? AT THE MOVIES-

The Equalizer 3 continues this year’s trend of final installments and reluctant heroes. Threequalizer, as it’s affectionately called (watch trailer, runtime: 3:02), is Robert McCall’s (Denzel Washington) last adventure as a mysterious vigilante who exacts bloody vengeance on a slew of deserving bad guys. This time, McCall finds himself in a small town on the coast of Sicily, Italy, where he plans on retiring his avenger persona to live a quiet, idyllic life. Of course, things don’t go as planned. A trigger-happy mafia family starts plaguing the town and he doesn’t stand by to watch.

Don’t get distracted by the B plots. A CIA operation, an international drug ring, and a terrorism plot were added to what would’ve worked well as a straightforward story. The film pretty much follows the same premise as its predecessors, wherein McCall does bad things to bad people, but Washington’s portrayal of McCall never gets old. The ease with which he switches from a charming older man to a steely intimidating force of nature is thrilling to watch.

You might want to watch this movie just for the scenery. The movie is not sponsored by the Italian Tourist Board, but it might as well be — the coastal countryside is captured beautifully by director Antoine Fuqua. A quick disclaimer: Much of the scenery ends up soaked in blood, and the movie earns its R rating within the first three minutes. The good news is that by the end, we finally get answers about McCall’s past. If you’d like a refresher before you see the last installment, The first and second Equalizer films are available on Netflix.

WHERE TO WATCH- The Equalizer 3 is showing in VOX Cinemas at City Center Almaza and Mall of Egypt, Premiere in Sheikh Zayed, Zamalek Cinema, and Citystars Cinema.

Awlad Hareem Karim is a nebulous roster of characters, but a whole lot of fun. A sequel to the 2005 movie Hareem Karim, Karim El Hosseiny (Mostafa Amar) once again finds his life entangled with those of the leading ladies. Dalia Elbeheri, Ola Ghanem, Bushra, and Basma reprise their roles as the four women who continually cross paths with Karim and inadvertently wreak havoc on his life. Karim is now a widower, accounting for Yasmin Abdelaziz’s absence, grabbing the attention of these women, most of whom are also now unmarried.

If the cast wasn’t already big enough, each of the five main characters now have their own children, who — coincidentally continuing their parents’ legacy — find themselves entangled in each other’s lives by accident, not knowing that their parents share a history. One mother puts out an ad to find her daughter a husband, one son of another’s is in love with Karim’s daughter, while another tries to date her as well. Plenty of hilarious hijinks ensue, but there is an undercurrent of poignant reflection on the realities of growing older, though the film is occasionally inelegant about it.

Fans of the first installment will find joyous nostalgia in this film. Younger audiences who aren’t familiar with it will undoubtedly have fun relating to the new generation of rascals and rising stars, including Mostafa Amar’s son Tayam, that make a mess of Karim’s life. And if you’re wondering if Maha’s (Dalia Elbeheri) temperamental husband Hussein (Khaled Sarhan) delivers his signature punch to Karim for just being associated with his wife, the answer is a resounding yes.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can catch Awlad Hareem Karim at VOX Cinemas at City Center Almaza and Mall of Egypt, Citystars Cinemas, and Cairo Festival City.

? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World does not shy away from difficult topics. In yet another skillfully written and compelling novel, British-Turkish author Elif Shafak invites us into the world of Leila, a woman whose dying thoughts speak volumes as she refuses, even as she knows she is taking her last breaths, to keep quiet about the cruelties she has endured throughout her life in Istanbul.

No stranger to controversy, Shafak’s seventeenth novel remains true to form as it tackles sex and violence — topics that are sure to spark controversy in her homeland as her previous works have before. This time around, Shafak tells us the story of a prostitute, Leila Tequila, who has been left for dead in an Istanbul dumpster as she thinks back on her childhood, her tough upbringing, and the less than ideal circumstances that have shaped her life. The novel is split into two different parts, the Mind and the Body. Through them we learn about those harsh realities: Through the smells and flavors — of sugar and coffee — as well as the outcasts — from Madames to lovers — that have permeated Leila’s life.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Elif Shafak’s novel, as well as many others by the author, can be found at Al Shorouk and Diwan bookstores.

? HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Maadi residents and Cairene foodies will be familiar with Joy Luck, but being tucked away on the first floor of an unassuming building and with a darkened glass storefront, it’s easy to miss. But those lucky enough to stumble upon it or go on a recommendation — thank us later — will quickly become frequent patrons. The staples you’re used to are on the menu if you’re looking for a familiar meal, but if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, here’s what we recommend.

The must haves: Our favorite appetizers were the shredded potatoes and the spicy cold wide glass noodles. It’s deliciously peanut-y and the sauce is to die for, but it has a very strong kick to it. So, we know we said no regular dishes, but their sweet and sour chicken stands out — it’s shaped differently than the bite-sized pieces we’re used to, which makes it a little harder to eat but with an exceptional crunch.

We’ve never seen these desserts before. We tried the sweet eggs, which are soft fried slices of omelet topped with a caramel sauce that hardens when pieces are placed in a bowl of cold water. We’ve heard that the sweet potatoes are even better, but we haven’t had a chance to try it, which brings us to our next point…

… Don’t rely on your favorite dishes always being available. Their ingredients seem to run out quickly and sometimes they’ll apologetically refuse to make something if they feel like their ingredients aren’t fresh enough, which we appreciate. Pro tip: Double-bag your leftovers because they have a tendency to spill.

? Per person: EGP 350

? Outdoor seating: No

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: No

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