We list’em, you pick’em.
The Last Airbinder
Starring: Noah Ringer, Dev Patel, Nicola Peltz, and Jackson Rathbone
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Running Time: 103 Min
Synopsis: The story follows the adventures of Aang, a young successor to a long line of Avatars, who must put his childhood ways aside and stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water, Earth and Air nations.
What We Think: We are fortunate that this film opened earlier in the month in the USA and we now already know that it has been unanimously proclaimed a disaster. It seems that Shyamalan has finally, finally lost his mojo, thus we strongly advise against wasting your time and money.
Predators
Starring: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, and Laurence Fishburne
Director: Nimród Antal
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Horror
Running Time: 107 Min
Synopsis: A group of elite warriors are hunted by members of a merciless alien race known as Predators.
What We Think: The word is out, and Predators is being called a worthy successor to the beloved 1987 film. The movie is geared specifically for men, who will appreciate its machismo, which is why we think it is the a perfect film to see with your best buddies before a night out.
Letters to Juliet
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Christopher Egan, Gael García Bernal, Franco Nero, and Vanessa Redgrave
Director: Gary Winick
Genre: Romance, Comedy.
Running Time: 105 min
Synopsis: When a young American travels to the city of Verona, home of the star-crossed lover Juliet Capulet of Romeo and Juliet fame, she joins a group of volunteers who respond to letters to Juliet seeking advice about love. After answering one letter dated 1957, she inspires its author to travel to Italy in search of her long-lost love, and sets off a chain of events that will bring a love into both their lives unlike anything they ever imagined.
What We Think: The critics were not as harsh on this film as they usually are with the Rom-Com genre usually, and the consensus is that, despite its limp dialogue and lack of surprises, the film is refreshingly charming and earnest. Also the amazing Vanessa Redgarve is always a big plus in any film. So if you are interested in pleasing the Mrs, we say why not.
The Salamin’ Salmon
Starring: Michael Clarke Duncan, Kevin Heffernan, Jay Chandrasekhar, and Steve Lemme
Director: Kevin Heffernan
Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 98 Min
Synopsis: “Slammin” Cleon Salmon is a former Heavyweight Champion of the World turned celebrity owner of a high end Miami seafood restaurant, The Slammin’ Salmon. A terrifying bull of a man, Salmon uses fear to rule over his misfit waiters. On this particular night, he takes his bullying skills to a new level. In an effort to pay off a gambling debt to the Japanese Yakuza, Salmon sets up a contest to “inspire” his staff to sell more food than they ever have before: the top selling server wins $10,000 while the waiter in last place gets served with a broken rib sandwich—courtesy of the Champ himself.
What We Think: Although it is almost a straight to DVD release, its concept is not half bad. If you are a fan of potty humor and juvenile antics workplace comedies, films like Waiting, then this one might be the film for you.
The Time That Remains
Starring: Ali Suliman, Elia Suleiman, and Saleh Bakri
Director: Elia Suleiman
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 104 min
Synopsis: The film is inspired by the private diaries of the author’s father, starting from when he was a resistance fighter in 1948, and by the letters of the author’s mother to family members who were forced to leave Palestine. The film portrays the daily life of those Palestinians who were labeled “Israeli-Arabs,” living as a minority in their own homeland.
What We Think: Nominated for last year’s Golden Palm in Cannes, this Palestinian film has been screening since last week at The Picturehouse in Reel Cinema and is the kind of film that any cinephile should not miss.
Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai
Starring: Ajay Devgan, Emraan Hashmi, Kangna Ranaut, and Prachi Desai
Director: Milan Luthria
Genre: Crime, Action, Drama
Running Time: 125 Min
Synopsis: A tale of two gangsters from the eras of past and present, whose lives enter parallel paths as they struggle to survive within Bombay’s criminal underworld.
What We Think: Ajay Devgan is at his best in this kind of films, and the director has at least one good film that we can recommend (Taxi 9211 with Nana Patekar and John Abraham) so we say why not.
Ezbat Adam
Starring: Mahmoud Yassine, Fathy abdel Wahab, Maged El Kedwany, Ahmed Azmy, and Donia Samir Ghanem
Director: Mahmoud Kamel
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 96 min
Synopsis: The story of 3 friends in a fishing coastal village, who are forced by poverty to commit some petty thefts. When they get involved in murders during a rubbery, a corrupt police officer has his way in the village and events escalate
What We Think: Finally an Egyptian film that we can mildly recommend, a rarity these days. We don’t think it will blow anyone’s mind, but it should be a step up from all the crap we have been getting lately from Egyptian cinema.