Cairo 360
A musical, a Bollywood movie, and a horror; this is the sum of this week’s releases, where each movie appeals to a somewhat small number of audience, while being completely unwatchable to the rest. If you’re into musicals, you’ve got Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, if you like the Bollywood formula, then Race 3 is your game, and finally, if you’re a fan of horror movies, then give Hereditary a go.
What’s it about? Race 3 is the third entry in the Race franchise. This time around, the movie revolves around a criminal family planning their upcoming move, and suddenly having to deal with a lot of secrets unfolding.
The good: Bollywood has come a long way in terms of action movies, especially when it comes to production scale. So if you’re a fan watching buffed up handsome Indians rocking it in some ridiculous action stunts, car chases, fist fights, or even dance moves, this is the movie for you.
The bad: You probably haven’t seen any of the Race movies, and you probably don’t know any of the cast or filmmakers. The action scenes are likely to be exaggerated and unrealistic, and the language barrier will add to the discomfort of watching such a movie.
What’s it about? A disturbing, thrilling, and horrifying story of a family dealing with the death of a loved one. A mother dies, leaving behind her a grieving daughter and a possessed granddaughter, forcing the family to deal with dark secrets, paranormal events, and horrifying incidents.
The good: Hereditary happens to be the first feature film by director and writer Ari Aster, who has quite a vast experience in writing and directing short films. Just by watching the trailer, you’ll know how complex the gripping horror film is. Coming from the producers of Split, and The Witch, the movie has been described as a film that “grips you with real horror, the unspeakable kind” by The Av Club.
The bad: There’s a risk that Hereditary turns out to be one of those horror movies that offer nothing but one shock after another, without a solidly grounded plot. Such a type of movie will definitely not be for everyone.
What’s it about? The sequel to the hugely successful Mamma Mia (2008) is finally here! This time, Sophie learns secrets about her mother, while having to deal with pregnancy. The movie transfers screenplay and directing duties to Ol Parker, but still stars Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, and Pierce Brosnan.
The good: Everything you loved about the first movie is back; beautiful sceneries, cheerful songs, lively dances, a dash of comedy, and the exact dosage of drama you need. Lily James plays a young Meryl Streep and through her we learn the story of Donna, Sophie’s mother. While the plot may not offer that much, the show is definitely worth the watch if you’re into this type of movie.
The bad: These kinds of movies usually drop significantly in quality, especially since it’s coming out 10 years later, it really seems like an afterthought. A lot of reviews are complaining about the lack of a proper plot, and the general clumsiness in bouncing between the present story and flashbacks of a young Donna.
To find out where and when you can catch these films, check out the Cairo 360 Cinema Guide.
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