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

The last bunch of films of 2017 haven’t disappointed, with this week’s new releases offering up a circus-based musical, the second sequel of one of the highest grossing musical comedies of all-time, an inspirational real-life story of a polio-sufferer and an epic western. Dig in.

The Greatest Showman

What’s it About? Inspired by the Barnum & Bailey Circus (aka the Greatest Show on Earth), this musical drama tells of how one man built a spectacular circus and show from the ground up.

The Good: First off, High Jackman – is there anything this man can’t do? We all know he can carry a tune and, despite his stardom, he’s still very underrated as an actor. Alongside him are Zac Effron and Michelle Williams, but more importantly, the visuals look spectacular

The Bad: This has taken artistic license to the extreme, with many panning the film for how far off the mark it goes in using the story of Barnum & Bailey without actually telling it. Some have even called it shallow, despite being nominated for three Golden Globe nominations.

Pitch Perfect 3

What’s it About? After obliterating competition at university, all-female a cappella troupe, the Bellas, are now graduated, but come together for one final competition abroad, but find a new rival – a group that uses both voices and instruments.

The Good: All the cast is back and it seems like it’s more of the same humour that made the first instalment of the trilogy a sleeper hit. That and Anna Kendrick looks to be at her dry, eye-rolling, exasperated self. Few people do it better.

The Bad: Do we really need a third film about a group that dances and recreates instrumentation with their mouths? Plus, Elizabeth Banks hasn’t returned to direct, with Trish Sie – whose only other feature directing credit being the god-awful Step Up: All In – taking her place.

Hostiles

What’s it About? A sickly, imprisoned Cheyenne Chief is allowed by authorities to return to his tribe to die among his family. But helping him traverse the dangerous territories of the Wild West is an army captain that is more than a little reluctant.

The Good: Say what you will about him, but when Christian Bale is at peak form, he’s as formidable a lead man as anyone in Hollywood. Hostiles has all the makings of an epic western full of lessons learned and issues that remain relevant to modern America – simple, classic storytelling.

The Bad: Some have criticised its seemingly sluggish pace, while others have rendered its insistence on being, and letting its audience know that it is, politically correct hinders it.

Breathe

What’s it About? Biographical drama, Breathe, tells the story of Robert Cavendish, who was diagnosed with polio and became paralyzed from the neck down at the age of just 28, before defying doctors’ predictions of his imminent death and becoming one of the Britain’s biggest advocates for people with disabilities.

The Good: Like The Theory of Everything, this is a story that no one can deny is inspirational and moving – two words that essentially describe the film, which also spends much time focusing on the relationship between Cavendish and his wife, all while bathed in some marvellous looking cinematography.

The Bad: Inspiring, yes. Moving, probably. But this seems like a standard biopic that has little artistic innovation. Some have also criticised the script for presenting its two leads, played by Andrew Garfield and Clair Foy, as flawless human beings, rendering the whole thing a little flat.

To find out where and when you can catch these films, as well as animated movie, The Jungle Bunch, and Acts of Vengeance starring Antonio Banderas, check out the Cairo 360 Cinema Guide.