Hype’s Movie Review: Into The Storm

One would doubt Warner Bros’ latest film “Into The Storm” before they even watch it, as it reminds them of the successful natural disaster film “Twister” in the 90s. However, calling it a “Twister remake” doesn’t seem to do the film justice and “Into The Storm” has proven to be a far cry from “Twister”.

In the beginning, the film suffered from clichés when they introduced the characters, so much so that it gave us the impression that everything about it is going to be predictable. In fact, the film attempts to play with the sympathy card as it highlights the single parents’ issues through the interaction between the single parents and their kids.

As the disaster unfolded in the town of Silverton, the storm chasers here are either being relentless thrill-seekers or the sensible people in filming the greatest tornado of all time. The found-footage approach is considered as the biggest asset of the film to showcase the horrible destructions a tornado can bring to the entire town.

At this point, the tornadoes that come in different sizes are the true winners of the film as the surreal special effects are incredibly remarkable. In fact, these tornadoes are just some of the worst case scenarios that could be happening in real life. We’ve got to give props to the visual effects and sound effects team for creating such intense shots throughout the entire film. With that being said, the visual effects are exactly why we are in love with the film.

Overall, this film could have been a better film without the all the films’ cliches and bad dialogues. Some characters can be quite irritating at times but there are simply in the film for comic relief. It may not be masterpiece material, but the film is incredibly well shot with all those remarkable visual effects of the tornadoes. The aftermaths of the tornadoes are truly horrifying and occasionally the film brought tears to our eyes too.

Directed by Steven Quale (Final Destination 5), the natural disaster film stars Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Matt Walsh, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Arlen Escarpeta, Max Deacon, Nathan Kress, Jeremy Sumpter, Kyle Davis, Jon Reep and Scott Lawrence.

With GSC’s newly launched D-Box motion seats, you can step up your “Into The Storm” game on! Think, motion master. For more information about the film, check out their official website!

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#BatmanvSuperman: Jena Malone Set To Appear as Female Robin?

Warner Bros certainly has a way to get us to pay attention to their film because now, rumour has it that upcoming DC Comics film “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” will star a first-ever female Robin in the Batman Cinematic Universe!

The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the studio is casting “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” actress Jena Malone for a mysterious role as she has been seen on set for months. Rumour has it that she might be playing the ginger-haired Batman’s sidekick, Carrie Kelly aka the female Robin from “The Dark Knight Returns“.

The rumour originated from a report from Michigan’s WILX, where an anonymous extra risked a multimillion-dollar lawsuit (for violating the movie’s nondisclosure agreements) to reveal that a female Robin character will be featured in the script. It was also rumoured that Nightwing, the former Robin will be featured in the film as well.

Warner Bros has yet to respond to the rumour, but Malone’s Instagram post from 2 weeks ago has indicated she might be playing the role as she has dyed her hair red, similar to the female Robin’s hair colour.

Drastic times call for drastic measures.

However, Cinema Blend also pointed out that Malone might be playing another redhead in the Batman Cinematic Universe, Barbara Gordon aka the Batgirl. This is attributed to the fact that Carrie Kelley is only 13 years old when she becomes Batman’s sidekick. On top of that, more stories need to be told about Kelley as Dick Grayson and Jason Todd were the first few Batman sidekicks.

If Malone is going to be the female Robin, it fits the rumour about Nightwing, who will be the former Robin that has grown to adulthood. There has been no further details about “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” yet but Warner Bros did recently announced their full movie slate for DC Comics films.

What do you think about the rumour? Do you think Malone is going to play the female Robin in the film? Are you excited about her playing the female Robin, even? Let us know in the comments box below!


Ticketing Details For Dream Theater’s “Images, Words & Beyond 25th Anniversary Tour” In Kuala Lumpur Released

In case you didn’t hear, progressive metal maestro band Dream Theater will be coming to Malaysia for the very first time as part of the next leg of their “Images, Words & Beyond 25th Anniversary Tour”, in celebration of their break through RIAA gold- certified album, “Images & Words.”

The world rock phenomenon will be taking the stage at KL Convention Centre on 2nd October 2017 (Monday).

The spectacle will contain an unparalleled live set of “Images & Words” in its entirety, taking fans back in time with time less numbers like “Pull Me Under”, “Another Day”, “Metropolis Part 1” and “Under A Glass”, along with fan favourites from their deep, widely-acclaimed catalogue. Dream Theater comprises of members: John Petrucci (guitar), John Myung (bass), Mike Mangini (drums), James La Brie (vocals) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards and continuum).

Dream Theater has sold over 10 million records worldwide, in addition to earning an outstanding five RIAA gold and platinum certifications, as well as multiple awards and nominations. On 9th April 2013, Images and Words won the award for Metal Madness 2013, defeating ever a lot of the well-known artists such as Ronnie James Dio, Megadeth, AC/DC, and many more.

In 2017, the album was ranked 95th on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time”. From the band’s classics all the way through to their latest opus “The Astonishing”, Dream Theater maintains their identity of heavy emotional rock, with deep, meaningful lyrics that strive to lead their fans beyond imagination.

Be a part of this major rock event and join Dream Theater’s “Images, Words & Beyond 25th Anniversary Tour” Live in Kuala Lumpur at KL Convention Centre Plenary Hall on 2nd October 2017 (Monday) at 8:30pm.

** All numbered seating and ticket prices are inclusive of 6% GST, but exclusive of RM4 processing fee.

Tickets are available through TicketCharge or via the hotline at +603-92228811. Fans may also purchase tickets at the TicketCharge office and at selected outlets of Speedy video, Victoria Music, Rock Corner, Chambers Music, PJ Live Arts, as well as at the information counters at The Mines shopping mall and 1 Shamelin. For those who wish to purchase tickets at outlets outside of KL, you may visit Eden Ultimate (Kuantan) and Blonde Brunette (Penang).

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#Puchong: Video Of Man Attacking Dog Goes Viral; Police Will Not Take Action

A CCTV footage of a Singaporean man brutally attacking a dog at Taman Melody in Bandar Kinrara, Puchong has gone viral.

Yesterday (Thursday, 6th April), animal welfare organisation Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) took to Facebook page to share the video of the incident. As at time of writing, the clip has garnered over 6,000 views.

In the video, the man can be seen riding his bicycle while the guard dog, said to be named Furby, excitedly runs towards him and barks, causing him to fall. The man then got up and ran over to the guardhouse to pick up the dog by the neck and beat it repeatedly.

At one point, the man, allegedly known as Tearproof owner Terry Yee Kok Chew, uses a crash helmet to hit the dog. At some moments, it was unclear what he was doing to the dog but he seemed to be strangling the dog at certain points. He even threatens a female security guard and a passerby when they try to stop him.

See the whole ordeal for yourself below:

After abusing Furby, he dumps him behind the guardhouse, picks up his bicycle, and leaves.

MDDB and many other enraged netizens filed police reports against the suspect. It has also been learn that officers from the Department of Veterinary Services have taken the wounded dog away for medical examination and X-ray. Furby has some internal injuries, but he can wag his tail and eat.

However, despite the fact that police reports have been filed against the suspect, the police said that the will not be taking action on the man.

According to NST, Serdang district police chief assistant Commissioner Megat Mohd Aminuddin said the police will not take action unless the dog owner files a report. “Police have been waiting for the dog owner to step forward and lodge a report. There is none. We found out that it’s a stray dog. So far, the security guard who witnessed the incident has also not lodged a report,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a Facebook comment, a user known as Rick Wai updated concerned netizens on Furby’s condition. “The dog is okay now. Thank god!” he wrote.

Animal cruelty is wrong, inhumane, and it has to be stopped. We hope that Furby will get well soon and that someone can give it a loving home.

Sources: NST, The Star, The Sun, MDDB’s Facebook page.


Good Vibes Festival: Kodaline & HONNE To Perform In KL In March 2019

Calling all music lovers, Good Vibes Festival 2019 is set to be epic with Kodaline and HONNE as headliners.

The concert organiser dropped the announcement yesterday (Wednesday, 5th December) on social media. Mark your calendars peeps, the much-loved music festival is set to take place on 2nd and 3rd March 2019.

For the Good Vibes Festival 2019 series, British electro-R&B duo, HONNE, and Irish rock band, Kodaline, will be playing 2 back-to-back shows during the 1st weekend in March. The music event will be held at KL Live, Kuala Lumpur.

HONNE’s “Love Me/ Love Me Not” Asian Tour in Malaysia will be on 2nd March 2019 (Saturday). Tickets are priced at RM120, RM140, RM165 respectively. Ticket sales will go live on 13th December 2018.

Meanwhile, Kodaline’s “Politics Of Living Tour” in Malaysia be on 3rd March 2019 (Sunday). Tickets are slightly more expansive. They cost RM165, RM185, RM205 respectively. Ticket sales will go live on 12th December 2018.

A post shared by Good Vibes Festival (@goodvibesfest)

Both concerts are open to those aged 18 years old and above only. Tickets are subject to a whopping RM10 ticketing processing fee per transaction. For more details, go here.

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#EXO: K-Pop Idol Boy Group May Come To Malaysia For World Tour In March/April 2016

Over the past few months, EXO-Ls aka fans of EXO in Malaysia have been praying that the K-Pop idol boy group will make their way to our shores as part of their 2nd solo concert tour, “EXO PLANET #2 – The EXO’luXion”.

Now, it seems like their prayers have been answered because the group is reportedly coming to Malaysia for a concert next year.

For those who are not in the know, EXO is a Korean-Chinese boy group that made their debut under SM Entertainment in 2011. It originally consisted of 12 members, who were separated into 2 subgroups: EXO-K performs their songs in Korean while EXO-M performs in Mandarin.

In less than 5 years, the group released multiple hit singles including “MAMA”, “Growl”, and “Overdose”. Their songs came with catchy beats and sleek choreographies, which helped them sell over a million copies every time they release a new album. Their 1st studio album “XOXO”, which consists of the breakthrough hit “Growl”, was released in 2013. The album proved successful, as it won both “Disk Daesang” at the 28th Golden Disk Awards and “Album of the Year” at the 15th Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA). Over a million copies of the album were sold, making them the fastest-selling Korean artiste in 12 years.

Despite some member departure issues, they managed to hit the major music charts and became the highest-charting Korean male act on the Billboard 200 with their 3rd album titled “Overdose”.

Back in 2012, EXO-M performed in Malaysia for the first time alongside Super Junior-M and BTOB for Asia Super Showcase. The group also went to Malaysia with EXO-K for the 27th Golden Disk Awards (GDA) in 2013 and MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia 2014.

