Review: Saudi film ‘Champions’ is a heartfelt movie about friendship, football, and learning difficulties

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The movie starring Yassir Al Saggaf a Saudi Tv presenter and actor who is playing the role of Khalid in the movie alongside the Saudi Actress Fatima Al Banawi, who plays the role of Khaled’s fiancee. (Supplied)
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Updated 06 March 2022
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Review: Saudi film ‘Champions’ is a heartfelt movie about friendship, football, and learning difficulties

  • “The movie was filmed in Jeddah and we faced challenges because of the pandemic,” Al-Saggaf told Arab News

RIYADH: The Saudi football film “Champions” delivers a beautiful message on humanity and people's behavior.

It follows the journey of Khaled, a temperamental and arrogant assistant coach of a successful professional Saudi football team.

His rage leads him to disciplinary court after a particularly frustrating match. He loses his high-profile career, suffers a major blow to his ego, and his community service turns out to be coaching an amateur team of players who have learning difficulties.




Saudi film ‘Champions’ is scheduled to release on March 10. (Supplied)

But he realizes how much he needs to learn from his new team when they respond to his poor attitude with good humor, friendliness, and innocence.

The movie stars Saudi TV presenter and actor Yassir Al-Saggaf, who plays Khaled, and Saudi actress Fatima Al-Banawi, who plays the role of Khaled’s fiancee.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The movie stars Saudi TV presenter and actor Yassir Al-Saggaf, who plays Khaled, and Saudi actress Fatima Al-Banawi, who plays the role of Khaled’s fiancee.

• It was directed by Manuel Calvo and produced by the Oscar-winning Andres Vicente Gomez.

“The movie was filmed in Jeddah and we faced challenges because of the pandemic,” Al-Saggaf told Arab News. “We had two phases for filming it: One before the pandemic and one after. Everyone who saw the film wanted to jump in to help show the movie. I would like to thank the Film Commission and Ministry of Culture for showing the film at Dubai Expo 2020.”




The Saudi movie Champions took the interest of many parties due to its beautiful message to create a connection between people with disabilities and the community. (Supplied)

Al-Saggaf said all the actors with disabilities in the movie were acting for the first time, adding that they did a “great job.” He hoped they would continue working in the entertainment industry.

The family-friendly movie is light and funny. There are plenty of laughs because of how the characters see life and the way they want to have fun and enjoy the moment.

It was directed by Manuel Calvo and produced by the Oscar-winning Andres Vicente Gomez.

Gomez said he did not want to use professional actors to portray people with special needs as it would contradict the film's purpose.

“Through their sense of humor, kindness, and respect, the boys are great actors, and the film and its main characters set an example for the rest of society,” he said.

The movie, which is scheduled for release on March 10, is a remake of the Spanish film “Campeones,” one of Spanish cinema's biggest breakthroughs in the last decade.

“Champions” has attracted a lot of attention because of its uplifting message, as well as its attempt to change people’s perception of those with special needs.

 


REVIEW: Guy Ritchie’s ‘Fountain of Youth’ — ‘Indiana Jones’ wannabe fails miserably

Updated 30 May 2025
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REVIEW: Guy Ritchie’s ‘Fountain of Youth’ — ‘Indiana Jones’ wannabe fails miserably

DUBAI: You know those fake films you see in TV shows like “30 Rock” or, more recently, “The Studio”?  Guy Ritchie’s latest misfire, “Fountain of Youth,” captures that vibe perfectly.

A chaotic, charmless attempt at action-adventure, “Fountain of Youth” clearly takes its inspiration from “Indiana Jones,” but ends up as a muddled mess of clichés, clunky dialogue, and a lead who never quite convinces.

The latter is John Krasinski as Luke Purdue, an archaeologist-turned-art thief racing to uncover the location of the legendary Fountain of Youth — believed to be capable of bestowing eternal life — with the help of rich benefactor Owen Carver (Domhnall Gleeson), a billionaire with a fatal illness who’s ready to throw all his money into the quest.

When things go awry, Luke reaches out to his younger sister Charlotte (a resplendent Natalie Portman) for help. The squabbling siblings then set off on a globetrotting adventure, while being chased by shadowy organizations and Interpol.

The problem? Krasinski brings all the gravitas of a put-upon history teacher on a school field trip. There’s a stiffness to him that means you never quite shake off the sense that he’s just playing dress-up.

Portman and Gleeson fare better. Portman, playing a sharp-tongued art curator and a mother on the brink of divorce, injects moments of tension and vulnerability that almost make you care about the story. Gleeson, meanwhile, steals every scene he’s in as he descends into villainy. But even their combined charisma fails to inject life into the limp script.

Other noteworthy performances come from Eiza Gonzales, who plays Esme, just one of the many people trying to stop the siblings from uncovering the Fountain of Youth; and Arian Moayed, who plays Interpol’s Inspector Abbas.

Ritchie’s signature snappy style is drowned under a deluge of poorly choreographed chase sequences, same-y set pieces and exposition-heavy dialogue. The film looks expensive but feels lazy, with international locations reduced to postcard backgrounds.

“Fountain of Youth” wants to be thrilling, funny and smart. Instead, it’s repetitive, cringey and talks down to its viewers.


Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ cast spotted in Bahrain 

Updated 29 May 2025
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Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ cast spotted in Bahrain 

  • Production underway in Bahrain, set for release December 2026

DUBAI: Members of the star-studded “Avengers: Doomsday” cast were recently spotted in Bahrain, where production for the upcoming Marvel film is believed to be underway.

This week, Address Beach Resort held a dinner event attended by several cast members. Among the guests were director Joe Russo and actors Anthony Mackie, Simu Liu, Winston Duke, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta, Hannah John-Kamen, Danny Ramirez, and Alex Livinalli.

