Interview: Tom Hanks On His Interpretation Of Geppetto In “Pinocchio”

The original animated “Pinocchio” debuted more than 80 years ago. This week, the fan-favourite Disney classic will be hitting Disney+ all over the globe with its live-action remake starring Tom Hanks, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Cynthia Erivo, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key, Lorraine Bracco and Luke Evans.

In this interview, Oscar winner Tom Hanks talks about reuniting with director Robert Zemeckis and longtime friendship and collaboration. The 66-year-old actor also delved into adding more nuances and depth into his character Geppetto for the live-action version. Scroll down to read more.

Q: How did you come on board on this project?

A: I got wind that Bob (Zemeckis) was circling around “Pinocchio”. And I waited for a while and then asked him, “Are you really going to direct ‘Pinocchio’?” He said, “Yeah, I’m thinking about it.” I said, “If you don’t have a Geppetto, and you can withstand doing something with me, let me know.” But Bob is one of these filmmakers who cannot do something that has been done before. I said, “Why don’t we just do this, Bob?” And he said, “Well, anybody could do that.” He always has to do something where he can monkey around with the creative process of doing it, and he’s never not challenged me with some sort of task that is brand new to the filmmaking process. No small amount of which was how Pinocchio himself was going to be in this movie. So I came to it because of the idea of Bob, first of all, taking on this fascinatingly treasured classic of everything that Disney’s “Pinocchio” means—”When You Wish Upon a Star,” “Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee an actor’s life for me,” “I Got No Strings to hold me down”—plus the new stuff that was going to come out of it. These great classics have a chance to not just be updated, but I think to perhaps reflect the different times.

Q: Why do you think the original animated “Pinocchio” is such a classic?

A: Well, I think it’s because it’s dark. Walt understood that the dark aspects of “fairy tales” are very important to the storytelling apparatus that that greets both young people and old people. Pinocchio chooses to be led astray by Stromboli and everything else. He actually leaves the safety of this house and this father who loves him and goes off and is in danger. When Pinocchio starts growing those ears because he’s turning into one of the asses, then is turned into a beast of burden, that’s a scary thing to go through. I think that, along with the threat of Monstro, which in itself is pound for pound one of the best sequences ever put down on film, and then the magic way in which he and Geppetto escape him, is dark stuff and rightly so. It’s part of the descent into Hades that a hero has to go through, and Pinocchio does. So it was a deep throw for the world in 1940 and matched then with the one-of-a-kind never-before-seen artistry of the Disney studio and the Disney artists. I do think from a visual perspective and sequences-wise, “Pinocchio” was his masterpiece.

Q: Talk to me about how you and Bob came up with your version of Geppetto.

A: We have a responsibility to not just change things for the sake of changing things. So the look of Geppetto is not that far from what he looked like in the animated version. My moustache and all that stuff represented the traditional version of what Geppetto is recognizable as, but it still has to work in real space in real time. Bob and I talked about the fact that Geppetto’s a happy man, but there’s been loss in his life. He’s missed out on the joys of being alive, of having a family. Did he have one long ago in the past? Yeah. But how long ago was that and how and how tragic was the loss? The truth is, Geppetto’s older. He’s not in his late twenties. He’s well past middle age. So we talked about the idea that he’s been alone on his own, servicing other people and delighting other people with his handicrafts for, what, two and a half decades? That’s an awful long time to have no company for breakfast and dinner except a cat and a goldfish. The yearning of Geppetto, wanting to be a part of something bigger than himself, a part of a family, that was the whole bit. You can’t just make a real-life version of what the animated film was. It has to be deeper, and it has to have more baggage on it. So right from the get-go, you have Geppetto in his own stew, so to speak, and it’s not a happy stew.

Q: Was there a particular thing about Geppetto that took more time to figure out or solve?

A: That once he went on the road, there was the investment of it. When Geppetto sent Pinocchio off to school, on one hand, he’s delighted that Pinocchio was going to school. But on the other hand, he had just gotten Pinocchio. So there is a concern, a worry. I think in the original movie there’s a jumping to conclusion that everything is going to be okay. But I don’t think we could do that in this day and age. You can’t be a parent and just send a kid off. You’re going to worry. You’re going to worry that they’re not going to make it back. You’re going to worry what they’re going to and what they’re going to go through. And that impacted the quest to go find him. Geppetto wasn’t going off just to rescue or find him. He was going off to combat the worst fears that he has, which is that his surrogate son is going to disappear on him.

And if that happens, he’ll be alone again. Geppetto had this brief window on what it was like to be a dad and have a family and for it to be yanked out from underneath him would have been unbearable.

Q: What’s it like working with Bob again?

A: Well, Bob’s a fabulous challenge and part of it is hilarious, but also part of it is like ‘do you know what you’re going to do?’ There’s always the requirements for what is going to be the special effects that you can’t even keep your head straight on what’s going to be needed and then comes that moment on a Bob movie where he says “Okay, here’s what you have to imagine.” And the things you have to imagine are so complex that it’s a stretch for the acting process, the performance process. I had to do some things on this as Geppetto in which I wasn’t even remotely doing anything close to it, and yet I had to pretend. I learned long ago working with Bob is that unless you’re extremely well versed in the technological things that are going to happen after the fact, it can really screw you up. Like just drowning, just swimming in water or spinning something. Then it’s like, “okay, here’s what we have to do Tom. We have to suspend you upside down, which won’t look like it when we have it. You have to have a mouthful of this water, then have to spit it right there. But you can’t spit it that way. You have to spit it this way.” And you have to wait for a very specific moment when you do it. Now let’s do it 17 times ‘til we get it.

At one point I had to place in my head, a fish, a cat, a cricket and a wooden boy. I had to do it all, and with the Blue Fairy on occasion. On our second or third day there, my brain just got exhausted. I said, “Bob, can you just give me a minute in order to put all these mental images in my head and in the right place?’ and he gave me the time. I always knew that there was going to be this counterpoint in the scenes where there was no actual Jiminy Cricket off-stage to talk. Sometimes it was just literally a laser pointer. That’s the technology that goes into it. But knowing that it was going to be there, knowing that it was going to be Joseph Gordon-Levitt, knowing the stuff that he was going to be doing as the conscience of Pinocchio.

Q: All good children’s stories have a moral. What do you think the moral of “Pinocchio” is?

A: Aren’t they always “to thine own self be true?” Isn’t that pretty much what it is? You have to ask yourself what is and what isn’t important. And then you have to make that choice in order to pursue that. Pinocchio’s a blank slate at the beginning of this. But he learns everything that I think a connected and caring human being, a real boy, needs to learn over time so that the moral of the story is there’s no connection that has the potential to be stronger than that as with your family. But that cannot come about unless you know yourself. I think Geppetto is very much in in touch with who he is, what he lacks, what he’s good at, what he once had, what he’s lost, and he’s learned all the lessons. But he’s an old man. Pinocchio is young. So he’s a kid. But he accumulates that knowledge, and out of that knowledge, he knows what is right, what is wrong. And he becomes true to himself from the school of hard knocks. A lesson of the movie is pay attention when you’re enrolled in the school of hard knocks and try to come out of there with at least a bachelor’s degree.

Q: What do you hope audiences get out of this film?

A: Well, isn’t that the question of all cinema in the first place? I think there is no substitute for an audience seeing something they did not expect from a movie., When you are just taken to places beyond your expectations, that’s the magic of cinema. And it’s not just about what you saw. It’s about what you got involved in. The emotional beats of a movie are what make the movie. It’s not just how it looked or how great the music was or how cool the fight scenes were or even how scary Monstro was. It’s about the emotional connection. I’ve had people come up to me and mention the tiniest details of a movie that I haven’t thought about in a million years that weren’t even the things that we were going for. And they’ll say they always remember where they were, what they were doing when they saw it, what the circumstances were, and it’s astounding how truly important this emotional beat was that they were not expecting from a movie, and they carry it with them for the rest of their days. I know I do. And that’s what you aim for. For example, it’s going to be very rewarding if just that opening wish of Geppetto’s carries emotional weight. Very important, very satisfying. But if something else in the movie that we never anticipated becomes the most important point in the movie, that’s the high country there, man. That’s when the faith that we all have in making movies and going to the movies pays off, when something unique happens. And what’s great about it is it’s undeniable, and sometimes it’s only undeniable to that one person who happened to see the movie at a certain circumstance happened to be open to this one very particular dilemma. But that means it’s going to stay with somebody for the rest of their lives, and great movies last forever.

“Pinocchio” will launch 8th September 2022, exclusively on Disney+.

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Memorandum To Be Handed Over To The Cabinet To Amend Mandatory Death Sentence On Drug Traffickers

Instead of the mandatory death sentence on drug traffickers, judges may soon be allowed to use their discretion in imposing an appropriate penalty instead, such as jail terms.

In Malaysia, drug crimes are taken very seriously. Currently, under section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act, those in possession of 15g or more heroin and morphine; 1,000g or more opium (raw or prepared); 200g or more cannabis; and 40g or more cocaine will receive the mandatory death sentence. Death penalties are carried out in Malaysia through hanging and the penalty is used for a variety of offences.

According to the Prison Department’s statistics, there are almost 800 prisoners on death row for drug trafficking offences under Section 39(B).

Other offences that are liable for the death penalty include murder, terrorism, rapists that cause death, and child rapists. Foreigners are not exempt from the death penalty. As of 21st February 2017, more than 1,100 people have been convicted and sentenced to death by the courts. A total of 16 inmates – 14 Malaysians and 2 foreigners – had been executed between 2014 and 21st February 2017, although it is unclear if they were all drug traffickers.

However, with the amendment, the High Courts will be able to take into consideration the defendants personal circumstances or the circumstances of the particular offence during the trial.

The Star Online reported that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said in a written reply in Parliament that a memorandum will be handed over to the Cabinet for an amendment to the Act. “A research carried out by the International Centre for Law and Legal Studies (I-CeLLS) on this issue was presented to the Cabinet on March 1. The Cabinet unanimously decided that the amendment to Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act was necessary,” she said.

Azalina Othman added that there could have been past cases where a judge was forced to pass the death sentence on a drug trafficker as no other sentences were available.

Other countries in the Asian region that hand out severe penalties (read: death) as a punishment for drug offences include Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Source: The Star Online (1), The Star Online (2), Capital punishment in Malaysia / Featured image: Merry Jane.


#NasiKandarPelita: Food Chain To Expand To Saudi Arabia With 3 New Outlets

Nasi Kandar Pelita will be going global.