Now, according to local newspaper China Press, EXO is expected to hold their first large-scale concert in Malaysia in March or April 2016 as part of their “EXO PLANET #2 – The EXO’luXion” tour. This report came after various Korean media outlets reported that EXO would be making a comeback in mid-December.

It also came after a photo of a pre-application letter for EXO’s concert in Malaysia surfaced online, which later caused a social media frenzy among EXO-Ls in Malaysia.

[Rumored] Pra permohonan for #exoluxioninmalaysia

Gaisss! Exoluxion might happen in malaysia earlier in 2016! pic.twitter.com/MrWHZYaiTf

The “EXO PLANET #2 – The EXO’luXion” tour was first kicked off in Seoul earlier in March on 5 separate dates. The term “EXO’luXion” is considered as a combination of “EXO” and “Revolution”.

After successfully wrapping up their concerts in Seoul, they continued on their tour in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, China, Japan, and Singapore. Recently, the group experienced a wardrobe malfunction on stage during their “EXO’luXion” concert in Macau.

Details regarding their upcoming concert in Malaysia are scarce, but China Press reported that ticketing details and venue of the concert are expected to be announced in December.

As seen in the photo of the application letter that circulated online, Star Planet is the alleged organiser for EXO’s concert in Malaysia. Regarding the rumour, the organiser asked fans to stay tuned to their official Facebook page for more timely updates.

So, do you think EXO will come to Malaysia as part of their “EXO’luXion” tour next year? Are you excited about it? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.


#Starbucks: First Signing Store In Bangsar Hires Deaf Employees

A new Starbucks outlet in Malaysia has ventured on a path less traveled.

The Bangsar Village II coffee place has taken on a non-conventional route by hiring deaf baristas to serve its constant stream of customers. The store is the 1st ever Starbucks Signing Store to open globally, and the company is working closely with The Society of Interpreters for the Deaf (SID) to provide employment opportunities.

10 deaf partners (employees) have been employed by Starbucks, with an additional 3 hearing partners. This includes the store manager, Evonne Lo, who immediately signed up for the position when she heard of the initiative. The deaf will also be represented by Mohammad Aizad bin Ariffin, who will serve as the store’s shift manager.

“Since I joined Starbucks 3 years ago as a barista, my goal has been to become Starbucks Malaysia’s first deaf store manager and after my recent promotion to shift manager, I’m well on way to achieving this dream. It’s an incredible feeling to share my journey and help develop other deaf partners,” said Ariffin.

2 sign language interpreters were also with Starbucks throughout the hiring, training, and coaching stages for the deaf partners, and they will also be in charge of teaching sign language to the other employees.

In the newly-opened outlet, the ordering method will be vastly different from other Starbucks store, as your order will be written on an order ticket. The baristas will then key in the order, which will appear on a point-of-sale dual screen to ensure that no mistakes are made.

You’ll know that your beverage or food item is ready when your order number flashes on a large screen above the pick-up counter. For those with a Starbucks Card, a kiosk will be provided for customers to check their card balance and rewards.

The initiative is the 1st for the enormous coffee chain company, and we hope that it will pave the way for other companies to hire those who are less fortunate in the future. If you appreciate Starbucks’ sweet gesture, don’t forget to drop by their outlet to show your support!

For more information, visit Starbucks Malaysia’s official website and Facebook page.

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(UPDATE) Jennifer Hudson & B.o.B to Perform at MTV World Stage 2014

UPDATE: Due to scheduling conflicts that have arisen, MTV has officially announced that Jennifer Hudson will not be performing at MTV World Stage Malaysia 2014. In an official press release, the singer said:

To all my fans and supporters in Asia, I’m sorry I can’t be there for MTV World Stage Malaysia 2014! I was so looking forward to meeting you all and sharing some of my new music. I’m eternally grateful for the constant love and support from Team JHud in Asia.

Although there is a change in performers’ lineup, B.oB, Boys Republic and Yuna will still be performing at MTV World Stage 2014 on 16th August. Plus, you also stand a chance to be part of Boys Republic’s performance as they are now looking for a girlfriend! Hit up this link and check if you fit their “requirements”.

Just a little while ago, we met up with fans’ favourite MTV VJs Alan Wong and Hanli Hoefer for a little chat and got all the inside scoop about the upcoming 2014 MTV World Stage. If you were wondering why we are so excited about this year’s MTV World Stage, it’s definitely because American singer-rapper B.o.B and award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson will be performing in Malaysia soon!  Best known for his song, “Nothin’ on You”, the 25-year-old American musician B.o.B began writing music and rapping at a very young age – 13 years old! He first learned to play the trumpet in his school band from elementary school through high school. Although his parents are degree-holders, his passion and determination in music led him to drop out from his high school to pursue a music career. When he was 17 years old, the artiste signed with major label record Rebel Rock Entertainment after he was introduced to American record producer Jim Jonsin. Both of them later signed a joint venture deal with Atlantic and American rapper T.I.’s Grand Hustle Records.  In 2010, he became a breakthrough artiste after he announced his first single “Nothin’ on You” featuring Bruno Mars. The song reached #1 in both the US and United Kingdom. The singer later released his first studio album, “The Adventures of Bobby Ray”, featuring notable musicians including J. Cole, Asher Roth, Playboy Tre, Charles Hamilton, and Bruno Mars. Due to the commercial success of his singles, some of his songs were covered by the likes of Jay Park, Inch Chua, Wonder Girls and EXO. Within just 4 years, he was nominated for multiple Grammy awards. This will be B.o.B’s third visit to Malaysia as he has previously performed at Watson Music Festival in Malaysia two years ago.  Meanwhile, Jennifer Hudson will be visiting Malaysia for the first time to perform at MTV World Stage 2014. She is the latest addition to the MTV World Stage’s lineup as well, along with homegrown international singer-songwriter, Yuna; and Universal Music Group International’s first K-Pop idol group, Boys Republic. Most recently, she released 2 singles – “I Can’t Describe (The Way I Feel)” (features T.I.) with production by Pharrell, and “Walk It Out” (features Timbaland). So, what do you think the artistes announced so far? Just so you know, you can also stand a chance to meet your favourite artistes via the MTV Asia’s MTV World Stage Insider campaign! But how? Hit up this link to check if you fit the requirements! Good luck!


Hype’s Now Playing: 2PM – My House

After countless teasers and previews, the official music video for 2PM’s “My House” has finally dropped!

On 15th June, JYP Entertainment released the music video, which features the boys of 2PM dressing up and acting as gentlemen in order to invite a mysterious “Cinderella” back to their house. As at time of writing, the music video has already amassed over 569 thousand views and over 51 thousand likes.

In the video, a clock-ticking sound is heavily synthesised into the song, which can be interpreted as time is running out. This could be referred to the traditional fairytale “Cinderella“, where the princess has to leave the ball before 12am. A dreamy mood also permeated the music video as various fantasy elements such as a bunny (reminiscence of “Alice in the Wonderland”), an apple (reminiscence of “Snow White“), a pair of glass shoes (reminiscence of “Cinderella”), and a beast’s claw (reminiscence of “Beauty and the Beast“) were added.

Though the views for the music video is at a moderate amount now, but we’re sure that it will slowly increase as the company has agreed to gift fans with a dance practice video of “My House” if the music video hits 3 million views and a special dance practice video if it hits 5 million views.

In other news, JYP Entertainment has released a few behind-the-scene photos of 2PM’s album jacket shoot.

“My House” will be featured in 2PM’s 5th and latest album, “No.5“, which is aptly named as it is the boy group’s 5th album since their debut in 2008. The album has simultaneously been released in both digital and physical form and is available in both online and physical music stores.


#ParisBaguette: Korean Bakery Cafe To Open 5 Outlets In Malaysia By 2016

We know, we know, you can’t get enough of the Korean cafes in Malaysia. Well, neither can we! Here’s a piece of exciting news though – a South Korean bakery cafe franchise brand will be coming to our shores soon.

That’s right, everyone! We are talking about Paris Baguette, one of the most popular bakery cafes in Korea.

We learned about the arrival of the new Korean cafe through The Star as they reported that Naza Corp Holdings Sdn Bhd will be collaborating with  SPC Group to bring the South Korean bakery café franchise brand to Malaysia. According to The Star, the Naza group released a press statement to confirm that the company had already signed a mutual understanding with the South Korean conglomerate to develop the bakery cafe in Malaysia.

Nur Nadia SM Nasimuddin, the Naza director of F&B group said:

We are confident that Malaysians will be receptive to such new food and beverage (F&B) concepts such as Paris Baguette. This is due to the recent wave of “café culture”, which is rising at a rapid rate locally, presenting opportunities for our collaboration with the SPC group

The Naza group said the cafe is set to open 5 outlets in the Klang Valley area by 2016 and will have 30 outlets nationwide in 5 years.

Paris Baguette is set to be the fourth cafe franchise brand to open its first outlet in Malaysia as Caffe Bene and Tous Les Jours has already opened their Malaysian outlets last year. Premium dessert café, Milkcow Korea is also set to open its first outlet at Mid Valley Megamall this month but no official date has been announced yet. Hence, it came as no surprise to us that Paris Baguette will be opening its first Malaysian outlet as there are almost 1,500 outlets opened in South Korea alone.

The brand is also looking to expand its business in global market as they’ve opened various outlets in US too.

Of Malaysia’s coffee culture, SPC chairman Hur Young-In also said:

With Malaysia’s cultural and language diversity, we believe that the cooperation is in line with our goals to expand into South-East Asian countries, where there is high growth potential. We are also confident of this relationship with Naza, seeing the company’s strong track records in the automotive and property sector as well as F&B (food and beverage).

If you haven’t been to its outlet in Korea, check out the gallery below for a rough idea of what the Paris Baguette Cafe looks like:

So far, no further details have been released yet but it’s definitely a cafe to look out for since the cafe has a vast selection of fresh baked loaves, pastries, and cakes.

Since the lead actress of “My Love From The Star″, Jun Ji Hyun was appointed to become their brand’s ambassador, will the actress come to Malaysia to promote the brand too?

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President By Day, Hunter By Night

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov and produced by film extraordinaire Tim Burton, this year’s vampire-themed movie is stemmed from Seth Grahame-Smith‘s novel of the same name.

The star character, the 16th President of the United States, is no stranger to us (or to those who have read up on the American history). Known to be one of the greatest presidents the country has ever had, he successfully led his country through its greatest crisis – the American Civil War. But past all that uprising, rumour has it that he has always had a dark secret.

