Raju The Elephant: Chained For 50 Years, Free At Last

Believed to have been snatched from his mom as a young calf, Raju the elephant is thought to have had 27 owners and was being used as a beggars’ “prop” in Allahabad from dawn until dusk. For 5 decades, he was heartlessly abused, held shackled in spiked chains, and forced to live off plastic and paper scraps from passing tourists. Because his legs were bound in spiked chains, it made walking difficult and left him with chronic wounds.

However, that all changed when wildlife conservationists, Wildlife SOS, swopped in to set him free.

Wildlife SOS is a group established in 1995 to protect endangered wildlife in India. They found out about Raju’s story through India’s Forestry Commission. On the night of 2nd July, they set out with 10 veterinarians and experts along with 20 Forestry Commission officers and 6 policemen to save Raju in the Uttar Pradesh region of India.

When the group attempted to rescue Raju, Raju’s owner and mahout (an individual who rides elephants) apparently attempted to dismantle the effort with a standoff, trying to shout commands to Raju in order to provoke him and tightly chaining the animal’s legs. It created an incredibly dangerous situation as a bull elephant could snap a human like a tooth pick if he becomes afraid or angry.

But the rescue missions was successful and the elephant, which took his first freedom steps on July 4, was seemingly emotional about his rescue, with Wildlife SOS members even noticing tears in his eyes:

According to Pooja Binepal, a spokesman for Wildlife SOS:

Raju was in chains 24 hours a day, an act of intolerable cruelty. He had no shelter for him at night, and was being used as a prop to beg from dawn until dusk from tourists visiting the sites of India. He hasn’t been fed properly and tourists started giving him sweet food items and because he was in a state of hunger and exhaustion he began eating plastic and paper. His nails are severely overgrown, he has abscesses and wounds because of the shackles and continually walking on a tarmac road has led to his foot pad overgrowing. The team were astounded to see tears roll down his face during the rescue. It was incredibly emotional. We knew in our hearts he realized he was being freed. Elephants are majestic and highly intelligent animals. We can only imagine what torture the past half a century has been for him. Until we stepped in he’d never known what it is like to walk free of his shackles – it’s a truly pitiful case. But today he knows what freedom is and he will learn what kindness feels like and what it’s like to not suffer any more.

The team had to go in with fruits and speak softly to Raju to reassure him that they were there to help. As tears rolled down Raju’s face, Wildlife SOS’ head veterinarian Dr. Yaduraj Khadpekar removed the spiked chains from Raju’s feet. It took him and two handlers 45 minutes to liberate him as they’d been wound round his legs to prevent their removal and to cause pain if anyone tried to take them off.

After which, Raju was sedated and loaded onto the back of a truck. Once he was loaded and given additional sedation, a convoy then escorted the five and a half tonne elephant, 350 miles on the back of an open topped lorry to the charity’s Elephant Conservation and Care Centre at Mathura. Once at the centre, Raju was given a bath and emergency medical attention.

There, Raju took his first steps to freedom at 12:01am on 4th July – America’s Independence Day.

The centre will continue to rehabilitate him by treating his physical wounds and introducing him to other elephants at the centre. There is a lot of bad/evil in the world but we’re glad that he can now walk with dignity and more importantly, walk pain-free. Elephants can live a long time, up to 70 years. Here’s hoping to a decade or so more of glorious years of freedom for Raju the elephant.

More pictures from the rescue mission and of Raju the elephant in this gallery:

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#Shakira: Singer Accused Of Copying Rihanna’s Music Video Concept

Uh oh, it looks like Shakira has landed herself in hot waters.

Since releasing her music video “Chantaje”, fans of Rihanna (who call themselves Navy) have come forth and accused the Colombian singer of plagiarism after noticing several obvious similarities between her latest release and Rihanna’s “What’s My Name”.

The side by side comparison above was uploaded on the Rihanna Colombia Facebook fan page account. Shakira’s “Chantaje” opens with her walking flirtatiously into a convenience store and sees Maluma leaning towards the counter. Upon locking eyes, the Colombian rapper starts to follow Shakira around the store. After cornering her against a refrigerator, the couple starts to get physical.

Similarly in the “What’s My Name” visual, Drake is seen settling his bills at the counter inside a convenient store when he spots a red-haired beauty walking in. Smitten by Rihanna, the hip hop artiste musters up the courage and approach her. It doesn’t take long for the duo to get romantic while standing by a refrigerator.

Here are the respective music videos for you to judge for yourselves:

From what we can see, the similarities are only in the first 30 seconds of “Chantaje”.

So what do y’all think? Are the comparisons absurd or are they too similar to ignore?

Sources: Europa fm, Rihanna Colombia’s Facebook.


Pizza Hut Malaysia Debuts First Digital Concept Store & Robot Waiters

Woah, talk about innovation! Pizza Hut Malaysia has recently upgraded their pizza eating and ordering experience by introducing its first digital concept store.

The launch, which took place at the Sunway Pyramid outlet earlier this week, featured 3 brand new takeaway kiosks, an AR (Augmented Reality) pizza making game on their menus, plus 2 adorable robot waiters!

Customers can now place their takeaway orders at the large panels situated outside of the fast food restaurant. Once you’ve fill out your custom orders and make your payment via cash or credit card, you may also leave your phone number behind. With this convenience, you won’t be required to wait. So feel free to explore the shopping mall and continue your shopping. Customers will be notified once their order is ready.

For those dining in, digital menus with AR functions are provided at each table. Not only will diners get to experience their food come to life, but there are also fun games to pass the time while waiting. That’s right, thanks to the digital menu, you can also have fun creating your very own virtual pizza.

“In developing Pizza Hut’s digital strategy, we went back to the essence of what the food industry is about. For us, this means making it easier for our customers to get a better pizza – whether in store or at home or anywhere at all,” CEO of QSR Brands, Merrill Pereyra, was quoted as saying.

In addition, Pizza Hut has also launched their very own mobile pizza delivery app. With 3 easy clicks, you can have your food delivered right to your doorstep. From these purchases, customers will be able to collect Pizza Points that can be used to redeem free side dishes, drinks, pizza, and other goodies.

That’s not all, Pizza Hut Malaysia is giving away 35,000 free pizzas when you download the Pizza Hut mobile app. Order a regular pizza and you’ll get another regular pizza for free. This promo is only valid till 30th October (while stocks last).

Be sure to experienced the upgraded Pizza Hut at Sunway Pyramid soon ;)

For more information, visit Pizza Hut Malaysia’s Facebook page here.

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Couple Dies In Accident, Baby Survives

Expectant Orthodox Jewish parents Nachman and Raizel Glauber were rushing to the hospital because of a problem in the mother’s seventh month of pregnancy. The mother, Raizel complained that she couldn’t feel her unborn baby’s movements and under the principle that saving a life takes precedent over laws of the Sabbath, the couple hired a non-Jewish cab driver to the hospital.

The couple, both 21 years of age, was riding in the back of a Toyota Camry cab in Brooklyn when a BMW that was reportedly speeding slammed into the couple around 12:30 a.m. The impact ejected Raizel from the cab, her body coming to rest underneath a parked tractor trailer. However, rescue workers had to cut open the cab in order to extricate the father. Both parents died of blunt-force trauma.

The miracle baby boy, who was delivered on the scene from the womb of the mother via Caesarean section, survived. Friends and family of the Glaubers have since decided to name the baby after his father.

Both Nachman and Raizel were buried almost immediately, putting their tragic stories with them to rest.

The baby who was delivered prematurely after his young parents were killed in a car crash in Brooklyn has died. The baby’s initial survival was hailed by friends and family as a precious gift.

Meanwhile, the hit-and-run driver is still on the run and police haven’t stopped searching for him/her.

Sources: Opposing Views, Jewish Press, NYT.


#DevilInTheWhiteCity: Leonardo DiCaprio Reunites With Martin Scorsese; Takes On Role Of A Killer

Leonardo DiCaprio‘s dream of playing a killer role is finally coming true as Paramount has just closed a splashy deal to acquire the Erik Larson book The “Devil In The White City: Murder, Magic And Madness At The Fair That Changed America”. The project, which has been in the works for more than a decade will reunite DiCaprio with his “The Wolf Of Wall Street” director Martin Scorsese, who will be directing for Paramount.

Paramount won an auction to buy the movie rights to the book and Billy Ray (of “Captain Phillips” and “The Hunger Games” fame) will write the script. Producers are DiCaprio and his Appian Way partner Jennifer Davisson along with Stacey Sher, Scorsese and Rick Yorn.

“The Devil In The White City” will see DiCaprio take on the role of H.H. Holmes, a serial killer who murdered between 27 and 200 people, mostly single young women. Set against the backdrop of the 1892 Chicago World’s Fair, “The Devil in The White City” centres on the intertwining stories of fair architect Daniel H. Burnham and Holmes, who used a hotel he built near the fairground to draw in his victims.

The movie adaption of Larson’s book was first put in development in Hollywood by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner through their Cruise/Wagner banner via the shingle’s deal with Paramount, but the option lapsed in 2004. Paramount reacquired the film frights in 2007 and set it up with producers Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher, whose shingle Double Feature Films had a first-look deal with the studio at that point in time.

Apart from “The Wolf Of Wall Street” DiCaprio and Scorses have worked together on “Gangs of New York”, “The Aviator”, “The Departed” and “Shutter Island“.

“The Devil In The White” is still in the early stages of production so no release date has been set but we’re excited to see what DiCaprio and Scorsese has in store for us.


Hype Eats: Amazing Gastronomic Delights In The Klang Valley This Week (26th September – 2nd October)

What is the one thing that is constantly on everyone’s mind every day – regardless of the time, place, or occasion? FOOD, of course! That’s when we can enjoy the delicious meals or snacks that we have around us. Everyone enjoys discovering new culinary delights to indulge in, which is why Hype is here to help.

This week, we’ll be serving up the best fusion foods from around the world. We will guide you through local dishes with a Western twist to enjoy, as well as unique concoctions from well-known brands. Take a look at what we have in store for you.

A post shared by TGI Fridays Malaysia (@tgifridaysmy)

Tour the world with TGI Friday’s Ultimate Burgers World Tour! You can experience the unique cuisines of each country by ordering five massively stacked burgers from the United States, Mexico, Italy, and Korea, along with five delicious milkshakes. The Loaded Cheese Fry Burger, Jalapeno Avocado Burger, Mac & Cheese Burger, Triple Cheese Burger, and Volcano Burger are all available. You can learn more by visiting the website.

