#IMSAsiaPacific: Chilling In A Wonderland With Pete Tong

The International Music Summit (IMS) is a 3-day electronic dance music (EDM) conference that takes place in Ibiza. Spearheaded by the influential Pete Tong, IMS made it’s debut in Asia-Pacific on December 11th (Wednesday). IMS Asia-Pacific which took place at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove, featured speakers and global acts such as Steve Angello, Richie Hawtin, NERVO, and Damian Lazarus.

Although more commonly known as the main man at BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix and Essential Selection, Pete Tong is also a globe-trotting DJ, a producer as well as a label owner. Pete, who has even been handed an MBE by the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, has held a commanding presence over the industry for more than 2 decades.

As IMS continues to pave the way in the electronic dance music industry, we sat down with Pete Tong, the driving force behind IMS for a quick chat.

Hey Pete, how’s it going? Tell us about your gig at Attica last night.

Hey! Good, thanks. How are you? Yeah, you never know what to expect when you do a midweek show around the conference. I kinda wasn’t really concentrating before the gig was arranged, I knew it was an IMS party but I kinda forgot that it was with Mark. But when I realised it was with him, I knew it was going to be fine. It was good, as good as it could have been, really.

Considering that ZoukOut is happening tomorrow, how important would you say production is going to be as people move on from wanting a dance music festival to wanting a dance music experience – from the artistes to just getting lost in the music, the whole package?

I think production as a subject is like an arm’s race now between the festivals. There’s competition between festivals to out produce each other. Like in America, you’ve got a battle going on between all sorts of festivals. Like TomorrowWorld really excel in production, because their festival blew up because of its production, not so much the acts but the production. And then you have the other extreme which is EDC. It all started out with the same principles − which is, it’s about the party and not so much the DJs. So, I mean, that rolls on. As we grow, technology provides more different tricks. The interesting thing about the electronic scene or EDM scene is that we’re now playing at the highest level. There was a time, if you roll back 10 years, if you went on the road with U2, you would have seen stuff that nobody else had, stuff that they could do that nobody else could do. But now, if you go out with U2 or Coldplay, and you probably won’t see that many new tricks that you couldn’t see at an EDM show. So, I know a lot of cutting edge lighting companies that are trying out stuff with DJs first and with that going on, it’s interesting because what you’re seeing now is a lot more festivals taking charge to create different types of environments to deliver different types of music. Festivals that are doing that are really starting to get benefit for it. It’s about building a greater room to deliver different types of music with a brilliant production value that would give people a whole new experience.

And how has the EDM explosion in the United States change what you do?

Well, it made me move there. It became such big business and having spent a whole career being around dance music and all its many different shapes and forms, I just felt that in my stage of my career, I wanted to be in the centre of that storm to see what we could do with it. It was like, we’ll never have more people’s attention than we’ve had in the last couple of years. Now is the time to talk to everybody and that’s why I wanted to be there so I moved to LA, which I think has become some sort of a creative capital for America – a bit like the old Hollywood system. I think we’ve had our era of all these amazing technologies and platforms have been built, it’s all settled down so now, they’re looking at what to put on these platforms. So, content sure enough is king again and I think LA feels like the one of the centrepieces of it.

So, I work behind the scenes with the William Morris agency and I started the electronic division, which is a specific division inside William Morris to represent electronic artistes. I also started working with Clear Channel, which is the biggest owner of radio stations in America. I started a station on iHeart called Evolution, which has been going on for 18 months and the for last year, we’ve got a platform of 2 hours a week on Top 40 radio on basically a 100 stations in America, which has actually never happened before.

I do it in conjunction with Beatport so we’ve got a 2-hour window on Top 40 radio. Radio is still very powerful in America in the terms of getting the message across. It’s something I’ve spent my life trying to do. The weird thing is, it’s quite old fashioned what we’re doing, it’s not something that couldn’t have happened 20 or 30 years ago but finally, because of the popularity of EDM, it enabled it to happen. Radio 1, we’ve tried to syndicate shows for 20 years to get that kinda impact but we never got close so it has been quite rewarding to do that.

We hear you daughter is playing a set tonight. How much of an influence do you play in her life, musically?

Yes (laughs). Well, the weird thing is I’ve never really sat down with her and said “You’ve gotta go into this business” and she never sat down and asked me about it. I think it’s been great the way my kids have evolved because they’re all involved in music. It’s funny with her because she never wanted to be a DJ, she never wanted to be in the industry. She found herself have a natural affinity with it, I suppose you could say, “it’s in the blood”. She used to go through my record collection and was always a good selector − she got history, I didn’t make her get it, she just wanted to look back all the time.

Unfortunately, I got a divorce from her mom so I left that house. She was in her early teens and a lot of my record collection got left in the house so she would go through it all the time. When she spent time with me, she played a lot of hip hop and soul music from back in the day, so she had a good grounding. Funny enough, she did a little bit of modelling and her agency wanted this other girl, Yasmin Le Bon’s daughter to DJ a party and Amber didn’t know how to DJ so she got Becky to do it with her.

It was a big success and then they got asked a lot to go out together, that became very popular. From there, Becky got asked to start doing it by herself. She then got into a really good art school in London, she did one term and she hated it so she dropped out, which I wasn’t very pleased with to be honest. Anyway, she picked up the phone, made a few calls and got an internship with a management company. She’s worked with him for 3 years but the first day she went to work, this guy had his finger in lots of different places and one thing he had was this festival which went bankrupt so on her first week of the job, she had people shouting at her over the phone. So yeah, she had a huge drama at the start but she stuck with this guy for 3 years and gained management and promotion experience.

She has started her own company and she started a night in London called the Juice Box and this place has become the place where a lot of record and management companies go to when they want to launch new acts. She’s just seemed to found her own way and never really asked me to help her which is great because she’s done it all on her own. I’m very proud.

That’s really lovely. Going back to IMS, what made you choose Singapore?

Many reasons. We were getting asked a lot in the last couples of years to come this way. Australia was probably the most logical place to go and we tried to do it there but it kinda fell apart. Then we started thinking about where else we wanted it to be. Tokyo, Japan would have been a sexy city to get everyone to go. We also thought about Korea because it’s huge and we’ve got a lot of friends there but we didn’t think that it was organised enough.

Then it comes back to Lincoln, our friend who’ve known for so long. When we launched in America, we picked the time when we knew people were going to be around because if you want good people, we’re going to need the budget for it. So we looked at ZoukOut at the obvious target because there were going to be a lot of talent in the area.

Personally, Ben and I didn’t really a need another conference to run in December, it put me off quite a bit honestly but it did seem like a good time and Lincoln and ZoukOut was a big influence.

Last one, any chance IMS will be back here next year?

Oh definitely. I mean, once we start, you can’t get rid of us (laughs).

It was truly amazing and such an honour to have been able to sit and chat with the legendary Pete Tong. Shoutout to our friends at IMS for making this interview happen!

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Fun Facts: Get To Know 5 Key Characters From Billionaire Boys Club

American heartthrob Ansel Elgort is set to lead the upcoming biopic drama “Billionaire Boys Club” (BBC), based on the real-life story of a group of rich boys in Southern California during the 1980s.

Under the direction of James Cox, Elgort will be starring alongside English star Taron Egerton, and will unite with his “Baby Driver” co-star Kevin Spacey.

Based on a true crime story, BBC was a Los Angeles investment-and-social club founded by Joe Hunt, following a group of rich young men as they pursue a scheme to get rich quick, known as the Ponzi Scheme.

But things turn awry when the club lost millions at the hands of a con-man. So, a desperate Hunt and other club members turned to murder, killing several wealthy men in order to raise funds for his club.

The highly publicised case spawned a 2-part miniseries in 1987, which starred Judd Nelson as Joe Hunt. For the 2018 remake, Nelson play the role of Hunt’s father.

Before the release of the movie, come and get to know the characters from the highly anticipated movie!

Joe Hunt (real name, Joseph Henry Gamsky) is the ambitious entrepreneur who founded the Billionaire Boys Club. Hunt is not only the group leader of BBC but also the financial expert of the Ponzi schemes and the mastermind behind the murder of investor and con-man, Ron Levin. In 1987, Hunt was convicted for the murder and sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

Dean Karny is a professional tennis player and the second in command for BBC. As Hunt’s best friend and partner, together they convinced a clique of ex-classmates from the Harvard School for Boys to invest in the BBC. After Hunt was convicted for murder, Karny served as the state’s witness in the trial and received immunity in exchange for his testimony.

