Four movies release nationwide this week in South Africa. From Tom Cruise stationed
on an abandoned planet Earth questioning everything he thought he knew, a robot
that brings friendship and family back into a lonely man’s life, a magician who is
haunted by a witch called a Daayan to an animated feature about a national hero of a
blue alien population whose brother has to save the day, it’s time to smell the
popcorn!
Ek Thi Daayan (2D and 3D)
An entertaining romantic thriller with a strange twist, Ek Thi Daayan is about Bobo,
India’s leading magician whose life is quietly falling apart, unknown to his girlfriend
Tamara. He is being haunted by an eerie power called a Daayan witch. This entity
destroyed Bobo’s family and promised to return to haunt him. And then the irresistible
Lisa Dutt enters his life. Is she the Daayan or is Bobo losing his mind? In this
unorthodox blend of horror and romance, a popular illusionist is haunted by a Daayan
witch.
In Hindi with English subtitles.
Starring Emraan Hashmi, Kalki Koechlin, Huma Qureshi, Konkona Sen Sharma and
Roald Smeets.
Written by Vishal Bhardwaj, Matthew Robbins and Mukul Sharma.
Directed by Kannan Iyer.
Produced by ALT Entertainment, Balaji Motion Pictures and Vishal Bhardwaj Pictures.
Distributed by Nu Metro.
Escape From Planet Earth (2D and 3D)
During this film, moviegoers “visit’ the planet Baab where an admired astronaut,
Scorch Supernova (Brendan Fraser) is a national hero to the blue alien population. As
a master of daring rescues, Scorch pulls off astonishing feats with the quiet aid of his
nerdy brother Gary (Rob Corddry), who always plays by the rules. Lena (Jessica Alba),
BASA’s no-nonsense chief informs the brothers of an SOS from a notoriously
dangerous planet. Scorch rejects his brother’s warnings and sets off on another
exhilarating mission. However, the evil Shanker (William Shatner) leads the hero into
a trap, leaving Gary to save Scorch, the planet, his wife Kira (Sarah Jessica Parker)
and their adventurous son Kip.
Also with the voice talents of Ricky Gervais, Jonathan Morgan Heit and Sofia Vergara.
Written by Bob Barlen, Cal Brunker, Cory Edwards and Tony Leech.
Directed by Cal Brunker.
Produced by Blue Yonder Films, GRF Productions, Jon Shestack Productions, Protocol
Pictures and Rainmaker Entertainment.
Distributed by Ster-Kinekor.
Oblivion
Tom Cruise stars in this movie that is set in the future after a devastating war had
left Earth almost without human life. The year is 2077 and Jack Harper (Cruise) is a
security repairman who is stationed on an evacuated planet Earth. Jack’s mission is
almost complete and in two weeks he will join the remaining survivors on a lunar
colony far from the war-torn country in which he has lived. But when he rescues a
beautiful stranger from a spacecraft that has crashed, Jack begins to question
everything he thought he knew.
Also starring Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, Melissa Leo, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
and Andrea Riseborough.
Written by Michael Arndt, Karl Gajdusek and Joseph Kosinski from the comic by
Joseph Kosinski and Arvid Nelson.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski.
Produced by Chernin Entertainment, Ironhead Studios, Radical Pictures, Radical
Studios, Truenorth Productions and Universal Pictures.
Distributed by UIP.
Robot and Frank
Frank is a retired cat burglar with two grown children who are concerned he can’t live
alone any longer. They are tempted to place him in a nursing home until Frank’s son
makes another decision: against his father’s wishes he buys Frank a walking, talking
humanoid robot that is programmed to improve Frank’s physical and mental health.
Set in the near future, this movie is about finding friends and family in the most
unexpected places.
Starring Frank Langella, James Marsden, Susan Sarandon, Peter Sarsgaard, Jeremy
Sisto, Jeremy Strong and Liv Tyler.
Written by Christopher D. Ford.
Directed by Jake Schreier.
Produced by Dog Run Pictures, Park Pictures, TBB and White Hat.
Distributed by Ster-Kinekor.