2. Gula Creamery Premium Ice Cream Cakes

A post shared by Gula Creamery (@gulacreamery)

Location: Available at Gula Creamery’s outlets

Enjoy the best of both worlds as ice cream meets cake to provide you with a cool and satisfying sensation. Try out the seven exciting flavours of premium ice cream cakes: Raspberry-Pistachio, Pandan Gula Melaka, Biscoff Cheesecake, Mango Cheesecake, and the classic Neapolitan trio of Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry!

More on Gula Creamery’s latest promo here.

A post shared by Rémy Martin (@remymartin)

To commemorate the launch of the Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal, Rémy Martin collaborated with seven talented Malaysians to create a film that captured the success stories and ambitions of the new generation under the theme #TEAMUPFOREXCELLENCE.

Aside from that, the internationally-known cognac producer will team up with five renowned cocktail bars recognised as Asia’s best bars in 2022 and two culinary partners to create their own interpretations of cocktails and meals inspired by the Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal, which will be added to their menus.

A post shared by In Colonial (@incolonial)

Location: Lot G13, Intermark Mall, 348 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur

In Colonial serves authentic Malaysian Chinese cuisine in a colonial-style setting, with a focus on using only 100% halal ingredients. Customers can also enjoy a few new attractions such as the Afternoon Team Dim Sum priced at RM59.90 per 2 pax, as well as live music every Friday from 6pm onwards.

A post shared by La Juiceria Superfoods (@lajuiceria)

To encourage the plant-based movement, La Juiceria has partnered with OATSIDE to make OATSIDE’s plant-based oat milk the default option for all of its milk-based beverages at no extra cost. The superfood entrepreneur also announced three new flavours, the Viet-Me-Up, the Golden Elixir, and the Houji-licious, all of which cost RM15.99 and are based on the OATSIDE Barista Blend Oat Milk and Maple Syrup.

A post shared by THE ALLEY 鹿角巷 🇲🇾 (@thealley.my)

Location: Available in selected The Alley stores

The Alley is introducing its new Croffle series, which includes Garlic Cheese Croffle, Brown Sugar Deerioca Croffle, Oreo Chocolate Croffle, Crunchy Salted Caramel Croffle, and Classic Croffle. With these new flavours, you can enjoy the combination of a waffle and the French-loving pastry, the croissant! However, it is only available at a few The Alley locations, including Mount Austin, Melaka, SS2, Sitiawan, and Aman Suria.

Neetashini Kanendran contributed to this article

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Hype’s Must Watch: The Great Wall

“One of mankind’s greatest wonders. 1,700 years to build. 5,500 miles long. What were they trying to keep out?”

Directed by legendary Chinese director Zhang Yimou (張藝謀), “The Great Wall” is a science fantasy adventure-monster action film that boasts an all-star ensemble cast including stars Matt Damon, Willem Dafoe, Pedro Pascal, Mackenzie Foy, as well as Chinese superstars Andy Lau (劉德華), former EXO member Luhan (鹿晗), Eddie Peng (彭于晏), and many more.

Filmed on location in Qingdao, China, the movie focuses heavily on the ancient world wonder that winds for more than 5,500 miles across the country, with towers and walkways.

Not much is known about the film’s plot, but Zhang Yimou did reveal the following to EW: “The film takes place about 1,000 years ago. At its core, it is a period piece and an action film. The fantasy element does play a major role because of the monsters. But, what makes our film unique is that these are ancient Chinese monsters. Even though it’s a fantasy movie, we filmed it in a very realistic way. We want it to feel like the events actually happened. Other than the monster, all aspects of this film are backed by either scientific or historical research.”

Not only will this be Zhang Yimou’s first English-language film, it will also mark Andy Lau’s first film role in a Hollywood production. On top of that, “The Great Wall” is currently the most expensive film ever shot entirely in China, with a budget of $135 million.

You ready? Watch Matt Damon fight monsters at..well, where else?:

“The Great Wall” also stars Zhang Hanyu, Jing Tian, Lin Gengxin, Ryan Cheng, Chen Xuedong, Huang Xuan, Wang Junkai (Karry Wang), Yu Xintian, Liu Qiong, Emma Wu, and Wang Zhifei.

The film is scheduled to be released on 17th February 2017 in the US, with an unspecified date in December 2016 for China release.

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


Agong & Johor Prince TMJ Remind M’sian Politicians To Stop Politicking

YDPA Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has decided to reject Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s request to declare a state of emergency in Malaysia.

The decision came following his discussion with the other Malay Rulers in considering the current situation beleaguering the country.

“Al-Sultan Abdullah is of the view that the present government has managed to deal with the pandemic effectively. Al-Sultan Abdullah is also of the view that at the moment, there is no need for His Majesty to make an emergency proclamation nationwide or for any part of the country,” read the statement posted on the Royal Palace’s official socials.

Additionally, the Agong reprimanded the members of Parliament (MPs) who are politicking and asked them not to threaten the stability of the government. According to him, politicians should focus on restoring the country’s economy and not sabotage the hard work of the frontliners since the start of the year.

Subsequently, Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Idris also took to his Facebook to address the situation. The Crown Prince of Johor wrote, “The current situation is a clear indication of what would happen when power to rule is left entirely to politicians only. In today’s scenario, the most important thing should be prioritising the people’s welfare and ensuring the economy continues to recover efficiently.”

“May Allah bless the Malay Rulers with wisdom to ensure the country’s stability and protect the country from threats of those who are greedy and power crazy for the purpose of personal interests. This is the importance of the monarchy where the Malay Rulers function positively providing a ‘check & balance’ in national administration. I pray and hope for stability,” he added in his post.

To fellow Malaysians out there, remember that we are all in this together.

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CNY 2013 Movie Alert: Once Upon A Time

This upcoming Chinese New Year, you’ll have something more to munch on than just pineapple tarts and “kuaci”. Enter “Once Upon A Time“, a Malaysian made film that’s a combination of comedy, family values, friendships, and relationships. The film is also supported by a stellar Malaysian cast:

What we mean by that is everything from sound, to editing, to makeup, to costumes, and even right down to the Poh Kong jewelry that’s featured in “Once Upon A Time”.  Not just one piece of jewelry though! Poh Kong was given the privilege to produce a special collection with snake motifs customized to resemble the cast. Each jewelry design has its own distinct characteristics that represent each of the local celebrities featured in the movie.

“Once Upon A Time” will be released in a cinema near you in February 2013 in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations. Alright, bring on the laughs!


Richie Jen Returns To Malaysia To Perform His Greatest Hits

Popular Mandapop singer Richie Jen (任贤齐) is returning to Malaysia this November to showcase some of his greatest hits throughout his 3 decades worth of career.

The 53-year-old singer and actor will be returning to the Arena of Stars at Resorts World Genting on 8th and 9th November 2019 for Richie Jen Live in Genting.

Jen is certainly no stranger in Malaysia, having performed in the country almost every year which shows how much he loves Malaysia and its people, and how much Malaysians love him too!

Having starred in countless movies and produced nearly as many albums, his talents continue to grow regardless of his age.

The singer is expected to perform many of his iconic hits that lead him to where he is today. Some of his famous tunes include “Too Softhearted” (心太軟), “Look Over Here, Girl” (對面的女孩看過來), “Love Like Pacific Ocean” (愛像太平洋), “Flowers Bloom in Spring” (春天花會開), and more.

Tickets to Richie Jen Live in Genting 2019 range from RM154 to RM586 including RM4 processing fee. Tickets can be purchased at TicketCharge Malaysia official website.


Joey Mattress Joins Forces With 7 Other Local Startups For 2nd Birthday Celebration

Congratulations on turning 2, Joey Mattress. In celebration of its birthday today (9th April), the local startup has teamed up with 7 other Malaysian brands in the spirit of coming together to support one another.

The aforementioned Malaysian startups include Ana tomy, Lilin+Co, Goodpair Socks, Salang Design, Perfectly Tea, Kandle Kandle and Bros Malaysia. It’s arguably the largest startup collaboration in Malaysia ever – and we couldn’t be more excited.

“2020 and 2021 so far have been a tough year for most, if not all, Malaysian businesses. It’s already old news and people aren’t posting about supporting small businesses as much anymore. We wanted to do something meaningful that supports both our community of Malaysian entrepreneurs and also increases the sleep quality of our customers,” Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer Joey Tan said.

“When consumers purchase these products, they’re not only supporting Joey Mattress but are also supporting other local Malaysian startups too, which in turn directly supports the Malaysian economy,” Tan added. During the first MCO, #SupotLokal was all the hype when many realised the importance of supporting local businesses and brands. So we’re stoked that Joey Mattress is reigniting this movement once again.

A post shared by Salang Design (@salangdesign)

Learn more about Joey Mattress and the blue box here.


#TerminatorGenisys: Paramount Releases New “Bus On The Bridge” Clip

Spoilers ahead, don’t say we didn’t warn you!

You were probably whining months ago when the “Terminator Genisys” official trailer 2 dropped revealing some major spoilers but a couple of days ago, Paramount Pictures and Skydance Production released a featurette to answer a number of doubts and uncertainty that have left the audiences wandering.

Remember the scene where a bus flipped on a busy bridge? Paramount Pictures and Skydance Production once again released yet another spoiler – a 53 second clip that shows an entire scene of the bus crash on the bridge. Yup, we’re not kidding.

The clip sure is exciting but it’s also a spoiler so watch it at your own risk. Really, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Here’s the new clip of “Bus on the Bridge”:

The new Terminator film, “Terminator Genisys” is the 5th instalment in the “Terminator” series and a reboot all at the same time. The film tells a story of John Connor (played by Jason Clarke), the leader of the human resistance, who sends sargeant Kyle Reese (played by Jai Courtney) back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor (played by Emilia Clarke) and safeguard the future but an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline.

The story continues with sergeant Reese finding himself in a new and unfamiliar version of the past, where he has to deal with unlikely allies, including the Guardian (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) and an extremely dangerous feud on an unexpected new mission: To reset the future…

Known for his work on “Thor: The Dark World”, Alan Taylor is to helm the first in a planned trilogy based on a screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier. The film also stars J.K. Simmons, Dayo Okeniyi, Matthew Smith, Courtney B. Vance and Lee Byung-Hun.