The local food chain plans to open 3 new outlets in Saudi Arabia, and has confirmed that the 3 branches will be opened in Mecca, Madinah, and Jeddah.

Company director Datuk K. K. Sihabutheen revealed that while the exact locations for their outlets in Mecca and Madinah has been pinpointed, they have yet to make a decision for the Jeddah site.

“We will start with the Madinah outlet, hopefully in April, and the rest will follow shortly after. We will retain the mamak-style menu from Malaysia and the outlets will be managed by our Saudi partners,” continued Sihabutheen.

However, the Saudi Arabia outlets won’t be Pelita’s first international outlet as they have opened one in Chennai, India previously.

Aside from their international plans, Pelita will also be adding 2 more outlets to their current slate of 25 outlets. It will be located at Sunway Resort, Subang Jaya and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. The former will be opened in March while the latter is slated to start operations in April.

The managing company, Pelita Samudra Pertama (M) Sdn Bhd, was also listed in the Malaysia Book of Records on 26th October 2015 as the largest nasi kandar restaurant chain in the country.

Sources: The Hive Asia, The Star Online.

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From A Jewellery Exhibition To A Music Fest: Fun Things To Do In The Klang Valley This Week!

From partying with local celebrities to an all-you-can-eat affair – are you ready for an eventful week?

HABIB returns with its highly-anticipated jewellery exhibition this week! You’re in for a treat! From irresistible deals and discounts on intricately-crafted gems, to expert guidance by jewellery consultants and in-house gemologists – delve into the world of gemstones with HABIB. Whether you’re looking for a stunning gift for a loved one, or just looking for bling to spice up your current collection, HABIB’s Jewellery Exhibition will cater to all your sparkling needs!

Fans of Threee Production (3P), listen up! 3P will be performing live for the first time ever at Spark KL this Wednesday. Like we said earlier, since we have the next day off, why not use it for some partying, right? The boy group will be performing some of their hottest songs, along with local musician, Blink. Get your best club outfits on and dance the night away with 3P and Blink at Sparks KL! You can make a table reservation for this special show here.

If partying is not your cup of tea, how about a lively contest? Let your competitive spirit show as you compete with others, show off your knowledge and win exciting prizes. Just how much do you know of the world? Free up your evening this Wednesday, as you fill it with laughter and excitement at The Bee’s quiz night. Are you ready for an unforgettable evening? Click here for more information.

Friday evenings are the ‘breather’ you need after a hectic week. It’s when you should treat yourself to something nice. What better way to pamper yourself than a night out at W Kuala Lumpur? Doesn’t an all-you-can-eat affair sound tempting? Grab your closest friends and nom the night away at Friday Fete! RSVP for your spots here.

In celebration of the release of MTG’s biggest collaboration yet – The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth™ – a welcome party will be held at Paradigm Mall this weekend. Both new and longtime fans of the card game are invited! There will be cosplayers, photo booths, ‘learn-to-play’ sessions, participation gifts and the chance to win exclusive MTG x LOTR merchandise. Spend your weekend with the world’s best trading card game and your favourite LOTR characters! Admission to the Welcome Party is FREE – you just have to show up! Go here for more information.

On June 22nd last week, gamers were hyped as FINAL FANTASY XVI was finally released on PlayStation®5. In celebration of this, Sony Interactive Entertainment Singapore (SIES) will be holding a launch exhibition for the entire week at Sunway Pyramid. You’ll be able to admire an extensive collection of FINAL FANTASY XVI art pieces and immerse yourself at the game trial zone. Stand a chance to win exclusive prizes and merchandise as well! As a finale, FINAL FANTASY XVI producer, Yoshida Naoki, will be meeting and greeting you on Saturday from 3pm onwards. More details for this exhibition can be found here.

Location: Orange Concourse (LG2), Sunway Pyramid

Have you truly experienced FUN if you’ve never been to a music festival? Well, now’s your chance! A neon-themed music fest will be coming to town next week and it’s your time to party till you drop! A wave of awesome activities will be happening, from electrifying tunes from fan favourite DJs to street performances to delectable food being sold. If this doesn’t sound like an epic music festival, we don’t know what does! What’s more, internet sensation, Phei Yong, will be making his debut behind the turntables! What are you waiting for? Get your tickets here before it’s too late!

To celebrate the 25th birthday of local social media sensation, Ms Pui Yi, an extraordinary event that promises an unforgettable night filled with music, entertainment, and exhilaration awaits you on 30th July. Set to happen at Spark KL, attendees can expect an exhilarating evening of captivating performances, an electrifying atmosphere and exciting activities. Get the chance to meet the public figure in the flesh, too! Early bird tickets are up for sale right now – click here to get them.


6 Actors Who Took On Their Own Stunts & Nailed It

Ever wondered what it takes to bring to life the daring stunts played out on screen?

From high-speed car chases and explosive shootouts to elegant swordplay and brutal fistfights, we go behind the scenes of some of Netflix’s most-loved films and series where the stars themselves took on the challenge of performing most – if not all – of their own stunts.

Continuing her streak of action blockbusters, having previously starred in “Gemini Man” and “Birds of Prey”, “Kate” marks the latest film where Mary Elizabeth Winstead takes on yet another series of increasingly complex stunts as a female assassin with less than 24 hours to live.

In order to do this, Winstead clocked in a year’s worth of physical training prior to filming, working on drills that incorporated Jiu-Jitsu and boxing. To elevate her gunwork, she trained with Hollywood’s go-to weapons trainer Taran Butler and also received hands-on training from former military snipers in Thailand.

LOOK OUT FOR: Winstead and Japanese actor Miyavi’s gripping kitchen fight scene, which they performed without stunt doubles and is one of the actress’ favourite and most challenging sequences to film.

Catch Mary Elizabeth Winstead in action when “Kate” premieres on 10th September!

In a conversation with Sir Patrick Stewart, Cavill mentioned that he has “always enjoyed doing the physical stuff” and working with Tom Cruise on “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” only served to affirm his resolve to perform his own stunts when it came time to work on “The Witcher”.

“I think [doing my own stunts is] an essential piece to the character,” he explained. “If an audience is watching Geralt on-screen, they must believe that it is me. If it’s not me, I feel like I’ve betrayed the character in some way, and so I try and do as much as a production will let me.”

Combined with his personal passion for “The Witcher” franchise, it’s an endeavour that has definitely paid off, as Geralt’s action sequences are often lauded as some of the series’ highlights.

LOOK OUT FOR: The iconic Blaviken fight scene, and the return of Geralt of Rivia when Season 2 of “The Witcher” premieres on 17th December.

In the upcoming Thai series, Weir plays Wanchai, a new arrival in the city who joins Bangkok’s road rescue services. He soon finds himself entangled in a web of dark secrets alongside a young, upstart journalist, attracting attention from powerful forces hell-bent on stopping them from unravelling the truth.

On top of undergoing rescue service training to prepare for the role, Weir’s real-life passion for motorcycles proved extremely handy on set when he had to film a high-speed action scene, which he performed without a stunt double.

LOOK OUT FOR: The aforementioned scene, which shows Wanchai speeding away on a bike while dodging bullets with aplomb, when “Bangkok Breaking” premieres on 23rd September.

While he leaves the insane stunts to the experts, Hemsworth was very much involved in the movie’s key action sequence, The Oner, which involved 12 minutes of non-stop action film to appear as a seamless one-take scene.

As the epic sequence was the first thing they shot for the film, Hemsworth trained with the stunt team an hour a day prior to filming and continued to work with them even after production began to nail down and perfect the choreography.

LOOK OUT FOR: The Oner — a 12-minute-long action sequence in the film consisting of multiple chase sequences, gun battles, hand-to-hand combat, and plenty of explosions. And this is gonna make your jaw drop – to make sure he captured the heart-racing intensity of the car chases, director Sam Hargrave was strapped precariously to the hood of a car going up to 95 kilometres per hour with a camera in his hand.

When you’re an exiled crown prince trying to save your kingdom from a zombie apocalypse, you gotta do a lot more than just trying to outrun the undead.

The action-filled series required the cast – including Ju Ji-hoon, who plays Crown Prince Lee Chang – to perform no small amount of stunts, which could be challenging due to the number of actors and zombies involved in each scene.

Adding to the difficulty level of his performance, many of the actor’s fight scenes had to be filmed in long takes in order to capture his emotions. In fact, he recalled the aftermath of filming a one-take rooftop fight scene in Season 2 where he suddenly lost strength in his legs, came tumbling down, and broke his finger.

LOOK OUT FOR: The crown prince and his army of living making their last stand against the undead on a frozen lake at the tail end of Season 2.

As her character is one of the four undying warriors who have been secretly protecting humanity for millenia, Theron had to look like she had been using the axe-like labrys for thousands of years on top of familiarising herself with various different styles of combat.

In the months leading up to the shoot, the actress trained five days a week, doing a mixture of strength conditioning and combat training. Her weekly schedule included striking motions, throws and weapon work, on top of martial arts training that spanned Iaido and Kendo, the arts of Japanese swordplay; Silat, a Malay martial art with close-quarter handwork; Kali, a Filipino martial art which focuses on stick and knife work; Hung Ga Kuen, a Shaolin martial art style; as well as Wushu, Korean Tae Kwon Do, Greco-Roman wrestling, Judo, and Jiu Jitsu.

LOOK OUT FOR: The knock-em-down fight sequence on the plane, which was also the very first scene to be shot for the film. Theron and co-star KiKi Layne had trained separately, then came together about two weeks before filming to fine-tune the choreography.

This sure gave us a lot more appreciation for the hard work and coordination that goes into bringing stunt work to life! Catch these stars and their fellow stunt performers for some heart-racing action, only on Netflix.

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#BaliQuake: Earthquake Hits Indonesian Holiday Island; No Tsunami Warning Issued

Bali was shaken this morning when an earthquake struck the Indonesian resort island.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck the coast of Bali at about 7:10am (local Bali time), 2km northeast of Banjar Pasekan, with a depth of 118.4km.

M5.6 #earthquake (#gempa) strikes 26 km S of #Denpasar (#Indonesia) 9 min ago. Effects reported by witnesses: pic.twitter.com/S0pNHTWile

Indonesia’s Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency, on the other hand, pegged the earthquake at 6.4 magnitude and said the epicentre of the quake was about 23km from the city’s capital of Denpasar.

