CONTEST: Win Limited Edition Disney/Pixar’s #Coco Merchandise

Are you a fan of music and animation? If it’s a yes then you ought to include “Disney/Pixar’s Coco” in your must-watch list.

Directed by Mexican animator Lee Unkrich, “Disney/Pixar’s Coco” (previously titled “Dia de los Muertos”) is described “as an authentic love letter to one of Mexico’s most iconic celebrations” – the Día de los Muertos aka Day of the Dead, an annual Mexican holiday.

“Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colourful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.”

Thanks to our friends from Disney Malaysia, we’ve got some limited edition “Disney/Pixar’s Coco” goodies to give away to some lucky readers ;) That’s not all, we also have 10 pairs of “Disney/Pixar’s Coco” preview screening passes up for grabs!

Deets of the movie screening are as follows:

Feel free to check out our movie review on “Disney/Pixar’s Coco” here.

For more information on “Disney/Pixar’s Coco”, hit up the movie’s Facebook page.


Aliff Syukri’s Song For His Foster Son Features “Bobo Di Mana” Tunes

Dato’ Aliff Syukri and his wife Datin Nur Shahida have revealed the music video of their latest song, “Selawat Dodoi Anakku” which is dedicated specially to their foster child, Qayyum.

According to Datin Shahida, the song was initially made for all of their children, but since Qayyum’s biological mother asked the couple to return her kid after an alleged abusing incident, Datin Shahida decided to dedicate the song to Qayyum instead.

A post shared by Nur Shahida Mohd Rashid (@shahidadherbs)

Written and composed by Hafiz Hamidun, the song is a prayer from Datin Shahida and her husband to Qayyum. Many netizens noticed that the song’s possesses similar tunes to Aliff Syukri’s controversial hit “Bobo Di Mana“.

However, unlike “Bobo Di Mana”, “Selawat Dodoi Anakku” is filled with nothing but positive comments and praises as many are touched and saddened by the video and the messages in the song.

Fans of Aliff Syukri and Nur Shahida pray that the couple stay strong and keep on exuding positive vibes to their kids.

For those of you who are not aware, previously Dato Aliff Syukri’s caretaker-cum-housemaid has been accused of abusing the cosmetic millionaire’s adopted son, after a video of Qayyum’s head being shoved by the caretaker went viral on social media.

Since then, people has been bombarding the couple’s Instagram accounts with nasty comments, and this issue has gotten the attention of Qayyum’s biological mother, who requested for the couple to return his son.

With a heavy heart, the couple was forced to return Qayyum to his real mother after taking care of him for more than a year.

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Azealia Calls Perez A Faggot, Twitterville Explodes

American rapper and singer Azealia Banks blew up the interwebs yesterday when she tweeted a homophobic slur at popular entertainment blogger Perez Hilton. It all began when Michigan-born rapper Angel Haze and Azealia Banks publicly fired insults at each other. Yes, in full view of other Twitter users, who stopped at nothing to take sides. This includes Perez Hilton, who jumped in and took Angel Haze’s side.

It immediately promoted another war, where Azealia and Perez began going at each other. Azealia tweeted:

After which, she attempted to clarify her use of the word, “faggot”, by saying that a faggot is not a homosexual male but any male who acts like a female. Of course, Perez’s supporters immediately took offense and jumped in with equally harsh comebacks and violent sentiments.

It didn’t help that at noon yesterday, Azealia was still having a go at the entire slur issue when she said that she wasn’t “moved” by the “f word thing” as people want her to be. And that as a bisexual person, she knew what she meant when she used that word. On top of saying these other things:

Twitter diarrhea much, Azealia? Regardless of what she meant by the word, it’s about the damage it causes.

Let’s not forget the weight of the word “faggot”, especially if it’s used in reference to Perez Hilton who is both openly gay and who was previously punched by the Black Eyed Peas’ tour manager after he said to will.i.am, “You’re not a f*cking artist. You’re a f*cking faggot!”.


Contest: Win Super Adorable Exclusive “We Bare Bears” Merchandise!

Oh, so cute! Just got word that our friends from Cartoon Network are providing us some exclusive “We Bare Bears” merchandise to give away to some of our readers.

To be honest, we’ve got our eyes set on the “We Bare Bears” caps ;)

Amongst the adorable goodies up for grabs are such as the “We Bare Bears” foldable cubes, stickers, caps, lanyards, and canvas bags.

Want ’em? Here’s what you gotta do to win ’em! First, read this post and tell us:

E-mail your answers to us at submit@hype.my! We’ll e-mail the winners after the contest has closed.

For more information, hit up the “We Bare Bears” microsite.


#DurianLudah: Durian Seller In Kuala Lumpur Caught Red-Handed “Spitting” On Fruit

You’re on your way home after a long day, you’re hungry and you want to treat yourself, you’re about to drive past a durian stall by the roadside and as if on auto-pilot, you instinctively decide to stop and “tapao” some.

Little did you know, those yellow, fleshy and rich pieces of precious King fruit sitting in the pre-packed packet have been contaminated by the durian seller.

We’re not putting outlandish ideas in your head because that’s exactly what happened recently in Kuala Lumpur.

A durian seller was caught redhanded allegedly “spitting” on each open packet of the fruit before sealing it over with clingwrap. Someone managed to inconspicuously record a 2-minute video of the man at a durian stall, believed to be in Sri Gombak in Kuala Lumpur, doing the gross deed while wrapping individual packets of the fruit.

As seen in the above video (dated Wednesday, 18th May), before he covers a packet with clingwrap, he makes a quick-ish movement with his head over the exposed fruit. A movement that looks a lot like he’s spitting.

The video has since garnered the attention of netizens, who went on to share the incriminating clip on their respective Facebook profiles as well as over WhatsApp. Needless to say, it went viral.

A second video surfaced shortly after of the same durian seller being chastised by a crowd of men. According to the OtaiBERSIH Facebook page, the durian seller was ambushed by people who saw the video and decided to “teach him a lesson”.

It is not known if the durian seller was beaten up or handed over to the authorities.

That having said, social media users are now debating that the durian seller could’ve been blowing dust off the fruit and not deliberately spitting onto it. One netizen commented, “To whomever who recorded the first video, did you really see him spitting on the fruit? Do you have proof? Don’t try to be clever and wrongly accuse someone, and damage his rice bowl!” while another said, “Even if he’s blowing dust off the fruit, how can he do that? Especially if he’s intending to sell it to people to eat.”

What are your thoughts on the above videos? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: OtaiBERSIH / Featured image: focusnperspective.

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6 Alternative Rock Bands That Ruled The 90s

Come as you are because it smells like the 90s in here!

Taking advantage of the #ThrowbackThursday hashtag, we’re going to take you back to the 90s today. An incredible eclectic decade for music, the 90s saw the rise in popularity of new genres and sounds never heard before, and honestly, rarely heard better, if you asked us. From boy bands to rock bands to rappers and pop acts, the 90s featured a list of artistes that covered all musical categories.

Today however, we are focusing on alternative rock bands that pretty much ruled the 90s. If you are a 90s baby, then some of these bands may bring back some very fond memories of the golden days and if you’ve never heard of these bands, then it’s about time we educate you.

Below is a list of our favourite rock bands of the 90s in a non-chronological order:

Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in 1987. The duo went through a succession of drummers, the longest-lasting being Dave Grohl, who is currently the frontman of the band Foo Fighters. Grohl joined the band in 1990 and despite only releasing 3 full-length studio albums in their 7-year career, Nirvana is still regarded as one of the most influential and important rock bands of the modern era.

The band’s run ended following the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994. Since its debut, Nirvana has sold over 25 million records in the United States alone, and over 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the best selling bands of all time. Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame in 2014 as the world reflected on the 20th anniversary of Cobain’s tragic death.

American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers are known for some of their most famous hits including “Under The Bridge”, “Californication”, “Scar Tissue”, and “By The Way”. Formed in 1983, the band’s musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk rock and psychedelic rock.

When played live, they incorporate many aspects of jam band due to the improvised nature of much of their performances. The band currently consists of founding members, Anthony Kiedis and Michael “Flea’ Balzary, Chad Smith, and Josh Klinghoffer. Still active in the music scene, Red Hot Chili Peppers are in the works of releasing a new album in 2016.

Hip hip! American rock band Weezer formed in Los Angeles in 1992. Consisting of members Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Will, Brian Bell, and Scott Shriner, the band’s line-up has changed 4 times since its formation in 1992. To date, Weezer has sold 9,200,000 albums in the US and 17,525,000 worldwide. In 1993, the band signed to Geffen Records before they released their debut self-titled album, also known as “The Blue Album” in 1994.

Backed by successful music videos for the singles “Buddy Holly”, “Undone − The Sweater Song” and “Say It Ain’t So”, “The Blue Album” became a triple-platinum success. Both the band’s debut album”The Blue Album” and second album “Pinkerton” are now frequently cited among the best albums of the 90s. Still going strong today, Weezer released their ninth album, “Everything Will Be Alright in the End” on October 7th, 2014 which has received positive reviews.

Formed in Seattle in 1994, Foo Fighters was founded by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the death of Kurt Cobain which led to the dissolution of his previous band. Prior to the release of  Foo Fighters’ 1995 debut album “Foo Fighters”, which featured Grohl as the only official member, he recruited bassist Nate Mendel and Drummer William Goldsmith as well as fellow Nirvana touring bandmate Pat Smear as the guitarist to complete the line-up.

Smear left the band after the release of the second album, “The Colour and the Shape” in 1997. Goldsmith quit the band during the recording of “The Colour and the Shape” in 1997 before Smear’s departure. The duo were replaced by Taylor Hawkins and Franz Stahl respectively but Stahl was fired before the recording of the band’s third album, “There Is Nothing Left to Lose” (1999).

After the release of 3 more albums “One by One” (2002), “In Your Honor” (2005), and “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace” (2007), Smear officially rejoined the band in 2010. Throughout the band’s career, 4 of its albums won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album. The band released their seventh album, “Wasting Light” in 2011 and their eighth album, “Sonic Highways”, is set for release in November 2014.

Hailing from America, Green Day was formed in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong as well as bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt. For much of their career, the band has been a trio with drummer Tré Cool but in 2012, guitarist and backing vocalist Jason White became a full member after playing in the band as a session and touring guitarist for 13 years. Cool replaced drummer John Kiffmeyer in 1990 before the recording of the band’s second album, “Kerplunk” (1992).

