Tag: movies

  • Binge-watch these movies, seasons this holiday week

    Binge-watch these movies, seasons this holiday week

    The first day of Eid-ul-Azha went flying by and I am sure all of you have your hearts and stomachs filled with warmth and love from being around your dear ones. Eid is one occasion when families and friends gather together and this becomes a great excuse to watch all the movies and seasons you have on your list.

    Here are a few recommendations.

    1: Ms Marvel

    Streaming on Disney+, Ms Marvel has already captivated audiences with a fine storyline, characters, and our own Pakistani stars featuring in it.

    Poster of Ms Marvel

    Fawad Khan has finally made an appearance in the fifth episode of Ms Marvel. Fawad plays a man from the pre-partition era. Pakistani actors Mehwish Hayat, Samina Ahmed, and Nimra Bucha are also playing important characters in the Marvel series.

    2: The Umbrella Academy:

    Packed with action, drama, science, fantasy, and a touch of superhero elements, the latest episodes of The Umbrella Academy are trending. Get some popcorn and binge-watch the season on Netflix.

    The Umbrella Academy poster

    3: Peaky Blinders:

    The Shelby brothers are back on Netflix with their latest season. This historical fiction and crime drama is back with Tommy Shelby, a dangerous man, who leads the Peaky Blinders and the show has massively great reviews.

    The Shelby brothers

    4: Man vs Bee:

    A homeless man looking for work is mistaken by a businesswoman for her new housesitter.

    Man vs Bee

    Rowan Atkinson is at his usual best with his comic timing in the British comedy streaming television miniseries.

    5: Modern Love:

    A co-production of Amazon Studios and the New York Times, this anthology series explores love in all of its complicated and beautiful forms, as well as its effects on the human connection. Each episode brings to life a different story that has been inspired by the newspaper’s popular Modern Love column.

    Modern Love poster

    6: Fleabag

    A dry-witted woman, known only as Fleabag, has no filter as she navigates life and love in London while trying to cope with tragedy. The angry, grief-riddled woman tries to heal while rejecting anyone who tries to help her, but Fleabag continues to keep up her bravado through it all. Catch Fleagbag on Amazon Prime with a pack of caramel popcorn and you will stay hooked.

    Poster of Fleabag

    7: Catastrophe

    During a business trip in London, an American named Rob meets Sharon, an Irish teacher with whom he shares incredible chemistry. While the two plan to have some fun with no strings attached, things go awry when Sharon learns she is pregnant. The unexpected news inspires the recent acquaintances to try and make it as a couple, despite nonstop complications that include hailing from different countries and a pregnancy that is not without risks. Get hooked to Catastrophe on Amazon Prime.

    Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan play a couple dealing with the stresses of marriage in the Amazon Prime series Catastrophe. Delaney and Horgan also co-created and co-wrote the series.
  • UAE ends cinema censorship, introduces 21+ rating for movies

    UAE ends cinema censorship, introduces 21+ rating for movies

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that it will no longer censor cinematic releases, introducing a 21 and above age rating for films.

    The country’s Media Regulatory Office said on Twitter that it had introduced a 21+ age category to its motion picture content rating system.

    “According to this classification, the international version of movies will be shown in cinemas, with an emphasis on the strict following of age classification standards for audience entry,” it added.

    Recently, the country has seen a lot of developments, which include lifting a ban on unmarried couples living together and loosening restrictions on alcohol.

    Earlier this month, the UAE also announced that it will move to a Western-style Saturday-Sunday weekend. This will make Emirates the only Gulf country not to observe weekends on a Friday, and Saturday.

  • IN PICTURES: Khel Khel Mein’s star-studded premiere in Karachi

    IN PICTURES: Khel Khel Mein’s star-studded premiere in Karachi

    The movie premiere of Khel Khel Mein was held in Karachi last night (Thursday) in Karachi. After the reopening of cinemas, Sajal Aly and Bilal Abbas Khan starrer has been released today (November 19) being the first film to release in the post-pandemic era.

    The film is based on true events and is set on the backdrop of a university group dwelling into the secrets of 1971’s liberation of East Pakistan.

