The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

With a dash of festiveness and a dose of fantasy, this week in Cairo cinemas is filled with magic and whimsy for all you dreamers out there. You can enter the world of the Transformers with the spin-off Bumblebee starring Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena. If nostalgia is what you seek, then head to the cinemas for Marry Poppins Returns starring Emily Blunt. You can also go for a more grounded experience with J.Lo in Second Act. 

Second Act

What’s it about? Second Act follows the story of Maya (Jennifer Lopez), a woman struggling with her career in the face of a world that disregards those who don’t hold college degrees. When the chance of a lifetime presents itself, Maya has to do all she can to fit the role.

The good: Everything aside, who doesn’t like J.Lo? She seems like the perfect casting choice for this sweet comedy. The plot is simple and there’s no fuss, just pure comedy and inspiring story of ambition and hard work. Peter Segal is known for such movies, with him being at the helm of 50 First Dates (2004), The Longest Yard (2005), and Get Smart (2008).

The bad: Of course, with a movie like this one, there’s always the risk of it being a been-there-done-that situation, which may end up disappointing some audience members.

Bumblebee

What’s it about? This movie is based on perhaps one of the most lovable Transformers characters ever, Bumblebee. The film is set in 1987 when Bumblebee lands on planet Earth to find refuge.

The good: From the trailer, and the fact that it is set in 1987, Bumblebee tries to separate itself from previous Transformers movies. It seems this movie is a fresh and fun rendition of the Transformers characters, something that’s been missing in their recent flicks.

The bad: When Transformers was just a series, 90s kids were crazy about it. And, when news came about it hitting the big screen, people went nuts. Unfortunately, the final entries in this franchise have been somewhat of a disappointment, something that Bumblebee may not be able to solve.

Marry Poppins Returns

What’s it about? The joyful character is back in this 2018 adaptation of this classic tale. Emily Blunt plays the charismatic Marry Poppins, in a film that sees her return to help a family in need.

The good: What should make this movie pop, is the brilliantly talented and gorgeous Emily Blunt. Additionally, the movie is written by David Magee, writer of Finding Neverland (2004) and Life of Pi (2012).

The bad: Remaking a classic is always a difficult feat; directors, writers, and actors must all be at their best to rival the incomparable 1964 film. While preliminary ratings are promising, even the slightest of errors could break this movie.

To find out where and when you can catch these films, check out the Cairo 360 Cinema Guide.