THE BIG SCREEN
WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES (12A)
Monkey business becomes deadly serious in the third chapter of the rebooted sci-fi franchise. Director Matt Reeves retains his position at the helm of this cataclysmic showdown between the last remnants of mankind and genetically enhanced primates, who have collectively weathered the storm of Simian Flu. Everyone has blood on their hands and Reeves’ contemplative script, co-written by Mark Bomback, corrupts characters on both sides of the conflict in the name of survival.
THE BEGUILED (15)
Virginal beauty is sin deep in Oscar-winning writer-director Sofia Coppola’s fable of female empowerment, based on the novel by Thomas P Cullinan. Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, The Beguiled lovingly reupholsters a shabby Gothic melodrama starring Clint Eastwood with stunning cinematography courtesy of Philippe Le Sourd and impeccable production design. The focus of Coppola’s version is an isolated household of women and girls led by Nicole Kidman, who unwittingly invite a wolf in military clothing (Colin Farrell) into their hen house, and must take control of their destiny, using force if necessary.
CARS 3 (U)
The second sequel to the 2006 computeranimated comedy Cars continues the misadventures of anthropomorphised vehicles, who orbit championship racing car Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) as he ponders retiring from the track. Fond memories of mentor Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) compel Lightning to hit the comeback trail and he heads to the Rust-eze Racing Center where trainer Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo) promises to improve Lightning’s speed and stamina.
SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (12A)
Jon Watts’ slick reboot of the Marvel Comics superhero spins an impressive web. Several months have passed since the destruction of the Avengers headquarters and Peter Parker (Tom Holland) has managed to conceal his crime-fighting alter ego from Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) with the help of his mentor, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr). When salvage company owner Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton) takes flight as a larcenous winged menace called Vulture, Peter foolishly tries to prove himself to the Avengers by tackling the airborne madman alone.