    Celebrities including Fahad Mustafa, Nida Yasir, Yasir Nawaz, Mansha Pasha, Urwa Hocane, Nadia Khan and Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui were spotted at the event.

    Have a look at the pictures:

    Earlier, The trailer launch of the movie was held in Karachi which turned out to be a star-studded affair with celebrities like Fahad Mustafa and Manzar Sehbai gracing the event:

  • Top five iconic high school movies with strong female leads

    Top five iconic high school movies with strong female leads

    Who doesn’t love a good high school movie? It’s got a hero, but what we love is that the women are the real star. It is set in a young, relatable world, and some of these are so iconic that they have truly stood the test of time. Shanzeh Chaudhry ranks her favourite movies with strong female leads, for The Current.

    1.Mean girls (2004)

    Of course, I’m going to start with the most iconic and original teen movie of all time. This movie is one of the first that displays the realities of being a teenage girl in high school. It’s narrated from the perspective of a girl who’s been homeschooled till she moves and starts going to school. Her experience isn’t what she expected, and entering “Girl World” is not as easy as it looks. The process from the innocent new girl to shiny hard plastic is a journey of backbiting, stealing boyfriends, and lying about the health bars that help you “lose weight”. The movie shows the process of how corrupt the high school system is and the lengths girls would go to fit in. Personally, I feel like the movie tried its best to give an idea of the full high school experience, which was accomplished, as it is the most popular teen movie, 17 years later.

    2.Shes the man (2006)

    This movie was honestly so inspirational that I just had to add it to the list. It relates to the common sexist attitude and expectations towards females. A girl with a passionate love for football will go to all most any lengths (no matter how absurd) to prove that women can play football just as good as men, maybe even better. Even if it means posing as her twin brother and trying out for a university soccer team. Despite the message, it was just a generally funny and entertaining family movie. We watch our main character, Viola, juggle between her double life of being a university boy and being the “lady” that her mother and society expect her to be. It promotes feminism and inspires girls to stand against society’s expectations if it means doing something they’re passionate about.

    3.A Cinderella story (2004)

    We’ve all watched the Disney classic “Cinderella”. In the animated version of the film, the main message it was trying to put across was to always be kind despite evil in the world. This version is a bit more modern and relatable to girls in their teens. Our main character, Sam, lives with her evil stepmother and sisters after her father dies in an earthquake when she is eight years old. She works for her stepmother in her father’s diner to save up to go to her “Dream college, Princeton”. She has a secret texting relationship with an anonymous guy, who we soon find out is the glamorous high school football star Austin Aims. They both bond over their dream of going to Princeton and all their problems and concerns for their future. Sams bravery and patience, despite her struggles, are really motivational and admirable. This movie really is a lovely romance, with a touch of nostalgia that really hits home.

    4.The Princess Diaries (2001)

    ‘Mia Thermopolis’ is your average high school teenager, who can’t speak in public to save her life and dreams of a car for her sixteenth birthday. Her life takes a twist when her long-lost grandmother shows up and turns out, she’s the Queen of a tiny country called “Genovia”. Which, yes, makes Mia a princess! After her father (the king) passed away a year before, Mia is the only rightful heir to the throne. All this information comes crashing into Mia’s life, changing it completely. Suddenly, the girls who would once make fun of her and the boy who practically didn’t even know she existed, started trying to weasel their way in her life. She has to go through a series of “Princess training courses” but most importantly, she has to decide if she’s going to take on the role of “Princess” and as “Future Queen of Genovia”. Mia’s sarcastic and witty personality definitely adds a comedic touch to the movie. It really seems like every girl’s dream; to wake up one normal day and find out you’re the princess of a whole country! We watch as Mia transforms from a regular introverted American girl to high-class royalty!

