We Can’t Help But Root For The “Bad” Guys In These 6 Shows

You know they’re bad. Or, at the very least, definitely not operating within the boundaries of law. But there’s just something about them that makes you root for them to get away scot-free.

Maybe their motives are a reflection of real life that we deeply relate to. Maybe it’s us living vicariously through these fictional characters who are doing all the things we can’t do IRL. Or maybe it’s simply because the “bad” guy is really, really hot. Whatever the reason, we gotta admit that we find it really hard to hate the supposed criminals when we’re watching these shows:

Framed by the most wanted art thief in the world a.k.a. the elusive Bishop (Gal Gadot) for stealing a priceless artifact, FBI profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) is forced to team up with the “second best art thief in the world” a.k.a. Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) in a globe-trotting adventure to “steal” all of Cleopatra’s eggs before Bishop does and clear his name in the process.

Even with Interpol hot on their trail, we can’t help but cheer the stoic FBI agent and his wisecracking frenemy on as they embark on an international cat-and-mouse chase while trying to evade the authorities at every turn.

Check out our exclusive interview with Ryan Reynolds here.

Ludwig Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer) is probably the most endearing and wholesome part of the gritty “Army of the Dead”, so it’s only natural that we’d want to protect this cinnamon roll at all costs in his spin-off movie.

In “Army of Thieves”, a prequel to the aforementioned zombie heist caper, we get to see Dieter (then known as Sebastian) as he goes from a shy, naive bank teller obsessed with complicated safes, into a bad-ass but still delightful master safe-cracker when he finds himself recruited for a series of heists across Europe. He’s definitely on the wrong side of the law, but we can’t help but yell at him to keep going when he’s bumbling and fumbling through his police chase!

They’re a morally grey and volatile bunch robbing the Royal Mint and later, the Bank of Spain, but that didn’t stop fans from all over the world from sticking with la banda through thick and thin.

We’re intrigued and captivated by the Professor’s creative manoeuvres to see his meticulous plans through, but it’s the characters’ familial bond with each other that got us hooked and rooting for them to succeed.

For some, it could also be a case of identifying with the spirit of la resistencia. Though the heist crew’s methods are no doubt questionable, presenting themselves as underdogs protesting against the “robbers” holding positions of power is a notion that’s relatable — and possibly a form of wish fulfillment — for some fans.

Get to know 7 fun facts about the cast here.

He’s as adaptable as a chameleon, slick as a fox, and a gentleman to boot… what’s not to love about Assane Diop, played by the charismatic Omar Sy?

That’s not even all the charming thief has going for him. We found ourselves entirely in his camp when it was revealed that Diop has been working towards exacting justice on the man who framed Diop’s father for stealing a valuable necklace, which led to the latter’s eventual death in prison.

Okay, hear us out. We fully acknowledge that Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) is a creep we’d never want to meet in real life, but he does have some redeeming qualities and — dare we say — moments where we’re like, “You know what, they had it coming” when he un-alives someone, like the pedophilic stand-up comedian from Season 2 and abusive ex-husband in Season 3. He’s kinda got a point, yanno?!

However, and we cannot stress this enough, please do not stalk people you have a crush on and murder people you don’t like.

It’s hard not to feel sorry for Walter White (Bryan Cranston) at the start of the show when he was just a high school chemistry teacher working two jobs to make ends meet. Life threw him another cruel curveball when he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, and with no other way to secure funds for treatment and provide for his family, turned to cooking and selling crystal meth with Jesse Pinkman’s (Aaron Paul) help.

His transformation from a principled man who cooks meth on the side to a drug kingpin consumed by wealth and power is a chilling and inevitable one, with Walter making selfish and illegal choices along the way. However, just as we’re rooting for him as an underdog in the drug trade, we hold onto the hope that he ultimately does right by his family.

Does your moral compass feel up to the challenge? Catch these “bad” guys and the exciting shows they’re in on Netflix!

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#Deadpool2: What Is Ryan Reynolds Doing At The X-Men Mansion?

Wait, why does this castle look so familiar?

Ryan Reynolds is probably basking in the awesomeness of being Deadpool at the moment. Yesterday (Sunday, 18th June), the Hollywood star took to Twitter to post the first official set photo of “Deadpool 2”.

In the image above, the 40-year-old actor is in his signature red suit as the Merc with a Mouth. It shows the A-lister lounging outside Charles Xavier’s iconic X-Men mansion. The School for Gifted Youngsters is where mutants train to harness their abilities and become better members of society.

“Dropped by the X-Mansion. Big f**king surprise. No one’s home,” Reynolds tweeted. As you can see, there’s nobody in sight. If you recall, this was the same location where Wade Wilson first met Colossus (played by Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (played by Brianna Hildebrand).

Located at Hatley Castle in British Columbia, the infamous yellow cab from the first film was also spotted on the film set. It appears that the castle will be featured more prominently in the sequel. The castle was previously used in 2003’s “X2: X-Men United”, 2006’s “X-Men: The Last Stand”, and 2016’s “Deadpool”.

Deadpool 2 is being filmed at Hatley castle by my house. NO BIG DEAL. I'M NOT FREAKING OUT. MARRY ME RYAN!!!! pic.twitter.com/ejRBSKrNyg

— Rebecca Sky ♡ (@RebeccaSky) June 16, 2017

Deadpool 2 reportedly being filmed at @RoyalRoads #HatleyCastle. Have you spotted any of the stars? @CHEK_News #yyj #yyjfilms pic.twitter.com/xQADqCBHhK

— Ceilidh Millar (@CeilidhMillar) June 16, 2017

Thanks to Twitter users, Rebecca Sky and Ceilidh Millar, we have a better look at the X-Men mansion.

In case you haven’t check out the first teaser trailer for “Deadpool 2”, here you go.

Sources: Movie Web (1)(2), /Film, Screen Rant/ Featured image: Ryan Reynolds’ Twitter.


Woman Gives Birth To Two Sets Of Twins

A Texas mother had double the double joy this year when she gave birth to four babies on Valentine’s Day. You’re thinking, cool, quadruplets. What’s so special about that? How does that make this piece of news any different from other “quadruplet birth” reports?

The difference is that 36-year-old Tressa Montalvo gave birth to four babies as in, two sets of identical twin boys. Which is, as they would say, an event with slimmer odds than winning the lottery. To be more precise, a one in 70 million chance!

Plus, Tressa and her husband, Manuel, weren’t using fertility drugs. They were only hoping for a brother or sister for their two-year old son, Memphis.

When asked about the boys’ name, Tressa said, “We tried to stick to the A-B-C-D theme when naming them. We didn’t expect it, we were trying for just one and we were blessed with four. We planned the pregnancy – I guess we just succeeded a little too much”. Now, you peeps ready to hear their names?

Tressa’s and Manuel’s sons were named Ace and Blaine, who were born at 8:51am, and Cash and Dylan, who followed a minute later. A-B-C-D.

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#Grab: Enjoy Up To RM80 Worth Of GrabShare Rides From Today Till 20th March

For the next 2 weeks, save even more when you ride with Grab.

In an effort to encourage more passengers to share rides with others, the ride-hailing app has rolled out another promotion for all you riders.

Grab users will get to enjoy RM8 off 10 GrabShare rides. That’s up to RM80 worth of rides y’all! However, riders are required to book with credit/debit card using the promo code SHARECARD. Those that choose to book with cash, however, will only get to enjoy RM5 off 10 GrabShare rides by using the promo code SHARECASH.

The latest Grab promotion is valid for the next 2 weeks, starting today (Tuesday, 7th March) until 20th March, and is only applicable for rides within the Klang Valley. Keep in mind that Grab is only giving out 20,000 promo redemptions per day.

How to book your GrabShare ride with the promo:

For more info, visit Grab’s official website and Facebook page.


X-Men #DOFP: Blooper Reel Shows Storm & Wolverine’s Kiss Scene

If you think you’ve seen all when it comes to “X-Men: Days of Future Past“, think again.

A deleted scene, or rather a blooper reel, from Fox’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past” has recently surfaced online ahead of the release of its DVD/Blu-ray. The blooper features the cast of the film including Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, and many more.

One of the scenes has included X-Men’s characters, Storm and Wolverine sharing a kiss, followed by an overjoyed reaction by X-Men star Halle Berry.

The original video of the full blooper reel has been taken down but it can be found at Hypable. The gag reel bonus will be featured in the “X-Men: Days of Future Past” DVD/Blu-ray and it will be released on October 14.

Meanwhile, it was recently confirmed that Bryan Singer will continue to direct the X-Men franchise as the deal has been closed. The deal came after the director teased the fans with a sneak peak of “X-Men: Apocalypse” via his 3-month-old Instagram account. “X-Men: Apocalypse” will be the fourth installment of the franchise and some of the stars are expected to reprise their film roles.

It is set to hit theatres on May 27th, 2016.


#GoLalaGo2: #AfterSchool Nana To Star Alongside Vic Chou & Ariel Lin

Ooohhh, it seems like we will be seeing After School‘s Nana in a Mandarin film very, very soon.

Nana, whose real name is Im Jin-ah, will be making her big screen debut in Taiwanese romantic comedy “Go Lala Go 2” alongside famed Chinese stars Vic Chou and Ariel Lin.

On Monday (1st June), Pledis Entertainment announced her involvement in the film, stating:

Nana has already started filming the movie, and the filming is expected to go on until the beginning of July. She is currently focusing on commercials and movies, but we are also planning to have variety show appearances in the future.

The stunning singer/actress will be playing a huge role in the movie, as she has been confirmed to take up one of the lead roles. No other details regarding her character have been revealed as of yet.

“Go Lala Go 2” is the sequel to 2010’s “Go Lala Go”, a hit romantic film that featured Karen Mok, Stanley Huang, Pace Wu, Li Ai, Alice Wang, and actor-director Xu Jinglei. The sequel will be chronicling the life of Go Lala, a “modern Cinderella” who experiences the fun and adventurous life of working in an office.