With 8 studio albums, 6 live albums, 3 compilation albums and 3 EPs, Green Day is one of the world’s best selling bands of all time, selling more than 75 million records worldwide. Having won 5 Grammy Awards, Green Day was nominated for the induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2014. Some of the band’s most popular hits include “21 Guns”, “Wake Me Up When September Ends”, “American Idiot”, and “Know Your Enemy”.

Now, you honestly cannot be surprised that Oasis is listed here. Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Formed from an earlier group, the Rain, the band consisted of Liam Gallagher, Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan, and Tony McCarroll. Oasis was later joined by Liam’s older brother Noel Gallagher as a fifth member, becoming the band’s settled line-up until April 1995.

Signed to Creation Records in 1993, the band released their record-setting debut album “Definitely Maybe” in 1994. The following year, Oasis recorded “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?” with new drummer Alan White. The Gallagher brothers were often featured in tabloids for their sibling dispute and wild lifestyles.

In 1997, the band released their third album “Be Here Now” before McGuigan’s and Arthurs’ exit in 1999. The band then went on to record and release “Standing on the Should of Giants” in 2002. The 2 were replaced by Gem Archer and Andy Bell respectively. Oasis’ fifth studio album, “Heathen Chemistry” (2002) saw Noel Gallagher’s strict creative control in the band’s output with all members contributing songs, which led to more relaxed recording sessions.

2004 saw Zak Starkey join the band in replacement for Alan White, and renewed success with “Don’t Believe the Truth” (2005). Following the recording of the band’s seventh album “Dig Out Your Soul” (2008), Starkey left and was replaced by Chris Sharrock on Oasis’ last tour as a collective band. The tour saw the increasingly deteriorating relationship between the Gallagher brothers which led to Noel leaving the band in 2009.

Oasis have had 8 UK number #1 singles and 8 UK number #1 albums, won 15 NME Awards, 9 Q Awards, 4 MTV Europe Music Awards, and 6 Brit Awards. Some of Oasis’ most popular songs include “Wonderwall”, “Don’t Look Back In Anger”, “Supersonic”, “Don’t Go Away”, and “Champagne Supernova”.

There you have it, 6 of our most loved rock bands from the 90s.

If your favourite rock band didn’t make our list, please share it with us by sounding off in the comments.

*Editor’s Note: This feature is purely the opinion of the author. It does not reflect the views of the 90s rock music scene.

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#MyBalloonFiesta: 8 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Miss The 8th MyBalloonFiesta!

The 8th Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is set to majestically soar the skies once again this weekend. Save the date, 11th – 13th of March, to join in the fun of flight and activities. The 3-day event will be held at Precinct 2, Putrajaya in the early mornings from 7am – 10pm.

Be sure not to miss out any of the highlights of the event this year, enjoy the breathtaking views, and whip out your cameras to take lots of pictures and videos with family and friends ;)

Here are 8 reasons why you shouldn’t miss it:

1. Get closer to the balloons via the launching field

Within this zone, the crowd can have a chance to get a close up view on how the balloon pilots and crew set up the hot air balloons to prepare for flight. It is a great chance to take striking photographs. The most anticipated balloons at the fiesta includes the replica of the first hot air balloon ever made; La Replica along with different various coloured balloons, such as the adorable yellow jacket bee, alien rocket shape, and the cute lady bug hot air balloon.

2. Enjoy the night with balloons glowing alongside synchronised music

One of the most anticipated attractions of the festival is the “Night Glow” event. All the balloons participating in the festival will “glow” in the radiance of the fire, lighting the balloons to the grooves of today’s popular hits. Make some memories, by bringing back the party kit which includes PIHAB Merchandise t-shirts, lanyard, and the glow sticks to light up the night making it more colourful and lively!

3. A taste of luxury and exclusivity via MYBALLOONCLUB

Visitors who are looking to enjoy a more exclusive and intimate experience of MyBalloonFiesta are encouraged to purchase the MYBALLOONCLUB package. The members can enjoy a private access, gourmet buffet serenaded by the live jazz music band. This is the only package that offers their members tethered balloon rides. They also have the privilege on enjoying the best ascension hot air balloon views in the mornings and nights to enjoy the night glow performance and fireworks.

4. Zumba and yoga sessions in the picnic area

Imagine exercising, with multi-coloured balloons in the background! The yoga session will be conducted on Saturday, 12th March, by renowned Malaysian yoga instructor (and well-known Jazz singer/ songwriter), Atilia Haron; founder and owner of the YogaOneThatIWant Studio. If you are a regular yoga enthusiast, take this opportunity to practice yoga in a unique and fun setting! The audience is welcome to bring their personal yoga mats or rent out one of their Under Armour yoga mats. On the last day of the event, Sunday, 13th March; Zumba enthusiasts can expect to get their blood flow going and their adrenaline pumping as they move to the beats of vibrant music in the wee hours of the morning.

5. Balloons and breakfast on comfy bean bags

Pick a comfortable beanbag of your choice and enjoy a scrumptious breakfast meal with family and friends, taking in the sights of the hot air balloons slowly drifting in the skies above and a spectacular lake view. Make sure to pre-order your “Balloon & Breakfast” sets via online purchase beforehand, to take advantage of the delicious choices of breakfast sets brought to you by well-known bakery café, Tous les Jours.

At the heart of the Red Zone; visit the fun, colourful and entertainment packed pavilion. From live performances by tomorrow’s hit Indonesian pop-stars, DJs and dance troupes, to everyone’s favorite Indonesian Martabak, Ayam Penyet and other savory delights. Take on the wall climbing challenge, or get creative with the colouring wall, photo wall, and paper toy workshop, plus enjoy the entertaining short animations and Cosplay showcase.

7. Witness the friendship balloon project

This project is an admirable effort sparked by Ultramagic, a hot air balloon manufacturer based in Spain. Working on the premise that friendship is a “fundamental value for the relationship between people”, it aims is to create a bond between pilots all over the world. The rule of this “handover balloon” is that it will be shared among many different pilots and no one can fly the balloon twice. By the end of its journey, it is with hope that the balloon has reached all corners of the globe and be flown for about 300 – 400 flights. Having recently landed in Malaysia to continue its Asian leg of the journey, the organisers are excited to host the Friendship Balloon at the 8th Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. Among their local pilots who will be making their flight on the balloon includes veteran balloonist Sobri Saad and the “balloon sisters”, Izzati and Atiqah Khairudin.

8. Fun sports galore for the fitness enthusiasts

There will be many challenging and exciting activities; for the adventure-minded visitors such as paintball, Zorb Ball, Wall Climbing, Inflatable Trampoline, Water Orb, and Archery to keep them on their toes! In addition for the first time in Putrajaya, the reverse bungee jumping will surely be a fun activity for adrenaline seekers out there, as it just propels you to the top! These sport activities are open for everyone and kids can feel free to dominate and enjoy the paddle boats section.

For more information, call 03–9044 0002 or check out the fiesta’s official website or Facebook page. Don’t forget to follow them on Twitter and Instagram too, while you’re at it :)

The Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is organised by AKA Balloon Sdn. Bhd and Perbadanan Putrajaya (PPj).

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#DragonRun: World’s First Martial Arts Inflatable Obstacle Fun Run In Genting

Ready to take on Dragon Run like a boss? The world’s first martial arts inflatable obstacle fun run is headed to the hills!

Making its debut on 14th and 15th May 2016 at the Horse Ranch in Resorts World Genting, the 6km Dragon Run is designed for those with the love of martial arts and the thrill of a run.

The adrenaline-pumping fun run is an all-ages event that incorporates eye-catching, often towering and certainly challenging martial arts-inspired obstacles. So whether you’re 12 or 21, the Dragon Run will feature activities and fun for the whole family.

Start at the towering Dragon Gate before taking on the monstrous Giant Dragon, the complex Kung Fu-inspired all-in-one obstacle that will test your balance, endurance and agility.

Then complete a course of 10 gigantic martial arts obstacles in the styles of Dragon Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Sumo and Jeet Kune Do that promises an adrenaline and endorphins-pumping experience.

Upon completion, enjoy the rest of the day with your fellow Dragon Run tribesmen at the Dragon Village, where a plethora of food and beverage offerings, carnival games and combat demonstrations await. Otherwise, sit back, enjoy the live feed of the run and cheer for your fellow runners.

Aspiring Dragon Warriors, aged 12 or younger, can embark on a journey through an equally entertaining and delicious candy-inspired bouncy castle, brought by SweetwalkTM. Also expect a myriad of children’s activities including face painting, balloon twisting and other carnival games that will ensure a satisfying day-out in the cool plains of Genting Highlands.

Whilst Dragon Village is open for all ages, the obstacle run requires participants aged 12 or above. Minors 12 to 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult during the run.

To give you a better idea, check out more Dragon Run images in the gallery below:

*Tickets will be sold with a choice of start time between 0700 – 1800 on a first-come, first-served basis. Register early to secure preferred start time. All participants will receive bibs and a runner’s packet (Dragon Run sports T-Shirt, towel, small rattle drum, tattoo stickers and additional goodies).

**VIP pass holders may join the run with priority on start time, access to VIP bag check counter and special VIP area of F&B offerings and private restrooms at Dragon Village, take home VIP running tee and extra goodies and receive game tokens for Dragon Village.

For more information, visit Dragon Run’s Facebook page, Instagram, or Twitter.


#F1: Usher-ing In An Unforgettable Finale To The Sepang F1 After-Race Concert

Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is usher-ing in another unforgettable after-race concert at the 2016 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIA GRAND PRIX taking place from 30th September to 2nd October 2016, featuring multi-Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Usher.

Usher is one of the biggest stars brought in by SIC for the F1 After-Race Concert. He joins other international stars that have lit up the stage after the F1 Grand Prix in Sepang in the past few years, such as K-Pop artistes Girls’ Generation and SHINee, dance music artiste Calvin Harris and rock band Guns N’ Roses.

Having sold over 65 million albums worldwide, Usher was named one of the best-selling artistes in American music history by the Recording Industry Association of America. Billboard has also named him the 2nd most successful artiste of the 2000s decade, with his career-propelling 2004 album “Confessions” ranked as the top solo album of that decade. The multi-talented artiste has achieved 9 Billboard Hot 100 #1 hits and 18 Hot 100 Top 10 singles such as “You Got It Bad” and “OMG”.