    5.She’s All That (1999)

    High school star, Zac Siler is forced to go to extreme lengths to protect his reputation after getting dumped by his cheerleader girlfriend. He makes a bet with his friends to turn Laney Boggs, “the introverted weird girl”, into prom queen in just six weeks. After a lot of convincing Zac finally get Laney to go out with him. What started off as a silly bet turned into a blossoming romance. We watch how slowly Laney opens up to the world and how Zac realises that popularity isn’t everything. It’s a classic case of opposites attract. They both show each other a different perspective. I personally love how we slowly see the characters develop and along the way spark a romance that they didn’t expect at all.

  • ‘Family-friendly’ movies you should NOT be watching with your family

    ‘Family-friendly’ movies you should NOT be watching with your family

    With a complete ban on Eid parties, travelling and pappis and jhappis (don’t forget Apa is watching), Eid this year is not like the ones we used to have in our childhood. With little to do and no place to go, what better than a movie night in with the fam?

    Read more – Saba Qamar wonders why ‘Sexify’ is trending on Netflix Pakistan

    While Netflix has thousands of options to choose from for a fun family movie night, there are some films which are touted to be “family-friendly” but are not. Here is a list of films you should definitely not be watching with the fam.

    Queen

    While Queen is a highly entertaining watch about a woman who decides to go on her honeymoon alone after her fiancé ditches her days before the wedding and features a brave female protagonist (Kangana Ranaut), some of the scenes, especially those involving Lisa Haydon can be very awkward to watch with your parents or siblings.

    Kapoor and Sons

    Featuring Pakistan’s heartthrob Fawad Khan, Kapoor & Sons is a decent film about family issues and sibling rivalry but the racy scenes and Fawad’s character being gay can make it a tad bit uncomfortable to watch with family. Though everyone has a choice to love who they want, Pakistani families perhaps aren’t ready yet, especially if you’re hanging out with the Nana Nani or Dada Dadi. That’s a discussion you might not want to have, yet.

    Khoobsurat

    Khoobsurat may feature Pakistan’s resident heartthrob, but this too like Kapoor & Sons is not one to be watched with the family unless you’d like to watch him shirtless with five others. Best to watch this alone!

    Read more – Sushant Singh Rajput’s ‘Dil Bechara’ leaves you wanting more

    Main Hoon Na

    And old fav, Main Hoon Na definitely comes across as a family film given that it is set in a university and against the backdrop of Indo-Pak tension. However, Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen romancing in a waterfall can make things a tad bit awkward if you end up playing this on the family movie night.

    Jab We Met

    Another classic Jab We Met featuring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor, comes across as a simple and soft romantic film but it includes some racy scenes so it’s best not to watch it with the fam.

    Dil Dhadakne Do

    Another film about a dysfunctional upper-class family who embarks on a cruise to celebrate the parents’ 30th wedding anniversary. Instead of being a fun and easy holiday, the trip sends the Mehras on a journey of self-discovery and brings out problems that have been long brushed under the carpet. While the film is relatable and honest, but the sexually-charged passionate scenes between Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma make it not-so-family-friendly.

    To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020)

    Considered a family movie, with teen love and romance, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is a story about finding love in high school. Based on Jenny Han’s book trilogy, the film starts off where the first film ended: with Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky as a couple. The two are poles apart but totally smitten with each other. Enter John Ambrose McLaren, one of Lara’s past crushes, and also a recipient of one of her love letters. He has a crush on Lara giving birth to the main conflict of the movie: which boy is the better choice for Lara?

    Even though it’s considered a family movie in the west, with supportive parents, allowing their children to date, can you imagine the HAW HAI our mothers would be doing and how our fathers would say the West is ruining us and making us loose and wild? A BIG NO if you want to go to a mixed school again.

    Bulbbul

    Bulbbul may come across as a good old horror flick about a churail (witch) living in an old haveli but it features some really gruesome scenes, including those involving rape. Hence, definitely not one you can watch with the fam.

    In case you want some suggestions for film you can watch with the fam, we recommend Cake, Teefa in Trouble, Ho Mann Jahan, 3 Idiots, Murder Mystery and The Laundromats.

  • Feel-good movies to watch during Eid holidays

    Feel-good movies to watch during Eid holidays

    Living through these testing times can take a toll on you mentally and with Eid this year being completely different than what it used to be in the past, The Current decided to round up a list of feel-good movies you can watch on Netflix for a short break from these bleak circumstances.