“Terminator Genisys” will hit cinemas near you on 1st July 2015 while the second Terminator film is slated for release on 19th May 2017 and the third and final instalment to conclude the trilogy will be released on 29th June 2018.

For more on “Terminator Genisys”, check out the movie’s Facebook page.

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Hype’s Movie Review: #Wild Is Slightly Draggy But A Powerful Self-Discovery Movie

Sometimes, little things make all the difference because life is but an endless series of little details. If there’s one thing we’ve noticed from watching “Wild“, it’s the level of attention that director Jean-Marc Vallée paid in this movie. Depending on what the directors choose to focus on and how they want to explain the little things in a movie, some directors try to emphasise or focus on a certain aspect while others try to make the central character as mysterious and unpredictable as possible.

As for “Wild”, the director’s attention to detail set the movie apart from the other self-discovery movies. The “Dallas Buyers Club” director helmed the biographical drama film based on Cheryl Strayed’s 2012 memoir “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail”. He teamed up with Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon and Academy Award nominated screenwriter Nicky Hornby to bring the extraordinary adventure of the bestselling author to the silver screen.

Though slightly lacklustre, “Wild” marks a great comeback for Witherspoon, especially after the “Legally Blonde” actress suffered a career slump. She portrayed Cheryl Strayed, a woman who lost her sense of self after the death of her mother Bobbi (played by Academy Award nominee Laura Dern) Haunted by memories of her late mother, she ruined her marriage as she becomes addicted to heroin and sex. This went on for years until she finally realised that her reckless behaviour is destroying her.

Everyone deals with their personal struggles in many different ways, but not everyone can afford to look for solace by travelling around the world like Elizabeth Gilbert of “Eat, Pray, Love“. Strayed made a rather impromptu decision as she decided to hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) without any hiking experience. The movie chronicled her journey along the trail, including some friendly encounters with the other hikers, a casual hook up with a man in a small town, and some creepy encounters with a snake and the hunters. It is a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her as she revealed her terrors and pleasures.

Most of Strayed’s chance encounters with the strangers were included in the film, but her older sister and stepfather were purposely left out for dramatic purposes. Though the pacing of the movie is slow, it allowed the director to include the strangers who motivated her to finish the trail, including an obnoxious journalist who addressed her as a female hobo and the creepy hunters whom she met in the wood. In the novel, it was noted that Greg the hiker was the one who inspired her to keep going, but he received very little screen time. Perhaps it was only fair for the director to do so because there were so many interesting stories to be told about Strayed a.k.a “The Queen of PCT”.

“Wild” is also a visual stunner because cinematographer Yves Bélanger created a beautiful colour palette to match the views along California and Oregon trail. If it wasn’t for Strayed’s journey, we wouldn’t be able to marvel at the breathtakingly beautiful scenery. Taking cues from the book, the setting further helped to influence other elements of the movie as the director was able to develop the protagonist’s flashback into her emotional past.

The story went back and forth in time so that we can learn more about the key moments of Strayed’s life. For example, there was a scene that explained the meaning of her arm tattoo while another scene explained why she insisted on bringing her series of Flannery O’Connor short stories during her journey. Witherspoon stepped into the movie completely make-up free, which illustrates how Strayed actually looked like during her journey. Did I feel emotionally attached to the character? No, not really. However, there’s no denying that Witherspoon has created yet another award-winning role for herself, alongside Laura Dern. She is calm and collective, but when the film reached a climax, she brought Strayed’s personalities to life.

Witherspoon talked to herself very often in the movie, depicting Strayed’s real struggles as she undertook the Herculean journey. “Wild” elicited a certain kind of emotion from the audience, particularly from those who can feel Strayed’s struggles. The plot is inventive and unpredictable, but other than her encounters with the strangers, I felt that it was slightly draggy and boring. There were some plot holes that I felt the scriptwriter decided to ignore, so perhaps it will require the audience to watch it for the second time or ignore it as well. The movie was a little choppy, not only because the explicit sex scenes were removed by Malaysia’s film board, but also because there were too many flashback scenes. Of course, I’m just nitpicking.

Although “Wild” is set to be a must-see movie for everyone, I don’t think everyone is going to appreciate this movie as much as other movie connoisseurs. If I were to recite a quote from the “Birdman” movie, it has to be this:

People, they love blood. They love action. Not this talky, depressing, philosophical bullshit.

I’d still highly recommend people to watch it because this could be one of those movies that teaches people how to let go of their past. Even though I don’t feel emotionally attached to the character, her journey is definitely eye-opening experience for all.

Written by Hornby, “Wild” is produced by Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea, and Bill Pohlad. Witherspoon also stars in the movie alongside Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski, Michiel Huisman, and Gaby Hoffmann.

“Wild” is slated for release on 12th March 2015 at selected GSC outlets including GSC Mid Valley, GSC Pavilion KL, GSC 1 Utama, and GSC Gurney Plaza.

For more information, visit 20th Century Fox’s official Facebook page or the movie’s website.


(Photos) W Kuala Lumpur Teams Up With Gallery Des Artistes For “Art In Hotel” Collection

Calling all local art enthusiasts, we come bearing delightful news for you! If visiting art galleries is your thing, then be prepared to elevate your art-viewing experience to the next level.

W Kuala Lumpur has collaborated with Gallery des Artiste to present a curated selection of interactive artwork crafted by a team of talented artists collectively known as Gung HO. The project is aptly referred to as “Art In Hotel”. Hotel guests will get the opportunity to explore and immerse themselves in the vibrant and colourful art pop world of Gung HO and co.

Read on to get to know more about the “Art In Hotel” collections here:

Gung HO’s Pop Orient is a new vibe in Pop Art with a Chinese twist. Sexy and modern, the collection consists of unique, sophisticated pieces of art and design. Additionally, French artist Hersk paid tribute to Malaysia’s iconic Twin Towers with a Pop wedding cake design and green foliage, which is also displayed at the ground floor of the hotel.

Gung HO’s Crazy Asians collection was created amid the lockdown period during the Covid-19 pandemic. The strong and vivid art pieces bring W KL’s WOOBAR to life with its vigorous pop art graphic. Needless to say, we were absolutely blown away by the eye-popping imagery displayed in these stunning pieces of art!

Buzz Light Words is a collection by Shy Guy, an American artist based in Asia, in collaboration with Gung HO. The collection features pieces of typographic art and neon art that conveys strong and powerful messages about our world today. Our personal favourite would definitely be the “Girls Just Wanna Have Funds” artwork.

For those who are curious, this is how the fantasitc collab between W Kuala Lumpur and Gallery des Artistes officially kicked off. Gung HO’s Pop Orient Chinese Collection includes paintings and other art pieces, including the Lazy Susan turntable, glass art, as well as an antique porter chair covered in art.

Our beautiful green city of Kuala Lumpur is honoured with a collection of two murals themed “Jungle In The City” that were made in France. It didn’t just stop there! The highlight of the show is also the artists’ newest art collection, “Empress Chill”. Gung HO prefers to connect with local culture through their art experiences – and it’s deliberately executed through their mind-blowing art pieces.

For more information on the “Art In Hotel” collection, do visit W KL’s official Instagram page and Gallery Des Artistes’ official website.

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#MicheleFerrero: Nutella Maker & Ferrero Rocher Creator Passes Away

The mind behind some of Ferrero’s most successful confectionery products, a man named Michele Ferrero, passed away on Saturday (14th Feb) after a long illness. He was 89 years old.

This was the very same man who brought us the Nutella spread 1964, which has become such a staple thousands of households around the world, so much so that it is to many European children what peanut butter is to America. His next product, the mints in little plastic boxes called Tic Tacs, came in 1969, and that also was a global success.

Other products that were made popular by Michele Ferrero include the Kinder Sorpresa chocolate eggs (1974) and of course, the namesake Ferrero Rocher chocolates (1982).

It’s no wonder why Michele Ferrero is the richest man in Italy. The Ferrero SpA company is today valued at about $30 billion, according to some analysts’ recent estimates, and his family has a net worth of $26.5 billion, according to Forbes’ list of richest people.

Here’s a brief history of the chocolate giant, as reported by Wall Street Journal:

Born in 1925, Mr. Ferrero inherited the family business from his father, Pietro Ferrero, who after World War II, had experimented with new ingredients for sweets that could substitute for chocolate because cocoa was in short supply. He settled on pasta gianduja: a butter-like paste that combined hazelnuts with cocoa butter and vegetable oil. The recipe, which formed the basis of what later became known as Nutella, was kept a family secret.

It was Michele Ferrero’s vision to expand internationally. In the 1950s, he opened production plants and offices in Europe. He expanded to the rest of the world starting from the 1970s. All the while the company shunned acquisitions, and instead broke into foreign markets by introducing new products catered to local tastes.

Ferrero is the world’s fourth-biggest chocolate confectionery company, with 8% of the global chocolate market, compared with No. 3 Nestlé, which has 12%, according to consumer research group Euromonitor’s data dated 2013.

Despite the global ambitions, Michele Ferrero was known as a family man, intensely private and distant from the country’s business world. He rarely spoke to media during his life and was regularly absent from the business community’s gatherings. Moreover, the family has always insisted Ferrero SpA was to be kept in family hands and never accepted any deals.

Michele Ferrero led the company from 1949 until the 1990s, when he handed over the role of chief executives to his two sons, Giovanni and Pietro.

In 2009, facing pressure to expand, Pietro Ferrero challenged his father’s deal-averse approach by pushing the company to bid for U.K. candy maker Cadbury PLC, according to people familiar with the matter. The younger Mr. Ferrero was ultimately unable to overcome his family’s skepticism about a potential deal. Ferrero dropped out of the bidding, and Cadbury ended up in the hands of Kraft Foods Inc.

Giovanni Ferrero became sole chief executive in 2011 after brother Pietro died of cardiac arrest while cycling. In a 2013 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Giovanni Ferrero said he plans to continue to increase sales by strengthening the business in markets such as the U.S. and Asia.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella called him a “born entrepreneur”.

Michele Ferrero died in Monte Carlo, where he lived. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday morning in Alba, a small town in the north of Italy where Ferrero’s main plant is based.


The Rap Of China: Kris Wu Talks About His New Single, Dawn

Kris Wu (吴亦凡) will be dropping a brand new song tomorrow morning (Wednesday, 7th August).

The 28-year-old singer-actor will be debuting the track “Dawn” (破晓), specially for “The Rap of China” (中國新說唱). For the uninitiated, “The Rap of China” is Chinese rap competition show produced by iQiyi.

