#AgainstTheCurrent: YouTube Stars To Hold World Tour In Singapore

This September, YouTube sensation Against The Current aka ATC will be performing in Singapore! The group will be coming to Southeast Asia as part of their 2nd world tour to promote their very first full-length album, titled “In Our Bones”.

The trio released their debut album on 20th May and it consists of 12 self-written tracks including “Running With The Wild Things”, “Forget Me Now”, and “Blood Like Gasoline”.

This is not the first time that the band has visited Southeast Asia. In August 2014, the group held a concert alongside cover singer Alex Goot in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Formed in 2011, the American pop rock band consists of lead singer Chrissy Costanza, guitarist Dan Gow, and drummer Will Ferri. The 3-piece-band gained immense popularity after posting covers of hit songs on their YouTube account. ATC is probably best known for their cover of Taylor Swift’s “Red” as the video gained over 19 million views since its release in February 2014.

The trio is currently signed under Fueled By Ramen and they have also collaborated with other YouTube singers such as The Ready Set, Alex Goot, Sam Tsui, and Kurt Schneider.

The band will launch their “In Our Bones” World Tour in Asia this September, starting with Seoul, South Korea, followed by Singapore, Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong,3 and Taiwan, before moving on to their European tour.

Details for Against The Current’s world tour in Singapore are as follows:

Concert tickets will start sales on 10th June.

For more information, check out “In Our Bones” World Tour’s website.


#BradPitt: Actor Suspected Of Child Abuse While On Board Private Jet

When Brangelina (aka Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) split, the public was heartbroken, as the high profile couple seemed like the perfect match for each other.

What came next were rumours and speculations, and the latest development is that Pitt was abusive to his kids.

The news originated from TMZ, who reported that the Los Angeles Police Department and L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services are currently investigating the actor for getting verbally abusive and physical with his children.

Sources told TMZ that Pitt, Jolie, and their kids were on a private jet from France to Los Angeles last Wednesday (14th September), when Pitt got drunk and turned violent. He went wild, screaming and thrashing at the kids. Upon landing at an airport at around 8pm, witnesses stated that Pitt continued his tirade on the tarmac, and even tried to leave in one of the fuel trucks.

An anonymous source then tipped off the Department of Children and Family Services, who interviewed the couple. The investigation is still ongoing, and they have yet to interview the kids but are planning to.

TMZ stated that LAPD is also investigating, as it is routine for them to get involved whenever there’s a child abuse case. The tabloid revealed that they do not know about the extent of the alleged abuse, but claimed that this incident was the one which spurred Jolie to file for divorce.

A source from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), also revealed to Variety on Thursday (22th September) that they’re “continuing to gather facts” about the allegations.

“In response to your inquiry regarding allegations within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States; specifically, an aircraft carrying Mr. Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued,” the statement said.

This is despite the LAPD’s denial of the issue and the Department of Children and Family Services’ refusal to comment.

“We have no criminal investigation that we are actively pursuing. To my knowledge, (Pitt talking to police) never happened. And right now, that is where our office is. We are not investigating any case, nor do we have any allegations against Mr. Pitt. We understand how rumors get spun up, and hopefully we can put a few of them to rest. We have no investigation involving Mr. Pitt,” said Sergeant Barry Monthgomery of the LAPD.

Meanwhile, Department of Children and Family Services spokeswoman Amara Suarez told The Hollywood Reporter:

“We have very strict confidentially laws that don’t allow us to confirm or deny the subjects of our investigations.”

A source close to Pitt, however, denies that the actor committed the aforementioned crime, saying, “He takes the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children. It’s unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light.”

Sources: TMZ, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter.

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Hype’s Now Playing: Andrew Rayel – Find Your Harmony

Born Andrei Rață in 1992, Moldovan DJ/producer Andrew Rayel has got a lot going for him. He might have had an upper hand in creating electronic dance music since he’s born in generation where machines and platforms are highly accessible. Why, he has been making music since he was 13 years old! But that’s not the reason why he has gained so much popularity over the recent years.

At 22 years old, Andrew has developed a distinctive style of trance that has long since won over the hearts of dance music fans. Yes, the #trancefamily highly approves of his mix of classical sounds which combines the usage of vocals, pianos, and strings over powerful saws and synths. Though his career only officially started when he was 17, by the time he turned 21, he was ranked #28 in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs 2013.

Let’s not forget that he was also the highest climber for that year. Man, he was going places and we all knew it.

In the same breath and the same year, Andrew announced that he was working on his first full-length album and that it would be released in 2014. Shortly after the announcement, he released his first official compilation, “Mystery of Aether”. And shortly after that, he went straight into working on a song for the A State of Trance 650 (ASOT650) Anthem contest. Oh, yes, he also went on tour with the highest of all celestial beings of trance, Armin van Buuren for “ASOT650: New Horizons”, of course.

Finally, his first full-length album, the one that he took a year (or maybe more) to work on in between his projects, titled “Find Your Harmony” was released on 30th May.

Question: What did you achieve by the time you were 22 years old? Exactly.

Today, he has legions of fans around the world, whom he lovingly calls his #RayelFamily. And you can bet they’ve got Andrew’s “Find Your Harmony” album on repeat by now. For starters, it features celebrity vocalists such as Christian Burns, Jonathan Mendelsohn, Alexandra Badoi, Jwaydan, Jano, and more. It also seems like our modern day Mozart has taken cues from his Armada Music seniors because “Find Your Harmony” definitely doesn’t sound like something a new-ish DJ/producer would put out.

In fact, it’s “built” like a tank because it comes packed with 18 tracks and a whole lot of heart. What you’ll pick out immediately is that all the tracks are album mixes and therefore, might sound different from its single versions. We personally love the album mix version of Andrew and Jwaydan’s “Until The End”. And yes, “Find Your Harmony” does feature the massive tune that he teamed up with Armin van Buuren to do, titled “EIFORYA”.

But don’t let us gush on and on about it. Stream Andrew Rayel’s “Find Your Harmony” right here.

Go on and attack all your senses. You’ll love it:

Mark our words: Not only is he the current heir to the throne, but if Andrew keeps on this path, he will be the future Armin van Buuren. To purchase “Find Your Harmony”, hit up Beatport here or iTunes here.

Don’t forget to stalk Andrew via his social media accounts:

For more information, visit his official website.


Hugh Grant Fesses That He’s A Dad Again

Over the weekend, “Notting Hill” actor Hugh Grant confirmed that yes, he has become a father for a second time. According to the birth certificate, a baby boy was born to Hugh John Mungo Grant, with his occupation listed as “actor”, and Tinglan Hong, who listed her occupation as “housewife”.

It also revealed the baby boy’s full name as Felix Chang Hong Grant. Felix is the Latin word for lucky and Chang in Chinese means long-lasting. He was actually born at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, West London on 29th December 2012 and his arrival was registered on Valentine’s Day.

Hugh Grant only told his closest friends of Felix Chang’s arrival last week but swore them to secrecy. Amongst the people the 52-year-old actor told is none other than his ex-flame, Elizabeth Hurley.

Not entirely surprising since their first child, Tabitha Xaio Xi Hong Grant’s arrival was kept secret for two whole months until Hugh Grant’s spokeman released a statement confirming the birth. However, this time around, with the beauty of social media, Hugh Grant decided to make the new public himself. He tweeted the following:

Tinglan Hong, who was born in Zhejiang province in eastern China and moved to Britain in 2003, is understood to have met Hugh Grant in a Chelsea wine bar 2008. The pair struck up an unlikely friendship before embarking on a relationship in January 2011.

Congratulations, you two! We’re waiting to see the happy family pictures soon.

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#NishaDaddygal: Sungai Buloh Hospital Apologises For Making Woman “Cover Up”

In the most recent “covering up” findings, a woman has come forward to say that she was forbidden from entering the Sungai Buloh Hospital here recently because she was dressed in shorts.

She shared on her Facebook profile (Nisha Daddygal) that she was forced to borrow a patient’s towel to cover up her legs before she was allowed to visit her father who had been warded there. In her post, she wrote that a few security guards at the visitor’s gate stopped her from entering because she was wearing shorts.

The security guards only allowed her in after she had loaned a patient’s towel to cover up her legs.

As seen in a screenshot of her post above, the incident took place on 16th June.

She added that the hospital security personnel had told her that the no-shorts policy came directly from the Ministry of Health.

In a separate report by The Star Online dated 23rd June, the Sungai Buloh Hospital has since apologised over the incident, with hospital director Dr Khalid Ibrahim coming forward to say that it is neither the Health Ministry nor hospital’s policy to stop anybody from going into the hospital based on their attire.

We apologise for the incident. It shouldn’t have happened. We do not bar any visitors from entering the hospital because of what they are wearing. However, we encourage the public to dress decently when visiting patients.

Dr Khalid said there may have been some “miscommunication” involving the hospital guard, who allegedly barred the woman from entering the hospital.

“We have lodged a complaint with the security guard company about the guard in question,” he said.

Of course, Nisha Daddygal’s complaint comes amid the recent incident where a woman was forced to wear a sarong or be refused service at the Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) Malaysia (Road Transport Department Malaysia). The JPJ incident caused a public uproar, resulting in netizens stepping out to voice their concerns regarding the unnecessary “dress code” as well as several MPs calling out and questioning JPJ.

What are your thoughts on this recent case though? What if Nisha Daddygal was not a visitor but needed immediate medical attention? Has this need to cover up gone completely out of hand? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments box below.


G-Dragon’s “One Of A Kind” EP Now Digitally Available!

Three whole years after “Heartbreaker”, BIGBANG’s leader and singer-songwriter extraordinaire G-Dragon aka Kwon Ji Yong has finally released his next mini album. Or at least the digital version.

Titled, “One of a Kind”, the album incorporates much stronger hip hop elements, coupled with more edgy sounds:

[youtube id=”LyxZqsp4Wfk” width=”600″ height=”350″]

G-Dragon’s previous album completely swept the charts and fans aren’t expecting any less from this one!

