Reel magic: Latest movies in UAE

David Light delves through the UAE’s latest cinema releases

JURASSIC WORLD

CAN YOU BELIEVE it has been 22 years since the first Jurassic Park hit cinemas? 22 years! We’re not surprised they made a film about dinosaurs, there were probably a few still roaming around at that time. This was an era before mobile phones were mainstream, before anyone really bothered with the Internet and 10 quid would get you a ticket to the movies, a box of popcorn, probably a down-payment on a house and you’d still have change for the bus home. 

 This week’s release of Jurassic World is significant for two reasons. Firstly, we’re all getting very, very old and secondly it reinforces just how good the first film continues to be. Stating the obvious, technology wasn’t as good back in 1993, however, the picture’s special effects have stood the test of time. Though, with Jurassic World, we can’t get over the fact some of the dinosaurs look obviously computer-generated.

 In terms of the story, it’s more of the same. The original idea of Jurassic Park – a prehistoric theme park – has come to fruition in the form of Jurassic World. As always things go haywire and the dinosaurs must be stopped before they destroy humanity. The excellent Chris Pratt stars and that’s all we can say really.

 Fans of the franchise will enjoy this as will the traditional summer blockbuster hunter.

 Trivia

• Tonight, June 11, is 22 years to the day since the first Jurassic Park opened.

 

BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY

Instantly forgettable and, unfortunately, a second stinker from the usually excellent Sam Rockwell in as many weeks. If his remake of Poltergeist didn’t get you down, this one will.

 Better Living Through Chemistry takes no-frills pharmacist Sam Rockwell puts him together with Olivia Wilde, the trophy wife of a customer, in a torrid affair and sits back as the ‘hilarity’ ensues.  

 We’ll leave it to the chemical formula for Sodium Hypobromite to illustrate whether you should go see Better Living Through Chemistry –NaBrO.

IMDb gives it 6.3 and Rotten Tomatoes gives it 20% 

Trivia

• Judi Dench was cast as the narrator before Jane Fonda took over

 

 THE ZERO THEOREM

Chronically misunderstood resulting in a poor reception, ex-Monty Python Terry Gilliam never lets a bad review get him down (otherwise he would have quit directing a while ago). His bleak visual style is sometimes the most annoyingly wretched screen presence imaginable, aside from the Kardashian clan, but you cannot accuse him of being anything other than unique. It’s just a shame very few share his vision.

 The Zero Theorem features the brilliant Christoph Waltz as a computer genius trying to invent a programme to determine whether life has any meaning. It is touted as the third in the ‘Brazil Trilogy’ of dystopian future films that began with 1985’s Brazil, reached its nadir with 12 Monkeys in 1995 and hopefully levels off with The Zero Theorem.

trivia

• Terry Gilliam scouted all the locations for the film on Google Earth.

IMDb gives this 6.1 and Rotten Tomatoes has it at 52%

PRESERVATION

 And it’s time again for our weekly horror movie. The UAE is a decent place to live if you’re a fan of the genre. No matter how far distributors have to search, for better or worse there will always be a hair-raiser on the bill. It’s difficult to say whether Preservation is a bottom-of-the-barrel or top-drawer affair. The reviews are extremely varied.

 It doesn’t sound great. Like The Hunger Games with a more gruesome twist, Preservation sees a doctor, her husband and brother-in-law become prey in a forest they are visiting, as unknown hunters attempt to poach them.

IMDb has it at 4.7 but Rotten Tomatoes gives it 70%.

trivia

• Did you know we at City Times towers would rather see any other genre of movie???