Ron Levin is a journalist, con-man and one of the investors of BBC, who allegedly swindled millions from the group, leading to the downfall of BBC. In the movie, Levin is described as a gay man who tricked the young men into launching a Ponzi scheme, and this eventually led to his murder.

Sydney is Joe Hunt’s love interest. She is a fictional character created for the film and Roberts told Just Jared that her character’s look is inspired from American singer Debbie Harry. “We got to do amazing 80s fashion. Kind of like Debbie Harry, not so much shoulder pads. My character is rock ‘n’ roll-inspired, which I loved, and my hair and makeup direction was Debbie Harry,” he shared.

Quintana is also a fictional character made for the film. Not much information about her character is revealed except that she is the love interest of Dean Karny, and one of Sydney’s best friends.

Described as a cross between “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “Less Than Zero”, the movie is set to be released on 19th July 2018 in nationwide cinemas.

Also, we are giving away exclusive movie passes to the premiere of “Billionaire Boys Club”. Join our contest now to win it! To join the contest, click HERE.


BIGBANG’s Seungri Confirms That Aori Ramen Is Opening In Kuala Lumpur

Have you heard VIPs? BIGBANG’s maknae (youngest member) Seungri (승리) will be launching Aori Ramen in Malaysia.

For those that don’t know, Aori Ramen is South Korea’s famous Japanese ramen joint owned by the 27-year-old singer himself. Seungri took to Instagram yesterday (Wednesday, 15th November) to make the announcement himself.

The BIGBANG member wrote, “@aoriramen yes we going to #KL #Malaysia too!” An image of a yukata-clad anime girl holding a bowl of Aori Ramen while a couple of Malaysia’s iconic landmarks can also be seen in the background. No further details were given other than the fact that Seungri’s Aori Ramen store will open in Kuala Lumpur.

Aori Ramen is best known for its tonkotsu ramen. It’s a traditional Hakata-style ramen with a pork-based broth that has chashu pork belly, braised egg, and crushed garlic. Since opening its first branch in Cheongdam-dong on December 2016, Aori Ramen has since expanded up to 14 outlets. Kuala Lumpur will soon be the franchise’s 15th restaurant.

We don’t know about you but we’re already salivating at this collage of delicious ramen ;)

Find out where the ramen joint is located here.

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Author Suzanne Collins To Release Prequel Novel For The Hunger Games

To quote Entertainment Weekly, the odds are ever in favour for a new “Hunger Games” book.

It has been announced that the new prequel by Suzanne Collins will take place 64 years before the events of the first “Hunger Games” story. The book will debut on 19th May 2020.

The “Untitled Panem Novel” (not the actual title) storyline will centre on Panem’s ‘Dark Days’ following the First Rebellion. To give you a better perspective, it takes place sometime during the 10th Hunger Games. Remember Mags? She was one of the oldest victor in “Catching Fire”, who was involved in the 11th competition. It’s probably safe to assume that President Snow will make a cameo, at least.

The 56-year-old American author said of the upcoming novel in a statement:

“With this book, I wanted to explore the state of nature, who we are, and what we perceive is required for our survival. The reconstruction period 10 years after the war, commonly referred to as the Dark Days — as the country of Panem struggles back to its feet — provides fertile ground for characters to grapple with these questions and thereby define their views of humanity.”

Lionsgate has released 4 “Hunger Games” movies from 2012 to 2015, and it appears that the studio is keen on adapting this prequel on the big screen. The film series have went on to gross approximately $3 billion at the global box office.

“As the proud home of the Hunger Games movies, we can hardly wait for Suzanne’s next book to be published. We’ve been communicating with her during the writing process and we look forward to continuing to work closely with her on the movie,” said Joe Drake, Chairman of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.

Can we volunteer as tributes to read the new tale when it hits the book shelves?


Blogopolis Malaysia 2012

Often, we consider ourselves lucky to have had multiple opportunities to witness so many phenomenons in our lifetime. Day in day out, we are exposed to the ever-changing landscapes of trends – from the shifts in technology to the social media boom. We’re talking machines, gadgets, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, the works.

The nagging question is how many people really understand these changes? Who has really grown with it? How do you utilize these “vehicles” to eventually get you to your destination? What are you doing right, what are you doing wrong, is there a way make it work better?

So many questions, so little time. Time you should be spending at Blogopolis Malaysia 2012:

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After receiving enormous support in Australia last year, the first social media conference of its kind to ever set foot in Malaysia will be held at the Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur ala Ted Talk style on the 14th July 2012 (Saturday). Targeted at entrepreneurs (from startups to established businesses), social media enthusiast (that could be you!), and bloggers (that could be you, too!), the day-long conference will be armed with guidelines on cultivating a good social media strategy on top of ways and means to optimize and leverage on existing resources.

As a matter of fact, Blogopolis Malaysia has engaged a couple of exceptional speakers on that day such as:

Want to be a part of it? Go here to register or click for more information! Alternatively, you could also call Adel at 016-3481869 or Nadia Heng at 012-3650735.


Radiance of Eid: 7 Reasons To Visit Avenue K This Hari Raya Season

Avenue K has stepped up its game yet again. Yesterday (Thursday, 16th May 2019), was the media preview of the mall’s Raya campaign.

In the spirit of giving back, underprivileged school girls from Pertubuhan Darul Fakir Malaysia were to go on a shopping spree at a fashion store. Besides joining local singer Kaka Azraff on stage for a performance, they also received duit raya and enjoyed a free buka puasa meal.

Themed “Radiance of Eid”, Avenue K’s Hari Raya campaign takes place from 10th May up till 9th June 2019 as we countdown to Aidilfitri. As more and more malls in the Klang Valley are churning out Raya decors, we’ve list down a few reasons of what sets Avenue K apart.

Besides offering a great shopping experience (yes, there’s always room to fit in some last minute shopping), there are fabulous prizes and fantastic giveaways to take home when you spend in Avenue K. Take a look:

Walk into the mall and you’ll notice the gigantic geometric star-shaped structures dangling above the Atrium. It has luminous lights illuminating over the festive marketplace.

Behold – the “Radiance of Eid” stage. The bold geometric-shaped structures are inspired by Islamic geometric patterns. We like the fact that the area is adorned with bouquets of beautiful tropical blooms.

At Pasar Seloka, shoppers will a total of 26 booths. This one-stop trendy lifestyle pop up bazaar features a wide selection of local artisans, independent makers, and homegrown brands. There is the locally designed products from Yoke & Theam, Obliq, and exclusive cupcake sets from Wondermilk.

When you spend RM500 and above (or RM450 if you’re using the AK Neighbours card members), remember to claim the Ramadan Treats vouchers worth over RM100 at the information counter on ground floor.

Fans of Lea Ismail can check her and the band out on 18th and 25th May (Saturdays). Besides music performances, there will also be a Raya dance show, various workshops for kids and families, calligraphy, and more.

Spend RM250 and above (or RM200 if you’re using the AK Neighbours card members) to redeem 1 set of colourful Hari Raya packets from Avenue K.

The first batch of winners have already been announced. But guess what? There are still 2 more rounds to go. So go ahead and spend and win something back in return.

Enjoy RM10 OFF X 2 Grab rides to/from Avenue K this Raya.* *Terms & Conditions apply: • Valid to and from AK • Valid for payments via GrabPay or GrabPay Credits only • Valid from 10 May – 9 June 2019 • Valid for the first 1,000 rides only

A post shared by  Avenue K (@avenuekmy) on May 12, 2019 at 9:05pm PDT

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#StarWars: Production Kicks Off For “Episode VIII”; Cast Announced

The cameras have started rolling in a galaxy far, far away.

That’s right, people! Filming is officially underway on “Star Wars Episode VIII”, having just kicked off on 15th February at Pinewood Studios in London. And with it comes a small production announcement as well as some long-awaited casting news.

We already know that all of the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” cast will return, except for Harrison Ford, for obvious reasons. So expect to see Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis again.

Joining them in “Star Wars: Episode VIII” are actors Benicio Del Toro (of “The Usual Suspects” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” fame), Laura Dern (of “Jurassic Park” and “Wild” fame), and newcomer Kelly Marie Tran. Benicio Del Toro is expected to play a villain.

And Mark Hamill still doesn’t have any lines.

An adventure just beginning…. #StillNoDialogue #RianHasMoreLinesThanMe #Wait4VIII #StarWars #StarWarsEpVIII https://t.co/rdQ9cxFApe

— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) February 15, 2016

There has been no news as of yet with regards to the plot or rest of the cast involved, after all, the “Star Wars” producers are famed for being tight-lipped. But hang in there because there may be some surprise casting details in time to come.