Just a few days ago, Nana was spotted posting a selfie on her Weibo along with co-star Vic Chou. It was uploaded along with the message, “I’m filming in Shanghai right now, what about you?” Fans were curious about the production but it seems like their questions have been answered.

Several movie stills were released on the movie’s official Weibo account, but Nana clearly wasn’t in the photos. It remains to be seen what character she will take on and where she will fit in the storyline.

This isn’t the first time that Nana has acted in a Chinese project as she previously appeared in Dragon TV’s fashion reality show “Muse Dress” and Hunan TV’s television drama “Love Weaves Through a Millennium”.

Quite an amount of Korean artistes have made their names in the Chinese market too, most notably Lee Min Ho, Jun Ji Hyun, and Kim Soo Hyun. It’s understandable, as it is a very lucrative market, catering to the 1.4 billion people residing in China.

Are you excited to see Nana’s new film? What kind of character do you think she will play? Let us know in the comments box below.

Sources: Koreaboo, Worldometers, Chinatopix, Koala’s Playground

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#TheBourneIdentity: Matt Damon Confirms Return As Jason Bourne

Earlier in September, Deadline wrote that there’s a high chance of titular agent Jason Bourne making a return to the silver screen. To be more precise, Matt Damon as Jason Bourne. At that time, it was rumoured that Universal Pictures had begun making deals with Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass to reunite for a fifth instalment to the Bourne saga. However, Universal would not comment nor would the reps.

However, at an event last week, Matt Damon himself confirmed that he’ll reprise the role of Jason Bourne in in 2016. Speaking to E! News at a party for Project Greenlight, he stated that he’ll be reuniting with director Paul Greengrass for the project, with the film hitting theatres the following year!

The actor specifically said,  to the actor, “Yes, next year. It’ll be in 2016 when the movie will actually come out. (Director) Paul Greengrass is going to do another one and that’s all I ever said. I just needed him to say yes.”

Echoing Matt Damon’s sentiment, one will have to recall that after 2007’s “The Bourne Ultimatum”, the third in the series overall, Greengrass walked away from the franchise. This is because with Bourne’s quest to regain his memories complete, the director felt that the character was at a creative dead end. 2012’s “The Bourne Legacy” starred “The Avengers” star Jeremy Renner in an entirely different role. Sadly, “The Bourne Legacy” was met with a lukewarm critical reception.

As of now, it’s still unclear what new adventures Bourne has ahead of him, but fans can now fully expect a continuation to his story. But, to quote Matt Damon, the next Bourne movie is slated to be released in 2016.


10 Things We Learned About Alec Benjamin During His Visit In Malaysia

American singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin has made quite a huge impact in Malaysia following his performance on the Big Stage finale.

His kind and thoughtful gesture of not shaking hands with female Muslim judges has gotten many praises among Malaysians, and he also gained a whole bunch of fans after his performance.

A post shared by BIG ST▶GE 2022 🎙 (@bigstageofficial)

“I think it’s always important to learn the customs where ever you are. I was lucky enough to have some helpful people to educate me when I got here. Anywhere I go, I think it’s important to learn the customs. I just want to be respectful.”

Apart from performing at Big Stage, Alec Benjamin also put on a private intimate showcase for some VIPs, members of the media as well as selected group of fans.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

During his special showcase, we managed to have some Q&A sesh with him, and here’s what we learn about Alec when he was in Malaysia.

1. Malaysia was his 1st Asia stop and his favourite food in Malaysia are roti canai and rambutan.

2. His favourite performers on “Big Stage” were Sarah Suhairi and Baby Shima. “I really love Sarah. She got a really special voice. I also like Baby Shima too. I’m a fan of both of them.”

A post shared by Sarah Suhairi (@sarahsuhairi)

3. “Death of a Hero” is about a person that Alec looked up to, but he later found out that the person is not as perfect as he thought, and was quite disappointed about it. “I guess you shouldn’t hold yourself to impossible standards because nobody is perfect.”

4. When it comes to writing songs, his inspiration comes when he’s feeling down and sad, which is why his songs are mostly solemnly sad. “When I’m feeling happy, I’m not going to stop and write a song. But when I’m feeling sad, I like to take a minute and pause, and write a song about it. Because it gives me a little break from it, and it makes me feel better. When I’m happy, I don’t need anything to make me feel better since I’m already happy.”

5. He always come up with song title first before lyrics.

6. People thinks he sounds like a kid and sometime a girl, but he’s happy that people are actually listening to his music. “I don’t care . People have their own opinions. So it’s all good. As long as people are talking about it and are hearing my music, that’t like more exciting for me.”

7. His dream artist is Chris Martin from Coldplay and Jason Mraz. He also became a fan of Kaka Azraff after watching her perform live in Malaysia.

Jason Mraz is the reason I started making music. Him, Eminem, John Mayer, & Chris Martin are my favorite artists. https://t.co/ApU3C6ASTu

— alecbenjamin (@AlecBenjamin) September 26, 2016

8. He knows basic Mandarin Chinese as he studied the language in high school for 3 years. He can still understand simple Mandarin. He did a cover of “Me and My Four Sisters” (對面的女孩看過來) by Malaysia’s Ah Niu’s (阿牛) before.

我可以说中文！fun fact. Cha BOI speaks some Chinese :)

— alecbenjamin (@AlecBenjamin) June 18, 2016

9. He would love to write a song for Selena Gomez.

10. The best advice he ever got is “Put my music out. A lot of people hang on to their songs because they wanted it to be perfect, but it’s never going to be perfect. The only way you can do it  is just put it out and move on to the next one afterwards. You can keep on perfecting the same song, you have to move on to new song and you get better with new song and not the same song.”

Feel like you know Alec a whole better already?

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#OldMasterQ: Meet The Popular Chinese Comic Characters & Author In Genting!

Lao Fuzi (老夫子) aka Old Master Q fans, where you guys at?

We just heard that the renowned and one of the longest running Mandarin comic characters Old Master Q and Mr Big Potato are set to meet their fans at Resorts World Genting from 9th January onwards.

Whilst with their friends namely Mr. Chin, Ms. Chan, and Mr. Zhao from 6th – 29th February 2016!

In line with the event, the author of Old Master Q, Joseph Wong Chak will be meeting his fans at First World Plaza Times Square stage, Resorts World Genting on 10th January 2016 at 2:30pm. Fans, be sure to catch this golden opportunity to meet Joseph Wong up close and personal!

The Old Master Q comic was originally created by Alfonso Wong who used his eldest son’s name Wang Chak as his pen name. First published in Hong Kong in 1962, Old Master Q was immediately well-received and become one of the most popular Chinese comics around the world.

From 9th January – 29th February, the First World Plaza Universal Walk will be transformed into the classic old Hong Kong Street. Old Master Q fans can look forward to some of the limited editions Old Master Q merchandise such as key chains, mug, drawstring bag, Old Master Q figurine as well as the limited Old Master Q comics!

Meanwhile, Old Master Q and his friends such as Big Potato, Mr. Chin, Ms. Chan, and Mr. Zhao will be entertaining fans with live show performance from 6th – 29th February at 12pm, 5:30pm, and 8pm daily. Be sure to grab the opportunity for a photo session with Old Master Q and friends after the show.

For more information about A Chinese New Year Comedy with Old Master Q at Resorts World Genting, please call 03-27181118 or visit their website.


SNSD Member Kim Hyoyeon To Perform In Malaysia As DJ Hyo

South Korean Kim Hyoyeon who is now known as her singer and DJ who is now known as DJ Hyo will be making a special appearance in Malaysia this month at Zouk Genting.

The 29-year-old K-pop star was a member of one of South Korea’s most popular girl groups worldwide, Girls’ Generation, also known as SNSD. She later joined a sub-unit of SNSD called Oh!GG.

Kim debuted as a solo artist and started to establish her career as a DJ in 2018 after releasing a new single titled “Sober” on 18th April under SM’s electronic dance music label Scream Records.

While this is not her first time in Malaysia, it will be her first time performing solo as DJ Hyo in the country.

A post shared by Hyoyeon Kim (@hyoyeon_x_x)

DJ Hyo will be performing at Zouk Genting on 26th July 2019 as part of her club tour which also include stops in Japan and Macau.

Ticketing details will be announced soon. Stay tuned on Zouk Genting website and social media.


Sunway Pyramid Launches Its Very Own Navigation App

Do you often get lost in huge shopping malls? Fret not, ‘cos now you will no longer have the problem in Sunway Pyramid mall!

Sunway Pyramid has officially introduced its very own navigation app to help shoppers navigate their way around the mall.

Designed specifically for Sunway shoppers, the app caters its service to users according to their navigation patterns, redemption, and browsing behaviour. This works to accommodate to their needs and wants.

In other words, users are first required to take a quiz to discover their shopping personas: Trendsetter, Digital Genius, Family Hero, Smart Spender, and Golden Groover. Once determined, the following information will be analysed to provide users with relevant content.

Shoppers can look forward to getting rewards too! In fact, the app offers users exclusive rewards from outlets like YSL, Laneige, Chanel, Dorothy Perkins, Topshop, Topman, JD Sports, and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, among others.

Sunway is currently working with Google Indoor Maps to integrate the app with Google’s map engine to produce more versions of it.

The app is expected to be available from 12 April onwards on Google Play and AppStore. Are you excited for it? We know, we are!

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#CarlyRaeJepsen: Canadian Pop Star To Hold Autograph Session At Sunway Pyramid

We really, really, really, really, really think this week could be the best week ever because Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen will finally make her Malaysian debut at MTV World Stage Malaysia 2015 at Surf Beach, Sunway Lagoon this Saturday (12th September).