It didn’t trigger any tsunami alarms but the quake was reportedly felt by inhabitants on and around the island. Residents are said to have leapt from their beds and ran into the streets for safety while witnesses reported that they felt a strong shake that lasted for about 20 seconds.

One of Bali’s most beautiful temples, ancient Hindu temple complex Kehen Templein Bangli, suffered minor damage from the quake as part of the temple’s gate collapsed.

Damage to the gate of Kehan Temple, Bangli by this mornings's 6.4 magnitude earthquake in Bali #bali #earthquake #gempa pic.twitter.com/2sUstw9W98

— Cindy Wockner (@CindyWockner) March 21, 2017

Indonesia is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. About 90% of the world’s earthquakes and 81% of the world’s largest earthquakes occur along the horseshoe-shaped ring.

Meanwhile, tourists have taken to social media to update their followers post-quake:

Massive earthquake in Bali. Threw me out of bed

— Bali Eric (@itsmarcroberts) March 21, 2017

Woke up to our entire room shaking in Bali, 6.4 magnitude earthquake. Holy moly very scary – 🙁

— Dena Amy (@DenaAmyKaplan) March 21, 2017

Leapt out of bed this morning as a 6.4 r #earthquake 23km off the coast shook #Bali .. sheltered under #big teak table 5 mins #safetyfirst pic.twitter.com/KntzOELYBr

— Emily Readett-Bayley (@EmilyReadettB) March 21, 2017

Woke up this morning to the bed & our beach hut shaking from an #earthquake! On Gili Air now – epicenter was apparently southern tip #Bali.

As at time of writing, there are no immediate reports of casualties or fatalities. More information to come.

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Contest: Learn How You Can Be A Friend From We Bare Bears & Win Watch Party Kits

Cartoon Network is set to launch its biggest movie event with the premiere of “We Bare Bears: The Movie” at 11am on 12th September.

In this latest adventure, Grizz, Ice and Panda will face off against a sinister villain named Agent Trout. Will the brotherly bond triumph against the looming threat?

Eric Edelstein, Demetri Martin and Bobby Moynihan are reprising their roles as the loveable bears. Recurring guest stars will include Cameron Esposito (as Ranger Dana Tabes), Ellie Kemper (as Lucy), Jason Lee (as Charlie), Patton Oswalt (as Nom Nom), Mel Rodriguez (as Darrell Zaragosa), and Charlyne Yi (as Chloe Park).

“We Bare Bears: The Movie” will also feature feature special guest stars Marc Evan Jackson as Agent Trout and Jimmy O. Yang as the internet famous racoon Joey Raccoon. In celebration, fans across Asia are encouraged to take part in Cartoon Network’s first-ever
watch party by using the hashtags #CNWatchParty and #WeBareBears to interact with other fans.

Since Grizz, Panda, and Ice share a bond unlike any other, here are 5 great examples on how we can be a great friend to those around us. Scroll down to see if you relate to any of the following points:

Everybody has knowledge, skills or resources that can be used to help others – in Poppy Rangers, Grizz is happy to be the ‘expert’ on a cave expedition, Ice confronts foes from his past in rescuing Yana in Icy Nights II, and the Baby Bears help a teenager become a famous singer in Bearz II Men.

Even the most successful or adorable person needs support when they are down, and Nom Nom knows he can find all the support he needs from Grizz, Panda, and Ice! For as long as they have known each other, he has turned to them for help – first in Nom Nom, when he found his online appeal diminishing, again in Nom Nom’s Entourage when a new internet sensation threatened his popularity and appearing in The Nom Nom Show.

3. Sharing a meal (Malaysians will be able to identify to this the most!)

Eating together is something the Bears do well, and having meals together is a great way to grow closer. Clearly, this works with the Bears as many episodes revolve around their love of food, from Grizz’s bear-sized Burrito, Ice’s great coffee in Coffee Cave and their desperate attempts to find their favourite Hot Sauce.

Whether it’s playing games or sports, or just going on an adventure, the Bears are always open to trying something new such as Mexican wrestling in Escandalosos, kickball in Ranger Games or basketball in Baby Bears Can’t Jump.

Technology, used wisely, is a wonderful tool to capture and share some fun and beautiful moments, and the Bears certainly have many of these in Everyone’s Tube, Everyone’s Tube II and More Everyone’s Tube.

“We Bare Bears: The Movie” is set to debut on 12th September (Saturday) at 11am via Cartoon Network (Astro Ch 615 HD / 635), Boomerang (UnifiTV Ch 555), HBO (Astro Ch 411 HD), HBO GO, Warner TV (Astro Ch 712 HD / UnifiTV Ch 451), and Oh!K (Astro Ch 394).

In conjunction with the upcoming release of “We Bare Bears: The Movie”, Hype Malaysia is delighted to give away 10 x exclusive movie-themed Watch Party Kits in a bear-y special quiz contest to celebrate the premiere!

10 lucky winners will be walking away with exclusive “We Bare Bears: The Movie” watch party kits that include:

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

Disclaimer: Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc. (Turner) has agreed to Sponsor the prizes in connection with the Contest conducted by Hype Malaysia, the Promoter of this Contest.

Turner is not the promoter of this Contest or otherwise associated with Hype Malaysia, the Promoter of this Contest. The use of the Cartoon Network name, and/or the offer of the Cartoon Network/We Bare Bears prizes does not imply any connection or endorsement by either Turner or Cartoon Network as Promoter or its products or services.

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Hype’s Now Playing: Wiz Khalifa Ft. Charlie Puth – See You Again (#Furious7 OST)

“It’s been a long day without you my friend, and I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again. We’ve come a long way from where we began, oh I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again. When I see you again.”

Sure, it mustn’t have been easy for the “Fast & Furious” cast and crew to put together the Paul Walker tribute at the end of “Furious 7“. In fact, Paul Walker’s best buddy Vin Diesel has said it’s the hardest movie he’s ever done, while co-star Tyrese noted how the cast is still mourning their deceased friend and colleague, who passed away tragically in November 2013.

Film director James Wan had the gruelling task of making, editing, and basically putting it altogether for the world.

I made the movie, I edited the ending I did the music and I cut it all together — and yet I still cry as well. The ending just really, really gets me every time I see it.

And we don’t blame him. We, too, found it hard to hold back our tears when we watched it recently.

Without revealing too much about what to expect from “Furious 7” (just in case you haven’t seen it), following 2 hours of mayhem the likes of which the “Fast & Furious” franchise has never even seen, the movie downshifts to become a tribute to Paul Walker masked as a goodbye to his character, Brian O’Conner. The tribute is set to an original song by Wiz Khalifa (featuring Charlie Puth) called “See You Again”.

The high-octane “Furious 7” film has been released in a cinema near you. Do yourself a favour and go watch it ASAP.

For more information, visit the movie’s website or Facebook page.


VIMA Malaysia Final Nominees List!

Bite Media has released its biggest and fiercest VIMA Malaysia Final nominees list. Taking charge with 5 nominations is the band Sekumpulan Orang Gila (SOG). The genre-defying band scored the nominations for Best Rock, Pop, Genre Bender and Music video categories. Joining these guys in the top nominees list are An Honest Mistake, Shruthi J, Melissa Indot, AhmadAhmad and Vikadakavi with four nominations each.

“Its been a long time since we have been put through a selection process as challenging as the one we just went through, but after digesting more than 600 songs, we are happy with the quality of the talent that have made it into the final list. We expanded the list this time round as we have trimmed down the number of categories compared to previous years. I dare say, there are a few potential Asian champions in this list, but it still boils down to how they engage their fans and the global judges in the coming weeks” said Siva Zaphod Chandran, founder of VIMA and COO of Bite Media.

The awards now goes into its voting and judging phase where 30% of the scores will be determined by the public while 70% will come from online global judges.

The full list of nominees can be found below:

Sekumpulan Orang Gila feat Tyler Carter & Micheal Bohn – 40% Disco

Sekumpulan Orang Gila feat Ana Raffali – Lagu Raya

H.W.C – Take Control (featuring Myo Oh Chentaku)

Hairee and Angels – Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban

An Honest Mistake – Giddy Up Horsie! This chase aint waiting for you

An Honest Mistake  feat Diana Danielle – This Hari Raya Rocks

Arvinder Raina feat Chamanjeet Kaur & Boy Radge – Aa Nachle Meri Jaan

Tom Lue & Elvin Ong feat Kenneth Ho (Mystical Mirage) – Top of the World

Sasi The Don & Maxi Priest  – Island Queen

Melissa Indot – Come when i call (Mr Nasty Remix)

Vikadakavi feat Rabbit Mac – Party Machi

Alvin Anthons  feat Syko G– Berdua Remix

Rhymebook featuring Pearl of Swaiv & Son of Age- Shoulda Known Better

Carbolics feat Balan Kashmir – Rock n Roll

Melissa Indot featuring Arabyrd – You & Me

Galvin Patrick feat Nutty Slicc – Lagu Ini Hanya Untukmu

Young Ruff  feat Roshan Jamrock & Leng Yein – Kpop Killa

Seveneightsix feat King Lhota – She (Je’Taime

Island Queen : Sasi The Don & Maxi Priest

Melissa Indot – You & Me Official Music Video

An Honest Mistake – Giddy Up Horsie! This Chase Ain’t Waiting For You

BEST TAMIL/PUNJABI SONG (including Hindi)

Stylo D’Viruz feat King Harvind – Mozhega Bajji

Shaman & Pirate ft Thiyvya Kalaiselvan -Hyper Kavithai

Vikadakavi feat Sheeza & Aaryan Dinesh K – Bunga Saavi Remix

Foulworks – Be-a-u-ty (Shiva Sigma feat Dharshaini)

Hype Malaysia — Awards Sponsor & Media Partners For VIMA 2014

Hype’s Exclusive: In the Spotlight with Melissa Indot

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The Batman Review: Robert Pattinson Has Delivered The Best Version Of The Dark Knight

It’s been almost a decade since Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises”. While actor Ben Affleck has made an appearance as the Dark Knight within the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), his presence within the franchise has been mostly tangential. Either starring alongside other big name DC heroes or relegated to the sidelines as a cameo. We never really got a chance to see him come into his own. Perhaps we will in this year’s “The Flash” film. One thing we can say for certain is that director Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson’s vision of the Batman is the true successor to Nolan and Bale’s. Adapting the best aspects of its predecessor while bringing something frighteningly fresh and yet familiar to the character.