And maybe Mark Hamill will finally get more lines :)

Protip: You might also want to watch the “Star Wars: Rogue One” (which opens on 16th December this year) to pick out some clues as it will take place before the events of 1977’s “Star Wars: A New Hope”.

Meanwhile, watch the “Star Wars: Episode VIII” production announcement video below:

We know, we know. We’ll probably have to keep watching this over and over again until “Star Wars: Episode VIII” is released on 15th December 2017.

Sources: CNN, Sky News, Den of Geek! / Featured image from Star Wars’ website.


(UPDATE) #AOA: K-Pop Girl Group Reportedly Debuting New Sub-Unit

According to Soompi, an insider revealed that the K-Pop idol girl group is preparing to debut a new sub-unit in late January or early February this year.

AOA (an acronym for Ace of Angels) is an 8-member band consisting of Choa, Jimin, Yuna, Chanmi, Youkyung, Hyejeong, Seolhyun, and Mina.

The group is described as a “7+1” group as their talent agency FNC Entertainment explained that Youkyoung is a member of the band while the rest of members would promote themselves as an idol dance group. The 7-member idol girl group made their debut in South Korea with their single album, “Angel’s Story”, on 30th July 2012.

In July 2013, the group debuted a 5-member sub-unit called AOA Black and it consists of Jimin, Choa, Yuna, Youkyung, and Mina. They made their first comeback appearance on KM’s “Music Triangle” and performed the band version of “Get Out” for the first time.

Earlier this month, a representative of the band told Korean media outlet Star News that both AOA and AOA Black were prepping to make a comeback.

However, it seems like there’s a change of plan as the insider said that the new AOA sub-unit will be the first to have promotions this year. Details regarding the sub-unit are scarce, but it will reportedly consist of 3 members. They are also said to be in the final stages of preparations.

So, which members do you think will be included in this sub-unit? Any idea what their debut concept would be? Let us know in the comments box below.

On 26th January, various music insiders revealed that 3 AOA members will debut in mid-February as a sub-unit – Chanmi, Yuna, and Hyejeong. They are also expected to release their new track after the Lunar New Year holidays.

Unfortunately, that’s all the information that we have for now but with the Lunar New Year right around the corner, we’re sure that more details will be released soon :)

Happy month of February! Ushering in the new month are more details for AOA’s sub-unit :D

FNC Entertainment has unveiled a teaser website for the AOA sub-unit featuring members Chanmi, Yuna, and Hyejeong. It’s not accessible yet though because for now, it only features a cupcake design with cotton candy-coloured icing and sprinkles. In fact, not much else is known about the sub-unit except its official name, AOA Cream, and that the girls are set to release something on 12th February 2016.

The website will be “officially open” tomorrow (Tuesday, 2nd February).

At least it drops hints on what we can expect from AOA Cream’s concept. Something sweet and girly, maybe? ;)

Sources: Soompi (1) (2) (3), AKP, Wikipedia, Koreaboo.

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What? A “Friends” Reunion?

Ah, “Friends”. The 1994 till 2004 hit comedy TV series that propelled its central cast (Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer) to international fame. For us fans, it ended just as soon as it begun – and we admit, we miss it.

After being off the air for almost a decade, Friends suddenly began trending on Twitter on Tuesday night as rumours hit the web about a possible Friends reunion in 2014. Apparently, an NBC source confirmed to American channel E! that early discussions were being had about the possibility, although there was no “forward motion” on the project yet.

However, just as soon as they got our hopes up, the rumours were quickly slammed.

Another NBC Source additionally told E! Online that the supposed reunion was not true. After all, Friends executive producer Kevin S Bright mentioned last year that he wouldn’t support a movie version of the show, saying that Friends was made to be an intimate show in your living room. He also added that there would need to be a reason to justify the reunion.

Aww, shucks. Us missing the cast ain’t good enough a reason to justify a possible Friends reunion?

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G-Dragon Haunted By “Sasaeng” Fans

K-Pop fans, especially VIPs (what BIGBANG’s fans are called) reeled with shock last week when their favourite K-Pop idol tweeted that he has fallen victim to “sasaeng” fans. “Sasaeng” fans are overly obsessive fans that would go to extreme measures to stalk their idols and invade their privacy with questionable methods.

G-Dragon (real name Kwon Jiyong) took it to Twitter to say:

Translation: “These days younger kids are coming to my house. Even up to the door. I understand but I think this is going too far. My mom and sister are surprised when they come home at night. Stop hiding and don’t come to my house”.

The above tweet shocked his Twitter followers because “sasaeng” fans that never used to attack G-Dragon have now locked in their crosshairs on him and also because the idol rarely posts aggressive tweets. G-Dragon’s sister, Kwon Dami later explained the situation further when she said:

This is my first time feeling scared about the road going home. Since three days ago, I don’t know how Jiyong’s fans found out but they found out where we live and somehow managed to avoid the security guards to get through the front gate.

They were standing right at the floor where we live. Yesterday morning, when Jiyong was coming home, they were hiding where we keep our hydrant near the front door and came out right when he got in. Jiyong was so scared, he fell down.

Today, when I was going home after work, I met the kids again at the basement parking lot. We had to get the security guards in the early morning. Mom woke up in the middle of her sleep.

We’re so grateful that he has fans that love him but this is too much of a stress. It’s too scary coming home now.

G-Dragon is of course not the first idol to experience stalking from fans. Previously, popular K-Pop boy idol group TVXQ’s member, Changmin also revealed that he was a victim to “sasaeng” fans. So much so that he was even driven to seek counseling from the burden of being trailed wherever he went. He said the therapy helped him overcome the anxiety and that he’s fine now.

“Sasaeng” fans are nothing new to the Korean music industry. In fact, most successful and popular idol groups have once or twice fallen victims to them such as Super Junior, F.T. Island, 2PM, Shinhwa, JYJ, SNSD Girls’ Generation, etc.

What can we say? The price to pay for fame, huh? They definitely didn’t sign up for this when they first agreed to become trainees and then later, K-Pop artistes. Let’s just hope G-Dragon wouldn’t need to go to the extent that Changmin did.

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Fun Facts: Get To Know The Four Horsemen In “X-Men: Apocalypse”

There is a lot riding in the upcoming “X-Men: Apocalypse” as it will serve as Bryan Singer’s final instalment in the X-Men trilogy that began with “X-Men: First Class” and continued on to “X-Men: Days of Future Past”.

The final movie will follow the titular team of mutant superheroes led by Charles Xavier aka Professor X as they face off against an ancient and powerful mutant known as Apocalypse or En Sabah Nur. Interestingly, much of 20th Century Fox’s marketing has centred not on the big baddie himself but rather on his Four Horsemen.

Fox has released individual posters ahead of the film’s release to give some insight into the Horsemen’s personality traits and qualities that led each of them to work with Apocalypse. But to decode those clues, one should really be asking, who are Apocalypse’s Horsemen?

1. Magneto (Michael Fassbender): “Rage. Pain. Vengeance.”

You may be wondering, why would someone like Magneto serve a tyrant like Apocalypse when he has seen the aftermath of tyranny and fought for his people’s survival ever since? But after appearing in 5 earlier X-Men movies, Magneto is now at a low point.

In talking with Screen Rant, Fassbender explained that as a result of so many failed attempts to punish close-minded mortals, Magneto sees Apocalypse as the being that can actually finish what was started in “X-Men: First Class”.

“He appreciates that this guy is going to do what he couldn’t do. He’s got just so much more power than him, he’s such an immense force. In a way, it’s like that classic thing of joining any cult or radical group, he’s caught him at a very low, vulnerable point where he doesn’t really care anymore whether he dies or not or what happens, so he’s like, ‘Yeah I’ll join this guy. I’ll go on this path of judgment.’ Apocalypse is sort of bringing judgment to the Earth,” said Fassbender.

2. Storm (Alexandra Shipp): “Fury. Lost. Survivor.”

Storm aka Ororo Munroe comes from a royal line of Kenyan princesses, all genetically gifted in “sorcery” (or mutant abilities). After her parents were killed, she was left orphaned and had to wander the streets of Cairo until she eventually meets another western mutant.

“This Storm is a little bit different because you’re seeing all the pain that she’s gone through. The only mutants that she knows are the mutants who use their powers for stealing… So when she meets Apocalypse, she’s hit this revelation where she’s been struggling to feel like she belongs somewhere,” Shipp commented.