For months leading to this digital release, entertainment sites and social media platforms have been flooded with teaser pictures and videos from G-Dragon himself and YG Entertainment (record label and talent agency for BIGBANG, G-Dragon, Taeyang, 2NE1, Se7en, etc):

The physical album (which will be released on 18th September 2012) will sport two different covers and has seven songs with total, written and composed by the man himself as well as Teddy Park (well-known songwriter/composer at YG Entertainment), Choice37, Tablo, and more.

Oh. It also comes with a photo booklet/enclosed images as well as a YG Family Card. G-Dragon has also featured quite a few artistes in “One of a Kind” including Kim Yoona, Kim Jong Wan, and a mysteriously unnamed member of YG Entertainment’s new girl group. Hmm.

To purchase the digital version of G-Dragon’s “One of a Kind” EP, click! For more timely updates, feel free to stalk him via his Twitter account.

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Hello Kitty Town To Open In Malaysia

Calling all Hello Kitty fans, Johor will soon be your favourite place in Malaysia. Why? Because the first Sanrio Hello Kitty Town outside of Japan is the next “hotspot” to open its doors to the public come 26th October 2012.

Located in Puteri Harbour Indoor Family Theme Park at Nusajaya Johor, not too far away from LEGOLAND Malaysia, the Hello Kitty Town in a 4-storey theme park will feature walk-through attractions, play structures, interactive activities, and of course, Hello Kitty-themed rides. If you’re looking to meet the world’s most popular “kitty cat”, this is the place to be.

The entertainment centre will also feture an iconic “Hello Kitty house” complete with a living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. And if that’s not enough, Hello Kitty’s Sanrio friends (e.g. My Melody and Little Twin Stars) will also make special appearance at the “Purrfect stage”, where they will perform together. If that is not enough to make your lifelong dreams come true, we hear that visitors will also get the opportunity to take pictures with Hello Kitty and her Sanrio buddies.

After that, head right over to the “Wishful Studio” to pick up jewelry making, participate in cute costume parties, nail painting, or cookie baking. Oh, and if you’re as shameless as we are, you can even opt to organize a birthday celebration with Hello Kitty at the Apple and Strawberry party rooms.

Well, we know where we’ll be celebrating our birthdays this year!

For more information and ticketing details, visit AirAsia RedTix.


#MalaysiaBoleh: Malaysia Is One Of The Top 15 Countries With The Best English Speakers

Apparently, Malaysia is one of the 15 countries in the world that speaks English (as a second language) the best!

You see, English is widely accepted as the primary international language, and it is increasingly defined as a basic skill required of every student in every education system. It’s a useful language to pick up and master because it connects people to the rest of the world. In fact, nearly 2 billion people (almost 1 in 3 people) study English as a non-native language.

According to an article from i100, the English Proficiency Index just released statistics on where English is learned around the world and quality of teaching to find the countries with the highest proficiency of English as a second language.

4 Nordic countries and the Netherlands, with at least 65% of the population fluent in English. And that’s not something that we (Malaysians) would find particularly surprising. But here’s the thing, we’re on the list too, alongside our neighbour Singapore:

Yup. Apparently, 60.3% of the Malaysian population is fluent in English. That’s more than half, which is why it puts us on the high proficiency bracket. However, the full English Proficiency Index doesn’t actually tell us whether it’s based on verbal skills, writing skills, or comprehension skills – or all.

Shrug. Good to know we made the list though?


#Disney: See The Real-Life Locations That Inspired The Cartoons

Are you a self-proclaimed wanderlusting traveler? Do you more often than not daydream about magical places to visit, perhaps of the Disney kind? Have you been dying to get out of Malaysia to go to places you never knew existed? We’ve got just the thing for you!

You see, believe it or not, some of your favourite locations from Disney films were inspired by actual locations. We’re talking about castles, geological formations, buildings, and even entire towns. After all, filmmakers and animators have to get their inspiration from somewhere, right? ;)

You might want to book the next flight(s) out after poring over this magical list:

The Disney place: The Pride Lands
The real place: The Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

The Serengeti ecosystem is a geographical region in Africa. It is located in north Tanzania and extends to south-western Kenya. The Kenyan part of the Serengeti is known as Maasai Mara, and much of the Serengeti was known to outsiders as Maasailand. It hosts the largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world, which helps secure it as one of the “Seven Natural Wonders of Africa” and one of the 10 natural travel wonders of the world. The Serengeti was used as inspiration for the animated Disney feature film “The Lion King” and subsequent theatrical production. (Source)

The Disney place: Paradise Falls
The real place: Angel Falls, Venezuela

In one of the special features for Disney’s “Up” (on Blue Ray), it was mentioned that the crew of animators went to a real location where the action in the movie is supposed to take place. Specifically, where the house is supposed to land. It sonds like a easy fest but director Pete Docter and nine of his Pixar cohorts trekked through the South American jungle. Among the inspiring landscape was Angel Falls in Canaima National Park, Venezuela aka the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall, which became Paradise Falls for the movie.

The Disney place: Arendelle
The real place: Norway

The highest grossing animated film of all time, “Frozen“, was set in a snow-covered land called Arendelle. This land, stuck in an eternal winter because Queen Elsa couldn’t control her propensity to turn things to ice, was actually based on the region of Trøndelag in central Norway. In 2012, a team from Disney visited Norway and drew inspiration from this region when designing the fictional land of Arendelle. Trøndelag is known for its unique people and way of life, quaint villages set amongst sleepy mountains and of course reindeer (which are also featured in the movie). Many other Norwegian references are also in “Frozen”, including fjords, architectural features of the churches and even a merchant selling a traditional lutefisk. (Source)

The Disney place: Kuzco’s Empire
The real place: Machu Picchu, Peru

Disney animators drew their inspiration for Kuzco’s empire in “The Emperor’s New Groove” from the real life ruins of Machu Picchu, built by the Incans around 1450. The Machu Picchu ruins straddle a mountain ridge in the Andes roughly 8,000 feet above sea level. Known around the globe as the mysterious lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu ranks as Peru’s most popular tourist attraction and one of the most prominent attractions in South America. Oh, one more thing – the ruins are located in the region of Cusco, Peru. Kuzco, Cusco. Get it, get it?

The Disney place: Proscenium
The real place: Ruins of Ancient Greek Proscenium

This 1997 American animated musical fantasy film was loosely based on the legendary Greek mythology hero Heracles (known in the film by his Roman name, Hercules), the son of Zeus, in Greek mythology. So it’s only natural for them to seek inspiration from ancient Greek ruins, particularly ancient Greek theatres. The theatres were circular spaces for performances such as plays and orchestras during theatrical culture that flourished in ancient Greece 700 BC. (Source)

The Disney place: The royal palace
The real place: Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France

The palace where Rapunzel was stolen from her parents was inspired by the styles of many castles, but one thing was certain from the very beginning: It had to be situated on an island like Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France. According to Disney’s art designer, “The idea was… to have a renaissance castle on an island, reminiscent of Mont St Michel in Normandie, France. Emulating the style of the “peinture galante” (by Fragonard) was the art direction. That was my brief and from there, I designed the castle and its surroundings. Scene per scene, it was like exploring a new world.” (Source)

The Disney place: Virginia
The real place: Jamestown settlement

More than an inspiration to Disney’s transposition, Pocahontas is a real historical Native American woman character and by now, everyone should know that already. Born Matoaka and later known as Rebecca Rolfe, she was a Virginia Indian associated with the colonial settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, which we see recreated in the cartoon. Yup, Disney replicated the colonial settlement in their animated version.

The Disney place: Aladdin’s palace
The real place: Taj Mahal

One of the most recognisable buildings in the world, the Mughal-style Taj Mahal in Agra, India, was built in the 17th century by an emperor who was grieving the loss of his third wife, a Persian princess who died in childbirth. The emperor created it as a place of asylum, a retreat from the world, with a principal mausoleum for his wife and many surrounding buildings and gardens. The white stone of the building was as stunning back then as it is now. Disney took inspiration it when designing a palace for Aladdin. It has the same white walls of the real Taj Mahal and many of the same architectural features.

The Disney place: Hawaii
The real place: Kauai Island

Disney based the settings in “Lilo and Stitch” on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. This movie was actually one of only a few Disney animated films that take place in present day. Current features of small towns in Kauai were incorporated into the movie, including the serene beauty of the location but also the more solemn details in the towns that indicate that the region was going through a rough economic patch at the time the film was made (in the early 2000s). Although details that are common throughout Hawaii are featured in the movie, Disney animators seem to have taken particular inspiration from the town of Hanapepe.

Source: MF, Disney Blog, Swide, The Richest.

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Exclusive: Bebe Rexha Shares Halloween Plan, Upcoming Tour & Tips For Bigger Ass

Chart-topper Bebe Rexha has finally released her debut album “Expectations” back in June. One of her latest single from the album has gained more than 113 million views and entered various charts including US iTunes Top 10, US POP Radio Top 10, Billboard Mainstream Top 40, and more.

Bebe’s current smash, “Meant To Be” featuring Florida Georgia Line, is currently ruling the charts at #1 overall on iTunes. Additionally, “Meant To Be” has taken the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Chart for 18 consecutive weeks, making it the longest consecutive #1 run for a female ever on this chart.

This is the second record Bebe has broken on the Hot Country Chart with this track. In December, the track debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Chart, marking Bebe as the first female in history to debut atop it.

Bebe Rexha burst onto the scene in 2013 when she penned the song “Monster,” which became a worldwide hit for Eminem and Rihanna. Since then, Bebe co-wrote and carried the instantly recognisable hook for the double-platinum “Hey Mama,” by David Guetta, Nicki Minaj and Afrojack, which has over 1 billion YouTube/VEVO views and was nominated for a Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Song.

The 29-year-old talent has accumulated more than 11 million overall single sales, 3.35 billion total global streams and a radio audience of more than 10 billion.