More recently, his collaboration with Malaysia’s very own singer-songwriter Yuna, which produced the hit track “Crush“, peaked at 39th on the Billboard Top 100 chart.

With one race ticket, fans are not only able to catch the world’s best F1 drivers in action live, but also enjoy top international acts that appeal to a variety of musical tastes.

Fans of Usher can also take advantage of a brand new feature at this year’s race! For the first time ever, SIC is introducing the Star Stand, a special seating zone located at the B Hillstand area that allows ticket holders priority viewing of the concert and a great view of the circuit during the race. In previous years, the F1 After-Race Concert was held at the helipad, but this year, SIC is offering fans an unrivalled viewing experience of the action on the track and on the stage. To offer even more convenience for Star Stand ticket holders, there will be food trucks set up at the Star Stand area, in addition to other amenities.

Grab your Star Stand ticket at RM183.38 for adults or half priced for kids – at RM93.28. You can also opt for the package which comes with exclusive merchandise – all for only RM225.78. All F1 Malaysia Grand Prix ticket holders are eligible to watch the concert after the race on 2nd October 2016. All ticket holders will also be able to enjoy all activities at the circuit, including family-themed activities like the Xtrack experience and shopping from the dozens of vendors at the circuit during race weekend.

Tickets are available online at SIC’s website , by phone through the ticket hotline at +603-8778 2222 or at the circuit itself.

For more information, hit up SIC’s Facebook page.

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#HyunA: Former 4Minute Member To Form “2nd Trouble Maker” Without Jang Hyun Seung

It seems like Trouble Maker is making a “comeback”.

On Wednesday (29th March), Cube Entertainment announced that HyunA will be forming a “2nd Trouble Maker” without former BEAST member Jang Hyun Seung. Apparently, the new co-ed project group has already shot their album cover in Los Angeles.

In a statement, the entertainment company said:

“Hyuna will be promoting in a project group that is like the 2nd Trouble Maker. The release date is not certain but (we will be) preparing in April and hopefully debuting the group by early May.

The team name is still undecided. It will not include Jang Hyun Seung but instead a different member. Fans will be able to see another co-ed project group with Hyuna in it.”

Trouble Maker was formed in 2011 and the group originally consisted of former HyunA and Jang Hyun Seung. Their first release, titled “Troublemaker”, achieved massive success, earning them a triple crown on “M! Countdown”. Moreover, their 2nd release, titled “Now (There Is No Tomorrow)” (2013), had the highest score ever recorded on “Inkigayo”.

The former 4Minute member recently wrapped up her “The Queen Is Back” North American Tour while Jang Hyun Seung recently denied that he will be joining Cube’s re-creation of BEAST.

Who do you think is replacing Jang Hyun Seung? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below!


TikTok To Send Lucky Malaysians To Mnet Asian Music Awards 2018 In Hong Kong

The world’s leading short video platform, TikTok wishes to send lucky Malaysians to one of the biggest awards shows in South Korea, the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in Hong Kong next month!

The short video-sharing app has recently teamed up with MAMA as the official sponsor and the global voting channel for the 20th edition of the prestigious music awards which will be held across three different locations in Asia – Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong from 10th to 14th December 2018.

With the exciting partnership, 12 lucky Malaysian voters will stand a chance to win tickets to the MAMA 2018 show in Hong Kong on 14th December 2018.

As part of celebrating creativity on a global stage, TikTok will be supporting MAMA 2018 by featuring the best of K-Pop and Asian artists, and empower users to engage in the upcoming event by voting for their favourite artists on TikTok.

K-Pop fans in Malaysia can vote for their favourite acts across 18 award categories, including Artist of the Year, Best Asia Star, Song of the Year, Best New Artist and more.

A post shared by TikTok 🇲🇾 Malaysia Official (@tiktokmalaysia)

Download the TikTok app via iOS or Google Play and create your own account if you don’t have one. Head to the challenge page and click on the MAMA 2018 banner to vote. Voting will end on 9th December 2018. Good luck!


Bigo Live Malaysia’s First Ever BIGO Awards Gala 2022 Featured Sheila Majid & More

It was a thoroughly entertaining night at Bigo Live Malaysia’s first ever BIGO Awards Gala 2022 from start to finish. Malaysian broadcasters were dressed to the nines when they showed up at the VE Hotel & Residence at the Bangsar Nexus Ballroom.

During the BIGO Awards Gala 2022, Bigo Live honoured many exceptional leading broadcasters who have been killing it on the global leading livestreaming platform throughout the tumultuous past year.

#SheilaMajid performing live at the #Bigo Awards Gala 2022.

♬ original sound – hypemalaysia – Hype Malaysia

Since this was Bigo Live’s first physical event here, over 250 guests were treated with performances by our homegrown talents. Dato Sheila Majid serenaded us with “Fly Me to the Moon”, and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” (where the iconic songstress shared a backstory of this song being played when she gave birth to all 4 of her children), before ending it with her classic hit, “Sinaran”.

Sibling duo JE & Gaston performed “Ring Ring Ring” and “强心脏”, while Kedah-born singer USOP (real name Muhammad Saiful Naim) sang 2 of his emotional songs, “Selamanya” and “Sejarah Cintaku”. Some of Bigo Live Malaysia’s top broadcasters also gave a harmonica and vocal performance (by Soon Hock Chuan, Yanice Ng and Henna Ng), as well as more dancing and singing throughout the event.

In between sets were awards being handed out to the “Top Regional Broadcaster”, “Top Regional Family” and “Top Regional Agency” award categories, which were awarded to 君君 (BIGO ID: Yyysssccc), 3399 俱乐部 (BIGO ID: 3399Club), and Ceoless Agency (BIGO ID: 333161016) respectively.

“Throughout the past year, Bigo Live has been a supportive platform and I am deeply honoured to be recognised as the top regional broadcaster in Malaysia. This would not have been possible without the support of my fans, and I would like to dedicate this award to them. Bigo Live has provided me with a wide range of opportunities and I look forward to continuing livestreaming on the platform, and putting out engaging content for Malaysia’s viewers,” 君君 said.

To catch the BIGO Awards Gala 2022, tune in live via the Bigo Live app (available on iOS and Android) on Thursday, 13 January, 8pm MYT and search for the BIGO ID: BIGO LIVE Malaysia.

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#Fitness: Stay Fit With These Fun Workout Classes In Klang Valley

Sick of your usual exercise routine? Want to get fit but don’t want to go to the gym? Well, fret not because there are plenty of innovative alternatives that let you burn fat while allowing you to have loads of fun at the same time!

Whether it’s dancing to your favourite K-Pop songs or swimming gracefully like a mermaid, here’s a list of unique workout classes in Klang Valley that will help you stay fit:

1. Jumping fitness @ Jumping Fitness Malaysia

Live out your childhood dream of jumping on a trampoline at Jumping Fitness Malaysia :)

Originating from Europe in 2001, this high-intensity, low-impact cardio workout arrived in Asia (more specifically, South Korea) in 2014. As founder of Jumping Fitness Malaysia Ritchie Lee explains, jumping on the trampoline can help train your body’s endurance, strength, and balance. Also, 10 minutes of jumping is equivalent to a 30-minute jog!

Ever wondered how K-Pop idols stay in such good shape amidst their busy schedules? They dance, of course.

Launched in 2012 by Singaporean sportswomen Maddy Lim, KPOPX Fitness is an easy “new generation” workout that combines K-Pop music with dance/aerobic movements. Each session lasts about 50 minutes, which is roughly the length of 12-13 K-Pop songs.

Psst, did we mention that you can burn up to 500 calories in just one session?

3. Stand Up Paddling @ Flyboard Malaysia

Stand Up Paddling (SUP) is a slow and relaxing water sport that requires some balancing skills. Although SUP looks simple, it’s actually a really good exercise to work those core muscles. Besides that, paddling can help tighten flabby arms. Talk about killing two birds with one stone, eh?

If you’re interested, SUP is offered by Flyboard Malaysia at Putrajaya Lake.

Rockout and workout with POUND! Dubbed the world’s first cardio jam session inspired by drumming, POUND is a major fitness trend in big cities like New York, London, and most recently, Malaysia. It’s a fun, rhythmic workout that can help you burn up to 900 calories per hour and tone your stubborn muscles. The high-intensity exercise is also suitable for all levels of ability.

Note: Sole to Soul Dance Studio also offers other fun fitness classes like Piloxing (pilates, boxing, and dance) and Zumba.

Ariana Grande practically made indoor cycling the IT workout when she released her sexy “Side to Side” music video last year.

Indoor cycling, or more commonly known as spinning, is a high-energy full-body workout that is specially designed to help you burn calories, tone muscles, release stress, and increase cardio endurance as well as stamina. Using the latest pop hits, spinning is just like a big cardio party!

6. POLEFIT (Pole Fitness) @ Bobbi’s Pole Studio

If you want to build a strong body, then pole fitness is the class to try out.

Bobbi’s Pole Studio’s pole fitness class combines rhythmic resistant stretching, core work, and power training to help you train your overall flexibility and muscular strength. You don’t have to be pole dancer to do pole fitness too – it’s for everyone (yup, boys are welcomed too)!

Note: Bobbi’s Pole Studio also provides others classes such as Bendy Flexy and SWAG dance.

7. The Mermaid Mission @ DolphinLee Aquatics

Unleash your inner mermaid (or merman) at DolphinLee Aquatics.

Mermaid swimming, otherwise known as mermaiding, is both an artistic expression and a whimsical way to keep fit. In DolphinLee’s The Mermaid Mission course, you’ll get to wear a stunning mermaid fin (monofin) while practicing your dolphin strokes. Moreover, the exercise will help tone your abs, back, and pelvis.

Note: The Mermaid Mission offers courses from beginner all the way up to performance/professional level.

Prefer going to the good ol’ gym but cannot find time to work out? Here is a list of gyms in Klang Valley that are open 24/7.

Sources: kpopxfitness.com, Discover KL, Buro 24/7, Fitday, Time Out KL.

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Daniel Radcliffe: The Next Robin for Batman?