“What (Apocalypse) does is, he has the power to enhance your power. So while you’re around him, he’s got all these mega level mutants. He’s able to turn them into crazy-baboom level mutants. (Storm) has so many powers, but he doesn’t even know what her powers are when he meets her. He can just sense the level and that’s what attracts him to them… their level and their magnitude of power,” the actress added.

She continued, “I think that his plan for her in the movie is to protect him. Protect him with fog. Protect him with lightening. Blow away a missile. Blow away a plane. There is so much that she can do, and what he’s looking for is protection because he just woke up after a couple thousand years… She doesn’t know that she’s really good at being evil because she can be really good at anything with those powers.”

3. Psylocke (Olivia Munn): “Lethal. Fierce. Merciless.”

To casual fans, she’s simply known as Psylocke, but to devoted Marvel Comics fans, she is Betsy Braddock. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Herb Trimpe in 1976, Betsy Braddock first appeared in the Marvel UK series “Captain Britain”. Before becoming an X-Men member Psylocke in 1986, she was a supporting character in the adventures of her twin brother, Captain Britain.

Psylocke can generate a “psychic katana” and is immune to telepathic probes and attacks. She acquired the body, skills, and elements of personality of a Japanese female ninja after crime lord Mats’uo Tsurayaba captured her and switched her mind with the mind of his lover, Kwannon. She somehow acquired telekinesis and was given the power to travel via shadows by The Crimson Dawn.

Although Munn has confirmed that Psylocke’s origin story would be left off-screen, the actress isn’t too worried, saying, “There’s small, subtle references to (her origin) with Apocalypse. For people who love and know Psylocke, they will know who she is, fully formed. You would know her storyline. For those who don’t, it’s important for there to be an understanding of why she is there and what she means to Apocalypse and what her role is in all of this.”

4. Angel (Ben Hardy): “Savage. Dark. Fallen.”

Out of all the Horsemen, Angel – real name Warren Worthington III – is the only movie Horsemen who was also a comic book Horsemen. After a failed suicidal attempt, he was kidnapped and brainwashed by Apocalypse. It’s this event where Angel is transformed into the far more lethal, dark-skinned, metal-winged Archangel.

As a side note, Archangel happens to be Apocalypse actor Oscar Isaac’s favourite X-Men. What about y’all? Who is your favourite among the Four Horsemen?

“X-Men: Apocalypse” will be released in Malaysia on 19th May 2016.

Sources: Screen Rant, The Hollywood Reporter.

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Netflix’s “Sheng Wang: Sweet and Juicy” Review: Is This Comedian Funnier Than Nigel Ng & Ronny Chieng?

There was a time when Asian comics would only be known for rolling out rice jokes and tiger mom bits but since then we’ve seen something of an evolution from the lucrative stereotype. Comedians like Ali Wong have shown in her last special, “Ali Wong: Don Wong”, that there is a wealth of material outside of easy cultural and racial tokens. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not allergic to a good bit of self-deprecating stereotypes from time to time. Especially when it’s done well by comedians like our favourite Pinoy Boy, Jo Koy and the hilarious Jimmy O Yang, who did a fantastic job in “Silicon Valley”. That being said, there comes a point when your background becomes an easy crutch to lean on. This is where Sheng Wang piques our interest.

He at times does play into his Asian identity but his picture of how it shapes his perspective and humour is so idiosyncratic that it feels both familiar and fresh. Till this day, we still remember his gut-busting avocado joke. He’s been around the block, appearing in shows like “Last Comic Standing” and in the HBO comed special “2 Dope Queens” but the man has never had his very own comedy special. Until now that is.

Will we see him break new ground with “Shang Wang: Sweet and Juicy”? Let’s find out!

Unlike comedians like Nigel Ng’s Uncle Roger or Ronny Chieng, Sheng Wang doesn’t exactly have a big personality. He isn’t loud or boisterous. In fact, if you’re going off on nothing but his voice alone, it’s hard to tell if he’s even Asian! And yet, this is where the Taiwanese American comedian finds his niche and angle. He is absolutely deadpan in his delivery. Something that is extremely rare within the Asian entertainment circle, and for a good reason. It’s a very ballsy move. There’s always the risk of losing the audience due to low energy, or even getting heckled. However, Sheng Wang sticks the landing over and over again!

It is precisely because of his smooth, low voice and relaxed demeanour that his jokes are all the more funny. Sheng Wang has shown himself to be a master of incongruity. Ok, so without getting too technical, there is a theory of comedy called the Incongruous Juxtaposition theory. Basically, upon confronting something that subverts our expectations of how things should be, we find it absurd and humorous. Think of a monkey doing your tax returns or an MP actually doing their job. There’s a mismatch between what ought to be and what is.

So, hearing Sheng Wang wax poetic about ego death like a Zen Buddhist monk in his pursuit of cheap, affordable pants at Costco is utterly amusing to us. In some sense, there is truth in what he’s saying but the triviality of the subject matter is so unexpected that it catches you off guard. He is playing into the image of the enlightened Asian mystic but with all the real world sensibilities of a single uncle. It’s novel, it’s engaging and it’s something that feels like only Sheng Wang can do.

That being said, we wouldn’t recommend Sheng Wang to everyone. There will definitely be some folks out there looking for a bit more flair and hype in their shows. Comedians like the wickedly vulgar Ali Wong and the flamboyant British Malaysian Phil Wang could fill that void (even if one of them says his name way too many times). Unlike comedians like Bill Burr or Tom Segura, Sheng Wang doesn’t veer into culture war diatribes or spectacular gross-out stories.

A lot of his bits and jokes are related to millennial humour, namely towards trying to live your best life without having to break the bank. So yes, don’t expect him to do anything particularly spicy or political here. No, the taboos and lines he does cross are the ones we don’t often think about like willfully wasting paper at work or attending a church only to use its basketball court. As kiasu Malaysians, we found those lines absolutely hysterical! If you’re looking to sit in after work or for something to play in the background of a commute, “Sheng Wang: Sweet and Juicy” is the perfect way to mellow out with a chuckle.

There are times, though, when the comedian will break out of his quiet persona and adopt a blaccent when describing certain situations. Sometimes, it lands well like when he’s describing when he skipped merrily over to the drive-thru of a Wendy’s only to be told they can’t serve him on foot. Other times, it can be a tad grating. It’s not quite as pronounced as Awkwafina’s but it is a noticeable feature of the comedian. For us, it wasn’t really a big deal because most of the time, the accent isn’t just there for a quirk. It’s meant to play into the incongruity of this nerdy Asian guy spitting mad bars as he reads a children’s book to his friend’s toddler. In short, it’s in service to a greater theme of his character.

If you’re thoroughly done with cliched Asian jokes about price-maxing, bordeline abusive parenting and competitive spice-eating then Sheng Wang is the man for you. The comedian absolutely kills it in his first ever Netflix special, “Sheng Wang: Sweet and Juicy”. Methodical in his setups, deeply insightful in his observations and distinctly zen in his delivery, Sheng Wang is a unique voice in the comedy world that deserves to be heard. The man has avoided going for low hanging fruit and like any self-respecting grocer, goes for only the freshest of content. Admittedly, he’s not quite as memorable as the baby-hating Phil Wang but in time, he’ll be as big as Bobby Lee!

You can now check out “Sheng Wang: Sweet and Juicy” on Netflix today!

If you're thoroughly done with cliched Asian jokes about price-maxing, bordeline abusive parenting and competitive spice-eating then Sheng Wang is the man for you. The comedian absolutely kills it in his first ever Netflix special, "Sheng Wang: Sweet and Juicy". Methodical in his setups, deeply insightful in his observations and distinctly zen in his delivery, Sheng Wang is a unique voice in the comedy world that deserves to be heard.


7 Malaysian Movies You Can Now Watch On Netflix

For many of us, weekends are now reserved for Netflix and chill.

With so many new content added to the giant streaming platform every month, Malaysians can now look forward to more local productions to watch. In case you don’t, Netflix is currently Malaysian writer Yangsze Choo’s New York Times best-selling novel, “The Ghost Bride” into a series.

Other Malaysian content has been added on the service. They include:


#FreeSeats: Grab It Quick! AirAsia & AirAsia X Are Offering 3 Million Free Seats

AirAsia and AirAsia X are offering 3 million promotional seats to all destinations with base fares starting from RM0 (excluding airport taxes, fees, and other optional services) and available on airasia.com from 23rd – 29th November 2015.

