It is the weekend before Eid, and as usual the releases are spread out across a few days leading to Eid’s night, and what is Eid without a Salman Khan film? Also Transformer 5 is out, and so are many other films that attracts the Eid crowd, so keep reading.
Transformers: The Last Knight
Directed by: Michael Bay
With: Mark Wahlberg, Laura Haddock, Gemma Chan, Josh Duhamel, and Anthony Hopkins
What is it about? Humans and Transformers are at war, Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth.
Heads Up: This is the 5th in the Transformers franchise (but who’s counting, right?), a franchise that’s immensely popular yet critically panned. I enjoyed the first one, hated the second, gave up the third halfway through, and haven’t bothered with the fourth. I would say avoid, but I am sure this advice will not be heard by many.
Tubelight
Directed by: Kabir Khan
With: Salman Khan, Zhu Zhu, Sohail Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan
What is it about? Tubelight is the story of a man’s unshakable faith in himself and the love for his family.
Heads Up: Another Eid, another Salman Khan release. Thankfully, he’s moved on from over-the-top action fare and is attempting something different now. Tubelight is from the director of Bajrangi Bhaijaan, arguably Salman Khan’s best work in recent years. This makes Tubelight slightly more interesting than just the selling point that is the leading man’s name.
Overdrive
Directed by: Antonio Negret
With: Scott Eastwood, Ana de Armas, and Freddie Thorp
What is it about? Two car thief brothers, who journey to the south of France for new opportunities, wind up in the cross hairs of the local crime boss.
Heads Up: A wannabe Fast & Furious only sillier, which might appeal to the Eid crowd. Lower your bar of expectation and you might just enjoy it — especially if you *have* to go to the movies, and can’t find tickets for the bigger two releases.
Railroad Tigers
Directed by: Ding Sheng
With: Jackie Chan, Jaycee Chan, and Zitao Huang
What is it about? A railroad worker in China in 1941 leads a team of freedom fighters against the Japanese in order to get food for the poor.
Heads Up: This latest Jackie Chan film co-starring his son was not received well by critics who complained about the unfocused narrative and jarring tonal shift. That said, you can always count on Jackie Chan to provide some entertainment.
Antar Ibn Ibn Ibn Ibn Shaddad
Directed by: Sherif Ismail
With: Mohamed Heneidi, Dorra, and Eman Elsayed
What is it about? The grandson of Antar Al Abassi enters into a bitter struggle with the lion of men, and tries to overcome him with all the strength to win the heart of the most beautiful girl in the tribe.
Heads Up: This is Egyptian slapstick comedy that is kind of retelling of a famous love story from Arab history dates back more than 1500 years. You can count on Mohamed Heneidi to entertain, but in my opinion Egyptian comedy would only appeal to Arabic speaking audience.