Much like Nolan’s “Batman Begins”, Reeves’ film takes inspiration from popular Batman story arcs such as “Batman: The Long Halloween” and “Batman: Year One”. So diehard fans of the Dark Knight’s legacy comics will find themselves in very comfortable territory. What sets this beginning of a new Batman saga apart is its commitment to an aspect of the hero that has slowly become understated over the years: his role as a detective. In a world populated with gods, aliens and metahumans, it seems almost impossible, if not trivial, to tell a meaningful story of Batman tackling the horrid realities of urban crime and violence. Whether fans would agree with this or not, we believe Reeves made the wise decision to set “The Batman” in a universe of its own.

The film doesn’t bother going into lengthy exposition trying to flesh out the origins of Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle or the city of Gotham. Reeves, being a brilliant storyteller, sticks to the adage of choosing to show rather than tell. We, quite literally at times, are transported through the eyes of the titular character as the film steadily feeds us more gruesome and tantalizing details. The pacing of the film is very much reminiscent of David Fincher’s “Zodiac”. At the forefront of the narrative is the overarching mystery of the Riddler and his history with some of Gotham’s most powerful elites. Every scrap of backstory, info and dialogue serves to propel the plot to its final, disturbing destination. Not a second wasted.

“The Batman” isn’t just a gripping crime thriller though. It has elements of political drama thrown into the mix. That being said, those unaware of some of America’s more recent issues may find themselves left in the dark. The Riddler is often an analog for the fringe Far-Right. He embodies a QAnon type role to disrupt and ultimately destroy a corrupt system. At the very least the Riddler is actually right about the crazy stuff he says. One prevailing theme that everyone can certainly resonate with is the systemic failures and institutional corruption of Gotham. While the film doesn’t quite stick the landing by offering any sort of believable solution to these issues, its climax will still have the audience roaring in theaters.

If you came in wondering if “The Batman” would be more brain than brawny kick-ass fun, fret not friend. There are plenty of bone-crunching close-quarters melees and large-scale action set pieces to keep you entertained from start to finish. What further elevates the film above mere spectacle is the way Reeves and company frames the violence on-screen. Yes, there are moments of flashy glamour but there’s also something we felt has been sorely lacking in recent media depictions of the Batman: horror.

What made 2008’s “The Dark Knight” such a memorable and iconic film is the way Nolan used disturbing imagery and visceral violence to heighten the stakes of a situation and to reinforce the point that there are real consequences to actions. Seriously, there are moments in “The Batman” that will have your heart racing and your jaw hanging.

The choice to have actor Robert Pattinson take up the mantle of the legendary Dark Knight has no doubt been a polarizing one. With plenty of people arguing that the “Twilight” actor doesn’t have the grit and acting chops to take up the role. Those who have seen the man in films like “The Lighthouse” and “Good Time” though, know better. Robert Pattinson is the Batman, and we wholeheartedly loved his take on the character. Unlike Bale’s charismatic portrayal, Pattinson’s depiction is one of an unhinged, obsessive detective who puts people on edge.

This isn’t the Bat in his prime, rather one who’s still developing a moral compass and it shows! What we have here is a Batman far more nuanced and tortured than any other we’ve seen in cinematic history. This does, however, comes at the expense of his portrayal of Bruce Wayne. Something that we hope future films will develop on.

Paul Dano’s performance as the Riddler is a tour de force. It’s safe to say that he’s redeemed the character from the cartoonish clutches of Jim Carrey’s version. This Riddler is genuinely unnerving. He carries all the aura of an angry incel, full of self-pity, bitterness and rage. While we were horrified at Heath Ledger’s Joker, there was still an element of romanticism in his chaotic worldview. For Dano’s Riddler though, there is nothing to idolize. There is only a clawing, hungry hate that fits right at home with real-life killers like Elliot Rodger.

Zoe Kravitz does an amazing job as Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman. Her on-screen chemistry with Pattinson is to die for as they exchange witty banter and tug on our heart-strings. That being said, Selina is no accessory to the Bat, proving to be every bit as capable and vengeful as her partner. Really everyone here plays their role to perfection. Jeffrey Wright’s Jim Gordon is the same lovable and supportive cop with a heart of gold we know him to be. Colin Farrell is barely recognisable in his role as the Penguin and that’s a good thing. He provides both levity and menace to his character. Though it seems the ending of “The Batman” is setting him up to be a much bigger threat in future films.

Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” is a triumph! A bold and frankly frightening vision of an urban dystopia plagued by very plausible horrors with a captivating narrative that is as cerebral as it is thrilling. Robert Pattinson has more than proven himself worthy of Batman, showing us a facet of the beloved crusader that we were sorely lacking. Reeves’ masterpiece is a powerful reminder of why the Dark Knight has stood the test of time and still has place in this decade and many more to come.

You can catch Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” at your local theater today!

Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” is a triumph! A bold and frankly frightening vision of an urban dystopia plagued by very plausible horrors with a captivating narrative that is as cerebral as it is thrilling. Robert Pattinson has more than proven himself worthy of the as Batman, showing us a facet of the beloved crusader that we were sorely lacking. Reeves’ masterpiece is a powerful reminder of why the Dark Knight has stood the test of time and still has place in this decade and many more to come.


#AllSaints: Girl Group Reuniting & Dropping Their First Album In 10 Years

That’s right, the 90s girl group – made up of Nicole and sister Natalie Appleton, Melanie Blatt, and Shaznay Lewis – have announced their reunion and revealed that they will be releasing a brand new single and their first album in 10 years!

Red Flag / The New Album / 08.04.16 / #AllSaints2016 🚩@i_D https://t.co/Tl7RdKoloj pic.twitter.com/bZgNBXYcuU

— All Saints (@AllSaintsOffic) January 27, 2016

Kicking things off with their comeback is their lead single titled “One Strike”. The melancholy track was inspired by Nicole Appleton’s very public split from her ex-husband and former Oasis rocker Liam Gallagher.

Nicole and Liam – who have a 15 years old son named Gene – decided to split after 5 years of marriage and 13 years together. Liam was found guilty of adultery when he fathered a child with American journalist Liza Ghorbani and later had an affair with his assistant Debbie Gwyther.

“When I write, I just think about what’s on my mind. The lyrics came from somewhere very real. Nic was going through a lot of things at that time. That was at the forefront of my mind because it was the heaviest thing going on,” said Shaznay of the track.

Recalling their conversation, Nicole remembered talking to Shaznay “for hours and hours” on the phone during that difficult period. Her sister, Natalie, was immediately moved by the lyrics. “The first few times I heard it in my car I couldn’t stop crying because I could hear so clearly what it was about,” said Natalie.

All Saints was formed in 1994 but the girl group called it quits in 2001. After a failed reunion in 2006 (their reunion was poorly received at that time), the girls reformed again in 2014 to tour with the Backstreet Boys. That was the genesis that resulted in a new album and a full scale comeback.

“We didn’t force ourselves into this situation and it couldn’t have happened at a better time in all of our lives. I just missed being with the girls. It makes us happy. Listen, if you can work with your favourite people, then why not?” Natalie said.

In the meantime, we suggest listening to one of their hit songs “Never Ever”:

Their single “One Strike” will be released on 26th February 2016 while their 4th album, “Red Flag”, will drop on 8th April 2016.

Sources: Daily Mail, E! Online, Huffington Post.

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The Batman: Ending And Future Villains Explained

Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” was quite the experience. A 3-hour long epic through the eyes of one of comic books’ most iconic heroes. One thing that we loved about this fresh new noir take on the Batman universe was its grounded approach to characters like the Riddler and Penguin. Don’t get us wrong, Jim Carrey and Danny DeVito gave entertaining performances. Though, it came at the expense of the essence of Gotham’s black soul. Here, though, we get to see the city in all its filthy, crime-infested glory. As much as the Bat tries to lift it from the muck and mire, the evil in the streets never seem to sleep. Which is exactly what we saw at the end of the film.

In spite of the Dark Knight’s victory, the war is far from over. New players are about to enter the battlefield and old enemies may yet haunt the Bat. Oh, and in case any of you were wondering, no there isn’t any post-credits scene to be found within “The Batman”. With that out of the way, here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the ending of “The Batman” and the future films to come! It goes without saying: spoilers ahead.

To say that Batman pulled out a flawless win against the serial-killer/terrorist the Riddler is kind of a stretch. Ultimately, the Riddler did manage to destroy a good part of Gotham by blowing up the seawalls surrounding the city. Sure the Riddler is behind bars and his followers failed to commit a mass shooting within the stadium housing flood victims but Gotham is still worse for wear. That being said, there is a newfound respect for the Batman as we see him helping victims of the flood and even comforting them in their darkest hours. Bruce has learned a valuable lesson, he has to become more than just a symbol of fear. He must be their hope.

The war to save Gotham is now more desperate than ever. In light of the horrific flooding that has left many areas of Gotham cut off from law enforcement, Batman predicts crime will only skyrocket from there. He also states that this power vacuum left in the wake of crimelord Carmine Falcone’s death will lead to new players in Gotham’s underworld. We then see Penguin looking over a flooded city. The scene seems to imply that the sequel will see Batman dealing with new mob bosses rising up to fill Falcone’s shoes. One thing we know for sure is that Penguin will be using this opportunity to seize power. Could we also be seeing other crimelords like Black Mask and Two-Face battling for Gotham as well? We’ll just have to wait and see.

With Batman managing to save Gotham’s Mayor, Bella Real and his plan foiled, the Riddler is seen wailing and weeping in Arkham Asylum. He laments how it all could have been so perfect but then we hear a voice from another cell talking to him. He tells the Riddler to cheer up and he should be proud of what he’s done. The Riddler eventually asks the prisoner for his identity, only to be meet with a riddle: the less you have of it, the more valuable it becomes. The Riddler responds with the answer “friend” before the prisoner proceeds to laugh his head off in his cell. Soon, the Riddler joins him in cackling too.

The scene seems to be strongly implying that the unseen Arkham prisoner to be none other than the Joker himself. Based on the credits, we can confirm that the voice of the unseen prisoner is that of actor Barry Keoghan’s, who played Druig in Marvel’s “The Eternals”. Interestingly enough, Keoghan’s brother stated in a deleted tweet that Barry Keoghan would be playing the Joker in Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” film. This all could be a massive misdirection with Reeves but until proven otherwise, Barry Keoghan is essentially the Joker of Reeves’ new Batman universe.

