Last weekend saw no new releases apart from the very limited release of two Indian Punjabi movies (Sallu Ki Shadi and Uda Ada) that were also actually more of territory-specific releases.
This led to a very low weekend in terms of business for the local cinema industry as coupled with the Kashmir Day holiday; it was a long five-day weekend that ended on February 5, 2019 (an opportunity missed, we say).
This week, however, will see three new releases and hopefully these will bring in the much-needed spike in the collections, which our box-office desperately needs right now.
Alita – Battle Angel
This one is about a girl named Alita, who one day wakes up without any memory of her past or recognition while the city tries to shield her from that mysterious past of hers. Star director James Cameron produces Alita, and this time he is bringing live-action 3D animation to the screens as an added value to this story of self-discovering.
The film is releasing in Pakistan one week before its North American release, which might or might not affect the business much, but shows how our cinema industry is gaining strength day by day.
GL Says: Alita is primarily a film for the multiplex audience and might see some good collections in the IMAX cinema, Lahore, as it is shot entirely on IMAX cameras. This will add a lot of value to the movie’s watching experience.
Avatar (the last James Cameron directorial to release) which came back in 2009 opposite 3 Idiots did a good business on the local box office. This was, however, a long time back and most recently, even a film like Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One has tanked at the domestic market despite having similar live-action 3D animation.
Our good hopes and best wishes with Alita, although the chances do not seem too bright.
Amavas
Amavas is an Indian horror flick which stars Sachin Joshi and Nargis Fakhri. The record of Indian horror flicks in Pakistan has been very average with just the exception of Raaz 3, that mainly did well on the local box office due to its adult content, a few good songs, and stars like Emraan Hashmi and Bipasha Basu.
GL Says: The film is currently carrying zero hype, as neither the trailer nor the songs of the film have any commendable pull at the box-office. The comparatively lesser-known cast of the film isn’t any help to its cause either. From the looks of it, Amavas seems to be a dud not only at the local box office but on the Indian screens too.
The Lego Movie 2
The Lego Movie part 2 takes forward the story of Emmet, Lucy, Batman and the rest of their friends to the faraway, unexplored worlds that test their courage and creativity. The first part was a massive success as it grossed over $469 million worldwide against a budget of $60 million.
GL Says: Lego part 2 can appeal to kids as Legos are a very popular playing feature among the children. The clash with Alita, however, may create complications for the film as both are animated features (although in different leagues), with the former having the advantage of appeal to adults too. Our best wishes for the movie though.
Hope you have a good weekend watching any of these, see you at the movies.