With less than a week to go, Universal Music Malaysia is excited to announce that an autograph session will also be held for the “I Really Like You” singer to promote her latest album, “E.MO.TION”.

“E.MO.TION” is the follow-up to Jepsen’s US debut album “Kiss”. With a sense of pure feeling and passion inspired by classic 80s pop records, the album finds Jepsen conjuring up pop’s most thrilling paradoxes as she delivers songs that are both carefree and introspective, tender and bold, sensitive, and self-assured.

She teamed up with songwriters like Sia, Devonté Hynes (aka Blood Orange), and Ariel Rechtshaid in bringing “E·MO·TION” to life. She also joined forces with producers such as Mattman & Robin, Greg Kurstin, Carl Falk, and Rami Yacoub.

The one intention I had going into making this album was to take my time and create something I was really proud of-something that showed sides of me that I hadn’t ever revealed in my music before.

With its bright and shimmering layers of melody and texture, “E·MO·TION” gracefully captures both the joy and risk in following your heart.

The songs that are featured in the album include:

The album’s lead single, “I Really Like You”, is a Billboard Top 40 hit praised as “pop perfection” by BuzzFeed and “mind-blowing, fantastic, catchy-as-hell pop” by Idolator.

The 2nd single,”Run Away with Me,” was also named the standout track of the album by many critics.

Prior to her Malaysian debut at MTV World Stage Malaysia 2015, Jepsen will be meeting her dedicated Malaysian fans during the upcoming autograph session at Sunway Pyramid Mall this Friday.

Fans will be able to participate in the autograph session by purchasing the Deluxe Version of her latest album, “E.MO.TION” from the following CD RAMA outlets:

The autograph session will be conducted on first come first serve basis, and it is limited to one album per person only. Fans will also get to redeem 2 MTV World Stage Malaysia 2015 tickets when they purchase the album. However, there are limited tickets available only.

For more information, visit Universal Music Malaysia’s official Facebook page.


16 Dead After Ventilation Window Collapses At K-Pop Showcase Hall In Korea

16 people were reported to have died during a music festival in Korea after a ventilation window near the concert area collapsed.

The accident occurred on 17th October during 4 Minute’s performance at The 1st Pangyo Techno Valley Festival, where approximately 700 people attended the event. Reports revealed that a nearby subway ventilation window collapsed, causing over 25 fans to fall more than 3 stories down a vent.

Original reports stated that 2 people died in the fatal accident but now Korean media is reporting that he death toll has increased to 16. As of now, 11 people were reported to be have critically injured from the accident.

4 Minute’s agency, Cube Entertainment clarified that the showcase is not 4 Minute’s exclusive concert asother popular artistes such as T-ara, JungGiGo, and Cherry Filter are scheduled to perform as well. The official statement is as follows:

An accident occured at an event 4minute was scheduled to perform in. However, it wasn′t 4minute′s exclusive concert. We′re looking into seeing if the accident happened while 4minute was performing.

Police has yet to release an official statement about the accident but investigations are currently underway.

We would like to send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of those who have died from the accident and we hope there are more survivors from the accident.

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Thai Retail Giant Siam Piwat Joins Pavilion Bukit Jalil To Bring A Taste Of Thai Culture To Malaysia

If you’ve been to Bukit Jalil recently, you’ll probably have noticed that Pavilion is opening a new mall there. Pavilion Bukit Jalil is set to open on 3rd December (in time for Christmas shopping) and we’re excited for it! Get ready to walk however, as this mall is huge. It has five floors in total and has 1.8 million square feet of retail space.

With that much space, you know there will be plenty of shops. We’ve covered a few flagship and concept stores but here’s a new one. Thailand’s retail giant, Siam Piwat will be joining Pavilion Bukit Jalil and bringing in a few authentic Thai concept brands.

If you’ve been to Thailand, you may be familiar with these renowned malls: Siam Centre, Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM. Well, Siam Piwat is the group behind all these shopping centers. They’re recognised for offering extraordinary lifestyle experiences at unique and exciting destinations.

This will be the group’s first store debut out of Thailand. Housed in a dynamic 11,000 square feet of space, Siam Piwat will bring in three owned and curated brands. You’ll be able to check out Ecotopia, ICONCRAFT and Absolute Siam. From the visuals alone, the three stores are very eye-catching and thematic.

According to Siam Piwat’s Chief Executive Officer, they hope to strengthen Thai brands’ reputation and products by branching out. Pavilion Bukit Jalil on the other hand, hope to allow shoppers to savour the cross-cultural retail experience.

Well, we don’t know about you guys, but we can’t wait for 3rd December! We’re looking forward to checking out the mall and of course, Siam Piwat’s concept stores. Hope to see you guys there!


Resorts World Genting Reopens Today With Strict SOPs

If you’re looking forward to a break after being stuck in the house for what feels like forever, we have good news. Resorts World Genting is reopening today!

Resorts World Genting released a statement announcing that they will reopen at 6pm on 16th February with strict standard operating procedures in place.

On 20th January, Resorts World Genting announced that they would be suspending operations during 22nd January to 4th February, following the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) by the government. MCO was later extended to 18th February in relevant areas.

According to the statement, some hotels, facilities, attractions and other offerings will have revised operating hours, limited availability or be closed temporarily. All SOPs issued by the government will be obeyed throughout the resort and they request customers to cooperate with them as well. “The safety and health of all our guests and employees remain our utmost priority.”

They urge the public to visit their site for further information and guests can make reservations via the website or by contacting their call centre at 03-27181118. Resorts World Genting would also like to thank everyone for being patient and understanding during the suspension of the resort.

Featured Image: Hafiz Johari/ Sources: Oriental Daily, Resorts World Genting


Will & Kate Move Into The “Gift” From The Queen

On Prince William‘s 30th birthday last June, it was reported that His Royal Highness was given a charming cottage a size of castle named, “Anmer Hall” by none other than his loving grandmother, the Queen. The said birthday “gift” is located on the 20,000-acre Sandringham estate near King’s Lynn in Norfolk.

We don’t even want to ask how much it’s worth. Although, we must say, some birthday it must’ve been for Will!

Word has it that since Kate is now expecting her first child and since the royal couple’s lavish Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace is still under renovation, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has decided to generously make use of the cottage. Ah, but what better environment to be in anyway as they prepare for the birth of their first child? Right?

The Sandringham estate has been owned by the Queen since her accession in 1952 and it has been with the Royal Family since 1862.

The 20,000-acre Sandringham estate near King’s Lynn in Norfolk has been owned by the Queen since her accession in 1952 and by the Royal Family since 1862. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh stay in the main house, an Edwardian mansion, every Christmas with the rest of the Royal Family.

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[BREAKING] Life In Color Cancelled!

In regards to the recent incident during Future Music Festival Asia 2014, Life in Color has decided to cancel the upcoming paint party in Malaysia.

Tickets refund information is available on their site.


5 Reasons To Visit Starlight Carnival At Resorts World Genting

Welcome to Starlight Carnival – where vibrant entertainment and fanfare awaits you! Resorts World Genting recently launched a unique open-air experience event filled with foods, featured films, music and games to create a perfect time for all.

To celebrate the opening of their first ever Starlight Carnival, members of media were invited to experience the unique attraction first hand. Here are our thoughts of the open-air festival:

What is a carnival without games? Walk along the street and you’ll find booths filled with prizes to be won, with some of the fan-favourite games present at the event but with wackier names. Games such as basketball shooting, wheel of fortune, and many more can be seen scattered all around the place.

So gear up your competitive nature and win those prizes as these games will certainly entertain you for hours on end.

Need a place to chill? Don’t worry as Resorts World Genting has you covered with a unique open-aired cinema experience they call ‘Movie Under The Stars’. The cinema will air a host of blockbusters list of films which include “A Star is Born”, “Chicago”, “Jersey Boys”, “Mamma Mia” and “Hairspray”.

Movies, aren’t to your fancy? Don’t worry as Resorts World Genting has announced that the screen will also be used to air your favourite Football matches over the weekends. So to all the football fans at the event, no need to seek out for a Mamak store but find a comfy seat and enjoy.

One of the most important aspect of any event, is the food, and Starlight Carnival certainly brought their A game with their beautiful street being line-up with an even more beautiful sights of food trucks to bring you all the foodie goodness.

If you fancy a more gourmet experience, then indulge yourself at the some of the great restaurants located within the event such as FUHU restaurant by Zouk, for a unique taste of fusion cooking. Next, Harry Ramsden features London’s pride with their beloved fish and chips recipe to Malaysians. Plus, you can also head to Il Lago for some Italian flair.

Get electrified, as from sunset onward Starlight Carnival comes alive with energetic music to pump up the night. Featuring a talented lin-ups of performers from all over Malaysia, which include Aidan Soloist, VIBES, McBE Duo and Double Aze, that will take to the pop-up Gazebo stage to provide the unforgettable mood of the event.

Oktoberfest, the German’s tradition that celebrates all things beers, have make its way to Malaysia and Genting certainly puts in the effort to present their own version of the Bulgarian fanfare.

The main attraction of the hall will be, of course, the beers. The event will have an upward of 19 different types of premium beers, with most served in premium Oktoberfest chilled beers in which some allow you to bring back home afterwards.

Not only that, the hall provides food to couple it with your beer, with hungry Oktoberfesters to feast on a variety of food from the exotic truffle sausages and kimchi hot dogs to the more common burgers and chicken wings – this venue has got you covered.

Beside the food and drinks, the hall itself is also a party fest as musical performances strike the stage with confirmed performers such as the Part III, Society of Souls, an Oompah Band and tribute bands to the Gypsy King, The Beatles and Queen.

For one evening only, Zouk Genting will take over the Oktoberfest Hall stage on 2nd November 2019 in a celebration of dance music as Starlight Carnival presents the first-ever Resorts World Genting Zouk Live!

