<span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">Out of all the major Egyptian films released as part of </span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">this year's Eid Al Fitr season, the terror drama </span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]" data-atex-fs="NormalItalic"><em>Jawab Iteiqal </em></span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">is the most intriguing.</span> <span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">With a plot straight from the news headlines, Egyptian action man Mohamed Ramadan flexes his muscles as Khaled Degwy, leader of the armed wing of </span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">Egyptian terror group The Brotherhood – not the most subtle nod to </span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">real life</span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">.</span> <span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">After a series of daring attacks, Khaled suffers a crisis of conscience when his young, naive brother Ahmed<br/> (Mohamed Adel) also wants in on the action. On Khaled's tail is wily investigator Mohamed Abdul Aziz (</span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">Eyad Nassar), who exploits his vulnerability </span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">in order to catch his man.</span> <span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">Sometimes a formulaic plotline is a good thing when it acts as a base to explore deeper issues. But writer and director Mohamed Samy is torn between telling a good story and delivering the box-office goods in this one. The end result is a wasted opportunity; a psychological drama with no heft and an action film with no bite.</span> <span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]" data-atex-track="-15">When it comes to the former, the key dramatic ingredients are there – Khaled is an interesting character who goes against the perception that terrorists are all brainwashed fundamentalists. He understands his actions are morally reprehensible, yet</span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]" data-atex-track="-15"> as a former orphan, Khaled is driven by earthier ambitions, such as financial security and honour. </span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">Then there is the juxtaposition between </span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]" data-atex-fs="NormalItalic"><em>Jawab Iteiqal</em></span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">'s two sheikhs – the Brotherhood's megalomaniac spiritual leader and television personality Mustafa (Sabry Fawaz) and the more congenial and moderate Samaha (Sabry Abdul Mun'im).</span> <span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">In such a hurry to get to the next action sequence, the film steamrolls through dramatic gold mines with the dialogue veering between painful polemics and irritating clichés.</span> <span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">That would have been forgivable if the action was better. Instead, the sequences are technically shoddy – cameras are out of focus and sound effects are mistimed – and the props used in part are laughably fake.</span> <span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">When compared to the high-octane thrills delivered by Egyptian thriller </span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]" data-atex-fs="NormalItalic"><em>Huroob Ezterari </em></span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">(currently showing in UAE cinemas), such sloppiness is no longer acceptable to regional filmgoers. </span> <span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">Ramadan, 29, has the performance range of British action hero Jason Statham</span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">. He offers just two looks: a tight, jaw-clenching smile or a withering glare. </span> <span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">While there is little doubt he has the charisma to lead a full-blown action blockbuster, </span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]" data-atex-fs="NormalItalic"><em>Jawab Iteiqal </em></span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">just </span><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">isn't it. The film disappointed at the Egyptian box office and will likely do the same here.</span> <em><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">Jawab Iteiqal is showing in cinemas across the UAE now</span></em> <strong><span data-atex-cstyle="$ID/[No character style]">Read more</span></strong>