    Note – Most of them are not recommended to be watched with the fam.

    Check them out below:

    Khoobsurat

    Let’s face it. Fawad Khan has been missing from our TV screens for far too long which is why it is the perfect time to watch Khoobsurat. In Khoobsurat he plays a dashing nawab who is caught off guard when a clumsy girl comes to his palace to treat his father. The film is a treat for Fawad Khan fans as they get a chance to see the actor at his finest and shirtless too!

    Miss Congeniality

    This action-comedy follows Gracie Hart, a tomboyish detective, who goes undercover and participates in the Miss United States beauty pageant as a contestant after her department learns that the event is under threat from an anonymous bomber.

    Leap Year

    A delightfully entertaining rom-com about a woman who decides to propose to her boyfriend on February 29 after waiting years for him to pop the question. However, on her way to Ireland, a storm forces the flight to divert to Wales and land there. While Anna hires a boat to take her to Cork, she ends up at a small seaside village called Dingle because of the severity of the storm where she meets a handsome Irishman.

    Holidate

    Holidate follows two strangers who meet at a department store after Christmas and before New Year’s Eve and exchange their Christmas horror stories, which stem from them being single. When they realise that they both pretty much have the same problem, they decide that they’ve had enough of dating strangers or being single on holidays, and plan to become each other’s ‘holidates’ – meaning they will be each other’s dates on every holiday for as long as they’re both single. While their relationship is strictly platonic and comes a set of rules and no strings attached, who can control their heart?

    Trust us when we say this, all single Pakistanis will relate to Holidate.

    How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

    Two people with completely different motives start dating each other to win their respective bets. Fireworks are bound to spark when this happens.

    Always Be My Maybe

    Two childhood sweethearts reconnect 15 years later. Although the old sparks are still there, the two live in different worlds.

    Set It Up

    Two overworked and underpaid assistants come up with a plan to get their bosses off their backs by setting them up with each other. If you need a break from work, this film is definitely one to watch.

    Christmas Wedding Planner

    A wedding planner is in the midst of planning her cousin’s lavish and exclusive wedding when a private investigator thwarts her plans and turns her world upside down. Watch for a warm, fuzzy feeling.

    The Princess Switch 1 & 2

    Another Christmas rom-com. This Vanessa Hudgens film will remind you of your teenage years and make you sigh.

    The Perfect Date

    A high school student creates an app to offer his services as a fake date to make money for college. However, his plans get complicated when he ends up falling for one of his dates. This film is witty, quirky and full of zest.

    Ibiza

    Ibiza follows Harper, a 30 year-old-single woman from New York who travels to Barcelona on a business trip, where she ends up hooking up with a famous DJ. Those missing their wild parties should definitely give this a watch.

    Swiped

    A popular college guy Lance and his nerdy roommate James, a college freshman, create the ultimate hook-up app and make lots of money from it. But when James discovers that his divorced mother is using the app, unexpected consequences follow.

    Crazy Rich Asians

    This film is the East Asian version of “Kya woh larki hamare sanskar aur hamari sanskriti samaj paegi” – I mean Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. But it’s a fun and easy watch with lots of grandeur.

    Qarib Qarib Singlle

    When two polar opposites, Yogi and Jaya, meet through a dating app, they rediscover themselves while they set out to revisit their past. A must-watch if you’re an Irrfan Khan fan.

    I Feel Pretty

    The film which deals with body issues will make everyone feel pretty by the end of it.

    Game Night

    The film follows a group of friends whose game night turns into a real-life mystery after one of them is kidnapped by apparent burglars. If dark comedy coupled with a mystery is your thing, you will certainly enjoy watching this.

    Do you have any recommendations? Let us know in the comments.

  • Netflix to release a new movie every week in 2021

    Netflix to release a new movie every week in 2021

    Netflix has announced it will release more than 70 movies this year across comedy, drama, family and other genres, a lineup that underscores the streaming service’s growing prominence in the film business. It added that it plans to release a new movie every week for the entire year of 2021.