The ticket price for the event will be RM20 for the general admission with a RM4 processing fee, while kids (12 and under) are free of charge. Special hotel deals will also be available with 2 days, 1 night stays at First World Hotel (RM246 nett, up to 2 pax) or Theme Park Hotel (RM628 nett, up to 4 pax), all of which come with the Starlight Carnival entrance tickets.

The Starlight Carnival will be held in Resorts World Genting from 10th October to 2nd November every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For more information, please visit click on the link here.

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Innocent Until Proven Guilty – Kanye West refuses to pay paparazzo Daniel Ramos

Yeezus artist and Kim Kardashian’s baby daddy Kanye West has no intention on paying for a mistake that he insists he didn’t make.

Paparazzo, Daniel Ramos, sued the rapper for damages as he claims that he was injured when Kanye shoved him to the ground at the Los Angeles International Airport when he approached the rapper for a picture outside the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Kanye’s attorney however states thats Daniel does not deserve a single cent because he has not “been damaged in any amount whatsoever” in response to the assault and battery lawsuit filed by the plaintiff. He also files that it was the plaintiff who “wilfully and wrongfully caused Kanye to believe that his safety was at stake.” Kanye filing also further argues that he responded in self-defence and was provoked by Daniel’s unlawful and wrongful conduct.

Daniel claims that he was one of a number of paparazzi hanging around outside of the terminal waiting for famous faces and all he did was approached Kanye to ask if he can talk to the rapper when he allegdy pounced. The suit alleges continues to state that the rapper suddenly attacked by punching the paparazzo in attempts to get the camera from his hands.

In response to Kanye’s attorney, Daniel’s attorney, Gloria Allred says that she believes his defences are ridiculous and contrary to what the videos shows. She and plaintiff, Daniel Ramos are waiting to see Kanye prove his innocence in a court of law.

Kanye is facing misdemeanour charges of battery and attempted grand theft stemming from the airport incident and arraignment is set for the 10th of October. For now, Kanye is seen enjoying life with girlfriend Kim Kardashian as she posted a photo of them enjoying date night at Hakkasan in Los Angeles.


#2014: Hype’s “Year In Review” AKA 10 Biggest Stories Of The Year

2014 has finally come to an end. Today, we’re going to take a look back at the year that was and pick out the top 10 stories of the year. Sure, things could’ve been better for us, having had our year dampened by air tragedies e.g. MAS’ MH370, MAS MH17, as well as the recent AirAsia Indonesia’s QZ8501. But if you took a look at the entertainment and lifestyle front, there were many stories that we’ll forever remember 2014 for – be it from the music field, the rumour (which was later debunked) mill, or from the movie industry.

Here are what we thought were some of the 10 biggest stories of the year:

1. Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” phenomenon

Once again, Pharrell took the world by storm, like every other time he releases new music. Continuing to make waves around the globe, he released “Happy”, the lead single off his second studio album, “Girl”, at the end of 2013. The song came complete with a long-form music video which went on to spawn a slew of tribute videos. The music video for the song was nominated for “Best Male Video” and “Video of the Year” at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards.

Believe or not, Ellen DeGeneres single-handedly pushed her epic selfie to the top of the “most tweeted live TV events” items of 2014. Why? Well, for starters, the star-studded selfie was taken at an equally star-studded event aka the 86th Oscar awards held in March 2014. It features Hollywood A-listers such as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Lupita Nyong’o, Kevin Spacey, Jared Leto, and of course, Ellen DeGeneres herself. The selfie has since been valued at between USD800 million and USD1 billion.

Here it is, if you haven’t already seen it:

They say that you shouldn’t trust everything that you see/read/hear via the interwebs. Time and time again, the saying has proven to be true. Images of a mythical creature “found” in Perak before it was “found” in Johor Bahru went viral in June this year, mostly because it was rampantly shared via Facebook. We don’t entirely blame people for sharing it though because when it’s a story like that..isn’t it easy to share? It’s something about a dragon being shot dead at a house near a durian orchard when its owner realised that he has been losing a few of his pet rabbits as of late.

Pharrell Williams’s “Happy” “might’ve been nominated for an Academy Award for “Best Original Song”, but he lost to “Let It Go” from the 3D computer-animated musical fantasy-comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Frozen”. “Frozen” was released late 2013 but “Let It Go” only really began taking over the world in early 2014 onwards because besides the original English version, “Frozen” was dubbed into another 42 languages and dialects worldwide, with 41 foreign language versions of “Let It Go”. Let’s not forget “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?”, which went on to spawn many, many covers and parodies.

Thanks, because we can’t get them out of our heads now even if we tried:

There were so many things we both loved and loathed about the biggest and most prestigious football competition in the world this year, from the opening ceremony’s fail moments to the sad Brazilian grandpa, to all that drama surrounding Suarez’s “now immortalised with memes” bite and Bung Moktar’s “Hail Hitler!” tweet following Germany’s advance into the finals, and right down to the final Germany vs Argentina showdown. The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is not something we’d forget so soon, not even in years to come. By the way, does anyone know if FIFA has lifted the ban on Beats headphones yet? Just asking ;)

Perhaps the most successful viral campaign of our time, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge saw an overwhelming response all over the globe as hundreds, maybe thousands of people from all walks of life participated in the challenge before donating to the cause. While it seems like it’s for fun and laughter, the “Ice Bucket Challenge” stems from a real problem. It started in Massachusetts with former Boston College baseball player, 29-year-old Pete Frates, who has been battling ALS since 2011. He could no longer speak but he posted a video on 1st August 2014 and dared a few people to try it.

At first, he called out just his Boston College friends but a social media firestorm ensued, extending well beyond the gates the college:

8. Shockwaves from Robin Williams’ passing

Legendary actor and comedian Robin Williams, known his for high-energy, rapid-fire improvisation and clowning passed away on 11th August 2014, of asphyxia, a suspected suicide. He was 63 years old. The cause of death was only officially confirmed in November, with the coroner concluding he cause as “asphyxia due to hanging” and the manner of death as “suicide”. Although Robin Williams had spoken openly in the past about his battles with alcoholism and drug abuse, the coroner confirmed that he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of his suicide. His wife Susan Schneider confirmed that her husband was suffering from depression and the early stages of Parkinson’s disease.

This was his last known interview before his death:

One word – “BendGate”. Yes, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus launched in September in the grandest of ways. So grand, the tech giant even built a massive not-so-inconspicuous structure for the launch. But everything soon fell apart when the new smartphones came with U2’s brand spanking new album, which people felt were being shoved down their throats. And then came the issue of the BendGate, which of course went on to spawn numerous embarrassing spoofs from various competing and even non-competing brands. Needless to say, it was even worse than that time when Apple tried to introduce their own Maps, an app that quite literally melted right off the face of Earth.

10. #TheFappening, a celebrity leak of massive proportions

Also in September, pandemonium was unleashed as photos that show Candice Swanepoel, Avril Lavigne, Cara Delevigne, Jennifer Lawrence, Ariana Grande, Kate Upton, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and more than 100 other Hollywood stars nude leaked online. The international scandal was the work of a 4Chan user, who allegedly hacked private iCloud memories and successfully recovered deleted nude photos of an array of celebrities. Not only did the hacker release them in exchange for some BitCoins, he/she also released a master list of A-list Hollywood celebrity names of whom were hacked.

The above is, of course, based on what we wrote about throughout the entire year. Opinions may vary! That having said, which one was your personal “top story” of the year? Let us know in the comments box below.

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“Stranger Things” Season 4: The True Identity Of Villain Vecna Revealed?

Look out Hawkins, something wicked this way comes! The fourth season of the Duffer Brother’s critically-acclaimed “Stranger Things” series will be hitting Netflix soon. After waiting for almost four agonising long years, we’re finally reunited with our adorkable band of misfits and freaks. Over the years, we’ve grown up with them and have seen them overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. They’ve battled the vicious Demogorgon in the first season and the demonic, and infinitely creepy, Mind Flayer in the second and third season.

Now, however, their most dangerous adventure yet begins as they face off against sinister human forces wishing to use the power of the Upside-Down for their own nefarious purposes…and something else entirely. A creature whose power far outweights that of the gang’s previous two foes. It’s time for Vecna to rise!

Besides knowing that he’s connected the Upside-Down, what else can we gather about this enigmatic monster? Is he after El? What evil plans does he have for Mike and friends? Get ready 80’s kids and nostalgia freaks because we’re going deep and breaking down everything you need to know about the next big villain in the fourth season “Stranger Things”, Vecna!

So the most obvious clue to Vecna’s identity and origin is in his name. So far in the “Stranger Things” universe, we know that the fantasy table-top game “Dungeons and Dragons”  plays a major role in understanding the creatures of the Upside-Down. The Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer not only bear similar names to their “Dungeons” counter-parts but also similar powers and abilities as well. In the “Dungeons” universe, Vecna was once a human who became a lich, an undead creature, before attaining godhood.

Vecna is able to paralyse victims with his touch, see and hear through his followers and manipulate reality. The Duffer Brothers also drew inspiration for Vecna from horror film icons like Freddy Krueger from “The Nightmare on Elm Street”, Pennywise from Stephen King’s “It” and Pinhead from “Hellraiser”. Interestingly, Matt Duffer states that this season was heavily inspired by the “Nightmare” films. He has also stated that we’ll be spending a lot more time in the Upside-Down this season.

With all this information in mind, it’s probably safe to assume that Vecna was at some point a human character, much like his “Dungeons” version and Krueger. Then, something happened that turned him into a creature of the Upside-Down. One whose able to paralyse his victims and warp reality in some way. The biggest clue here is Matt Duffer’s line about the “Nightmare” films. Freddy Krueger is able to manipulate reality of his victims by invading their dreams.

