Hype’s Exclusive: Vinai Brought The Bounce To Zouk KL’s Dawn Of Dead

Halloween is probably the only time in the year that people can dress up in costumes, slew on the funkiest or scariest makeup and not receive weird stares from others for doing so. On Halloween, almost, if not everyone, comes out to play and personally, we love the spirit and energy that we get every Halloween.

This year, Halloween fell on a Friday which only meant one thing – double the parties!

Taking note of that fact, Zouk Club KL treated clubbers and fans by throwing its “Dawn of Dead” party on November 1st (Saturday) instead of a party on the actual Halloween night. Sticking to its theme, “Dawn of Dead”, Zouk Club KL was decorated with some of the goriest props. From mummies, to chopped up bloody limbs, to a scary hospital scene, Zouk Club KL even had people dressed up in full costumes walking around “traumatising” clubbers.

Just walking into Zouk Club Kl’s compound that night was more than enough to give people the eerie feeling − all in good Halloween fun and spirit. Apart from it’s beautifully gory and creepy set up and decorations, Zouk Club KL also treated partygoers to free cotton candy and popcorn. A makeup booth was also available for those who wanted to get their face painted for free and for those who left the house with no costume or makeup on.

Truly embracing and joining in the spirit and fun of Halloween, Zouk Club KL’s resident DJs were also seen dressed in full costumes! We must say, it was beyond cool. The night saw all 3 participating rooms: Mainroom, Phuture, and Velvet jam packed! Packed to the point that there was barely any space to walk around, let alone dance – but that stopped no one as people continued to party on.

Adding to the fun, Zouk Club KL brought Italian brothers and DJ duo Vinai down for the party! The boys, known for their hit single “Bounce Generation” and collaborations with DVVBS on “Raveology” and R3hab on “How We Party”, took over the console at Mainroom at about 1am and played a 2-hour long set.

From playing their most popular tracks to their renditions of some of everyone’s most loved EDM bangers, Vinai sure showed Zouk Club KL how they f*cking party. Bringing the bounce to life, Vinai got everyone dancing and cheering for them before ending their set with a big shoutout to their Malaysian fans. The party then continued as Zouk’s all-star resident DJs took over the console to give partygoers just what they needed – a couple more hours of fun before calling it a night!

Of course, our buddies from Zouk Club KL had a little treat in store for us that Saturday night. Before all the craziness took place, we managed to catch up with Andrea and Alessandro Vinai to find out what they’ve been up to and if they were excited to be here in Kuala Lumpur.

Hi guys, how’s it going? How did you guys first get into music and production together?

Alessandro: Hi! Good. How are you? Well, we’re brothers so it’s really good because we live together, we sleep in the same room, produce in the same room, spend almost all our free time in the same room. So it’s really good because we feed off each other’s good vibes and I think that’s the key for having good teamwork. It’s not easy to find a good team, there are a lot of DJs who start but they stop after a while because they don’t feel good together but we’re still feeling good. Haha.

I’m good, thanks! And what made you get into production?

Who are some of your musical influences?

Alessandro: Hmm…We don’t really have any. I mean the thing is, we don’t have any musical guru that influences us about music production. But we do have a lot of respect for different guys, and I’m talking about live performers as compared to music production. I think we need to separate live performers and music production, I mean, I think it’s good to have some to look up to when it comes to music production but you might just end up copying the guy. But live performance, I like David Guetta. He’s the best one.

Andrea: Yeah, definitely David Guetta. He’s an artiste.

Fair enough. What are you guys working on right now? More collaborations/originals?

Andrea: We’ve got one collaboration with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. A remix for R3hab and another for David Guetta. We’re also working on our new original mix.

Alessandro: Yes, lots of stuff so stay tuned! Haha

Cool! We’ll look forward to that. What would you say has been the highlight of your year so far?

Alessandro & Andrea: Playing Tomorrowland!

Haha I love how you both answered at the same time! What do the remaining 2 months in 2014 hold for Vinai?

Alessandro: I think we’re going to be focusing more on our original mixes.

Andrea: Yeah and collaborations. Hopefully one with David Guetta. Haha.

Haha! Have you guys approached David Guetta for one?

Alessandro: Yeah, soon. I mean, we know him. We met at Tomorrowland and he’s a really nice guy. He’s a little weird but he’s nice. Haha.

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

Alessandro: Ermmm…wow, that’s a good question actually. I don’t know. They’re all so beautiful. Maybe, Megan Fox? I mean why not. Haha.

Andrea: Hmm…You really got me with this one. Haha. I don’t know. I really don’t.

Haha! Okay we’ll let Andrea get away with it this time. ;) Thanks so much guys!

Once again, big thanks to our friends from Zouk Club Kuala Lumpur for making this interview happen and for a fantastically gory and horrific Halloween night. It was just the way we liked it. Grrr!

Check out the gallery below for more pictures from “Dawn Of Dead”, Zouk Club Kuala Lumpur’s Halloween Party.

For more on Vinai, stalk them via these platforms: Website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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#Mayday: Taiwanese Rock Band To Perform In KL This October

Hey, Malaysian Mayday fans! Are y’all excited for the release of the Taiwanese rock band’s 9th studio album, aptly titled “Album No.9” (作品九號)?

Come October, the guys from Mayday (五月天) – lead vocalist Ashin (阿信), guitarists Monster (Guai Shou 怪獸) and Stone (Shi Tou 石頭), bass guitarist Masa (瑪莎) together with drummer Guan You (冠佑) – will be returning to our local shores since their previous “Nowhere” World Tour back in 2013.

Ever since the band’s Asian world tour was announced in May, many local fans noticed that our country wasn’t included in their Asia pitstops, which include Hong Kong, Taipei, China and even our neighbouring country Singapore! Due to the demands from Malaysia fans, the rockers will soon be performing in Kuala Lumpur.

With a career of almost 2 decades under their belt, Mayday has released 8 studio albums, won more than 150 awards, and has even been dubbed as “The Chinese Beatles”, as well as the “King of Concert” in China. After taking a 3-year hiatus, the 5-member band is back stronger than ever and is all-ready to deliver top-notch performance at their upcoming “Just Rock It” concert.

Brought to you by local event organiser Star Planet, the details for Mayday (五月天)’s “Just Rock It” Live in Malaysia are as follows:

Ticket prices for Mayday’s Malaysian tour leg hasn’t been announced yet, but it will soon go on sale on Star Planet’s website.


#Rio2016: Mixed Doubles Pair Secures Malaysia’s First Olympics Finals

While our Malaysian men’s doubles badminton team have successfully made their way to the Rio 2016 men’s doubles semi-finals, our other Malaysian pair, Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying are well on their way to the mixed doubles final.

The duo defeated China’s Xu Chen/Ma Jin 21-12 21-19 in the semi-final match in 45 minutes, their 3rd win in 10 meetings. It was truly a historic moment for Malaysia as it marked our country’s first ever Olympics mixed doubles final. At the very least, Peng Soon/Liu Ying have cinched an Olympic silver medal for Malaysia.

“We still can’t believe that we are in the final. We had dreamed of this but to have actually done it is an amazing feeling. We knew we had a chance as the China pair were under as much pressure as we were. We told ourselves that we had to keep focused and minimise our mistakes,” NST quoted Peng Soon as saying.

“We constantly encouraged each other as we didn’t want to fail having come so far. The final will be another challenge as we lost to the Indonesians in the group stage but we will prepare well and give it our best,” Yiu Ling added.

With our mixed doubles after the semis. So proud of them. I told them, don't be satisfied with final. GO FOR GOLD. pic.twitter.com/K2CyWkZn4U

— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj) August 15, 2016

Peng Soon/Liu Ying will go head-to-head with Indonesian pair Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir in the mixed doubles finals scheduled for Thursday (18th August) at 11:30pm Malaysian time.

Cheering you guys on from home, Peng Soon and Liu Ying! #MalaysiaBoleh :)

Sources: The Star, Khairy Jamaluddin, NST.


#Alcohol: Malaysia Plans To Raise Legal Drinking Age To 21

The minimum legal drinking age varies by country. As such, there has been a lot of debate on whether having a higher drinking age will reduce drunken drinking deaths.

In Malaysia, the official minimum drinking age for public is 18 (with licensed areas for purchase). However, in a recent report by The Malay Mail Online, the minimum age for alcohol consumption may raise to 21.

The report is based on a filing to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) today.

However, it didn’t state when the change would take place. The decision to raise the drinking age was said to be part of a strategy aiming to prohibit underage drinking and control the accessibility of alcohol to high risk groups. It also said that Malaysia plans to warn the public about the effect of alcohol products on health through additional labelling laws.

Other members of the globall trading body are invited to comment on Malaysia’s plans within the next 60 days.

Though Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country, alcohol is available nationwide. It is home to Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd and Guinness Anchor Bhd (GAB).

According to the Confederation of Malaysian Brewers Berhad, there was an 11% increase in quarterly profits for Carlsberg on Monday. Guinness Anchor Bhd is widely available and consumed by an estimated 3.5 million of the nearly 30 million population.

Despite having one of Asia’s highest excise taxes on alcohol, the alcohol consumption has been relatively steady.

Last year, Malaysia exported spirits worth USD269 million, mainly to Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand. The country also exported beer worth USD156 million, mainly to Singapore and Thailand.

What do you think of Malaysia’s plans to raise the legal drinking age? Do you think the legal drinking age should stay at 18? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.

Source: The Malay Mail Online via Reuters.

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“Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich” Review: A Shocking, Horrifying Story Of A Female Sex Trafficker & Predator

Most of the time when you hear about sexual exploitation and abuse, you expect to see the face of a man. Whether through physical domination, psychological manipulation or powerful connections, sexual predators like Harvey Weinstein and Drake Bell have become synonymous with the #MeToo movement. One of the most infamous cases of sex trafficking in the US has got to be that of Jeffrey Epstein. A powerful socialite who sold young women, including minors, to world leaders and famous figures.

The thing is…he wasn’t alone. Believe it or not, his wife Ghislaine Maxwell too was involved in Epstein’s sick machinations. In fact, she even participated in some of the atrocities against these girls. She was the face that most of these women trusted before realising the hell they were about to be put through.

A post shared by Ghislaine Maxwell pictures (@ghislainemaxwell.pictures)

In the past, Netflix has released a documentary on Jeffrey Epstein entitled “Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich”. Are there more insights to be gained from this documentary film that explores the story from the angle of his partner? Or, like in the case of “Tiger King 2”, will this be another, pointless cashgrab trying to capitalise on the controversy of Epstein? Let’s find out!