The travel period for the “free seats” promotion will be from 1st May 2016 until 5th February 2017, with priority redemption 24 hours ahead (from 0001hrs 2359hrs (GMT+8) on 22nd November for AirAsia BIG members, AirAsiaGo users, BIG Prepaid MasterCard, and AirAsia Citibank card members.

Countdown to tonight’s FREE SEATS @ 00:00 (GMT+8)! Here are the destinations up for grabs https://t.co/lqYGdnOWco pic.twitter.com/76ZTtBU9zE

AirAsia X is also restarting its direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to New Delhi, India with 4 weekly flights starting 3rd February 2016, it said in a statement.

To celebrate the restart of New Delhi from Kuala Lumpur, AirAsia X is offering all-in-fares from as low as RM399 one way for the same booking period, with the travel period from 3rd February 2016 until 5th February 2017.

AirAsia BIG members can also enjoy the same priority flight redemption starting from 22nd November, with these introductory fares at airasiabig.com.

Time to plan for those long weekends in 2016 and book those flights to Busan or Hong Kong, eh?

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Alicia Keys: Like Fire

In the past decade-and-a-half, she has released multiple albums, won armfuls of awards and accolades, become one of the American music industry’s most notable singer-songwriters, gotten married to hip hop producer Swizz Beatz, given birth a baby son, appointed new Global Creative Director of BlackBerry, etc.

At 32 years old, you’d think that she would slow down just a little considering how demanding her personal life must be. But no, there ain’t no stopping this “Girl on Fire” just yet.

In November 2012, Alicia Keys released her fifth studio album, a 13-track LP. The album debuted at #1 on the US Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 159,000. You can imagine how long we’ve waited for it to come to our shores – and it finally has!

The empowering title track of the same name, “Girl on Fire”, won us over big time. As you can expect, Alicia Keys brings out her strong vocals in this piece. But it’s her writing skills that continue to receive high praises from us. Check out these inspiring words:

You can try but you’ll never forget her name,

Oh, we got our feet on the ground, and we’re burning it down.

Oh, got our head in the clouds, and we’re not coming down.

This girl is on fire, this girl is on fire,

She’s walking on fire, this girl is on fire.

And nice movie on getting Nicki Minaj to “break the mould” of a “standard Alicia Keys type song” with her infectious rap:

[youtube id=”J91ti_MpdHA” width=”600″ height=”350″]

We also loved “Brand New Me“, particularly how it playfully tugs at our heart at the very beginning with its piano-driven melody. As a matter of fact, the first half of the song comprises of nothing but Alicia’s voice and the piano. Because, you know, with talent like hers, why would you need anything else, right?

If you listened closely enough, you’d realize that “Brand New Me” ain’t no ordinary love song – it’s a way, way subdued version of Gloria Gaynor’s “Weren’t you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye? Did you think I’d crumble? Did you think I’d lay down and die? Oh, no, not I, I will survive”. Yes, some lashing out at an ex and a declaration of independence:

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

Last but not least, we can’t go without talking about Alicia Keys’ first musical collaboration with none other than her own husband, Swizz Beatz aka the defining moment for Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire” album. Sure, she channels a little bit of Rihanna with her “Eh, eh, eh, eh” (read: “Umbrella”) but “New Day” does stand out amongst the rest of the songs in the album. It’s also armed with some driving, hard-hitting beats enough to classify it an anthem.

And you know what they say, best to grow old but never grow up. She’s definitely all fresh and young with this one!:

[youtube id=”wOSv1TIa58M” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Alicia Keys has come a long and far way since 2003’s “Diary Of Alicia Keys”, but we’re not complaining. Lawsuit what? We don’t care. Pick up a copy of “Girl on Fire” from your nearest music store today!

Alternatively, you could also purchase “Girl on Fire” via iTunes here.

For more information, visit her official website or send her your love via her Twitter account.

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#Olympics2020: IOC Confirms 5 New Sports For The Tokyo Olympics, Including Skateboarding & Surfing

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to add 5 new sports, which are baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing, to the Olympic program for the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. Apparently, the new categories were all recommended by the Tokyo organisers recently.

According to BBC, the executive board of the IOC described the new sports as “a dynamic and exciting package” and hoped that the “innovative” move will draw in more younger audiences. The addition does not replace any of the 28 already on the Tokyo schedule and it is expected to add at least 18 events and 474 athletes to the Summer Games in 2020.

“We want to take sport to the youth. With the many options that young people have, we cannot expect any more that they will come automatically to us. We have to go to them,” said IOC president Thomas Bach.

Besides that, Tokyo Olympics 2020 president Yoshiro Mori said that the inclusion of the new sports can help many young aspiring athletes to realise their dreams of competing in the Games.

The Olympic Games are the world’s biggest sporting spectacle. They are divided into a summer and winter Games, held every 4 years by a single city. This year, the Summer Games take place in Rio, Brazil from 5th – 21st August.

What do you think about the new sports? Do you think the addition is a good move? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below :)


#Split2: Returning Characters & Plot Details For Sequel Revealed

For moviegoers who have been wondering if there will be a sequel for “Split”, you will be pleased to know that director M. Night Shyamalan has been working on the next instalment.

If you’re reading this post, then we assume that you’ve already watched “Split”, cause there are plenty of spoilers ahead. The filmmaker recently made an appearance on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, where he offer up what could potentially be taking place in “Split 2”.

Towards the final moment of “Split”, we saw David Dunn (Bruce Willis reprising his role from “Unbreakable”) eating in a diner where there was a news report on the TV about James McAvoy’s character Kevin Wendell Crumb, who the media has termed “The Horde”.

When the lady beside him says that The Horde reminds her of a former criminal, David Dunn suggests that perhaps she’s referring to Mr. Glass a.k.a. Elijah Price (played by Samuel L. Jackson in “Unbreakable”).

Shyamalan said, “My thought bubble would be—again don’t hold me to this—but Elijah never got out of the institution. He was just a guy who believed this, but David doesn’t quite 100% believe it that way, he just thinks that he is particularly meant to do this and is kind of faded a little bit. Like this idea of comic books that Elijah was saying the comic book world is based on reality, that it’s real—there’s no other evidence for this. It’s this crazy guy who has this bone disorder who’s in an insane asylum. But then this comes up and he’s like, ‘Oh my God, he’s right.’”

The filmmaker also confirmed that he already has plans to have Willis and Jackson join McAvoy in “Split 2”, revealing Jackson’s reaction when he told him about the news. “I said, ‘You know I might be doing this movie and I might combine these two movies, I don’t know if you’re interested in playing Mr. Glass [again],’ he’s like ‘I’m dying to play Mr. Glass! I keep telling you every time I see you!’” shared the director.

Although Shyamalan didn’t go into specifics, he did share that “Split 2” or the 3rd “Unbreakable” movie (since “Split” technically counts as the 2nd) has to stand on its own. “All I can say is this: If ‘Unbreakable’ was about a guy who is the only person who survives a train wreck, everyone dies and he doesn’t have a scratch on him. How is that possible? That’s a high concept, really cool story,” he said.

He continued, “And then this one is 3 girls get abducted by a person that has this disorder that he believes he’s many people, and all of the different personalities are saying there’s another personality coming to get them, it’s called The Beast. That in and of itself is a really cool thing. This third movie needs to have its own idea. The high concept of that final movie can’t be, ‘It’s the final Unbreakable.’ There has to be something about that that makes it its own movie… That’s when I’ll be happiest, is when it’s its own movie. In a way it could be watched by itself.”

Of course, “Split 2” is still in its infancy and Shyamalan’s current ideas could very well change, but for those of y’all who are interested in listening to the full podcast can do so here.

Also, feel free to check out our movie review for “Split” here.

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#Shell: “Gadis Air Mineral” Pop-Up Ad Removed After Complaints Of Shock

In the recent weeks, an in-store advertisement at Shell petrol stations nationwide has gained the attention of Malaysian netizens.

You may or may not have seen the ad which featured a lady (presumably a Shell employee) holding a bottle of mineral water. The pop-up image of the lady (or “gadis air mineral” aka mineral water girl/lady, as she is known to netizens) can be found pasted on the side of a Shell petrol pump.

While some patrons found the ad humorous and even posed next to it for pictures, others were not as amused.

“It gives me a heart attack every single time especially when I’m pumping petrol at a Shell station at night. Plus, no offense to Shell Malaysia but the pop-up format is totally unnecessary. I keep thinking that it’s a ghost,” a source who declined to be named said to us.