    Read more – Netflix’s five most-watched original series revealed

    Sharing the news on their website, Netflix said: “This year’s line-up will surprise and delight cinephiles across the globe with films from award-winning filmmakers, including Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), Paolo Sorrentino (The Hand of God), and Adam McKay (Don’t Look Up).”

    “We’re bringing you a year of films filled with more of the things we know our members love – zombies (Army of the Dead), cowboys (The Harder They Fall, Concrete Cowboy), and high school romance (including the culmination of the To All the Boys and The Kissing Booth trilogies).”

    “We’re re-introducing you to teen screams (Fear Street trilogy, There’s Someone Inside Your House), turning your favourite books into films (The Woman in the Window, Munich, The Last Letter from Your Lover), bringing you more adrenaline-pumping blockbusters (Red Notice, Sweet Girl, Kate) and giving your family a reason to say yes to watching films together (YES DAY,  Back to the Outback, Finding ‘Ohana).”

    Read more – ‘Bridgerton’ is the arranged marriage we all want

    Netflix also revealed some of the cast lineup.

    “Netflix will bring you a new movie every week featuring the biggest stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock, Dwayne Johnson, Idris Elba, Meryl Streep, Zendaya, Jennifer Lawrence, Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Garner, Gal Gadot, Dave Bautista, Naomi Watts, Jake Gyllenhaal, John David Washington, and Octavia Spencer.”

    The Netflix pace of releasing more than one film per week dwarfs that of other Hollywood studios. Disney, by contrast, currently plans to debut roughly two dozen movies this year in theatres and on its Disney+ streaming service, including four Marvel Studios films and two from Pixar.

    The Netflix 2021 schedule includes 18 dramas, nine thrillers, eight animated films and eight romances.

  • Ahmed Ali Butt to share the screen with Gippi Grewal in upcoming Punjabi film

    Ahmed Ali Butt to share the screen with Gippi Grewal in upcoming Punjabi film

    Ahmed Ali Butt is going international!

    The actor has announced that he has started shooting for his next film – a Punjabi film titled Punjabi Hatte Dinde Chakk in the United Kingdom. The actor shared pictures from the sets with his team and asked his followers for their prayers.

    According to details, Phatte Dinde Chakk Punjabi is a comedy-drama directed by Smeep Kang and produced by Gippy Grewal. Other members of the cast include famous Punjabi movie stars Grewal, Neeru Bajwa and Anu Kapoor.

    Read more – Here’s what Mehwish Hayat said to Gippy Grewal after he said he’d like to work with her

    Butt also shared that the film will hit screens on Eid-ul-Adha 2021 in July.

    Check out the first look and movie poster of the film below:

  • Trending on Netflix Pakistan: ‘Malang’, ‘The Lovebirds’

    Trending on Netflix Pakistan: ‘Malang’, ‘The Lovebirds’

    Despite a blanket ban on Indian films in Pakistan, our love affair with Bollywood films continues. Because every time a new Bolly film releases on Netflix, it instantly starts trending. And I don’t understand that because as of late, Bollywood films have become trashy, for lack of a better word. I can’t remember the last time I saw a decent Bollywood film and thought to myself, ‘Oh this was nice’.

    Read more – ‘Extraction’ & ‘Love Aaj Kal’ are trending on Netflix Pakistan but not worth the watch

    Nevertheless, this weekend, the top film on Netflix Pakistan is Aditya Roy Kapur and Disha Patani’s Malang – a story about love and revenge. Advait Thakur (Kapur) and Sara (Patani) are two free-spirited (read: aimless) souls who meet in Goa and instantly hit it off. They spend their days enjoying the beachside and their nights attending rave parties featuring a lot of drugs. From ecstasy to cocaine, the film has it all. When I initially saw the scenes involving drugs, I found them to be a bit strange because audiences across the world are calling filmmakers to be more careful about the message they give out to the world. However, the makers of Malang really don’t give a s*** about that because there are no warnings or disclaimers either.

