Critical Week: Shiver me timbers!

London critics were treated to a special preview of next spring's Aardman romp The Pirates! In an Adventure With Scientists! (or dumbed-down for American audiences as: The Pirates! Band of Misfits). Director Peter Lord walked us through the cast, a series of clips, one extended sequence from the film and two hysterical 3D trailers. He also brought along a range of puppets and sets from the film. Frankly, it looks wonderful. But we have to wait until March to see it.

Press screenings this busy past week included Steven Soderbergh's superb all-star revisionist action thriller Haywire, the rather enjoyably arch fourth Twilight movie Breaking Dawn: Part 1, Sam Worthington in the gimmicky heist thriller Man on a Ledge, the entertaining but slightly strained Happy Feet Two, John Madden's engaging all-star ageing Brits-in-India drama The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Glenn Close in the off-balance but well-performed Irish drama Albert Nobbs, Colm Meaney in the involving Irish drama Parked, Tom Tykwer's arty German three-way romance 3, and the corny-but-cute British comedy Buffering.

Coming up this week: Martin Scorsese's change-up 3D epic Hugo, Meryl Streep's Oscar-buzzed The Iron Lady, Charlize Theron in Young Adult, Margin Call, Jesse Eisenberg in Camp Hell, the Jamaican boxing drama Gett'a Life and the indie comedy Longhorns.