The “Dungeons” version of Vecna is able to see the world through his followers. We know that characters like Will Byers and Billy Hargrove have had their minds controlled by the Mind Flayer. Perhaps Vecna has followers of his own in Hawkins seeking to enact their master’s will. Vecna could have invaded their minds, similarly to Freddy Krueger, and be using them to merge the waking world with that of the Upside-Down. Afterall, Matt did say we’d be staying a lot of time this season in the dark mirror dimension.

Now comes the big question: Is Vecna somebody we’ve seen from the previous seasons? We believe the answer is yes and that he’s none other than Dr. Martin Brenner. The man responsible for El’s traumatic past in the Hawkins National Laboratory and the one who made her open the door into the world of the Upside-Down. We last saw Brenner being attacked by the Demogorgon in the first season. We technically didn’t see him die on-screen though, so there’s a chance he could have survived that attack.

Furthermore, we also have confirmation that the actor who played Brenner, Matthew Modine will be returning to the show this season. He could very well just be there for some minor flashback scenes involving El’s time at the Hawkins National Laboratory and nothing more. We don’t think so though because of one of the major reason: Papa. The second to last episode of the season is called “Papa”. Now, there are only two people El has called Papa thus far and they are Brenner and Hopper.

There’s a possibility that the reason why the episode is named “Papa” is because it’s the one in which El finally gets to reunite with Hopper, or at least one heavily focused on their relationship. That being said, it doesn’t quite feel right that the set up to the season finale revolves around a reveal we already know. Keep in mind that this season is split up into two volumes. So, it’s more likely that we’ll see Hopper and El be reunited in one of the episodes’ of the first volume. A more exciting twist near the end of season finale would be the major reveal that Vecna is actually El’s first Papa all along, Brenner.

Brenner always did wish to harness the power of the Upside-Down for his own ends and he is the man who has done the most to hurt El and her friends. Like his “Dungeons” counterpart, Brenner could have “died” in the first season and be reborn as as god within the realm of the Upside-Down. This season draws heavily from the “Nightmare” films with Vecna meant to be seen as a sort of Freddy Krueger-like monster. What bigger boogeyman could there be for El than the man who experimented on and tortured her for years?

Good news, “Stranger Things” fans, Netflix has already renewed the series for a fifth season! The Duffer Brothers have announced that it would be the show’s final season as well. Will Vecna live long enough to appear in the show’s final season? The answer: probably yes. The Mind Flayer was the main antagonist throughout both the second and third season of the show. So unless another big bad is hidden in the background, Vecna seems set to be El, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas and Max’s final foe. Still, there’s only one way to find out though.

Be sure to tune in for the first volume of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” Season 4, Vol.1 on the 27th May and for Vol.2 on 1st July!

This article is a product of speculation based on publicly disclosed information released by the Duffer Brothers and Netflix.


Giveaway: Win Passes To Celebrate New Year’s Eve Party At Zouk Genting

Do you hear that? It’s Zouk Genting calling out to all you clubbers out there.

It ain’t even Christmas yet, but plans are already being made on where to celebrate the countdown to 2019. Ring in the New Year on 31st December by joining the ultimate party at Zouk Genting, 6,000 feet above sea level in the clouds.

Zouk Genting recently made its debut in Resorts World Genting. This new attraction has no doubt raise the bar for nightlife entertainment regardless if you’re residing in Malaysia or here for a visit.

Upon entering the venue, you’d notice funky European arts on all walls. These arresting series of street-flavoured artwork were curated by Singaporean art consultants The Artling, which include a series of neon graffiti-inspired murals.

The venue – which equals in size to Zouk Singapore – has 3 bars, 30 tables and 2 private rooms. Even when the lights go down, party-goers can still see the stage lights illuminate the club with rhythmic lasers and strobes. (Design company LEDs Control is known for staging many festivals and massive nightclub brands like Amnesia and Space Ibiza).

For the upcoming New Year’s Eve party, special guest DJ Che Molly from Zouk Singapore will be turning the heat up with EDM, her own favourite mixes, and underground sounds of House and Techno.

We’re giving out 10 passes (only valid for the New Year’s Eve party) to Zouk Genting to 5 lucky winners. You’ll be one of the first ones to experience this brand new club. Each winner will get a complimentary free drink. For those that don’t know, Zouk Genting is open from 11pm till 5am, on Fridays and Saturdays.

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(UPDATE) #GotG: Marvel’s First Official Dancing Groot Toy From Funko!

Finally, a real cure for your post “Guardians of the Galaxy” Syndrome has been found! Soon, you will be able to get the first official Guardians of the Galaxy “Dancing Groot” toy as Funko Toys is adding it to their bobble-heads collection.

And we swear, we heard Marvel fans across the world collectively screaming in unison at the moment Ryan Penagos, Executive Editorial Director of Marvel Digital Media made the announcement on Twitter!

It’s real! The first official Dancing Groot toy, from the amazing folks at @OriginalFunko! #GuardiansOfTheGalaxy pic.twitter.com/I5xNdgE0H8

— Ryan Penagos (@AgentM) August 22, 2014

Earlier in July, Funko Toys released 86 exclusive Pop! figures at San Diego Comic-Con 2014, which includes the SDCC Rocket Racoon toy and Marvel’s Mystery Mini sets. Because plenty of positive responses were garnered from the scene of baby Groot dancing to Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back”, there’s an increasing demand from both Marvel and Funko fans to release the potted baby dancing Groot toy.

The demand for the potted baby Groot toy was so high that even Penagos himself said in a tweet that the studio has been discussing about it for months before the film was released! Thus, it came as no surprise to some people after he made the announcement of the first official Dancing Groot toy from Funko. No info has been released about its release date yet but the new toy will be made available in Funko‘s retail stores.

And unfortunately, the new toy might not be able to dance as good as the one in the scene:

But hey, at least you can imagine him dancing to Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” while you bobble his head.

Marvel fans, it’s time to make your way to Entertainment Earth (or your local comic book store/toy store) now because Dancing Groot toy is now available for pre-order! It was reported that the toy will be released with a retail price of $9.99. The exact date has not been revealed yet but it is scheduled to be released in December 2014, just in time for Christmas!


Monsta X: Thoughts On The Release Of 3rd LP, “Fatal Love”

Worldwide phenomenon, Monsta X, have officially released their 3rd full-length album, “Fatal Love”, this week. Accompanying this release is the music video for their focus track, “Love Killa”. While still showcasing their signature style, Monsta X has reinterpreted and expanded their musical approach throughout this album.

Bringing their talents to the next level, their story, which has been condensed over the past six years, is meant to give you a feeling of thrill as if you’re solving a mystery. While the past albums mainly drew keywords of empathy and consolation, this album is going to show the deadly temptation of a man; along with a thriller movie-esque storyline.

“Love Killa” conveys the strong desire and temptation over a loved one, to the extent that they would give up everything to get one’s love. In the music video, the members turn into six cruel and beautiful “Love Killa’s,” looking to steal your attention. The visuals reinterpret killer characters in a movie, as Monsta X’s own mise-en-scene, and shows off aspects of love such as addiction, love, and deviation through its image of light and darkness.

Consisting of ten tracks, the members have expanded their musical territory by participating in composing, producing, and songwriting; showcasing the musical growth of Monsta X as a whole. Ranging from R&B, Latin-infused Pop, Hip-Hop, Future Bass, EDM, Pop, Swedish, American and South-American music styles; there’s a song for everyone on this album.

Rapper Joohoney self-composed tracks “BEASTMODE” and “Stand Together,” while Rapper I.M self-composed the track “NIGHT VIEW.” They both also took part in the writing process for seven of the ten tracks. Hyungwon, who is also active as DJ H.ONE, participated in producing the lyrics and composing for the first time since his debut on the track “NOBODY ELSE.”

Korean solo-artist, Eric Nam, joined forces with Joohoney and I.M for the songwriting and composing of track number six, “BEASTMODE.” With lyrics such as “Let’s all be in a ‘BEAST MODE’ to fight back from this harsh world. Let’s bring out our instinct and let’s not give up,” this song is meant to encourage listeners to fight back from this harsh world. It’s a message of hope and passion for the ones who are living a passive life, without any passion or willingness.

The members also wanted to deliver a specific message to their fans, MONBEBE, that they’ve been doing well and will never give up on their dreams. Let’s turn on the ‘BEAST MODE’ to achieve all the things we’ve been fighting for. “The track was made with the thought that it’s time for us to give away the positive energy and to make them feel proud,” Joohoney states.

Enjoy the latest visual from Monsta X here:

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Frank Ocean Announces New Album, Due Out In July

The “Thinking Bout You” R&B crooner has been awfully quiet since the release of his album “Channel Orange” in 2012, but the long-awaited follow-up is apparently coming very soon. On Monday (April 6th), Ocean posted a picture to his Tumblr that got people talking.

The picture was an image of himself looking down at stacks of magazines called “Boys Don’t Cry,” and along with that picture, he wrote, “I got two versions. I got twooo versions…”

Ocean also included the hashtags: #ISSUE1 #ALBUM3 #JULY2015 #BOYSDONTCRY on the post that showed up on the front page of his Tumblr account.

Of course, this posting had everyone wondering what it could mean, fortunately, a rep of Ocean confirmed to Billboard that a new album and a publication of Ocean’s own are due in July. As of now, no further details have been revealed, but at least this tease gives us something to be excited about.

We’ll leave you for now with “Pyramids” by Frank Ocean.


“Murdered” Sweeps BMW Shorties 2012

“Murdered” by Chua Dick Woei was announced as the winner of the 6th edition of the annual BMW Shorties Short Film competition.

His winning entry emerged ahead of 91 other submissions to receive the annual BMW Shorties Grand Prize in the form of a RM 75,000 production grant.