That’s right. We’re talking about the one and only Abraham Lincoln, who had the secret loathing of vampires.

In “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter“, Mr. President himself discovers that vampires are planning to take over the United States and thus, makes it his mission to eliminate them.

The untold story, the dark secret, and the bloodthirsty lore of the vampire is said to be the very thing that shaped a nation. And yes, in the film, Abraham Lincoln will be positioned as history’s greatest hunter of the undead:

[youtube id=”34x6m-ahGIo” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Excitement is in the air knowing that visionary filmmaker Tim Burton has a big part to play in the production of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Doesn’t that already give you an idea of what to expect when it’s released in our cinemas on the 21st June 2012?


#Disney: A Live-Action Remake Of “The Sword In The Stone” Is In The Works

Oh, Disney Studios. Please, we’re begging you. Don’t ruin our childhood, especially if you’re planning to develop a live-action remake of “The Sword In The Stone”.

That’s right, everyone. Yet another animated classic is getting a live-action remake treatment and this time around, it will be loosely based on the 1963 animated film about a young King Arthur being mentored by Merlin.

Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, Disney’s “The Sword In The Stone” is based on the T.H. White’s novel of the same name. It was the last movie that the studio released before Walt Disney’s death.

It tells the story of Arthur (nicknamed “Wart”), a 12-year-old orphan who aspires to be a knight’s squire. On a hunting trip he falls in on Merlin, a powerful but amnesiac wizard who has plans for Wart beyond mere squiredom. Merlin starts by trying to give Wart an education, believing that once one has an education, one can go anywhere. Needless to say, it doesn’t quite work out that way.

In the animated feature film, Arthur was voiced by 3 different actors namely Rickie Sorensen, Richard Reitherman, and Robert Reitherman. This led to noticeable changes in the voice between scenes and their Brooklyn-esque accents were sharply contrasting with the English setting and the accents spoken by all other characters in the film. As for Merlin, he was voiced by Karl Swenson and animated by several of Disney’s Nine Old Men, including Milt Kahl, Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, and John Lounsbery.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Game of Thrones” writer/producer Bryan Cogman is on board to pen the script while Brigham Taylor, who is also working on Disney’s “The Jungle Book” remake, will produce. The announcement came on the heels of the news that the studio is planning to develop a live-action “Aladdin” prequel about Genie.

No further details regarding the live-action remake of “The Sword In The Stone” were released, but it surely isn’t the first Disney animated film to be adapted into a live-action movie.

The animated classics that will be made into live-action versions include:

The film does not have a release date yet, but what do you think of this? Who do you think should play Arthur and Merlin? And more importantly, would you want the scene in the gif below be featured in the live-action film too?

Source: THR / Featured image: disneymovieyear.wordpress.com

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Minions Mayhem Alert!

Remember “Despicable Me”? Good. Now, remember those cute little gleeful things called “Minions” in Despicable Me? It was just announced yesterday that apparently, the cheeky little characters are set to get a spin-off movie all to themselves.

But their role in Despicable Me was that of a supporting one. That means that although memorable, they only offered as much as comedy relief, right? Like Scrat in the “Ice Age” movies? Which reminds us, when is he ever going to get his grubby little hands on that acorn?

Anyway, before you wonder if being supporting characters can sustain an entire feature film, keep in mind that as tiny of sidekicks as they are, they’ve already appeared in numerous short films and even their own 4-D ride at Universal Studios Florida.

In fact, they’ve garnered so much appeal that it’s only right to give them their rightful place.

Furthermore, Slashfilm announced that the film will feature the minions interacting with human characters, and maybe some surprise visits from some old characters from the first film and new characters from the upcoming “Despicable Me 2”.

Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda (Despicable Me and The Lorax respectively) will co-direct the project from a script by Brian Lynch. And the movie is set for release in the summer of 2014.

Wait a minute. Are they going to make the minions speak English this time or what?


#HypeTurns10 & We Want YOU To Come Drink, Dance & Party With Us!

Over the last decade, Hype.my has shed spotlights on countless celebrities, covered various breaking news and has shared thoughts on a multitude of topics. We’ve definitely grown and changed a lot over the years, but we’ve always stayed true to our core values: bringing you the best, and only the best, news and coverage!

Well, a few months ago, we said we were planning a surprise for you. So, strap in and get ready for the big announcement:

Happy Birthday, Hype! Or, should we say, Hype-y Birthday! To celebrate 10 years of covering all the latest gossip and breaking news, we will be hosting the celebratory social event of the season – Hype’s 10 year anniversary – this October.

You can expect a grand social party happening soon where you get the chance to meet some really cool people, enjoy live music performances, feel like a star while you walk down the red carpet, check out some new releases, and stand a chance to win some awesome prizes!

As a token of our appreciation for your constant support over the last decade, we’d like to invite some lucky readers of ours to our GRAND party. Unfortunately, due to limited space, this event is INVITATION ONLY – so keep your eyes peeled, because you might just be the lucky few who may receive an invitation in your email!

The details of the event are as follows:

You can find what awesome prizes are up for grabs here. So, are you just as excited as we are? Save the date now!


7 Movies That’ll Give You A Total Mindf**k!

Whether it’s a cute romance drama that leaves us feeling all lovey-dovey inside, a comedy that has us laughing in hysterics, or a horror film that keeps us up at night, movies can leave a deep impression on our minds. Just like how the twins from The Shining (1980) made us scared of walking in long and empty hallways; and how Jaws (1975) left us being afraid to swim in the sea.

While most modern blockbusters still manage to deliver captivating stories that most of us are familiar with, these films did the opposite. Straying from the status quo of traditional moviemaking, the films left audiences bamboozled as they tried to wrap their heads around what they just saw. From being trapped in a never-ending neighbourhood to a slow-burn murder mystery, here are some movie recommendations that will give you a mindf*ck and leave you with more questions by the end of it:

If you’re a fan of time travel movies, this one goes back to the 1960s. The story centers around an aspiring fashion designer, Eloise, who somehow is able to enter the 1960s, where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie. While it all seems great at first, the glamour is not all it appears to be, and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker. This film is essentially a modern-day Hitchcock thriller. It’s a slow burn story that suddenly descends into mind games and terror. While it’s described as a horror film, it’s more like a trippy thriller with a few harmless jump scares.

If creepy-looking babies and parenthood scares you, this movie might just give you a mindf*ck. This movie follows Tom and Gemma, a young couple whose hunt for their first home goes disastrously wrong. After being given a tour of the utopian neighbourhood of Yonder by a realtor (who may or may not be an alien), the couple find themselves trapped in suburbia with a child and one mission: raise the boy and be released. This movie feels like an episode of The Twilight Zone, and it definitely makes parenthood seem much more depressing. Not to mention set design and the never-ending row of houses makes the movie feel almost claustrophobic. Just remember to keep in mind that this movie is entirely satirical, and not to be taken seriously!

This movie is filled with twist and turns, and will keep you on the edge of your seat. It follows Jin-seok, whose abducted brother returns seemingly a different man with no memory of the past 19 days, and he chases after the truth behind the kidnapping. We’ll keep the spoilers at bay for this one, since it’s the kind of movie where the less you know going in, the better. The film excellently mixes psychological thriller with some atmospheric terror that keeps the tension and mystery alive throughout the movie. Watch this on an evening with the lights dimmed… and enjoy the wild ride.

Annihilation is a combination of science fiction and psychological horror, sprinkled with some body horror. The story follows Lena, a biologist and former soldier, who joins a mission to uncover what happened to her husband inside “The Shimmer”, a mysterious phenomenon that has been expanding across the American coastline. Once they get inside, they discover a world of mutated landscapes and creatures that threatens both their lives… and their sanity. In you’re in the mood for otherworldly experiences without actually doing mind-altering substances, this one will definitely get your mind royally f*cked.

If you enjoyed Sarah Paulson in American Horror Story, you’ll definitely like her in this one. Run follows a wheelchaired teenager, Chloe, who is homeschooled by her mother. However, Chloe starts to suspect everything her mother does after discovering a Change of Name Certificate document. She decides to go on the run in her wheelchair in a desperate attempt to get away from her. While the plot does get a bit predictable, it still gives that terrific thrilling experience of watching a mystery thriller.

Trance is a psychological thriller starring James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel, and Rosario Dawson. The movie starts off with Simon, who is a fine-art auctioneer, joining a gang of thieves led by Frank to steal a painting. But during the heist, he suffers a head injury, which results in him having no memory of where he hid the artwork. Frank then hires a hypnotherapist to help probe his memory. This is when the movie becomes super meta, blurring the line between deceit and reality. Overall, this movie is jam-packed with twists and turns, but it can get a bit confusing and complicated.

Trigger warning: this movie is f*cked up. Starring Jennifer Lawrence as the main character ‘Mother’, and Javier Bardem as ‘Him’, this film takes place in a Victorian mansion. ‘Mother’ is seen renovating different areas of the house when an unexpected guest arrives at their doorstep one night, followed by the arrival of his wife and his two children. The plot then takes a terrifying turn, which made many audience members leave the theater halfway through the movie. Overall, this film is not horror, but it is absolutely insane, beautiful, disgusting, and masterful. So, be warned – this movie isn’t for the faint of heart.

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Concert Review: DREAMCATCHER Weaved A Wonderful “Nightmare” For Malaysian Fans

“In this endless repeating nightmare, stay trapped like this forever” – those are the words of taste breaking K-pop girl group, Dreamcatcher. Despite being birthed from the industry of many saccharine sounds, do not be mistaken; these 7 girls are nothing like what you’d expect.

On the 6th of September 2019, Dreamcatcher was kind enough to extend us Malaysians an “Invitation From Nightmare City”. The concert was organised by JS Concert Productions in collaboration with My Music Taste and was held at KL Live. It was the group’s debut performance in Malaysia as well, which added to the excitement of fans.

Dreamcatcher consists of Jiu, Siyeon, Yoohyeon, Sua, Dami, Handong, and Gahyeon – all gorgeous girls with an insidious agenda. What sets them apart from your average girl group is the very foundation of what Dreamcatcher is built on. Whilst most girl groups sell you a fantasy, Dreamcatcher does something similar – except they’re selling you a horror induced nightmare.

With heavy metal riffs and terrifying music video plots, the group has made quite a statement for themselves and built an incredibly dedicated fan base. Known as Insomnia, their fans flooded the venue to give our fan kits (ranging from transparent fans to hand banners) and exchanging freebies amongst themselves. “The girls themselves are very lively, so it’s going to be an energetic performance,” said David, an avid fanboy who was especially excited to see Dreamcatcher perform their latest single.