Right off the bat, “Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich” is far better paced than its four-part predecessor chronicling the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein. While the first documentary did well in laying out the groundwork with regard to the audience’s introduction to Jeffrey Epstein, its constant reliance on testimonies and interviews from victims and supplementary information did begin to wear down its engagement factor. Here, the documentary film’s runtime of a little over an hour and a half is just right to set up Ghislaine’s role in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring.

In a way, the documentary film can be seen as a three-part series. The first quarter of the film focuses on Ghislaine Maxwell’s relationship with her partner Jeffrey Epstein and her personality. Unlike Epstein’s documentary, we actually got some pretty interesting accounts from former friends of Ghislaine like Euan Rellie. We also get to hear about she managed to woo and charmed young girls like Liz Stein into hanging out with her and her social circle. Then, when she could get them all alone, she’d begin to psychologically manipulate them into doing her bidding. She even forced one of the girls to join her and Jeffrey in a threesome. Needless to say, it’s pretty harrowing stuff.

That being said, it’s hard to take things too seriously when you have her former friends and acquaintances vaguely describe how toxic her relationship was with Epstein. Statements like “there was a darkness about their relationship” and how Epstein “reeked of vice” had us chuckling. At best this sounds like gossip, at worst like poorly written lines in a soap opera. It borders on cartoonish. Throughout this segment, the documentary tries to play on the ambiguity of how responsible Ghislaine was in Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. Was she some poor pawn sucked into his twisted game? Or was she a willing collaborator? The answer lies somewhere in between and the lengths that this film goes to play up the two sides is exhausting.

The second part deals with the way she used her connections and natural charisma to get her victims like Annie Farmer away from the prying eyes. She would invite them over to her secluded home in New Mexico. There, they would be taken in by all the extravagance and treated like royalty. Then when their guard was down, Ghislaine and Epstein would slowly but surely pressure them to engage physically with them. This included both of them groping these girls, and having them massage their feet before simply sexually assaulting them.

The final part of the documentary is a fairly meaty condensation of the lead-up to Ghislaine’s eventual arrest. In the fallout of Epstein’s arrest, there was a time when she actively evaded the authorities by travelling around the world, hoping that the media would simply pin all the blame on her husband. When she was finally brought before trial, this is where the documentary begins to shine. Here, we see the mental gymnastics Ghislaine’s lawyers resorted to in an attempt to paint her as a victim in Epstein’s perverted business. This, however, doesn’t bode well for her when anonymous victims like “Kate” and “Jane” came forward to testify about how Ghislaine groomed them while they were still minors.

If we had to describe the documentary film, it would be one part dramatic autobiography, one part psychological thriller and one part legal drama. If you haven’t been following the ups and downs of Epstein’s case and alleged suicide, then we’d say “Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich” is a mostly captivating portrait of how wealth, power and toxic relationships can corrupt a person into doing heinous acts. For us though, we found it ultimately disappointing for one particular reason…it never tells us the names of the clients!

This failure isn’t something particularly unique to Netflix’s “Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich”, with plenty of documentaries about Epstein tip-toeing around this issue. Still, it’s getting a little annoying at this point. We’ve heard plenty of accounts of the women abused and the abusers but there isn’t even an active discussion about the list of powerful men to which they were sold to.

Epstein and Ghislaine have been seen interacting with figures like Prince Andrew of the British Royal Family, President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and even freaking Elon Musk! We get a small montage of news reports about these powerful figures’ response to Epstein and nothing else. We belabour this point because the clients who exploited these poor girls are just as vital to understanding the whole sex trafficking operation as Epstein and Ghislaine’s involvement. If you can overlook this lack of closure, then there’s certainly some value here.

Netflix’s “Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich” is a briskly paced, effective portrait that deftly summarises the key details of an important player in one of the world’s most infamous sex trafficking scandals. For those coming in without a clue, you’ll leave shook. For those expecting to finally unearth some juicy new details about Epstein and Ghislaine’s black book of secret Johns then this is not for you. We’re starting to think we’ll never truly know the full length of their clientele…perhaps it lies dead with Epstein’s body.

Netflix's "Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich" is a briskly paced, effective portrait that deftly summarises the key details of an important player in one of the world's most infamous sex trafficking scandals. For those coming in without a clue, you'll leave shook. For those expecting to finally unearth some juicy new details about Epstein and Ghislaine's black book of secret Johns then this is not for you.


#Furious8: Next “Fast & Furious” Film To Be Released On 14th April 2017

An 8th “Fast & Furious” film? Of course you knew this was going to happen, and there’s no way you could’ve stopped it from happening even if you wanted to.

“One last ride,” after all, is just a metaphor that means “just kidding there’s still some fuel in the tank and the tires are in pretty good condition”. What also helps, of course, is that “Furious 7” currently sits as the 7th highest-grossest film of all time (worldwide) and is still in theatres.

The high-octance film even broke every single box office record in Malaysia. Imagine that!

The announcement was made by the man Vin Diesel himself at Cinema Con, who is calling it “Furious 8”. Earlier this month, the actor said that the new movie would be set in New York City — which is to say, we’re gonna see a Dodge Challenger jump over Lady Liberty herself

No director has been announced as of yet but we sure as heck wouldn’t mind if Malaysian-born director James Wan takes this on once again.

'We did it as a family and I love you for that' – Vin Diesel after announcing the 'Furious 8' date as April 14, 2017 #cinemacon

— Dave McNary (@Variety_DMcNary) April 23, 2015

As seen above, “Furious 8” is set to be released on 14th April 2017. Truth be told, we can’t wait!

We’ll leave you now with the absolutely heartwrenching “Furious 7” tribute song for the late Paul Walker, “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth.

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#AmyWinehouse: New Biopic In The Works; Noomi Rapace In Talks To Star

Variety has reported that “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” star Noomi Rapace is in talks to play Amy Winehouse in Kirsten Sheridan’s upcoming biographical movie about the late English singer.

The biopic comes after the release of “Amy”, an award-winning documentary that was directed by Asif Kapadia.

The biopic will focus on the life of the Grammy-winning jazz singer who passed away at 27 due to an accidental alcohol poisoning back in 2011.

Sheridan, writer and director of this upcoming biopic, told the weekly American entertainment trade magazine:

Amy’s music is felt so deeply by the audience because it was deeply personal.

“Her vulnerability was her strength. She was called many things such as a diva, a lost soul preyed upon by tabloids, a tortured genius; our aim is an innovative, emotional and life-affirming approach as we go through the looking glass into her life and art,” she added.

Rapace is best known for her roles in “Prometheus“, “The Drop“, and “Dead Man Down“.

The Swedish actress achieved international fame with her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish film adaptations of the Millennium series: “The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets’ Nest”, “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”, and “The Girl Who Played With Fire”.

She is also currently in talks to play Enzo Ferrari’s wife, Laura Dominica, in Michael Mann’s upcoming biopic about the Italian auto legend.

Sources: Variety, IGN, International Business Times.


#LITRAK: Toll Discounts For LDP & SPRINT Users On Christmas Day

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year indeed.

In celebration of the Christmas season, Litrak Group announced that motorists using the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) and SPRINT highways can enjoy toll discounts on Christmas Day.

According to The Star Online, Litrak Group Communication Division manager Shah Rizal Mohamed Fawzi said in a statement that the toll discount, which first started in 2010, is an effort to “help and share in the joy of consumers in celebrating festive seasons”.

A 60 sen discount is given to LDP users and 20 sen to users of the SPRINT Highway for all classes of vehicles this year.

“The toll discount for Christmas Day (25th December) begins at 12:01am and ends at 11:59pm (one day),” he added after opening a 2015 Christmas Day special programme with House of Joy Handicapped Children at the National Zoo yesterday (16th December).

On a different note, Rizal said that Litrak Group will begin using the electronic payment system effectively from next year.

“This system is still at the trial stage and will be fully operational in March 2016 for the SPRINT Highway and September 2016 for LDP,” he said.

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#Interplay: Armada’s Star Talent Alexander Popov To Release New Compilation

Alexander Popov has been a leading figure within trance music, ever since the start of his musical career, back in 2007. His unique and open-minded sound carved him a way to the top, while simultaneously winning the support and respect of fans and colleagues alike.

Now, not even two years after the release of his first studio album “Personal Way” in November 2013, Alexander Popov is back with “Interplay”, a product of his unprecedented love for music. Containing a huge amount of his own slammers, complemented with absolute gems including David Gravell’s Remix of “Lost Language” and a stunning collaboration with Cosmic Gate, “Interplay” is another highlight in the career of the Russian mastermind.

When it comes to the absolute best, Alexander Popov’s “Interplay” compilation is where your search ends.

It might just be preceding the course of electronic music, guiding it past the existing boundaries and taking it further than it’s ever been. Because in the Popov world, the future is now.

Check out the “Born To Love” preview here:

Or, if you want, you can pre-order “Interplay” from Beatport here ;)

“Interplay” is set to be released on 15th May.

For more information, hit up Alexander Popov’s Facebook page.


#Petekma: Malaysian Taxi Operators Submit Memo To Ban Uber & GrabCar

The Malaysian Taxi Drivers, Limousine and Car Rental Operators Association (Petekma) has submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister which calls for a ban on taxi-hailing applications.

This was one of Petekma’s 4 proposals submitted to the Government for the Budget 2016.

Petekma president Mohd Syahrir Abdul Aziz said taxi-hailing applications such as Uber and GrabCar were operating as taxis and that passengers were facing risks as such services were not regulated by the authorities.

Out of nowhere, they are doing the same business as us, but they remain unregulated without having to pay for insurance or any extra processing fees and inspection from Puspakom. What if anything happens? Who will take the blame?

He said Uber drivers who wanted to be part of the taxi business should go through similar processes and get certification from the Land Public Transport Commission.

He added that Petekma wants the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to consider banning the application as we are unsure of the safety of their services.

The Uber/GrabCar argument is not new as it has been going on for over a year.

In October 2014, JPJ vowed to “crack down” on the Uber service and in June this year, local taxi drivers called on Parliament to introduce a law to ban Uber. Also in June this year, taxi drivers staged a protest against the ride-sharing service and just 2 weeks ago, SPAD threatened to use the Uber app against Uber drivers.