With all the hype around the “Man of Steel” sequel, it is no wonder that any mentions of the characters in Batman film would become news these days. So when the Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe said that he’d be the perfect Robin in ‘Batman VS Superman: Dawn of Justice’, we really thought he’s going to be the new Robin in the sequel too!

But sorry to break your heart, Harry Potter fans.

The boy with the lightning bolt scar on his forehead is not going to play Robin in the next Batman movie. Radcliffe did, however, express his interest in playing the role during a “rapid fire” video Q&A with Buzzfeed. When he was asked if he’d ever be willing to appear in another massive movie universe. “Batman. If they reboot that again I’ll do that too,” Radcliffe said. “It’s happening, isn’t it? With Ben Affleck. I could be Robin; I’m perfect.”

Previously, director Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ gave endless possibilities for Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character in the film after Batman was presumed dead. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (who played the role as a young cop John Blake) has expressed his interest in resurrecting his character.

However, he mentioned in an interview that it’s not up to him to decide his role as Robin as he doesn’t own the rights to that character.

Let’s vote though! Between Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Daniel Radcliffe (yes, that’s a picture of them taken during Oscars 2013), who do you think will be the perfect sidekick for Batman?


Take Off On A Grand Getaway Around The World With Grand Hyatt KL

The Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur is hopping on a plane ride around the world, and they’re taking us with them! The Grand Getaway by Grand Hyatt KL is a dining experience crafted to discover worldly flavours while seated right at their Grand Ballroom.

Interestingly, when it comes to The Grand Getaway experience in particular, it’s not only the dishes that are worldly; From the entrance, the 360° virtual experience, to even the seating, everything about this dining experience has been curated to ensure that you feel like you have travelled the world on a re-imagined plane ride by the time you land back at home.

The Grand Getaway is based on the concept of virtually travelling by plane to indulge in cuisines around the world. The 5-course Airliner Menu represented dishes from world-wide destinations, including Tokyo, San Francisco, Moscow, Venice and Kuala Lumpur.

The entrance showcased clocks set according to international timezones, flight information screens, a faux runway, and even a ticketing counter! The seats at each table were from an actual Malaysian Airlines plane, which was recognised for breaking various records. It must be acknowledged that these seats were a spectacular touch to the entire experience.

Additionally, the experience also included a flight simulation video for guests to enjoy, and 360° visuals to enhance your in-flight view from a plane while seated at the comfort of your own dining tables.

Once the plane lands, visuals showcasing each destination were played on the big screen. These visuals, which included fun facts and clips of hotspots, were also played while patron’s were served their dishes. However, the visuals during this time were rather mellow and could have been more engaging to keep the excitement going during meals as well.

Nonetheless, the visuals were occasionally accompanied with witty and entertaining commentary by the host, which we thoroughly enjoyed. A distinctly classic theme song to perfectly represent each location was also played in the background when “landing” as well. We must admit, this was one of our favourite parts! Who can resist busting a move to the addictive sounds of “Tokyo Drift” when landing in Tokyo, right?!

The Airliner Menu featured dishes that represented each destination’s cuisine. The dinner started off with a dish from Tokyo, which was a Japanese Scallop with Wakame, Radish, Sesame and Shoyu Dressing. This was our favourite dish from all the courses, as it was cooked perfectly with a tangy and refreshing flavour brought from the garnishing.

The courses then went onto serve a California Clam Chowder from San Francisco, a Forest Berry Sorbet from Moscow, an Oven Baked Lamb Rack from Venice, and for the final destination, an assortment of desserts from our beloved Kuala Lumpur. From the desserts, the Sago Gula Melaka and Sundae were mouth-wateringly delectable. However, the tiramisu was bit of a let down as it was very clumpy and lacked that classic light and fluffiness.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

The menu had some hits and also a few misses, but we definitely enjoyed it overall. The theatrics and the setting enriched the whole dinner, making our experience outstandingly unique and spectacular.

This concept of initiating The Grand Getaway dining experience, while all these travel restrictions are in place, was a brilliant idea by the Grand Hyatt KL! We finally got the opportunity to sit on a plane seat after what felt years, and it was undoubtedly a thrilling feeling.

A post shared by Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur (@grandhyattkualalumpur)

The food, the visuals, the setting and more were executed well and went beyond our expectations. Patrons can opt to choose between Business Class (RM650 nett per person), Premium Economy Class (RM450 nett per person) or Junior Class (RM250 nett per person aged 3-12 years) for their grand getaway experience. You can also add on RM100 to enjoy a free flow of house pouring wines.

So, if you’re a travel addict searching for a getaway, or simply love some good food and fun, we highly recommend heading over to Grand Hyatt KL to take off on their in-flight adventure.

First Class Suite and Family Getaway packages are available as well—with room stay, breakfast and return chauffeur service included. For more details, menus and reservations, click here.

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Hype’s Exclusive: An #OHHSOME Wong Fu Weekend With Phil & Wes

Wong Fu Productions (Philip Wang, Ted Fu, and Wesley Chan) is no stranger to Malaysians, especially for the local YouTube scene. A lot of people knew them through “Strangers Again” or “Yellow Fever”, the videos that went ridiculously viral. The filmmaking group has made so many great videos, from short films to travelogues to the iconic Wong Fu Weekends videos, that it’s hard to pick a favourite.

To date, Wong Fu Productions’ YouTube channel has garnered over 2 million subscribers and over 344 million video views because of their loving and loyal fans who’ve been following them since the very beginning. In 2012, Wong Fu Productions met their fans around the world in person, with Phil and Wes taking a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Malaysia for the first leg of their Southeast Asia Tour. In 2013, the two made another trip to Malaysia to help build houses in the rural areas of Sarawak.

More recently, the 2 made a triumphant return to Malaysia through #OHHSOME Fest to celebrate the glory of social media in Malaysia with both local and international YouTubers.

The festival is the first of its kind in Malaysia and the team is made up of social media activists, social media agencies, and also homegrown brands that have all been a part of the growth of the social media scene in Malaysia. Its also a joint collaboration between key pioneers behind Malaysia’s emerging social media community and Hotlink.

All thanks to JinnyBoyTV, we were able to catch up with Phil and Wes before their #OHHSOME appearance on 13th Dec. Check out our interview with them below:

Hi guys, welcome back to Malaysia! How’s Malaysia treating you so far? What do you remember most from the last time you guys were here?

Wes: It feels good! I think it’s weird because we came straight from the hotel and this is actually the hotel we stayed at, 2 years ago. So, it feels great in a way, which is nice and we are excited for the event. It’s very different from the last time we came because last time we came for the Habitat community and we were like, out in the jungle. So, it’s really nice to come back to KL.

Phil: It’s nice to know that after 2 years, we can still come back and people still want to come out and see us. So, we are very grateful for their continuous support.

Congrats on wrapping up the filming for WF’s first feature film! Can you walk us through the movie project?

Phil: It was a lot of work, we were working on that for almost 2 years but the shooting is only 25 days. For the first time, we had a really large team, which is still very small as compared to the Hollywood movies but still very independent for us. I feel like we make so many shorts on a regular basis that it was kind of like a training to make the feature film. It’s just like doing the same thing but for more days but it was really a good experience.

Wes: I think the first time we thought of the idea and wrote it down, it was actually in Malaysia.

Phil: Yeah, I think we were flying here.

Wes: So, in Philippines maybe? I don’t know but we wrote down the idea when we were in Southeast Asia countries. For the film, it’s the same in many ways because we have so many shorts in the last 2 years, just on a bigger scale and longer snap time.

What inspired you to shoot your first ever feature film? Tell us about the thought process behind it.

Phil: I think, with what we do on YouTube or anyone who create short stories on YouTube, everyone wants to try something longer. We’ve always enjoyed telling stories in longer form of narrative. We are not like the typical channel that just does one or two-minute quick videos because we love telling stories. But we’ve been doing that for a long time so we wanna challenge ourselves to see if we could do something longer. I think the feature film is what everyone kind of just measured by. We actually tried to do it before in 2008 but that time it wasn’t really right. So this time around, the timing just feels right and we just wanted to see if we could do it. Also, for the fans too, they’ve been following us for many years and I think they are ready to see what the Wong Fu movie would look like.

Every director has different filming style and I’ve seen a lot of videos produced by you guys. I noticed that Wes tends to put some sci-fi elements in the videos. How would you define your filming style?

Wes: I think the science fiction element in our videos is relatively new. I think we both have interests in other genre and we like going to watch the big, epic movies. Even though we are filmmakers too, sometimes it’s hard to grasp if we can do that because of our resources. I think recently we wanted to challenge ourselves and I think for me, I like the kind of story that is familiar but framed in different way. So, I guess, just recently, it’s been framed in science fictional. If I were to describe myself, I am cinematographer-director who is more visual-based with less dialogue. Not that I don’t like it, it’s just that I am comfortable of creating the visuals.

Phil: I think, for Wong Fu’s works, we are trying to be authentic with our work. You know, we try to show the drama and the comedy in everyday lives. I guess, personally that’s where I draw my inspiration from because I like to do a lot of stories that are very real and situational with places we’ve all been to. I like to capture those moments and just be very honest with them, with things that people can relate to, whether it’s in actions or words.

Any interesting moments to share with us when you guys were working on the film?

Phil (to Wes): We should get together and think of those because people are going to ask more and more about this! Haha!

Wes: Well, yeah, it is the biggest project that we’ve ever done but we are also very responsible for this. For example, we built part of the set in our office because there is a scene that requires something like an interrogation room. So, we built this room and we shot all the stuff in that scene. To get everything out, we painted and dressed it up again to use it again as a college dorm room. So, for stuff like that, it was new to us but also,  it made a lot of sense for us to save money. It was really fun because it actually felt like a movie set. Initially, we just go to a friend’s place or contact the business owners and ask them to give us the permit to use the location but now, we’re actually building our own so it’s a lot of fun. The very last day of our shoot was kinda random we boarded the train just to shoot this one scene without much dialogue. We have to take the train because the scene was happening in a train. We ended up in a middle of nowhere with our movie done. I wouldn’t say it’s very anti-climatic but it’s just a fitting way to end our movie.

Phil: I think, one of the things we found a lot of fun in our movies is getting to include some of our friends that we’ve made over the years. Some of the actors are new too and it was our first time to work with them but it was a lot of fun bringing in some Wong Fu family so I think it’s a lot of fun for fans to see some familiar faces in the film.