The film is a 15-minute short based on the experiences of a scriptwriter’s unconventional path to the creative process and it’s also the first short film in the history of the BMW Shorties competition to be nominated and awarded six of the supporting award categories including:

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Aside from this stunning sweepstake at the awards night, the BMW Shorties 2012 jury also awarded “Muthal Naal Indru”, a short film by Jagatesh Lechumanan, a special “Honourable Mention” award for its portrayal of the life of a young prostitute played by Jaya Ganason who also received this year’s award for Best Actress.

Completing this year’s line-up of awards was M. Suresh for the short film “Das” which was the recipient of the People’s Choice Award, an award category selected entirely through public voting via the BMW Shorties website.

The over five minute long short film discusses the consequences of a school boy who discovers a gun and the accidentally shoots a pregnant lady at a night market.

The full lists of award winners for the BMW Shorties 2012 are:

Entries for the BMW Shorties 2012 top 10 finalists’ as well as nominees for other supporting award categories can be viewed online at the BMW Shorties website. Alternatively, you could also hit up the BMW Shorties Facebook page for more information.


Our Picks Of This Week’s Fashion Drops You Gotta Cop!

With CNY being literally just 2 days away, we’re sure some of you still have yet to get some new clothes for the festive season!

It can be a hassle to try to find the right fit for the next reunion dinner. You wanna dress in festive colours, yet you also wanna look snatched in every group photo you’re in! To save you some time, here are some new dope drops that you should add to your CNY drip!

You can never go wrong with a pair of quality boots! The two worlds have once again collided, Stüssy and Timberland are back with a new collaboration – a spin on the World Hiker Boot. The hiking boot features a full GORE-TEX waterproof upper in premium leather and is matched with a Vibram rubber outsole. Two colorways, black and wheat, are offered, each with two additional sets of contrasting laces and retailing at RM1,369.

Timberland x Stüssy is available at Timberland Pavilion (Lot 5.08.01) and Showroom.

Building upon the brand’s spirit of adventure, Burberry reveals its Year of the Rabbit 2023 campaign, taking a leap into the unknown. Featuring Qi Xi, Shi Pengyuan and sportswoman Zhao Lina, the eyewear campaign is captured by video director Zika Liu. The collection includes classic optical framed and bold oversized sunglasses that feature textural temples referencing the Burberry Check – inspired by the signature Lola bag. For sunglasses, a chain strap is also detailed with the collection’s Monogram motif.

Take a look at the limited-edition collection of Burberry Eyewear at their official site.

Perfect for the festive season, Monki has delivered a colourful and celebratory collection! Featuring attention-grabbing red and pink, the collection includes puff-sleeve cardigans, soft sweatshirts, cute vests and button-up blouses for a comfy-casual outfit. For a more dressed up look, the plaid pattern V-neck dress, mini skirt and trousers are also great options for a fun look. You can expect a Lunar New Year collection filled with charming on-trend pieces, ready to be mixed and matched for your festive needs!

The collection is available in-store and online at ZALORA.

When it comes to making a statement, we certainly can’t leave out Pandora’s new festive pieces. In celebration of Chinese New Year, the collection is inspired by iconic symbols that represent happiness, good fortune and prosperity. From festive-inspired charms to sparkling bracelets, discover the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac cycle, the embodiment of kindness, courage, peace and a dash of luck.

Take a look at the full collection here.

Carolina Herrera’s Spring/Summer 2023 Eyewear collection embodies a feminine and joyful aesthetic. The glamorous silhouettes are embellished with Swarovsky crystal, recalling sparkling constellations; while other sophisticated styles are decorated with subtle detail in Crystal Fabric, adding a precious touch. The easy-to-wear designs feature the iconic stripes pattern interpreted as a detail on the top or on the profiles or new chess-board color-block elements with the iconic monogram on the temples, for a unique feeling.

The collection includes a complete offer of sunglasses and optical frames, comprising proposals in acetate and metal or perfect combinations of both materials, ranging from squared to butterfly or cat-eye shapes, personalized by a shiny tag with the iconic red monogram logo or by a round 3D insert with monogram on the temple tips.

Take a look at the full collection at Carolina Herrera’s official site.

For this festive season, Cotton On has collaborated with Warner Bros. for an ear-risistable collection featuring Looney Tunes’ iconic rabbit – Bugs Bunny! The women’s collection features comfy and stylish pieces great for a chill CNY look. The men’s collection on the other hand, features traditional Lunar New Year patterns with Bugs Bunny graphics to create a zany contrast of modern and traditional. But the Lucky Red Edit doesn’t stop at outerwear, as Cotton On BODY has introduced the So Soft Undies in the luckiest colour – red – with Hello Kitty and red cherry prints to match!

The Cotton On January ‘23 collection is available at cottonon.com and Cotton On stores.

TUMI continues to merge world-class design with cutting-edge innovation in its Spring 2023 collection, with new additions to the iconic Alpha Bravo Collection, a relaunch of the bestselling Voyageur Collection, the minimalist Harrison Collection and the TUMI McLaren 60th Anniversary Collection.

The iconic Alpha Bravo collection stays true to its utilitarian roots with rugged styling and unmatched durability. The key pieces this season include the Navigation Backpack, Platoon Sling, and the Compass Crossbody. The relaunched women’s Voyager collection has also been redesigned to focus on versatility and enhanced functionality, allowing clients to personalize their bags with TUMI+ travel accessories like the Charm Pouch, Small Organizer, Modular Accessory Pouch, and more.

The minimalist Harrison collection includes the  William Backpack, Bradner Backpack and Osborn Roll Top Backpack, all perfect for compact and lightweight everyday use, while best-sellers like Gregory Sling offer a modern take on the classic sling. The TUMI | McLaren 60th Anniversary Collection is another highlight for the Spring 2023 season, flourishing with new seasonal pieces like the Torque Sling, Velocity Backpack and Aero International Expandable 4 Wheeled Carry-On.

Shop the full Spring 2023 collection via TUMI.com and at your nearest TUMI store.

Kate Spade rings in the Year of the Rabbit with a capsule collection specially minted for the celebration by kate spade new york. The collection includes a Small Chain Faux Fur Purple Rabbit Bucket Bag and a Manhattan Year of The Rabbit Embellished Toile Floral Jacquard Small Tote Bag. The iconic Manhattan Tote is in an inspired exclusive toile pattern with small bunnies subtly featured in the print. Accessories for the season include items for those who are looking for rabbit silhouette jewellery, such as the Year of the Rabbit Drop Earrings, the Year of the Rabbit Studs and the Year of the Rabbit Huggies.

The Lunar New Year capsule collection is now available at Kate Spade New York stores.

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Jessica Henwick Tells Simu Liu The Real Reason She Turned Down “Shang-Chi” For “The Matrix”

Jessica Henwick and Simu Liu could’ve played brother and sister in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”. Instead, the role of of Xu Xialing eventually went to Meng’er Zhang.

The 29-year-old actress was given an ultimatum where she had to either choose to audition for either Marvel Studios or Warner Bros. – she went with the latter. “It was a red/ blue pill moment for me,” she was quoted as saying.

In speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Jessica shared that she wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her “Iron Fist” character Colleen Wing. “If I did [“Shang-Chi”], I would actually put Colleen to bed, ”she told the publication. “It wasn’t the main factor, but it certainly came into the conversation. I love Colleen. She changed my life. Of course, if I had the opportunity to see her again, I would, but I don’t know how it probably is.”

Of course, THR could be wrong in their speculation since director Destin Daniel Cretton said he wanted a native mandarin speaker for the sister role. It could also be another role they ended up cutting. But now that the forbidden door is open, Jessica could always return as Colleen in “Shang-Chi 2”. After seeing Charlie Cox reprising his role as Matt Murdock/Daredevil in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin in “Hawkeye”, the possibilities are endless.

Besides the ultimatum, Jessica also told Simu what other factors that went into her decision-making. The fact that the Marvel project was shrouded in secrecy left too big of a question mark for the British Chinese actress.

You can catch Jessica as the captain of a “ragtag” crew – Bugs- in “The Matrix Resurrections”, which is available in movie theaters and on HBO Max.


Enjoy Up To 83% Off On Various Products At A&S Concept Store

A&S Concept Store and Service Centre has recently reopened with a brand new DC Comics theme that would thrill any superhero fan.

Located at A1.01.05 Sunway GEO Avenue, DC Comics fans will be greeted with life-size Batman and Wonder Woman figurines upon entering the store. What more, there’s currently an exciting 3-day promo going.

From 22nd – 24th April, A&S is offering up to 83% of discount on various items. Not only that, customers can also take part in free gifts giveaways and lucky draws at the store during this promotion period as well. There is a ton of consumer electronic products branded with our favourite superheroes such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman.

Gadget geeks can also find limited edition items such as A&S’ innovative WW84 Cordless Automatic Hair Curler which has been recognised and honoured by the world’s largest consumer electronic trade show CES Innovation Awards program at the concept store.

“A&S’s key vision is becoming the industry’s No.1 lifestyle electronic brand. A&S is known throughout the industry for our quality, value and service. In today’s retail environment where very little is constant and clients’ expectations are ever-evolving, one thing has remained true for A&S: there is no better way to create meaningful connections with clients than through personalised experiences and a customised approach”, said YC Ng, Chief Executive Officer of A&S Distribution Sdn. Bhd.


#MacGyver: Movie Reboot Confirmed To Be In The Works By Lionsgate

We’ve known for a while now that popular 80s TV series MacGyver will be making a comeback thanks to CBS Malaysian-born filmmaker James Wan. But never would we, in our wildest dreams, have ever expected a movie too!

But in just case you don’t know who/what MacGyver is, allow us to introduce you.