Hype Malaysia talked with Bebe Rexha recently regarding her latest hit “I’m A Mess”, her upcoming tour “Expectations”, and also her Halloween plan. See how the conversation unfolds.

What does the song “I’m A Mess” mean to you?

For me it’s about accepting your imperfections, knowing that nobody is perfect. I write that song to let my fans know that they’re not alone when they feel lie they’re not perfect or they don’s feel good enough. I want them to know that they’re beautiful the way that they are, and that nobody is perfect.

Heard that you credited Meredith Brooks and Shelley Peiken for the song since the lyrics are kind of similar, but not completely. And it was just a coincidence. Why do you feel the need to do so?

We wrote the song and that somebody told me that it reminds them of Meredith Brooks’ song, and I want to be respectful of the writers because I’m a songwriter myself. Songwriting is important to me and I want it to be respectful.

So what song will you release after “I’m A Mess”?

I don’t know yet. I’m working on that. I’m going to be picking my singles soon and then hopefully shoot a music video for it, but I’m really not sure yet to be honest.

You have 2 nominations at the upcoming AMAs (Collaboration of the Year & Favourite Song – Country) for “Meant to Be”, how confident are you in these 2 categories?

I think I’m already very comfortable and  happy for getting the nomination. I would love to win but i’m already grateful to be nominated and I’m in the same category as Cardi B, Beyonce, and Jay-Z, so that’s already amazing  and unbelievable, and I’m grateful for that.

Halloween is coming soon. Who or what will you be dressing up as for Halloween this year?

Halloween is my favourite holiday. It’s my favourite time of the year. I planned to dress up as the handmaid from “The Handmaid’s Tale”. Me and my friends are going to wear the red costume together. I think I’m going to throw a private party and maybe invite some friends over to chill out and have some fun.

Who are some of the celebrity friends you plan to invite?

It’s not confirmed, but probably Normani, Noah Cyrus, and Rita Ora, just to name a few.

A lot of people think that you look like Kylie Jenner. What is your comment on that?

I think that she is beautiful and very successful, and I take that compliment.

I’ve seen her at some places before but we haven’t really got the chance to talk you know because we’re both too busy.

Have people gone up to you and call you Kylie?

Not really. Not in person at least. Because I think we only look alike in pictures because of our blonde hair.

What is the strangest rumour you heard about yourself?

That my ass is fake. It’s real, I do lots of squats. I like to eat a lot of bread cos’ it makes your ass big.

Is there any reason why you’re still not in Malaysia yet? You’ve been to all the neighbouring countries last year but not Malaysia.

I’m going to come by. The only thing is if I come to Malaysia, I need to like make sure that I have good food, the food is very important.

I’m telling you the food here is amazing, so you definitely have to come by!

Really? Okay, then I’ll make a stop in Malaysia. It will definitely be my first stop.

Is there anything else you’re working on right now?

I’m always working on new music, but I’m getting ready to do promos, and we have all the award seasons, so there are a lot of things happenings right now.

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#ShellSelect: Taman Connaught Branch Introduces llaollao, Chatime, & Gindaco

Foodies, you can now get your fix of desserts at the same place.

As part of the “Welcome to Shell” transformational programme, Shell Malaysia introduced llaollao frozen yogurt, Chatime bubble tea, and Gindaco takoyaki to residents at Cheras. The food and dessert booths can be found at the Taman Connaught Shell Select outlet.

Shell’s in-house delicatessen brand, Deli2go will also be complementing the outlets by serving coffee and beverages.

The outlet went through a complete makeover in order to comply to the “Food Oasis” concept, which aims to provide a proper area for refreshments and food in the station. In line with the concept, Shell will offer a mix of outlets based on the needs of local consumers.

Shell has signed a memorandum of understanding with Loob Holdings, and part of the condition is to introduce selections from its portfolio of F&B brands into Shell Select stores.

Over 30 Shell Select stores have undergone the renovations and makeover in order to transform them into premium-looking F&B outlets, with 11 of them furnished with a Chatime outlet. Shell Malaysia also has plans to upgrade over 100 stores to the new Shell Select format by this year.

Taman Connaught is famous for their Wednesday night market, touted to be the longest in Malaysia.


“Bullet Train” Review: David Leitch Delivers A Ridiculously Fun, Action-Packed Railway Ride

Director David Leitch is no stranger when it comes to engineering big blockbuster films within established film franchises. Making his skull-cracking debut with 2014’s “John Wick”, this architect of action cinema has shown himself to be a versatile virtuoso of ultra-violence. He understands the glorious satisfaction found in bloody melees and close-quarter combat with “Atomic Blonde”. He’s also got an eye for ambitious action setpieces in the spin-off film “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw”. While at the same time, he’s able to look at the lighter side with “Deadpool 2” and “Nobody”. Oh what we wouldn’t give to see his take on DC’s Suicide Squad. That would be absolutely insane to watch!

Now, he’s back with “Bullet Train”, a film with a very clear premise: one seasoned vet on a train full of assassins and killers looking to steal a brief case. The idea of a film’s setting being locked mostly on a singular moving location is a rather interesting proposition. We’ve seen it done masterfully in films like “Speed” and done poorly with Michael Bay’s most recent film “Ambulance”. So will “Bullet Train” be able to run its course without a hitch, or will it be derailed? Let’s find out!

The film’s plot is basically Leitch’s reinterpretation of “Murder on the Orient Express”, but this time with a lot of more swearing and fight scenes. It mainly follows Brad Pitt’s Ladybug, an assassin going through his Eat-Pray-Love phase of life as he commits himself to one final job. A job that will see him encounter a myriad of colourful characters. From two brother assassins to a desperate father to one very naughty, young lady with a plan. In spite of the film’s many moving parts, it all ultimately leads to a satisfying showdown between Ladybug and the deadly masterminds behind it all.

That being said, not every sub-plot in the film feels completely necessary making the runtime feel bloated. We understand that the convolutedness of the plot is part of the fun, though it comes at the expense of the film’s momentum grinding to a screeching halt. By the time the puzzle is finally pieced together, the audience is essentially checked out emotionally. So yes, the film won’t quite hit all the dramatic high notes you’re looking for. Your consolation? Screenplay writer Zak Olkewicz’s writing.

Make no mistake, “Bullet Train” is a comedy through and through. Whether it’s in the quippy, joke-a-minute banter between the characters or the physical slapstick present in the melees, you’re bound to have a good chuckle or two. We especially enjoyed the banter between the two brothers, Lemon and Tangerine. Everyone in the film is given a chance to show off their comedic chops, even the dignified Hiroyuki Sanada and Andrew Koji who play austeur Yakuza members get a few jokes in. Paired with the tangled yarn of quirky, off-kilter backstories and it makes for a fairly amusing romp. Though, one that was hoping that its semi-serious, semi-effacing message on the nature of causality would lend some thematic poignancy to its narrative.

Of all of Leitch’s films, “Bullet Train” has got be his second least memorable in terms of jaw-dropping action spectacle. “Hobbs and Shaw” has the privilege of taking that title. It’s not to say that there aren’t any well-coordinated moments of hand-to-hand combat, or creative uses of the physical environment. The train is as much a setting as it is a plot device and weapon for Ladybug and sordid company. But as we surmised earlier, it does limit the director’s ability to play around in a wider field. So to compensate for this limitation, we’re treated to a series of montages detailing the backstory of the various assassins on board. All taken right out of David Ayer’s playbook in “Suicide Squad” (the bad one).

Where the film does shine is in its use of Leitch’s of action choreography in setting prolonged comedic bits. There’s a level of coordination and controlled chaos that makes every battle a lilting dance that swings between high-octane, life-threatening encounters to moments of comedic levity. Coming into the film, think “Nobody”, not “Atomic Blonde” and you’ll leave a relatively happy camper. And before you ask, yes the film does have a katana duel. It’s an American action film set in Japan. What did you expect?

Brad Pitt’s zen-like Ladybug makes for a likeable protagonist to follow throughout the film’s Jenga Tower of a plot. With his empathetic nature and oafish charm, he embodies the everyman sensibilities of the audience perfectly. It certainly helps that Pitt did 95% of all the stuntwork in the film, what a trooper! Brian Tyree Henry and Aaron Taylor-Johnson steal every scene they’re in as the bickering brothers, discussing everything from logistics to characters in “Thomas & Friends”. Joey King does an excellent job playing the deliciously wicked schoolgirl pulling the strings in the background. Just someone you love to hate. It seems like everyone on board had a blast playing their roles, with even a few hidden actors making fun cameos into the film.

Tonally, “Bullet Train” doesn’t quite stick a flawless landing as director David Leitch explained in an interview with Hype Malaysia that he was hoping that the film would strike a fine balance between comedy, thriller and drama. As an action-comedy film, it certainly achieves its objective. As an unfolding thriller, it’s fails to leave a mark. A great example of a black-comedy action thriller would be Martin McDonagh’s “In Bruges”. What made McDonagh’s film such a macabre masterpiece was his ability to discern the requirement for gravity and levity. An instinct in time, Leitch will hopefully master.

Overall, “Bullet Train” is the kind of film you want to watch on a Friday night after a long week. It’s got enough thrills and quips to keep you engaged throughout. While it doesn’t quite meet the high bar we’ve come to expect from Leitch, we applaud the director and cast’s readiness to give themselves, mind, body and soul, for the sake of LOLs. A bloody, fun romp that’ll get you where you to need to be. Side note, we wouldn’t mind seeing a spin-off film of Lemon and Tangerine before the events of “Bullet Train”. Brian Tyree Henry and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have killer chemistry!

Be sure to check out “Bullet Train” at your local theaters today!

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Overall, "Bullet Train" is the kind of film you want to watch on a Friday night after a long week. It's got enough thrills and quips to keep you engaged throughout. While it doesn't quite meet the high bar we've come to expect from Leitch, we applaud the director and cast's readiness to give themselves, mind, body and soul, for the sake of LOLs. A bloody, fun romp that'll get you where you to need to be.


