From Ant Man to Bajrangi Bhaijaan, five movies to watch this Eid

All these movies have some special attribute attached to them, but I am looking forward to the release of Mr Holmes.

Each year Hollywood and Bollywood releases movies that shake the box office and create a buzz among the audiences. Knowing the unpredictable audience, some do well while others don’t.

Here are some of the movies that will hit cinemas this Eidul Fitr.

Ant Man


Photo: IMDb

This year you will bear witness the rise of a rather different kind of a Marvel Comics superhero – Ant Man.

Directed by Peyton Reed, the movie stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, who finds a suit that gives him extra strength, but shrinks him in size of an ant. Rudd is a criminal and finding the suit gives him a chance to begin a new life of fighting crimes. Moreover, the fate of the world also hangs over his tiny shoulders. Also starring in Ant Man are Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne, and Corey Stoll as Darren Cross/Yellow Jacket, the movie’s antagonist.



Irrational Man

Photo: IMDb

Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, and Jamie Blackley will appear in Woody Allen’s recent production, Irrational Man. The storyline revolves around Abe Lucas (Joaquin Phoenix) who engulfs himself in a certain life crisis that compels him to question his life’s purpose and goals. With much thoughts circling in his mind, Abe meets Jill Pollard (Emma Stone) who adds some tranquillity in his life. Abe, a philosophy professor, easily entangles in existential issues while Jill, who is also his student, is the only person who can understand Abe’s predicaments.

This is one mystery drama – with a touch of romance and philosophy – you do not want to miss if you are into philosophical stories. With Stone in the cast on this philosophically charged movie, Irrational Man might turn out to be a good watch.



Mr Holmes

Photo: IMDb

Any movie starring Ian McKellen – who plays the role of Sherlock Holmes – is bound to be an interesting watch because of his years of acting experience and because of the fact that he is one of the finest actors Hollywood has ever produced. This might be a delight for all Holmes’ fans for McKellen will add much maturity and charisma in this character.

The story will take viewers to 1947, when Sherlock Holmes, 93, is living a peaceful post-retirement life in Sussex. Mr Holmes has a different story to tell, different from the previous Sherlock Holmes movies because of the absence of Mr Watson, Holmes’ trusty sidekick and companion. However, Watson does something that compels Holmes to travel to Japan and various other places to find answers to the questions connected to a case Holmes wishes to solve.

Viewers will see flashbacks of Holmes’ past that will reconnect the dots. Watson might be in those flashbacks to add more mystery into Holmes’ present life in 1947. Bill Condon (director of the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and 2, and Dreamgirls) is the director and brains behind Mr Holmes which is destined to do well. This is simply because of McKellen’s lead role and because viewers get to see more introspection and dialogue – and you can bet that when McKellen speaks, the audience listens.



Bajrangi Bhaijaan

Photo: Bajrangi Bhaijaan Facebook page

Each year, Bollywood releases a Salman Khan movie on Eid that smashes box office records. This year, Salman will be playing the role of Pavan Kumar Chaturvedi and Bajrangi Bhaijaan in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Some reports claim that Salman is playing a double role.

The story connects with Pakistan as Bhaijaan meets a mute girl from Pakistan who is lost in India and cannot find her way back. Bhaijaan takes the responsibility to take the girl back to her country. Also starring the movie is Kareena Kapoor as Rasika.

The anxiously-waited movie is directed by Kabir Khan (Kabul Express, New York) and is produced by Salman Khan and Rockline Venkatesh.

The movie is already surrounding controversy by Hindu extremist groups who are opposing its release, and not to forget the case Amjab Sabri has filed against Adnan Sami for remaking one of their qawwalis. Whatever the case is, Bajrangi Bhaijaan will become a hit because of Salman’s huge fan following in the subcontinent. We just hope it isn’t banned from screening in Pakistan.



Pixels

Photo: IMDb

Adam Sandler will be appearing with his comical expressions in Pixels, a comedy movie with a touch of sci-fi produced by Columbia Pictures. The movie stars Sandler as Sam Brenner, Kevin James as President Will Cooper, Josh Gad as Ludlow Lamonsoff, the infamous Peter Dinklage as Eddie Plant, and Ashley Benson as Lady Lisa.

The movie is an action, comedy and sci-fi animation movie in which viewers will relive the classic arcade games of the past as they come to life to invade humans. The movie begins in 1982 when NASA sends a shuttle into orbit in search of extra-terrestrial life. Enclosed in the shuttle are items, one of them is a video of all classic arcade games the humans have created including Centipede, Donkey Kong, and PacMan. Aliens comprehend it as a message of war and use these games to create their weapons to attack Earth. To save Earth, President Cooper asks his old friend, Sam to assemble a team and defeat these games.

Will he be able to save Earth? Who will be part of his team? And what inventive ways will he use, are questions that will certainly increase your curiosity. Directed by Chris Columbus (director of Home Alone 1 and 2, Mrs Doubtfire, Fantastic Four), this is one movie will definitely take us on a trip to our arcade days.



Although all these movies have some special attribute attached to them, I am looking forward to the release of Mr Holmes, and yes, all because of watching McKellen in a role which he has never performed before and a role which, in my opinion, he was destined to play in a movie.