Who can forget that there has also been some cases of taxi drivers taking matters in their own hands and “arresting” Uber and GrabCar drivers around KLCC.

Let’s just say that there has been a lot of drama surrounding both Uber and GrabCar, but these services are still active because it’s pretty hard to ban an app.

Petekma’s memorandum was submitted to the government’s socio-cultural adviser Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim, who is also Petekma’s adviser.

Rais has previously urged taxi drivers to take steps to fight the negative perception about the industry. “Perhaps it’s best for taxi drivers to consider undergoing courtesy courses to improve their services. We must provide basic courtesy to our customers,” he said.

Does anyone else think that Uber and GrabCar shouldn’t be banned? And will “courtesy courses” be enough to improve our Malaysian taxi drivers? Why do we choose Uber/GrabCar over hailing a Malaysian cab? What are your thoughts on this?

Feel free to discuss this in the comments box below.

Sources: Lowyat.NET, The Star Online (1), The Star Online (2) / Featured image from Rappler.

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“Transformers: Rise of the Beasts”: Who Are The New Villains In Disguise?

Power is Primal! The Transformers are back and things are about to get really bonkers in epic fashion!

It’s been a while since we got them converting bots on the big screen. The last outing, which focused on the lovable Autobot, Bumblebee, was released in 2018. Since then, Transformers has stayed pretty hushed with general content on the streamers to add to the franchise.

We do have to admit, the Hailee Steinfeld-led “Bumblebee” was, in many ways, a breath of fresh air for the franchise and also felt like a return to its roots. The Generation One aesthetics and playful tone of the film alongside a heartwarming plot matched well enough to bring about a certain depth to bots that felt like fodder in Michael Bay’s previous outings. No doubt, it was one of the best things to come from the franchise when it was released.

Now, “Rise of the Beasts”, directed by Steven Caple Jr. is set to follow up on the 2018 flick and explore more of the mythology and lore surrounding the Robots in Disguise. Set in the1990’s, the film will spotlight the new Autobots on Earth, Optimus Prime, Arcee, Wheeljack, Stratosphere, and Mirage. Indeed, based on the first look alone, it will be borrowing elements from the fan-favourite 90’s animated series, “Beast Wars”. There will be new faces, new factions, and new battles to delve into.

In terms of factions, there will be three units here: the Maximals, the Terrorcons, and the Predacons. First up, we’ll talk about the Maximals. This faction of Transformers consists of giant robotic animals led by Optimus Primal, who we’d like to dub mecha-King Kong. Other members of the Maximals include Cheetor, Rhinox, Airazor, and Rattrap.

While it might seem like Optimus Prime and the gang are at odds with the Maximals at first, they can later be seen as allies, fighting side by side against another veiled threat.

The Predacons, on the other hand, are the opposite side of the same creature-based coin. Indeed, they are the sworn enemies of the Maximals. Nonetheless, it can be noted that Predacons are nowhere to be seen in promotional footage thus far. The only evidence is from some promotional art that depicts Predacons such as Rampage, Terrorsaur, and Blackarachnia.

So, who are the real villains here? That would indeed be the Terrorcons.

In animated and printed Transformers material, the term “Terrorcon” is disambiguated. In G1, the Terrorcons consisted of 5 members: Hun-Gurrr, Rippersnapper, Sinnertwin, Cutthroat, and Blot. When prompted, they could combine into a singular entity known as Abominus. Nevertheless, they aren’t very bright and could be seen as the C-list type of thief who’d try to rob you with a banana.

At the very least, other versions of the Terrorcons do try to put the terror into the name. Think… zombie drone armies. Like… undead robots clawing their way out of the ground…

Regardless, Steven Caple Jr. seems to be taking things in a different direction for this movie as the Terrorcons are a faction on their own accord.

In the trailer, three notable Terrorcons can be seen. These baddies are Scourge, Nightbird, and Battletrap.

Scourge here is the leader. There’s no doubt that he’s the head honcho. Indeed, in the trailer he’s seen wounding our favourite yellow Autobot (hopefully, not fatally). As such, he’s not one to be messed with.

Scourge transforms into a Peterbilt 359 Mad-Max-ish truck that echoes Megatron’s look in Michael Bay’s third movie. Moreover, Scourge has a bunch of Autobot and Decepticon insignias on his front grille that could very well belong to the various bots that he has offed. Phew!

And who’ll be delivering the ruthless voice to spell the Autobot’s doom? That would be none other than Tyrion Lannister himself, Peter Dinklage!

Moving on, a heavy hitter comes along in the form of Battletrap. Unlike his original G1 counterpart which had the novel concept of two vehicles combining into one singular entity, this version of Battletrap transforms into an orange GMC Topkick C7000 tow truck. Nevertheless, do not underestimate the firepower of Battletrap who spews forth some explosive punches with his firepower!

Nightbird seems more like a wildcard. A grey and pink Nissan Skyline GT-R-R33 already sound villainous enough, but this ninja warrior isn’t someone you could bet your life on. She would probably double-cross you if you weren’t careful.

It’s really hard to make out Nightbird in the recently released trailer but she’s the flurry of purple that streams past as the Terrorcons make their way toward the Autobots and Maximals. So, it can be seen that she has some flight abilities, probably with the help of jet-propelled thrusters of some sort. Gotta get that GT-R NOS burning, we guess.

So, what exactly are the Terrorcons up to in “Rise of the Beasts”? What are their motives?

Although plot details have generally been kept under wraps, we do have some theories.

First off, we’re going to look at the Terrorcon logo. The logo itself is new and not based on any pre-existing material. At first glance, it might look like a simple insignia. Nothing too special. However, one might be able to pick out the angled horns, which might be a precursor of who might be behind it all.

Indeed, curved horns in Transformers’ mythology could mean one thing. And this is huge. Like PLANET-SIZED massive.

Yup, we’re talking about Unicron, the Chaos Bringer and Planet Eater of galactic proportions. Indeed, he could actually be behind the scenes of it all. When Primal mentions that a ‘darkness’ is coming, this could actually be what he was referencing.

Now, what the heck is a ‘Unicron’ and why is his name an anagram of ‘unicorn’? Well, we won’t answer the latter because hell, it’s Transformers and they all have weird names. Nevertheless, Unicron is simply the biggest literal bad there is. Think Marvel’s Galactus, but yellow and mechanized.

Unicron’s ultimate goal is to devour, not just the universe, but the Multiverse itself. What a greedy fellow.

In the Netflix anime “Transformers: War for Cybertron”, Unicron was seen as a multidimensional entity that used Megatron to conduct its bidding. He existed on a plane that was out of conventional time and space. We expect that “Rise of the Beasts” will also delve into the concept of time travel or time dilation of some sort due to “Beast Wars” and the aforementioned anime’s use of such plot devices. This would indeed be perfect to bring in the Lord of Chaos himself in all his planet-sized glory!

So, again, perhaps the Terrorcons were created by Unicron as his heralds to tell worlds of his plans to make a meal out of them. Or perhaps the Terrorcons are a cult that worships him and was promised power if they did his bidding.

All of that is purely speculative on our part. But that’s the fun of it!

Certainly, we’ll be waiting for their appearance on screen alongside the Maximals and fingers crossed, some Predacons. The world of the Transformers is expanding. There’s so much more cinematic potential and stories to be told in this wonderful franchise and we’re all here for it!

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Facebook Pwns Instagram

Ah, two of our favourite social media platforms, one who shrunk the world of networking to less than six degrees of separation and the other built upon a platform of sharing emotions and experiences via beautiful pictures – to become one.

Mark Zuckerberg, genius, founder, and CEO of Facebook, announced yesterday that the company is acquiring Instagram at approximately USD$1 billion in a combination of cash and shares of Facebook.

Which is, suffice to say, a whole lot more than what Instragram is worth because it was just less than a month ago that Instagram was reportedly valued at USD$500 million. Plus, didn’t they just release the app for Android users as well?

Upon the announced, Mark Zuckerberg posted an official statement on his timeline:

Well, we all know that Facebook already has its own and somewhat unique photo-sharing capabilities. But has Facebook’s fear of the fastest growing Twitter-style photo-sharing app left our time’s greatest Internet entrepreneur with no other choice but to make the purchase call? Will the 27 million Instragram users take this piece of news lightly?

One thing’s for sure, we’re waiting to see what a “web browsing Instragram experience” would look and feel like. Or what good this can/will do for the photo-sharing capabilities on the mobile Facebook apps.


GST: Only Certain Restaurants & Hotels Allowed To Impose Service Charge

Effective Monday (6th April), restaurants and hotels will not be allowed to impose service charge unless they have employer-employee collective agreements in place.

Domestic Trade and Consumerism secretary-general Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad said the instruction is temporary, until the Government figures out a way to regulate the collection of service charges.

The businesses, he said, were also now required to display signboards to inform consumers that they were imposing the charges.

He said the move was made following the high number of complaints from consumers, and the ministry had already formed a working committee with the Finance and Human Resource Ministries to formulate a new policy on the matter.

“There have been restrictions in governing service charges because there was no specific act to regulate it,” he said during a press conference on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) at the Finance Ministry building here, yesterday afternoon.

“At present, there is no official body or ruling that regulates the collection of service charge. It is an age-old international practice. However, as we have received many complaints from consumers, we came to this decision,” said Alias at a press conference. He added that businesses must install clear displays if service charges are being imposed.

“It is important for consumers to know what sort of service they are getting if these places are charging for service,” he said.

He said the premises which failed to comply with the new ruling would be investigated under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 provided a fine of up to RM100,000 and three years prison, and the Consumer Protection Act 1999 (CPA), among others.


South Korea’s Highest Earning K-Pop Groups Based On Appearance Fees

Being a huge fan of K-pop groups, you’ll probably be aware of many groups appearing on numerous music festivals and how much it cost for their appearance fees. Idol groups showing up on these festivals can help event planners and promoters raise the profile of a public event.

At the same time, an idol group’s appearance fee is evaluated depending on the type of performance they will have to carry out. The price might also have a slight difference between the prominence and popularity of these celebrities. Interested to know how much they earn? Here are the highest-paid K-pop groups according to their estimated appearance fee per festival event in South Korea:

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#EnzoFerrari: Christian Bale Reunites With Michael Mann For “Ferrari” Biopic

Here comes another epic collaboration that might just blow your mind.

While renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese is reuniting with Leonard DiCaprio for “Devil in the White City“, another legendary director namely Michael Mann is reuniting with his “Public Enemies” star Christian Bale for an upcoming Ferrari biopic.

