Hercules

No less than Hercules movies were released in 2014, but this was by far the most successful, with director Brett Ratner finding the correct balance between humour, heart and epic action. Having completed the mythical 12 labours, and struggling to live up to his demigod reputation, Hercules (an imposing Dwayne Johnson) has turned mercenary with a five-man army of loyal followers. Hired to train the Thracian army to fight an evil warlord, the musclebound hero learns too late it's a double-cross, part of a plan for megalomaniac King Cotys (John Hurt) to rule Greece. Hercules's companions barely register, apart from seer Ian McShane with his amusing death predictions, and the exposition plods here and there. But Ratner papers over the cracks with incredibly exciting battle scenes, bladed chariot combat and warrior hordes that send the adrenaline racing.