MacGyver is an American action-adventure TV series created by Lee David Zlotoff, which ran for 7 seasons on ABC in the US and various other networks abroad from 1985 to 1992. The show follows secret agent Angus MacGyver (played by Richard Dean Anderson) who works as a troubleshooter for the fictional Phoenix Foundation in Los Angeles and as an agent for a fictional United States government agency, the Department of External Services (DXS).

Educated as a scientist, MacGyver served as a Bomb Team Technician/EOD during the Vietnam War (“Countdown”). Resourceful and possessed of an encyclopedic knowledge of the physical sciences, he solves complex problems by making things out of ordinary objects, along with his ever-present Swiss Army knife. He prefers non-violent resolutions and prefers not to handle a gun.

The TV reboot will feature a 10-years younger protagonist. Twentysomething Angus MacGyver gets recruited into the clandestine organisation from the original series where he uses his knack for solving problems in unconventional ways to help prevent disasters from happening. The series is expected to chronicle how MacGyver acquired some of his famous skill sets.

Now, according to Variety, Lionsgate is developing the movie reboot. This was confirmed by Lionsgate Jon Feltheimer during Lionsgate’s earnings call with analysts over the weekend. He also said that the movie would be produced by series creator Lee David Zlotoff and Neal Moritz, producer of “The Fast and the Furious” franchise.

We don’t know anything else for now but since the show will serve as a prequel to the original TV series and since both the new show as well as the movie are going to be parked under Lionsgate, it’s safe to assume that the show and the movie will work in tandem to re-introduce Angus MacGyver to everyone.

More details will come a-rollin’ in soon, we reckon :)

Sources: The Verge, AV Club, The Escapist, The New Daily, Variety.

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Asia’s First Museum Of Illusions Officially Opens In Kuala Lumpur

There’s a new attraction in town y’all. Museum of Illusions, arguably one of the fastest growing museum chain, has found a home right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

Housing over 70 exhibits, Museum of Illusions has the largest single collection of optical illusions that will tantalise visitors to a visual and sensory experience. Feel free to laugh, scream, run, and snap loads of photos when you visit this creative space.

According to a press release, Kuala Lumpur is the 7th Museum of Illusions since the maiden attraction originated in Zagreb, Croatia (by inventor Nikola Tesla) back in 2015. Another 7 museums are expected to debut by the end of the year. They include destinations like New York, Berlin, Dubai, and Toronto.

Illusions here vary from one to another. One of the highlights is the Vortex Tunnel where it tricks the brain that you’re not walking on a solid ground while passing through a rotating cylinder. There is also a gravity-defying slanted room and visual illusions (where a person shrinks while another grows in size).

What’s interesting about Museum of Illusions is that it challenges the mind at every step and turn. “The way our brain works is extremely complex, we don’t merely perceive reality as we or feel it. What our brain does is gather information from each of our senses, combining and enhancing some details while ignoring others,” said Museum director Azizul Aznan.

He added, “With each of our exhibits, we intentionally alter this information and in doing so we alter your perception of reality in surprising, intriguing, and fun ways. This museum is something you truly need to experience first-hand.”

The details to Museum of Illusions are as follows:

For more information, visit their official website here.


9 Fun Facts About Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio In Spider-Man: Far From Home

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to conclude Phase 3 with “Spider-Man: Far From Home” this coming July. Besides seeing our favourite characters again, the Spidey sequel will also introduce viewers to a new character: Mysterio.

Played by Jake Gyllenhaal, Mysterio has been an establish character in the Spiderverse and has a complicated comic book history. So who the hell is Quentin Beck and his alter-ego Mysterio? If you don’t mind some minor spoilers, let’s dive into some fun facts.

Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, Mysterio is known as one of the iconic Spider-Man villains. Over the years, Mysterio has targeted Spider-Man alone and also with the Sinister Six. The original incarnation of the Sinister Six included Vulture, Dr. Octopus, Kraven the Hunter, Electro, and Sandman.

Quentin Beck was originally a struggling special effects artist and wannabe actor. It wasn’t until he realised that his skills could be used to gain profit that he fully embraced his villainous alter ego.

Director Jon Watts pointed out that Gyllenhaal’s Quentin Beck was inspired by the 1964 comic, “The Amazing Spider-Man #13”, which sees the villain framing the web-slinger while passing off as a hero.

“Mysterio enters the comic as a hero. So, I always took it right back to the source material and what made that character exciting initially. But in terms of how we ended up with Mysterio in the first place, I mean, I wanted to put a character on screen that we hadn’t seen before,” the filmmaker said.

“Of the big, iconic villains, Mysterio was the one who jumped to the top. Because of who he is, what he may-or-may-not be able to do, it’s really opened up a lot of possibilities for the kind of story we can tell with him,” Watts was quoted as saying, affirming that Mysterio’s aptitude for special effects and mystery made him a very compelling character to focus on.

The trailer wants us to believe that Mysterio is a good guy and an ally to Peter Parker. Seeing as how the character has always been a perpetual thorn to Peter in the Marvel franchise, it’s likely that he’s fooling the young superhero.

Mysterio has a distinct look: the ribbed green suit, billowing purple cape, gold gauntlets that supports him, but it’s the iconic mirrored fishbowl helmet (to disguise his face and voice) that makes this character instantly recognisable. Many fans were skeptical about Marvel Studios bringing the style on the big screen. Thankfully, we were all wrong in that.

According to producer Eric Carroll, “Spider-Man: Far From Home” wasn’t supposed to feature much of Mysterio’s suit. It’s a good thing Gyllenhaal thought otherwise. Carroll recalled:

“We were just assuming – since we did end up building a fully practical costume – that our actor wouldn’t want to spend time in it, and then we were like, to make sure we get the caliber actor we want for this, we made it clear, ‘we won’t make you wear this stuff when you don’t have to’. So on and so forth. So, for example, this is a scene — this is a briefing scene. We had said, ‘you can just look cool. You can just look like a cool mercenary man. You can have your t-shirt on, leather jacket and jeans’. And he was like, ‘Can I be in the costume? I really feel the character, I get it’. So, not only is this costume practical, but he wears it everywhere it makes sense to wear it. So we think this looks amazing. We’re super excited about bringing him to the screen.”

Quentin Beck has no real superpowers, but his vast knowledge in special effects trickery and illusions makes him a deadly opponent. The villain is known to pull up “elaborate gags involving smoke machines, stage magic, and even robotics” during attacks. His skills in hypnotism also allows him to toy with victim’s minds – feeding them all sorts of wild lies with elaborate gimmicks.

The answer is no. Although his circular shield-like conjurations and triangles remind us of the Sorcerer Supreme’s abilities, like we said, Mysterio is no magic user. It’s probably not far-fetch to assume that he may have seen footage of the recent New York battle from  “Avengers: Infinity War” and is emulating Doctor Strange.

We are… not quite sure on this. The trailer revealed that Nick Fury brings in Spider-Man to help take down the new threat known as the Elementals. Some suspect that the Elementals may be creations of Mysterio. These villains each posses the power to wield the natural elemental forces. They are:

“Spider-Man: Far From Home” is set to swing into theatres in July 2019.

Sources: We Got This Covered, Games Radar, Screen Rant.

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The Ice Age Is Falling Uh, Drifting Apart!

Produced by Blue Sky Studios and distributed by 20th Century Fox for the fourth time around, the “Ice Age” series returns to the silver screen!

Can you believe that it has been ten whole years since the release of the original Ice Age? But here’s what sets it apart – this installment will be the second Ice Age flick to utilize Digital 3D. More importantly, this will be the first Ice Age film to be shot in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio (widescreen cinema standard).

We know most of you have been following the film closely from the original, to “Ice Age 2: The Meltdown”, to “Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs”, so this one’s not to be missed!

Besides, where else can you pack a little prehistoric lesson filled with funnies?

In “Ice Age 4: Continental Drift”, the animals embark upon another adventure after their continent is set adrift. So, in the wake up these continental cataclysm upheavals, Sid reunites with his cantankerous Granny, and the herd encounters a ragtag menagerie of seafaring pirates determined to stop them from returning home:

[youtube id=”hzixp8s4pyg” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Will your favourite ice age animals, Manny, Diego, and Sid make it?

The more pressing question is, will Scrat’s (that darn squirrel) nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn, which he’s been after since the dawn of time, finally come to an end?

Find out when Ice Age 4: Continental Drift is released at a cinema near you on the 13th July 2012 (Friday).

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


To Check Out Or Not? Your Biggest MySejahtera Woes Resolved!

With the latest developments in the MySejahtera application that is supposed to make our lives easier, some features end up fuelling everyone’s curiosity due to the complications that arise from it. One such feature would be the “check out” feature on the application. This feature would only appear after checking-in to a specific location.

For instance, if you have checked into Mall A using your MySejahtera application, automatically, a check out option will be displayed on your application. You would then be required to tap that option upon leaving.

Theoretically, that might be viable but in practice, it’s just plain confusing. The rationale of this “check out” option would be to make the process of contact tracing easier but it just makes the lives of the users difficult. Many frustrated users would end up not checking out of the location.

Technically, according to the application, they would be deemed to have spent the night at the location. Jokes aside, here’s the solution to this according to the Data Head of the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC), Dr Mahesh Appannan – before the check out option was made available to the users, the check-in function was used to put an ‘upper bound’ for the duration of individuals in a specific location.

Picture this: If a person were to check-into a restaurant X at 7pm, and restaurant Y at 8pm, the individual would be at restaurant X for 1 hour. If the check-in was deemed to be outlying (meaning, if you were to leave the location, head straight home, and only leave home the following day), then the system detects this as an outlier and would then use the average duration spent — based on the location, time and demographic).

According to Dr Mahesh, this average is very stable as it was produced from billions of check-ins nationwide. Despite the introduction of the new method of checking in, it is important to note that the same thing occurs when you don’t check out from a specific location.

