Mongol

Starring: Tadanobu Asano, Khulan Chuluun, Sun Honglei and Odnyam Odsuren, Pai Ying
Directed by: Sergei Bodrov
Genres: drama, history
This epic from Russian director Sergei Bodrov follows a boy born in late 12th century Mongolia with the decidedly unmacho name of Temudgin. As Mongol dramatises, the boy later grows into the legendary warrior Genghis Khan. Using only old-school analogue effects, Bodrov crafts an epic tale of the Termudgin's nomadic upbringing. Critics loved the rich ethnographic detail in the film and the gorgeous visuals and camera work. Fans who showed up expecting battles as big as the Mongolian steppes were loudly disappointed.

Hancock

Starring: Will Smith, Jason Bateman, Eddie Marsan and Charlize Theron
Directed by: Peter Berg
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

In the States, Will Smith owns movie theatres during the week of America's Fourth of July holiday, and his summer blockbusters beat all other comers in sending fans to theatres. For this year's entry, directed by Peter Berg, Smith plays Hancock, a down-and-out superhero in Los Angeles who does plenty of good but also causes plenty of damage while bagging baddies. Only when he saves the life of a press agent does he discover a sensitive side and begin working to earn the respect of the good citizens he protects and serves.

A Million Bullets

By James Fergusson
When British troops went into Helmland in southern Afghanistan in 2006, the operation was supposed to be one of stabilisation and rebuilding. As it turned out, it was anything but. James Fergusson in A Million Bullets: The Real Story of the British Army in Afghanistan details how units faced months under siege from Taliban insurgents and how little remains of the original optimism of the mission among soldiers on the ground. Critics said that Fergusson sets out the stories of the soldiers -- and even one Taliban commander -- with great feeling for the emotional impact the battles have had on individuals. Fans have found A Million Bullets to be a gripping read that calls into question the wisdom of pursuing the mission.

Risk

By Dan Gardner
Fear is wired into our brains. It happened a long time ago when humans had to worry about being eaten by predators, when our species live a hunter-gatherer existence. The problem, Dan Gardner explains in Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear, is that our brains haven't adapted to the modern world. Even though the human capacity for rational thought has expanded exponentially during the past few millennia, it hasn't surpassed the capacity for fear to shape our thoughts and our actions. Fans have applauded Gardner's interdisciplinary approach, integrating psychology, economics and biology, and his many detailed examples.