Besides Kris (aka Wu Yi Fan), Taiwanese-American singer Will Pan, Hong Kong singer G.E.M., together with Taiwanese rapper MC HotDog and Taiwanese rock musician Chang Chen-yue are onboard as judges. Each team has 5 hopeful rappers in the Top 20.

“Hi everyone I’m Kris Wu, my new single ‘Dawn’ is coming soon! This song is more melodic & hip hop. I specially chose it to be shared with everyone on Qixi (Chinese Valentine’s Day). I hope that it’ll be a special & sweet present to you guys & y’all will like it,” the former EXO member was quoted as saying.

This kind of earphone is my favourite style cause firstly the production of music requires earphones, and everyone needs earphones to listen to music in daily life. @KrisWu #Kriswu #WuYiFan pic.twitter.com/Tt92XeCwBd

— 风火抡KrisWuFanBase (@FenghuolunKWFB) August 5, 2019

In this week’s news, the brand ambassador for Beats by Dre also debuted the new customised Studio3 Wireless headphones.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


House Owner Gets Compared To Real-Life “Up” For Refusing To Sell His Land

Did you guys watch the animated Disney movie “Up”? If the answer is yes, you might be familiar with the part where Carl’s house was being surrounded by high-rise buildings.

Since the house was filled with nostalgia for his wife, Carl did not intend to let go of the house even though the developer offered a great deal of compensation money. Well, the same occurrence also happened to this Singaporean house owner.

As reported by 99.co, the owner, only known by his surname Goh, refused to sell his terrace house land located in Geylang, despite being offered a high compensation value by the condominium developer, Macly Group. “My late mother bought this house. We will continue to take care of this house until the end of our lives,” the 60-year-old trade hawker told Shin Min Daily News.

Additionally, Mr. Goh also dished that this was not the first time he was approached by the developers. “Previously, I had two houses and one of them was located in Lorong 20, Geylang. It was sold to the developer of La Brisa condominium ten years ago,” he was quoted as saying.

He added, “This time I will not sell this heritage house because it belongs to me and my elder sister. After all, it is very difficult to find a terrace house in Singapore nowadays. For me, this house is something valuable that cannot be sold, despite the high value of compensation offered.”

Meanwhile, another owner of a Buddhist house in the area also refused to sell the land to the developer. The woman has been assigned as the caretaker of the house and she explained that the house is only open to family members as well as close acquaintances. However, she didn’t reveal specifically on why she didn’t want to sell the house to Macly Groups.

It is expected that the NoMa condominium construction process will be fully completed by the year 2023. A total of 50 units, consisting of one living room and two bedrooms will be built. If Macly Group is successful in persuading the two terrace house owners, an additional 20 more units of condos will be built there.

It was also reported that the Buddhist house is located in the NoMa condominium area, while Mr. Goh’s house is located next to the condominium and is stuck with another building next to it. Although their area is increasingly crowded with rapid development, they insisted on not leaving the place.

“I will continue to live here while taking care of the flower garden that I have been planting for a long time. Every morning, I will wake up early and chill in the courtyard while looking at the urban areas. The sound of my pet birds’ chirping can also enhance my sense of calmness in the early morning,” Goh explained his daily routine.

What will you do if you were in the house owners’ shoes?


Hype’s Now Playing: Yong Junhyung (Highlight) – Wonder If (그대로일까)

It’s been some time since we’ve heard solo releases from Yong Junhyung, but the wait is finally over.

The rapper dropped his solo track “Wonder If” at 6pm KST (5pm Malaysian time) today (Tuesday, 2nd May), which marks his first solo release in a year.

“Wonder If” is part of his solo digital album, which contains another track, “Too Much Love Kills Me”.

The title track, which features rapper Heize, was also co-produced by her. Of course, Junhyung’s track won’t feel complete without the touch of Kim Tae Joo, who forms the production team Good Life with the Highlight rapper. The duo have also worked together on Junhyung’s previous solos and many of Highlight’s songs.

The music video is edgier and more mature from Highlight’s works. Junhyung is also shown singing against the background of a bar and a rundown building. The rapper is confused about his feelings for 2 girls, and Heize also makes an appearance as one of Junhyung’s lovers.

In speaking about his title track with CQ Korea, Junhyung said, “I created this song relying 100% on my own personal experiences and memories. Since it’s about myself, I came up with the song rather quickly. If I write out the lyrics, the melody would just come to mind allowing things to flow smoothly. I wrote a sad song thinking many people would get emotional and cry while listening to it.”

He also revealed that he sent the song to close friends Yang Se Hyung and Park Shin Hye, both of which said that “Wonder If” will be the perfect song to listen to when having drinks.

For more info, visit Around US Entertainment’s official website and Instagram.

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#GE13: Malaysians Penalized For Staging Protest In Singapore

On 11th May 2013 (Saturday), 21 Malaysians were arrested for staging a protest over the 13th Malaysian general election results at the Merlion Park in Singapore despite being warned by the Singapore police not to do so. The arrests came after nine Malaysians had been warned for protesting in a similar illegal gathering last Wednesday (8th May 2013), also held at the Merlion Park.

After being held for investigations, the Singapore government have confirmed that they will revoke the work pass of one Malaysian arrested for participating in illegal protests while the visit passes of two other Malaysians have been cancelled.

Another 18 Malaysians will have their work passes reviewed after investigations are completed.

The Singapore police have since issued a strong statement which said that foreigners have to abide by Singapore’s laws. “They should not import their domestic issues from their countries into Singapore and conduct activities which can disturb public order. Those who break the law will be seriously dealt with”, a police spokesman said in the statement.


#FortyThieves: Evan Peters, Liam Hemsworth, & Dan Stevens Sought To Play Lead Role

Open sesame! Yup, 20th Century Fox just said the magical phrase as the studio is set to develop a new take on the classic folk tale, “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”!

Having been included in many versions of the “One Thousand and One Nights”, the folk tale tells a story of Ali Baba, a poor woodcutter who discovered the key to enter a thieves’ secret cave. The story has been widely retold in many forms, which includes the upcoming adaptation by 20th Century Fox.

According to The Wrap, “Night at the Museum” director Shawn Levy is set to direct the film that has been retitled as “Forty Thieves”. Levy is also known for his work in other films such as “Real Steel”, “Date Night”, and “The Internship”. He was recently in charge of directing “This Is Where I Leave You” and “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.”

The Wrap also learned that the film will be an “adventure movie with strong comedic undertones” as it is described as being similar to “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Guardians of the Galaxy“. The film is expected to produce via Levy’s production company, 21 Laps but there’s no official announcement about the scriptwriter and the production date yet.

As for the cast, several actors are in the running to play the male lead named Allen. The shortlisted candidates include “The Hunger Games” actor Liam Hemsworth, “Downton Abbey” alum Dan Stevens, and “X-Men: Days of Future Past” star Evan Peters. Allen is said to be a possible stand-in for Ali Baba.

While everything still kept under wraps, which shortlisted actors do you think will play Allen? What do you think of the new take on the classic folk tale? Sound off in the comments box below!


Coca Cola Partners With Marvel Studios For 7 Avengers: Endgame Cans

Now this is a Coca Cola collection that many fans will want to get their hands on.

The soft drinks company has join forces with Marvel Studios in anticipation of the upcoming “Avengers: Endgame”. The result? 7 super cool Avengers cans.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

The limited edition Coca Cola set features the original members from the Avengers team including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye. They also included one new major superhero and she’s none other than Captain Marvel.

In the picture above, Black Widow is sporting her red hair again, indicating of a time jump of sorts as we’ve already seen her in short blonde hair from the footage of “Avengers: Endgame” so far.

Word on the street that these “Avengers: Endgame” Coca Cola cans will be available from late April till May. However, we’re not too sure if it’ll be sold in Malaysia or in Asia yet. Fingers crossed Coca Cola Malaysia will be able to work something out.

This partnership is not something new though. Coca Cola and Marvel have already collaborated in the past.

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MYEG Introduces Rapid Test Kit For Covid-19 That Can Produce Results In 30 Mins

My E.G. Services Sdn. Bhd. recently introduced a rapid testing kit for the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia and Philippines. The innovation offers improved testing convenience, efficacy and comfort over existing methods, as stated in the press release.

According to MYEG, they are currently waiting for approval from local authorities for the use of the kit and will start accepting pre-orders through its official websites myeg.com.my and myeg.ph for Malaysia and Philippines respectively.

The kit is priced at RM99 each, while a packet that consists of 10 kits is available for RM990. Developed by a leading diagnostics company and approved by the health authorities in China, the Covid-19 testing kit enables qualitative detection from blood samples taken from finger-pricking.

The samples are then applied to the test strips and can detect Covid-19 IgM and IgG antibodies which are produced within 3-7 days of infection. Not only that, it is said that the kits can accurately and rapidly detect the virus without taking the sample from the nose or throat – in 30 minutes to be exact. So, there’s no need for the samples to be sent to external diagnostic laboratories.

The testing kit is highly-recommended for the screening of suspected cases and high risk groups, particularly among tourists as well as others who have just returned from overseas.

In addition, for the convenience of the several organisations wishing to conduct Covid-19 testings for their staffs, MYEG is now collaborating with healthcare companies in an effort to offer on-site testing conducted by trained healthcare professionals.

The introduction of the test kit is said to be the latest innovation launched by MYEG aimed to provide the government-required solution to overcome the Covid-19 outbreak which has recently been declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Say what? To our surprise, it’s revealed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) that the reports regarding MYEG’s Covid-19 rapid test kit is actually fake!

In a statement posted by the ministry on its official Facebook page, they further urged everyone to not share or spread such news. As at time of writing, the post regarding the test kit is still available on MYEG’s website.

In response, MYEG released a counter-statement in order to clear the air. In this case, they emphasised once again that the kit is still waiting for approval from the authorities, including MOH itself.

For now, rest assured that MYEG is still taking pre-orders of the kit through its official portal. In case you’re interested, read their full statement here:


Hype’s Now Playing: Florence + The Machine – Ship To Wreck

Florence and the Machine made their presence felt even before they officially released their upcoming album on 2nd June. Titled “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful”, the album will consist of 11 tracks, including “What Kind of Man” and “Ship to Wreck”.

On 13th April, the English indie rock band debuted a new music video for “Ship to Wreck”.