The final scenes in the film sees Catwoman and Batman parting ways. She tells him that the both of them could run away together and move to the city of Bludhaven. She then deduces that he’ll never leave Gotham behind and that his heart will always belong to the city. The both of them ride off together but finally going in different directions. The end. Well, we were certainly hoping that Selina Kyle would stick around to help Batman clean Gotham but we’re pretty sure this isn’t the last we’ll see of her. What’s even more interesting is her mention of the city of Bludhaven.

In the comics, Batman’s first Robin, Dick Grayson moves out of Gotham to patrol a city of his own. He moves into Bludhaven and becomes its protector and saviour, Nightwing. The idea of Nightwing appearing in Matt Reeves’ Batman universe anytime soon is definitely a pipe dream. However, we could see Bruce adopt a new orphan boy in the sequel, one possibly named Dick Grayson. Perhaps, one whose parents died in Gotham’s flooding. Anything’s possible right?

When all is said and done, there’s one nagging, lingering question we still have: Who killed Thomas and Martha Wayne?! Seriously Matt, you’re killing us here. Far from the idyllic couple seen in so many versions of Bruce Wayne’s cinematic origin story, Thomas and Martha had skeletons in their closets here. The biggest one being Thomas’ request of a favour from crimelord Carmine Falcone to deal with a nosy reporter who threatened to expose Martha’s previous mental health issues. Unfortunately, he didn’t know that Carmine would have the reporter murdered in cold blood.

The night Thomas decided to report himself in to the authorities, both him and his wife were shot dead. So it’s settled then, Carmine Falcone hired someone to kill Waynes, right? Well, not exactly. Before Falcone rose to power, he answered to his previous boss, Salvatore Maroni who also wanted the Waynes killed because of their close relationship to Carmine. An alliance between Falcone’s muscle and the Waynes’ money would be able to challenge his power in Gotham, so he had them killed…according to Carmine’s account. Then there’s Alfred’s theory that it could have been just some random mugger who shot them in an alleyway. Reeves’ deliberate decision to leave this question open is a brilliant one! Perhaps we’ll get our answer to the question in Reeves’ next film.

Be sure to check out our review of “The Batman” and to catch the film in theatres this March!


Giveaway: Get To Know 5 Surprising Tea Facts & Win RM250 Dilmah Tea Set

Do you think you know a lot about tea? What if we told you that there are numerous tea facts that you may not have heard of? Does tea have more caffeine than coffee? Maybe…maybe not.

Here are 5 surprising tea facts you can share like a pro with their friends, and even come off as a tea connoisseur!

The flavouring of Earl Grey which is the Bergamot, contains natural ingredients that help prevent the absorption of cholesterol to the stomach. It also has high levels of antioxidants and a citrus extract that contribute to weight loss.

That’s right.. for example, you can make Earl Grey infused chocolate truffles or even Earl Grey seared Australian beef! From tea shakes, desserts, up to main courses – try infusing tea in your next cooking adventure and you can definitely impress your friends with these interesting infusions!

Both tea and coffee have been in debates for years on who reigns supreme to be healthier. But… tea has proven to provide a long list of health benefits. It contains high levels of antioxidants that fight inflammation and have shown to prevent blood vessels from hardening.

It lowers the risk of diabetes, stroke and age-related decline in memory as well! Isn’t that great? You got the ‘tea’ from us ;)

Sleeping problem? Chamomile tea can take you to dreamland! For years, chamomile tea is used to reduce stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Chamomile contains high levels of apigenin that binds specific receptors in your brain to decrease anxiety and initiate sleep or act as a mild tranquilliser.

Hold up! The basics of tea are black, green, white, oolong and puer. This remains true.
However, like wine, tea has over 3,000 varieties! How so? Well depending on where the leaves are grown and the type of bush they come from, tea classifications can vary by a mile.

The next time you’re hanging out with your girlfriends or…guy friends just slip one or two of these facts, and voila! You’re on your way to be a legitimate Tea Connoisseur! For more ‘tea’, check out https://www.dilmahtea.com/.

If you’re a tea lover just like us, then we’d like to reward you when you share these tea fun facts with your friends on social media. Thanks to Dilmah Tea, we’re looking for some winners to walk away with a Dilmah tea set worth over RM250.

Perfect for everyday drinking our Premium Range of Black Tea is handpicked from the central highlands of Sri Lanka and is reputed for its brightness & medium strength. . . . #Tea #ceylontea #drinks #march #shoponline #premiumtea #handpicked #handcrafted #food #natural #health #dilmah #dilmahaustralia #traditional #breakfast #teatime #afternoon #fresh #flavor #taste #australia #teagram #teaparty #favorite #infusion #cocktail #drink #fitness #sydney

A post shared by  Dilmah Australia (@dilmahaustralia) on Mar 18, 2019 at 2:21am PDT

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Hype’s Now Playing: Ronan Keating – Let Me Love You

After more than 3 years, Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating, is finally getting ready to release new music.

Now signed to Decca Records, “Let Me Love You” is the first single lifted from Keating’s 10th studio album titled “Time Of My Life”. His previous album “Fires”, which was released in 2012, peaked at #5 in the UK.

Shot on the misty banks of London’s River Thames, the music videos sees Keating performing on an acoustic guitar with his band members. Slowly, the people passing by start to be drawn by the music – or maybe they realised that it was Ronan-freaking- Keating!

It doesn’t take long for the excited crowd to sing along while grabbing the opportunity for a selfie with the 38-year-old singer. Some generous folks were also seen chucking a few pence into his guitar case (which was later donated to the Cancer Research UK).

Speaking about the music video, Keating says, “This video is a reflection of the album itself – organic, honest and stripped of the bells and whistles sometimes found in my previous work. I guess in some ways it mirrors where I am in my life and the way I now live it: optimistic, happy and without pretence.”

He adds, “I have nothing to hide and everything to share, so I hope people can really relate to the songs and feel their own stories in the lyrics in the same way that other songs have done for me throughout the years.”

His upcoming album was inspired by his new wife, Australian model and TV presenter, Storm Uechtritz. The couple tied the knot in Scotland last August.

Thanks to his new found happiness, Keating says, “I‘m at this place in my life, I feel very secure. It’s all optimism and hope – it’s because of this woman. I feel very lucky.”

“Time Of My Life” is set to be released on 12th February 2016.

Sources: Express, Digital Spy, Entertainment Focus.


#MH17: Netizens Create Online Memorial

Netizens have set up a virtual memorial, accessible via Facebook, in honour of the 298 people who perished on board Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight #MH17. The e-memorial page contains the details of all the passengers and cabin crew, with pictures included for some of them.

Information such as their hobbies, age, and reasons for travelling to Kuala Lumpur are also mentioned in the page.

Families, friends, loved ones, and the general public can place free virtual memorial flowers and messages, as well as light virtual candles for the departed. If you’d like to do the same, head on over to the e-memorial here.

On Friday, 22nd August 2014, Malaysians were reminded again of how real the pain is and we’re united in grief. Our nation continues to soldier on through this difficult time, staying strong for each other, while welcoming home the remains of the MH17 victims with warm but heavy hearts.


Hype Picks: 9 Things To Do In The Klang Valley This Week (7th March – 13th March)

The first week of March is already behind us and we hoped you’ve checked out our Hype Picks from last week. If you missed out on any of them then don’t worry, there’s still a lot to do this week!

For our picks this week, be sure to indulge yourself in live music and theatre performances, participate in fun and creative workshops, and maybe even go camping in a mall. Whatever your choice is, make the second week of March a fulfilling one!

A post shared by The Bee | Bar • Kitchen • Venue (@thebeemy)

In conjunction with International Women’s Day, The Bee will be giving out FREE first cocktail for ladies (from 7th-9th March with no min spend) and each table will receive a free brownie with ice cream too!

Location: 1 Mont Kiara, L1-02 ,1 Mont Kiara Mall

Rejoice, ramen lovers! There’s a brand new ramen spot in Mont Kiara and it’s getting all the hype. Don’t miss out in tasting the hand-made dishes by head chef Kita Koichi with 10 years of experience in Tokyo before coming over to Malaysia.

1. MyDance Alliance Presents Protégées: New Dances by Women Choreographers

Location: Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC)

Dancers, be sure not to miss the chance to see them perform! Check out new dances by emerging Malaysian women choreographers, in celebration of International Women’s Day!

A post shared by The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (@theklpac)

Location: Pentas 1, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)

If you love classical music and would love to see a live orchestra, now is your chance as KLPAC presents Orchestra’s Baroque Elegance in collaboration with Wicked Music People. Tickets are selling fast for all shows!

3. Good Gary’s Rooftop Revival Fundraiser by Stage Reset

A post shared by StageReSET (@stagereset1010)

Stage Reset is setting up a fundraiser to help fellow musician Gary Tong who is currently dependent on Alecensa for his lung cancer treatment. All ticket sales will be contributed in Aid of Gary Tong as medication fund with “Zero Production Fees”.

A post shared by The Story Book (@thestorybooklives)

Children’s stage performances are always cute and will put a smile on anyone’s faces. Go down the rabbit hole and watch these kids perform at Paradigm Mall Petaling Jaya this Saturday!

Ever wanted to make your own tote bag? Maybe it’s finally time for you to learn as Sartorial Stitches is hosting a workshop this weekend! You will learn how to use the sewing machine, how to thread, fill the bobbin, change the needle and how to sew straight lines!

A post shared by Rug Tufting / Neon Light Workshop (@bytuftme)

A new tufting studio called Tuftme opened in Puchong, Selangor. The store provides detailed 3-hour workshops on tufting and allowing customers to create their very own piece of rug. Better hurry because March classes are almost full!

Location: Artcore, Desa Parkcity, Kuala Lumpur

This is for art lovers out there especially if you’re a beginner. Art Core offers an Acrylic Art workshop this Wednesday and you will get to bring your masterpiece home to hang up on your wall. Don’t worry, all materials will be provided!

A post shared by Sunway Velocity Mall (@sunwayvelocitymall)

Location: Sunway Velocity Mall, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur

If you’re looking for a quick escape than look no further than Sunway Velocity Mall’s Glamp Out to reconnect with nature and enjoy outdoor camping feels!

2. Be Protected & Look Stylish In These Newly Launched Masks by MEDICOS & Uniqlo

Face mask manufacturer MEDICOS is introducing the new premium M99 Neo Respirator mask which highlights its optimal breathability, 5-Ply Protection with Hyrdrocharge filter and multiple colour choices. The M99 Respirator comes in 3 types: PRO, NEO, and FLIP.