“This past weekend, Address Beach Resort Bahrain had the marvellous honour of hosting some of Hollywood’s most iconic stars,” the resort posted on Instagram.

Fans also spotted the cast dining at Sumosan, a Japanese restaurant located within the hotel.

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, “Avengers: Doomsday” is set for release on Dec. 18, 2026.
 


Kneecap dropped from Scotland’s TRNSMT Festival amid police safety concerns

Updated 29 May 2025
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Kneecap dropped from Scotland’s TRNSMT Festival amid police safety concerns

DUBAI: Northern Irish rap group Kneecap has been pulled from the lineup of Scotland’s TRNSMT music festival, with organizers citing police concerns over safety as the reason for the last-minute removal.

The politically outspoken trio, known for fusing Irish republicanism with rap and for their recent pro-Palestinian stance at California’s Coachella, were scheduled to perform on July 11. But festival organizers announced on Wednesday that they would no longer appear, following discussions with Police Scotland.

Police Scotland clarified that while concerns were raised, booking decisions were made independently by the festival: “Any decision in relation to the line-up is a matter for the organisers. Police Scotland was not consulted prior to the acts being booked.”

In a statement on X, Kneecap addressed fans: “To the thousands of people who bought tickets, flights and hotels to see us play, we are sorry … it is out of our hands.” They added, “Glasgow has always been a huge city for us. We’ve played there many, many times, with no issues — ever. Make of that what you will.”

The band will instead perform at Glasgow’s O2 Academy on July 8.

The decision comes as group member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, faces a terrorism charge in the UK for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a London concert in November 2024. He is due to appear in court on June 18. Kneecap has called the charge “political policing,” linking it to efforts to silence dissent.

“This is a carnival of distraction,” the group said. “We are not the story, genocide is.”


Nintendo expands in Saudi Arabia with online store, upcoming launch of Switch 2

Updated 28 May 2025
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Nintendo expands in Saudi Arabia with online store, upcoming launch of Switch 2

RIYADH: Nintendo has announced the launch of its Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch Online services in Saudi Arabia, marking a major step in the company’s regional expansion as it prepares to roll out the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5.

Nintendo also launched its official online store in the Kingdom in April.

The Nintendo Saudi Online Store offers a full range of products including the new Nintendo Switch 2 console, accessories, games and amiibo figurines.

In a press release, Nintendo said the move was part of a broader push to strengthen its presence in new markets and improve local accessibility to its ecosystem.

While the company has not yet revealed the exact launch date for the eShop and online subscription services in Saudi Arabia, it confirmed that “details will be announced at a later time.”

Coinciding with the Saudi store launch, Nintendo also revealed full details of the Nintendo Switch 2, which is being positioned as the next evolution in hybrid gaming.

The new console will feature upgraded performance and a more immersive experience through a 7.9-inch (20-centimeter) full high-definition screen, redesigned magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers with mouse-like capabilities, 256 gigabytes of internal storage and spatial 3D audio.

“Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go, based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch,” said Shuntaro Furukawa, Nintendo’s president, in the press release.

“With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches.”

A key new feature is GameChat, a built-in system allowing voice and video communication for up to 12 players during gameplay. Players will be able to use a built-in microphone or an optional USB-C camera to chat, share screens or see each other in real time.

GameChat will be available to all Nintendo Switch 2 users until March 31 next year, after which it will require a Nintendo Switch Online membership.

Nintendo Switch 2 will also include GameShare, enabling users to share compatible titles with friends and family even if they do not own the games themselves, as long as they are part of the same Nintendo Account family group.

At launch, the system will debut with several major titles.

These include Mario Kart World with its new Knockout Tour mode, the exclusive 3D platformer Donkey Kong Bananza, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, EA SPORTS Madden NFL, and Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV.

With the online store now live and digital services on the way, Saudi Arabia is set to become a key market for Nintendo as it rolls out its next-generation console under the global theme: “All Together, Anytime, Anywhere.”


Review: Star-filled ‘Eddington’ — a satirical thriller in small town America

Updated 28 May 2025
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Review: Star-filled ‘Eddington’ — a satirical thriller in small town America

CANNES: The memory of the COVID-19 pandemic still lingers, the deaths and the economic destruction it caused still play on the mind. Ari Aster’s “Eddington,” which just played at the Cannes Film Festival in France, is a brutal look at what the virus did to humanity, the kind of misinformation we were fed and the losses, monetary and emotional, we all suffered.

“Eddington” is a fictional town in the US state of New Mexico and the movie opens as lockdown begins.

In the Cannes title, the mayor of Eddington, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal), and Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) are at loggerheads. Their bone of contention is the medical mask — Cross refuses to wear one thus setting a bad example, encouraging people to defy the rule.  Cross also resents Garcia's support for the construction of a giant online server farm and decides to run against Garcia as an anti-lockdown candidate in the upcoming mayoral election.

This forms the main plot, but interestingly it is the sub-plots that add pep and zing to the film. Cross's wife Louise (Emma Stone) suffers from hysteria and depression while Garcia's problematic teen son Eric (Matt Gomez Hidaka) is in love with Sarah (Amelia Hoeferie), who bills herself a warrior for social justice.

Aster manages to grip us with all these diversions and distractions in what could have otherwise been a rather dull narrative. The satire on the sidelines is hilarious, and despite a serious plot that treats the town as a microcosm of America’s problems — from police brutality to racism —   the writer-director manages to keep the audience engaged until the finish line.

The film could have done with tighter editing, though, and it isn’t till the halfway mark that the plot begins to speed up with a segway into a farcical crime thriller.