? AT THE MOVIES-

Rejoice, ye Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts: In perhaps the best PR for the tabletop game and its players since Stranger Things, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (watch, runtime: 2:15), which stars Chris Pine, hit the big screen over recent weeks. A charming band of thieves and unlikely friends, realize they’ve stolen something very powerful for someone very dangerous, and are determined to fix their mistake.

Luckily for those who had a life in highschool and are unfamiliar with DnD, you don’t need to be a player to enjoy or understand the plot or the characters. Some references might go over your head, but they aren’t integral enough to the plot to make newcomers feel left out. The story unfolds at a steady pace, is full of well-earned and satisfying character development, fun fight scenes, and gasp-worthy plot twists. You can also tell that the cast was having a good time filming this movie. For those who have had enough of CGI-heavy blockbusters, we’re happy to inform you that this movie is set apart by its refreshing use of practical effects, with a seamless mix of CGI and good old fashioned craftsmanship.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can watch the film at any VOX Cinema, CFC Galaxy,City Stars Cinema, and any other major movie theater.

We can now add another great Michael Jordan film to a deluge of content: From The Last Dance miniseries on Netflix and Prime Video in 2020, to His Airness in 1999, Above & Beyond in 1996, Air Time in 1993, and most importantly, Space Jam,there has been no shortage of Michael Jordan content over the years. The most recent one, Air, is a star-studded affair revolving around the origin of the iconic Air Jordan shoeline and the herculean effort of Nike’s Sonny Vaccaro, played by Matt Damon, in pursuing Jordan as a spokesperson for their flailing basketball division. The film marks Ben Affleck’s directorial debut — and a triumphant one at that. He also features in the movie as Nike CEO Phil Knight.

Interestingly, the only Jordans that actually appear on camera are Michael’s parents, Deloris (portrayed by Viola Davis) and James R. Jordan Sr. (played by Julius Tennon). Michael himself never appears in the movie — a bold decision by Affleck. While it accurately portrays Jordan’s passive role in negotiations during the early stages of his career (Deloris was reportedly and effectively his manager then), it also paints Jordan as a larger-than-life legend that cannot be impersonated.

Our take: Aside from the compelling plot and snappy comic relief, the movie makes a concentrated effort to set a period-faithful stage, paying close attention to details like popular hairstyles, retro product design, and then-aspirational tech.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can catch this movie at any VOX Cinema, CFC’s Galaxy Cinema, and any major movie theaters.

? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

Ever wondered what happens to horror movie survivors after the credits roll? Grady Hendrix explores that proposition in The Final Girl Support Group, a novel which follows Lynette, one of six women who each survived massacres. The women meet for group therapy on a monthly basis for over a decade, slowly piecing their lives back together to move on from the past… Until Lynette realizes that someone is determined to finally finish them all off.

Hendrix is a self-appointed horror movie enthusiast, and a published one at that, having written a 300-page book dedicated to ‘70s and ‘80s slashers. And while this makes him as close of an expert on the topic as possible, his inspirations are apparent almost to a fault. It’s almost like the book was written as a movie script then adapted as a novel. But while Hendrix leans into the tropes of the horror genre, he subverts them at the same time by exploring the survival skills the Final Girls have developed since their first encounter and how they’ve chosen to cope in the meantime. The book has the same wry sense of humor you can find in slasher films — the chapters are formatted like movie titles, and the protagonist ironically calls this new attempt on their lives a sequel.

WHERE TO BUY- Unfortunately, paperback copies in Egypt have sold out, but fans of horror, thrillers, and slashers can find this book at Amazon US or on Kindle.

?HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

There are nine Yemeni restaurants around Cairo, but Al Shebany tops everyone’s lists for the authenticity of their recipes, all of which feature exclusively Yemeni spices and seasonings to staple foods that don’t usually vary too widely throughout the MENA region, adding a new dimension of flavor to dishes you might already be familiar with. The restaurant, located in Dokki, offers a wide range of Yemeni platters, from their iconic mandi (available with lamb, beef, and chicken) to more humble meals consisting of cooked beans and rice.

The prices are almost offensively reasonablefor this day and age, with a meal consisting of one quarter chicken, three pieces of kofta, a generous helping of basmati rice, a salad, tahini, and two loaves of bread setting you back only EGP 65 — and the whole lamb, butchered, spiced, and cooked for you, will make an EGP 1.4k dent in you and your group’s wallet. There’s also a whole section of the menu dedicated to fans of bread, with five types of Yemeni bread and twelve variations available to try. We recommend the Tameez, a simple but flavourful unleavened flatbread. Our favorite dessert was the ma’soob (pro tip:you can also make it yourself with the help of this recipe we shared earlier.)

PSA- The restaurant is not group-friendly: It can only fit about twenty people at a time.

? Per person: EGP 50-300

? Outdoor seating: No

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly:No

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