The term “Cinephilia” refers to a passionate interest in films, film theory, and film criticism. It is a portmanteau of the words ‘cinema’ and philia- one of the four ancient Greek words for love. Being a movie enthusiast, I have decided to gift our beloved readers with a weekly review of movies showing at the popular movie house Ster Kinekor.
In this article, we focus on 6 must-see movies showing at Ster Kinekor Joina City in Harare.
M3GAN
M3GAN is a cautionary tale about the dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The sci-fi thriller is about a toy company that makes a lifelike AI doll named M3gan which turns out to be the best friend of a young girl, Cady whose parents were killed in a car accident.
The film is a dastardly tone scratching the audience’s moral itch for justice while indulging in old fashioned, mean-spirited bloodlust. Gemma (Allison Williams) a single, career focused toy designer takes custody of her niece Cady following the death of her sister and brother-in-law. She is working on her latest project a Model 3 Generative Android (M3GAN) and hardly finds time to bond with her niece due to her ever-busy schedule. Gemma programmes M3GAN to be a high-tech friend and a parental surrogate to meet the needs of the child. M3GAN becomes Cady’s playmate, babysitter, confidante, primary caregiver and plays that parental role perfectly well. But then M3GAN goes haywire and starts killing people.
It is rated PG13 and is a must watch for lovers of Horror.
Shotgun Wedding
This is an American romantic movie filled with comedic situations, a bit of action going on. The film stars Jennifer Lopez, Josh Duhamel, Sônia Braga, Jennifer Coolidge, Lenny Kravitz, and Cheech Marin. It offers quite a fun time, due in large part to the chemistry between Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel.
The movie begins with Darcy (Lopez) and Tom’s (Duhamel) wedding party, on an island in the Philippines. Tom chose the location to save money, since he insisted they pay for the wedding themselves. To cut more costs he’s working on all the decorations and gift baskets on his own. While Tom is so fixated on making the wedding the best it can be, Darcy feels like they are getting lost in all the frills of the ceremony. She never wanted a big wedding, and would have preferred to elope with Tom if she had a choice. Darcy also doesn’t feel like a blushing bride, given that she’s at an age where walking down the aisle in a big, puffy wedding dress just isn’t her style.
This conflict is realistic and we can understand how it would drive a wedge between the lovely couple. To make matters worse, Darcy’s ex-boyfriend Sean (Lenny Kravitz) shows up at their rehearsal dinner, and upstages Tom at his own wedding, much to his frustration.
The couple bicker on their wedding day, and become so exasperated with each other that they decide to call off the wedding. While this is happening, there’s another situation brewing, as all their wedding guests get held hostage by pirates. Rated R, the movie is a must watch for couples as its full of hillarious moments.
Puss In Boots:The Last Wish
This blockbuster was acted by Fearless hero Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) who is enjoying the spoils of his fame when he’s unexpectedly killed at the start of the movie. As he’s brought back to life, he’s warned that he has now run through eight of his nine lives. The reality of his mortality fills Puss with a newfound fear of death. This is amplified by the menacing wolf (Wagner Moura) who begins pursuing him, promising to take his last life. Puss goes into hiding at a cat rescue home, where he meets an innocent and lonely chihuahua, Perrito (Harvey Guillén), who clings to Puss as his new best friend.
One day, the three bears (Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, and Samson Kayo) and Goldilocks (Florence Pugh) show up at Puss’ hideout, and the cat overhears their plans to make off with a magical map that will lead them to the mystical Last Wish — which could perhaps be the secret of regaining his immortality. Puss takes off, Perrito on his tail, to find the map and make his wish. En route, he encounters more threats, especially Jack Horner (John Mulaney), and runs into old flame Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek Pinault). A must watch for the rest of the family rated PG.
Avatar: The Way of Water
Making it on the list is also “Avatar: The Way of Water” — the first of several long-awaited sequels directed by James Cameron — which brings with it a ripple of nostalgia Thirteen years later after the events of the first film, it begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.
Black Panther:Wakanda Forever
The movie starts with a subdued, exuberant and mournful impulses which are at odds with each other. In real time, the franchise is coming to terms with the loss of Chadwick Boseman, who in the previous adventure had played T’Challa, king of Wakanda, who died of cancer at the age of 43.
The film pays a heartfelt and decent tribute to his memory in a drama shaped around this sudden blow, making an honest attempt to shape a superhero film around the subject of grief.
T’Challa’s sister Shuri now has to step up to a quasi-regency role alongside her grief-stricken mother Ramonda, who now becomes queen because T’Challa has suddenly died; here are two typically elegant and charismatic performances from Letitia Wright and Angela Bassett, with Wright’s Shuri now stricken not just with sadness but a new kind of bleak self-knowledge. Despite her renown as a scientist, she could do nothing to prevent or even understand T’Challa’s fatal illness.
The Woman King
This is a remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life. The movie has been nominated for a Golden Globe as well as receiving Critics Choice and SAG nominations.
Till the next installment enjoy the movies.