LRT, MRT, & Monorail To Stop Service From 10am – 5pm

Heads up commuters, there will be some major changes on public transportation starting from tomorrow (Tuesday, 24th March) onwards.

Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) will be limiting its service to support the enforcement of the current Movement Control Order (MCO). This limitation will carry on until 31st March (Update: it’s likely to extend till 14th April).

In a statement, Prasarana announced that all Rapid KL train services (including LRT, MRT and monorail) will only operate for 9 hours between 2 sessions – from 6am to 10am, and from 5pm to 10pm.

As such, there won’t be any service between 10am to 5pm, and after 10pm. Having said that, the public is advised to plan accordingly.


#PLAYFEST: R3hab To Make His Way Back To Malaysia This December!

R3hab “won’t stop rocking” until he makes his way back to Malaysia to headline PLAY Club’s first-ever festival club party this December!

Best known for his signature take on the big room sound, the renowned Dutch DJ/producer will be playing all his energetic party anthems with an exclusive intimate show live on 10th December 2015 (Thursday) at PLAY Club, The Roof.

Fadil El Ghoul, better known by his stage name R3hab, is a Dutch DJ and record producer of Moroccan origin.

He began his career in late 2007 while producing the track “Mrkrstft” with Hardwell. He was signed by prominent DJ and record producer Afrojack to his Wall Recordings imprint and is quoted as being “one of its biggest talents”. Though his style and sound were usually darker, he is considered as one of the proponents of the modern “Dutch house” subgenre alongside Afrojack and Chuckie.

Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Madonna, John Legend, Calvin Harris, and Kaskade were among the artistes that R3hab has remixed for. Some of his most notable releases to date include “Pump The Party”, “The Bottle Song”, and “Prutataaa”. After starting his own weekly radioshow titled “I NEED R3HAB” on SiriusXM, he became a 3-time IDMA winner through the ranks of “Breakthrough Artist,” “Best Full-Length mixer”, and “Best Remixer”.

The Dutch powerhouse producer’s studio achievements and onstage aura came with his ability to keep both the big room and commercial market spinning simultaneously.

Having performed at mega music festivals such as Tomorrowland and Future Music Creamfileds, R3hab will be returning to our shores for a one-night-only show.

Tickets are now available for purchase online via My Ticket Asia. They are also available at all Rock Corner outlets. For tables & VIP packages, please call +60132703111.

We will leave you now with “Won’t Stop Rocking” by R3hab and Headhunterz. Enjoy:

R3hab’s upcoming gig at PLAY Club, The Roof, is presented by Asahi Malaysia.

For more information about the event, visit its official Facebook page.

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Messaging App Sarahah Is Taking Your Phone Contacts Without Consent

A viral “honesty” app, Sarahah, have been making waves on social media lately. It is basically a platform where one can receive or send anonymous messages.

Beware though, it was recently revealed that the free app secretly upload the user’s mobile contacts on to the company’s  servers without consent. Although in some cases, Sarahah does request permission to access contacts, it does not disclose that it uploads such data. Sneaky, sneaky!

This alarming behaviour was discovered by Zachary Julian, a senior security analyst at Bishop Fox. “As soon as you log into the application, it transmits all of your email and phone contacts stored on the Android operating system,” he was quoted as saying, adding that the same case also happens to Apple’s iOS.

After receiving flak for stealing user’s private data, the creator of Sarahah, Zain al-Abidin Tawfiq, explained that the feature was intended for a “find your friends” feature, which hasn’t been made available on the app. The Saudi Arabian developer has also promised to halt collection of user data during the next update.

If you have downloaded the Sarahah app, you can double check to see if you’ve given permission for the app to access your data by:

For those thinking of deleting Sarahah, you are required to delete it on the website itself since that option is not available on the app.

Since launching earlier this year, Sarahah has accumulated more than 62 million users as of August 2017.

Sources: The Economic Times, The Intercept / Featured image: Threat Post.


#SpiderMan: Marisa Tomei Tapped To Play Aunt May

Aunt May is certainly not getting any older in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), especially after Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that the upcoming “Spider-Man” reboot will focus on Peter Parkers’ experience in high school.

Last month, the studio finally announced that British actor Tom Holland will play in the lead role of the new web-slinger movie. At that time, no further casting announcements were made. However, a source told Variety that Marisa Tomei is now in talks to play Peter’s aunt, May Parker.

Tomei had initial success in films as a young actress, as she has a career that spanned 3 decades. After starring in a series of unsuccessful films, she came to international attention with 1992’s “My Cousin Vinny”, which earned her an Academy Award for “Best Supporting Actress”. She later earned her 2nd and 3rd Academy Award nomination for “Best Supporting Actress” through her respective roles in 2001’s “Bedroom” and 2008’s “The Wrestler”.

With her impressive acting resume, sources told Variety that Oscar-winning actress emerged as Sony and Marvel’s top choice to play Aunt May in the next instalment of the “Spider-Man” franchise. The insiders further added that an offer was already made for Tomei last week, but they did not reveal “where things stood in the deal-making process”.

Both studios did not respond to the request to comment on the casting.

If Tomei is indeed going to join the film, the role will mark her first role in a superhero movie. Although Holland’s Spider-Man will make a cameo appearance in Marvel’s 2016 superhero movie, “Captain America: Civi War“, Variety noted that she is most likely going to make her first appearance as Aunt May in the “Spider-Man” reboot instead.

“Cop Car” helmer Jon Watts will writer and direct the reboot, but the studios are still in the process of finding another writer to join Watts in penning the script. Insiders also explained that the executives are looking to lock down other actors so that shooting can begin next year.

Feige and his expert team at Marvel will co-produce the new instalment of the $4 billion “Spider-Man” franchise with Pascal, who oversaw the franchise launch for Sony Pictures 13 years ago. Sony will also finance and release it worldwide on 28th July 2017.

Tomei will be seen next in “Trainwreck” alongside Amy Schumer and Ezra Miller, The actress, who will star in a recurring role in Fox’s “Empire” Season 2, is currently filming “The Big Short” with Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling.

As for Holland, he will be seen next in Ron Howard’s “In the Heart of the Sea”.

What do you think of this piece of news? Do you think Tomei will play a great Aunt May? Let us know in the comments section below.

Source: Variety / Featured image: Zimbio

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Hype’s Must Watch: The Maze Runner

Now that we are stepping into the last quarter of 2014, it’s time for us to introduce one of the films you must watch this month!

Fictional characters from our favourite novels have been making their way to the silver screen lately as popular novels such as “The Fault in Our Stars“, “The Hunger Games“, “Fifty Shades of Grey”, and more have been picked up and turned into movies. Similar to “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent”, James Dashner’s young adult sci-fi trilogy series, “The Maze Runner” will be adapted into a feature film this year.

“The Maze Runner” is set in dystopian future, in which a group of boys must find a way to escape a completely enclosed environment, “The Glade”, through a series of clues in the maze. The boys are about to give up but things take an unexpected turn when a comatosed girl, Teresa, arrives on a note. Thomas (played by Dylan O’Brien) appears to be the only boy who can communicate with her and along with some of the boys, they begin their dangerous adventure to escape the maze filled with horrid creatures, known as “Grievers”.

The question is, can they escape the maze? Why were they thrown into The Glade in the first place? That’s for you to find out!

Although Wes Ball made his directorial debut via this film, surprisingly, the film received positive responses from the audience during the private screening at San Diego Comic Con 2014. The film’s release date was pushed back from 14th February 2014 and it is now set to be released on 11th September.

For more information, visit their official website or their social media sites, Facebook and Twitter.


GDA Day Two: The Final

Initially, we thought that the first day of “Samsung GALAXY The 27th Golden Disk Awards in Kuala Lumpur” (GDA) was massive enough. As massive as a K-Pop event could ever get. Boy, we were wrong! The second day of GDA (16th January 2013, Wednesday) saw the attendance of even more screaming fans, all armed with the mission to see as much of their favourite K-Pop idols/idol groups as possible.

For those of you who didn’t get to attend the red carpet event and for those of you who are curious about what went on during the media-only GDA day two press conference, you’re in luck! We’ve got a video footage of some of your favourite K-Pop idols/idol groups answering a couple of questions and leaving special messages for their loyal fans during the press conference:

[youtube id=”laCpoNUH2sE” width=”600″ height=”350″]

And finally, as the first batch of over 25 of K-Pop’s biggest names in the Korean music industry departed from Malaysia, the second batch of artistes made their entrance into Malaysia for yet another exciting night! GDA day two opened with a special stage of Dasom (from K-Pop idol girl group, “SISTAR”) and Hongki (from Korean pop/rock band, “F.T. Island”) singing, “Way Back Into Love”. The night was then followed by mind-blowing performances by B.A.P, Lee Hi, Ailee, miss A, Teen Top, Epik High, and G-Dragon.

K-Pop idols/idol groups who walked away with the awards on the final GDA event are as follows:

For pictures from the media-only press conference, click!


Local Pilot Dons Uniform While Operating His Food Stall In Subang

The aviation industry has undoubtedly taken a hard hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving airliner workers jobless.

To cope with this tough period, Captain Azrin Mohamad Zawawi, who used to fly planes for a living, now mans a roadside stall called “Kapten Corner”.

A Facebook post from his father, Mohamad Zawawi Ahmad, went viral after photos showed Captain Azrin donning his full pilot uniform (including an apron) while operating his stall at Boom Town USJ11. Zawawi had mentioned that he didn’t know when his son would wear the uniform again as the future of the aviation industry is unknown.

“Kapten Corner” is operated by Captain Azrin and his wife, Yanie, along with his mother-in-law, who is the main cook. The stall, which is named as a gimmick to his respectable profession, serves a variety of local dishes including Mee Kari Ipoh, Bihun Sup, Laksa Utara and Rojak Buah priced at RM7 each.