Another revealed, “After so many cases of people getting robbed or mugged in petrol stations, the last thing that we need is a pop-up ad that shocks patrons into thinking that someone is creeping up on them.”

Following multiple complaints about the ad, 25-year-old Nor Shafila Khairusalleh, the girl on the pop-up whose face would often shock unsuspecting customers, stepped up to apologise.

A Shell employee herself, she first explained that she got the “job” when she took part in a contest that involved all Shell Malaysia service staff. “I was chosen to be on the cover of the ‘Training Pack’ service personnel. Subsequently, in September, I was called by Shell to undergo filming for an ad campaign promoting BonusLink points redemption,” Harian Metro quoted her as saying.

“I didn’t expect such a response and I was surprised that it went viral on social media,” she said, adding that she was sorry for shocking patrons.

Last we checked, the pop-up ad has since been removed. In its place is a nearly bare ad save for an outline of Nor Shafila and text that reads, “Maaf Kalau Terkejut – Gadis air mineral -“

Translation: Sorry if I shocked you – Mineral water lady/girl.

But just in case you miss her, try spotting her when you’re on the road sometime because we hear that there have been sightings of her on random vehicles.

Sources: babab.net, Harian Metro, mynewshub.cc, hasrulhassan.com.


Hype’s Now Playing: Zee Avi – Arena Cahaya (“Ola Bola” Official Theme Song)

US-based Malaysian singer-songwriter Zee Avi is on a roll.

Just 2 weeks ago, Zee mesmerised fans by contributing her beautiful vocals to “Sudi Menyanyi“, a song that she collaborated with Gamaliel Audrey Cantika from Indonesia and Up Dharma Down from Philippines for Oreo’s #Wonderfilled campaign.

Today, the singer serenaded us again with a new track that she sang for “OlaBola”, an upcoming local movie helmed by director Chiu Keng Guan.

Set in the 70s, “Ola Bola” is touted as the “biggest football movie in Malaysian film history”. It will be Chiu’s first feature film since the massive success of 2014’s “The Journey“.

A self-proclaimed footaball enthuasist, Chiu said the movie will centre on “a multicultural team of Malaysian footballers struggling to overcome personal and collective hardships together as a team and create the most triumphant zero to hero story”.

Zee said that she agreed to sing for the movie after Chiu contacted her through Facebook chat. She made her way back to Kuala Lumpur to meet the director and came up with the song almost immediately after watching several scenes of the movie.

Not only did she sing for the song, she also played the guitar and was involved in the music arrangement. Chiu apparently approved the song without even altering its music or lyrics because it perfectly captures the movie’s spirit.

Titled “Arena Cahaya”, the song was co-produced by Zee and her fellow US-based singer Rendra Zawawi.

The song is written in 2 languages, Malay and English, to reflect a country like Malaysia that is made up of diverse cultures.

“It is my sincere hope that through this song, Malaysians will be brought together by what unites us in harmony, and be reminded of the moments when we fought against all odds towards a common goal,” she added.

Premiered on all the major radio stations in Malaysia today, the song has its own lyrics video on movie giant Astro Shaw’s official YouTube channel, which you can watch below:

No further details regarding the movie are revealed, but it is expected to arrive in theatres sometime in early 2016.

For more information about Zee Avi, visit her ofifical Facebook page.

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#MalaysiaBoleh: IKEA Soft Toy Designed By 7-Year Old Malaysian Now Available Worldwide

The IKEA Soft Toys for Education campaign, a good cause partnership between the IKEA Foundation, UNICEF and Save the Children, returns for its 13th iteration in the lead up to the Christmas and year-end gifting season.

For the first time this year, IKEA is introducing SAGOSKATT, a limited collection featuring characters created by 10 children from across the globe.

Among this new collection is the masterpiece of Terrence Wan, a 7-year old Malaysian boy. His creation, a lovable dragon with a toothy smile, was merely a figment of Wan’s imagination when he participated in the Global Soft Toys Drawing Competition last year.

As one of the top 10 characters chosen to become patterns for the limited collection, Wan’s creation is turned into a fluffy hand puppet and sold at IKEA stores.

“In order to give children a better life, they need to be given access to quality education. Children in some parts of the world simply do not have access to such basic necessity. Through the Soft Toys for Education campaign, we can help provide this opportunity to them. We are proud that for 13 years now, we have been able to contribute to this cause so that likemindedorganisations can continue enable the education that the children deserve all over the world,” said Gerard Jansen, Store Manager of IKEA Damansara.

Every year, the IKEA Foundation donates €1 (approximately RM4.25) for every soft toy sold in participating IKEA stores in November and December. The donation goes to Save the Children and UNICEF, and is spent on children’s educational projects.

This year’s campaign holds a special place in our hearts. We never thought a simple kid’s drawing from Malaysia would have the power to help other children. Terrence is an example to all that no matter how small our contribution, anyone – even children – can help make a difference in other’s life.

Since the Soft Toys campaign began in 2003, the IKEA Foundation has donated €67 million to UNICEF and Save the Children, enabling more than 11 million children in 46 countries to have the access to quality education.

The campaign in Malaysia will take place from 8th Nov 2015 – 2nd Jan 2016 at IKEA Damansara, as well as IKEA Cheras when it opens.

The Soft Toys for Education campaign is held in conjunction with Christmas. As a provider of well-designed, functional, good quality and low-priced home furnishing, IKEA makes Christmas more exciting this year by sharing inspiration that helps consumers bring out the best in their year-end parties regardless of size – from a small tête-à-tête to a lavish feast.

For more information, hit up IKEA Malaysia’s Facebook page.


Westlife KL Concert Seating Plan & Ticketing Details Released

Westlife fans rejoice! We finally have more information on the quartet’s concert in Malaysia.

Concert organiser MacpiePro just released ticketing details and the seating plan for Westlife’s “The Twenty Tour” Live in Malaysia.

It was previously announced that Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne will be performing in Malaysia for a 2-day concert at Malawati Indoor Stadium. Since then, music lovers have been anxiously counting down the days to August.

Now that the ticket sales have been announced, you and your friends can start planning on which ticket seats to purchase. Mark your calendars cause ticket sales will officially go live next weekend.

To recap, the details to Westlife’s “The Twenty Tour” Live in Malaysia are as follows:

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#Shipsomnia: Full Lineup Announced; Music Legends Ready To Set Sail

First announced in April, Shipsomnia, the world’s first fully themed music and arts festival vacation cruise, is making its global debut with a statement-making line-up comprising more than 40 artists from the US, UK, Brazil, Colombia, Australia, and Asia including Singapore, Bali, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Manila.

The line-up – with the impactful mix of music legends, heavy-hitters, underground sensations, emerging stars and Ibiza favourites – is curated for music lovers.

The full artistes line-up will feature some of the world’s biggest global acts and they will be joined by more than 20 of their Asian and Australian counterparts from the top clubs and party promoters/labels in Asia and Australia, who would bring their unique sound to the festival-cruise – from nightclubs kyo (Singapore), Fly (Hong Kong), M2 (Shanghai), VH (Bali), and Blowfish (Jakarta) – which were part of Shipsomnia’s multi-city Asian club tour in May and June this year – alongside underground party promoters/labels Kolour (Bangkok), Irie Sundays (Manila), Sub Sonic (Sydney) and Habitat (Perth).

In total, Shipsomnia will feature more than 40 DJs, plus contortionists and aerialists from Mid-Air Circus Arts, on its power-packed showcase.

The one-of-its kind, experiential 5-night festival vacation cruise to the hottest destinations in Asia with one of the world’s finest musical sommeliers on the Costa Victoria that would be propped out with a magical aquatic theme with a steampunk twist, where legends of the sea come to life.

Limited tickets to Shipsomnia are still available. In just 12 days after its release in late May, 70% of tickets were snapped up. Revellers hail from more than 35 countries.

The 5-day, 4-night cruise will set off from Singapore on 2nd January 2016 to Phuket and Langkawi and back to Singapore on 6th January 2016.

Shipsomnia’s stop in Phuket will be an exclusive one for Shipsomniacs where the beautiful private island Banana Beach, Koh Hey (Coral Island) will be closed especially for the festival-cruise. The beach festival will be held at Coral Island or Koh Hey, as it is known to locals, on the white sand, picturesque Banana Beach.

Aptly named the S.O.S. Beach Festival (Save Our Seas), the festival aims to raise awareness on various environmental issues in an artistic and fun way.

The S.O.S beach festival also has a “Take only pictures, leave only footprints” philosophy. Some of the event proceeds will go to a non-profit, ocean conservation organization in Phuket.