You guys have managed to find Ki Hong Lee to be featured in your videos even before he was in “The Maze Runner”. How does it feels like to see him grow as an actor?

Phil: It’s great. I remembered when he first told us that he was going out and waiting to hear back for the role, he was so nervous because he thought that there is no chance. It really does show you that anything can happen and he definitely worked very hard because he stayed very driven forward. If this part didn’t come along, he will still be acting and going for these roles. It just feels great to see good people like him to get their break. It’s also knowing that that Wong Fu was part of the journey because when we first met him, he was kind of just starting out in LA as an actor. We got to support him by putting him in a lot of our projects and opening him up to other YouTubers. We are glad that what we are doing are helping the rest of the community as well. What we are doing is beyond “just us”.

Wes: He has the coolest part in the movie too. You saw it? I think he has the coolest part in the movie and I am so proud of him. I think, we are professionally as a fan, it all applies that we are fanboys too.

Phil: I think also in the States, having an Asian in that role is actually kind of a big deal and so we are extra proud of him.

Which celebrity would you guys like to collaborate with & what kind of video would you want to make with them?

Phil: Hmm, I don’t know. There’s a lot of people.

Wes: We get that question a lot but we didn’t really think about it because it does seems out of reach. Whatever it comes, it will come eventually.

What is your favourite video that you made, the one that means the most to you?

Phil: Yeah, we always joked about that the question is like asking for a favourite child but I guess it’s the kind of question which is important to us, or unique about it. I would say that, it’s not really a video but the feature film is something that we are really proud of. It’s kind of crazy to think that we’ve already done the shooting but we still haven’t presented it yet. No one have seen it and we are excited that all of next year will be kind of about this film that we finally get to share with people. So, it really feels like another level or another step for us so that’s kind of our favourite.

What is the most frustrating moment while producing the videos?

Wes: Running out of time is a constant thing. No matter how much you planned, things come out unexpectedly and sometimes it’s bad things like the weather or the location is too noisy. Those are the bad things but when you get there, you get inspired with more ideas. It’s just that you don’t have time to get everything so you don’t get to pick or choose. I think, as a creative person, having to decide what to let go and what we can actually do is a big challenge.

Phil: I think also, this is an actual film from a video production on YouTube. The way that we are sharing our videos is constantly changing but the landscapes of the tablet content out there is kinda frustrating to us because we know that what type of videos get watched the most but we don’t wanna make those kind of videos. So, sometimes it’s tough because we need to stand up for what we really enjoyed making but maybe what people don’t want to watch or what’s not popular. I would definitely say that, even though we have some level of popularity, we could be trying a little more harder in that sense. So, I guess that’s why it’s kinda frustrating to know that those are the things we could be doing but we don’t.

Where do you guys go from here? What’s the next step after the movie?

Phil: What’s next after the movie is hopefully another movie, and another movie. We actually are kinda talking/planning about the next one already. We actually thought about making a longer series because right now, a lot of different studios want to create web series or long form content online. We are very fortunate that we get to keep our place in a plain field and we’ve been pitching for different series. We had some really good and successful web series before but that was 4 years ago and we kinda never revisited it. So we wanna get back to that because we really enjoyed it when fans come back every week just to see how the story grows. So yeah, we wanna get back to that and tell more stories in different ways.

For more information and more timely updates on Wong Fu Productions’ feature film, stalk them here.

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Local Shopper Shocked To Find Mouldy Wooden Spoons In Store

Following recent discoveries of mouldy leather items and cinema seats, netizens were surprised to find out that even kitchen utensils have not been spared.

A Malaysian shopper was recently looking to buy some cooking utensils to bake cookies in lieu of the upcoming Hari Raya celebration. However, the lady was shocked to find that many of the wooden spoons and spatula covered in dust and mould.

Judging from the greenish white mould, it looks like the kitchen tools under the brand Utensili Da Cucina were badly affected. According to WoB, the Twitter user (who wants to remain anonymous) said that the outlet is located in Klang.

“Before closing and hearing about the notification of closing for MCO, shops regardless corporate or small businesses should start cleaning before shutting down their doors. Upon opening, a thorough cleaning should be done as well, not just for customer’s well being but for the employers and employees,” Desmond Leong Aisawan commented.

We couldn’t agree more. This seems to be an ongoing predicament faced by many businesses.


#Health: 32 Confirmed Typhoid Fever Cases In KL; No Fatalities Reported

Multiple local news outlets reported that the typhoid fever cases are on the rise in KL.

As such, in a statement released on Monday (19th October 2015), the Malaysian Health Ministry urged public to pay attention to the level of cleanliness at shops they frequently visit, including the cleanliness of the staff and the food being served.

Typhoid fever is typically caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhii that contamined food or drinks. So far, humans are the only species affected by the typhoid.

According to The Star Online, it is “spread by the ingestion of food or water contamined with excreta from an infected person, who may or may not have symptoms of the infection”.

Symptoms usually begin to surface between one and 3 weeks after infection and these include abdominal pain, high fever, headaches, vomiting, and fatigue. Older children and adults usually experience constipation while younger children may have diarrhoea.

If the infection is severe, it could lead to complications such as brain malfunction, shock and occasionally intestinal bleeding and perforation.

Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah confirmed that a total of 32 typhoid fever cases have been reported in the last 2 and a half months.

He said that 7 cases of typhoid fever were reported in the first week of August and those affected were the construction workers living in Cheras. However, the area with the highest typhoid fever cases is Titiwangsa, with 16 typhoid fever cases reported in that area. Kepong has 8 confirmed typhoid fever cases confirmed while Lembah Pantai has 4. On 18th October, another 4 cases were reported in Cheras, making it a total of 32 cases.

Dr Noor Hisham said in a statement that they’ve conducted epidemiological investigations to identify the source of the typhoid outbreak in the city.  However, they have yet to “surmise the reason behind the infection” as there were no similarities between the cases.

To coordinate investigations and monitor activities, more than 37 contract workers as well as their families and their colleagues have been monitored. Food vendors have been monitored as well and a total of 24 food premises have been checked. 79 stool samples and 4 drinking water samples were taken, but they were reported negative for Salmonella typhii.

Dr Noor Hisham added that inspections on ice factories have also been done and the monitoring and control of water supply systems are ongoing to ensure water supply in WPKL is good.

To avoid the spread of the disease, the Malaysian Health Ministry is currently “working hard to implement preventive measures and control”. Dr Noor Hisham also said “updates will be issued periodically”.

Sources: The Star Online, The Malay Mail Online, The Malaysian Insider.

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Alif Satar, Ikmal Amry & Amelia Henderson Address “Pulau” Controversy

Two months prior to its release, the upcoming local horror film, “Pulau”, has already received tons of criticisms after the official trailer was uploaded on YouTube last week on Friday (13th January).

The movie features a lineup of many famous celebrities, including Alif Satar, Amelia Henderson, Ikmal Amry, and also our favourite influencer couple Ms Puiyi and Mark O’Dea. However, the release of the movie’s trailer has stirred up a heated debate on social media. Most of them have taken to social media to slam the movie for its supposedly “sexually explicit” content.

Following the massive backlash from the public, three of the aforementioned actors of the movie have since come forward to address the controversy. Speaking to Harian Metro, Alif clarified that he’s not involved in any of the racy scenes in the movie. “I’m very happy that the director understands me. He didn’t include me in those scenes. I was surprised because they also knew about my limits.”

Meanwhile, Ikmal told Kosmo, “I wasn’t involved in any inappropriate scenes in the film. I only took my shirt off to swim.” The “Hero Remaja” alum also appeared to clap back at the haters who condemned the movie. He said, “There’re a lot of YouTube videos with similar steamy scenes. If you leave a comment, it means that you chose to watch it. If you don’t like it, then I suggest you don’t watch the movie. Don’t judge me for something that I’ve never done.”

Amelia also appeared to share the same sentiment as her co-star. “They have to watch the movie first and see what type of character I portray in the film. However, if they’ve watched (the trailer) and felt that the movie is not suitable to all audience, then don’t watch it.” Furthermore, the podcaster also stated that she was only focused on her role in the film.

What do you think of the backlash surrounding the movie?

Sources: Harian Metro (1)(2), Kosmo, I Am Lejen.


#HailCaesar: New Coen Brothers’ Movie Features Star-Studded Cast

We kid you not, “Hail, Caesar!” by the Coen brothers is an upcoming movie that you need to watch!

Why? Let’s see: It’s probably because it’s a movie about Hollywood stars and as you may have guessed it, it literally stars every Hollywood A-lister that you know.

“Hail, Caesar” is written and helmed by 4-time Oscar-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen, who are best known for their critically acclaimed movies such as “The Big Lebowski” and “Fargo”.

This new film is their first feature film since the release of “Inside Llewyn Davis” in 2013. It is a comedy set during the latter years of Hollywood’s Golden Age. “Everest” star Josh Brolin is starring in it as a studio fixer, based on real-life MGM executive Eddie Mannix.

The all-star comedy film follows a single day in the life of a fixer, who is presented with plenty of problems to fix in Hollywood. In true Coen brothers’ style, this feature film has all the classic Coen elements and their signature dry humour.

As we’ve previously mentioned, it features a star-studded cast, including Frances McDormand, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, and “22 Jump Street” stars Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum.

Did we also mention that Scarlett Johansson is also starring in it as an actress who plays a beautiful mermaid? We are sold.

“Hail, Caesar!” is produced by the Coen brothers under their Mike Zoss Productions banner, with Working Title Films and Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan. It will be released by Universal Pictures on 5th February 2016.

For more information, visit the movie’s official website.

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#Malaysia: Immigration Service At KLIA Voted Best In World; Ahead Of Hong Kong & Japan

Malaysians, there’s reason to celebrate.

The immigration service at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has been voted as the best in the world, ahead of Hong Kong International Airport and Tokyo International Airport, which are ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The results were from the Skytrax World Airport Awards, also known as the Passengers Choice Awards, and was announced during the award ceremony in Amsterdam yesterday (Tuesday, 14th March).

Apart from the aforementioned category, Malaysia was ranked 7th in having the world’s best airport staff. Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) also made it to the best Low-Cost Airline Terminal list, ranking 3rd.

However, Malaysia dropped 10 places to rank 34th in 2017’s “The World’s Top 100 Airports” list. Singapore’s Changi Airport ranked number 1, followed by Tokyo International Airport and Incheon International Airport. This is Changi Airport’s 5th consecutive year at the top of the list.