A post shared by UNIQLO Malaysia (@uniqlomyofficial)

UNIQLO also recently launched the new AIRism 3D Mask. Designed by award-winning designer Tokujin Yoshioka, this mask provides a bacterial filtration efficiency of 99%, blocking droplets, bacteria, virus-contaminated particles, and pollen. Available in sizes S-XL, you can choose between white, navy, or pink.

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There Was A 3rd Person Involved In The Controversial #Kingsman2 Sex Scene

If the anal sex joke in “Kingsman: The Secret Service” was controversial, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” took it up a notch by featuring a shocking sex scene.

During the Glastonbury-set sequence, Eggsy (played by Taron Egerton) was tasked at planting a tracking device in a very private area of a villain’s girlfriend, Clara (played by Poppy Delevingne). What moviegoers may not know is that there was a body double involved.

The graphic shot finds the camera following Eggsy’s finger as he track down Clara’s body while seducing her before inserting the tracker into her vaginal canal. The camera then switches to a computer-generated shot of what happens inside of her. Many wondered how director Matthew Vaughn accomplished this shot.

“Well, that’s the beauty of filmmaking, isn’t it? We had to get a lens made, we had to get a camera position dollying very close to someone’s body, but you didn’t want to hurt them by mistake. Having to use Eggsy and then another hand, because it got quite intimate, as you’d say, and making that seamless. It was one of those things that could have been a disaster. In some people’s minds I know that they think it’s a disaster already because they didn’t like it, which is fine and I respect it, but other people do like it,” Vaughn told Vulture.

The intimate scene made Egerton so uncomfortable that they had to invite Delevingne’s husband, James Cook, to act as a hand double. “In this one, I’m in the shot and I said to Matthew ‘I’m not comfortable doing this’. So it’s not my hand – it’s Poppy’s husband’s hand. He saved the world,” the 27-year-old British hunk told Screen Rant.

Despite the discomfort, Egerton has gone on to defend the filmmaker’s decision for including that Glastonbury sex scene in “Kingsman: The Golden Circle”. He said, “You know, it’s not to everyone’s tastes, but it certainly gets people talking. All it is is explicitly showing what Bond alludes to and says in a double entendre kind of way.”

Do check out our fun facts article on “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” here.

Sources: Screen Rant (1)(2), Digital Spy.


CNY 2013: “Bromance Of The Four Kingdoms”

Kick off the “Year Of The Snake” in new territory with “Bromance Of The Four Kingdoms”. The venomous humour stars faces of the MACC (Malaysian Association of Chinese Comedians). Douglas Lim, Kuah Jenhan, Phoon Chi Ho, and Dr Jason Leong promise new material, thigh-slapping observations, funny videos, and hilarious song parodies. The stand-up comedy night will be in English.

More importantly, are you ready to laugh until you beg for mercy?

Date: 26th February 2013 til 2nd March 2013 (Tuesday till Saturday)

Venue: PJ Live Arts Theatre, Level 1, Block L, Palm Square @ Jaya One 72A Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

* To purchase tickets, call +60172289849 (12pm to 7pm daily) or purchase them online here.


Hype’s Movie Review: Our Likes & Dislikes On “Rise Ini Kalilah”

The highly-anticipated patriotic movie “Rise: Ini Kalilah” had its world premiere at GSC, One Utama on 3rd September 2018, featuring more than 1,700 guests including prominent political figures and local celebrities.

The politicians attended include Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Youth and Sports Syed Saddiq, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, former Minister of International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz, and socio-political activist and writer Marina Mahathir.

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Produced by WebTVAsia, the movie is inspired by the recent 14th Malaysian general election, following the lives of 6 very different Malaysians, coming together for the love of their country.

Directed by Saw Teong Hin, Nik Amir Mustapha and Prem Nath, the movie features a line-up of star-studded cast such as Remy Ishak, Mira Filzah, Sangeeta Krishnasamy, Jack Tan, Shashi Tharan, Jenn Chia, Mark O’dea, as well as notable supporting actors like Sweet Qismina, Mustaqim Bahadon, Sharifah Sakinah, Yana Samsudin, Dato’ Jalaluddin Hassan, Tony Eusoff, Pushpa Narayan, Moon Yoong, David Anthony and more.

Hype Malaysia had the honoured to be one of the first to watch the GE14-inspired film, and there are just so many things that we would like to address.

The movie is an ambitious project by producer Fred Chong which recounts the gripping days during the election week that led up to the historical moment that no one can forget. But instead of focusing on the political figures and election itself, Chong highlights the efforts and sacrifices of common people from all walks of life, who were the main key to winning the GE14. From a police officer to a PACA volunteer, a student based in London, a Singapore-based worker, and a local reporter – these people are the unsung heroes of “Rise: Ini Kalilah”.

WebTVAsia is more known for its music talents rather than its acting talents, so naturally music has always been the company’s forte. There are 2 notable soundtracks in this movie. Though both songs are music covers, the tunes have been beautifully rearranged to suit the taste of today’s generation.

The main theme is a cover version of iconic patriotic tune “Sejahtera Malaysia” sung by Malaysia’s jazz queen Datuk Sheila Majid with music scoring and arrangement done by music directors Cheng Lee, Mac Chew and Audi Mok. Meanwhile, the end title theme is the proud anthem “Saya Anak Malaysia”, featuring an all-star music cast including Alleycats’ David Arumugam, Jenn Chia, Priscilla Abby, Haoren, Meer Nash, Jeryl Lee, and more. The song also presents cameo from the acting cast.

Plus, there is a Mandarin version of the song too.

The movie focuses on 6 characters; policeman Azman (Remy Ishak), student based in London Fizah (Mira Filzah), British reporter Marcus (Mark O’dea), factory owner Selva (Shashi Tharan), music teacher Shanti (Sangeeta Krishnasamy), and Singapore-based Malaysian Leong (Jack Tan). Despite featuring a star-studded cast, not every character stands out equally as some actors shine brighter than others.

In our opinion, the actors that outshine the rest are Sangeeta, Shashi and Remy who bring depth and growth to their simple roles – allowing the audience to somehow relate to their characters. But sadly, their characters aren’t further explored due to the time constraint as well as the shallow level of their stories that seem incomplete. Meanwhile, the other cast don’t really stand out as much as their roles are pretty much one-dimensional with little to no growth.

It is true that the movie is ambitious and inspiring, but the plot is not as satisfying as many would’ve expected. Seeing all the hype from the past month, you think that the movie would blow you away and leave you in tears, but instead it leaves you a sense of incompleteness. The film has so many loose threads here and there, and there are also a lot things missing in between. Every story arc only touches the surface area and doesn’t delve deeper, and some of them seem too rushed. Even though the movie was directed by 3 renowned directors, the stories don’t weave smoothly and the transition from one arc to another is rather messy.

As there are too many main characters to focus on, the build up for each arc is very slow and at some point, downright boring. Because it wastes too much time in building up the first part, the second part becomes too rushed and confusing. Since the movie was made in only 3 months, there isn’t enough time for each director to develop or explore their respective arc due to the time limitation, which is why everything only covers the surface area.

Some of the cast could’ve perform better but since their characters were badly written, they didn’t get to show their talents to the full potential. For instance, Mira Filzah’s character appear to be an interesting one at first, but in the end, it falls flat as the character growth is not obvious. Another character who seems unnatural and forced would be Jenn Chia, a Malaysian born and raised in KL, but was given a Sabahan role (just so they can include at least one East Malaysian in the movie). This was badly executed.

Mark O’dea plays a British reporter who is somehow interested and impressed by Jenn Chia’s one-dimensional character and also Malaysia’s corrupted system, but he doesn’t exactly contribute anything to the story. Meanwhile, Jack Tan plays a Malaysian working in Singapore, but the character doesn’t show any patriotic spirit when he returns to his home country for voting.

The movie is filled with many cheesy lines and weird metaphors that are confusing and cringing as normal people don’t usually use them. Some of the cringe-y lines will make you burst out laughing as it is so awkward that it becomes hilarious.

It is so obvious that the movie is skewed towards the current new government as it portrays the old government in a bad light. There are a lot of inconsistencies in the movie as it uses fictional politicians and political party names to avoid getting itself into trouble. Yet, the movie uses real footages of Mahathir’s campaign and swearing-in ceremony during the GE14.

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The movie may be lacking in certain areas but nevertheless it is still a commendable effort and it is made with good intention and great spirit. Anyhow, we would still recommend everyone to watch this movie as it has some good, funny and heartwarming moments. But most importantly, it will take you back to the historical day and let you relive the moment once again.

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5 Places For The Gen-Z’s To Take Only The Best Nighttime Photos!

If there’s one thing we Gen-Z’s love, it’s making the most out of our nightlife and just spending quality time with our friends – but what we love even more is capturing all those beautiful memories! A good and aesthetically pleasing photo is something we treasure forever, regardless if it’s to share on our social media or just to store as digital mementos.

So today, we decided to provide you guys with a little help in terms of location and achieving only the best night-shots for you and your friends! But we’re going to start off with locations first, so here’s 5 extremely fun and aesthetically pleasing places to visit the next time you and your friends are out:

REXKL holds a pretty special place in the hearts, minds and stomachs of many gen z’s. While being a hip location to check out an event, browse a bookstore, buy a custom bike, dine, drink, and have a good time, the renovated cinema manages to retain a tonne of authenticity. There are multiple spots for you to take your pictures!

Kwai Chai Hong (鬼仔巷) is the Cantonese transliteration of the three characters which literally means ‘Little Ghost Boy Lane’ and it’s the latest gen-z attraction in the Chinatown of Kuala Lumpur. It is a small alley behind Petaling Street with numerous murals depicting the daily life at this place in the old days – perfect for an aesthetic Insta post!

Vibrant, bustling Chinatown is centred on Petaling Street, known for its fashion shops and a large covered market with produce, clothes and accessories. There are ample locations just within the stretch for you to take your night shots!

A trendy and contemporary dining spot with laid-back vibes and a tranquil ambiance is Bamboo Hills. The development is focused on having unique eating pavilions and expansive outdoor spaces, as well as beautiful bamboo landscapes and pockets of greenery at every turn. That being said, there are spots for you to take your pictures at every corner!

Tiffin At The Yard is an urban food hub with rotating vendors in Sentul Depot for all the gen z’s that have an unparalleled love for good food and aesthetically pleasing spaces to take your best shots!

Remember how we told you that we’d also help you with achieving only the best night-shots? Well here’s the secret: just use vivo’s latest addition to their V series, the V27! The pictures from above look good, don’t they? Well, they were all taken with the V27!