Directed by Vincent Haycock and choreographed by Ryan Heffington, the video was filmed in lead vocalist Florence Welch’s own home. In the video, Welch finds herself being stuck in a doomed relationship as she can be seen scurrying from room to room while her alter-ego wreaks havoc on her relationship with her boyfriend.

When asked to describe the song, Welch said:

I was thinking about my own self-destructive side, and how you can make something only to tear it down. When you’re in that whirlwind, you often end up breaking the thing you love the most.

“Ship to Track” is the 4th single off their upcoming album.

Haycock previously helmed the band’s music video for “What Kind of Man” while Heffington, who’s best known for his work on Sia’s “Chandelier” clip, also handled the choreography for “Ship to Wreck”.

Watch the well-choreographed video for “Ship to Wreck” below:

For more information on the band’s new album, visit their official website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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“Identity Thief”: As Hilarious As You Would Expect

In “Identity Thief”, Diana (played by Melissa McCarthy) tricks the real Sandy Patterson (played by Jason Bateman) into giving her his credit card details. See, Diana is a sociopath.

She’s a sociopath who eats too much, drinks too much, lies too much, and steals too much. But she is also extremely lonely, which kinda explains her stealing and spending streak. She’s the type that would take the term, “retail therapy” to another level. Come on, who needs a jet ski in their front yard and three blenders on their kitchen counter, amongst other things?

Yup. She’s the type you’d love to hate, you get the idea.

Now, then comes poor Sandy who’s already struggling to make ends meet only to find out that he’s raking up a credit card bill in the thousands when he only uses it for gas and coffee. Not only is he getting into trouble at work because of his so-called “reputation”, he also finds himself in hot soup with the law. Except, we know it’s not really him.

So, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

Sandy flies out to track the thief down so that she can clear his name. In his head, it sounds like an excellent plan, of course. Oh, and he does find her, alright. But when he comes face to face with her, he discovers that she’s more than a handful – more than two handfuls, even. Together, the unlikely duo face some challenges when it comes to dealing with each other and even bigger challenges with some assassins after landing in their crosshair.

We’d like to add here that in their short (but hilarious) time spent together, Sandy discovers a little bit more about his identity thief’s past and tries to, get this, help her. Make her “grow” a conscience, if you will. What was her reason for having turned out to be a manipulative and greedy seemingly scum of the world?

Find out when you catch “Identity Thief” in a cinema near you! Go on and go get some of that mindless laughs.

[youtube id=”mgyAEiJB-Tk” width=”600″ height=”350″]

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


“Gunther’s Millions” Review: Criminal Conspiracy, Sex Social Experiments And The World’s Richest Dog

Who doesn’t love a good doggo? They’re man’s licky, jumpy, tail-chasing best friend! We all know at least one dog owner who tends to be a tad too affectionate of their canine buddy. This story though takes the idea of fur-baby to the next level! Imagine, if you will, a long and storied family tree of a German noble house. It’s survived through centuries and the culmination of that bloodline is… a German Shepherd.

No shade on the dog, it’s a good-looking one for sure and it’s probably very loyal to the family too. Still, we don’t think he should necessarily be deemed worthy to carry on the family name along with an inheritance of $400 million. We know what some of you are thinking: Why was I born a human? This odd tale of a wealthy German countess bequeathing an obscene amount of money to her pet dog is a lot less endearing than you think.

Beneath the paper-thin smiles of the dog’s many, many caretakers and stakeholders, there is a convoluted web of lies, scandals and schemes – or so the marketing would have us believe. Does “Gunther’s Millions” makes good on its promise of intrigue? Or is its bark worse than its bite?

If you’re as big of an animal lover as we are, then we think “Gunther’s Millions” will be a treat for you. A lot of it is basically luxury porn for the cuddly Gunther IV, who is actually the grandson of the countess’ original pet dog, Gunther III. That’s right, the inheritance has been passed from Gunther’s great-grandfather!  Before the German Countess Karlotta Liebenstein passed, she had placed a considerable amount of money for Gunther III, seeing that she had no living heir to bestow her vast fortune to. Her son had unfortunately died. Since then, the countess grew close to Gunther III, treating the dog like she would her flesh and blood.

Now, it’s clear that the dog can’t exactly act upon the wealth given to him. Therefore, she asked her a close friend of her deceased son, an Italian entrepreneur named Maurizio Mian to watch over her canine companion and his family. Mian spared no expense in showing Gunther the high life. Throughout the documentary, you can see Gunther travelling between elegant Italian villas and towering mansions, with one being formerly owned by Madonna herself! He flies by private jet, owns gorgeous yachts, eats the finest food cooked by a team of private chefs and is constantly seen to be the centre of attention of beautiful models.

Honestly, if the docuseries was just centred on Gunther living the high life, we’d be more than happy to binge-watch through the whole season. It certainly helps that the lovable German Shepherd is surrounded by a cavalcade of quirky characters who all claim to have the dog’s best interest at heart. If you came here for the novelty of living vicariously through the eyes of an animal then no doubt you will be satisfied. That being said, as the docuseries continues on, it moves towards a less wholesome angle and into the realm of downright weirdness!

For starters, the means by which the countess acquired and kept her vast fortunes were certainly morally dubious, to say the least. It turns out that a lot of the countess’ money wasn’t even hers! Then we have Mian who has gone way beyond the simple task of taking care of the dog and has created his very own multi-media production empire under The Gunther Corporation. So as you dive deeper into the story of Gunther, the docuseries begins to raise questions with regard to Mian’s character. Is he just an eccentric parasite who basically used his friend’s mother’s dog as an excuse to live out his fantasies? Was there ever a time he genuinely love the dog? By the end of the series, you may find yourself feeling conflicted but still nonetheless entertained.

One thing that director Aurelien Leturgie is unambiguous about is the insane social experiment that took place in Gunther’s house. Five people, known as the Magnificent Five, also as the Burgundians, were given the opportunity to live in a mansion with Gunther but they had to adhere to the 13 Commandments as part of the Gunther Project. Participants of this social experiment were told that they had to experiment with drugs, frequently have sex with each other and better themselves physically and mentally. This was all done in the name of science according to Mian.

Michelle Mainoni, a former Burgundian, is our window into the strange dealings that happened in the house. She describes people in lab coats following them and taking notes in this insane pseudo-scientific social experiment in which no one really knows what the aim was. She also recounts how orgies in the house became a frequent occurrence. While the Gunther Project was touted to be done in the name of science, it felt more like a religious hedonistic cult.

Things get really interesting in the final episode of the docuseries when we learn about the aftermath of Gunther IV’s passing. Mian and his cohorts had to find a way to keep the money flowing so they set up a dog-breeding company called Forteriva. Here’s where things take a dark turn for the pets. We hear from animal rescue volunteers like Ginverva Dini about how Gunther’s children were left neglected and essentially abused. That being said, the docuseries does end on a happy note with Gunther’s descendants now living free and happy lives away from the prying eyes of the public.

While director Aurelien Leturgie’s “Gunther’s Millions” isn’t a life-changing watch, it’s definitely a fun way to kill a few hours on a weekend. Framed within a clear and well-paced narrative, there is no shortage of strange and fascinating detail throughout this docuseries. If you’re looking to take a break away from Netflix’s many, many serial-killer-based, true crime documentaries then this may just be the thing you’re looking for.

You can now catch “Gunther’s Millions” on Netflix today!

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.

While Director Aurelien Leturgie's "Gunther's Millions" isn't a life-changing watch, it's definitely a fun way to kill a few hours on a weekend. Framed within a clear and well-paced narrative, there is no shortage of strange and fascinating detail throughout this docuseries. If you're looking to take a break away from Netflix's many, many serial-killer-based, true crime documentaries then this may just be the thing you're looking for.


Hype’s Must Watch: The Beauty Inside (뷰티 인사이드)

Sometimes, we indulge in cute South Korean romance flicks and today, we’ve decided that everyone should keep a look out for “The Beauty Inside” (뷰티 인사이드).

“The Beauty Inside” is an upcoming South Korean high-concept romantic comedy film based on the 2012 American social film of the same name, about a man who wakes up everyday in a different body.

Woo-jin wakes up in a different body everyday, regardless of age, gender and nationality. Sometimes he’s a man, a woman, old, young, or even a foreigner. He’s the same person on the inside, but on the outside he’s always someone new. Looking at a different face in the mirror every morning is hard for him to get used to. The only constant in his life is the girl he loves, Yi-soo, who knows his secret and loves him anyway. Each time he transforms, Woo-jin must figure out how to return to his own body and reunite with Yi-soo.

The trailer was released recently and, well, by nature of the story, the makers of the film had cast a lot of people to play Woo-jin. Hence, the trailer featured some faces that are only all too familiar to Korean film and television fans such as Park Shin Hye, Lee Bum Soo, Park Seo Joon, Lee Hyun Woo, Lee Jin Wook, Seo Kang Joon, Go Ah Sung, and Yoo Yeon Seok.

We’ll leave you now with the official “The Beauty Inside” trailer.

The film is slated for release in South Korea on 20th July.


JSimp & Eric Welcomes Baby Girl Maxwell

Maybe it was because we’ve heard so much hype (no pun intended) about it over the months or maybe she really did have the longest pregnancy in the whole of Hollywood history – but news today reported that pop diva Jessica Simpson is finally “no longer pregnant”. JSimp and fiancé Eric Johnson welcomed their baby daughter yesterday at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

She was given a boy’s name. And a luxurious birth, might we add.

Baby Maxwell was born in a USD4, 000-a-day birthing suite which includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, flat screen TVs. We’re not sure why JSimp will need so many beds. The extravagant “booking” also comes with a post-birthing manicure and pedicure for JSimp.

Well, your nails need look good even if you’re exhausted from the entire birthing process, right?

In an official statement, JSimp said, “Eric and I are elated to announce the birth of our baby girl, . We are grateful for all the love, support, and prayers we have received. This has been the greatest experience of our lives”.

Her family, including her sister Ashlee Simpson, mom Tina and dad Joe, along with Eric’s parents, arrived at the hospital in the morning right before JSimp went into delivery. A source close to the family said that Jessica is also ready to be a wife and that the couple’s wedding will be this year.

We can’t wait for the epic wedding after the uh, epic pregnancy!


Asics Closes The Year With All-New Gel-Quantum Infinity Sneakers

Calling all shoe enthusiasts, Asics’ latest launch is taking things up a notch with the all-new Gel-Quantum Infinity shoe.

