It's been a dry spell for cinema buffs in the UAE. But all that's about to change with a spate of releases this week. And if your Eid break is all about hitting the cinemas, then here's a round-up of the ones you should be watching.
Bodyguard (India)
Who's in it: Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor
What it's about: Khan plays Lovely Singh, a formidable bodyguard (don't let his name fool you!), on a mission to protect a business tycoon's daughter Divya (Kapoor). But his constant shadowing doesn't go down well with Divya, who hatches a plan to distract him from his duties. Enters an anonymous admirer out to get Singh.
Why you should watch it: Salman Khan - need we say more? He may not be known for his acting skills, but when it comes to charisma he's got plenty of it. Plus, it will be interesting to see if Bollywood scorcher Katrina Kaif in her itsy-bitsy song appearance will steal the thunder from the Kapoor lass, who plays the lead in the film.
Bol (Pakistan)
Who's in it: Atif Aslam, Humaima Malik and Mahira Khan.
What it's about: A gritty tale about a family in Lahore and its women grappling with their daily realities such as discrimination, poverty and relationships.
Why you should watch it: "Watch it with an open heart … it's about a good cause," said Pakistani pop icon Aslam of his debut vehicle. Also, director Shoaib Mansoor is known to extract the best from his talents.
Conan The Barbarian (US)
Who's in it: Jason Momoa, Ron Perlman and Rose McGowan.
What it's about: Young Conan witnesses the death of his father during the slaughter of his village, and takes "an eye for an eye" to heart as he sets about wreaking vengeance in a mythical world.
Why you should watch it: Firstly, for Jason Momoa's pecs; secondly for scriptwriting apparently so bad, the man responsible took to the internet last week to talk about how it feels to have a failure on your hands: "devastating".
Captain America: The First Avenger (US)
Who's in it: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving and Hayley Atwell.
What it's about: While Green Lantern didn't rock many people's worlds earlier this summer, this comic-book remake has already broken records in the US with its revival of the classic character who goes from weakling to superhuman.
Why you should watch it: While the idea of Captain America might leave a sour taste in the mouth for many around the world who don't quite fancy watching US supremacy in action, comic-book style, in this film the Captain fights those quintessential bad guys: Nazis. Can't argue with that. Plus, Samuel L. Jackson returns as Nick Fury (he played the same role in Thor, the Iron Man films, the upcoming Avengers, and will get his own movie in 2012).
Crazy, Stupid, Love. (US)
Who's in it: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore and Steve Carell.
What it's about: Soulmates — yes, it's still possible, preaches this sweet film which sees Carell's midst-of-divorce character get a makeover from hot young player Gosling, who himself gets transformed by the girl who might be The One.
Why you should watch it: Hold the phone — didn't Carell already do this in The 40 Year Old Virgin? Yes, but CSL has less chest waxing, and more waxing lyrical about finding that perfect other half.
The Smurfs (US)
Who's in it: Those little blue guys. Oh, and Neil Patrick Harris and voiceover king Hank Azaria.
What it's about: Nasty old Gargamel kicks the Smurfs out of their world and into Central Park. Then they meet McDreamy and fall in love. Oops, sorry, that was the plot of Enchanted. We're sure there's something original in this one, although the 3D cliche certainly isn't.
Why you should watch it: Because it stars the current kings of TV (How I Met Your Mother's Harris; Glee's Jayma Mays and Modern Family's Sofia Vergara); and because you know the kids are going to go mad for it. (It's already racked up top spots in markets across Europe and the US).