Organised at a cost of about US$2.5-million, it’s expecting some 2,400 fun-seekers from around the Asia-Pacific region, and beyond.

Check out more pictures of the gorgeous, sprawling Costa Victoria cruise ship in the gallery below:

For more quick facts about Shipsomnia, go here.

For more information, hit up Shipsomnia’s official website or Facebook page.


E. L. James To Release New Christian Grey Novel This November

Just because the “Fifty Shades” movie franchise is coming to an end doesn’t mean we’ve seen the last of it.

Yesterday (Tuesday, 10th October), E. L. James took to social media to announce that she will be releasing a new book titled, “Darker: Fifty Shades Darker as Told by Christian”. Based on her original 2011 novel, the narrative is told from Christian Grey’s point of view.

As you may know, “Darker” is the sequel to James’ 2015 novel, “Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian”. “Hello all. I’m delighted to let you know that Darker: Fifty Shades Darker as told by Christian will be published in the US and UK on 28th November 2017. Other territories to follow. I do hope you enjoy it. Much love,” the 54-year-old author wrote.

“The inside of Christian Grey’s head is a fascinating place to be. In ‘Grey’ we got the first glimpse of what makes Christian tick, but in ‘Darker’ we go deeper, into his most painful memories and the encounters that made him the damaged, demanding man Ana falls in love with. Writing this novel has been a journey of discovery, and I hope readers will find what I’ve learned as compelling as I did,” James said in a statement.

Last year, James gave her followers a sneak peek at the copy when she shared an image of 2 pages from the book on Facebook. In it, her male protagonist is sitting anxiously in his car, waiting for his leading lady to come out of work and meet him. Readers will also get a better insight into Christian’s dark past and his new rekindled relationship with Anastasia.

In the meantime, feel free to check out the “Fifty Shades Freed” trailer here. The upcoming instalment will hit theatres on 9th February 2018.

Sources: E! News, Pop Sugar/ Featured image: Facebook.

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Every MCU Phase 4 Film Ranked From Worst To Best

With “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” finally hitting theatres, it marks the end of the fourth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). A beautiful, heartfelt tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman for sure. As emotionally satisfying as the film was, it’s time to take stock of Marvel’s Phase 4. Honestly, if we were asked to name a single theme that runs throughout all of the films of this era, we would be hard-pressed to find anything coherent or binding. Don’t get us wrong, there were some bright spots for sure but overall, Phase 4 as a whole has been quite underwhelming in its setup for the future of the MCU and the Multiversal Saga.

In light of that, we figured that now would be a great time to finally run down all the cinematic properties of Phase 4, seeing where Marvel Studios excelled and where they fell short. We’re ranking every film in this period from worst to best. Do note that we’re not including TV specials like “Werewolf by Night” or “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special”. With that in mind, let’s get into it!

Even the most die-hard fans of Jack Kirby’s comic book series would struggle with “Eternals”. While Director Chloe Zhao’s desire to bring this obscure and fascinating part of Marvel mythology to life is noble, the film is handled very much like a prolonged and droll history lesson. Safe for Barry Keoghan’s Druig and Kumail Nanjiani’s Kingo, the rest of the cast’s talent is wasted on animating a plot that seems less interested in grounding its chaotic narrative in any meaningful focus than it does in zipping across exotic locales and hammering the audience over the head with its space-opera exposition. Congrats, we know Thanos has a handsome brother, Kit Harrington gets to play with swords again and Marvel’s space gods are terrible parents…yay.

LGBT controversy aside, there’s nothing much that can be said about “Thor: Love and Thunder”. This is a shame because it seemed like the film could have been a moving exploration of Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and his desire to find himself in a world without family or destiny. It could have been a poignant tale of grief and love as Thor reunites with his first love, Jane Foster only to lose her again. Too bad Director Taika Waititi couldn’t stop making funny faces and mostly-passable quips for more than five minutes to give the film any sort of emotional stakes. The greatest of its sins, however, is dragging the formidable Christian Bale into this mess only to have him play one-quarter a compelling foe, and three-quarters a mustachio-twirling joke. This whole film is a joke, and not a very funny one.

We’re sad that we’ll never see Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow return to the MCU again. We’re disappointed that this is how they chose to send her character off. Natasha Romanov has always been something of an enigma in the MCU. Her shady past as a government weapon brushes up against her more human desires for love and family. A spider caught in her own web. “Black Widow” started with promise with a fun cast of characters like Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova and David Harbour’s Red Guardian. However, the film made the terrible decision of rendering Taskmaster a boring, brain-washed puppet and elevating Ray Winston’s Dreykov to be the cliched mastermind figure. “Black Widow” misses the mark but is definitely not the worst of the lot.

It’s about time Sam Raimi made his return to Marvel! His first outing in the MCU with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” marks the franchise’s first foray into the genre of horror. How did he do? While we’re not leaving the theatre with nightmares that’s for sure. Still, there were enough creepy thrills and mind-blowing visuals to keep us engaged throughout. “Multiverse of Madness” could have easily made it into our top three but Scarlet Witch’s out-of-nowhere turn to the dark side made no sense! Even those that argue that the Darkhold played a role in her corruption have to admit that her sudden shift was out of character with the Wanda we saw at the end of “WandaVision”. Also…we’re still mad about how the Illuminati was taken out like a bunch of chumps. What a waste.

Simu Liu’s Xu Shang Chi is easily one of our favourite new heroes in the MCU roster. Director Destin Daniel Cretton deftly weaves familial drama with comic-book film heroics to create a film that is more than just formulaic Marvel with an Asian twist. From Awkwafina’s adorkable Katy to Meng’er Zhang’s vengeful Xu Xialing, “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” populates its corner of the MCU with characters that feel as established and natural as the gods of Asgard. The clear star of the show though is definitely Tony Leung as the power-hungry, stern Wenwu, who paints a sympathetic yet fearsome portrait of a grieving husband and manipulative father. The whole Dweller in Darkness subplot didn’t do much for us but thankfully a generous amount of stunning martial arts sequences and strong performances more than makes up for it.

Ryan Coogler proves that he is one of the most exciting storytellers within the MCU. Considering the number of changes he needed to make to “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” in light of lead star Chadwick Boseman’s passing, it’s a miracle that the film came together so well. Letitia Wright as Shuri admirably steps up to the role of the new Black Panther with a unique voice of her own. One that echoes the rage of Killmonger and the compassionate wisdom of T’Challa while also carrying the levity of Shuri’s personality. Tenoch Huerta’s powerful performance as Namor and Coogler’s fresh reimagining of Marvel’s Atlantis as Talokan provided a worthy foil to Wakanda at its weakest. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” never sacrifices its heart for spectacle, rather it marries the inner struggle of personal loss with the devastation of war to impressive effect. A wonderful way to honour both Boseman and T’Challa!

We don’t care how old or jaded you are. You’re lying if you said you didn’t scream your head off when our three boys came swinging on screen. We almost broke our damn seats! Now, this is how you do nostalgia. This is how you honour the legacy of the past and build on the promise of the present. We won’t lie, we always did feel that Tom Holland’s Peter Parker never quite lived up to Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield’s rendition of the character. There was something missing from him, some edge or pathos. Owing to Willem Dafoe’s titanic contribution as the menacing Green Goblin, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man has finally arrived. He is no longer a boy living in the safety of friends and family. We truly believe that the MCU’s Peter has what it takes to become a symbol of hope and justice to the world. “Spider-Man: No Way Home” is an intertextual triumph and the very best that Phase 4 has to offer!


Britney Graces ELLE October 2012

She’s come a long a far way since bubblegum pop. We’ve watched her bask in glory of the peak of her career, witnessed her turmoil and break downs, criticized, praised, you name it. Yet, at the end of the day, Britney Spears still holds a special place in our hearts.

Admit it – she made you giggle when Korean star and YouTube sensation Psy turned up on Ellen DeGeneres’ “The Ellen Show” and taught 30-year-old Britney the dance moves to “Oppa Gangnam Style”:

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And because she’s Britney Spears, we can’t think of someone better to have been chosen to grace the October issue of ELLE magazine. In a studded Versace dress, no less!

After all, she did make a huge comeback this year when she joined “The X-Factor”, alongside Simon Cowell and Demi Lovato.

Sporting a slimmer figure, the American pop superstar flaunts all that she’s got in various poses and even spills on the origins of her relationship with fiancé Jason Trawick. Of course, Britney (being Britney) stops Jason from spilling too many details since she reportedly made the first move.