According to NST, Captain Azrin was among the 2,200 Malindo Air crew that was retrenched at the end of October. He told the portal, “Knowing well that me and my family will be hard-hit managing our finances and lives, I decided to fall back on my culinary skills which I had picked up after leaving school more than two decades ago.”

He mentioned that his stall could garner around RM1,500 a month compared to his estimated monthly income of RM50,000 as a pilot. Azrin also has an impressive background to his flying career, previously piloting for Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, and Jakarta Air before flying with Malindo Air for more than five years.

Many netizens showed their support for the captain by leaving positive words and warm wishes in the comments section of his father’s Facebook post. They even gave their respects to Captain Azrin for his efforts, with some even planning to stop by the stall.

If you’re staying near the area, feel free to show some support by paying a visit to “Kapten Corner” in Boom Town Cafe at USJ 11!

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Hype’s Now Playing: Dillon Francis – Not Butter

Warning: This video is not safe for work (NSFW). ;)

Dillon Francis once again proves that he is the true jester in the dance music world. From teasing fans on Twitter to releasing remixes and getting trolled by DJ Snake, Dillon has also been busy teasing his new moombahton EP. Now, he has surprise everyone with the release of a brand new music video accompanying the track, “Not Butter’ which comes from his debut album Money Sucks, Friends Rule.

He’s never released the track as a single but its new music video definitely matches his fun and carefree character that most of us has come to know and love. The video sees Dillon taking mockery to a different level as it serves to poke fun at the progression of the companies that calls the shots on what goes in a music video.

“Go further, go harder, go sexier” – the video shows the goals for the project to achieve. Following scenes that are familiar territory for most EDM music videos, Dillon’s “Not Butter” music video receives a more edgy display after each quick party cut which eventually leads to a wild end.

Personally, we think the video is incredibly hilarious and matches with Dillon’s well known class-clown brand. Check out the video for “Not Butter” below:

Stay tuned to Dillon Francis’ social media sites for more – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


All Cinemas In Malaysia To Close Temporarily Starting November

To all movie fans out there, we have some sad news as it’s time to say goodbye to cinemas until further notice.

The Malaysian Association of Film Exhibitors (MAFE) has made a definite decision to temporarily close all cinemas in Malaysia starting November.

During the month, cinemas will be progressively suspending movie screenings, along with concession operations at their locations. However, they will continue to monitor the situation and react accordingly once the market conditions improve.

MAFE said that the closure is a cohesive decision undertaken by the industry following the recent Control Movement Control Order (CMCO) in certain states, which requires cinemas to remain closed. Moreover, the lack of new movie releases in the nearest time, which is essential to attract cinemagoers, contributed to the decision.

It is stated that the cinema industry in Malaysia took a hard-hit due to the pandemic and suffered deep revenue losses with admissions dropping up to 90% year-on-year. Cinemas also had to invest heavily on safety SOPs to ensure strong compliance and safety for its customers while they enjoy movies on the big screen.

Vice President of MAFE Cheah Cun Wai said, “Whilst this decision was not easy, it is in response to an increasingly challenging landscape for cinemas, and as an industry we believe it to be a necessary step for the long term preservation of Malaysian cinemas, so we can continue our role of contributing to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of our nation in the long run.”

He added, “To all patrons of cinemas in Malaysia we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the unending support and solidarity thus far, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon, to once again share the magic of movies on the big screen.”

Following the announcement, both GSC and TGV have announced that they will temporarily cease all their cinema operations in Malaysia, from 2nd November onwards. At the same time, MBO Cinemas, which has already closed most of its cinemas, will proceed to close the remaining few that is still operating, starting next month.

Hi everything. This is an important announcement.#GSCLoveYou3000 #StaySafe pic.twitter.com/Fz522xINvk

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the temporary closure of all cinemas nationwide on 2nd November 2020.

It is a hard truth for all of us to accept, but we believe that we can brave this storm together.#SupportCinemas #SeeYouSoonTGV pic.twitter.com/xSqeeqekdb

— TGV Cinemas 🇲🇾 (@TGVCinemas) October 30, 2020

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Sony VAIO: There’s More To The Touch

The new VAIO line-up from Sony puts tough right at the heart of your personal computing experience. Sony redefines the portable PC experience with the new VAIO Duo 11: a high-performance, hybrid Ultrabook with a sliding LCD display that switches effortlessly between slate and keyboard mode; the smart VAIO E Series 14P and premium VAIO T Series 13 both with the new Touch feature.

Another enhanced edition of VAIO S Series was also showcased at the launch yesterday:

[youtube id=”wMYJNaf2_sE” width=”600″ height=”350″]

The brand new VAIO models make work and play beautifully intuitive but the spotlight is of course, on the VAIO Duo 11.

Weighing at merely 1.3kg and at 17.85mm thin, the touch-enabled Ultrabook is in a league of its own. It has the capability of transforming instantly between a power-packed Ultrabook PC and a handy tablet (with its Full HD touchscreen) so that you can write, sketch, and interact with media and applications seamlessly.

It also has a unique pressure-sensitive digitiser stylus which allows for more precise writing, as well as the consumption and creation of exciting and entertaining digital content on the go. Also, and here’s a feature we love – the screen intelligently ignores palm presses while writing, preventing distracting scribbles. Ace!

Other Sony VAIO models from the new line-up are such as:

The new family of VAIO PCs from Sony will be available from all Sony stores and authorized dealers from November 2012. For the pricing deets, refer to the following:

For more information, visit Sony Malaysia’s website.


One Direction’s “1D3D” Trailer Released!

The boys Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson were discovered by Simon Cowell on UK’s “The X Factor” in 2010. Over just three short years, they quickly became one of the world’s biggest boy bands. As “One Direction”, the boys have a gigantic and loyal fanbase, with thousands of “Directioners” screaming their names at every concert, every performance, and every encore.

To date, they’ve sold over 13 million records worldwide although they haven’t quite been to all parts of the world just yet.

Now, watch Niall, Zayn, Liam, Louis, and Harry navigate the high and lows of fame in this study from investigative documentarian, Morgan Spurlock. The “study” (shot in 3D) is called, “1D3D” and it follows the quintet closely as they tour, meet with fans, sign autographs, and phone home to mum.  Aww.

Expect to hear voiceovers from the “One Direction” boys about their journey and watch exclusive footage of their performances or goofing off backstage coupled with nearly wall-to-wall shrieking courtesy of the “Directioners”. “1D3D” will also reveal some of the boys’ antics on the road including wrestling, miniature football matches, and Liam balancing bone china teacups on Louis’ head in a hotel room.

[youtube id=”2ands0XvSnU” width=”600″ height=”350″]

“1D3D” is slated for a 30th August 2013 release.


Rumour: Toll Rates For More Than 12 Highways In Malaysia To Go Up?

Oh no, word has it that toll rates for more than 12 major highways nationwide may go up soon!

According to a report by Berita Harian (via NST), the government is deciding on whether toll rates of 16 highways would be increased between 20 sen and RM1 in August this year as the Works Ministry has brought the proposal for the government’s approval at a cabinet meeting.

Note: In November last year, the government had decided to defer the increase of toll rates for 20 highways nationwide although they were expected to be raised this year. Following the postponement, the government had forked out RM558.69 million to compensate the highway concessionaires.

Among the proposed rates, Besraya highway will experience a 70 sen hike from RM1.30 to RM 2, whereas the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) may see a 60 sen increase from RM1.60 to RM2.20. The Damansara-Puchong Expressway could be increased by 50 sen from RM1.60 to RM2.10, while Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE) will also see the same hike from RM2 to RM2.50. The Kuala Lumpur – Kuala Selangor Expressway (LATAR) is also tipped to be raised from RM2 to RM2.50, while the Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (SILK) would be hiked 60 sen from RM 1 to RM1.60.

Other highways to see similar hikes include the Maju Expressway (MEX), The Kajang–Seremban Highway (LEKAS), Cheras-Kajang (Grand Saga) Highway, Kulim-Butterworth highway, Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), and the East Coast Expressway 1.

To give you a clearer picture (literally) of the increases, refer to the image below, which has been spreading like wildfire on Facebook:

However, as seen in the image above, the increases did not include the North-South Expressway (NSE).

In a separate report from TRP dated 12th June, major highway concessionaires have claimed that they were not aware of any impending increase in toll rates. Company reps apparently spoke to Bernama and said that there were no official instruction or letter on any increase in toll charges.

On top of that, in a media statement issued about a week ago, the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) did not mention any instruction to concessionaire companies on any increase in toll rates. “As such, any statement or report on toll rates is not true,” said its director-general, Datuk Ismail Md Salleh, adding that for now, the toll rates for all highways remained unchanged.

What do you guys think? How many of you utilise at least 2 of these highways on a daily basis? How badly would it affect you if the toll rates did increase in August this year? With the lack of dependable public transportation in the country, what would you do?

Feel free to discuss this in the comments box below.

Sources: NST, TRP / Featured image from Selangor Kini.

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#Malaysia: Senior Citizen Arrested For Forcing Maid To Be Sex Slave

A senior citizen was arrested by the police for allegedly forcing one of his 2 maids from Indonesia to be his sex slave.

According to Subang Jaya police chief ACP Mohammad Azlin Sadari, the 69-year-old man also recorded video clips of his sexual activities with the 25-year-old maid who had been under his employment since 2012.

“We believe the maid had been made a sex slave over the past four years that she has been in the employ of the man,” Mohammad Azlin told a news conference at the Subang Jaya police headquarters. He also added that the other maid, who did not have valid travel documents, was not harmed.

The maids had been staying at his home in Subang Jaya where the wife of the suspect had been in coma for more than 5 years. The suspect was apprehended last Wednesday together with his 30-year-old daughter but the woman was later released on police bail.

Mohammad Azlin said that the police had also confiscated a hard disc, 7 memory cards, and 2 CDs believed to contain sexual recordings of the senior citizen and the maid.

