More new releases are trickling into South African cinemas, finally, and what a diverse line-up as well! There’s basically something for everyone this week, with a stylish assassin action film, an animated children’s comedy that doesn’t look half-bad, a French romantic drama and even an old-style anime adventure with Doraemon, Japan’s officially appointed “anime ambassador”.
Bullet Train
In Bullet Train, Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug’s latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe—all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives—on the world’s fastest train. The end of the line is just the beginning in this non-stop thrill-ride through modern-day Japan from David Leitch, the director of Deadpool 2. Based on the book by Kotaro Isaka, Bullet Train also stars Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon and Benito A Martínez Ocasio.
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
A hard-on-his-luck hound Hank (voiced by Michael Cera) finds himself in a town full of cats who need a hero to defend them from a ruthless villain’s (Ricky Gervais) evil plot to wipe their village off the map. With help from a reluctant teacher (Samuel L. Jackson) to train him, our underdog must assume the role of town samurai and team up with the villagers to save the day. The only problem… cats hate dogs! Also starring Mel Brooks, George Takei, Aasif Mandvi, Gabriel Iglesias, Djimon Hounsou, Michelle Yeoh, Kylie Kuioka, and Cathy Shim.
Eiffel
Having just finished his collaboration on the Statue of Liberty, celebrated engineer Gustave Eiffel (Romain Duris) is on top of the world. Now, the French government is pressuring him to design something spectacular for the 1889 Paris World Fair, but Eiffel simply wants to design the subway. Suddenly, everything changes when Eiffel crosses paths with Adrienne Bourgès (Emma Mackey), his childhood sweetheart. Their long lost, forbidden passion inspires him to change the Paris skyline forever.
Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Little Star Wars 2021
One day, Nobita picks a small rocket from which a small-sized humanoid alien Papi comes out. He came from the planet named ‘Pirika’ to the Earth to escape from the PCIA army of his planet. At the very beginning, Doraemon and his friends were confused by the small size of Papi, but with the gadget “Small Light”, they became small and play together. However, the whale-shaped battleship, who chased Papi and came to the Earth, attacks Doraemon and Nobita to catch Papi. Papi blames himself for having involved everyone, but he tries to fight against the PCIA army. In order to protect Papi and his planet Pirika, Doraemon and his friends go to Pirika.