According to The Wrap, Bale is set to star as Enzo Ferrari, the race car driver and the businessman who founded Italian car manufacturer Ferrari in 1929. It would mark the 2nd time Bale is working together with Mann as he previously starred as FBI Special Agent Melvin Purvis opposite Johnny Depp, Marion Cotillard, and Channing Tatum in Mann’s “Public Enemies” in 2009.

The Ferrari biopic will be based on Brock Yates’ 1991 book “Enzo Ferrari: The Man, the Cars, the Races”. It is said to be set in 1957, the year when a Ferrari car crashed and killed 9 pedestrians, 5 of them children.

This isn’t the first time that Mann has been attached to helm a Ferrari movie.

He was previously attached to direct “Go Like Hell”, a film that would have focused on Ferrari’s rivalry with Henry Ford II. The project never came to fruition and it was perhaps because of 2013’s “Rush”, another film that also focused on the rivalry between 2 racers. In “Rush”, the film starred Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl as Formula One drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda respectively.

There’s another Ferrari movie in development, as veteran actor Robert De Niro told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero that he has signed up to play Enzo Ferrari in an upcoming biopic that will be simply named Ferrari. It is said to be slated for release in 2016.

For Mann’s version of the Ferrari movie, it may be based on Yates’ book, but Mann will helm it based on the script written by Troy Kennedy Martin (of “The Italian Job” fame) and rewritten by the late David Rayfiel (of “Out of Africa” fame).

It is currently being fast-tracked as it is scheduled to shoot next summer. Mann will seek financing at upcoming film festivals and the search for the female lead in the project is currently underway.

So, what do you think of the project? Are you excited to see the film? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.


Doctor Strange Appears In International #ThorRagnarok Trailer

We’ve seen several different versions of the “Thor: Ragnarok” trailer so far. Although the newly-released Japanese trailer features mostly footage we’ve already seen, it does tease the appearance of another Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero.

It’s none other than the Sorcerer Supreme himself, Doctor Strange.

“Thor, I sense a great change in your future. Destiny has dire plans for you, my friend,” Doctor Strange warns the God of Thunder in the trailer. (Hint: Hela is going to kick Thor’s butt.) However, that doesn’t scare Thor one bit. “I have dire plans for destiny,” the hammer-wielding Asgardian responds.

Those of you who stayed back to watch the post credits scenes during “Doctor Strange”, you’d remember the meeting between the good doctor and Thor in the Sanctum Sanctorum. In the clip, we saw Strange agreeing to aid Thor in his search for his missing father, Odin.

Since Thor is seen in the same attire as last year’s bonus scene, it’s safe to assume that this footage takes place early in “Thor: Ragnarok”. Although it remains unclear to what extent Benedict Cumberbatch’s appearance will affect the storyline, the 2 heroes’ relationship will carry into “Avengers: Infinity War“.

You can re-watch the post credits scene here:

You can also check out the hilarious “Thor” mockumentary video of Chris Hemsworth taking his shirt off to flex muscles here.

“Thor: Ragnarok” will smash its way into theatres on 3rd November 2017.

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#Malaysia: Landmark Popular Bookstore In Petaling Street To Close Next Month

The Popular bookstore in Petaling Street which has served as a landmark for more than a decade is about to close next month.

Popular made the difficult decision of shuttering its 2-storey Lee Rubber Building branch located along Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, due to a shift in times and demand. Changes in the surrounding area resulted in a different crowd of customers and the rise of large shopping centres had drawn the crowds away.

MMO quoted Popular’s senior business development manager Siew Sheue Liang, who has sentimental feelings towards the Petaling Street branch, as saying “the outlet is unable to operate efficiently… The decision is hard as most business owners would not simply give up an old shop.”

In 1983, Popular opened its first shop in Damansara Jaya but poor sales caused the company to move to Jalan Hang Lekir. The success of the Jalan Hang Lekir outlet prompted Singapore-based Popular Holdings Limited chairman Chou Cheng Ngok to open more branches in Kuala Lumpur, expanding Popular to 89 outlets.

The Malaysian Book of Records lists Popular as the largest bookstore chain in Malaysia.

The Popular bookstore branch at Lee Rubber Building in Petaling Street will close on 10th April.

Sources: FMT, Yahoo! Singapore, MMO / Featured image from MMO.


#GoT: “Game Of Thrones” Pencil Microsculpture Exhibition To Take Place In Singapore

“Game of Thrones” season 7 won’t be arriving anytime soon. But fret not fanatics, there is going to be an interesting pop-up exhibition to tie you over until the next season is out.

The “Game of Thrones: A Pencil Microsculpture Exhibition” is set to take place at the K+ Curatorial Space at Scotts Square in Singapore. And best of all? The admission is free!

Calling all fans of Game of Thrones! Need your #GoT fix before the release of the new season? Head down to K+ Curatorial Space at Scotts Square (Singapore) to marvel at Salavat Fida ’s intricate and fascinating #GoTPencilArt. @kplussg @hbo_asia Exhibition runs from 22 April to 4 June. Admission is free. ⚔ The seventh season of #GameOfThrones premieres July 17 on @hbo_asia

A post shared by Salavat Fidai (@salavat.fidai) on Mar 17, 2017 at 6:22am PDT

The event will take place from 22nd April till 4th June, between 11:30am to 8:30pm daily. So for “Game of Thrones” fans who are visiting Singapore in the coming months, do make it a point to check out these sculpted fragile pencil tips based from the popular HBO show.

Created by famed Russian artist and sculptor, Salavat Fidai, the 16 “Game of Thrones” themed pencil microsculptures will include carvings of of the Iron Throne, sigils from House Stark, House Targaryen, House Greyjoy, House Baratheon and House Lannister, as well as the Hand Of The King pin, Cersei’s new crown, Drogon the dragon, the Three Eyed Raven, the Night’s King, a White Walker, the Titan of Braavos, the Weirwood tree, and 2 swords – Brienne of Tarth’s Oathkeeper and Jon Snow’s Long Claw.

For those that don’t know, Salavat Fidai has made a name for himself with his impressive collection of intricate and detailed art in the form of miniature sculpture. The artiste, who began micro-sculpting in 2014, relies on a craft knife and a 4x magnifying glass to produce tiny sculptures on the tips of pencils with diameters ranging between 2mm to 5mm.

We have no doubt that the “Game of Thrones: A Pencil Microsculpture Exhibition” will be nothing short of spectacular. To recap, the event deets are as follows:

“Game of Thrones” season 7 will premiere on Monday, 17th July on HBO (Astro Ch 411 / 431) the same day as the U.S. The series will also be available on Astro On The Go.

For more info, check out www.hboasia.com.

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#GotG2: Benicio Del Toro May Not Return As The Collector

Sequels have always been shunned by critics and cinephiles. However, if there’s one sequel that we look forward to seeing, it’s the sequel to Marvel‘s “Guardians of the Galaxy“.

Marvel has yet to announce the official cast members of the much-anticipated film, but fans can expect to see Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, and Vin Diesel returning to reprise their respective roles.

Titled “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2“, the sequel may also cast “Furious 7” actor Kurt Russell, who is currently in talks to play the father of Peter Quill aka Star-Lord.

Some supporting characters including Michael Rooker’s Yondu and Karen Gillan’s Nebula are expected to return as well. However, it seems like there’s one supporting character we won’t be seeing in the sequel.

Better known as The Collector, Benicio del Toro‘s Taneleer Tivan may not be appearing in the 2nd “Guardians of the Galaxy” film.

Coming Soon recently had the chance to speak with del Toro about his latest film, “A Perfect Day”.

During the interview, the Puerto Rican actor/film producer offered them an update about his involvement in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” sequel. When asked whether he would return as The Collector in the movie, his response was less than optimistic.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “They would have told me, I hope… I do hope to play that character again at some point,” he added.

This contradicts what Saldana said about del Toro’s involvement back in October 2015. At the time, the actress posted a video praising del Toro for his work in “Sicario”. At the end of the video, she also said: “I’ll see you on Guardians!”

Now, since del Toro denied his involvement in the sequel, it’s safe to assume that the Academy Award-winning actor will appear in other Marvel films instead. After all, he did sign a multi-picture deal wit Marvel.

Del Toro is set to star in “Star Wars: Episode VIII“, but details regarding his role are unknown and “discussions are still in the very early stages”.

Sources: Coming Soon, The Hollywood Reporter.


Miley Cyrus’ Christmas Sex Doll

How did you celebrate your Christmas? Because we sure as heck know how American singer Miley Cyrus celebrated hers! And, uh, what weirdness she got up to. See, the thing is, she was seen in her car with a friend who was seated next to her. But her friend wasn’t wearing any clothes. Also, it appears that her friend was the “inflatable kind”, if you know what we mean.

Yup. Miley Cyrus got a, get this, sex doll.

But it didn’t stop there, of course. The 20-year-old even took the time to tweet it with a caption that read, “Does this count for the carpool lane? Such a nice Xmas gift”:

How public. Let’s not forget that she was once Hannah Montana so imagine the amount of kids who still look up to her like a big sister. Disastrous much?

Alright, Miley. We know it’s Christmas and all but..a sex doll? We sure hope that it was a gift and not something you decided to buy for yourself. Sleep right (with your doll)!

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Hype’s Now Playing: MBLAQ – Mirror

MBLAQ is finally back! The bad news is, only 3 members are back. But on the positive note, their latest comeback is still as awesome (if not more) as their previous comebacks.

Keeping in line with their melancholic and slow releases, MBLAQ did not disappoint with their latest song, “Mirror”. The music video, which was released on 8th June (Monday), showed the members of the group, Seungho, G.O., and Mir, going on a road trip, albeit a sad one. They can be seen looking depressed and betrayed while singing, to portray the fact that their loved ones have left them.

The track is written by all 3 members of MBLAQ, and is composed by 1Take. The song portrays the heartbreak that one faces after a loved one betrays their trust and leaves them. This is MBLAQ’s first comeback without ex-members Lee Joon and Thunder.

MBLAQ talked about their latest title track in a press conference yesterday (9th June) and revealed that the song is connected to the departure of the 2 ex-members. Member G.O. explained that the current members do not have much experience in romantic relationships, so they chose to wrote the song based on the feelings they felt when Lee Joon and Thunder left the group.

