Hot Trailers

Benedict Cumberbatch’s appearance as All.
Benedict Cumberbatch’s appearance as All. PHOTO: YOUTUBE
Charlize Theron returns as evil Queen Ravenna.
Charlize Theron returns as evil Queen Ravenna. PHOTO: YOUTUBE

ZOOLANDER 2

The first Zoolander (2001) was banned here because it featured a nutty plot involving a fictitious prime minister of Malaysia. "But that was a long, long, long time ago," the narration self-mockingly goes.

"Someone is trying to kill the world's most beautiful people," exclaims Interpol agent Penelope Cruz, who recruits male model- spy-idiot Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) and straggly-haired best pal Hansel McDonald (Owen Wilson) to infiltrate the murderous world of high fashion headed by chief psycho Will Ferrell.

Is there really a need for this follow-up?

Apparently, transgender people in America don't think so, since they're up in arms over Benedict Cumberbatch's appearance as All, an all-encompassing neutered model who looks like the Japanese ghost from The Ring.


THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER'S WAR

This Snow White movie franchise gave Snow White the boot. Kristen Stewart, who played her in 2012's Snow White And The Huntsman, is missing in action in this follow-up. The magic mirror is no longer just harsh to less-than-beautiful queens - it gives power to entire armies. And, despite the title, the movie is really a power-packed chick flick.

Charlize Theron returns as evil Queen Ravenna; Emily Blunt is her sister, the equally evil Ice Queen; and Jessica Chastain is a warrior-babe who looks like Katniss Everdeen's soul sister. It looks like somebody wants to make The Lord Of The Rings: Super Estrogen Version. The one outnumbered bloke is Chris Hemsworth as the heroic Huntsman armed with useless weapons like good looks and puny little axes. Against these scary women, Thor needs to be Iron Man.

Tay Yek Keak

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 25, 2015, with the headline Hot Trailers. Subscribe