The average time spent would be used to solve any issues that arise from the check-out feature.  Adding on, he said, “We really encourage individuals to check-out after leaving a premise. It enables us to help you, as a user. But, if you forget about it, fret not! We would not assume that you’ve spent the night at your workplace or at the restaurant.”

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5 Disturbing Moments In Disney Animated Films You’ll Never See Adapted To Live-Action

Long before Disney was dishing out comic-book films and Star Wars spin-offs, the company was best known for its stellar 2D-animated classics. All you 90s and 2000s kids will surely remember such hits as “The Lion King”, “Mulan”, “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast”. Even though they were marketed towards kids, we always knew there was a special charm and magic to them. Something that adults could look back to one day and remember fondly. Well, there were also some really disturbing and strange moments in Disney’s classic animated films. The scenes that made you rewind the tape or disc just to make sure what you heard and saw was right.

With Disney going strong with their live-action adaptions and “The Little Mermaid” making big waves in theatres, we figured now might be a fun time to remind us all of some of Disney’s darker times. Here are some of the most disturbing moments in Disney’s animated films that you will never see adapted for live-action!

We’re kicking off this list with one of the most underrated animated films in Disney’s catalogue, “Tarzan”. Before we had Tony Stark blasting his way through tanks or the Mandalorian going on adventures, Disney was trying to capture the young male demographics with adventure films like “Hercules” and “Treasure Planet”. For the most part, they were great stuff and were given the same level of detail and care as the princess films. That being said, they were allowed to get away with doing some really, really dark things.

As kids growing up, we remember watching some really intense scenes in the film. Especially the ones involving Sabor, that demonic-ass leopard, leaving a trail of blood in her path. The one that takes the cake for us though was the way Clayton met his demise at the end. In a crazed frenzy to free himself from the vines around him to kill Tarzan, Clayton begins slicing them like a man possessed. Tarzan tries to warn him as a vine wrapped around his neck tightens but it’s too late. He plummets down with the vine around him as he lets out a blood-curdling scream. The audience sees only the silhouette of his hung corpse. Yeah…that death’s a little too hardcore for today’s kids.

Man, oh man, how did they ever get this film out? Don’t get us wrong, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is a wonderful, animated epic with memorable characters and amazing songs. It’s just the whole premise and context surrounding the film are so insanely adult and disturbing. There is no shortage of creepy scenes in the film. From the scary statues in the film’s prologue to the insanely skeevy Claude Frollo perving on Esmeralda in this weird sexually-repressed way (this totally went over our heads when we were kids). Oh, and the whole systemic persecution of a racial minority angle was almost pretty heavy for a children’s animated film.

The one that forever scarred us was the very cruel and frankly graphic humiliation of Quasimodo at the hands of the townspeople and guards. Just as he’s celebrated as the King of Fools for a day and he’s on top of the world, the whole crowd turns on him. They strap him down like some animal and begin pelting him with rotten fruit as they jeer and mock him. All because he was born disabled. Given today’s more politically aware audience, a lot of people might be triggered by the whole scene in live-action. Even now, we still find it very disturbing.

All you 2000s kids out there will no doubt remember Disney’s epic “Atlantis: The Lost Empire”. An animated film that was surprisingly adult-orientated. The protagonist Milo is an adult researcher who joins a crack team of misfits and mercenaries to uncover the secret kingdom of Atlantis. Upon his discovery, he immediately forms a bond with the princess of the kingdom, Kida. The mercenaries led by Commander Rourke betray Milo and seek to turn Kida who wields the powers of a god through Atlantean crystals into an energy source. Look, it’s all really awesome and you should check it out for yourself!

So, it’s clear that “Atlantis” is a lot more mature than the average Disney film. That being said, there’s one scene that still catches us off-guard and shocks us to this day: Rourke’s horrible transformation into a crystal monster. At some point, Rourke tries to murder Milo with an axe on top of a metal container carrying Kida. Milo manages to stab Rourke with a piece of glass imbued with Kida’s crystal powers, infecting him and turning him into this horrid crystal statue. Milo and us breathe a sigh of relief, only to be jump-scared by Rourke springing to life as the creature. Seriously, that was some horror movie stuff right there and if Disney ever adapts the film for live-action, we’re fairly certain they’ll skip the body horror part of this.

1937’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was a landmark film for Disney that would forever mark the company as a juggernaut within the animation industry. Even now, its immaculate hand-drawn 2D animated sequences still dazzle us and it has stood the test of time. It also sticks out to us for other reasons as well, it was scary as all hell! Imagine you’re an 8-year-old kid and the first fully animated film you saw was the story of an evil stepmother trying to kill her kid which forces her to run through a haunted forest. That whole sequence through the woods was masterfully done by the way!

The film does take a lighter tone when she finds refuge and safety with the kindly seven dwarfs. She becomes a sort of mother to them and they value her friendship. Then, it all goes south when the Evil Queen disguises herself as a hideous, cackling crone. Those eyes are honestly what did it for us. The way they swell to size with ghastly glee every time she encounters Snow White. Disney will probably tone down her horrific transformation to not come off as ageist or insensitive to the elderly. However, we’ll always remember that the Evil Witch from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” as the original Disney nightmare fuel.

In 1940, Disney created an animated musical anthology film called “Fantasia”. The purpose of it was to pair classical musical themes like “The Nutcracker Suite” and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” with animated scenes in an effort to bring these classics to life. Most of the segments in the film were mostly light-hearted, silly and fun…but then went into a very, very dark place. We’re talking about the infamous “Night on Bald Mountain” scene.

It opens with the demon Chernabog rising out of Bald Mountain to summon up the demons and ghosts of a sleepy town to participate in what can only be described as a nightmarish ceremony of dance and death. The sequence includes disturbingly vivid scenes of demons dancing before a fire and unclothed bare-breasted harpies flying in the wind. All while the dark lord of ceremonies presides over it. Like honestly, what the hell was the animation team smoking when they made this? There have been attempts to adapt “Night on Bald Mountain” for the big screen but none came to pass. Once was enough apparently.


#MAS: Airline Will No Longer Fly To Frankfurt, Krabi, & More

MAS’ parent company Khazanah Nasional Bhd said the airline had taken steps to suspend loss-making routes and further rationalisation was being considered.

As such, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will cancel 3 more routes as it rationalises its network. Last week, the airlines suspended flights to Frankfurt and in the coming weeks, it will also stop flying to Kunming (China), Krabi (Thailand), and Cochin (India) as they are seen as unprofitable routes.

MAS’ Krabi route is fairly new, having just launched last year. Its first flight to Krabi departed from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in February 2014. The 4 times weekly flights to Krabi operated via MH770 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with its flight frequency increased about a month later.

MAS Bhd, which will be a full-fledged international carrier and not a regional airline as planned earlier, will take over MAS operations from 1st Sept.

Khazanah said the new airline’s network would serve Asean, China, India, and domestic markets, with services to key international destinations in Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Saudi Arabia.

The network would also have an expanded reach into Africa, the US and Europe via potential partnerships that were being explored.

In other news, just a few days ago, BBC quoted MAS’ new chief executive Christoph Mueller as saying:

We are technically bankrupt. The decline of performance started long before the tragic events of 2014.

On Monday (1st June), MAS terminated the services of its entire 20,000 staff, who will leave in stages over the next few months. Sources said the first batch of nearly 1,000 staff left yesterday and 4,000 others were expected to leave by the end of August.

In March last year, flight MH370 disappeared with 239 passengers and crew aboard, and the plane is still missing. 4 months later, flight MH17 was shot down by a suspected ground-to-air missile while in Ukrainian airspace, with the loss of 298 passengers and crew.

The 2 disasters proved to be the final straw for the already struggling business, which had reported losses for several years as a result of strong regional competition.

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#TeaIsOurLife: Loob Holding Rebrands Chatime Malaysia As Tealive

Say goodbye to Chatime, and hello to Tealive everyone!

After a messy divorce from Taiwan-based La Kaffa International, Bryan Loo’s company, Loob Holding, is ready to forge ahead with its new brand, Tealive.

We initially thought that “Tea Is Our Life”, which is the name of their Facebook page, was their new name. As it turns out, the brand is simply called, Tealive. So how did the new name came about?

Loo explained, “We wanted a new name that not only would appeal to Malaysians, but across the other regions and the whole world. So we felt like we had to find a very good name; and it had to be different from Chatime. We started with over 300 names and over three days, we shortlisted it down to 30 names and then the last one. In the end, we wanted a name that was simple and easy to digest no matter who you are.”

He continued, “While shortlisting, we felt that we exceptionally liked the names that had different pronunciations. People used to pronounce Chatime in so many different ways and it stirred conversation. So we wanted the same spirit; and that’s how we landed on the name Tealive (live pronounced similar to ‘a live show’). Some people could pronounce it tea-live (as in live at home) but the important thing is the underlying meaning to it – we want to bring a new life to tea.”

With so many tea base drinks already in the market, how will Loob Holding differentiate Tealive from Chatime? “Our mission is totally different – we want to be the brand that protects the weak and isn’t afraid of the strong; but also the brand that embraces changes. On the other side, with our hands untied, I believe that over the next quarters there is going to be a lot of innovation in terms of products, which we couldn’t do before,” said the CEO.

“When we used to collaborate with local brands, we were served warning letters; so moving forward that’s something we don’t have to worry about, so we can be innovative. I would also like to establish a regional R&D centre to come up with more creative drinks that will excite the market,” he shared.

“Also, we’re looking to carry on with our aggressive expansion and move into other regions. We were already planning to do that with the previous brand, but now we get to do it with Tealive,” Loo added.

In celebration of the launch, Tealive is offering a Buy 1, Free 1 promotion for any drink, starting from tomorrow onwards (Saturday, 18th February) till next Wednesday (22nd February).

To find out the latest on Tealive, visit their Facebook page here.