Eid Mubarak everyone. The last few weeks of Ramadan saw only a handful of big releases coming out, but that’s about to change, as so many films are opening this eid to cater for different tastes in one of the busiest holidays of the year. So let’s see we what we are offered this time around.
X-Men: Dark Phoenix
Directed by: Simon Kinberg
With: Sophie Turner, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jessica Chastain
What is it about? Jean Grey begins to develop incredible powers that corrupt and turn her into a Dark Phoenix. Now the X-Men will have to decide if the life of a team member is worth more than all the people living in the world.
Heads Up: At last we’ll get the chance to see this troubled sequel from the X-Men franchise, which was marred by so many delays and reshoots, coupled with underwhelming trailers. All and all this doesn’t bode well for its prospect considering that the previous installment X-Men: Apocalypse has been poorly received from critics and audience. The completest in me wants to see it, but I don’t think I should.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
Directed by: Chad Stahelski
With: Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, and Laurence Fishburne
What is it about? Super-assassin John Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassin’s guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head – he is the target of hit men and women everywhere.
Heads Up: The third chapter of John Wick franchise is enjoying even bigger commercial and critical success than its predecessors. This is a must-see, especially if you love the previous two films.
Bharat
Directed by: Ali Abbas Zafar
With: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani, Varun Dhawan, and Tabu
What is it about? At the cusp of India’s birth as an Independent nation, a family makes an arduous journey to freedom. However, this freedom comes at a cost. An 8 year old boy, Bharat, makes a promise to his Father that he will keep his family together no matter what.
Heads Up: Salman Khan‘s obligatory eid release this time is a remake of the Korean film Ode to My Father, and while that film looks intimate and focused, this one looks grandiose and not in the right way. It’s still a Salman Khan film and people would go watch it, but whether it turns out to be a Sultan level success or a Tubelight level failure is to be seen.
The Secret Life of Pets 2
Directed by: Chris Renaud, Jonathan del Val
With: Patton Oswalt, Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Harrison Ford
What is it about? Continuing the story of Max and his pet friends, following their secret lives after their owners leave them for work or school each day.
Heads Up: Back in 2016 The Secret Life of Pets was a huge hit, making more than US $875m worldwide, and was ranked number 4 in that year’s US box-office chart ahead of The Jungle Book and Zootopia. Kids just loved it, even though it was just a crude & less-sophisticated version of A Toy Story. The sequel is bound to be a big hit too, even if it might not make as much money (because in fact there is an actual Toy Story film that will come out in a few weeks from now). Whether you are a fan of the first film or not, this one is the only option available this eid for the little ones.
The Hustle
Directed by: Chris Addison
With: Anne Hathaway, Rebel Wilson, Alex Sharp, and Tim Blake Nelson
What is it about? Two female scam artists, one low rent and the other high class, team up to take down the men who have wronged them.
Heads Up: A gender-switched remake of the classic 80’s comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (which itself was a remake of a 60s film called Bedtime Stories). The critics trashed this film as an unworthy version that doesn’t live up to its source material. That said, I think it will be entertaining if forgettable, considering how charming and funny its two leads are.
The Sun is also a Star
Directed by: Ry Russo-Young
With: Yara Shahidi, Charles Melton, and Faith Logan
What is it about? A teenager finds love at a difficult time in her family’s life.
Heads Up: Teen romance drama based on a novel. You can say it’s the young adult version of Before Sunrise, about two people crossing paths and falling in love in one day. The reviews are mixed, but for its target audience of young ladies, this is one of a few offering they are getting this eid.