30 minutes before the show, the venue switched up the usual Top 40 hits for Dreamcatcher songs instead – which instantly rejuvenated the crowd. The moment the hair-raising music box intro of “Good Night” played, everyone sprang to life. This served as a good appetiser for the ravenous crowd, who gulped every last bit of it.

When the lights finally dimmed and the girls came out, they started strong by opening with “Fly High” and their debut title track, “Chase Me”. The stage lighting was almost as explosive as their music, matching every erratic switch up in their songs. Though it did make it a tad hard to focus on the members but their natural allure kept us going. Perhaps fans weren’t kidding when they mentioned how dangerous their charms were!

Opening 'Fly High'…sorry can't help but scream#DREAMCATCHERinKL pic.twitter.com/3M3xwgnZd5

— Shapley 🤍🌿BONVOYAGE (@Shapley_Somnia) September 6, 2019

The lights came back on for the girls to greet their Malaysian fans and say their hellos briefly before continuing. They moved on into the milder “Which A Star” and “Emotion”, which was quite fitting after all the bellows they received. It was quite satisfying to see the versatility of the group; going from heavy metal to emotional ballads all in less than 10 minutes and done in such a flawless fashion.

Member Sua even playfully added, “Keep your focus on us, okay?” after finishing their slower numbers, as a way to prep the crowd for what was to come. “Sleep Walking” was an especially enthralling track, which mixed mystery, electro-pop, and dread all into one. The girls also showed a little more of their seductive side with the coquettish “Wonderland”, which set the mood for what came next.

[#DREAMCATCHERinKL] One of the highlights for tonight:

— Hallyu Malaysia (@HallyuM) September 6, 2019

Keeping in the theme, Dreamcatcher then performed a series of covers–beginning with the anthem for sexiness, “Havana” by Camila Cabello. However, all was washed away with their next stage; a medley of hit songs by famous K-pop boy groups! Performing BTS’ “Boy With Luv”, EXO’s “Loveshot”, Monsta X’s “Alligator”, NCT 127’s “Simon Says” and even rookie group ATEEZ’s “Hala Hala”! Fans were surprised to say the least but definitely impressed by the change in aura that Dreamcatcher brought to the stage.

The covers didn’t stop there, so it turns out to be yet another win for K-pop fans. Dividing into units, Sua and Siyeon performed as a duo to Taemin’s “Sayonara Hitori” while Jiu, Handong, Yoohyeon, Dami, and Gahyeon performed a little of Twice’s iconic “TT” and Red Velvet’s sultry “Bad Boy”.

190906 DREAMCATCHER IN KL – BAD BOY COVERhttps://t.co/rcLrvwHOHq#DreamCatcher #드림캐쳐 #지유 #JIU #한동 #HANDONG #유현 #YOOHYEON #다미 #DAMI #가현 #GAHYEON pic.twitter.com/8NKnLE8vzO

— :16 (Hibernating) (@strikesixteen) September 6, 2019

It was clear that Dreamcatcher themselves were very comfortable on stage as performers. The girls kept on sneaking smiles during performances and even little waves to the crowd as they danced to their numbers. Malaysian Insomnias were in for a lot of fan service as well, with the girls giving out gifts via lucky draw while trying their best to accommodate their fans wishes. Dreamcatcher is general are very animated, which made them even more entertaining to watch. It’s no wonder they’re so well-loved by their fans.

They performed all their hits; “What”, “Good Night”, “You and I”, but it was “Piri” that had the loudest cheers of the night. Being their latest and most popular single, the girls got everyone to stand up from their seats to go wild to the track as the flute intro began playing over the speakers. With that, Malaysian Insomnias cheered along as loudly as their lungs allowed them to.

Jiu: *interacting with fans*Yoohyeon: focus on me pls, my turn

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂#DREAMCATCHERinKL #DREAMCATCHERinMY #DREAMCATCHER #드림캐치 pic.twitter.com/cBQlYGRsKK

After that, the girls came together to say their final words. The youngest member, Gahyeon, mentioned how she was initially a little worried when she first heard all the cheers from backstage. “It was a great pleasure to see all the Insomnia fans!” she said with a smile, which fuelled more cheers from the crowd.

Member Dami shared her thoughts as well, saying how there were more fans than she expected and how thankful she was for it. Leader Jiu shared similar sentiments to Gahyeon, and told the crowd in English that was worried about not performing well either. “But after 1 song, I just enjoyed it!” she said with a laugh, which made the crowd cheer her on.

With bids of “Saya cinta kamu!”, the girls said goodbye ducked backstage to prepare for the encore. Then they performed their final songs, ending the night with “Over The Sky”.

Overall, Dreamcatcher’s performance was everything that one could love about K-pop. The intimate venue, the constant curveballs that were thrown, and the sheer thrill of it all is something sacred that will forever be shared all those who attended that gig. Dreamcatcher is on a steady rise and from seeing how authentic the girls are with their passion for performance and fans, seems like it’s only onward and upward from here on.

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#HelloKittyAtHJPH: The Ultra Adorable Must-See Destination For Hello Kitty Fans

You are now one step closer to achieving your Hello Kitty goals for Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour has graciously enabled you.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

Last week, Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour officially launched 12 distinct Hello Kitty themed rooms, the first of its kind within the Southeast Asian region. The rooms revolve around 3 impossibly cute themes based on the swashbuckling Sailor, the romantic Pink Series, and the magical Hello Kitty in OZ.

We were invited to Johor Bahru for an exclusive first look at the rooms and dare we say, it’s hard to not fall head over heels in love with them!

Here are a couple of things in particular that piqued our interest:

1. It is 100% legit Hello Kitty business!

Not only does each room feature a unique identity complete with colourful illustrations (decals, wallpapers) to suit different moods and preferences, every single one was also designed in partnership with Sanrio. Yup, it’s legit.

Sanrio and Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour have evidently put a lot of thought into the nitty gritty because the attention to detail is top notch right down to the keycard, stuffed toys, figurines, clocks, and printed pillows.

The room’s number is “marked” with Hello Kitty’s signature bow and each signage represents the theme of the room e.g. the Pink Series room displays a bow, the Hello Kitty in OZ room displays the signature purple hat, etc.

4. Ahoy, nautical-obsessed Hello Kitty fans!

Here’s a little something for those who love being one with water. Each Sailor Hello Kitty themed room is painted a cool blue, complete with nautical-inspired details and best of all, it faces the tranquil Puteri Harbour.

5. A surprise bag of goodies awaits guests

The rooms also come with eye-catching Hello Kitty in-room amenities including stationery and embroidered towels and bathrobes. Guests will also be greeted by a specially packed goodie bag in the room upon check-in.

It’s Hello Kitty awesomeness all in one location! With Sanrio Hello Kitty Town (the first Sanrio Hello Kitty Town theme park outside of Japan) and Hello Kitty Red Bow Cafe situated right next to Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour, it is the perfect destination for fans of the global pop icon.

7. More Hello Kitty themed rooms to come?

During the press conference at the launch, we were told that Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour may or may not add more rooms in the future, depending on the interest and demand from fans ;)

Interested? The Hello Kitty themed rooms are available in 2 room categories – Deluxe and Premier. The Premier room selections are suites equipped with themed bunk beds adjoining to a master bedroom, perfect for families with young children.

Rates start from RM800++ per room per night.

For more information, hit up Hotel Jen’s website or Facebook page.

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David Blaine’s “Real or Magic” Live in Malaysia!

LOL Events & Livescape Asia is proud to present the world’s most enigmatic magician, David Blaine, live in Malaysia on 5 Sept 2014 in Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur. David Blaine started off conventionally as a street magician who is known for his mind blowing endurance stunts such as “Frozen in Time” in which he was frozen into a block of ice for 72 hours. Other stunts include “Above the Below”, in which he went without food for 44 days and “Vertigo”, where he stood for 44 hours on a 22-inch platform.

His television specials have had huge ratings worldwide, his first “David Blaine: Street Magic” and “David Blaine: Magic Man”. His recent celebrity packed special “David Blaine: Real or Magic” had Katy Perry, Will Smith & family, Harrison Ford, Breaking Bad duo Aaron Paul & Bryan Cranston, Ricky Gervais and many more marvel at his tricks.

Yes, even stars get starstruck or rather, David-struck too!

And now, David will embark on his first Asia tour and will stage illusions and endurance stunts. He will take the audience on a journey in the 90 minutes performance where the audience will be left guessing if his act is REAL or MAGIC. Deets are as follows:

Ticketing: VIP – RM648 (Limited, Meet & Greet), Platinum – RM518, Gold – RM418, Silver – RM318, Bronze – RM248, Cat 5 – RM188 (Free Seating), Cat 6 – RM138 (Free Seating) via TicketPro.

For more information, visit David Blaine’s Facebook page or Livescape Asia’s Facebook page.


Marini’s On 57’s F1 Party Paddock With Joey Negro

Kick-off the F1 race weekend this March at Marini’s on 57 which will feature the legendary DJ Joey Negro for an exclusive one-night only event. Joey Negro mixes his passion for disco into house music as both a producer and remixer, causing many to define his music as disco-house.

Joey, who has released music under a plethora of monikers for a multitude of record labels throughout the ’90s and into the new millennium is known as one of the forefathers of the UK dance scene and has worked with artistes like Kelly Rowland, Empire Of The Sun, Mariah Carey, Pet Shop Boys and Diana Ross.

As he brings inestimable talents to celebrate and kick-off the Malaysian GP fresh off his recent album launch with the Defected Label to Marini’s on 57 this March, fans can expect an electrifying and fresh repertoire on the decks. The award-winning outlet will feature the much talked about series of special F1 cocktails designed after the individual F1 teams available for that night only and special promotions by G.H. Mumm Champagne, the official F1 champagne.

Admission: RM130++ (with one drink) – Advance booking encouraged

Reservations: +603 2386 6030 or reservations@marinisgroup.com


#Malaysia: Dog Saved After Getting Head Stuck In Container For Days

A stray dog has been rescued after spending more than a day running about with a plastic container over its head.

On Monday (19th September), a team of Wildlife Rescue Unit rangers came to rescue the dog after they were notified by a senior Sabah Wildlife Department officer.

According to Dr. Sen Nathan (who posted about the rescue on his Facebook page), the rescue team believed that the stray dog, which they nicknamed Plasty, had accidentally trapped its head inside the plastic container while searching for food at Taman Inanam Laut in Kota Kinabalu.

