? AT THE MOVIES-

The Marvels puts the Universe in the MCU. The latest offering from the MCU showcases The Marvels (watch trailer, runtime: 2:20), a ragtag trio of superpowered individuals whose levels of enthusiasm in the face of their forced codependence vary. The trio comprises Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani).

You’ve probably seen this movie before. If you’ve watched all 33 movies that make up the MCU, it’s not difficult to pick up on a pattern… or formula. To their credit, it has been wildly successful thus far, with the franchise earning a whopping total of USD 29.7 bn.

This installment sees the discovery of yet another ancient artifact with the power to destroy the universe. Like the rest of the MCU movies, it ends with a high-stakes and CGI-heavy battle — this time in space. A cosmic glitch unites the three Marvels, making them switch places by teleportation when their powers are used. This presents some issues as the trio try to fend off Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) from destroying earth and the multiverse.

Vellani’s Kamala is a breath of fresh air, the only character bringing levity to a plot laden with heavy topics. But perhaps that is the point. When Captain Marvel is reluctantly pulled into the team, it is after several years of non-stop conflict, during which she loses herself, becoming a darker and more jaded version of the superhero we came to know in the 2019 Captain Marvel movie.

Marvel really wants you to watch its shows. You might feel out of the loop if you aren’t caught up on the MCU’s eight shows, some of which are on their second season. To fully grasp the scope of The Marvels, you’ll need to have seen WandaVision, Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, and a couple of other shows that may fill in the gaps.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can catch The Marvels at VOX Cinemas at City Center Almaza and Mall of Egypt, Cima Arkan, Citystars cinemas, and theaters at Cairo Festival City.

French courtroom drama and Palme d’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall has debuted in Cairo. While the film (watch trailer, runtime: 1:55) is procedural at face value, it is actually a postmortem not of the suspicious death of Vincent (Swann Arlaud) — husband to Sandra (Sandra Hüller) and father of Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner), a visually impaired tween and the only witness to the event — but of Vincent and Sandra’s marriage.

Sandra falls under suspicion after her husband’s death, originally suspected as a suicide. Both were novelists, and Sandra was the more successful of the two, and their relationship had been crumbling for some time. Her icy demeanor works against her favor, leading the prosecutors to doubt her story. The only witness, her son Daniel, refuses to testify.

The film has an open ending leaving the viewer to judge. Director Justine Triet — only the third woman to ever earn the Palme d’Or — lets you make up your mind on whether or not Sandra is guilty. Even Hüller herself isn’t entirely sure whether or not her character is innocent.

WHERE TO WATCH- Become judge and jury by watching Anatomy of a Fall at Zawya Cinema.

? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

Edible Economics blends economics, culture, and food. A hungry South Korean economist, Ha-Joon Chang, explains the world by simplifying the rigorous and complicated economics theories and concepts by connecting them to delicious food anecdotes, history, and lighthearted metaphors.

Each chapter is named after food: Whether its beef or okra or Lime, Chang narrates his own experience with this item, telling the history behind it and how it is cooked and presented differently across various cultures — then takes it from there to the economic slant.

But the humor doesn’t hold him back from the heavier issues. He discusses crucial topics related to climate change, racism, globalization, capitalism, and others. In one chapter he draws parallels from chocolate’s complex global production process to post-industrial labor and uses okra’s origins to explore the intricacies of capitalism and personal freedom.

WHERE TO FIND IT- You can find Edible Economics in Shorouk Bookstores or you can buy the hardcover from Amazon for USD 17.19 or download the Kindle version for USD 18.

? HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Miel pastries: Reporting live from New Cairo’s Arabella Plaza. The cozy little restaurant is brought to us by chef Norhan Tarek, a self-taught baker whose passion for everything related to the kitchen shines through her creations.

The bakery is king at Miel, but there are savory dishes worth a go — think smashed avo toast, brisket egg waffles, a variety of bagels, salads, and pastas. What really made the place pop on our radars is the bakery.

The smoked salmon platter and spinach quiche were a hit and so were the mini pancakes. And, of course, we can’t do brunch without coffee, so make sure you order the crème brûlée latté and Tiramisu coffee for a sweet kick along with your caffeine dose.

We first heard about Chef Norhan’s lemon blueberry cake and San Sebastian cheesecake from our network. These two cakes are the bakery’s bestsellers and are tasty and fresh, so make sure to go early to catch a slice before they run out.

Saturday brunch plans? Miel has you covered. If you’re not sure what to pick from the menu, the weekend is a good place to start because you can see all the options for yourself thanks to the weekly buffet. But be warned: It’s not your typical restaurant buffet.

NOTE- Miel isn’t for one who likes plenty of options. Brunch at the small restaurant feels more like an intimate affair at a friend’s place. And while the dishes may not be endless, they do not compromise on quality.

? Per person: 300-400

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

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