STARRING: Morgan Freeman, Monica Potter, Michael Wincott, Mika Boorem, Penelope Ann Miller,

LINE ON THE POSTER: The game is far from over

WHAT HAPPENS: After the death of his partner in a tragic road accident, which is played out in a spectacular opening sequence, master detective Alex Cross (Freeman) decides to take a back step from his profession, blaming himself for the horrific event. However when a Senator's daughter is kidnapped from a High Security Private School and two people are left dead, Cross is dragged back in. The kidnapper is plotting the crime of the century and wants Cross on his case as a worthy adversary. However, with a disgraced Secret Service Agent (Potter) in tow, Cross most find the girl before it's too late but there is more to this web of intrigue than there first appears.

ANY GOOD?: No, not really, it's a mere bog-standard thriller, which will offer little originality or excitement to anybody who has seen a few movies like this before. The set-piece suspense scenes are functional but no more than that and the twists that lead to the finale are confusing, nonsensical and ridiculous. It's real shame as there are two very talented people involved here, director Lee Tamahori (Once We Were Warriors) and Morgan Freeman (Seven, Unforgiven, Shawshank Redemption), who deserve better and their talent shines through in a sea of mediocrity. However it is not enough to save this film from being watchable but dull. If there is nothing else on, give it a go, but you're probably better off renting one of the films below (in... Liked it, Try:)

BEST BIT: A mammoth chase through the streets of Washington, then Union Station and through different trains, will the kidnapper get the money or will Alex get his man?

INTERESTING FACT: Even though this film has been made after 'Kiss the Girls', and the events are supposed to follow '...Spider' is actually based on a book, which was set before that film.

LIKED IT, TRY: Manhunter, The Hitcher, Seven or Kiss the Girls