Designed with the trendy lifestyles of their users in mind, the V27 is equipped with an exclusive Aura Light Portrait System and extremely capable camera technology – it’s the perfect smartphone for anyone looking to capture every moment of their exciting lives!

Of course, if you want magnificent photos, you’re going to need a phone with a camera that is equally as capable. Because of the V27’s back ultra-sensing main camera, studio-level soft lighting effect, and portrait enhancing features, the Aura Light Portrait System produces realistic night portraits. Never again will poor lighting or an excessive amount of flash be an issue when taking nighttime pictures!

The camera is equipped with the Sony IMX766V Sensor with OIS, which captures more light, for brighter, purer night shots. It enables longer exposure and multiplies the light intake by six times to generate more steady and high-quality pictures in low light. Additionally, the Night mode’s Real-Time Extreme Night Vision function enables users to check the brightness of the image while altering the exposure and brightness in preview mode, giving them a real-time glimpse of the image’s brightness before capturing the final picture.

Not to mention that vivo’s own RAW HDR algorithm offers more precise colour corrections by accurately recreating the content’s highlights, colours, and brightness.

Of course, we had to make sure the video shooting capabilities are on par with its photography standards, because who doesn’t love a cute vlog or making random TikToks with your friends? Well, the vivo V27 combines two video features for better results – Super Night Video and Hybrid Image Stabilisation (OIS+EIS).

The Hybrid Image Stabilisation (OIS + EIS) performs stabilisation computations and movements up to 10,000 times per second, giving consumers smoother, stable, and clearer footage. Super Night Video lowers noise in night footage   and makes videos look much brighter.

With 26 templates and rich video effects to choose from, this tool gives users a new one-stop shop for creating videos. It also provides real-time camera movement instruction.

Additionally, it gives users the ability to edit films effectively thanks to a built-in time slider that makes it simple to cut and remove undesired video segments. The Vlog Movie also has portrait optimisation to improve the subjects’ appearance in the movie by improving their skin texture, focus, lighting, and stability.

The V27 also dawns stylish colour designs. By utilising Emerald Glass and Fluorite AG Glass, the phone’s colours are deeper and more vibrant, with each of the three hues providing a unique visual experience. Emerald Green, Flowing Gold, and Noble Black are the three colours.

The Emerald Glass with a colour-changing effect under UV light is used in the Emerald Green edition. To improve the glass’s clarity and smoothness, 14 layers of nano-grade coating are blended with it. The Emerald Green exhibits its vibrant hues while giving off a refreshing impression.

The fluorite AG Glass used in the Noble Black edition has an embossed glitter texture that replicates the stars in the night sky. The Flowing Gold edition’s water ripple pattern is made using 3D Light Spot Colour Gradient technology, giving the phone a 3D appearance on a 2D surface.

With a refresh rate of 120 Hz, 1.07 billion colours, and extremely high brightness and contrast, the V27 offers a more immersive and engaging visual experience when paired with a 6.78” 3D curved screen. The 3D curved screen provides viewers with rich details for an immersive viewing experience!

You saw how good our pictures looked, why not start taking some that are equally as stunning? You only receive the greatest, most professional-looking images or videos with vivo’s V27, so you truly have nothing to lose!

Oh! Did we mention that the phone is less than 2K? Yup, you read that right! The vivo V27 is available in two variants and priced at RM1,799 for 8GB+256GB and RM1,999 for 12GB+256GB!

On top of that, from April 1 to May 1, 2023, anybody who buys a vivo V27 qualifies for complimentary gifts totaling up to RM636, including a 1-year extended warranty, 1-year screen protection, and an exclusive gift box worth RM321! You can expect a bluetooth speaker, TWS earphones and a 10000mAh power bank! However, do note that this is only available for those who purchase the V27 12+256GB.

Visit any vivo concept stores or authorised dealers to learn more or to purchase the V27. Similarly, you may visit their official flagship stores on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok as well as their own E-store.

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Taiwanese Pop Star Leaks iPhone 6 Pics

Remember that time when Taiwanese teen heartthrob Jimmy Lin (Lam Chi Wing) leaked images of the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C via Chinese social networking site Weibo to his millions of Weibo feed subscribers? And remember how those pictures proved to be exactly what the tech giant launched the phones a month later?

Well, it looks like he has gone and done it again.

The actor-singer celebrity posed for the camera holding what is believed to be Apple’s upcoming yet still unreleased iPhone 6. Unreleased and unseen until he went ahead to flaunt the pictures, that is. For some reason, in some of the pictures, Jimmy is shown repairing an iPhone 5S with a shattered display and right next to it is the 5.5” iPhone 6.

Although the alleged iPhone 6 is turned off, you can clearly see the changed position of the physical buttons with the volume keys on the left and the power/lock key being on the right. It also looks like it has the iPad mini-like design with curvier edges.

Complete list of iPhone 5 to iPhone 6 changes (that can be seen) are such as:

The only reason why Apple fans, tech fans, and Jimmy Lin fans are taking this seriously is because he got the previous leak down pat. So, if the pictures are really legit, then it confirms that the iPhone 6 appears to be closer to the latest iPad mini than its predecessor and would make it Apple’s most radically redesigned iPhone to date.

Love it or hate it? Share with us your comments!

Apple’s iPhone 6 is expected to be announced in September this year.


“This Is Daylight Robbery!”: Digi Customers Demand Refunds Over RM5 Auto Deduction

When it comes to technical errors, there’s only so much we can do cause no matter how prepared we are or how advanced technology is, these things can still happen. The only thing we can do is to stop it from doing further damage but most of the time, once the damage is done, it can’t be undone.

Tech and mobile companies are no exception as they too have faced technical difficulties. One of Malaysia’s biggest Telcos, Digi, had a technical error recently which caused them to be under fire for what netizens claimed to be “daylight robbery”. Here’s what happened:

Last Friday (26th August), Digi users were shocked to discover that RM5 had been deducted from their accounts for an add-on they didn’t even subscribe to. According to a user on the Lowyat forum, they woke up to a promo message from Digi and found out that their “new subscription plan” has been activated and that RM5 had suddenly been deducted without them ever subscribing to the plan.

The user, Capt. Marble shared the message that reads, “Enjoy Unlimited Calls and 500MB for 30 days@ RM5 only.” According to the message, users who are not interested in the promo should reply by the specific date given. Usually, not replying to a message should already be enough to indicate that the user is not interested. However, RM5 was still deducted for “subscribing” to the new plan.

“Is this even right? Can they do that by auto subscribing first and then ask us for a response if we are not interested? How do I even know it’s not a scam message?” the Digi user said. More netizens actually came forward saying that they also had their money deducted for a plan that they did not subscribe to with some claiming that they had been deducted as much as RM10. Many commented on Digi’s Facebook to call them out on their “daylight robbery”.

Digi was quick to respond saying that it was all a technical error. In a statement, the tech giant addressed that the offer was only meant to be sent out to a selected few customers but did not disclose as to how this error could have happened. Customers have since received their refunds for their deducted amount.

“Digi would like to extend a sincere apology for any inconvenience caused. We thank our customers for their understanding on this matter,” they said. Despite the refunds and apology, some still believe that this “error” was intentional.


What Is The Unorthodox Jukebox?

Bruno Mars, the singer-songwriter/producer/musician who has sold over five million albums and over 45 million singles is back. This time, with a random monkey. In October, he released his latest single, “Locked Out Of Heaven”. You might’ve read about it here. Well, let’s just put it this way – no artiste in the right mind would release a single without following it up with an album.

[youtube id=”4yPKw_R6l8Q” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Yup. The flash mob at Pavilion KL, Malaysia yesterday evening has been explained. And the random monkey was not as random as we thought after all!

Titled, “Unorthodox Jukebox“, Bruno Mars will once again meld a multitude of musical approaches to create his own distinctive sound. We guess in his terms, it meant that he needed to send a monkey running loose in our city. Alright, alright, but in all seriousness, Bruno ‘s new album sounds like it’s going to rake in another Grammy nomination or two, or even three, it features a hit-making production team comprising of Bruno Mars himself, Philip Lawrence, and Ari Levine.

Let’s not forget the additional array of top producers who also joined in the creation of “Unorthodox Jukebox” including award-winning studio superstars such as:

Mark Ronson (Amy WInehouse, Lil Wayne, Black Lips)

Whoa. But let’s not be too quick to judge until we’ve all heard it. What? You need a copy? Then go grab one! “Unorthodox Jukebox” is now available at a music store near you.

Psst. We already have the CD, thank to our friends from Warner Music Malaysia. Look out for our review soon.

For more pictures from the flash mob event, click!

For more information, visit Bruno Mars’ official website or follow him via his Twitter account for more timely updates.

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Get Crunk With Lil Jon Live In Malaysia

American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur and international DJ Lil Jon will be making his way to Malaysia this November! Brought to you by Play and supported by Raze events and MD events, Lil Jon Live in Concert will be happening on November 7th, 2013 (Thursday) at The Roof. The king of crunk will be making his way back to Kuala Lumpur after popular demands and will be getting the crowd pumped up with his smashing hits like Shots, Turbulence, Get Low, Yeah and many more!

Lil Jon Live in Concert will be Play’s first international headlining concert so fans can expect nothing less of crazy! Lil Jon live in concert is organised by KC & Friends and event details are as follows:

Tickets can be purchased through The Roof Hotline at 013 270 3111 and ambassadors at 016 422 2344.

Bottle Entries (Belvedere Vodka / Johnnie Walker Black Label):
Twin bottle entry: RM900 nett for 6 people.

Single bottle entry: RM499 nett for 3 people.

For other enquiries, please contact: Raz at 016 422 2344.

For SOFA & VVIP reservation, kindly contact The Roof Hotline at 019 220 7111 or visit their event page on Facebook.

Get pumped up for Lil Jon with his single Get Low!


#SuicideSquad: Is The Flash Making A Cameo Appearance?

The highly-anticipated “Suicide Squad” is already packed with a large ensemble of characters, but now, word on street is that 1 more character may be showing up – albeit in a cameo role.

It appears that Ben Affleck’s Batman won’t be the only hero appearing in the movie. In fact, fans are now expecting the Caped Crusader’s fellow “Justice League” member, The Flash, to make an appearance.

Although this particular rumour is not new, it started to gain traction again shortly after the latest DC movie trailer was released at last weekend’s San Diego Comic Con. A sharp-eyed Comic Book Movie writer was analysing the latest “Suicide Squad” trailer when he noticed Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang flying backwards from a blast of electricity.

