???? AT THE MOVIES-

Shrek fans, this charming spin-off will make you happy: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish sees the friendly sidekick at the center of an animated Dreamworks feature that explores mortality and existential crises with a charm and sense of humor. Staying true to the punchy comedy for which the Shrek franchise is known and loved, the film has garnered praise from fans of the franchise and appealed to the nostalgic millennials among us.

The film revolves around Puss — who’s voiced by Antonio Banderas — and his confrontation with mortality as he now faces his ninth — and final — life. He goes on an adventure seeking out the “wishing star,” which would restore his nine lives, and meets some memorable characters along the way, including his love interest Kitty Softpaws (played by Salma Hayek) and an emotional support puppy, both of which help drive the core message of the film: that life is short, and our mortality is what makes it meaningful.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- The film is now showing in Cairo Festival Cinema, Vox Mall of Egypt and Sea Cinema Arabella.

If you (like us) enjoy a good spy action comedy, go check out Guy Ritchie’s Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre while it’s in theaters. Elite spy Orson Fortune — played by Jason Statham — is tasked with tracking down Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant), a b’naire arms dealer, and preventing the sale of a lethal new weapon technology he is using. After joining forces with some of the best operatives in the world, Fortune and his team are forced to ask Hollywood's biggest movie star, Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett), to help them save the world (watch trailer, 3:07). While the film has a few plot holes — like what the stakes really are for the main characters — it still offers viewers a blast, what with the witty dialogue, the great acting and the excellent cinematic aesthetics, Film Focus Magazine writes.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- Cairo Festival Cinema, Arkan Cinema, Vox Mall of Egypt or Galaxy El Maadi.

???? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

A Roald Dahl biography that captures the various sides of the acclaimed writer: Author of children's books Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda, Roald Dahl, needs no introduction. His life’s story has already been the subject of several biographies — but this newest biography, Teller of the Unexpected, does a great job of capturing Dahl’s contradictions, the New York Times writes.

A famous anti-semite and a man of several scandals, Dahl’s story — written this time by Matthew Dennison — is full of personal tragedies, quirks, and character flaws to boot. Despite there being no groundbreaking discoveries about the author’s life in the book, the biography offers a fresh interpretation of the controversial author’s legacy.

WHERE TO GET IT- Amazon.

SPEAKING OF DAHL- The children’s book author has been making a comeback in headlines over the past week, after news that his books will be modified to cut out any language construed as insensitive came out. The Telegraph revealed some of the modifications that have been made to Dahl’s books at the hands of “sensitivity readers,” who have made changes ranging from switching out “men” for “people,” to entire sentences that end up altering the tone of the text.

The news has sparked a heated debate on social media and a torrent of stories (three in the Guardian alone — here, here and here) with some claiming the rewrites are harmless and provide more inclusive language that helps better serve the kids of today’s world, while others say the move is reminiscent of Orwell’s 1984.

We’re in the 1984 camp — it’s not like Roald Dahl is the first white sexist, racist writer with books that are still being read today (do we really need to name names?).

???? HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

If you’re looking to splurge on a fancy night out, Sax Egypt in Sheikh Zayed fits the bill. With great food, a dark and moody atmosphere, and live entertainment, the fine dining spot opposite Dandy Mall is great for a weekend outing, whether it’s a date night or a night out with friends.

This is not a quiet venue: The live performance is fully equipped with a band and a singer, which really hypes the crowd up to get up and dance. Past midnight, a house DJ takes the reins and the party atmosphere gets supercharged. The food is impeccable; we especially loved their beef tenderloin, and the brie in filo dough for appetizer. For the vegetarians among you, we recommend the goat cheese salad. Cap the night with their creamy crème brûlée or their delicious pavlova.

???? Per person: Around EGP 2-2.5k, including drinks, an appetizer, main course and a dessert

???? Alcohol? Yes

???? Outdoor seating? No

???? Accessibility friendly? Yes