“The abused maid has been sent to the Indonesian Embassy prior to being taken to the shelter for witnesses in Johor Baru,” he said.


Pakistani Man Bought Land On Moon For RM186 As A Wedding Gift

You’ve probably heard of the iconic romantic song, “The Moon Represents My Heart”. Instead of professing to love his beau to the moon and back, a man recently set a benchmark for all the hopeless romantics out there.

Sohaib Ahmed, 23, bought a land on the lunar surface and gifted it to his wife as a symbol of his love. He achieved his bucket list after purchasing a one-acre plot from the Lunar Settlement Initiative (LSI).

The man from Pakistan had acquired the land for his wife, Madiha, as their wedding gift. It was reported that Ahmed bought the land from LSI in the region called “Sea of Vapours” for only US$45 (RM186).

The couple also hold the property documents that was sent to their home via the US Postal Service. “At first, everyone thought it was a joke, but then I showed them the documents and then they believed it,” explained Madiha.

According to Daily Times, Ahmed said in a programme that he was inspired by late actor Sushant Singh Raput, who had owned a land on the moon in the “Sea of Muscovy” region. It was reported that the actor bought his land from the same organisation, LSI.

Apparently, a lot of well-known celebrities also own a land on the lunar surface, including Tom Cruise, Shah Rukh Khan, and John Travolta.


Johor Sultan Comments On Illi Najwa & Manpreet Singh’s Marriage Controversy

Johor-born Illi Najwa Saddique has become the talk of the town after the news about her marriage with Indian hockey star Manpreet Singh Panwar made headlines recently.

Apparently, the issue also caught the attention of Johor Sultan, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar. His Royal Highness released a statement earlier today (Monday, 21st December) to share some thoughts on the recent controversy.

In the post, Sultan Ibrahim advised the public to avoid making any conclusions and premature actions in regards to the news. He also said that while she did not declare her intention to leave Islam, it seems unfair that the woman has been harshly judged on social media.

His Royal Highness stated, “If we are hasty in our decision to pass judgment on her, we will be seen as building a ‘tall wall’ for her to return to Malaysia. This will create a barrier for her family in Malaysia as well as herself in India.”

Sultan Ibrahim also advised Illi to take into account the blessings of her parents and also not to violate Islamic norms in making a decision. “I am confident that the Johor Islamic Religious Department and the Johor State Mufti Department will provide all necessary assistance to the lady in maintaining her faith within the Islamic law,” His Royal Highness wrote.

Apart from that, the Johor Sultan also said that the public needs to be more compassionate when coming across things that do not align with their moral/religious compass. His Royal Highness also stated that people need to exercise good behaviour instead of resorting to negativity the moment something seems not right.

“We need to make sure the news are from verified and correct sources. Islam is a religion that advises, not one that simply punishes its people,” Sultan Ibrahim wrote.

Feel free to read his full statement here:

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#StarWars: Lucasfilm Says Han Solo Is Not A Pre-Teen In Spin-Off Film

Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” will only see the light of the day this December, yet rumours and official reports about its sequels and spin-off are already popping up everywhere on the Internet.

One of the most talked about anthology films is the one that centres on Han Solo, a smuggler played by Harrison Ford in the original trilogy.

Earlier in July, it was confirmed that “The LEGO Movie” directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord are on board to helm the Han Solo standalone movie. At that time, Lucasfilm stated that it will focus on “how young Han Solo became the smuggler, thief and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley”.

Considering how the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy featured a pre-teen Anakin Skywalker (who later grew up and became Darth Vader), fans wondered if the young Han Solo will also be portrayed by a pre-teen actor.

In response to fans’ concerns, Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy assured fans that the “young Han Solo” is not going to be a pre-teen in the anthology film. She was quoted as saying to Entertainment Weekly:

He’ll definitely be probably in the high teens, low 20s. We’re not introducing you to a 10-year-old Han Solo.

But when it comes to a character’s past, how much should remain a mystery?

In response to that question, Kennedy said that they’re trying to avoid over-explaining their backstory, or any other character’s backstory:

There’s got to be a reason for (the stand-alone film) to be. And obviously the thing that Star Wars has always done so well is it doesn’t spend a lot of time (explaining) the stories that have come before. We don’t want to do that either. We don’t want to spend time going back and answering a lot of questions that, quite frankly, I don’t think people want answered.

She added, “I think the key here is that we are identifying an event or events in Han Solo’s life that gives you some idea of who he is and why he is the character we have all known to love.”

The movie will also most likely feature some of the film’s original characters such as Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, Jabba the Hutt, Boba Fett, and Greedo.

J.J. Abrams’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is scheduled to arrive on 18th December this year while “Star Wars: Rogue One” will open on 16th December 2016. The Han Solo standalone movie is slated for release on 25th May 2018, but it is unclear who will play the young Han Solo yet.

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


Kim Hyun-Joong Donates 100 Million Won To China

Kim Hyun-joong, a former member of K-pop idol group SS501, and star of “Playful Kiss” has donated 100 million won (about RM 271,500) for the victims of the Ya’an earthquake in China. The 2013 Lushsan earthquake left approximately 200 dead or missing and at least 13,000 injured.

The One Foundation, a private charity organisation in China established by Chinese actor Jet Li, disclosed Kim’s donation and conveyed his good wishes to Ya’an citizens via Chinese social platform Weibo on Friday. In return, the charity promised to use the money wisely for the reconstruction efforts.

Hyun-joong has made various donations for those in need throughout the past few years. That includes his donation to the victims of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami catastrophe in 2011 and an initially anonymous donation of 50 million won to the Korean Red Cross last year.

Moreover, he is a member of World Vision, a child sponsorship programme, and also helps Abierta’s House of Friendship in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the singer will make an appearance as a special guest at UV’s concert May 24th – May 25th at Interpark Art Center in Seoul. His new Japanese album will be released next month.

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“Iceman 2” Production Team Calls Out Donnie Yen’s Bad Attitude On Weibo

Looks like some sort of drama is going on between Hong Kong actor Donnie Yen and the production team of his latest movie “Iceman 2”.

When you have reached a certain fame, it’s only natural that you will have a certain extent of demands and diva attitude going on, and that seems to be the case with actor and martial artist Donnie Yen, who was called out by the production team of “Iceman 2” on Weibo for his supposedly king-like bad behaviour.

A post shared by GSC Movies (@gscmovies)

Apparently, “Iceman 2” is not doing so well in the box office as well as among critics, and all the fingers are pointed towards the leading cast Donnie Yen.

In a lengthy post on Weibo, the production team behind “Iceman 2” has highlighted all the misconducts done by the 55-year-old actor. Some of them include changing the script as he wants, refusal to retake scenes, refusal to wear a wig saying that the wig “restrained his acting”, interfering with the directors and cast, and editing out other actors’ scenes during post-production.

The production team claimed that they abide with Yen’s selfish demands as they hope that he will in return help with the publicity efforts. But as the film was set for release, the actor refused to market the movie and kept on making multiple excuses to avoid being involved in the movie.

Donnie Yen has responded on Weibo in an even more lengthy post, claiming that the accusations made by the production team are false. The actor also said that this is a publicity move made by the production team after the poor box office result.

“This sequel film was made 5 years ago, but why only now do you decide to list out the dissatisfactions, and at the same time during the time when the poor reviews are out? Will slandering an actor’s reputation  increase the film’s reception or improve the box office results?” Yen wrote.

Though the “Iceman 2” production team has deleted the Weibo post, Yen said that he will continue to pursue legal action for the accusations.


#ADogsPurpose: Filmmakers Respond To Animal Abuse Controversy

The producers behind “A Dog’s Purpose” are in hot water after TMZ released a disturbing video of a crew/trainer allegedly forcing a German Shepherd into rushing water.

In the video, which was shot in Canada in November 2015, the dog can be seen repeatedly clawing the pool’s edge, struggling to get away from its trainer. A man, presumably the video’s recorder, can be heard laughing and saying, “You just got to throw him in.”

The dog eventually got in the water, but was immediately submerged. The German Shepherd is one of at least 5 dogs used in the production.

In response to the video, which has since gone viral, Amblin Entertainment said, “Fostering a safe environment and ensuring the ethical treatment of our animal actors was of the utmost importance to those involved in making this film and we will look into the circumstances surrounding this video.”

Upon watching the footage, netizens have expressed their anger toward the movie’s production team on social media. One Facebook user commented, “Its a shame because this movie was supposed to celebrate dogs and the important role they play in our lives. I hope those responsible are dealt with.”

PETA (short for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has called for a boycott of the film. “PETA is calling on dog lovers to boycott the film in order to send the message that dogs and other animals should be treated humanely, not as movie props.”

Amid accusations of animal abuse, the film’s production team has addressed the matter, saying that the German Shepherd, named Hercules, had “several days of rehearsal of the water scenes to ensure he was comfortable with all of the stunts” and that he “wasn’t forced to film”.

“On the day of the shoot, Hercules did not want to perform the stunt portrayed on the tape so the Amblin production team did not proceed with filming that shot,” they explained.

They told TMZ that the director, Lasse Hallstrom, called for a break during the shoot. When they resumed, Hercules was fine with doing the water scene, emphasising that he was not thrown into the turbulent water.

Based on the 2010 novel of the same name by W. Bruce Cameron, “A Dog’s Purpose” revolves around one endearing dog’s journey over the course of several lives and how he looks for his purpose through each of his lives.

Slated for release on 27th January 2017, the film stars Josh Gad, Britt Robertson, Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, and Juliet Rylance.

For more information, visit the film’s website.

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Avengers: The Kang Dynasty Theories + Phase 5 & 6 Connections Explained

For this year’s Comic-Con, Disney’s Marvel definitely did not disappoint. The crowd went absolutely wild upon the reveal of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Phase 5 and Phase 6 slate of films and TV shows. It’s official folks, we are now living in the era of “The Multiverse Saga”. While we were pumped to get more info for upcoming films this year like “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and teases into exciting future projects like “The Thunderbolts”, we couldn’t help but be drawn to the title of the next major MCU crossover. Move over “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Doctor Stranger in the Multiverse of Madness” because here comes “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”!