Many of us already know that the wacky crew of Task Force X are made up of Batman villains except for one. Boomerang is known as one of The Flash’s oldest enemies in the comics, making his debut in 1960’s Flash #117.

In the trailer, we see Boomerang robbing a bank, only to be knocked back by a blast of blue lightning. It is speculated that the lightning seen here is identical to the energy Barry Allen releases in the “Justice League” Comic Con footage when he was dodging Bruce Wayne’s Batarang.

It is believed that the villain is being thwarted by the Scarlet Speedster in some sort of origin/flashback scene. Of course, this lightning scene isn’t concrete proof of The Flash’s appearance, but having The Fastest Man Alive onboard would make sense.

With or without The Flash‘s appearance, “Suicide Squad” will arrive in cinemas 4th August 2016.

Sources: Cinema Blend, We Got This Covered, Movie Pilot.

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Disney To Allow Dying Marvel Fan To Watch Avengers: Endgame Early

Most of us can’t wait for the release of “Avengers: Endgame” in April (internationally). But at least 1 fan could very well get to watch the blockbuster before its release.

The terminally ill fan, known only as Alexander, went viral after his campaign titled “Dying Before April: My Endgame” received a ton of support on Reddit.

So what is Alexander’s condition? “Liver cancer, mouth cancer, bone marrow failure,” the Australian citizen explained. “Will probably be dead before April. I’ve heard of people getting early screenings before. How do I get in on this action?”

“I’m not a child or anyone with a particularly tragic story. Just a normal guy. I’m 33, lost my sister 3 years ago to the same rare genetic disease it turns out I have too. I’ll leave behind a devoted girlfriend and an adopted greyhound,” he added.

Fellow Reddit users have collectively reached out to directors Joe and Anthony Russo using the #Avengers4Alexander and it looks like it paid off. Now that the people from Disney and Marvel are aware of this dying fan’s wish, they are considering to work on making this happen.

“I’ve had thousands of messages and comments of support and I’m very grateful. I’ve had lots of questions too and I’ve done my best to answer all of them. If I missed yours it’s not personal, it’s just that my inbox is out of control,” Alexander wrote in a separate Reddit post.

“Also, because Australia is a small place, turns out I know a guy who knows a guy who is chums with Chris Hemsworth. I think they called him tonight on my behalf,” he added before tweeting the good news he received.

@ManaByteDisney have reached out and we're discussing options. Thank you all so much. This is everything I could have hoped for!

Please consider donating to Fanconi Anemia research: https://t.co/ErEBXW3Nxd

— alexander_q (@alexand63802267) January 10, 2019

Besides being a Marvel geek, Alexander has also expressed his wish to watch the final season of “Game of Thrones”.


Hype’s Album Review: Maroon 5 – V

(Featured image via Maroon 5 on Facebook)

Oh Maroon 5, we need your loving and we need it now!

Pop-rock band Maroon 5 recently dropped their suitably-titled fifth studio album V. Packed with 11 tracks, 1 of which features Gwen Stefani, the album is 40 minutes of pure richness. The band deviates in a different direction with this album as compared to their previous works.

Unlike Maroon 5’s past four albums, V is almost completely an electronic affair that captivates frontman Adam Levine’s soulful vocals with backing of the band.

Opening with “Maps”, the track starts off with simple guitar licks before venturing into rockier territory.

“Maps” features a folk-like production making it a breath of fresh air – a brilliant opening for the album, really! Following up on the energy from “Maps”, the album’s second track, “Animals” features punching bass line thumps that blends smoothly with Levine’s strong and sharp vocals. As he crudely sings, “Don’t deny the animal that comes alive when I’m inside you,” the track is produced by Shellback and is so slick that it gives “Maps” a run for its money.

Also, we must say, we can’t imagine anyone wanting to escape from Levine’s claws. We know we wouldn’t want to ;)

The album then takes a less rockier path with “Sugar”.

A definite favourite of ours, “Sugar” features feathery synths with slick Prince-like bass while Levine puts his sensual falsetto to use. The album closes with “My Heart is Open” featuring No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani. Written by Australian singer-songwriter Sia, one of the most commercially successful producers Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, and Levine, the piano-driven track features both Stefani and Levine pouring their hearts into the vulnerability of the song, making it remarkably beautiful.

Highly addictive, V makes for the kind of album that you can never get sick of!

Maroon 5’s V is now available at a music store near you while the deluxe edition of the album is available exclusively at Rock Corner outlets — The Curve, 1 Utama, The Gardens, Mid Valley, Subang Parade, Suria KLCC and Bangsar Village. Alternatively, you can also buy the deluxe album off iTunes.

For more information, visit the band’s official website or Facebook page. They are of course also on Twitter and Instagram for your stalking pleasure ;)

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Hype’s Now Playing: Najwa — Impian Terindah

Malaysian artist, Najwa is a Berklee College of Music graduate. She pursued her degree in Contemporary Writing and Production and is currently residing in New York. The singer-songwriter is currently embarking on a new journey in life and finds herself busy performing at cafes and clubs around Brooklyn and Mahanttan.

With an EP on the way, we have high hopes for Najwa and can’t wait for her next single.

The video below is of Najwa performing her track Impian Terindah at the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.


#KLIJAF: Artiste Lineup Includes Eric Wyatt, Najwa Mahjiaddin, & More

More than 30 jazz and soul musicians from all over the world will turn Kuala Lumpur into a jazz hub next month as they will be performing at the upcoming Kuala Lumpur International Jazz & Arts Festival.

The event is organised by KL International Jazz Festival and Asia World Events in collaboration with University Malaya. It is supported by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and KL Mayor YBhg. Datuk Hj. Mhd. Amin Nordin Abd. Aziz, who is also a patron of the festival.

The critically acclaimed festival, which was established in 2011, promises to offer whatever they have for everyone. From workshops to masterclasses to art exhibition, KLJIAF is a simply a must-go event for music lovers, lifestyle seekers, tourists, and expatriates.

There will be 19 shows spread over 4 days.

Having hosted multiple top tier international and local artistes in the past, the organiser will also bring a slew of award-winning artistes and renowned jazz musicians from North America, Europe, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, and Malaysia for this year’s edition of the KL International Jazz & Arts Festival (KLIJAF).

Born and raised in Brookyln, New York, Eric Wyatt is one of the most popular saxophonists in the world. He was introduced to the sax by his father Charles Wyatt, who played tenor and hung out with many of the great jazz icons such as Charlie Parker, Gary Bartz, George Braith, Wilber Ware, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie and many more.

He had the privilege of meeting 2 great jazz masters, both of whom changed his life: Miles Davis and his godfather, Sonny Rollins. Eric said:

When I met Miles, I was 10 years old and was playing trumpet at the time. He was playing at the Bottom Line, a club in New York, and I never forgot all the energy and joy that this man brought to the audience. Sonny was a friend to the family and stayed connected to us after my father passed.

Sonny Rollins also helped Eric record his first CD for King Records (Japan) titled “God Son” with the great Al Foster on drums, Rufus Reid on bass and pianist Mark Soskin from Sonny’s band.

Guitarist/producer/composer Chieli Minucci is the leader of the Grammy-nominated contemporary jazz group “Special EFX“, which HE formed in 1982. Minucci and the group have recorded a combined 25 CD’s, 8 of those being solo releases.

In the past few years, Minucci has recorded and performed with top pop artistes such as Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Jewel, Mark Anthony, Jessica Simpson, Anasta-sia and others. He has also performed with jazz artistes like Bobby Caldwell, Chuck Loeb, Marion Meadows, and many others.

Najwa Mahjiaddin certainly needs no introduction. A multiple award winning Malaysian singer-songwriter, New York based Najwa is returning from her 3-year hiatus with a darker undertone in her music, experimenting with somber and minimalistic echoes over the usual warm piano accompaniments. An upcoming star, Najwa is one of the voices of the new generation.

The local and international acts slated to perform at the festival include Grammy nominated fiery Tizer Quartet from Los Angeles, Pianist Benito Gonzalez from New York, Americans Christy Smith (Bass), Eddie Layman, Ronny Williams (Drums), Sax players Ezra Brown, Patrick Terbrack and Hiroyuki Yagi; The Frederik Koster Quartet and Bastian Stein from Germany, Bassist Barry Likumahuwa from Jakarta , Tinho Pereira from Brazil, Chris Ong from Singapore, Hong from Bangkok, Rachel Guerzo, Jordan Rivers, Steve Nanda. Kombo DBKL (Cocombo) , Maria Angela Rebano, Colour Codes, KL Jazz Project, UiTM Jazz Ensemble, Daniel Guerzo, Don Guerzo, Dado Guerzo, John Boy, Badar, Isabella Soliano, Tristano Soliano, Rizal Soliano, Coni Soliano, Irene Soliano. Nasran Nawi, Farid Izwan, Lokman Aslam, Bihzhu, and Dato’ Julie Sudiro.

As KLIJAF aims to fuse arts and music, an art exhibition will be held to create a totally different experience as compared to other music festivals and concerts in the city. It will be a festival where music surrounds art and art surrounds music.

A group of artists including Hashim Hassan, Kalsom Muda and Jamil Md. Isa will exhibit works of “Art inspired by nature”, which is nature in combination with color, line, form and texture that gives the artists’ great pleasure and inner peace. It is a unification of personal expressions towards our surrounding where serenity and harmony suggest dreamlike surreal quality and notions of calmness that invite the viewers to move into the interplay desires of imagination, splendor and delight.

Other artists whose paintings will be exhibited are Stephen Menon, Ismadi sallehudin, Liu Cheng Hua, Syed Thajudden, Jeganathan, Zulkefli Talha, and Marvin Chan. There is also sale of affordable art by young talents.

Led by Rachel Guerzo on piano and vocals, a photography exhibition and a special tribute show featuring The Guerzos will be held on 10th September 2015 to honour the music and the work of her grandfather Alfonso Soliano. A stellar line up of musicians will also be featured, including John Boy, Badar, Isabella Soliano, Tristano Soliano Rizal Soliano, Coni Soliano, Irene Soliano, Nasran Nawi, Farid Izwan, Lokman Aslam, Bihzhu and Dato’ Julie Sudiro

Tickets are currently available at Ticket Pro’s official website. You may also contact them through hotline: 03-7880 7999. The full programme lineup can be viewed here.

For more information about KLIJAF, visit the event’s official website and Facebook page.

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