Led by veterinarian Dr Nabila Sarkawi, Plasty was reportedly tranquillised before the container was removed from its head. “The dog was severely dehydrated had probably not eaten or drunk water for days and was in a very bad state,” said Dr Nabila. She added that the poor dog “would not have survived another 36 hours with the plastic container stuck to its head“.

In case you’re wondering, Dr Nabila assures that “Plasty’s condition has stabilised” and is currently on the road to recovery at the SPCA KK kennel after the scary incident that nearly cost the doggie his life.

“I will be going over regularly to the SSpCA Kennel to keep an eye on him. I would like to thank SPCA KK for their kind assistance in housing Plasty during his period of rest and recuperation. I would also like to thank the kind hearted Wildlife Officer who had alerted us on the plight of Plasty,” continued Dr Nabila.

You can read Dr. Sen Nathan’s Facebook posting here:

Many netizens have since commended Dr Nabila and her team of Wildlife rangers for saving the dogs life. “Poor Plasty, so good the Wildlife Rescue Unit saved his life. And I do like the name. Wish him all the best,” wrote Facebook user Annette Merle. Her sentiment was concurred with Henry Tai saying, “Another life saved, indeed music to the ears of dog/animal lovers. Good job!”

All the best Plasty, and get well soon ;)

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#PDRM: Traffic Policeman Helps Disabled Man; Lauded By Netizens

It’s not every day that you get to see an act of kindness. Well, today is one of those days.

A traffic policeman was praised for giving a ride to a disabled man on his motorcycle. His selfless act was caught on camera and went viral on Facebook, reported local news portal The Star Online.

“A police corporal from the Taman Tun Dr Ismail police station was making his patrol rounds on motorcycle. The policeman willingly gave a ride to a disabled man who lacks both legs and his left hand. The disabled man moves around only with the strength in his right hand and his torso. I was touched to see him. Congratulations Corporal Ropi from the TTDI station who provided help to the needy,” the original Facebook post read. Several photos were attached to the post.

The images were then shared again on the Royal Malaysian Force’s Facebook page and garnered some 2.7 thousand likes in 19 hours. Netizens also left their comments thanking and praising Ropi for not ignoring someone in need.

The cop, only known as Corporal Ropi, allegedly met the disabled man while on patrol along Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad at 8pm on Sunday (29th May).

I was worried that a car might not see him because it was already dark, so I offered to send him to the nearest bus station.

The kind deed did not go unnoticed by the top-ranked policeman in Malaysia, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar. In a tweet attached with photos of the incident, the IGP congratulate PDRM’s Motorcycle Patrol Unit (Unit Rondaan Bermotorsikal/URB) for a job well done.

Syabas URB @PDRMsia #PolisDanMasyarakatBerpisahTiada pic.twitter.com/Exm43psRRQ

— Khalid Abu Bakar (@KBAB51) May 30, 2016

The netizen who shared the photos, Mohd Shahrin, was also a policeman. Shahrin and Ropi are patrol mates.


#SonyPicturesAnimation: An Animated Emoji Movie Is In The Works, For Real

If there’s anything we’ve learned from Hollywood, it’s that they can turn almost anything into a movie – even the emojis that we use on a daily basis.

Deadline broke the news that an animated movie about emojis is in the works at Sony Pictures Animation. To be honest, we’ve given up trying to make logical sense out of this piece of news and would like to express our feelings with the following emojis instead:

Yes, Hollywood. We’re judging you so hard right now.

According to Deadline, Sony won an intense bidding war against Warner Bros. and Paramount to purchase a pitch for the emoji movie. One can only imagine that the movie executives were probably thinking about the dollar signs while fighting to purchase that pitch.

But apparently, Anthony Leondis (of “Igor” fame), who is attached to direct the movie, has mapped out “a series of storyboards outlining the entire film”. Both Paramount and Warner Bros. were attracted to the pitch, but SPA president Kristine Belson won the rights to pursue the project instead.

Leondis’ latest directing effort is “B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations”, a Dreamworks Animation film that will feature the voices of Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Matt Bomer, and Seth Rogen. He will co-write the script for the emoji movie with Eric Siegel.

No further details regarding the emoji movie were revealed, but Sony will have to move fast on this movie as another Emoji movie is reportedly being shopped around Hollywood too. This would mean that we might have have to see dueling Emoji movies over the next few years.

Considering how “The LEGO Movie” (a movie based around building block toy) and “Pixels” (a movie based around classic arcade games) have already been developed, do you think a movie about emoji will work?  What do you think the movie will revolve around? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.

Source: slashfilm.com / Featured image: seniorplanet.org

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9 Instaworthy Floral Themed Cafes Around Klang Valley

Is your Instagram feed starting to look a little bit too dull? Or is it just the travel bug that is itching you and making you miss springtime in another country? Or does your partner just simply love flowers?

Be it the travel bug, or just simply for the sake of spicing up your Instagram feed; here’s a list of floral-themed cafes around Klang Valley for you to visit and take Insta-worthy pictures of your besties:

A post shared by Mary Jane KL (@maryjane.dining)

Location: 106, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Here’s a cafe that will absolutely make those pink flower lovers want to stay and take thousands of pictures in the cafe. This cafe filled with pink flowers is not only Instagrammable, but they also have a wide variety of menu from brunch, to dinner, and even after hours beverages.

Too many choices that you can’t pick? Try their breakfast At Mary Jane. With the big portion of the meal and the fragrant Italian Truffle Butter to accompany the whole meal, it will surely fill your tummy up!

A post shared by Lisette's Café & Bakery (@lisettes.my)

If you want to feel like you’re dining in a cute little cafe in Europe, try visiting one of Lisette’s outlets either in Subang or Bangsar. With the cute colourful tiles put up on their ceiling, and a nice pink flower backdrop for you to take your #BrunchOOTD pictures, Lisette’s should absolutely be in your floral themed cafe to-go list! Their breakfast menu is available until 3pm (because they know some of us aren’t morning people), and they even have customisable detox juice. If you’re looking for some spices in your breakfast, you should totally go for their Mumbai Eggs Kejriwal.

If you’re looking for a tropical foodie retreat in the middle of the hustle and bustle of KL city, Botanica & Co is the way to go. You will be surrounded with cool green plants that goes in pots, vining along the ceilings, and even our favourite backyard fruit tree; the banana tree! Their menu ranges from all-day brunches to Vegetarian Mondays. They also serve pastries and cakes, and even sharing platters like their Sandwich Platter that you can choose from three different combinations. Our personal favourite from the menu would be the Weekend Maple Burger that combines both sweet and savoury perfectly.

Location: The Majestic Hotel, 5, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Perdana Botanical Gardens, 50000 Kuala Lumpur

If you want to go for a more private setting for your hi-tea session while enjoying the beauty of a hanging garden and orchidscape within a glass atrium, The Orchid Conservatory is the one and only in the country. What’s even more exciting is that, the orchids displayed changes along with the seasons. They have 2 types of starters, the cold and hot ones; and just like most exclusive settings, there are soups, main courses, and desserts. But if we have to pick just one to recommend you, it would be their Devil Chocolate Cake that is both rich and moist.

Location: 617, Jalan 17/10, Seksyen 17, 46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Combining lush greens and retro is Cafe Tujoh’s way of giving you a blast from the past. The shelf that they have stacked with aquarium TVs and mini compo radios is not only worthy for the gram, but it will also make you feel extremely nostalgic! Well, that’s if you’re a 90s kid. The menu is also like the decor, a combination of two elements; Asian and Western. One from the menu that we have to recommend you, would be their soft Shell Crab Creamy Tomyam Pasta.

A post shared by Urban Daybreak (@urbandaybreak)

Location: 11, Jalan Telawi 5, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

We’ve listed cafes with brightly coloured petalled flowers as their decors above, but this one is slightly eccentric but no less pretty; they use cotton flowers as their interior decors! However, they do use a splash of colours here and there but overall, despite the floral theme, they still managed to combine it with the minimalism concept. They serve great coffee, and also amazing brunch! The one we’d recommend you from Urban Daybreak would be their Continental Croissant. Not only does it tastes superb, but it also matches the floral aesthetic!

Location: H-1, 03, Persiaran Jalil 1, Bukit Jalil City, 57000 Kuala Lumpur

Watched “Koizora” and instantly fell in love with baby breaths? Then try paying Viola Flower Cafe a visit and snap yourself with their dyed and dried baby breaths backdrop. You can enjoy their wide variety of pasta; Pesto sauce, Creamy Korean Miso sauce, Creamy Japanese Curry sauce and Creamy Teriyaki sauce. If you want to bring a piece of them back home, you can get their frozen thin crust pizzas.

A post shared by Fine Coffee and Flowers (@finecoffeeandflowers)

Location: C2, Jalan Ampang Utama 1/1, Tmn, Taman Ampang Utama, 68000 Ampang Jaya, Selangor

If you’re the type to keep your Instagram feed simplistic but with a hint of pastel colours, you would totally enjoy Fine Coffee and Flowers. Just like their motto, “We live on fine coffee and flowers, and so should you.” Fine Coffee & Flowers serves absolutely adorable and tasty cakes! Not only that, if you want to bring a piece of floral finery with you home, they also do bouquets and vases arrangements!

A post shared by One Half Coffee (@onehalf_coffee)

Location: 17, Jalan 20/13, Taman Paramount, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

If you are more into the industrial concept, One Half is the cafe for you. But then, comes Ilaika into the picture to spruce up the space by adding luscious greens. As coffee lovers, we absolutely recommend you to come here for their coffee along with their not-too sweet pastries that pair well with the bitterness of the coffee. If you’re in for a unique experience, try their curated beverages! They have the Super Ice Latte that uses freeze distilled milk with single origin espresso. Or maybe their orange cold brew (whaaaat, orange?)

So, it’s time to update your Instagram feed with flora and greeneries after being cooped up at home for so long!

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G-Dragon Is More Than Just “One of a Kind”

After continuously teasing his fans and followers via multiple social network platforms e.g. his Facebook page, YouTube channel, Twitter account, and Instagram account, BIGBANG’s leader has finally announced the release date of his solo album.

Now, we know he has been working hard on producing songs for Korea’s (and quite possible the W-O-R-L-D’s) biggest boy band/group, but that hasn’t kept him away from pursuing his own musical goals.

K-Pop lovers and “VIPs” (as BIGBANG would lovingly call their fans), can expect seven brand spanking new tunes on the 15th September 2012. The songs are said to be 24-year-old Kwon Ji Yong aka G-Dragon’s newest effort consisting of his unique styles.