The part of the song that referred to their relationship goes like this:

I have no time to pay attention to you. Now I take off the filthy clothes and realize what being me really is. Now I begin a bright tomorrow. You need to let things be I hear bad things about me from people around me because of your fake attitude. Well you did leave after telling me a bunch of lies I’m sure you want to come back but now I don’t need you anymore. I guess we drifted apart far enough for you to leave without a word like that.

We can’t say the lyrics are specifically meant for them but because we don’t have too much experience in love we used our current emotion and situations to turn it into a love story. Also we are better singers than the two. So now we have more parts we feel like we can finally sing. Of course, they were better dancers than us.

I trusted you over all other and maybe that’s why it hurts so much. There wasn’t even a word of apology. I cherished you over everything else and it’s hurts so much I can’t. No. I’m okay without you. I pretend I’m doing well without you. Everyone around asks how you are, I don’t know but you’re probably doing well. You’re so busy and always struggling for tomorrow.

Seungho explained that the part of the lyrics can be interpreted differently, and revealed that there were indeed discord between the current and ex members. He also added that he won’t be disclosing the full details of the disharmony, as he did not want to ruin the good memories they had together.

In other news, Lee Joon and Thunder have sent their well wishes and support to their ex-group. In a recent interview, Lee Joon said, “I wish them well, I haven’t heard the song yet, but I believe they will do well.“. Meanwhile, Thunder uploaded a screenshot of the MBLAQ’s “Mirror” album cover and captioned it with, “#MBLAQ #MIRROR #iprayforyou”.


Jennifer Lawrence Gets Dumb And Dumber To

Oscar winner, Jennifer Lawrence will be making an appearance to the Dumb and Dumber sequel. Filming a one-day cameo, the actress who has tons of serious, dramatic and action roles under her belt will be showing fans a whole new side of her next year.

Jennifer is said to be filming a cameo as the younger version Kathleen Turner’s character in the sequel to 1994’s hit comedy Dumb and Dumber. Jennifer will star alongside Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels in Dumb and Dumber To which is scheduled for release next year.


iLuminate: “Artistes of Light” Show Makes Its Way To Resorts World Genting

Lights out, music, and action! Make way for iLuminate as they are coming to Resorts World Genting from 3rd April 2015 to 28th June 2015.

If you have not heard, iLuminate was created by Miral Kotb based on her inspiration of fusing dance with cutting-edge technology. To achieve the vision, she had in mind dancers don trademark light-up suits that are controlled wirelessly and then the dancers take the darkened stage to perform choreographed dances and illusions, taking the audience to another world of entertainment experience.

If you’re thinking that this act seems familiar, chances are you’ve seen them on TV. Reality TV aficionados may remember this artistic bunch from season six of America’s Got Talent where they clinched the second runner-up spot and were touted as “the best new act in America”.

Since then, the technology has been used in performances by some of the biggest names in the music business such as The Black Eyed Peas and Christina Aguilera. iLuminate has been featured on shows like X Factor, Dancing with the Stars, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Good Morning America, as well as at music awards shows including the Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards.

*Pictures from iLuminate’s Facebook page.

With Resorts World Genting bringing iLuminate live to Malaysia, entitled “Artistes of Light”, you can see and experience the magnificent 75-minute show that engages the audience through a clever combination of art, music, choreography, and precisely-timed lights. It incorporates different dance styles and features a diverse musical score ranging from hip hop and funk to classical music.

With a fresh, new approach that takes dance performances to a whole new level, this entertaining and engrossing show is sure to appeal to all ages.

iLuminate is scheduled to take place at Genting International Showroom, 8:30pm from Monday to Saturday and 4pm on Sunday. Meanwhile, there is also matinee show available at 4pm on Saturday.

There is also a 20% discount for Genting Rewards members, applicable to adult tickets only. Tickets are available here.

iLuminate is exclusively brought to you by Resorts World Genting in conjunction with Genting’s 50th anniversary celebration.

For more information, hit up Resorts World Genting’s website or call 03-2718 1118.

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Hype Streams: Enticing Show Releases You Cannot Miss (6th June – 19th June)

Some of you may have binged the first part of “Stranger Things” Season 4 on Netflix in one go, and are probably stuck to find anything else to watch. But it’s okay, we’ve got you covered. There are still other tantalising programmes for you to get sucked into.

With a big new release such as “Ms. Marvel”, you can also enjoy “Irma Vep”, “Cha Cha Real Smooth”, “Spriggan”, and many more. Various genres such as horror, sex-comedy drama, and even historical romance await you in the following list of Hype Streams.

16-year-old Kamala Khan played by Iman Vellani is a Pakistani-American living her life looking up to Captain Marvel by writing superhero fan fictions. Her life is transformed when she gains the ability to harness cosmic energy and construct structures out of a magical bangle. Matt Lintz (“Pixels”) and Mohan Kapur (“The Marvels”) also star in this latest Marvel miniseries.

Fun Fact: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan was a fan favourite for the role of Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel, but she declined because Khan is Pakistani and she is Tamil.

Astro Originals’ “Histeria The Series” is a continuation of the 2008 film “Histeria” directed by James Lee. Starring Mia Sara Shauki, Sharifah Aryana, Amelia Christie and Serra Kamal, their characters try to uncover a dark secret about a murder that occurred at their school ten years ago.

What does it feel like to literally share your feelings with a stranger? Yeo Jin-goo (“The Moon Embracing The Sun”, “Hotel del Luna”) plays Eun Gye-young, a chef who plans to open a restaurant in the town his sister went missing. Suddenly, he starts to feel random emotions and would find those emotions belong to Noh Da-hyun, played by Moon Ga-young (“Find Me In Your Memory”, “True Beauty”).

Based on Olivier Assayas’s 1996 film of the same name, “Irma Vep” focuses on Alicia Vikander (“The Danish Girl”) as Mira, an American movie star who comes to France for the opportunity to act as Irma Vep in a remake of the silent French film “Les Vampires.” Mira then starts to lose herself in “Irma Vep” when the line between her and her character begins to fade slowly.

This re-imagined show based on the 1999 Channel 4 series is bringing a diverse club-goers whose lives started to change after a tragedy. It stars Devin Way (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Finn Argus (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”), Jesse James Keitel (“Alex Strangelove”) and more.

Joel Kinnaman (“RoboCop”) is back in this science fiction drama which sets in an alternate timeline in 1969. The Soviet Union beats the United States of America to land on the moon, and USA must catch up to the race to make up for the devastation.

A vampire hunter falls in love with its prey, and vice versa. Juliette (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Calliope ‘Cal’ Burns (Imani Lewis) are ready to make their first kill in this supernatural teen drama adapted from V.E. Schwab’s short story of the same name.

Apocalyptic workplace comedy created by and starring Ben Falcone (“Tammy”) as Clark Thompson, he must juggle his life as the newly appointed messenger of God and stop thee apocalypse from occurring. It also stars Melissa McCarthy (“Bridesmaids”, “Ghostbusters”) and Leslie Bibb (“Confessions of a Shopaholic”).

A woman with a special ability and a fishmonger meet again after seven years. After stints of bad luck, Gong Soo-gwang, played by Na In-woo (“Mr. Queen”, “River Where The Moon Rises”) and Lee Seul-bi, played by Seo Joo-hyun (“Time”, “Private Lives”) are desperate to alter their lives. Their adventures will unveil in this series adapted from the webtoon of the same name by Han Ji-hye and Gu-seul.

Jeff Bridges (“Starman”, “The Giver”) plays a former CIA operative who is on the run when assassins decide to make him their next target. When he was forced out of hiding, a group of highly trained special ops played by John Lithgow (“The Accountant”, “Interstellar”) and Alia Shawkat (“Animals”) are sent to pursue him as well.

Set in the fictional country of Daeho, the upcoming drama from South Korea sees Lee Jae-wook (“When The Weather Is Fine”) as a troublemaker from a noble family, Jang Wook. Jung So-min (“Playful Kiss”, “Because This Is My First Life”) plays an elite warrior who will teach Jang Wook how to fight as his servant. “Alchemy of Souls” is written by the infamous Hong sisters famous for their works such as “The Greatest Love” (2011) and “Hotel del Luna” (2019).

The relics of an ancient alien civilisation on Earth hold dangerous powers. Spriggan agents for the ARCAM corporation must keep them out of the wrong hands. Chiaki Kobayashi (“Summer Ghost”) voiced Yu Ominae and Mariya Ise (“Uzumaki”) voiced Yoshino Somei.

Through the lens of multiple relationships within a large, sprawling Cuban-American family, Andy Garcia (“The Godfather Part III”, “Geostorm”) plays a father waiting to walk his daughter down the aisle in the latest adaptation of Edward Streeter’s “Father of the Bride”.

The man behind the visual effects of films such as “Jurassic Park” and “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi”, Phil Tippett, is back with a stop motion animated horror film “Mad God”. Filmed over a period of thirty years, the film is about The Assassin as he emerges from the underground to explore the bizarre landscape teeming with monsters and mad scientists of all stripes.

A comedy-drama film by Cooper Raiff, which he also starred in as Andrew alongside Dakota Johnson (“Fifty Shades of Grey”) as Domino and Leslie Mann (“This is 40”, “The Other Women”) as Andrew’s mom. Andrew is a 22-year-old working as a Bar Mitzvah party host, somewhat content with his life. The film explores his chemistry and friendship with Domino and her autistic daughter.

Sets in the near future, Chris Hemsworth (“Avengers”, “Thor”) is Steve Abnesti, a prison overseer who conducts emotion-altering drug experiments upon convicts Jeff and Rachel, played by Miles Teller (“Whiplash”, “Top Gun: Maverick”) and Jurnee Smollet (“Birds of Prey”) respectively.

Married couple Jerry and Marge Selbee, played by Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”, “Your Honor”) and Annette Bening (“American Beauty”, “Captain Marvel”) take advantage of a mathematical flaw to win the Massachusetts Lottery and use the proceeds to transform their Michigan town.

Retired 55-year-old widow Nancy Stokes (Emma Thompson) hires a young sex worker Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) in hopes to seek romance and thrills in tumultuous night of pleasure after having to endure a boring marriage. This sex comedy-drama film is directed by Sophie Hyde, the same person behind “Animals” (2019).

You can follow Academy Award winner Youn Yuh-jung and her journey in America as she talks about living in the US in the past, her latest television series “Pachinko”, and her thoughts as the first Korean actress to win an acting Oscar last year. “Youn’s Unexpected Journey” is directed and produced by Na Young-seok, the visionary behind various popular shows such as “2 Days 1 Night”, “Youn’s Kitchen”, and “Three Meals a Day”.

