What’s not hot at the UAE cinemas this weekend...

Published Wednesday, April 18, 2012

By Sneha May Francis

It’s another dull line-up at the cinemas this week, prompting us to either rent old classics on DVD, or head out to enjoy the last of the good weather in UAE.

But, if you are a compulsive movie-goer, then you’d rather pick “Margin Call” touted by The Guardian as “the best fictional treatment of the current economic crisis,” or John Abraham’s fairly promising maiden production “Vicky Donor” of a young Punjabi boy whose flourishing past as a sperm donor plays spoilsport with his almost-perfect romance.

Our first pick follows the main players of a thriving investment bank, 24-hours before their firm sinks into the biggest global financial crisis of all times. Packed with some remarkable performances and an insightful screenplay, this one’s a far superior take on the financial meltdown than "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps".

Although Peter Berg’s “Battleship” has a massive UAE opening chalked out, it’s a movie that doesn't merit a trip to the cinemas. Despite well-constructed visual imaging, the plot is clichéd and unimpressive. And we’ve seen far too many battles between humans and the unknown, on-screen, to actually favour this one.

The animated “Outback” in 3D, is another fairly safe bet, but one, that we think could wait for the DVD release. The story of how a white koala, who joins a travelling circus after facing humiliation for his colour, turns famous with the help of his animal friends is endearing nevertheless.

Finally, “Cabin in the Woods”, that faced a week’s delay at the movies, will document the spooky incidents that unfolds as a gang of five pals who venture out in the woods for a retreat. But chances that it will leave you terrified, are very remote.

Battleship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDMXkPfxjOc

Genre: Action
Director: Peter Berg
Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson and Rihanna

Timings:

Reel Cinema (Dubai Mall): (Screen1) 4:00pm, 6:30, 9:00, 11:30; (Screen2)11:00am, 1:30pm, 4:00, 6:30, 9:00, with additional shows on Thursday at 11:30pm, 2:05am; (Screen5) 3:30pm 6:00pm, 8:30, 11:10, with additional shows on Thursday at 1:40am; (Screen6) 11:30am, 2:00pm, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30, with additional show on Thursday at 12:05am; (Platinum Movie Screen12) 1:30pm, 4:30, 7:45, 11:00; (Platinum Movie Screen13) 3:00pm, 6:00, 9:15, 12:30am; (Screen22) 2:30pm, 5:10, 8:00, 10:35, 1:05am

Reel Cinema (Marina Mall): (Premier1) 11:00am, 1:30, 4:00, 6:30, 9:00, 11:30; (Premier3) 7:30Ppm, 10:00, 12:30am; (Premier5) 5:30pm, 8:00, 10:30, 12:55am; (Premier6) 12:30pm, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00, 10:30, 12:55am

Grand Cineplex: (Screen1) 11:30am, 2:00pm, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30, 12:00am; (Screen10) 12:00noon, 2:30pm, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00, 12:30am

Grand Festival Cinema:(Screen1) 11:10am, 1:40pm, 4:10, 6:40, 9:10, 11:40; (Screen7) 10:30am, 1:00pm, 3:30, 6:00, 8:30, 11:00; (Screen9) 12:00noon, 2:30pm, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00, 12:30am; (Screen11) 11:10am, 1:40pm, 4:10, 6:40, 9:10, 11:40

Grand Megaplex: (Screen1) 10:30am, 1:00pm, 3:30,6:00, 8:30, 10:50,1:10am; (Screen7)11:30am, 2:00pm, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30, 12:00midnight; (Screen13) 12:00noon, 2:30pm, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00, 12:30am; (IMAX) 11:00am, 1:30pm, 4:00, 6:30, 9:00, 11:30

Grand Mercato:(Screen1) 11:30am, 2:00pm, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30, 12:00midnight; (Screen5) 10:30am, 1:00pm, 3:30, 6:00, 8:30, 11:00

Grand Cinecity: (Screen1) 11:30am, 2:00pm, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30, 12:00midnight; (Screen2) 10:30am, 1:00pm, 3:30, 6:00, 8:30, 11:00