Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Directors: Eric Darnell, Tom McGarth & Conrad Vernon
Voiced by: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Frances McDormand, Jessica Chastain, Martin Short, Paz Vega
***
As the recent Men in Black 3 showed, a third outing in a film franchise that already felt tired is a near-impossible task. The first two instalments in the Madagascar cartoon series grossed more than US$1 billion (Dh4.6bn) collectively, although this tale of zoo animals stranded in Africa was never a font of originality. So you might think Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted would be a desperately dull affair.
In truth, DreamWorks has put some thought into pepping up the adventures of Alex the lion (voiced by Stiller), Marty the zebra (Rock), Gloria the hippo (Pinkett Smith) and Melman the giraffe (Schwimmer). For starters, it's co-written by Noah Baumbach, the auteur behind the Stiller-starring Greenberg. Unusual, but a smart choice.
Secondly, the pace is so merciless you can't help but be swept up in the animals' jaunt around the continent – from a Monte Carlo casino to a travelling circus – as they try to head back to their New York Zoo. The Katy Perry-scored circus scenes, heavily influenced by the trippy visuals of Cirque du Soleil, are beautifully rendered, and the addition of new characters (particularly Short as a silly sea lion) works well.
Of course, next to Toy Story 3, this threequel crumbles into the dust. It doesn't possess an ounce of the heart, innocence or emotion that Pixar's classic manages. But then, it's arguably unfair to compare it with such a titan. Despite the circus theme, Madagascar 3 is hardly the greatest show on Earth. But it has enough joie de vivre to raise some genuine smiles.
MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
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RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m
5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The Lost Letters of William Woolf
Helen Cullen, Graydon House
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
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SPECS
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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: Dh898,000
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Company%20profile%20
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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.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company%20Profile
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