We first learned of Kang, otherwise known as Nathaniel Richards, in the first season finale of “Loki” from a variant of the character, He Who Remains. We hear stories of how before the Time Variance Authority (T.V.A.) and the Sacred Timeline was formed, the multiverse was engulfed in chaos and war. Now that He Who Remains is no longer running the T.V.A., Kang, and possibly multiple Kangs, are now on the loose. So what terrible fate does Kang have in store for the MCU? Stick with us as we break down the plot, cast, characters and the possible Phase 5 film and TV show connections to “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”.

So we know Marvel Studios is fond of loosely adapting major crossover events in comics, as seen in the last three “Avengers” films adapting plot beats from “Age of Ultron” and “Infinity Gauntlet”. Therefore, it makes sense to deduce that most of the film’s plot will be based on the 2001 Avengers storyline entitled “Kang Dynasty”. It can get quite dense, so we’re boiling the arc down to its essentials.

At some point in time, Kang and his son Marcus, also known as the Scarlet Centurion, appears in the main Earth-616 universe, in front of the United Nations (UN). The Avengers arrive to battle him, only to be defeated. He then proceeds to inform the UN of the horrible alternate fates that await Earth before declaring himself its saviour and taking over the planet. He accomplishes this by offering a place in his new empire to those who pledge their loyalty to him and aid him in conquering the world. Long story short, the Avengers rally forces from all over Earth and outside of it to defeat Kang. Kang is defeated and the world is saved.

We know trying to faithfully adapt the entire 2001 event wouldn’t be feasible, so certain creative liberties would have to be taken to alter the plot. The very title of the film “The Kang Dynasty” would imply that the film would revolve around Kang trying to set up a long-reigning empire with multiple successors. After all, you can’t have a dynasty if you don’t have heirs. So it’s more than likely that we’ll see some version of Marcus or even a younger Variant of Kang accompany the time-travelling conqueror in his quest for power. Will Kang’s successor prove to be as deadly as the man himself? We’ll have to wait to find out.

Now, let’s take a look at how some of the different films and TV shows in Phase 5 could play a role in setting the stage for “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”. While we never officially met Kang the Conqueror in the first season of “Loki”, He Who Remains, who is a Variant of Kang, alludes to his eventual coming if he should die. We can confirm that Kang in fact will be appearing in 2023’s “Ant-Man: Quantumania” as the film’s main villain.

The Quantum Realm, as seen in “Avengers: Endgame”, is a dimension where the laws of time and space are rather fluid. Through the use of a Quantum Tunnel, the Avengers were able utilise the Quantum Realm to successfully travel back in time. In the comics, Kang is infamous for his time-travelling escapades, using information from the past and future for his own gain. We predict that in “Quantumania”, Kang will battle Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne for the secrets of Quantum Realm. One that will make him a master of time and space.

The next Phase 5 property that Kang will definitely make an appearance in will be the second season of “Loki”. In the ending of the first season finale, we see Loki being transported back to the T.V.A. except this time, it’s been taken over by Kang. Judging by Loki’s meeting with one very confused Mobius, played by Owen Wilson. It seems Kang has replaced the previous Mobius we once knew with a new variant. Or possibly messed with the time stream to make it seem like he’s been running T.V.A. since forever. Yes, yes we hate time-travel as much as you do.

The first thing Loki will probably do in the second season of the show is look for his dear lover, Sylvie. From there, he’ll probably mount a resistance against Kang by exposing the secret history of the Multiversal War the various Variants of Kang waged, one that took place before He Who Remains stabilised the timeline. Something Loki had planned to do in the finale of the first season before the shocking revelation of Kang’s takeover of the T.V.A. was learned. Chances are that Kang will use the resources of the T.V.A. and the secrets he learned in “Quantumania” to possibly either rewrite the history of Earth-616 or outright conquer the planet.

Which brings us to “Captain America: New World Order”. As of now, there aren’t a lot of details concerning the plot of the film. That being said, due to its close proximity in terms of date to “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” we can speculate that the film will play some major role in setting the stage for Kang’s arrival. Based on the “Kang Dynasty” comics, we know that Kang calls upon the forces of Earth to divide and conquer the world in his name. In the wake of a new Captain America and the uncertainty of humanity’s place in the universe, let alone the multiverse, after events like Thanos’ snap and multiple multiversal invasions, it would make sense that some organisations on Earth would side Kang. Especially if he promises them a new world order where they’re on top.

At the end of “Falcon and the Winter Soldier“, we see one very mysterious Valentina Allegra de Fontaine help rebrand the disgraced John Walker as U.S. Agent. We’ve also seen her pull strings in the background of the “Hawkeye” series. She could serve as the main antagonist of the film, further destabilising the United States and the world to prepare the way for Kang to make his grand entrance. We also suspect that the MCU is setting her up to be an evil version of Nick Fury. The one who gathers the various anti-heroes and villains of Earth to form her own Avengers-like team, the Thunderbolts. With the T.V.A. and the Thunderbolts by his side, Kang would be more than ready to set up his new empire!

Then there’s the final piece of the puzzle and the first film of Phase 6, “Fantastic Four”. For those not in the know, Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four have long battled against the nefarious Kang the Conqueror throughout Marvel comic history. One of the reasons is due to the fact that Kang, also known as Nathaniel Richards, is a distant descendant of the World’s Smartest Man! Will Kang be the main villain of the “Fantastic Four” film? Unlikely, that spot is reserved for none other than the legendary Doctor Doom.

Interestingly enough, Doctor Doom and Kang have recently teamed up in comics, namely in the sixth issue of Christopher Cantwell’s “Doctor Doom” solo series in 2020. We predict that in “The Kang Dynasty”, Doom along with Fontaine will side with Kang in his conquest of the planet Earth. Initially, Kang will have the upper hand as the Thunderbolts and Doom wage a devastating war against the combined forces of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. Then just as things seem to be at their most dire, Doom will betray Kang and seize power for himself. How do we know this will happen? It’s Doctor Doom guys…need we say more?

With Kang’s defeat and `his dynasty ruined, it paves the way for the Latverian ruler to become God Emperor Doom which leads into “Avengers: Secret Wars”! That film deserves a whole other discussion in of itself. In any case, there you have it folks, our breakdown of the connections between Phase 5 and Phase 6’s films and TV shows to “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”.

As for the cast of “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”, there are a number of actors we can say with certainty will be appearing in the film. Jonathan Majors will be reprising his role as the titular Kang the Conqueror and will no doubt be joined by co-star Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson as Captain America and John Krasinski’s Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four. Characters who have a high chance of appearing in the film include past members of the Avengers. This includes Ant-Man played by Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly as the Wasp, Captain Marvel played by Brie Larson,  Bruce Banner / Smart Hulk played by Mark Ruffalo, Thor Odinson played by Chris Hemsworth and Doctor Strange played by Benedict Cumberbatch.

We also don’t want to rule out the Guardians of the Galaxy joining the fun but perhaps with the inclusion of the Fantastic Four in “Kang Dynasty”, we might not see them featured in the film. Perhaps Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock will play a key factor in tilting the scales in favour of Earth’s heroes. Until then, we can’t know for certain. Solo heroes like Tatiana Maslany’s She-Hulk, Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight, Mahershala Ali’s Blade, Iman Vellan’s Ms Marvel and Simu Li’s Shang Chi may make quick cameos in the film but we can’t know for certain. The film is set to be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who also made “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”.

Well that’s all we know for now about “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”! Be sure to stay tuned for future updates.

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#BandarSunway: Photos Of Primary Schoolgirl Chained To Lamp Post Anger Netizens

Social media is abuzz with photos of a primary schoolgirl chained to a lamp post. The photos were allegedly taken at the parking lot of Sunway Perdana Condominium in Bandar Sunway.

Apparently, the young girl was punished by her mother because she didn’t want to attend Mandarin class.

But as the photos have been re-shared many times, we weren’t able to determine which was the original post. One particular post from a Facebook page called Time iruntha vanthu parungge was shared over 950 times.

According to several sources, the child’s mother has supposedly been caught and brought to Sunway police station.

Upon seeing the photos, many netizens didn’t take too kindly towards the mother’s choice of discipline. Many slammed her for bad parenting and accused her of child abuse, saying that she deserves to be locked behind bars.

“In my opinion, this is very bad parenting, if you don’t know how to take care and raise a child then don’t make one, get a Durex,” commented Nair.

Even so, some netizens sided the mother, saying that her actions “weren’t that bad” and that children must be disciplined when needed.

Muthurajan wrote, “Nothing wrong. Disciple should start from young age. Next time this embarrassment will make her move forward”.

A similar case happened months ago in Penang where a boy was stripped naked and chained to a staircase at a flat housing area by his father because he misbehaved.

What are your thoughts on the mother’s actions? Let us know your thoughtss in the comments below.

Sources: The Inscriber’s Facebook page, Aj Raj’s Facebook page, Time iruntha vanthu parungge Facebook page.


China Is P*ssed Off At Jackie Chan!

Martial arts actor Jackie Chan recently expressed that he had plans to move ancient Chinese buildings to Singapore, which sparked controversy in a nation already sensitive about losing its artifacts. On his website, he stated that he wants to give a Singapore university four of 10 traditional Hui-style sandalwood buildings that he bought 20 years ago, saying that it’s such a waste if they’re not displayed for people to appreciate.

Jackie also added that his decision came after he and the Hong Kong government failed to find land for the homes, whereas the Singapore University of Technology and Design showed care and enthusiasm about hosting the old buildings.

Upon hearing the above, Xinhua state news agency cited officials and social media users as arguing that the structures should stay in China, particularly in the eastern province of Anhui where the architectural style originates. “If those buildings are historical relics, they are not allowed to leave China”, Xinhua quoted Zhang Hongmin, an official at the provincial body for cultural heritage, as saying. On China’s popular micro blog platform, Weibo, the news have also caused a furor amongst the users, who are against Jackie’s decision.