Other categories include world’s cleanest airport, best airport shopping, best airport dining, best airport security, best baggage delivery, and best airport leisure amenities. Sadly, Malaysia didn’t rank in any of it.

13.82 million airline passengers from 105 different countries answered the survey between July 2016 and February 2017.

For the full list of winners, visit Skytrax’s official website and Facebook page.


OMG: WM Entertainment To Debut New 8-Member Girl Group, “Oh My Girl”

It appears that WM Entertainment is ready to debut another K-Pop idol girl group! Having released several teasers with no other obvious indications save for the hashtag #OMG, it has been officially announced that yet another group is ready to make waves in the South Korean entertainment scene.

Also known as B1A4‘s sister girl group, #OMG stands for “Oh My Girl”. In one of the latest teasers, the girls jump out of their frames to say hi to their newly acquired fans. It was also via these teasers that their names were revealed ;)

“Oh My Girl” will be made up of 8 girls:

Truth be told, they look absolutely adorable! What, you don’t believe us?

WM Entertainment also revealed that the girls’ have got their own official YouTube account as well as an official Instagram account for all y’all to keep close tabs on them.

Meet the OMG (otherwise known as “Oh My Girl”) girls here:

Their debut date has yet to be revealed, but the girls are expected to make a debut this April. We can’t wait to see what their concept would be like!

For more information, visit their official website.

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Malaysian Brainy Beauty Dr. Soo Wincci Earns Her 2nd Master Degree In Spain

Former beauty queen, singer, actress and entrepreneur Dr. Soo Wincci has proven that she is indeed a beauty with brain.

The 32-year-old has recently graduated and received her 2nd master degree certificate in Spain yesterday.

A post shared by Soo Wincci (@dr.soowincci)

After she completed her six years of PhD study in business administration from Open University Malaysia (OUM), she was recognised by the Malaysian Book of Records as the 1st Miss World Malaysia to receive a doctorate certificate.

Last year, Soo got the opportunity to further her study as she received an offer from Boston’s renowned music school Berklee College of Music to pursue her second master degree in Music Production, Innovation & Technology at Berklee’s Valencia campus in Spain.

In her Instagram post, the multi-talented beauty also mentioned that she has been working on something special for her Master project – a hybrid of 2D in 360 dimension music video which will be launched globally online on 8th August 2018.

Though she has finished her master study, Soo announced that she has been selected as one of the Post Master Fellowship of Berklee’s Valencia Campus, thus she will need to extend for another year for her project.

Other than a PhD and a Master, Soo is also a law degree holder at UK’s University of Reading, and a master degree holder in business administration at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia.


Netizens Outrage When Cyclist Climbs Old Tree In “No-Climbing” Zone

Cyclists in Malaysia are prone to criticism due to them inconsiderate of road laws when riding along main roads, especially in large groups.

However, this time a cyclist invited condemnation after she posted a picture with her bicycle on top of a tree in a “no-climbing” area.

It seems like the cyclist in the photo didn’t think much about the consequences when she was posing atop of the tree. The issue went viral after a few Perak social media publications took to their Facebook page to question the lady’s stunt.

Some of you might be wondering why it’s an issue for her to post such a photo. Besides damaging or impacting the tree, which looks fairly old, it is reported that visitors are prohibited from climbing the trees in the area since 2018 and there is also a “no-climbing” sign.

When the news came to light, netizens, especially the locals, didn’t take the issue lightly. They were disappointed and outraged with the fact that the cyclist wasn’t being considerate towards the environment or the consequences of her action.

We should always try to give our best when it comes to taking care of our environment as our ecosystem is deeply connected with one another. As the famous saying goes, “The Earth is what we all have in common.”

Sources: Perak Press Facebook Page, Taiping Zone Facebook Page.


Hype’s Movie Review: #LegendOfTarzan Is A Visually Appealing Adventure

Throughout the years, we’ve had several animated movies telling the tale of Tarzan, the legend of the jungle; most notably the Disney in 1999. In recent times, we’ve had Kellan Lutz taking up the role of the vine swinger in 2013’s “Tarzan”.

However, the most recent live-action film involving Tarzan, “Tarzan and the Lost City”, was released in 1998. This means that there’s an 18-year gap between the aforementioned movie and the recently-released “Legend of Tarzan”. With such a huge period of time between the movies, it’s no wonder that the latter is generating such hype.

Wondering if “Legend of Tarzan” lives up to its expectations? Well, we’re here to answer your question.

In this retelling, Alexander Skarsgård acts as Tarzan/John Clayton, while Margot Robbie is his love interest, Jane Porter. Also in the movie is Samuel L. Jackson, portraying the character of George Washington Williams, an American soldier and politician (not to be mistaken with George Washington, the 1st president of the United States of America).

While many movie adaptations of the fictional character focuses on how he assimilates into human culture and gets used to human interaction, this version of the tale portrays a Tarzan that is already living amongst humans. John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke (Tarzan’s real name) is quite a high-ranking official, and while not much of his diplomatic side was revealed, this Tarzan is reluctant to return to the jungle even when presented the chance to visit Congo as a trade emissary of Parliament.

In fact, the man has perfected the social norms and culture of humankind that no one would even know of his past had he not been a famous figure, with the citizens of his country dubbing him “Tarzan of the Apes”. However, his assimilation does not mean that his primal side has been tamed. He shows off his agility when he climbs up a tree in 1 deft move and his “knuckle-walking” skills has clearly not diminished even after years of walking upright.

However, this retelling is not purely a story about Tarzan, it’s also about slavery and the preservation of wildlife.

Clayton refuses to go back to Congo, his place of origin, although he was invited as a guest. But one politician who won’t take no for an answer is Williams, who insists that Clayton visit the place as he suspects that the authorities are enslaving the natives. As an advocate of anti-slavery sentiments, Clayton is finally persuaded to take the trip along with his wife, Jane. Unbeknownst to the 3 of them, what seems to be a journey back to homeland is actually a ploy to eliminate Tarzan.

The beautiful cinematography in the movie is evident from the start, with the African landscape brought to life throughout the journey of the envoys. Walking along the large sand dunes, all we could see was the magnificent stretch of the African desert, which begged us to visit them through the screens. The cinematographer also succeeded in conveying the mysterious aura of the jungle, as we could feel fear and happiness creep through, depending on the scenes.

Another good thing about the movie is that it tries to bring the native’s struggle in reclaiming their homeland to the attention of the audience. While there are movies dedicated to the plight of slaves in the past (read: “12 Years A Slave”), it’s refreshing to see blockbuster movies attempting to shed light on an issue that is ignored by many. Although the story line in “Legend of Tarzan” is fictional, we’re sure that many can relate to the battle.

However, the movie is not without its flaws. One major complaint is Margot Robbie’s Jane. You keep hoping for the character to be something more, but in the end, she’s just a defiant damsel-in-distress. Always waiting for another character to save her from situations, Robbie’s portrayal of Jane turned from feisty to annoying as the movie proceeds. This is despite her telling Captain Leon Rom, the main villain of the movie, that she’s not a helpless figure and would do whatever it takes to save herself.

There’s also another thing that left us puzzled: if Tarzan loved the jungle that much, why did he choose to leave it in the first place, and moreover, why did he not jump at the chance to return when he had it?

All in all, the movie was an enjoyable experience, and while we were not thoroughly impressed by it, we would say it exceeded expectations.

If you stepped in expecting a Disney-ish fairy tale movie, you will be sorely disappointed; as this is not a story for children, just like how the original book was meant for adults. It’s also a stretch to say that we’re wildlife experts now, but we walked out of the cinema knowing more about wild animals, their habitats, and lifestyles; and for that, we’re thankful for the movie.

“Legend of Tarzan” was released in cinemas worldwide on 30th July.

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Hype’s Exclusive: #Firebeatz Switch Things Up At Zouk Club KL

Firebeatz’s debut in Kuala Lumpur was a night to remember.

Ever since Holland based Dutch DJ duo Firebeatz stormed into the Dutch music scene in early 2008, they have swiftly merited a reputable and solid name for themselves. Made up off Tim Smulders and Jurre van Doeselaar, Firebeatz are known from their distinctly unique sound which boasts infectious bass hooks, catchy vocals, compulsive beats, and groove.

With mega festivals and club nights under their belts, Firebeatz whom recently collaborated with Calvin Harris on a track for his upcoming album Motion played their debut show here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 24th (Friday). The duo made their way to Zouk Club KL for a one night only show and it was crazy!

With thanks to our good friends from Zouk Club KL, we managed to chat with Tim and Jurre from Firebeatz before their set. Here’s what they had to say:

Hi guys, how’s it going? Are you excited to be here in Kuala Lumpur tonight?

Tim: Hey! It’s great, thanks. How are you? Yeah, we’re pretty excited to be here. We’ve heard some great stories about the clubs and the people here.

Jurre: Hi ya! All good, thanks. Yourself? Oh yes, we’ve heard really great stories about Zouk KL and we heard that the crowd is really crazy here so we are really looking forward to it. It’s our first time here so we’re excited.

I’m great, thanks. You guys first broke into the scene in early 2008. What has it been like since then?

Tim: Yeah, that’s right. The sound has changed, a lot of young talent right now, like really young kids as compared to back then. It’s became bigger and bigger and dance music is growing really fast, especially in the States and now over here in Asia also.

Jurre: It’s changed a lot. It’s a lot easier to start producing now because you can just have a laptop and find samples and there you are. So there’s a lot of competition of course, a lot of DJs, a lot more commercial so it’s good because it makes us work harder, it makes us want to improve.

What are you guys working on right now? More collabs/originals?

Tim: We just did a collaboration with Calvin Harris, which is coming out on his album. Yeah, we have a few originals coming out and our track that just came out a week ago, the remix to Calabria is currently number 2 on Beatport. We have a lot of stuff, about 6 to 7 projects coming up.

Jurre: Yeah, we also have new collaboration with Chocolate Puma which is coming out in November. A lot of new stuff coming out.

Speaking of Calvin Harris, he’s had a sick year and you guys collaborated on the track “It Was You”. What was it like working with him? Did you work in the studio together?