What, you think he would stop at just selling out Korea’s Harper’s Bazaar in the span of merely a few days?

The talented singer-songwriter, fashionista, performer, and musician was said to be merely experimenting with solo projects before deciding on the album release. The new album, titled “One of a Kind” will include five tracks on top of the previously released “One of a Kind” single and “That XX” single.

Check out the music video for “That XX”:

[youtube id=”j57IzkTFnT8″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

The music video for “That XX” was released only two days ago but it has already raked up about 3,571,237 views – and counting! G-Dragon hasn’t released a solo album since 2009 but we’re pretty sure this one’s going to go completely through the roof of music charts around the world.

Don’t believe us? Just you wait and see.

For more information, hit up G-Dragon’s Facebook page.


#GE13: Through The Eyes Of Marina Mahathir

Marina Mahathir, daughter of Tun Mahathir Mohammad, otherwise known as a leader in many non-governmental organizations such as the Malaysian AIDS Foundation and an active socio-political blogger, has come out to share her thoughts and views on the 13th Malaysian general election. This is coming after the post effects of the GE13 e.g. silent protests, #black505 rally.

It’s a little lengthy but it’s worth spending a few minutes poring over. Perhaps it can give Malaysians an insight on how things have turned out post GE13 through the eyes of Marina:

For the last year, everything was put on suspended animation. First, because we did not know when the election would be; then, because we did not know what would happen afterwards. Now, we know and, in many ways, it was a very Malaysian result.

We gave every party just enough; not enough to make anybody ecstatic, but enough that they can console themselves that they did partly well. It may not be good enough for the people who want all or nothing, but the one thing about democracy is its unpredictability.

Perhaps there were a few heightened characteristics in the election campaign this time.

One is the incredible amount of advertising being thrown at voters from every possible direction. You couldn’t drive anywhere without seeing banners and posters, some of which should have been taken down for obstructing the view of drivers. You couldn’t even play games online without having to first endure a political video.

In the last days of campaigning, three human traits became obvious – fear, paranoia and mistrust.

All sides used fear to create paranoia and mistrust. Unfortunately, many allowed themselves to be used by politicians in that way. It made some Malaysians turn against other Malaysians, as well as foreigners. Tolerance, understanding and respect went out the window.

This is not the future that we expected, where all humans would enjoy equal rights. Instead, we fell to making distinctions between one human and another, based on suspicion and conjecture. We should really reflect on how easily this ugly side of us came out when provoked.

No doubt, we can blame various parties for creating an atmosphere in which this was possible. But we fell for it. In the name of democracy, we became undemocratic. But this is the day after, and we have to move on. Again, do we rely on our leaders of whatever stripe to lead us in moving on, or do we do it ourselves?

As the ever-cynical writer Gore Vidal said: “Democracy is supposed to give you the feeling of choice, like Painkiller X and Painkiller Y. But they’re both just aspirin.”

I feel that we will learn from this and we will focus on the next election, where we will insist that all sides have to earn our trust and, therefore, our votes. I don’t think we will succumb to manipulation any more.

I also think that the most crucial reform needed is in the media. It truly needs to redeem itself from its outrageous behaviour during the campaign, dispensing with any semblance of objectivity or balance. We need to demand from the media an account of how much it thinks it contributes to national unity and healing. The people voted out the worst proponents of disunity and the media should take heed of that.

I would really advise the Prime Minister to stop thinking of Cabinet posts as a form of reward but, rather, as assigning tasks of huge responsibility. For that, he should not choose the same old faces. To really show that he is sincere about change, his criteria for his ministers should be talent, youth and gender, three things that were wholly absent before.

Only then will we believe this is a fresh new beginning.

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IU Announces Collab With BTS’ Suga For Upcoming Music Comeback

Surprise, surprise! Guess who is making a comeback next month? IU (아이유) recently delighted K-fans worldwide when she announced her return to music!

Earlier today (27th April), the singer-actress’ agency EDAM Entertainment shared, “IU will be releasing a digital single on 6th May, and she will also be releasing a music video along with her music.”

But the good news didn’t stop there y’all! The label further revealed that BTS’ rapper Suga (슈가) has collaborated with the “Blueming” starlet for her upcoming release. According to EDAM Entertainment, “The two musicians are the same age (both were born in 1993), so they were able to relate to one another and used that as a foundation for exchanging opinions.”

As reported by Soompi, the filming of the music video has already finished, which her agency describes as “different in style from her past music”. IU also personally took part in every stages of the production process, from composing the music and lyrics to planning the overall concept for the single.

this will be the legendary collab of the year istg #IUxSUGA rip melon kkskskkkskks pic.twitter.com/PKo783IbL7

Hello the world is not ready. Melon is definitely not ready. It's gonna crash down. No mercy. I'm so so so proud of you Min PD. From Suran, to Lee Sora to Heize. And now with #IUxSUGA you got all the strong women in korean music industry 🥺💜@BTS_twt I'm looking forward to +🏆 pic.twitter.com/iMc7wLGPtU

— cestlavie_90⁷💜 (@cestlavie9090) April 27, 2020


Hentai Porn Extremely Popular In Malaysia; Tudung Pornstar Also Trending

The stats are in and it appears that the Philippines has topped Pornhub’s annual global rankings who spend the average longest time on the site.

According to the popular adult website’s 2017 year-long data, Filipinos have spent the longest time watching steamy videos for the 4th straight year. Clocking in at an average of 13 minutes and 28 seconds, Pinoy users are significantly higher than the average global visits of 9 minutes and 59 seconds.

South Africa came in at the runner-up spot at approximately 11 minutes. Following closely behind at more than 10 minutes are countries such as the United States (which dominated Pornhub’s “biggest source of traffic”), Canada, Argentina, and the United Kingdom.

The most popular porn stars in 2017 from Pornhub were awarded to Riley Reid (for the woman’s category) and Jordi El Nino Polla (for the man’s category). Currently 26 years old, Riley entered the porn industry in 2011 when she was 19. The psychology major has even more numerous awards including Female Performer of the Year.

Similarly, Jordi El Nino Polla was already a sensation in the porn industry when he hit 20. The Spanish adult actor earned the nickname “El Nino Polla” due to his small frame and youthful appearance. In 2016, he was approached by Montreal investors to collaborate in a production company called Brazzers, who play host to multiple pornographic sites.

Having said that, it is Mia Khalifa that has surged the most in terms of popularity. The newcomer, who is the second most popular female porn star behind Riley Reid, has been the talk on the internet. People have been curious about pornographic actress who performed sexual acts while wearing the Islamic hijab.

Born in Lebanon and raised as a Catholic, she married an American man shortly after her 18th birthday. Since becoming famous, Mia has been met with various controversies and death threats for tarnishing the image of Islam. The 24-year-old told The Washington Post that she has since quit the porn industry for a more “normal job”. She is reportedly pursuing her career in broadcasting for a daily sports show.

Recent reports have also shown that “Hentai” is extremely popular among Malaysian porn enthusiasts. The overtly sexualised sub-genre of Japanese anime then to be more appealing due to its extreme character features (huge breast implants) and as a form of escapism. It is mostly searched by the younger generation aged between 18 to 24.

Last year’s data revealed that the internet users in Kuala Terengganu spend the most time on Pornhub, with a record of approximately 13 minutes.

For more information on 2017’s review, you can check out Pornhub’s page here.

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Radio-Controlled Chopper Kills Baby

It was supposed to be a happy occasion in Seremban as a supportive crowd joined the official opening of Malaysia’s first synthetic football pitch. 18-month-old Nurdamia Hisnina was her parents and two other siblings at the Paroi Sports Complex to watch the event just 500m from their home. It would be her last family outing.

A radio-controlled helicopter that was being flown as a gimmick at the event suddenly crashed into the crowd and slashed her head with its blades. Nurdamia’s father, Mr. Banee Yamin Idris, who was carrying her at that time also suffered cuts on the head and was treated at the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital.

Nurdamia, on the other hand, wasn’t as lucky. She was taken to the hospital bleeding and unconscious. She died shortly after.

According to her 35-year-old father, “Nurdamia was asleep on my shoulder when I saw the out-of-control helicopter heading towards us at top speed. It happened so quickly that I could not duck or hide for cover. Although my vision was blurred and my face covered in blood, all I could think of was my family’s safety”.

Police have asked the flyer of the helicopter to give his statement. The case has been classified as death by negligence.


Turnin’ Up The Love Wih Far East Movement

Yes, it’s true – we hung out backstage for a bit with the Far East Movement boys on Saturday when they were in Kuala Lumpur for the Watsons Music Festival 2012. For those of you who were there (and got champagne showered by Prohgress and J-Spliff), you’d know that they put on a damn good show!

But that’s on stage front. Now, let’s find out what went on behind-the-scenes before their gig:

Hi guys! Welcome back to Malaysia. How’s Kuala Lumpur treating you so far?

Kev Nish: “Yeah! Our second time in Kuala Lumpur. It’s warmer than we thought. I mean, we walked out of the plane with winter jackets – we should’ve checked online before we came here. Haha!”

What were you most looking forward to when you heard that you were going to come back?

Kev Nish: “The crowd. The last time we were here, the party was incredible and the energy level was like..you guys know how to party! You guys party right and we love going to a place where we’ve partied before because we’d know what to expect. And people love dance music here.”

So let’s take it from the top – Far East Movement formed in 2003. What was the “Eureka moment” that you had, to say..okay we’re gonna do music.

Kev Nish: “Ah. It was probably..a few years after we started that we realized that. It was probably the Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift soundtrack. We couldn’t believe that something we made at our home got on something that was internationally recognized. So that really inspired us like, hey, maybe this could be a serious thing. Ever since then we just didn’t stop – we kept dreaming, non-stop grinding, and obsessing until we got here.”

What do you think was the biggest challenge that you faced?

Kev Nish:  “Staying afloat. Because you have to invest your whole life, your every single moment where you don’t get to see your family. You barely have enough time to stay awake in your job or at school. You end up leaving school, your bosses end up firing you, and you’re like..how am I going to live? Like, oh man we gotta figure this out. And it’s in those moments that you kinda look at each other going, yo, can we survive? Can we make this happen? But you know, you plan and you keep having faith and working hard, and it’ll get there. That was definitely the biggest challenge – getting through those times when you’re really almost obliterated off the face of this Earth.”

In Asia, y’all look like one of us. But in the US, Asian-Americans are still a minority. Has breaking into the music industry the way you did worked in your favour or do you deal with discrimination?

