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Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week.

Non-Stop
Starring: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Michelle Dockery, Lupita Nyong'o, Linus Roache, Anson Mount, Corey Stoll, and Scoot McNairy
Synopsis: Liam Neeson has found a career niche as the new go-to action hero. It might not seem that logical that the 61-year-old Neeson is one of Hollywood’s go-to action stars, but that fact can’t be denied. He is the star of the “Taken” franchise, which has produced two films with another one in development, and now here in “Non-Stop,” an action film set aboard a plane bound for London. It’s also been quite a month for Neeson, who serves as the voice of Bad Cop in “The Lego Movie,” which dominated at the Box Office for the first three weekends in February. Some might have questioned “Non-Stop” based on the premise and the trailer, which doesn’t say much about the film. However, while it’s still an action film in an enclosed space, it’s done well. “Non-Stop” is surprisingly entertaining, due in large part to Neeson and a top flight supporting cast. This is the second time I’ve been pleasantly surprised by a thriller set on a commercial flight. In 2005, I wondered how a film about a woman kidnapped aboard a flight would work, but “Red Eye” turned out to be surprisingly entertaining. Similarly, I questioned how this action plot would work in “Non-Stop,” but it turned out to be one of the more entertaining releases of 2014 to this point. The trick in both films was great performances. Neeson is a perfect sort of leading man. He does a great job of leaning into this part, and selling all the aspects of Bill. He’s also surrounded by some strong supporting actors. Dockery, best known as Lady Mary in “Downton Abbey,” and Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o do a nice job as the flight attendants. Moore gives a strong performance as Bill’s fellow passenger and confidant. And there are other good supporting actors among the passengers, including Corey Stoll, Scoot McNairy, Nate Parker, Linus Roache and Anson Mount. This isn’t the deepest of films, nor is it that complex, but that’s not the point. The script from John W. Richardson, Christopher Roach and Ryan Engle builds the suspense and keeps the audience guessing, and the direction from Jaume Collet-Serra keeps the story moving forward. This is a film that knows what it is and knows what it needs to accomplish. It’s a satisfying action film that fills a couple hours. During the winter, there are worse things.
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, some language, sensuality and drug references.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Pompeii
Starring: Kit Harrington, Emily Browning, Carrie Anne Moss, Jessica Lucas, Jared Harris, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Kiefer Sutherland
Synopsis: If "Non-Stop" was the pleasant surprise of February, "Pompeii" goes the other way. This seemed like a movie that would be hard-pressed to be interesting and good, and it turns out that was spot-on. Harrington is a fine actor. I like him as Jon Snow on "Game of Thrones," where he is a strong part of an incredible ensemble cast. Here, they try to make him the center point of the film. It doesn't work, especially with Browning trying to carry the other half of this "love story" narrative. She doesn't work in this part either. But, take heart Harrington and Browning, you're in good company. Sutherland greatly over acts, Moss and Harris have no character to live into, and Akinnouye-Agbaje feels like he's doing his best Djimon Hounsou from "Gladiator." In fact, this movie feels like it wants very badly to be "Gladiator" with a volcano eruption, but it just doesn't have that kind of narrative, performances, or dramatic heft. Paul W.S. Anderson is trying to branch out from his "Resident Evil" and "Alien vs. Predator" films with this, and there are some elements that could have been intriguing here, but this just isn't a great film. It has decent effects, it's mildly entertaining, and then it ends predictably. Of course, since people who are familiar with history know how this is going to go, it all feels kind of like a pointless journey anyway.
Rating: PG-13 for intense battle sequences, disaster-related action and brief sexual content.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:
Friday, March 7 — "Peabody and Sherman," "300: Rise of an Empire," "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Friday, March 14 — "Need for Speed," "Veronica Mars," "Bad Words," "Tyler Perry's Single Mom's Club"
Friday, March 21 — "Divergent," "Muppets Most Wanted"
Friday, March 28 — "Noah," "Sabotage," "A Haunted House 2"