    Soon enough Disha gets pregnant, bringing an unexpected twist into the couple’s life. While Advait runs away, Sara chooses to stay in Goa and raise her child. However, Advait soon realises his mistake and comes back to Goa only to discover that a police officer Micheal (Kunal Khemu) is attempting to rape Sara, thinking she is someone else. After a lot of bloodshed and marr dhaar (fighting) – which also seems to be a central theme in the film – Advait is sent to jail while Sara is killed. The rest of the film follows Advait get revenge from the police officers who covered up their colleague’s crime and assisted Micheal in Sara’s murder.

    Meanwhile, Anil Kapoor plays a crazy cop Agashte with a tragic past who only knows how to serve justice by killing criminals in encounters. Think the Bollywood version of Rao Anwar. Despite a solid performance, Kapoor’s character is poorly written and there is not much he can do with it except laugh creepily in an attempt to provide comic relief.

    To be very honest, a lot of the scenes in Malang reminded me of Siddharth Malhotra and Shraddha Kapoor’s Ek Villian. The plot was not original and the film had nothing new to offer in terms of content. But to ensure that his audiences leave the cinema halls satisfied and forget about the nonsense the rest of the film was, the film’s makers added a twist in the end to give that shock and thriller factor.

    Malang has been directed by Mohit Suri of Aashiqui 2 fame, which means that the music of the film is definitely satisfactory. The songs are soulful and melodious and you will catch yourself humming them long after the film ends. In case you missed it, our very own Asim Azhar composed one of the songs Humraah, though it does not feature in his voice in the film.

    Read more – Asim Azhar releases his Bollywood song ‘Humraah’

    The only good thing the film had to offer was lots of eye candy and spectacular views of the beach. Aditya Roy Kapur has toned his abs to perfect and missed no opportunity to show them off. Add to that an incredibly good-looking face and that is probably what will get you through the almost three-hour-long film.

    The Lovebirds

    Similarly, The Lovebirds, starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani has nothing new to offer in terms of an original plot or storyline. However, it will keep you entertained throughout its 90-minute run-time.

    Jibran (Nanjiani) and Leilani (Rae) are a couple, who are on the brink of a breakup when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery. The two spend the night dodging the police and trying to find evidence to prove their innocence. Along the way they get into hilarious messes, which can get a little lame and cliched, but Rae and Nanjiani’s comic timing, charm and chemistry more than makeup for that. This is the first time I’ve seen either of their work and I thoroughly enjoyed their performance.

    The film is a light, mindless comedy, something you can watch with your family or on Netflix Party with your friends. It’s easy, doesn’t require much thinking and offers that break from reality we so need in these testing times. If you’ve enjoyed watching comic capers like Date Night or Game Night, chances are that you will enjoy this film as well. You might even catch yourself laughing out loud at some points.

  • Ahmad Ali Butt is playing the latest superhero in town: ‘Fatman’

    Ahmad Ali Butt is playing the latest superhero in town: ‘Fatman’

    Gear up Pakistanis – we’re getting a new superhero!

    Comedy king Ahmed Ali Butt and the talented duo behind Load Wedding and Actor in Law, Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza are coming together for a new superhero film titled Fatman.

    Butt announced the film on social media by sharing a selfie with the film’s makers.

    He captioned it, “AlhumduliAllah it’s official. My next film and my first as a lead with these crazy people.”

    “Looking forward to making a great film with these great, creative filmmakers and hope you’ll all love it as much as I love the script… InshAllah, see you next year.”

    The film’s name had us intrigued so we got in touch with the director and lead actor for some inside details.

    Speaking exclusively about the film to The Current, Ahmad said, “It’s a different and bold take on superhero films but at the core, it is a story about a father-son relationship.”

    He added, “It also addresses body shaming, yet keeps the family entering factors in mind.”

    Meanwhile, Nabeel revealed, “It’s a real-life superhero family entertainment film with a great message which talks about body shaming, with pun intended.”

    The film will be directed by Nabeel and produced by Fizza Ali Meerza under their production house Filmwala Pictures. Shooting for the film is expected to start early next year while the release is slated to be in late 2020.