Almost immediately, the 59-year-old superstar took to his own blog to respond to the outcry:

I never imagined that sharing my thoughts about donating historic buildings would cause such a big stir. I really want to try and find an opportunity to tell you the whole story from beginning to end because it’s honestly a very interesting story. I can’t tell it to you in just a few sentences, I need to find a chance to sit down and explain all the details.

But there are some things that I can clearly tell you right now: Please don’t worry. Jackie Chan didn’t do anything illegal, and I certainly won’t do anything bad towards my country. Anyway, I’d like to take this opportunity to say thanks for all your concerns.

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ZoukOut 2012: It’s On!

Siloso Beach Sentosa best prepare itself for a stampede of partygoers and electronic dance music (EDM) fans because ZoukOut 2012 is returning with a bigger and better line-up this year!

Island party. Singapore. December. Yes, we bet you know where it’s at.

Except, this year is going to be slightly different because in August, Zouk Singapore (the organizing champs behind the music festival) announced that ZoukOut 2012 is going to happen over a stretch of THREE DAYS. That’s 6th to 8th December 2012, peeps. Count ’em!

Since then, everyone has been waiting with bated breaths for the official line-up. And here’s what we know so far:

The first headliner to kick off Singapore’s biggest music and dance festival this year is none other than the extraordinary DJ/producer, Avicii. He’ll be playing at a pre-party at Zouk Singapore before the crowd swarmed Sentosa for a two-day rave.

Where will they find all the energy? We’re not sure. But we’re definitely going!

Tickets will go on sale on 19th October 2012 (Friday) via their website. For more information, visit ZoukOut Singapore’s Facebook page. Also, don’t forget to follow them on Twitter for more timely updates!


#TheCarnival: Relive Your Disney Experience At The Beauty & The Beast Fairytale Carnival

We’re less than 2 months away before “Beauty and the Beast” hits theatres and expectations for Disney’s live-action remake are already sky high. But here’s something to make your wait a little more bearable.

Get excited KLites cause there’s a “Beauty and the Beast Fairytale Carnival” coming to town this month. If you’re a Disney fan then this is certainly the place to be. Said to be the biggest fairytale carnival in Malaysia, this funfair event will not only feature fairy tale-themed games but also over 100 choices of international food.

In addition to the numerous vendors selling a variety of street food, shopaholics will also get to shop at retail brands for the latest fashion and trinkets, as well as enjoy various live performances by international performers. Sounds like a whole lot of fun, no?

That’s not all, visitors can also take part in the first fairy world game at the “Beauty and the Beast Fairytale Carnival”, which include fun and educational games such as Rise of Egypt, Beauty & The Beast Museum, Night Hunter, Pirate Treasure, Hollywood, VR World, Beast Maze, Laser Tag, Love Story, and Meet the Clown. These activities are suitable for both adults and children.

Brought to you by S&W Online Marketing Sdn Bhd, the details to “Beauty and the Beast Fairytale Carnival” are as follows:

For more information, check out The Carnival’s official website or their Facebook page.


Pixar’s “Soul” Review: An Afterlife Worth Watching

Those who have grown up watching Pixar films know of the studio’s unique ability to dress mature, adult themes in the vernier of childlike wonder. Anti-imperialism in “A Bug’s Life”. The journey of fatherhood in “Finding Nemo”. The human cost of corporate profit in “Monsters Inc.”. And of course, watching Woody learn to deal with life’s changes throughout the “Toy Story” saga. While the company has built a reputation for itself, we couldn’t help but notice them slipping in their recent releases. Namely in sequels and prequels to their more successful hits. There’s certainly a lot fun to be had in films like “The Incredibles 2”, “Finding Dory” and “Monsters University”, but they just lack a certain creative spark to them.

This year’s “Soul”, however, had us intrigues. An animated film that attempts to address some of life’s biggest questions. What is one’s purpose in life? What do we leave behind when we well…leave it all behind? An ambitious undertaking that Pixar mostly delivers on.

The premise of the film follows the life, and afterlife, of jazz musician/teacher Joe Gardner. A man who is not happy with his life and sees a rare opportunity to join a local jazz band. On the day he’s accepted a role in the band, he suddenly dies. It’s not over, though. Joe soon embarks on a daring journey to escape the afterlife back to the mortal plane. He enlists the aid of a soul named 22. An unborn soul who has absolutely no desire of being tied down to a human existence, or so she thinks. Together, they’ll defy the odds and discover that there’s more to life than meets the eye.

“Soul” essentially functions as a sort of spiritual parable. One that is more rooted in the zeitgeist of the modern age than any particular religious tradition. The film posits an intriguing discourse that rejects the notion of essentialism, that people are born with a certain purpose or dharma. The film very much falls on the existentialist perspective. You’re not born into this world to simply do one particular thing or fulfill one specific function. Your purpose, much like life, is ever changing and you have to be the one to create your meaning.

Now, this concept isn’t terribly novel. It’s pretty much the ethos of every single Disney film past the 2000s. What sets “Soul” apart, though, is in its attempt to thoroughly explore the disillusionment and wonder of the human condition in emotionally resonant and thought-provoking ways. It never feels like the film is subjecting viewers to a lengthy Philosophy 101 class. As the narrative unfolds, the viewer begins to see Joe and 22’s growth and relationship which evolves into something deeply endearing.

That being said, there is one particular pet-peeve we have with Pixar films. Something we noticed in films like “Inside Out”. That is the film’s need to express abstract concepts in specific characters. Some might say that these expressions make the film more accessible to younger viewers. There is value to that notion but overall, we find it a tad lazy and uninspiring. It would have been more effective to have Joe and 22’s journey play out in a more grounded and organic way. In lieu of interjecting the plot with magical creatures and a needless bureaucratic antagonist. It seems like this Pixar trope is here to stay, for better or for worse.

Actors Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey do a phenomenal job as Joe and 22. Foxx lends a world-weariness to the character that feels both appropriate and familiar. Foxx often takes up the role of a hard leading man in films. To see him carry the role of Joe with such grace and understanding is a revelation. Something we haven’t seen since his days in “Collateral”. Comedian Tina Fey breathes plenty of life into her part as the stubborn, set-in-her-ways unborn soul. What’s interesting is how the two characters frequently exchange their roles of jaded cynic and wide-eyed wonderer.

Too often these dyadic relationships devolve into this generic “well I guess we’re not so different” dynamic. Surprisingly, “Soul” forsakes that tired trope for one that refuses to settle into any preconceived mold. One that replicates a living and constantly growing bond that can accommodate for plenty of goofy laughs and weighty emotional moments. The big cathartic moment at the end is made even more poignant thanks to this refreshing take. Even if the payoff can be spotted a mile away.

Now, let’s talk about the animation. Oh, there are moments in “Soul” that capture a reality far more beauteous than anything we’ve seen. A heightened facsimile of our world, imbued with so much more shine and colour. The opening scene of the film in which we see the busy streets to the expressive character models left us gawking. It was like watching an Ernie Barnes’ painting come to life on screen. It was nothing short of magical.

Then, we cut to the more supernatural elements of the film and unfortunately, it all feels terribly uninspired. We understand that Pixar was trying to capture a vision of the human soul as vaporous or ethereal. Something that feels culturally universal. You’re telling me that a floating amoeba-looking blob was the best you could come up with? This is the studio that gave us some of the most iconic visuals in animation history!

There’s probably some spiritual significance or brilliant sub-text to the way they animated the souls. Frankly. it’s of little consolation. We were begging to return to Joe’s grounded world of Black Americana at every second.

“Soul” doesn’t quite capture the high marks of Pixar’s glory days but it does make for a wonderful film for the holidays. A whimsical and complex existentialist discussion veiled in a powerful human story. It is unfortunate that the quality of its animation is inconsistent and some of its tropes tiresome. Still a solid, fun film for both families and philosophy freshmen. You can now catch Pixar’s “Soul” on Disney+ streaming services or at your local cinema wherever they’re still open.

Funnily enough, we found Pixar’s earlier film this year, “Onward” to deal with the themes of death and loss as well. We’ll let you decide which one did a better job in the comment section down below.

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Astro’s “Skuad Detektif KBAT”: Malaysia’s Fantastic Four Detectives Are Here To Save The Day!

Move over Losers’ Club and Hawkins Gang because there’s a new team of teen detectives in town and it’s the Skuad Detektif KBAT! Don’t worry KBAT here doesn’t stand for some super-convoluted acronym. Rather it spells K for Khai, B for Brian, A for Ana and T for Trisha, four best friends who must bring an international diamond thief to justice with nothing but their wits, will and teamwork. All while trying to balance out their school and personal lives!

This comedy adventure series isn’t just fun and exciting though, Director Hasnul Hadi Suhadi has also gone the extra mile to make the show equal parts brainy as it is engaging for young kids. There’s even a special method that the team uses to solve crimes using their unique KBAT techniques, so expect to see some mini-Sherlock moments throughout the series. So get ready to bust crimes and solve mysteries alongside these young heroes!

The cast of “Skuad Detektif KBAT” is comprised of Adam Darwisyh who plays Khai, Isaac Lim who plays Brian, Airene Adriana who plays Ana and finally Alyssa Dezek who plays Trisha! Also joining the fun is the ever hilarious Malaysian comedian, Douglas Lim and actress Catriona Ross who played Ibu Haji in the musical drama film “Dolla Watch Me Glow”.

Additionally, there is also a KBAT Hebat Mission where viewers can participate in a quiz every week by scanning a QR Code and grab a chance to win weekly prizes and exciting grand prizes.

You can catch episodes of “Skuad Detektif KBAT” on Astro Ceria (CH 611) and Astro Tutor TV SK (CH 601) every Wednesday at 3pm. And you can now stream the series anytime on the Astro GO app today!