Kev Nish: “You know, at this moment I feel like the United States has diversified a lot. I think the Internet and the online culture have encouraged people to watch videos and interact with other people. People are more open-minded than ever. When we first started, I mean, I admit there were certain times where people would go, oh my gosh we heard your record and we thought it was done by a white guy or a black guy. You know, stuff like that. And then there were other people who knew that we were Asian and they weren’t really fazed by it. I don’t know, it’s so multicultural now that people really aren’t affected by anything anymore.”

We heard your album, “Dirty Bass”. It’s awesome! What is Far East Movement’s songwriting process like, since there’s so many of you?

Kev Nish: “Thank you! Songwriting process..it’s like we’re in school – we throw out ideas on a big board. We’ll literally just throw out ideas all day. Sometimes, we’ll listen to a track for three days straight just to get the right hook. We always start with the hook first then we’ll start applying the beats a little more. It could take a few hours to a few days – it all depends on the song. It’s really a collaborative effort between us.”

You’ve worked with Snoop, you’ve worked with Justin Bieber, and you’ve worked with LMFAO. What other surprises can we expect from Far East Movement in the near future?

Kev Nish: “Well, we’re experimenting with sounds. We’ve been really experimenting with this electro trap music so we’ll be releasing a few new songs like that. And really, ‘Turn Up The Love’ is our main focus in the US right now because we’ve spent so much time touring overseas that we feel like we’ve neglected home for awhile. We really want to bring that momentum back to the US.”

Out of curiosity, which one amongst you has the most fans?

J-Spliff and Prohgress: “(points at Kev Nish)”

Kev Nish: “Girls love DJs! They always go to him!”

Haha. And what was the craziest fan moment that you’ve ever had?

Kev Nish: “I know Prohgress has got a story.”

Prohgress: “Haha. I don’t know if we ever really get crazy fans moments like, we don’t have people stalking us or doing crazy things like pictures of our faces cut out and pasted on wedding photos or anything like that. One time though, I went crowd surfing in Amsterdam like, 10,000 people and I went all the way to the back. But it went on for so long – a song and a half. So the guys had to perform with me because I couldn’t make it back in time. That was crazy but it’s always good to have that kind of energy.”

So no fans stalking you at your hotels and stuff..

J-Spliff: “No. We get a lot of baked goods though. They like to feed us! We’ve gotten cakes that look like us and stuff. Oh and by the way, I wear a ten-and-a-half, Kev’s a nine-and-a-half, Proh’s a nine-and-a-half, and Virman’s a size nine..”

J-Spliff: “Kev’s a small, he wears a size 30 waist – you know, just saying! Just in case you guys wanna switch it up a little, you know what I mean? We love clothes, so..”

Haha! Okay. Last question – when are you guys bringing ISA (International Secret Agents) to Kuala Lumpur?

Because, you know, we had Wong Fu Productions down, and Ryan Higa too..

Kev Nish: “Well, we’ve been working with Wong Fu Productions and if you noticed, we’ve really upped the web content on ISA. We wanted to spend a lot more time this year on defining what that ISA lifestyle is through media so expect a lot more new ISA TV shows. The next step for ISA is gonna be..in 2013, we’re gonna be working on a main festival for ISA. We wanna make a festival in LA that’s just the hub for ISA and the Asian-American identity. We need the invitation to bring ISA to Kuala Lumpur – we really need the invitation because we would love to come out here and show you guys what ISA is all about.”

Kev Nish: “No, really. We’re so happy that you know what the ISA is all about. That means a lot to us, you know?”

Well now, no prizes for guessing why we’re missing Far East Movement already. Thanks for speaking to us, Kev, Proh, and J-Spliff. And thanks for turnin’ up the love at Watsons Music Festival 2012. Don’t be away for too long now – come back soon!

[youtube id=”k7ktR5qn6yg” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Special thanks to our friends from Universal Music Malaysia arranging the meet.

For more information, hit up Far East Movement’s official website or stalk ’em via their Twitter account. Also, their latest album, “Dirty Bass” is now available in a music store near you. You could also purchase it off iTunes here. Go on, show ’em some love – heck, turn up the love!

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#CrayonPop: Soyul To Leave K-Pop Idol Girl Group

It’s official – Soyul is leaving Crayon Pop (크레용팝)!

On Wednesday (31st May), the group’s label – Chrome Entertainment – released a statement regarding the 26-year-old singer’s departure.

The company said, “Soyul will be leaving the group, while Ellin, Gummi, Way, and ChoA will continue Crayon Pop’s promotions. We will resume with event and album preparation schedules as planned.”

Besides that, Chrome also added that the remaining 4 member will not be renewing their contracts. “They simply decided to come to an agreement for the time being in order to carry out their promotions,” they explained.

Although Chrome did not state the reason behind Soyul’s withdrawal, fans assume that it’s related to her current marriage life. As aforementioned, the idol tied the knot H.O.T. member Moon Hee Jun in February. The happy couple welcomed their first baby girl a couple of weeks ago.

Formed in 2012, Crayon Pop gained mainstream fame after the release of their massive hit, “Bar Bar Bar” (빠빠빠). The single earn the girls numerous awards, including the New Rising Star Award at the Golden Disk Awards and the Hot Trend Award at the MelOn Music Awards.

Here’s the music video of “Bar Bar Bar” to ease your pain:


Bukit Bintang Now Has A New Shibuya-Inspired Pedestrian Crossing

If you’ve been to Tokyo, then you’ve probably experienced the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing – where a huge wave of pedestrians flood to the intersection of Shibuya Crossing while all vehicles stop for a few seconds.

Well guess what? The Bukit Bintang area has now adopted this new Shibuya-style “scramble pedestrian crossing”. It’s located at the intersection of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Bukit Bintang, just outside of the Bukit Bintang MRT and monorail stations.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) explained that the implementation of pedestrian crossing walkability enabled, especially in a high traffic pedestrian area such as this. “Pedestrians will be allowed to cross in all directions with the change,” DBKL stated. “These changes make it easier for road users who pass through the road as well as reduce the risk of accidents.”

A scramble junction, or X-crossing, is a pedestrian crossing system that gives way for people on foot to cross an intersection in every direction, including diagonally, simultaneously, while all traffic lights turn red momentarily.

Prior to this, pedestrians had to wait for two different traffic lights changes. Not anymore ;)


Queen Of Hearts: G.E.M. To Perform In Resorts World Genting In April

Music fans just can’t get enough of G.E.M.

Tang Tze-Kei (邓紫棋), or better known as G.E.M., is returning to Malaysia to treat concert-goers with another round of awesome performances. There’s no doubt that she has a soft spot for our country since she held not 1 but 2 concerts in recent months – Axiata Arena in November 2017 and Penang’s Spice Arena in June 2018.

Since her last Malaysian concert, the 27-year-old singer has released 3 EPs titled “My Fairytale”, “Fearless”, and “Queen G”. While we patiently wait for G.E.M. to release a full-length studio album, fans can expect her to perform her new singles including “Tik Tok”, “Woke”, and “Love Finds A Way”.

If you recalled, her last LP “Heartbeat” came out in 2015. The record not only topped the charts but gave us pop hits such as  “Long Distance”, “One Way Road”, “Heartbeat”, “Moment”, “Goodbye”, and “Away”. Those who have been to G.E.M.’s concert would know what a treat it is to experience the songstress live.

The details to G.E.M.’s 2019 “Queen Of Hearts” world tour in Malaysia are as follows:

Concert tickets for Friday are cheaper in comparison to Saturday’s show. Genting Rewards Members will get to enjoy 10% standard discount (applicable for PS1-PS3 tickets only). Take a look at the seating plan at Arena of Stars below:

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#Anime: 9 Amazing Japanese Animated Movies That Aren’t Made By Studio Ghibli

When asked to pick a must-watch anime film, most people would probably choose “Spirited Away” or other Studio Ghibli (dubbed the “Disney of anime”) classic hits such as “My Neighbour Totoro”, “Howl’s Moving Castle”, “Kiki’s Delivery Service”, and “Princess Mononoke”.

While we love Hayao Miyazaki’s work, there are so many amazing anime movies that are worth watching. Whether you’re an anime newbie or a full-time otaku (a common Japanese term for anime and manga fans), here is a list of our favourite non-Ghibli anime films:

Directed by Katsuhimo Otomo, “Akira” is one of the best-known examples of modern Japanese animation. The film takes place in the post-apocalyptic city of Neo-Tokyo and it focuses on Tetsuo Shima, a teenage biker who is exposed to a mysterious energy source. He eventually develops telekinetic powers that place him at the centre of a conflict that may destroy the world.

The film was so well-received that Warner Bros. wanted to turn it into a live-action film. Since the studio acquired the film rights in 2002, many writers, directors, actors, and producers have been attached to the project. It was recently reported that “Get Out” helmer Jordan Peele is in talks to direct.

“Ghost in the Shell”, otherwise known as “Mobile Armoured Riot Police: Ghost In The Shell”, tells the story of a fictional counter-cyberterrorist organisation Public Security Section 9, led by main protagonist Major Motoko Kusanagi, in the mid 21st century of Japan. The sci-fi film was a box office hit in Japan and was the first anime to reach Billboard‘s #1 video slot at the time of its release.

We don’t want to compare but the animated film is much better than its live-action counterpart. No offence, Scarlett Johansson.

Fun fact: “The Matrix” series, created by The Wachowski siblings, took several concepts from the film. For example, the digital rain was inspired by “Ghost in the Shell”‘s opening credits.

As Satoshi Kon’s (of “Perfect Blur” and “Millennium Actress” fame) final feature film before his death in 2010, “Paprika” is a stunning piece of work that hits all the right notes. Also, the film served as a major inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Produced by Japanese animation studio Madhouse alongside Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan, the film stars renowned seiyu (a term for voice actors in Japanese) Megumi Hayashibara as Dr. Atsuko Chiba aka “Paprika”, a psychotherapist who uses the newly invented “DC Mini” (a machine that can enter and see people’s dreams) to help clients overcome psychological issues. However, the sudden disappearance of the device forces her to delve deep into the dreamworld to retrieve it.

“5 Centimeters per Second” is a romance drama film that was directed, written, and produced by prominent animation filmmaker Makoto Shinkai aka the “new Hayao Miyazaki”. The title of the film derives from the speed at which cherry blossoms petals fall, with petals being the metaphor for humans while the falling represents the slowness of life and separation.

