Fury

At one point during “Fury,” the World War II drama starring Brad Pitt, a tank commander’s head is blown off while he’s hunched outside his vehicle during a fiery battle with a combatant. “Fury” writer-director David Ayer insists he didn’t include the surprise decapitation simply to shock moviegoers.

The latest corner of World War II to be dramatised for the big screen is small. Cramped, even. In Fury, starring Brad Pitt and Shia leBeouf, we follow the story of five American soldiers, a crew serving in one tank in Germany, 1945.

World War II has proven to be fertile cinematic ground: there are so many inspirational stories to tell from a number of perspectives, all important. The challenge lies in telling a new tale and avoiding treading on familiar territory.

The bloody World War II drama “Fury” blew past “Gone Girl” at theaters this weekend.

The London Film Festival rolls into the capital with 248 films shown at 17 venues over 12 days, bringing with it delights from all over the world.