To celebrate this week's release of Batman v Superman, Chris Newbould looks at some of cinema's most monstrous and memorable stand-offs.
Alien vs Predator (2004)
In its heyday, the Alien franchise was surely one of the greatest sci-fi series of all time, with the first two instalments, 1979's Ridley Scott-directed Alien and James Cameron's 1986 sequel Aliens, marking genuine benchmarks in cinema history. Sadly, by 2004, Alien's heyday was long behind it. By the time 1997's Alien: Resurrection came around, the series hadn't become truly terrible, but it seemed to be recycling the same ideas, and even the same shots.
Predator was never in the same league, but it was passable sci-fi/horror fare in its first, 1987, incarnation. So what better way to jump start the two franchises than squaring their baddies off against each other? Possibly several, judging by the end result. The script is silly (featuring the formerly bloodthirsty Predators forming an unlikely alliance with humans to save the earth from the aliens), the dialogue wooden and half of the film seems to take place in pitch blackness, leaving audiences befuddled and disappointed. It still spawned the 2007 sequel AVP: Requiem.
Freddy vs Jason (2003)
By the time of this ill-advised ensemble effort, Friday the 13th had spawned 10 films since Jason Voorhees first put on his hockey mask in 1980, while Freddy Krueger had been giving nightmares to the kids of Elm Street in seven movies since 1984.
As is so often the case, what began as interesting films, albeit of niche appeal, had become pastiches of themselves – maybe that's why the two psychopathic teen slashers were pitted against each other. The premise in Freddy vs Jason is that Freddy is trapped in hell, powerless to haunt teenagers' dreams because they've all forgotten about him, so he resurrects Jason and sends him on a killing spree in the hope their fear will reignite his powers. It does, but now Jason and Freddy are fighting for the same teen prey, resulting in a predictably violent stand-off. The San Francisco Chronicle captured the essence of the movie perfectly in its 2003 review: "Take a wretched premise. Imagine the worst picture that could be made from it. Then imagine something even worse." Yes, it is that bad.
Mothra vs Godzilla (1964)
This is the fourth movie in Toho Productions classic Godzilla franchise – and the first to bring in monsters from other Toho movies in the form of Mothra. A quick internet scan of Japanese Kaiju-monster-movie fans reveals that I'm in the minority in selecting this one as my favourite – Godzilla vs Megalon seems to have that honour – but I'm going with Mothra, not just because it is the first of its kind, but also because [spoiler alert] radioactive dino-sea monster Godzilla fights and defeats a giant moth before being pursued by two of his victim's giant larvae, aggressively wrapped in silk and thrown into the sea.
It’s gloriously silly fun, while at the same time being steeped in the understandable nuclear paranoia of post-war Japan. And did I mention that three of the main protagonists are a giant moth and its two larvae? What’s not to like?
Billy the Kid vs Dracula (1966)
Yes, this really happened. Not only that, but it was released in some cinemas as a double bill with Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter. The fact that both films were shot in eight days could give some indication of the quality. John Carradine, the patriarch of the Carradine acting dynasty, takes the role of the vampire Count Dracula, in keeping with his bizarre legacy of appearing mostly in B-movie horror/Westerns or Shakespearean theatre, while his foe Billy the Kid is played by the since-largely-forgotten Chuck Courtney (a small role in Stephen King's Pet Sematary is among his limited later work).
Amorous as ever, Dracula takes a shine to Billy's fiancée and determines to make her his vampire bride; a vampire vs gunslinger combat ensues. This was the final film by prolific director William Beaudine, who made almost 200 movies between 1922's Watch Your Step and this one. Beaudine remained healthy until his unexpected death in 1970, and it is unconfirmed whether watching the final cut of this film was the horror that forced him out of the director's chair for the final four years of his life.
Kramer vs Kramer (1979)
Finally, a film on this list that features no monsters and, perhaps as a result, is the only one to ever get near an Oscar (it won five in 1980, including Best Picture, Director, Actor and Screenplay). Meryl Streep’s Joanna Kramer abandons her husband Ted (Dustin Hoffman) and their young son Billy. After 15 months, during which we see some tear-jerking father/son resentment, reconciliation and bonding, Joanna returns to fight a savage custody battle. There may be no monsters, vampires or aliens, but it’s the sort of film you can watch with your mum if you need to make amends for forgetting Mother’s Day. Just make sure you have a box of tissues handy.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The Specs
Engine 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp (542bhp in GTS model)
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000 (Dh549,000 for GTS)
Company%20Profile
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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THREE
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Company%20profile
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Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