Unlike Shinkai’s previous works, “5 Centimeters per Second” explores realistic themes such as time, space, people, and love instead of science fiction and fantasy. The film even earned the “Best Animated Feature Film” award at the 2007 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

Welcome to OZ, a computer-simulated virtual reality world of “Summer Wars”.

Helmed by Mamoru Hosoda (of “Digimon: The Movie” and “One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island” fame), “Summer Wars” tells the story of Kenji Koiso, a math genius who goes to his friend (and crush) Natsuki Shinohara’s hometown to celebrate her great-grandmother’s 90th birthday. However, a sadistic artificial intelligence named Love Machine hacks OZ using Kenji’s username and avatar. He must repair the damage done to it and find a way to stop the rogue computer program from causing any further damage.

Thanks to its colourful graphics and stunning visuals, the sci-fi anime film, which grossed USD18 million worldwide, won several awards such as the 2010 Japan Media Arts Festival’s Animation Division Grand Prize.

Funny, magical, and full of emotion, “A Letter to Momo” is Hiroyuki Okiura’s first film in 11 years after “Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade” in 1999. The story, which took Okiura 7 years to complete, centres around Momo Miyaura, an 11-year-old girl who travels from Tokyo to the remote Japanese island of Shio with her mother after the death of her father Kazuo. She carries Kazuo’s unfinished letter, which contains only the words “Dear Momo”. While staying at her mother’s place, she meets 3 yokai (demons in Japanese) – Kawa, Mame, and Iwa – who are living in her attic. Though fearful at first, Momo befriends the supernatural trio and discovers that they were actually gods sent to Earth in order to atone for their crimes.

The hand-drawn feature film also features a song written and sung by Japanese singer and Southern All Stars keyboardist Yuko Hara.

After “Summer Wars”, Mamoru Hosoda went on to direct and co-write a heartwarming film titled “Wolf Children”. The characters were designed by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, a character designer for anime classics such as “Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water” (1990) and “Neon Genesis Evangelion” (1995).

The beautifully-shot film follows a young mother named Hana who raises 2 half-human, half-wolf children, Ame and Yuki, after their werewolf father gets killed in an accident while hunting food for his children. To make thing worse for Hana, who doesn’t understand the animalistic side of her children, Yuki and Ame constantly switch between their human and wolf forms. So to hide them from the world, the unconventional family of 3 move to the countryside where Hana tries to sustain the family by being a farmer.

If you enjoy unlikely love stories, then you’ll definitely enjoy “Your Name”. Based on writer-director Makoto Shinkai’s (yup, its another Shinkai masterpiece!) novel of the same name, the film revolves around with the concept of fate. It sees a pair of teenage boy and girl embark on a quest to meet each other for the first time after they mysteriously swap bodies. The problem is, the 2 students’ timeline are separated by 3 years.

The critically-acclaimed film, which made USD353 million, surpassed “Spirited Away” to become the highest-grossing anime film worldwide. And that’s not all – it is also the first anime not directed by Hayao Miyazaki to earn more than USD100 million.

What happens when you fall in love with someone who was bullied by you in the past?

Based on Yoshitoki Oima’s award-winning manga of the same name, “A Silent Voice” is a powerful coming-of-age tale that depicts real-life issues like disability and bullying. In the film, a young Shoya Ishida bullies a new girl named Shoko Nishimiya because she is deaf. But as the Shoya and his friends go too far, Shoko is forced to leave leave and Shoya ends up shouldering all the blame. A few years later, the 2 meet again. Tormented by his past, Shoya wants to make amends for his actions.

Although “A Silent Voice” was released in Japan last year, Malaysian anime lovers would be delighted to know that it is now available on TGV cinemas.

Were there any anime movies that we’ve left out? Do you have a personal favourite that is not in the list? Feel free to leave us a comment below ?

Sources: Rotten Tomatoes, Highsnobiety, The Hollywood Reporter, Hypebeast, Tofugu.

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Lady Gaga’s 35 Lil Monsters

So here’s the things, we’ve been wondering what’s better than a Turkey for Thanksgiving. For Lady Gaga, it’s 35 “little monsters” aka fans hiding in your garage.

On Thanksgiving, Lady Gaga aka “Mama Monster” had an oddball experience. The incident happened when she woke in the middle of the night to get some food in the kitchen and she noticed her little monsters on her security cameras. Gaga took to Twitter saying:

Other celebrities could’ve easily freaked out and called the cops on the fans but Gaga was nice enough to not to. Aww. Bless her kind soul, on Thanksgiving, no less!


#LSR2015: IGP Says “Love And Sex With Robots” Conference Illegal

The “Love and Sex with Robots” (LSR 2015) conference, that was slated to be held on 16th November in the Black Box and White Box arts complex in Medini Mall, Johor (right next door to Legoland Malaysia) is illegal.

This was confirmed by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, who said that the organiser of the event has been warned not to proceed with it.

A report by The Star Online quotes the IGP as saying that there was nothing scientific about having sex with machines. “It is not our culture. We can take action against the organiser if they choose to hold the event,” he added.

Meanwhile, the LSR 2015 conference’s website has been updated to exclude the “Love and Sex with Robots” title, instead replacing it with simply “LSR”. The previously used logo of Tourism Malaysia’s “Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015” (MYFEST) campaign has also been removed from the front page.

But apparently, the event is still on as they’re still “calling” for registrations:

The previously listed topics (sessions to cover robot emotions, humanoid robots, clone robots, entertainment robots, robot personalities, teledildonics, intelligent electronic sex hardware, robot personalities, roboethics, and more) have also been removed.

Meanwhile, co-chair of the event, City University London Prof Adrian David had on Saturday clarified that the workshop was not intended to promote any form of sexual relationship between humans and machines.

He was also quoted saying that the workshop was 1/4 that were scheduled to be held during the Advances in Computer Entertainment Conference (ACE 2015).


How You Can Take Part In Song Kang’s Live Fan Meet On 4th March

Calling all Song Kang (송강) fans, would you like to meet your favourite South Korean actor virtually? The 27-year-old heartthrob is set to hold his first ever fan event on 4th March and you’re invited!

After appearing in a series of successful K-drama hits like “Love Alarm” seasons 1 and 2, “Sweet Home“, “Navillera”, “Nevertheless” and most recently, “Forecasting Love And Weather“, fans will be able to catch a glimpse into the young star’s life.

A post shared by Netflix K-Content (@netflixkcontent)

Hosted by Netflix, the 1-hour virtual fan meeting will see Song Kang engaging in interaction activities. Besides answering fan questions and reading fan comments, viewers will also get to see him take part in some fun games. Fret not about the language barrier as the fan meet will be streamed in English, while subtitles in Traditional Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Thai, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Latin America), and Vietnamese will be made available after the live event.

No tickets are needed for entry, so all fans who love Netflix and Song Kang are welcome to join the event. Fans can also submit any burning questions for Song Kang via this Google Form. Details of the event are as follows:

Good luck peeps, hopefully lady luck is on your side and Song Kang answers your question ;)

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BIG Om Noms At “The BIG B.I.G Weekend”

If you haven’t heard of it, or if you haven’t been there, then you’d have most likely heard of it. There’s a new concept supermarket, not your average supermarket, a new concept supermarket in town called, “Ben’s Independent Grocer” aka B.I.G. Dedicated to purveying quality produce, B.I.G covers an area of 50,000 square feet within Publika, Solaris Dutamas.

But of course they’re going to be needing all that space if they’re going to offer the urban family a perfect avenue to eat, drink, and shop simultaneously. Yes, you heard right. Eat, drink, and shop! We can already hear the epicurean Malaysian in you squealing with glee.

The BIG Group (the wonderful people behind B.I.G) will be holding an inaugural two-day food-feast-ival named, “The BIG B.I.G. Weekend” will be held on 26th and 27th May (that’s this weekend, all weekend!), aimed at introducing Ben’s Independent Grocer (B.I.G.) to the public. Yay!

An interesting line-up of activities will delight food-lovers and families alike:

The weekend kicks of with an attempt at plating up a gargantuan portion of one of Malaysia’s most popular breakfast dishes. Named “The BIG B.I.G. Nasi Lemak“, this event from 9am to 11am serves as a reminder to the public that B.I.G. remains a home-grown brand and remains true to its roots.

Later in the evening, B.I.G. will be throwing a huge concert, “The B.I.G. Bang” featuring local jazz and soul performers. Themed as an outdoor, country barn-influenced music festival, members of the public will feast on the good food that The BIG Group is renowned for, accompanied by the smooth sounds of chillout acts from 8pm onwards.

Sunday starts with “The B.I.G. Bubbly Brunch“, held at Ben’s Independent Grocer from 11am to 2pm. At this champagne brunch, a free flow of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin will accompany a scrumptious selection of gourmet delights from a menu designed to reflect each aspect of The BIG Group’s outlets.

The B.I.G. Bubbly Brunch will be held at Ben’s General Food Store within Ben’s Independent Grocer and is strictly reservations-only (03-62091717). Prices are RM150 per pax or RM100 without champagne.

To wrap things up, a family-oriented feast at The Square, Publika’s outdoor auditorium will be held. “The B.I.G. BBQ“, held from 1pm to 8pm will be a great gathering of friends and family in a relaxed, outdoor setting. Ride the mechanical bull and feast on favourites such as hot dogs and hamburgers, healthy salads and assorted taste bud ticklers during this barn-style event, followed by a free movie viewing in the auditorium.

26th & 27th May 2012 (Saturday & Sunday)

A jam-packed line-up of activities, tastings, samplings and games will be scattered throughout B.I.G. and various locations around Publika. Within B.I.G., shoppers will fully experience everything the supermarket has to offer, with activities such as curry puff making demos, sashimi slicing sessions and a plethora of fun and games for children. Highlighting “Barn Butchery” will be the “Sausage Sizzler“, an Australian-influenced hot dog cookout as well as a “Meat Mastery” demo by B.I.G.’s Chief Butcher, Daniel Greig.

The newly constructed “Cooking School” section, located adjacent to the wine section “Booze.it” will play host to interactive cooking demonstrations and exciting tasting sessions. Guest chefs include Mohana Gill, author of cookbooks such as “Fruitastic!”. Participation in these cooking demos require pre-bookings to social@thebiggroup.co. Additionally a gameshow style competition called “The Price is Betul” will be held at the main entrance, where contestants will walk away with exciting prizes for accurately guessing the price of common supermarket items.

So go eat, drink, and be merry, this weekend, all weekend!  B.I.G. is located at:

For more information, visit their Facebook page.