no need for a husband, though neighbouring farmer Boldwood (Michael Sheen) is also keen for a marriage alliance. Also in the mix is a soldier, Sergeant Troy (Tom Sturridge), who is set to marry another woman.

There's not really much going on of importance during a set-up phase where the plot is somewhat fed on contrivance and misunderstanding, and can border on the unbelievable at several points.

But the strength and depth of the characters sees us through that, and once things start to darken it does begin to pick up a little. Yet it can still struggle to shake off that soapy quality, though it's to director Thomas Vinterberg's credit that he doesn't give in fully to the melodrama.

Mulligan belongs completely in 19th century dress, and Bathsheba thundering across the clifftops on her horse is a stirring sight. Yet she too often looks wry and amused, like she's in on a joke that no one else in the film is.

Belgian Schoenaerts is having quite a time just now in English-language dramas, and his English accent is reasonably convincing, while Sheen makes probably the most impact as the lovelorn Boldwood.

Where it really falls short though is in the role of Sergeant Troy. John Schlesinger's 1967 version of Hardy's novel had Terence Stamp, and Sturridge simply can't hope to compete with that in terms of raw appeal.

If you're being kind, there isn't really anyone who could compete with Stamp, but Sturridge still struggles to convince.

As a result it's a stretch to believe that someone as strong and wilful as Bathsheba would fall for him so quickly. It also casts Bathsheba in a less flattering light, as she descends from a position of strength to one of indecision and downright bad decision.

As period pieces go, this is typically handsome, and there's enough to invest in despite the dodgier moments. In the end it's a battle through a lot of silly circumstances to a decent final result.

Director: Thomas Vinterberg

Running time: 119 mins

MONSTERS: DARK CONTINENT (15)

2 stars

Low budget British sci-fi Monsters from a few years ago took a novel approach to the alien invasion movie, using the beasties as a low key background to the human story happening in the foreground.

This dull sequel goes for a similar approach as a bunch of army buddies head out for their first tour to the infected zone in the Middle East, not actually to fight monsters but to track down local insurgents.

So it's a standard (and therefore familiar and clichéd) war movie for the most part, more American Sniper than Cloverfield, but saddled with clunking metaphors about who the real monsters are.

The monsters themselves are sidelined for pretty much the entire film, though the visuals are impressive are there are a couple of effective moments when a firefight is suddenly given a bit of life by a surprise monster appearance.

But with its poor pace, ludicrous running time and characters who give us no reason to care about them, it's mostly an uninvolving chore.

Director: Tom Green

Running time: 121 mins

SAMBA (15)

3 stars

Samba (Omar Sy) has lived and worked in Paris for ten years since arriving from Senegal, but a check by immigration authorities reveals that he is there illegally and he is sent to a detention centre.

Dealing, like last week's The Good Lie, with a big and topical subject matter, this is given an oddball twist with the addition of Charlotte Gainsbourg as Alice, the naive and unsure charity volunteer worker assigned to help him to stay in France.

What follows is both dramatically sound and pleasingly humorous, as Samba picks up day work and Alice's backstory and own recent troubles are revealed. It does go on a bit, but remains fairly compelling nonetheless, and its lightness of touch really helps.

Directors: Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano

Running time: 119 mins

TWO BY TWO (U, 87 mins)

2 stars

Another in a recent influx of ugly European animations, Two by Two is Noah from the point of view of the animals. Young Finny and his dad are furry, solitary bird-like creatures called Nestrians who set out for the ark when they learn a flood is coming.

Some animals are not on the list when they get there, and given that the creatures involved are clearly no longer with us, it's a fairly flawed premise to begin with.

The admin of getting on the boat is neatly handled, like the ark is a cruise ship with a PA system and monkey butlers, but beyond that the execution is lacking.

In the uninspired voices and drab animation it's fairly second rate, as they try to catch up with the departed boat in a series of lacklustre scrapes and adventures. Though not quite as terrible at it initially suggests, that's hardly a recommendation, and Two By Two is weak sauce in most regards.

Directors: Toby Genkel, Sean McCormack

Running time: 87 mins