It’s commonly known that the footwear from Asics often has Gel cushioning, but this is the first time where it is implemented at full length. That’s right peeps, the gel now runs across from heel to toe, making up both the midsole and the outer sole.

Here are some key fun facts about the Asics Gel-Quantum Infinity:

Priced at RM859 (inclusive of 10% SST), Asics Gel-Quantum Infinity is available in 4 colours – black/shocking orange for men and black/icy morning for women.

You can find it at Asics retail stores nationwide including KLCC, Mid Valley Megamall, 1 Utama, Sunway Pyramid, Aeon Shah Alam, Penang’s Gurney Mall, and Queensbay Mall.

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First Look At Kristen Wiig As Cheetah In Wonder Woman 1984

DC fans, here’s your first look at Kristen Wiig as Barbara Minerva aka Cheetah in “Wonder Woman 1984”.

Director Patty Jenkins tweeted the exclusive photo, with the caption, “Enter Barbara Minerva… #WW84“. Wiig will be portraying Diana’s arch nemesis and the super villain in the “Wonder Woman” sequel.

In the comics, Minerva is is a British archaeologist, who becomes obsessed with gaining treasures and valuable artefacts. She also possesses the ability to transform into a human/cheetah hybrid. Her superpowers include superhuman strength and agility.

Looking at the image, the female villain is dressed in pretty 1980s style, surrounded by animal exhibits, in what appears to be a natural history museum. Photographer Clay Enos, who took the photo Jenkins shared, confirmed that it was taken at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

The last time we saw a superhero character in a museum, it was Michael B. Jordan’s character Erik Killmonger in “Black Panther” murdering a bunch of security guards and stealing headpieces. We wonder what is Cheetah up to here?

As previously announced, Cheetah will start out as Wonder Woman’s friend before turning into a foe.

“Wonder Woman 1984” is scheduled to be released on 1st November 2019.


The Chemical Brothers: New Album Details & First Track Revealed

British electronic music duo composed of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons better known together as The Chemical Brothers are back with a new album called “Born in The Echoes”. The 11-track album which is slated for a release this year will include collaborations from the likes of Q-Tip, Ali Love, St. Vincent, Cate Le Bon and Beck.

Giving fans a taste of things to come, the electronic duo have shared a new track, “Sometimes I Feel So Deserted” which will be available as an instant download from April 24th with pre-orders of the album via digital retailers.

“Born In The Echoes” will be their first album after a five year hiatus. At last year’s Ivor Novello Awards, the duo were honoured with the “Outstanding Song Collection” award, in recognition of more than 20 years of “innovative and popular songwriting.”

Born In The Echoes is due July 17th through EMI and is available for pre-order here. The tracklist is below.

1. “Sometimes I Feel So Deserted”
2. “Go” (featuring Q-Tip)
3. “Under Neon Lights” (featuring St. Vincent)
4. “EML Ritual”  (featuring Ali Love)
5. “I’ll See You There”
6. “Just Bang”
7. “Reflexion”
8. “Taste of Honey”
9. “Born In The Echoes” (featuring Cate Le Bon)
10. “Radiate”
11. “Wide Open” (featuring Beck)

Here’s “Sometimes I Feel So Deserted” by The Chemical Brothers:

For more on The Chemical Brothers, hit up their social media platforms: Website, Facebook, and Twitter.


21 Studio Ghibli Movies Are Coming To Netflix Starting Next Month

Great news anime lovers! Netflix has just announced that they will be rolling out a bunch of Studio Ghibli movies soon.

The giant streaming platform has acquired the rights to 21 movies produced by the legendary Japanese animation studio, including the Oscar-winning “Spirited Away”.

Producer Toshio Suzuki at Studio Ghibli said in a statement, “In this day and age, there are various great ways a film can reach audiences. We’ve listened to our fans and have made the definitive decision to stream our film catalogue. We hope people around the world will discover the world of Studio Ghibli through this experience.”

This marks the first time where these animated films will be available in for streaming in Asia, Europe and Latin America (the streaming rights in North America and Japan are picked up by HBO Max). This expansive catalogue will be subtitled in 28 languages, and dubbed in up to 20 languages.

Plus, Netflix will be rolling them out in batches over 3 months.

“Castle in the Sky” (1986)
“My Neighbour Totoro” (1988)
“Kiki’s Delivery Service” (1989)
“Only Yesterday” (1991)
“Porco Rosso” (1992)
“Ocean Waves” (1993)
“Tales from Earthsea” (2006)

“Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” (1984),
“Princess Mononoke” (1997)
“My Neighbours the Yamadas” (1999)
“Spirited Away” (2001)
“The Cat Returns” (2002)
“Arrietty” (2010)
“The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” (2013)

“Pom Poko” (1994)
“Whisper of the Heart” (1995)
“Howl’s Moving Castle” (2004)
“Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” (2008)
“From Up on Poppy Hill” (2011)
“The Wind Rises” (2013)
“When Marnie was There” (2014)

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#Moonshot: 2NE1’s Sandara Park Stuns At The Moonshot Cushion Launch In KL

On 21st April (Thursday), 2NE1 member Sandara Park aka Dara made her way to Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur for the launch of Moonshot’s Microfit and Moonflash Cushion.

Dara is the ambassador for the Moonflash Cushion (also known as the #Dara_Cushion), alongside BIGBANG leader and label mate G-Dragon, who is the face of the Microfit Cushion (#GD_Cushion).

The event was slated to start at 7pm, but in true loyal Blackjacks fashion, thousands of fans swarmed and surrounded South Court hours before it began. We hear that some were there from as early as morning (read: as soon as Mid Valley Megamall opened for business) even!

As soon as Dara arrived, ear-piercing screams filled the air. Many 2NE1-lightstick-toting fans chanted her name while other Blackjacks waved the fan signs that they had prepared for their idol. Dara smiled and waved gracefully at her fans, stopping momentarily to gawk at the fans that have gathered at the upper floors.

She then greeted everyone with a cheerful, “Apa Khabar?” (How are you?), which sent Blackjacks into another frenzy of screams, before the press conference officially kicked off.

Moonshot is total Korean cosmetic brand by YG Entertainment, focusing on makeup products. The brand has more than 200 products including skin care line base makeup line, and especially a number of unique color makeup products.

As YG Entertainment is also home to 2NE1, during the press conference, Dara was asked how she felt about being the ambassador of Moonshot. To which Dara replied, “It feels great because it’s under YG Entertainment. It’s like working with family. YG Family.”

K-Pop idols like Dara are usually busy with their back-to-back schedules and constant travelling for fanmeetings, concerts, etc. With that in mind, Dara was asked how she would get ready if she had only 10 minutes to spare. In response to this, Dara candidly shared that she definitely can’t leave home without foundation and lip gloss.

She also made it a point to mention that she’s a fan of the multiuse Moonshot cream paint, which works as a creamy lip gloss but also doubles as a cheek tint/blusher. A product that she highly recommends!

And with that, the Q&A session wrapped. After the press conference, Dara stayed on to give lucky Sephora Black Card members autographed gifts and patiently posed for Blackjacks as they snapped and videoed the occasion.

Moonshot was launched in Seoul, South Korea back in October 2014. The brand name took its inspiration from the American spaceship Apollo No. 11 that landed on the Moon on 20th July 1969 and is set to break away from the stereotype of cosmetics brands.

The Microfit Cushion is said to brighten one’s skin tone with its anti-darkening formula whereas the Moonflash Cushion helps boost the look of dull skin with its strobing effect and invisible pearls.

Moonshot’s Microfit Cushion (#GD_Cushion) and Moonflash Cushion (#Dara_Cushion) is priced at RM110 a pop, with refills going for RM72 each exclusively at Sephora Malaysia and Sephora Singapore.

For more information, visit Sephora Malaysia’s website or Moonshot’s website.


Netizens Praise Raja Permaisuri Agong For Her Outstanding Driving Skill

Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah has caught everyone’s attention in one of her tweets online.

Recently, Tunku Azizah uploaded a photo of her driving license, along with the caption, “Oh dear …. my license died!”.

The tweet was then quoted by a Twitter user known as Pedoq (username @pedoqpop), pointing out his disbelief towards the Royal Queen. “Can’t believe our Queen knows how to ride lorries and super bikes,” Pedoq wrote.

Based on the picture above, it can be seen that Raja Permaisuri Agong has a license for B,D and E class. For those who don’t know, B class refers to driving license for motorcycles exceeding 500 cc (B full), while E class is a license for heavy vehicles more than 7500 kg (lorries and trucks).

Local netizens were left amused upon seeing the tweet. In this case, most of them are surprised knowing that Tunku Azizah is skillful in riding heavy machineries as well as super bikes.

Not only that, some also uttered words of praise towards Tunku Azizah. According to them, our Royal Queen is indeed a role model for fellow Malaysians, especially for the female community. Check out some of their comments here:

— Nag 🥀 (@SICHANTEQMANIS) November 24, 2019

Apparently, everyone’s amusement didn’t last long as both Tunku Azizah as well as Pedoq’s tweet are nowhere to be found on Twitter at the time of writing (Tuesday, 26th November).

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(UPDATE) #BonJovi: The OG Rockstars Are Coming Back To Malaysia In September!

They’re back! Or rather, they will be ;)

Yes it’s true – the og rockstar band Bon Jovi, one of the most important bands in the history of rock and popular music, will be coming back to Malaysia after 20 whole years. Slated to be the most spectacular tour of this season, Bon Jovi will perform at Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur.

Made up of lead singer Jon Bon Jovi, pianist and keyboard player David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, and touring guitarist Phil X who unofficially replaced Richie Sambora in 2013, they’re is set to perform in Kuala Lumpur in September.

After their performance in Malaysia, Bon Jovi will be heading to Singapore for another show in conjunction with the Singapore F1 Formula Grand Prix. So hell yea they boys have still got it, despite being well over 50. In fact, after that. Jon is about to embark on his own solo tour next month and after which, they will release another album in 2016.

With the iconic frontman Jon Bon Jovi, 130 million records sold, performing over 2,900 concerts, the endless list of hits, the fact of having one of the best singers of popular music, and the strength of a band that won a place among the greatest through their excellence, all come together to make this a concert experience not to miss.

If you missed their last performance in Malaysia in 1995, here’s your chance to catch them live ;)

Note: The above prices exclude RM4 processing fee.