Watch Jennifer Lopez in the eponymous original documentary as the star takes charge of her career. It also mainly focuses on her performance at the Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show.

Entertainment streaming app “sooka” has launched its new VIP TV plan in collaboration with Smart TV brands such as Samsung, LG, Sharp, and Sony. Subscribers can now enjoy full access to premium content through selected Smart TVs from the comfort of their homes. Moreover, new subscribers are entitled to a ‘Buy 1, FREE 1 month promotion’!

Anis Sharina contributed to this article.

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Twitter User Missed Out News On Dad’s Passing Because His Phone Was On Silent Mode

Is your phone always on silent mode? Perhaps this story might change your mind each time you intend to silence your phone.

A Twitter user known as Faz (@fazefrazzel) shared with fellow social media users on the reason why he never puts his phone on silent these past few days. According to him, he used to keep his phone on silent mode whenever he had to attend to something – when he’s in class, outside or even asleep.

Things took a major turn after he received a call from his mom, informing him that his father who was in the ICU had passed away at 12:30am. “When I checked my phone early in the morning, I received 20 missed calls from mum, 16 missed calls from my sister. When I read the message from my mother that my dad is no longer around, my heart sunk,” Faz wrote.

Faz’s guilt intensified after finding out that his sister from Kuala Lumpur had arrived at their hometown in Penang, while he – who was in the neighbouring state, Kedah – arrived later at 9am, which was almost 9 hours after receiving his mother’s text. “It’s very sad. Ever since that, I never kept my phone on silent mode anymore. And no matter who is calling me, I will pick it up,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Since 7th February 2018, I have not ‘silent’ my phone. Luckily, I was awake that morning. What would have happened if I wasn’t awake? I tend to sleep until 1 or 2 in the afternoon. This looks like a small issue, but the impact was huge,” Faz added in another thread.

Our heart goes out to Faz for carrying a huge guilt-conscious burden all this while :(


8 Fun Facts About KL’s Upcoming Tallest Skyscraper, Merdeka 118

Everyone in Kuala Lumpur have probably heard about the existence of PNB 118, more commonly known as Merdeka 118. It is the unfinished skyscraper that will eventually overtake the Exchange 108 as the tallest building in Malaysia upon its completion in 2021.

The best part is, Merdeka 118 will be the 2nd tallest building in the world soaring the sky at an impressive height of 678.9 metres, which is around 149 metres less than the Burj Khalifa (828 metres).

To pique your interest, here are 8 fun facts about the upcoming landmark in KL:

The design of the tower is based on the silhouette of Tunku Abdul Rahman raising his hand while chanting “Merdeka!” on 31st August 1957, which we can all agree as Malaysians, was an iconic moment. The spire that tops the building is meant to look like Tunku Abdul Rahman’s hand during the chant.

It’s quite an impressive feat that the shape of this high-rise building is commemorating the symbol of our freedom.

This multi-storey building consists of 118 floors (hence, the name) which, from below will house 83-storeys of Grade-A offices and 17-storeys of Park Hyatt Hotel. Amenities such as sky lobby, VIP lounges, and more will be at the top in the remaining 18 floors including the observation deck and restaurants which will be on the four highest floors.

Thrill-seekers will enjoy eating high up in the sky. If dining 282-metres in the sky at the Atmosphere 360, KL Tower is exciting, try eating at around 500-metre above ground at the Merdeka 118.

The elevator that is used to reach the observation deck is attached on the side of the building and it will use glass panels. Since the observation deck is located at the highest floor of the skyscraper, it will undeniably be the tallest glass-panelled elevator in the world.

Moreover, the observation deck will be the highest observation deck in Asia. In the near future, visitors can travel up more than 100-storeys in a glass box while looking out the city. The experience will definitely be breathtaking.

Tall skyscrapers are always hard to capture especially if you want to be in the frame. It requires you to be a certain distance to get the best picture and it might not even fit the whole building.

However, the Merdeka 118 will feature a photo spot in the vicinity of the building which has an elevated platform intended for visitors to take photos of the skyscraper. The platform will be placed across the recreational park from the building.

The high-rise building was inspired directly by our own culture. The diamond-shaped base of the building is designed to resemble the Malay Songket, a traditional textile that belongs to the Malay heritage.

Even though the architects, Fender and Katsalidis, are Australian-born, they will still reflect our Malaysian culture. Acknowledging that Malaysia is a multi-cultural nation, the mixture of triangle designs making up the building symbolises the different ethnics in the country.

The first phase ,which started back in 2014, centres on the 118-storey tower itself. The second phase revolves around the recreational park and seven-storey shopping mall which has a whopping 900,000 square feet. Both of these phases are expected to finish by 2021. The third phase is the construction of three residential towers surrounding the mega-structure, which is scheduled to be completed by 2024.

The building’s shape might resemble the past. However, at night you’ll notice a futuristic vibe to the city skyline. The soon-to-be second tallest building in the world will be equipped with light strips that gradually moves from one corner to another.

The mega-tall skyscraper will be connected to the Merdeka MRT station which is currently undergoing refurbishment as part of the Merdeka 118 development. Plus, the station has a paid-to-paid pedestrian walkway to Plaza Rakyat LRT station.

Besides that, Maharajalela Monorail station will be within walking distance of the building’s recreational park. The monorail station will be able to connect you to the rest of the LRT lines.

Check out this video by Top Luxury here:

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#TheZookeepersWife: First Look At Jessica Chastain In A Nazi Zoo

Meet Jessica Chastain, the animal whisperer.

The Oscar-nominated actress is giving us all the feels with her interaction with lion cubs, zebras, and other 4-legged animals in the forthcoming emotional drama “The Zookeeper’s Wife”.

Based on Diane Ackerman’s 2007 nonfiction book of the same name, “The Zookeeper’s Wife” follows Antonina and Jan Zabinski’s real-life efforts in persevering the Warsaw Zoo and the ailing animals in their villa after their city was bombed during the Holocaust when the Germans invaded Poland.

“It was a wonderful story about not only animal nature vs. human nature but about radical compassion and humanity. The Zabinskis sheltered Jews at tremendous risk to themselves for a very simple reason: because it was the right thing to do,” said director Niki Caro.

Besides getting a first look at footage from this real-life tale, Focus Features has also released an official movie poster and a series of stills featuring the film’s leading lady treating the zoo creatures with tenderness and respect. Check it:

The official plot synopsis for “The Zookeeper’s Wife” reads:

“The real-life story of one working wife and mother who became a hero to hundreds during World War II. In 1939 Poland, Antonina Żabińska (portrayed by 2-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain) and her husband, Dr. Jan Żabiński (Johan Heldenbergh), have the Warsaw Zoo flourishing under his stewardship and her care.

“When their country is invaded by the Nazis, Jan and Antonina are stunned – and forced to report to the Reich’s newly appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck (Daniel Brühl). To fight back on their own terms, Antonina and Jan covertly begin working with the Resistance – and put into action plans to save lives out of what has become the Warsaw Ghetto, with Antonina putting herself and even her children at great risk.”

“The Zookeeper’s Wife” is expected to open in cinemas on 31st March 2017.


Art Through The Eyes Of Drugged Up Artist

Meet Bryan Lewis Saunder, the man who has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from East Tennessee State University, US. An expert hand in fine arts isn’t the easiest skillset or study to master. But this artist from Washington D.C. takes his work to the next level. Heck, he takes his work to a whole new level.

Taking a completely unconventional approach to his artwork, Bryan decides to self-experiment on arguable his most interesting project to date – or ever. Entitled, “DRUGS”, his project required him to take various types of yes, you guessed it – drugs. The outcome was a collection of self-portraits that he drew while under the influence of various substances ranging from cocaine, to marijuana, to DMT (Dimethyltryptamine, a psychedelic drug).

After experiencing drastic changes in my environment, I looked for other experiences that might profoundly affect my perception of the self. So I devised another experiment where every day I took a different drug and drew myself under the influence. Within weeks I became lethargic and suffered mild brain damage. I am still conducting this experiment but over greater lapses of time. I only take drugs that are given to me.

And then, it gets completely disfigured. You can almost imagine the incoherence in his speech when you look at the below pictures.

Astonishing, but at the same time, scary. It’s interesting to look at but we don’t condone drugs, not the least bit. Props to Bryan for being gutsy enough to express his work in that way though.

Uh, also, we hope his serotonins have fully recovered.

For more information, visit Bryan Lewis Saunders’ official website.

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Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: Chadwick Boseman Gives All In His Final Feature Performance

The blues is a big part of African American history and culture. Built-up from the Deep South, it became a popular musical genre back in the latter half of the 19th century. While the genre itself was popular and had been going on for a few decades, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that artists began recording their work. One of those pioneers was Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, an African American professional blues singer who earned the title “Mother of The Blues”.

Sharing its title with the song of the same name, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is an adaptation of a play by August Wilson, and takes place in the yellow-tinted bustle of a 1920s Chicago. On a white-hot sun-drenched afternoon, a blues band awaits the legend herself, Ma Rainey, in a studio for a recording session. As the heat sears the brick walls, tensions arise, resulting in an eruption of emotions from the band as they engage in a series of stories. Traumas, rants, and all forms of ponderings come to light as they explore their darkest experiences and deepest ambitions.

Now, this film and the play in which it was derived from aren’t actually historically accurate. While Ma Rainey may have been real, August Wilson merely provided fictionalised depictions of her and some of the individuals surrounding her. Contrary to what the movie presents, Ma had a very good relationship with her bandmates, so the conflict in the movie is simply a figment of the playwright’s imagination.

Nevertheless, the aim of the production was to convey a tale relevant to that era. There was a struggle, a matter close to the African American heart that could correlate to today’s societal concerns.

When we are introduced to Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) in the film, she is revered in her home state. Thunderous applause follows wherever her raunch sets went. She was untouchable. However, up north, we see the threads of segregation at play. Indeed, Ma Rainey knew if she did not play hard to get, she would be exploited by the studio that was recording her.

She knew that she could not evoke desperation. She was unapologetically cold and calculative to maintain that leverage. Heck, even when her request to have a Coca Cola during her session was not granted, she refused to budge for her voice until she got her damn drink. She was aware that it was her game and the game was hers alone.