Tim: Oh he’s had one crazy year, really sick year! We actually did everything digitally, through the internet. But we’ve met him a couple of times at shows and he really loved our tracks and one day he mailed us saying he wanted to do something with us and he loved our drops so we were like “Of course, Calvin!” Haha. But yeah, we did everything through the net.

Jurre: Yeah, technology has been such a big help. We started sending over a little snippets of stuff we made and he picked the ones he liked, he added some stuff, and we combined it and finished it all through the internet so yeah, it was pretty cool.

2014 has been a pretty massive year for you guys. What would you say is the highlight of year so far?

Jurre: Show wise: EDC Las Vegas, Tomorrowland, Tomorrowworld, Life in Colour.

Tim: Yeah, we’ve done a lot of great shows this year. Also, DJ Mag entry was a big thing and the record with Martin Garrix hit number one.

Jurre: Yeah actually, we’ve had 6 records in the top 10 on Beatport so it’s been a really, really great year for us.

Woah, massive is an understatement to the year you guys have had. Congratulations! What does the rest of 2014 hold for you guys?

Jurre: A lot of touring actually. We’re going to be doing a bus tour next month with Sander van Doorn and Julian Jordan in Canada.

Tim: Yeah that’s 10 dates in 11 days so it’s going to be pretty f*cking hectic. Haha.

Jurre: Oh we’re also going to India next week. It’ll be our first time over there too, a lot of new places. We’re actually going to Shanghai tomorrow. Like we fly at 9am so we have to go straight after we’re done here.

Tim: We also go back and forth to the States and we have a cool show coming up on New Year’s Eve in the States.

Oh no, leaving so soon! Speaking of the DJ Mag Top 100, the recent results has seen quite a number of comments and reactions from DJs/producers. What do you guys personally think of it? Is it still relevant or is it nothing but a popularity contest?

Jurre: It is relevant but it is also a popularity contest. Of course, there are a lot of different styles of DJs that are not in that list that but it means something. It means people are talking about you.

Tim: Yeah, there are a lot of DJs who should be on the list that didn’t make it but it is the only list that is. I think it’s really good for what we are doing, like EDM stuff because it’s good recognition. Like seeing Eric Prydz and Carl Cox below us just blows my mind of course, but it’s what the people vote for. It’s a vote from the people so I can’t complain.

Jurre: Yeah, like he said, it’s a vote from the people. It’s a new generation of people who are voting, like kids who are 16 and 17, people who’ve never heard of Prydz.

Fair enough. How do you guys kick back and relax once all the craziness is over?

Jurre: I like a good dinner with friends and family. Play some soccer, FIFA on the play station. Haha. A typical boy thing.

Tim: Yeah, dinner with friends and family. Just try not to talk about music for a while.

Speaking of family and friends, how do you make time for them with your crazy schedules?

Jurre: It’s really difficult. Especially like we’re always gone on the weekends and our friends are off on the weekends so we miss a lot of birthdays and parties.

Tim: Yeah, when we get back we try to hang as much with our parents. I have 2 sisters so I try spend as much time as I can.

Lastly, if you could marry any celebrity, who would it be?

Tim: Marry a celebrity? God damn. Not into marrying one, you really caught me off guard with this one. Damn.

Jurre: MARRY A CELEBRITY? Haha I’ve never thought of marrying a celebrity, too much bullsh*t you know, with the press and stuff. Hahaha. HMMM… I’ve always liked Eva Mendes, she’s a beautiful woman. But I think she’s married, no?

Eva Mendes is a beautiful woman. She’s not married but she does have a kid with Ryan Gosling though. Haha

Jurre: Oh crap. That’s it, there you go. Haha

Tim: Haha oh sh*t. I have no comments on that. Back to the question, hmm, I’ve never really had a celebrity crush so I can’t think of anyone right now.

Jurre: It’s our pleasure. Thank you and see you later!

It was such a pleasure talking to Firebeatz. Once again, big thanks to our friends from Zouk Club KL for making this interview happen. Let’s not forget to congratulate the boys on claiming the #56 spot for this year’s DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll!

We leave today with Calabria (Firebeatz remix). Enjoy!

For more on Firebeatz, stalk them via these platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. You won’t regret it, they’re too damn cute and talented to pass up on.

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#RoyKim: Korean Singer To Hold Showcase In Malaysia On 26th August

Another Korean singer is coming to town, and this time, it’s none other than crooner Roy Kim.

The singer will be visiting Kuala Lumpur on 26th August for his upcoming promo tour, and the fan meet will be held in Paradigm Mall.

The fan meet, which will start at 7:30pm at the Upper Atrium, will comprise of a meet and greet session, photocard giving session, as well as a signed album giveaway. However, details for the aforementioned events haven’t been released yet.

Don’t ‘fret though, for those who really, really wanna see Roy Kim, K-popped, the official media for the tour, is organising a contest to give you a chance to meet the man himself! A total of 22 pairs of passes are up for grabs, with 5 pairs of tickets for the showcase, 15 pairs of passes for the photocard giving session, and lastly, 2 pairs of passes for the meet and greet session. Wanna know how to grab ’em tickets? Just visit this link.

Roy Kim, real name Kim Sangwoo (김상우), debuted in 2013 after winning Mnet’s talent competition “Superstar K4”. He released his first album “Love Love Love”, which included hit songs “Bom Bom Bom (봄봄봄)” and “Love Love Love”. The album was received with much fanfare and around 20,000 physical copies were sold.


Netflix Halloween Quiz: What Would You Do?

As we watch our favourite horror films during this Halloween season, we often find ourselves questioning the logic of each scene. We observe the characters on screen make not-so-great decisions that you know will ultimately end in them getting chased by a ghost, possessed or even murdered.

Our question is What Would You Do (WWYD)? What would you do if you were put in one of these iconic horror scenes? *spoilers ahead*

1. “The Haunting of Hill House” – The Bent-Neck Lady

The Haunting of Hill House follows the Crain clan’s relationship with a summer home that turned their lives upside down (sometimes, quite literally). One of the series’ biggest fright factors is the ever so creepy Bent-Neck Lady that hovers over Nell’s sleeping body and pops up at the most terrifying moments.

We also remember Nell returning to Hill House to face her deepest fears. While the flickering lights and the supernatural occurrences are enough to convince us to stay as far away from Hill House as possible, it clearly was not the same case for Nellie.

2. “The Haunting of Bly Manor” – Doll House

So, you stumble upon an opening for an au pair to two orphans living in a grand English manor, far out in the country, with seemingly no direct access to anything or anyone else.

You meet these perfectly splendid children that seem delightful at first, you quickly learn that one of them has one too many dolls of people that you’re sure are lingering around the property in spirit (not forgetting the one under her cupboard). And then fittingly, someone always suggests a game of hide and seek. In a haunted house. NOPE.

Mama raised no quitter but in this case we’re seeking to hide anywhere else but Bly Manor. Enlighten us, will you? WWYD?

Welcome back to Hawkins! You’ve just been through the Upside Down and enjoyed the perfect summer. Just when you thought you had the time to be a normal teenager, Russian soldiers unleash the Mind Flayer on the town and infect all its citizens.

The kids inevitably find out that there are more than meets the eye lurking beneath Starcourt Mall and devises a plan to save Hawkins and the world. We’ll be waiting at Scoops Ahoy with ice-cream in hand if anybody would care to join us. WWYD?

“The Ring” chronicles Rachel, a journalist who launches an investigation into the unexpected death of her 16-year-old niece, Samara. She stumbles upon a mysterious videotape that curses those who watch it with death looming precisely 7 days later – cue the creepy static on the TV, random pool of water on the floor and a shrill scream.

We remember the iconic scene where Samara crawls out of the well in the video and then proceeds to climb out of the TV screen and into the apartment. Sorry but we’re cancelling our cable subscription and getting on to Netflix where ghosts will remain IN our screens. WWYD?

Ever met a friendly clown that wants to just give you loads of hugs and cookies – that’s not IT. In the opening scene, we see little Georgie folding an origami paper boat, marking ‘SS Georgie’ on the side, and going out in the rain to float his boat.

He loses control and chases after the boat down the stream of water into a drain. He reaches in the drain and he finds IT, a frightening clown that so happens to be lurking…in the drain.

First of all – why was he in the drain? And why did George think it was a good idea to grab the boat from the man in said drain when he could’ve gone home and folded another one. Now, if you were George, WWYD?

Stream and scream all the aforementioned titles on Netflix this Halloween.

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#MCMC: 1,074 Pornography Websites Have Been Blocked In Malaysia

According to a Bernama report, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has blocked 1,074 pornography websites for violating the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said a total of 106 more sites would be blocked for the same offence.

He said the restriction was part of MCMC’s continuous efforts in preserving the noble values possessed by people of various ethnics and religions in the country. “It is important for the MCMC to take action as this is the root cause of social problems in our country,” he told reporters on Tuesday, 10th November.

In a separate report by The Star Online, 8/10 of the world’s most popular porn sites have been successfully blocked by the MCMC:

The websites listed above are also some of the most visited porn websites, according to commercial web traffic data and analytics provider Alexa.

Meanwhile, Salleh also advised the public to provide information on any websites that were spreading obscene content to the MCMC at aduanskmm@cmc.gov.my.

Sources: Bernama via The Star Online, Lowyat.NET, Alexa.


#DoctorStrange: Joaquin Phoenix Won’t Play The Sorcerer Supreme

Too bad, so sad. Our hope for Joaquin Phoenix to become Doctor Strange was so high that when Deadline confirmed that he will not be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the world came crashing down on us.

Lesson learnt. Always expect the unexpected.

Best known for his role as Commodus in the 2000 historical epic film “Gladiator”, award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix was earlier rumoured to play Dr Stephen Strange. However, various new sites reported that Marvel Studios wasn’t able to lock him down as the titular role but also claimed that the actor did enter final talks for the role.

Despite his talent in acting, many argued that the actor is unlikely to sign on a long-term deal with Marvel. Furthermore, he’s not the type who would start making appearances at Comic-Con. Thus, negotiations failed and the casting for the film is back to square one.

Despite their busy schedules, earlier speculations suggested that Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumbetbarch were being considered. American Hustle star Jack Huston and Mad Men star Jon Hamm were also rumoured to be taking the lead role but all the rumours have been dismissed by the actors themselves. The latest speculation that has run wild includes The Purge’s actor Ethan Hawke but the film blog HeyUGuys has debunked the rumour.

