July- Playlist (Movie Suggestions from July releases)

By: Hamza Shafique

July is the easiest month for movie selection. My selection criteria mostly confine with in Desi Mindset and is usually as follows; From Hollywood releases my criteria is how grand would be cinematic experience, for Bollywood releases I look for Star power and from Lollywood releases (If there is any) I try to assess the drama/production quality. And July is the month where UAE has releases from all the three cinema industries, also with in the expectation zone.

Yalghaar (18+)

Genre: Action

Running Time: 175 min

Release Date: 29 June 2017

Starring: Shaan Shahid, Humayun Saeed, Adnan Siddiqui, Bilal Ashraf and Sana Bucha

Language: Urdu

Subtitle(s): Arabic, English

Trailer: Click Here

Plot: Based on a true story, spanning over 76 hours of a successful military operation conducted in the Piochar region of Swat district, Yalghaar goes up close to follow the lives of the young, passionate Pakistani military officers and soldiers whose patriotism is throbbing with every heartbeat for their country 

DDR Comment: For first Saturday of July, I recommend Pakistani release Yalghaar and for some very basic reasons. This movie has the most talented cast with two big stars of Pakistan, Shaan Shahid and Humayun Saeed. This movie is also the most expensive and anticipated movie from Pakistani film Industry and is coming from the writer/producer (Hassan Rana) of one of my favorite Pakistani film Waar, which also had Shaan Shahid and was based on the same subject.  

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Spider-Man: Homecoming (18TBC)

Genre: Action

Running Time: 135 min

Release Date: 06 July 2017

Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Marisa Tomei, and Robert Downey Jr.

Language: English

Subtitle(s): Arabic

Trailer: Click Here

Plot: A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man , who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark . Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine--distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man-but when the Vulture emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.

DDR Comment: Do I really need to give any reason to convince you all for this one? I loved the small cameo of Spider Man in Captain America: Civil War and since then waiting to see more of him. Spider Man Homecoming is fresh take on the Marvel’s most loved Character Spider Man. Here we see a teenage Spider Man aided by Iron Man trying to make his mark. Spider Man is among the top three Comic book characters of all times (the other two being Super Man and Batman). Tom Holland as Spider Man is super cool and I expect this movie to be funny, high on action usual Marvel spectacular.  

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MOM (18TBC)

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Running Time: 140 min

Release Date: 06 July 2017

Starring: Sridevi, Nawazudin Siddiqui, Akhaye Khana, Adnan Siddiqui, Sajjal Ali

Language: Hindi

Subtitle(s): Arabic

Trailer: Click Here

Plot: God could not be everywhere, so he created MOM. Devki, a loving wife and mother of two beautiful daughters seemingly has a perfect happy family, yet somehow true happiness of being a mother eludes her. Arya, a sensitive girl, believes a daughter comes into a mother's life, but a mother does not enter that of a daughter. Devki patiently waits for Arya's love and acceptance as she believes only a mother can truly understand the silence of her child. An unfortunate incident widens the distance between Arya and Devki, to a point of no return. In such a situation a mother has to make a choice - not between "what is wrong or right', but between 'what is wrong and very wrong." MOM is the story of what will a mother do in such a situation. Will she fight for her daughter's love knowing the consequences she may have to face?

DDR Comment: Sridevi is a Bollywood super star and from time to time she has proved that she knows how to select good projects (unlike other super stars from her era). Her last release English Vinglish is part of my all time favorite movies list and I am sure this one will be no different. This film has one of the most talented actors from Pakistan and India. If you have seen Sajjal Ali in Pakistani dramas then you would know that, this petit girl has power to stir one’s soul with her expressive eyes (go check out Gul-e-Rana available legally by Hum TV network on their Youtube channel). I expect this one to be a performance oriented drama thriller on same lines as Vidya Balan’s Kahani.    

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Jagga Jasoos (18TBC)

Genre: Adventure

Running Time: 120 min

Release Date: 13 July 2017

Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Mukesh Hariawala

Language: Hindi

Subtitle(s): Arabic

Trailer: Click Here

Plot: Join Jagga, a gifted teenage detective, who along with a female companion, is on a quest to find his missing father.

DDR Comment: Plot is very simple but from the trailer you can see treatment is not. Ranbir Kapoor is delight to watch on screen. His each performance (except Bombay Velvet) recently has been top notch entertaining (regardless of the film) and him being in the film is reason enough for us to go for this one. Just like Yalgaar this film is also from the maker(Anurag Basu) of one of my favorite Indian film Barfi, which also had similar treatment and Ranbir Kapoor as main lead. Just like Anurag Basu’s Barfi, I also expect this one to be a memorable musical adventure rom-com experience. 



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Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (TBC)

Genre: Action

Running Time: 100 min

Release Date: 20 July 2017

Starring: Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Ethan Hawke, Clive Owen and Rihanna

Language: English

Subtitle(s): Arabic

Trailer Review: Click Here

Plot: Valerian and Laureline are special operatives for the government of the human territories charged with maintaining order throughout the universe. Under directive from their Commander Valerian and Laureline embark on a mission to the breathtaking intergalactic city of Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis comprised of thousands of different species from all four corners of the universe..

DDR Comment: I was part of the Middle East trailer launch for this one (thanks to Novo Cinemas for their continuous collaboration). You can read the detailed trailer review on the link here. But to summarize I would say, I expect from this one to have, a simple plot with over the top action coupled with beyond imagination situations, supported by equally good graphics. The trailer in first glance seems like a fusion of Star Trek, Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy. Based on what we got in Lucy, Luc Besson seems like the perfect chef to mix these ingredients in the right proportions to get the best summer popcorn flick.