In Cairo Cinemas: What to Expect from This Week’s New Films
Cairo 360
Even though January has come and gone, Hollywood isn’t quite out of its ‘dump months’ quite yet. You see, January and February are when studios like to release inevitable film failures – hence, the very charming name ‘dump months.
But with the Oscar nominations already announced and awards season on the horizon, the world of film is buzzing and this week’s new releases offer a little something for everyone – an all-out action and a reboot of a popular horror flick, but we begin with what could be one of the surprises hits if the year…
What’s it About? After stealing the show in 2014’s The Lego Movie, Will Arnett’s version of Batman is back with his own solo outing. Here, our hero goes up against his most dangerous of foes, the Joker.
Why it Might Be Good: If the off-beat humour of The Lego Movie can be resurrected, then we’re in for a treat. Plus, Zach Galifianakis (The Joker), Michael Cera (Robin), Rosario Dawson (Batgirl), Ralph Fiennes (Alfred), Jonah Hill (Green Lantern) and Channing Tatum (Superman) are also part of the star cast.
Why it Might Be Bad: The annals of history tell us that spin-offs based on one character rarely live up to expectations – but then this is no normal spin-off.
What’s it About? World-class assassin, John Wick, comes out of retirement once more to honour a blood oath to help an old colleague as he tries to seiz control of a secret assassin’s guild.
Why it Might Be Good: Speaking of surprise hits, 2014’s John Wick might have gone unnoticed by the masses, but solid reviews and a cult following made a sequel inevitable. If the neo-noir elements, spaghetti western influences, visuals and action sequences remain intact, then this could be as good as the original.
Why it Might Be Bad: The fact that the character of Wick hasn’t necessarily connected with audiences is a slight worry. One thing that the original was criticised for was that it pretty on the outside, hollow on the inside – the synopsis for chapter doesn’t that this will change.
What’s it About? The third entry into the Rings Trilogy (the American version) tells of more cursed video malarkey, as the irritably creepy Samara Morgan returns to claim the lives of starry-eyed, pretty-looking young people.
Why it Might Be Good: This one’s a bit of a toughie. Samara Morgan – the girl who comes out of the TV – is one of the best modern horror baddies and the first two Ring films, despite their many faults, did succeed in creating an affectively eerie tone and aesthetic.
Why it Might be Bad: There’s nothing particularly new about the plot and no matter how much the makers try to embed it into the timeline of the trilogy, it reads more like a reboot than a sequel – one that will inevitably set-up another sequel in the end.
Stay tuned for all the info you need for this week’s new films with the Cairo 360 Cinema Guide – showing times, cinema locations, reviews and more.
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