Set to be released on July 8, 2016, Marvel Studios has entered its final stage of negotiations to shoot “Doctor Strange” at Pinewood-Shepperton in England next year. Since it’s confirmed that Joaquin Phoenix will no longer in the run to become the Sorcorer Supreme, who do you think should take the lead role?


Netflix’s “Army Of Thieves” Review: A More Consistent & Thrilling Heist Film Than “Army Of The Dead”

Earlier this year, “Justice League” director Zack Snyder treated fans to his unique take on the zombie horror genre. Set in Las Vegas, the film was essentially a horror heist film that saw a team of highly-skilled specialist break into a vault in the City of Sin. A city crawling with zombies. A solid premise full of bombastic action, absurd antics and colourful characters. For us, the character that stuck out the most was the German vault-cracking savant, Ludwig Dieter. Actor Matthias Schweighöfer’s potrayal of the character brought some much needed life and fun to the otherwise grim affair. For all his quirky charms, we like the guy.

That being said, do we really want an entire prequel film about his checkered past? In the same year as “Army of the Dead”? Who asked for this? Well, for better or for worse, it’s here. Full disclosure, we were fairly sure this film was going to be a flop. A cheap cashgrab made to bank on Snyder’s fans. We were dead wrong though, because “Army of Thieves” is more than able to stand on its own!

The film opens up with our favourite safecracker, a full six years before the events of “Army of the Dead”. The zombie apocalypse was in its infancy and Ludwig Dieter went by his real name, Sebastian Schlecht-Wohnert. A reclusive banker with a passion for lock mechanisms, classical music and Nordic mythology. His ordinary life is shattered when a mysterious jewel-thief invites him into a world of crime. Alongside a team of thrill-seeking outlaws, Sebastian embarks on an international heist job that sees him unlocking the secrets of a master locksmith. He’ll fall in love, break the law and do his level best not to get killed. This is the birth of Ludwig Dieter!

Oh yeah fun fact: Matthias Schweighöfer is both the lead and the director of the film with Snyder and Shay Hatten coming up with the story. One of the issues we had with Snyder’s “Army of the Dead” was how scatter-brained it all felt. The tonal shifts between a silly, semi-aware zombie shoot-em-up and a serious family drama was jarring. Then, there were all these secondary plots that went nowhere with bland twists thrown in for good measure. “Army of Thieves” knows very clearly what it is and sticks to it.

The source of humour, the emotional heart and plot beats all revolve around Schweighöfer’s Dieter. There’s a clear anchor that holds the entire thing together whenever the plot is at risk of veering off into a million other directions. Some of you are probably wondering if you’ll get to see some zombie action in the film. You’ll see glimpses of it but in no way does it play at the foreground. Rather, the film takes on this intriguing “National Treasure” style adventure with Dieter travelling around the world with his motley crew of misfit criminals.

We’re just going to let you know right now that the strength of this film is not in its originality. Snyder and Hatten aren’t trying to subvert the heist genre here. Rather its value comes from its character writing and the draw of its world. Whenever Dieter launches into one of his lengthy spiels about how the vaults’ mechanisms are based on Richard Wagner’s “Ring Cyle”, we are intrigued. And this is coming from someone who hates exposition by long monologues. There’s so much passion and history behind the stories that you can’t help but listen.

Fans of “Army of the Dead” will definitely see the film in a new light after “Army of Thieves”, providing an additional layer of significance to the heist. The only thing perhaps we weren’t a fan of was the way the group dynamics were set up. A lot of it felt rushed and awkward. There’s also a romantic subplot that feels hollow and unearned.

In lieu of close-quarter combat and last stand shootouts with the undead, we get the tension and rush of bank robberies and close-calls with the authorities. In our opinion, the thrill of Interpol chasing our merry band of thieves is far more engaging than seeing them running down a narrow hallway with zombies. The way Schweighöfer weaves action sequences leading into larger setpieces all tumbles into place like a line of dominoes.

Then of course there’s Schweighöfer himself as Ludwig Dieter and we’ve got to say that he made for a very fun and likable protagonist. Yes his fish-out-of-water act does grate at times but it is frenetic energy and comedic timing that ultimately wins us over. “Game of Thrones” actress Nathalie Emmanuel plays Gwendoline, Dieter’s friend/partner throughout the three heists. It’s nice to Emmanuel be able to flex her action-hero muscles here. Ruby O. Fee and Guz Khan play the sassy hacker with a heart of gold and the mad-lad driver. Stuart Martin’s character Brad Cage does a serviceable job as the sleazy alpha of the group. While the others are a little harder to read, he’s got “double-cross” written all over his face.

While “Army of Thieves” makes for an entertaining heist-action film, its attempts at being more comedic that its predecessor yields inconsistent results. Seriously Schweighöfer does some Mr Beanesque nonsense that baffles us at times. When there’s some context for it, the joke lands but then there are times it just seems utterly bizarre. There are a few funny quips sprinkled in but get ready for a lot of girlish screaming coming from Dieter. Mileage will vary from person to person.

Schweighöfer’s “Army of Thieves” might not have its predecessor’s scale but it makes up for it with a tighter story that is more consistent with its bubblier tone. Through Schweighöfer’s performance and direction, the film manages to mostly entertain viewers from start to finish. If Snyder and Netflix plan on expanding their “Army of the Dead” franchise, we’d love to see Schweighöfer return as Dieter. We technically didn’t see him die on camera. So perhaps, there’s a chance our favourite safecracking Nervous Man may return? In any case, you can now catch “Army of Thieves” on Netflix today!

So what do you think of “Army of Thieves”? Do you prefer it over Snyder’s “Army of the Dead”? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

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Schweighöfer's "Army of Thieves" might not have its predecessor's scale but it makes up for it with a tighter story that is more consistent with its bubblier tone. Through Schweighöfer's performance and direction, the film manages to mostly entertain viewers from start to finish. If Snyder and Netflix plan on expanding their "Army of the Dead" franchise, we'd love to see Schweighöfer return as Dieter.


#SuicideSquad: The Film Is So Dark, Director David Ayer Brought A Therapist On Set

Just in case you thought that the upcoming “Suicide Squad” film would be a light and cheerful superhero movie, think again. It seems that the film is so dark that the movie set requires an on-set therapist.

“Suicide Squad” follows a team of supervillains and features such heavy performances from its cast that director David Ayer has brought a “therapist” on set.

Adam Beach, who plays Slipknot in the film, told E! News, “We kind of have like a therapist on board if you fall off the wagon and really are villainous.” This therapist is a friend of Ayer’s and is on set to help the actors make sure they “have (their) ground”.

The reason behind the on-set “therapist” is Ayer’s desire to make the “Suicide Squad” as real as possible, according to Beach. “David Ayer is about realism. So if your character is tormented, he wants you to torment yourself. He wants the real thing,” Beach said.

“Suicide Squad” is so real that some actors, like Jared Leto (the Joker), it means sending castmates dark and disturbing gifts. According to Beach, Jared Leto sent co-stars Margot Robbie, Will Smith and the rest of the cast a live rat, a dead hog, and some bullets.

We think it’s a great idea to have an on-set therapist just waiting to talk to people who need help though. This is largely because we’re all well aware of what happened to “The Dark Knight” star the late Heath Ledger, who died from an accidental overdose of prescription medications including painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills.

Back then, it was widely believed that Heath had gotten so into character as the Joker that he couldn’t get out of the “darkness”. His death occurred during editing of “The Dark Knight” and in the midst of filming his last role as Tony in “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”. Needless to say, it cast a somber shadow over the subsequent promotion of the $185 million Batman production.

He went on to receive numerous posthumous accolades for his critically acclaimed performance in the film, including the Academy Award for “Best Supporting Actor”, amongst others.

“Suicide Squad” will hit theatres 5th August 2016. The cast also includes Cara Delevingne, Jai Courtney, Scott Eastwood, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney and Common.

Don’t forget to quickly check out some fun facts about the Joker as well as Harley Quinn to best prepare you for the film ;)

Sources: E! News via HuffPost Ent, Telegraph UK, Heath Ledger’s Wiki / Featured image from E! News.


#Madonna: Queen Of Pop Invites Eason Chan Onstage During Macau Tour

Someone was a naughty boy at Madonna’s concert recently ;)

As per custom during every Madonna “Rebel Heart” show, her “Pop Highness” would invite a lucky fan from the audience to come up onstage and dance with her and her backup dancers towards the finale of her performance. Her latest concert in Macau was no different.

During her pitstop at the Studio City Event Centre (SCEC) on Saturday, the Queen of Pop’s performance in Macau featured the same tradition by bringing a lucky fan onstage. That lucky fan, as it turned out, was none other than Hong Kong singer Eason Chan, who is also known as Asia’s “King of Cantopop”.

According to Toggle, Chan was chosen out of the thousands in attendance because he was dancing excitably in the audience area and Madonna noticed him. The American pop diva was apprehensive that the concert was turning monotonous so she got one of her crew to invite Chan up to perk up the atmosphere.

Chan not only danced alongside Madonna during her “Unapologetic Bitch” number, but at one point, he even bent over as the music legend playfully smack his butt. Unaware of his celebrity status with the locals, Madonna asked for his name.

My name is Eason. Season, without the S.

Their fun interaction drew loud cheers from the crowd. To reward Chan’s spontaneity, Madonna presented him with a banana as a “prize” and even asked him to “lick it up”. Feeling slightly embarrassed, he declined, saying that his daughter was also in attendance.

After the concert, Chan took to Facebook to share some pictures from the concert with the caption, “Guess I’m a naughty boy tonight.”

Well, who wouldn’t jump on the opportunity to be Madonna’s “unapologetic bitch” for a few blissful minutes. According to Sina Entertainment, Chan was ecstatic to have had the experience of being Madonna’s lucky chosen one. “Of course I feel very excited. It is Madonna!” he told reporters after the event.

Aside from Chan, Madonna’s 2-night concert also attracted a number of high profile Asian celebrities such as Aaron Kwok, Miriam Yeung, Charlene Choi, Christy Chung, Carina Lau, couples Simon Yam and Qi Qi, as well as Leo Ku and Lorraine Chan.

Check out Chan’s naughty boy moment below:

Sources: Toggle, Asia One, Macau Daily Times.

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