Now, Levee is not like Ma Rainey. No doubt, he’s a young and talented chap with a keen ear for what his audience would want. His personal drive and charisma are over the roof, displaying his lack of respect for the session he is in. He believes that if he could write some songs and pass them to the studio, he could have his big shot at fame. The lights. The glimmer. The spotlight would all be on him.

Nevertheless, he does not fully grasp the societal inconsistencies that plague his trade. He’s brash and hot-headed. He doesn’t realise that unlike Ma, he is not quite in a position of power to negotiate. As a matter of fact, it is his own naivety that leads to his own downfall, culminating in a grim realisation that no matter how hard he pushed, the Black man would still be boxed in a White-dominated world.

Ma Rainey and Levee definitely butt heads throughout the course of the movie. A seasoned songstress, Ma recognised his existence in the band as a threat. The ulterior motives as well as his conflicting style of music did not fit with what she felt was best for her voice. Again, she knew that the game was hers, and although she was well-established, she could have lost it all to this younger fellow if she let up.

Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman both embody characters with a command unlike any other. The sheer commitment they brought to the make-up of these personalities is astounding. Davis, brilliant as ever, manifests her inner diva to present Ma with a sass, both to comedic effect and also with a fiery fierceness in varying circumstances. Davis perfectly bottles up an ice-cold personality to show that she means business when she wants what she wants.

As for Boseman (bless his soul), he gives his all to this young boy, trumpeting his way to the top. And man, he’s just astounding. During one particular scene in the first half of the film, Boseman delivers a monologue. Oh, the way his teary eyes twitched as Levee revisits a childhood trauma in a close-up shot, the way that scene played out, we felt every single bit of bitter rage and melancholy sorrow. Boseman just nailed it all.

Indeed, most of the film just takes place within the confines of the studio. Only a bunch of shots are set outside to provide extra context to what the characters are narrating, often to good effect. On the surface, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” may just be about an artist and her band trying to record a song. Nonetheless, the focused direction and the magnificent acting not just from Davis and Boseman but also Glynn Turman and Colman Domingo give the film a more profound subtext.

The camera work also does wonders as the film basks in the heat of Chicago. The intensity of the outside temperature bounces into the emotions and narrative of the film. Characters are shown sweaty, frustrated, and in a state of discomfort as the recording session descends little by little into madness.

Chadwick Boseman’s passing in August was an unfortunate loss to the world of cinema. Indeed, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” enshrouds us with a bittersweet tapestry of Boseman’s contributions and prowess. It provides us with the final look of his essence, a man who was willing to stand his ground and tell stories that were empowering.

In a way, the real Boseman contradicted his character in the film, himself being more like Ma. He knew that if he let up on his stance, if that tree he planted in the soil was uprooted, he would have lost. The game was his and it was his game alone.

Boseman was an inspiration to many and continues to do so as he gave his all in his final performance, showing us the sheer determination he had even in the face of death. He was a hero both on the silver screen and off of it. There’s no doubt that we relish the opportunity to bask in his artistic royalty one last time, to have one more lasting memory of a truly astounding performer.

“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and its companion piece, “A Legacy Brought to Screen”, are currently streaming on Netflix.

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Contest: Win Meet & Greet Passes + Greyson Chance’s “Greyzone” Tickets

If you didn’t get the hint from our previous feature, Greyson Chance is ready to meet his fans again at an intimate showcase in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this month! Thanks to our awesome friends from Universal Music Malaysia, we’ve got 5 pairs of not-for-sale “Greyzone” showcase tickets to give away to lucky Greysonators/Enchancers.

And that’s not all. We’re also throwing in ONE PAIR of exclusive meet and greet passes to one winner, on top of a pair of “Greyzone” showcase tickets ;)

The “An Evening with Greyson Chance” showcase details are as follows:

Here’s what you gotta do to win ’em! Read this post and answer the below questions:

For more information on Greyson Chance’s return to Malaysia, hit up Universal Music Malaysia’s Facebook page.


(UPDATE) #B2ST: Comeback Date & Album Details Revealed Via New Teasers

Here’s another comeback that K-Pop fans should be excited about.

B2ST/BEAST will finally have their long-awaited comeback this July with the release of their upcoming 8th mini album, “Ordinary”. Prior to the comeback, their talent agency Cube Entertainment offered fans a glimpse at their concept through several teaser photos.

As shown in the teaser photo, the group is expected to make their comeback on 27th July. The teaser photo was released after Cube Entertainment posted a mysterious teaser video that played their old tracks.

A representative of Cube Entertainment revealed in a statement that rapper Yong Junhyung is producing new songs for the album, with the rest of the members actively participating in brainstorming various ideas. The release of their new album will also mark their first comeback in about 10 months since the release of “TIME” in October 2014.

During their 10-month hiatus, the members have been focusing on their respective solo careers. Leader Doojoon starred in “Let’s Eat 2″ alongside Yoseob while Hyunseung recently released a solo album titled “MY“. Maknae Dongwoon also kickstarted his solo career earlier in June by debuting his Japanese album titled “Kimishika”. Kikwang was recently confirmed to be starring in a supporting role for the drama, “Mrs. Cop”.

The full track list for BEAST’s 8th mini album, “Ordinary”, has been released. Aptly, since it’s their 8th mini album, it’ll consists of 8 tracks (6 new, 2 bonus) including their title track, “YeY”, said to be a strong electronic dance tune.

As seen in the image above, most of the songs on the album were written by member Junhyung‘s composer group “Good Life”, while fellow member Gikwang contributed “Oh Honey”.

So, you ready for the boys? “Ordinary” will be released on 27th July.

For more information, visit their official Facebook page.


#ASA: A Sunday Affair x Good Vibes Festival At TREC On 31st July

TREC’s signature programme A Sunday Affair (ASA) edition 5 returns on 31st July and the musiccentric flea market will see its 2nd collaborative effort – this time with Good Vibes Festival.

Upon the announcement, ASA’s curator Blink of music outfit LapSap said, “The collaboration with Good Vibes Festival is part of growing ASA, which will not include just local brands but regional brand partnerships to build KL’s first music-centric flea market into a must-visit event for visitors in the region.”

The event will happen at TREC with music performances at The Quad, and the flea market at Electric Boulevard and The Hive. Tickets for this year’s Good Vibes Festival will also be available for purchase at the event.

ASA, which is held on the last Sunday of the month, is expected to draw over 2,500 fun-seekers and music lovers next Sunday. Of course, entry to ASA on 31st July is absolutely free! Details of ASA’s full lineup will be announced next week so stay tuned :)

Meanwhile, next month, visitors can look forward to a new vintage market on 13th/14th August adding yet another exciting Sunday activity in addition to A Sunday Affair. More information to come soon.

On another note, one of Malaysia’s well-loved F&B brands, The Social, will open at Electric Boulevard this month, followed closely by Crime speakeasy and Crave oyster bar. They would add to a total of over 20 F&B brands at TREC, comprising clubs, bars, lounges, eateries, offering a diverse fare, and 2 speakeasies including IKKI.

For more information, hit up TREC KL’s Facebook page.

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#ZawaraCoffee: Cops Seize Cafe’s Army Food Truck

It seem like the perfect marketing gimmick: a unique military-looking food truck with a tagline of “Take Your Shot” printed on its 2 “rocket launchers” to promote the cafe’s business.

However, the police weren’t not impressed. 2 Zawara Coffee employees, aged 28 and 24, were arrested on Tuesday (19th July) after being spotted driving the truck along Jalan Semarak Api, Cyberjaya. They were later released on bail.

Kamarul Ariff, Group CEO of Zawara Coffee Sdn Bhd, have since apologised if the company’s gimmick had caused panic among the locals, adding that it was never Zawara Coffee’s intention to mimic an armed military vehicle.

“If you look closely, the truck’s design was not military camouflage but pictures of the food we sell at Zawara. There are motifs of burgers and churros,” he explained to Free Malaysia Today. Meanwhile, the “Take Your Shot” slogan was simply to encourage customers to try out their espresso shots.

Kamarul also told The Star that the truck had been travelling to other Zawara outlets in the Klang Valley for the past 2 months and no one had any issues with it until recently.

To avoid future confusions, Kamarul informed Astro AWANI that the vehicle will be repainted with Zawara’s corporate colours which are black and purple.

“We are going to re-paint it according to our corporate colour and we will destroy the “rocket” because it is made of fiberglass. It does not reflect a rocket launcher, it is just a rocket. We will change the rocket and replace it with the Zawara (coffee) cup,” he said.

In addition to the concept cafes in Setia Alam, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Cyberjaya, Putrajaya, Damansara, and The Curve, Zawara Coffee also has 3 branches in Bukit Jelutong, Bangi, and Setapak.

For inquiring minds, check out their official website on what the local coffee chain has to offer or visit their Facebook page.


(UPDATE) #AirAsiaX: Low Cost Carrier Now Flies To Auckland, New Zealand!

“I’m going on an adventure!” – Bilbo Baggins.

In May 2012, AirAsia X made the difficult decision to suspend its 11-hour flights to Christchurch, New Zealand. The low-cost long haul carrier used to fly 4x weekly between Kuala Lumpur and Christchurch, but at that time, rising fuel costs compromised the carrier’s ability to offer low fares.

On top of that, the 2011 earthquakes further complicated things and reduced travel to Christchurch, deeming it an unprofitable destination for the airline.

But now, 3 years after AirAsia X pulled its short-lived service between Christchurch and Kuala Lumpur, it looks like the airline is looking at reopening the New Zealand route. Perhaps not to Christchurch but to Auckland instead.

The surprise announcement was made via AirAsia’s Facebook page yesterday:

Auckland is the largest and most populous urban area in New Zealand, and is home to 32% percent of the country’s population. It boasts both an urban environment as well as breathtaking nature as everyone lives within half an hour of beautiful beaches, hiking trails, and a dozen enchanting holiday islands.

New Zealand, particularly Auckland, was made famous by Peter Jackson because of the “Lord of the Rings” films and is now “the centre of Middle Earth”. In fact, you can take a magical journey through Middle Earth to the Hobbiton movie set via a fascinating guided tour from Auckland to Rotorua.

Flights to Auckland take about 10 hours, and currently, there aren’t any low cost carrier options in the New Zealand to the Southeast Asia market since Jetstar Airways withdrew its Auckland to Singapore service in 2014. Malaysia Airlines does, however, serve a Kuala Lumpur to Auckland route, but AirAsia X would be able to offer (low cost) connections beyond Kuala Lumpur to dozens of points throughout the region.