“We’ve toured around the world since 1995 and are excited to reunite with our Malaysian fans again! See you on September 19th!” – Jon Bon Jovi.

We’ll leave you now with one of our all-time Bon Jovi faves, “I’ll Be There For You”. Enjoy ;)

For more information, visit organiser IMC Live’s website.


It’s The Ship: Southeast Asia’s Largest Music Festival At Sea Returns For Round Two

The Livescape Group announced today that Southeast Asia’s largest music festival at Sea, It’s The Ship is set to make a smooth sailing return this year. The four-day and three-night vacation cum music festival at sea is set to depart from the Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore on November 20th (Friday), crossing international waters on the straits of Malacca to tropical Langkawi for a private beach party, before making its way back to Singapore shores on November 23rd (Monday).

It’s The Ship 2015 will take place aboard the “Mariner of the Seas” of the Royal Caribbean International cruise liner and is expected to draw a crowd of 3,800 people. In conjunction with the announcement, limited discounted early bird cabins for It’s The Ship 2015 have been made available exclusively for the shipmates who were aboard the ship last year. Invitations to purchase said cabins will be sent out via email.

Cabin sales will be made public and will commence via It’s The Ship’s website at 12 noon on 13th April (Monday). Early bird cabins are priced between USD412 to USD1,812 excluding taxes and gratuities. To make things even more interesting, a new payment option has been introduced for this year’s fun − guests can now opt to pay for their cabins via a monthly instalment plan. Instalment plans for It’s The Ship 2015 varies depending on types of cabin purchased and are priced at USD77, USD91, USD111 and USD128 per month. Payment plans will require a down payment of USD200 per person and monthly payment plans will be adjusted depending on the date of purchase.

All cabin prices are inclusive of complimentary 24-hour dining and room service, selected non-alcoholic beverages and free usage of most of the ship’s facilities. Cabin sale ends on November 10th (Tuesday) 2015.

“One of the key talking points from the fans who attended last year’s festival was the fact that they not only got to see their favourite acts perform live but they also got to interact with the artistes in person over the five-day period. One key consideration we take when booking acts for It’s The Ship is we tend to book acts that are more outgoing and sociable because we want them to interact with the fans not just through their music but through the other activities onboard the cruise as well, and because of the laidback, vacation-like atmosphere, it was very possible”, Muhammad Iqbal, Group Chief Executive Officer of The Livescape Group said.

The phase one artiste lineup for It’s The Ship 2015 will be revealed in May.

It’s The Ship 2014 featured acts including Dash Berlin, Lil Jon, Chvrches, Sasha Grey, Basement Jaxx, and over 30 other international and regional acts perform over 5 days and 4 nights of the cruise’s duration.

*An additional USD148 per person will be added to your total at the time of booking to cover taxes, port fees and ticketing fees

**Gratuities will be charged to your cabin account at the time of boarding in the amount of USD36 per person for standard cabins (Junior Suites and smaller) and USD42.50 per person (for Grand Suites and larger).

Still having doubts about It’s The Ship 2015? The official aftermovie for It’s The Ship 2014 is sure to change your mind. Watch it below:

More information on It’s The Ship 2015, hit up its official website, It’s The Ship’s Facebook Page and Livescape Asia’s Facebook page.

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New Year, New Nightmares: 14 Horror Movies Coming Out In 2021

Offering a variety of spooktastic and chilling choices of stories within films, look closely at the horror genre. Such examples range from haunted house ghost stories, slashers, thrillers, or even monsters. A perfect genre to boost your adrenaline rush. We have a bunch of them coming out this year in 2021. Unfortunately, most of them were pushed from last year to this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

But fear not, we will offer you a few future upcoming horror films coming out in 2021 to keep you up to date.

“Wrong Turn: The Foundation” is the seventh film as well as a reboot of the “Wrong Turn” franchise that all started in 2003. The latest entry features Jen (played by Charlotte Vega) and her group of friends who all set out to hike the Appalachian Trail.

Even with warnings to stick to the trail, all of them stray off course and ended up in a land inhabited by The Foundation. It is a hidden community of mountain dwellers who protect their lives by using deadly means. The hikers are suddenly under attack, with Jen and her friends seeing their end unless her father (played by Golden Globe nominee Matthew Modine) steps in to help them before running out of time.

“Antlers” features teacher Julia Meadows (played by Keri Russell) from a small town in Oregon. Her brother, Paul Meadows (played by Jesse Plemons), a local sheriff along her sister become entwined with a young boy (played by Jeremy T. Thomas) carrying a deadly secret with terrifying consequences. Moreover, a strange creature breaks out from its confine in order to invoke chaos in the town.

The movie features Makani Young (played by Sydney Park) who more than a year after her parents sent her from Hawaii away to live with her grandmother, who resides in landlocked Nebraska, she is still getting used to her new life. Young eventually found a small group of friends and involved herself with romance. However, her past in Hawaii still lingers in her mind and she cannot put it away. And then one by one, the students who go to the same school as Young starts to die in a series of horrible murders at the hands of a killer. She doesn’t know who’s going to die next. It’s up to Makani and her friends to unveil the killer’s identity before they get killed.

Emily Blunt returns as Evelyn Abbott, alongside Evelyn’s two children, Regan (played by Millicent Simmons) and Lee (played by Noah Jupe) in “A Quiet Place Part II”. The surviving members of the Abbott family venture away from their home only to bump into fellow survivors within the apocalyptic word filled with alien-like monsters hunting for prey by hearing sound.

“Last Night Of Soho” is Edgar Wright’s new take on horror-comedy. The movie features Sandy (played by Anya Taylor-Joy), who is a young girl who loves fashion design. For some miracle, she is mysteriously capable of entering the 1960s where she meets her idol who is a shining wannabe singer. Unfortunately, the 1960s version of London is not what it looks like, as time seems to break apart with shady results.

A horror-thriller film based on Elizabeth Brundage’s 2016 novel “All Things Cease To Appear”, the story follows a Manhattan couple Catherine Clare, a talented artist, and her husband George Clare (played by Amanda Seyfried and James Norton). They both move to a historic hamlet located in Hudson Valley and find out that their marriage is contained in sinister darkness, one that rivals their brand new home’s past.

“Spiral” is bringing Jigsaw back to cinemas in his 9th film in the Saw franchise. However, this is set to be a new beginning for the film series. Chris Rock plays as Detective Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Banks who is working undercover alongside his rookie partner Detective William Schenk (played by Max Minhgella) of an esteemed police veteran Marcus Banks (played by Samuel L. Jackson). Zeke and William lead an investigation into the murders that horrifically reminisce the city’s gruesome history. Unfortunately for Zeke, he finds himself trapped in the killer’s grisly game.

The third installment in The Conjuring franchise features a spine-tingling tale of horror, murder, and unseen evil that surprises even professional paranormal investigators Ed (played by Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (played by Vera Farmiga). A very sensational case from the real Warren files, it all begins with helping the soul of a young. It then leads them beyond anything they had ever witness in their lives, marking the first time in American history that a suspect would deem demonic possession as a form of defense.

“The Forever Purge” is the last installment in the Purge franchise showcasing the annual 12-hour period of crime being decriminalised in the USA. Such crime includes murder. Things will change for the last movie where it involves vouching out of urban or city areas. Whether or not this will mean venturing back to the suburbs or somewhere newer, we don’t know many details. But fans will find out in a few months.

In the current day, at least 10 years after the dismantlement of the Cabrini towers, Anthony (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and his girlfriend Brianna (played by Teyonah Parris) moved into a luxurious loft in the freshly gentrified Cabrini. Anthony happens to meet a Cabrini Green old-timer which leads to Anthony’s exposure to the real tale behind Candyman (played by Tony Todd). Unfortunately, Anthony opens a door to the past unraveling his own sanity while unleashing terror that positions him on a crash course with destiny.

The sequel to the successful reinvisioning of the 2018 installment of the Halloween franchise, “Halloween Kills” constructs more on the story of the Strode family. The threesome continues their ordeal with Micheal Myers, who was revealed to have survived from being burned in Laurie’s basement. Now, Myers will live to terrorize the Strode family and anyone who gets in his way. It is up to Laurie (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) and her family (played by Judy Green and Andi Matichak) to cooperate with new and old friends to defeat Micheal Myers together in Haddonfield.

“Escape Room” ended on a cliffhanger, where Zoey and Ben venturing to New York City in hopes of investigating whoever is behind the game. Plus, the game’s puzzle master is obviously not done with them yet. “Escape Room 2” is expected to pick up right after the conclusion of the first film, or it could set up a bunch of random unfortunate victims to partake in the game themselves. We shall see what happens then.

“Fear Street” is actually comprised of three different movies, the first movie was said to start streaming on Netflix sometime this year in 2021. The first movie will be set in 1994, where a group of teenagers discovered that terrifying series of events in their hometown located in Shadyside, Ohio, might be connected. Unfortunately, it gets worst for them as they might end up being targets. All the films cover different time periods, with the 1600s being included as well. The second movie involves campers and counselors of Camp Nightwing who must band together to figure out a horrifying mystery and the final movie involves teenagers in 1994 trying to put an end to their town’s curse that dates back to 1666.

Based on a 2014 novel of the same name written by Adam Nevill, “No One Gets Out Alive” features an immigrant (played by Cristina Rodlo) in search of the American Dream. Unfortunately for her, after being forced to stay in a room in a boarding house, she finds herself concealed in a nightmare she can’t break free from.

2021 will offer some spooks and thrills for beloved horror fanatics and hopefully, the pandemic won’t affect this year’s official horror movies in pushing the dates even further back like last year.

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#GE13: Thousands More Join The #Black505 Black Parade In Ipoh

Following successful Black 505 aka #black505 mega-rallies in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, large crowds gathered last night in Medan Istana, Ipoh for a similar mourning against alleged electoral fraud. Eyewitnesses contacted by Malaysiakini told of a crowd size up to 30,000, many of whom were dressed in the trademark black.

“Speeches are now ongoing on stage and the crowd is about 30,000. It is peaceful and semangat (in high spirits)”, said one of the rally’s participants Sandrea Ng when contacted at about 9pm.

Previous events in Kelana Jaya, Kuala Lumpur and Batu Kawan,Penang had drawn crowds of about 120,000 each, while another event is slated for Tuesday and Wednesday in Kuantan, Pahang and Johor Bahru, Johor respectively.

