SPOTLIGHT | 'The Flash' breaks the universe; family fun with 'Elemental'; quirky Wes Anderson offering

Spotlight is our entertainment bite-sized snapshot featuring new entertainment releases in SA, exclusive film trailers and much more. New episodes are out every Thursday on Sunday Times Lifestyle, Sowetan Entertainment and on YouTube, plus you can follow Spotlight on Facebook.

The Youth Day long weekend sees big releases at cinemas, from superheroes to a new Disney/Pixar animation and a characteristically quirky Wes Anderson film.

The wait is over for DC fans with the 13th instalment of the Extended DC Universe release, The Flash, which received overwhelming praise after its premiere in Los Angeles, particularly for its action sequences, humour and outstanding cast.

Ezra Miller reprises the role of Barry Allen, using his superpowers to travel back in time to change events of the past and bring back his parents, with unintended consequences. Andres Muschietti (IT, Mama) directs, with Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck as Batman in two realities, Sasha Calle as Supergirl and Michael Shannon as General Zod. The adventure to save the world will keep cinemagoers on the edge of their seats. The Flash is also releasing on IMAX screens.

Disney and Pixar animation’s adorable Elemental, directed by Peter Sohn (Ratatouille, The Good Dinosaur), is set in Element City, where the unspoken rule is no mixing between elements for obvious reasons, but fire, water, earth and air live together in harmony.  A fiery young woman and a go-with-the-flow guy, however, discover how much the elements have in common and the mingling, with consequences, begins. Elemental is a fresh coming of age comedy for the family and is also out in 3D.

As always, Wes Anderson brings his auteur-style ensemble cast to Asteroid City, including regulars Jason Schwartzman, Adrian Brody, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton. This science fiction romantic comedy-drama tells the story of world-changing events spectacularly disrupting a science convention in a small retro-futuristic American desert town circa 1955. 

Don’t miss next week’s episode of Spotlight for coverage of the local The Flash premiere, interviews, and more upcoming entertainment releases.

For a list of current and new movie trailers, interviews and more, visit our Spotlight Facebook page. See you at the movies!

For full interviews, breaking news, trailers and clips, visit our Spotlight Facebook page. See you at the movies!

Presenter Collette Prince is styled and dressed by Claris by Gerrit Pienaar when attending premieres and special events.

Facebook @Claris by Gerrit Pienaar/Instagram: gerritpienaardesigns.

Competition giveaway: The Flash merchandise

This week, Spotlight is giving away exclusive movie merchandise hampers from The Flash, now showing at cinemas and on IMAX.

To enter, visit the Spotlight South Africa Facebook page.

Terms and conditions apply.

Winners will be drawn randomly and notified by SMS after the competition has closed. Entrants’ personal details will not be retained for marketing purposes. Winners have to provide proof of age (ID/driver’s licence) and cover their own travel and accommodation expenses. By entering participants agree to have their names published on TimesLIVE, SowetanLIVE and Spotlight South Africa on Facebook. Employees of Arena Holdings and their family members are not eligible to enter.