There has been no word on when AirAsia X’s maiden flight to New Zealand will be but keep checking back with us as we’ll be updating this post with more details ASAP :)

As we had expected, AirAsia X’s brand new destination was officially launched in Kuala Lumpur today. Wanderlusters can now discover Auckland city and enjoy the city’s hidden gems as the long-haul, low-fare affiliate of the AirAsia Group has commenced its operations into Auckland, New Zealand via Gold Coast, Australia.

The daily flights will start on 22nd March 2016.

Treated to something a little #Maori this morning at the #AirAsiaX #Auckland #NewZealand route launch ? #AirAsia #AAX

A video posted by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy) on Jan 11, 2016 at 7:01pm PST

To celebrate the announcement of the new route, AirAsia X is offering promotional all-in-fares from as low as RM499* one way (economy) and from as low as RM1499* one way (Premium Flatbed). These promotional fares are available for booking online starting 13th – 24th January 2016 for the travel period from 22nd March 2016 – 5th February 2017.

All promotional fares can be booked online via airasia.com as well as AirAsia’s mobile apps on iPhone and Android, and also AirAsia’s mobile site at mobile.airasia.com.

Sources: AirAsia’s Facebook page, stuff.co.nz.

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#PervertAlert: Man Flashes Private Part & Punches Girl In Face

A 20-year-old female college student named Rochell Waynee Ubong was punched repeatedly in the face by a pervert who showed her his “willy”.

The victim, who is studying at a private college (IPTS) in Pasir Gudang, unfortunately encountered the man in front of the her home in Tanjung Puteri Indah, Johor at 1pm on Sunday (1st January). She received 14 stitches following the horrible attack.

“I was shocked so I tried to run into the house but he pulled my handbag and punched me in my face 3 times,” she told Harian Metro. She also added that the pervert, who is probably in his 30s, ran away after her parents came out to help her. A police report was already made at the Masai police station.

Rochell added, “I’m still traumatised by the incident because it happened so fast. I just want the public, especially women, to be extra careful whenever they walk alone.”

Seri Alam Police Superintendant Jokhiri Abd Aziz said that the police will carry out a thorough investigation to arrest the pervert. The case is being investigated under Section 394 of the Penal Code.

He also urged that the public, especially women, to be cautious when walking alone and if encountered with any suspicious individuals, a police report should be made immediately.

Sources: Harian Metro (1), (2), NST. Featured image: Buletin TV3’s Facebook page.


Batman Spotted At Pavilion KL!

Shopping malls are a favourite destination for families during the school holiday season and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is ready to thrill families by celebrating Batman’s 75th anniversary held from 28th May to 15th June.

As shoppers enter the mall through the Crystal Fountain at Pavilion KL, the iconic Bat logo will provide the perfect photographic opportunity. Then set your foot at Pavilion KL’s Centre Court to view the Asia debut of the hologram display of Batmobiles over the years, inside a custom built Batcave.

Fans can visit the “History of Batman” walkthrough, which tells the story of the character’s creation in 1939 by Bob Kane and Bill Finger of Detective Comics, and his evolution as super hero through the decades, remaining topical and relevant for generation after generation of fans.

Other characters in the Batman pantheon will be featured as well, including his crime-fighting partner, Robin, and many of Batman’s arch nemeses, including the Joker, Catwoman and Harley Quinn.

You know what though? This could be just the adventure you need to amp you up for the upcoming “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” movie!

Other Batman attractions at Pavilion KL include a Heroes and Villains of Gotham City cosplay competition, the display of 1:1 scale replica statues of Batman and his Batmobiles, Joker and Catwoman. There will also be a showcase of figurines and half-busts of a host of Batman characters, as well as scale models of a wide selection of Batmobiles.

And while you’re at it, don’t miss Batman’s meet and greet appearances, this is your chance to take a picture with the Dark Knight himself! Of course, plenty of anniversary merchandise will also be available at the event.

Along with this Batman extravaganza, Pavilion KL is offering special promotions for shoppers:

With so much in store, head over to Pavilion KL this school holidays and have the time of your life!

Meanwhile, don’t forget to check out this post where we talk about everything else Batman-related.

For more information, contact Pavilion KL’s Concierge at 03 2118-8833, check real-time updates via their Facebook page, or Twitter.

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#JPO: Premium Outlets Celebrate 5th Anniversary With Shopping Extravaganza

To commemorate its 5th year of bringing everyday savings to Malaysians and visitors to Malaysia, Johor Premium Outlets will be celebrating its anniversary with an impressive host of privileges, activities and fabulous prizes to be won.

For starters, Johor Premium Outlets will carry out a special 4-day celebration sale from 1st to 4th December featuring extraordinary savings and further markdowns in stores for shoppers between 10am and 12 midnight.

In addition to that, Baskin-Robbins, Starbucks Coffee, TCBY Frozen Yogurt and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will offer complimentary ice-cream, ice-blended coffee, frozen yogurt and ice-blended tea respectively to the first 250 customers from 10pm until 12midnight daily during these four days.

From 1st to 15th December, visitors to Johor Premium Outlets will have the opportunity to win many exciting prizes ranging from fabulous holiday packages, Johor Premium Outlets gift vouchers and Legoland Malaysia tickets through its “Shop & Win Contest”.

10 Consolation Prize winners will each receive a Johor Premium Outlets gift voucher worth RM100. There will also be Starbucks Cards pre-loaded with RM20 for the first 200 visitors who spend RM500 in accumulated receipts.

Featuring 130 outlet stores, Johor Premium Outlets 5th anniversary celebrations promises to be a fun-filled event for the whole family. Festivities come complete with balloons giveaways, clowns, as well as complimentary pony rides for the kids.

Strategically located at the intersection of the North-South Expressway and Second Link Expressway, Johor Premium Outlets is open daily from 10am to 10pm. It features various food and beverage options as well as a host of amenities including an Information Center, ATM machines, stroller rentals and wheelchairs.

For more information, hit up their website.


First Asian Female To Direct A Big-Budget Superhero Movie

Warner Bros and DC Entertainment has chosen Asian-American filmmaker Cathy Yan to helm an untitled “Suicide Squad” spin-off focusing on the popular villain character Harley Quinn with actress Margot Robbie set to reprise the role.

According to Deadline, the movie will be based on the 1995 “Birds of Prey” comics, featuring an all female team including Batgirl, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Huntress, Black Canary, and Katana.

This huge-budget project not only make Yan the first Asian female to direct a superhero film, but also the third female filmmaker to helm a DC film, joining Patty Jenkins (“Wonder Woman”) and Ava DuVernay (“The New Gods”).

The film’s script will be penned by Christina Hodson who wrote for the upcoming “Transformers” spinoff, “Bumblebee”, and was also tapped to script for “Batgirl” movie.

Yan was a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal in New York, Hong Kong and Beijing. Her directorial debut, “Dead Pigs” earned positive reviews at this year’s Sundance Film Festival in the United States.

Sources: CNET, South China Morning Post.


#TrashDove: What Is This Purple Bird & Why Is It Taking Over The Internet?

If you’ve been active on Facebook (well, who hasn’t?), you would have noticed a certain purple bird taking over the site. It is the latest trend to hit the interwebs, after “Om Telolet Om“, saltbae, and “Cash Me Outside“.

Not only is it dominating comments threads like this (regardless if the post is about the purple bird or not):

It also comes in the form of funny gifs or memes like this:

And some of it exist for the sole purpose of annoying you:

It is actually called “Trash Dove”, a collection of Facebook stickers by American artiste Syd Weiler. The illustrator, who is based in Florida, drew the bird in September but only submitted it as a Facebook sticker in January 2017. The most popular sticker of the series is the “headbanging dove”, which shows the purple bird vigorously thrashing its head up and down.

It wasn’t until this week that we saw this dove making it rounds on Facebook, but apparently it has been trending since the start of February. It all started on a video of a popular Thai Facebook page, which showed the trash dove in a dance-off with a cartoon cat. The video has racked up more than 4 million views and has been shared more than 77 thousand times as at time of writing.

Our next question is: Why exactly is it so popular?

We don’t have an exact reason for its popularity, but then again, it’s the Internet, and things get popular for no reason at all. It might be because they are cute, or annoying, or people jumping on the bandwagon.

However, some have speculated that it is because the Thai word for bird, “nok”, describes someone who is hopelessly single, and what better time for this to trend than Valentine’s Day, right?

Like it or hate it, it’s here to stay – at least until the next trend appears.

Before we end this piece, let us share a few trash doves memes we found over the internet!

Not only are there trash dove socks now, the trending icon even has a dedicated Facebook page, which you can follow here.

What’s your favourite trash dove meme/gif? Share it with us in the comments section below!

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Polygamist: Thai Politician Tambon Prasert Has A Total Of 120 Wives

Polygamy being illegal in Thailand isn’t a problem for politician and businessman Tambon Prasert, who is apparently married to 120 wives.

This might come as a surprise to most people but it isn’t a shock to his lovers as they all know each other and tolerate their husband’s decision.

According to Tribune, Tambon Prasert, 61, had to reveal his unusual lifestyle to reporters after they were tipped off anonymously. That’s when Tambon, head of Phromnee district, shared his story with the world.

Tambon admitted to having 120 wives, 28 sons and daughters, despite polygamy being punishable by law in Thailand. However, he shrugged off the speculation that he married all of those women in just a few years.

Even though it didn’t happen in a short time, the politician did get an early start. Tambon recalled, “My first marriage was when I was 17. My first wife was 1-2 years younger than me and we had 3 children together. After that, I continued to marry more women. Most of them are young women and are in their 20s. I don’t like older women because they argue too much.”

As time went by, he started his own construction business; this is when he began to develop an unorthodox routine. Tambon mentioned, “I am a construction contractor. Whenever I build a house, I will get married there. I love all my wives and they all love me.”

Obviously, it’s unusual that 120 women are okay with sharing their husband. However, every time he takes in someone new, he would inform the new bride that he already has several wives, and would notify the others he is tying the knot again. He also goes out of his way to tell the person’s family and proceed with the wedding traditionally.

The businessman also claims that he has been fair in providing them with what they need; even building houses for his wives. “If they do not own a home, I would get some land and sort everything out for them, in order to keep them happy,” he explained.

As for now, it is not known if the polygamist has face any major consequences for breaking Thailand’s polygamy law.