The rallies are protesting against alleged fraud and misconduct in 13th Malaysian general election.

Among the speakers slated to speak at today’s event, which started at about 8pm, include PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and former Perak Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin. The venue is also just outside the PKR Perak headquarters and near the state secretariat building.

Although the police said they have not approved the rally, organisers said the authorities were not interfering with the event. “There are police personnel around, but so far they are not giving any problems”, said Teja assemblyperson Chang Lih Kang when contacted.


#DCEU: “Shazam” Is DC’s Next Film After “Aquaman”

DC fans, are y’all ready to meet a new hero on the big screen? That’s right, Shazam is finally getting his long-awaited live-action superhero debut.

After some setbacks and reshuffling, DC Extended Universe has officially set a released date for “Shazam” in 2019. David F. Sandberg (“Lights Out”, “Annabelle: Creation”) confirmed that he will be coming onboard as director.

For the uninitiated, Shazam was an orphaned boy named Billy Batson who got his powers from a powerful wizard after he stumbled upon an underground tunnel that led to a magical portal.

He was then gifted with properties of 6 “immortal elders”: the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury. Whenever he uttered the name Shazam, he could call upon magic lightning and be transformed into a muscular superhero with the ability to fly.

It was initially reported that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would be playing the villainous Black Adam in “Shazam” before getting his own standalone film. However, recent news stated that The Rock won’t be involved in this “Shazam” movie.

“Justice League” is currently in post-production and re-shoots while cameras are already rolling for “Aquaman”. Development is also underway for “The Batman”, “Batgirl”, sequels for “Wonder Woman” and “Suicide Squad”, as well as “Gotham City Sirens”.

“Shazam” will begin shooting in early 2018, and will hit cinemas in 2019.


Super Junior Kuala Lumpur Concert Details Revealed

Malaysian ELFs, are y’all ready for some exciting Super Junior (슈퍼주니어) news? Thanks to members Eunhyuk (은혁) and Donghae (동해)’s live stream, we previously found out that the K-pop male group was returning to Malaysia for their next world tour.

Fast forward a few weeks later, concert organiser StarPlanet (星艺娱乐) can now confirm that Super Junior is set to perform in Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil. The “Super Show 9: ROAD” will take place on 10th October 2022.

Super Junior “Super Show 9: ROAD” in Kuala Lumpur:

Malaysian E.L.F members, you can start purchasing your Super Junior concert tickets beginning this week. Register for the Kyochon KyoChingu Loyalty membership between 2nd – 5th September for the opportunity to get priority ticket purchase a day early on 8th September. P/s: 10% early bird discount will be given to the first 1,000 tickets sold.

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#WildestDreams: Taylor Swift Confirms 5th Single Off Multi-Platinum “1989”

Taylor Swift is quite a pro at surprises :)

The pop singer-songwriter just made a surprise announcement a couple of hours ago about the release of her 5th single. She shared with her millions (over 61 million, to be exact) of Twitter followers:

Yea, Swifties! The 5th single off Tay Tay’s chart-topping studio album, “1989“, is none other than the sexy “Wildest Dreams” song.

If you haven’t heard it, the Lana Del Rey-esque track is considered one of the most sensual and mature tracks from “1989”, and is pretty much already a fan favourite. It has lyrics that go:

I said “No one has to know what we do,”
His hands are in my hair, his clothes are in my room
And his voice is a familiar sound, nothing lasts forever
But this is getting good now
He’s so tall, and handsome as hell
He’s so bad but he does it so well
And when we’ve had our very last kiss
My last request is
Say you’ll remember me
Standing in a nice dress, staring at the sunset, babe
Red lips and rosy cheeks
Say you’ll see me again even if it’s just in your wildest dreams
Wildest dreams

Speaking to Us Weekly last year, gorgeous Tay Tay revealed what inspired the dreamy song. The then-single singing starlet said that “Wildest Dreams” is the best example of how her expectations have changed when it comes to love.

She added, “Now, when I meet someone and there’s chemistry, my first thoughts are ‘When this ends, I hope you’ll remember me well.'”

Her latest single will follow “Shake It Off“, “Blank Space“, “style”, and “Bad Blood“, 3 out of the 4 tracks made it to the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 list. Our next question is, will boyfriend Calvin Harris make a special appearance in the music video for “Wildest Dreams”? Because “He’s so tall, and handsome as hell” does kind of describe him, no?

Sources: Taylor Swift’s Twitter, Us Weekly.


Malaysia: The Remaining Long Weekends For The Second Half Of 2020

Just like that, we’re already halfway through 2020. Truly, this year has been unprecedented and adjusting to the new norm is going to take a minute.

Fret not though, despite being forced to cancel most of your holiday plans, you can still take time off to rejuvenate and recharge.

With 3 remaining long weekends for the year, it’s still not too late to make some staycation plans around Malaysia. Take note of these following dates to mark down on your calendar:


Ian Somerhalder = Christian Grey?

Calling all Fifty Shades of Grey fans! Is the sexy Ian Somerhalder officially our Christian Grey?

The star of the hit television show The Vampire Diaries didn’t confirm or deny his future as “Fifty Shades of Grey” character, Christian Grey, at the 2012 Environmental Media Awards on Saturday night, yet he did tell “E! News” that he predicts the audition process would be like and his take on the success of the books.

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

Ian shared, “I think that’s going to be a very interesting story to tell. It seems like whoever plays that role, it will be very interesting rehearsal time. They audition process is gonna be interesting”.

As for who Ian would cast as his Anastasia? The actor responded, “My Anastasia? I don’t know..there are too many (good Hollywood actors) to name”.

Although the actor refuses to reveal whether he’s in for the sexually adventurous gig, he did share that, “I get it. I get it. I get why it’s taken off the way it has”.

We get it too – totally! Ian Somerhalder as Christian? Perfect. Oh, and just in case you haven’t checked out the Fifty Shades trilogy, we’ve got ’em review down pat. Click for Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, and Fifty Shades Freed.

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(UPDATE) #CLC: CUBE Ent’s New Girl Group To Make M’sian Debut Via Promo Tour

Time and time again, Universal Music Malaysia has brought some of the most popular musicians such as Us The Duo and Bastille to Malaysia for promotional showcases. The Chinese division of the company also previously made K-Pop fans’ dreams come true by bringing a slew of K-Pop artistes such as Royal Pirates and EXO-M to Malaysia.

With no intentions of stopping their surprises, Universal Music Malaysia Chinese announced that Cube Entertainment‘s new girl group, CLC, is coming to Malaysia for promotional tour.

Formed by Cube Entertainment, CLC is a 5-member South Korean girl group that debuted with the release of their EP, “First Love”, earlier in March this year. The group’s name is an initialism which stands for CrystaL Clear.

Prior to their debut, Cube announced that the group would be a multi-national girl group as it will consist of a a 19-year-old Thai member named Sorn, who was also the winner for the 2nd season of “tvN K-Pop Star Hunt” (our exclusive pre-debut interview with her here). At that time, the 16-year-old Sorn was automatically signed to become a trainee under CUBE Entertainment, home to popular Korean artistes such as 4MINUTE and BEAST.

Sorn’s proficiency in Korean, lovable appearance, and trainee life have apparently charmed the public when she appeared in an episode of SBS documentary programme “When Charles Met Chulsoo”.

CLC also captured public’s attention by holding multiple small-scale charity concerts and busking in Hongdae prior to their debut. According to Cube Entertainment, the girl group regularly donates all the money they’ve made from their busking projects as they hope to participate in charity campaigns not just through their physical and moral efforts, but also through their music.

Naturally, CLC’s popularity has grown quickly in the Korean music scene, especially after it was revealed that Korean superstar Rain choreographed part of the choreography for their song, “Pepe”.

After making their comeback in April with the release of “Eighteen”, CLC released their 2nd mini-album titled, “Question” in May. One of the songs from the album, “Hide & Seek”, was apparently composed by Ilhoon of BTOB.

Though they’ve long ended their promotion for “Question”, they will still make their way to Malaysia soon for a promotional showcase. You can check out their adorable video greeting to Malaysian fans below:

Details regarding CLC’s first oversea promotional showcase are out!

The group will be heading to East Malaysia and Peninsular Malaysia in October for their “Meet the Fans” session.

CLC <First Love> promo tour in Kuala Lumpur:

In conjunction with the fan meeting, Universal Music Malaysia has specially released an Asia Special Edition album for “Question”. The album includes 5 songs from their first mini album “First Love” and 5 songs from their 2nd mini album “Question”. It also includes their new digital single – “Eighteen” which was released earlier in April.

Fans who purchase CLC’s “Question Asia Special Edition” and bring along the album to their “Meet the Fans” session are entitled to get it autographed by all the 5 members of CLC.

Stay tuned to Universal Music Malaysia Chinese’s official Facebook page for more updates.


Top 10 Google Searches For Malaysia

The top 10 Google searches for Malaysia in the past week (24th till 30th May) are as follows:

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CONTEST: One Samsung GALAXY S III Mini, Anyone?

Because our friends from Samsung Mobile Malaysia are super duper awesome, we’ve got a great giveaway up for grabs! How would you like to be the proud owner of a new, as-cute-as-a-button Samsung GALAXY S III Mini? Yes? Thought so.

Send us a picture at submit@hype.my of yourself and something/anything that would best describe how you would feel should you be chosen the winner of our Samsung GALAXY S III Mini.

Best picture wins, of course. Go, go, get creative and good luck!


Justin Visits Sick Belieber, Makes Us Want To Cry

Jetsetter superstar Justin Bieber took a break from his busy schedule and surprised 18-year-old patient Crystal Amber Montgomery after a Facebook post informed him that his fan’s greatest dream was to meet him

Joana Antunes, Crystal’s best friend wrote on Justin’s Facebook wall to tell him about Crystal, who has been diagnosed with the cancer “osteosarcoma”, is the youngest patient at the Cross Cancer Institute at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, and a huge fan of Justin.

“It would mean the world to Crystal if you stopped even five minutes to see her, since she is too sick to leave the hospital and attend the concert like her and I had originally planned”, Joana pleaded to The Biebs.

Before the surprise, Justin tweeted, “Now off to do something that matters. #giveback”, followed by an Instagram pic of the pop star smiling beside the lucky Crystal with the hastag “#bieberforcrystal“.

Aww, isn’t he the sweetest thing? We definitely need more people like JB. Way to go!