Film favourites: What do movies mean to you?

Film affects our lives in many different ways. Whether that's because we spend hours on end queuing for the cinema or simply watching the stars go about their daily lives in the pages of celebrity magazines, we are all affected in some shape or form.

tabloid! spoke to the people of Abu Dhabi to find out just how much the film world plays a part.

Sewom Park, 12, and her mother Lee,  were visiting Abu Dhabi from Saudi Arabia where the Park family, originally from Korea, have lived for the past 16 years.

Lee said: "We have got used to living without cinema for so long now that you almost don't think about it. Films are still very heavily censored and for many years when we first moved here you couldn't even enjoy a film.

"It's funny, when you start to think about it, you realise just how much you miss watching good films. When we lived in Korea we watched films and I do miss the experience."
Sewon said: "My favourite film is Pirates of the Caribbean - the third one. I like action films and I watch them as often as I can."

Hans Kyk, his wife Kirsten and son Christopher, 15, originally from Denmark, were enjoying a short break in Abu Dhabi from their home in Dubai.

Hans said: "I probably don't go to the cinema as often as I would like due to a lack of time but my favourite movie is probably Mr Bean as I love comedy."

Kirsten said she didn't watch many movies because she missed the Danish films which were available to her in Denmark.

Christopher said: "I love the cinema and I go about twice each month. I love all genres and my favourite film is Titanic. I also love comedy films."

Hesham Mararmeh, 43, has lived in Abu Dhabi for five years and says the only movies he really gets to watch now are the ones chosen by his children, 7-year-old Jude and Saif, aged 4.

He said: "I believe the family favourite is currently called The Little Man - it is an English DVD and it certainly keeps them quiet. I maybe make it to the cinema about once a year to watch something I really don't want to miss. I love action films the best, but my wife loves the chick flicks - that doesn't help matters either. Life is just very busy."

Manuella Georgescu, 32, from Romania, has worked in Abu Dhabi for more than two years for a tour operator.

She said: "Film is a real passion for me but I don't like to leave the comfort of my own home. The malls are so busy, especially around the cinema areas and I would rather curl up on the sofa at home with all my comforts around me and watch a good film. I love action films and my all-time favourite movie is Casablanca."