In the October issue, Britney also reveals that she’s not glitz and glamour all the time. She says that she prefers jeans and sweats over “makeup-and-hair-ready” every time she goes out because she’s a tomboy at heart. We say, fine by us. Whatever you’re most comfortable in, Britney!

And as for haters? She says, “I guess I’ve been under the microscope so long that I don’t even pay attention to the nonsense anymore. I gave up getting upset about things people make up about me a long time ago.”

We have a feeling this issue is going to break sales records. Want to read the full interview? Go grab the October issue of ELLE magazine. (Source)

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Oh, What? An Archie Comics Feature Film? Yes!

Comic book teenagers Archie, Veronica, Betty, and Jughead are coming to the big screen for the first time in a new live-action feature film based on the long-running “Archie” comic series, its publisher said yesterday.

The comedy will be produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and will feature the lead “Archie” characters in a high school in present-day Riverdale, the fictional backdrop of the series, Archie Comics said in a statement on its website.

“Archie” began in 1941 and became a comic book empire for Archie Comics, which has produced numerous series featuring the main characters. The comics have been adapted for television in animated and live-action series in the past, as well as a television movie featuring an adult Archie, but this is the first time in the comic book’s 72-year history that a feature film will be made.

Red-haired Archie Andrews is well-known in American pop culture, along with his long-running love triangle with the brunette Veronica Lodge and blonde-haired Betty Cooper and antics with best friend Jughead Jones, the publisher said.

Jon Goldwater, publisher and co-CEO of Archie Comics, said in the statement:

We are thrilled to be working with Warner Bros. on this project and have complete faith in their ability to bring Archie to the big screen in a way the fans will love. The new film will be directed by Jason Moore, the filmmaker behind 2012’s musical comedy “Pitch Perfect”.

No additional information has been provided as of yet.


Beyoncé Gets Under PETA’s Skin For Super Bowl Costume

Someone give B a heads up because one of the best moments in her career and her Super Bowl XLVII costume is just about to get ripped apart by animal rights activists, PETA. Sure, we loved Beyoncé’s performance, but PETA is anything but pleased. Why?

You know that spectacular costume Beyoncé wore for her Super Bowl XLVII appearance? It’s a multi-piece jacket, leotard, and skirt design by Rubin Singer and took about 200 hours to assemble. Its “pieces” include an incorporation of python and iguana skins, and trapunto-pick stitched leather (also known as cowhide).

What? Skins of sorts? Sound the warning bells!

Upon the “discovery”, PETA immediately issued a statement criticizing B’s outfit:

We would take a bet that if Beyoncé watched our video exposés, she’d probably not want to be seen again in anything made of snakes, lizards, rabbits or other animals that died painfully. Today’s fashions are trending toward humane vegan options, and Beyoncé’s Super Bowl outfit missed the mark on that score.

Personally, we’ve got nothing against anything Beyoncé’s Super Bowl XLVII-related but we guess it ain’t a fashion faux pas until PETA says that it is? Let’s hope B doesn’t don any more animal skin/combination of animal skins for her upcoming world tour, huh?


Super Junior To Go On “Super Show” World Tour

In March (next month!), K-Pop super boy idol group Super Junior will embark on their world tour. Known as their annual “Super Show”, this will be the group’s fifth installment to date. The first three “Super Show”s were concerts held all across Asia. Last year, Super Junior went on their first ever world tour.

Held annually since 2008, the tour has been a huge success, gathering over 900,000 fans. The first of the “Super Show 5” concerts will be held in their home ground, Seoul, on 23rd and 24th March (Saturday and Sunday). After which, the boys will then travel through China, Japan, South America, and Europe.

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According to their management, SM Entertainment, Super Junior has been working on both being a group as well as concentrating on their solo activities. They also said to expect the boys to “show off colours and charms” via their “Super Show” tour.

Overseas fans will even be given a chance to participate in a global overseas fan four as SM C&C will be selling concert packages from 18th February 2013 (Monday) onwards. This will allow international ELFs to attend the first “Super Show 5” concert.

Although, there has be no word yet about whether the boys will be headed our way. We’ll update as soon as we know. Keep your fingers crossed! Meanwhile, for more information, visit their Facebook page.

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Get To Know The Main Characters In “The Witcher: Nightmare Of the Wolf”

Netflix has unveiled another look of the world of “The Witcher” in “The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf” in a new teaser trailer on Wednesday (21st July). The teaser also reveals the first look at the images of the main characters along with the global voice cast.

In this anime origin story, the world of “The Witcher” expands the story about Vesemir, years before the Witcher became the mentor of Geralt of Rivia. Vesemir is a swashbuckling young Witcher who escaped a life of poverty to slay monsters for coins and glory. When a strange monster begins terrorizing a politically-fraught kingdom, Vesemir finds himself on a gruesome adventure that forces him to confront the demons of his past.

“The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf” is written and produced by Beau DeMayo, and co-produced by “The Witcher” Showrunner and Executive Producer Lauren Schmidt Hissrich and Studio Mir’s Kwang Il Han, who is also the director of the film.

Aside from the full teaser reveal, Netflix also shares the first look images of the main characters in addition to revealing the global voice cast that consists of 15 languages from 14 countries around the world. Take a look at the first look images of the main characters and the global voice cast down below:

Vesemir grew up as a servant on a nobleman’s estate, working long days for too little coin. He yearns to break free of his social standing and to explore the Continent to find his destiny.

Tetra Gilcrest is a powerful sorceress who is descended from one of the Continent’s first mages, Tetra believes magic connects all things of beauty. She and her followers work to keep peace on the Continent by ensuring that magic is not abused.

Deglan was raised on the harsh, unforgiving Skellige Isles and is the hardened warrior-leader of the Witchers. He is fiercely loyal to his “boys” and committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect them.

Lady Zerbst is a Kaedwen noblewoman who inherited her husband’s seat on the king’s advisory council after he passed at an early age. She has since risen to become one of the king’s most trusted advisors, and a fierce supporter of the Witchers.

The anime film will premiere exclusively on Netflix worldwide on 23rd August 2021. You can watch the new teaser trailer here:


(UPDATE) #Malaysia: GST To Be Imposed On More Than 60 Types Of Food Items From 1st July

Oh, it looks like we’ll have to start spending a little bit more on groceries next month.

From 1st July 2017 onwards, more than 60 types of food items, including certain seafood, vegetables, fruits, tea, coffee, spices, and noodles, will have the Goods and Services Tax (GST) imposed on them. The news was confirmed by Customs Department director-general Datuk Subromaniam Tholasy, who said that a full statement would be issued later today (19th June 2017, Monday).

Note: The single largest and divisive issue in the Malaysia Budget 2014 announcement was the introduction of the GST and abolishment of the 10% Sales Tax and 6% Service Tax (SST) starting 1st April 2015. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) currently has its rate fixed at 6%.

Previously, basic food/essential items such as rice, sugar, salt, flour, noodles, coffee, tea, cooking oil, all types of imported and local fruits, were exempted from GST. However, from 1st July 2017 onwards, the new items that will be levied with GST include eel, swordfish and imported fruits like avocados, figs, grapes, nectarines, cherries, and berries. Vegetables such as potatoes, long beans, peas, spinach, and sweet corn would also be taken off the GST zero-rated list.

Other items include bihun, kuey teow, laksa mee, and coconut oil.

“It’s only a few items not consumed by the masses,” The Star Online quoted Datuk Subromaniam Tholasy as saying.

The Customs Department has now cancelled the order which would have seen more than 60 types of food items levied with GST. In a statement, Customs Department director-general Datuk Subromaniam Tholasy said that the decision was made after the matter was referred to the finance ministry.

We can all heave a huge sigh of relief for now.

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#WorldCup: #GERvARG Final Faceoff

Barely a day after Germany demolished host country Brazil in a 7-1 score semi-final game, another World Cup benchmark has been made.

This morning’s game was the first World Cup semi-final ever, between #ARG and #NED, to run for 120 minutes without any goals. After which, the two countries found themselves battling it out in a penalty shootout. #ARG goalkeeper Sergio Romero sent Argentina into the World Cup final when he saved two penalties. The end score of 4-2 drove Argentina’s players to strip off their shirts in the rain at the Itaquerao Stadium and dance in front of their fans.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will now see a titan faceoff between #ARG and #GER in the final game which will take place at the Macarana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, 14th July at 3am (Malaysian time).

On the other hand, #NED (which has never won the World Cup) and #BRA will fight for 3rd place on Sunday, 13th July at 4am (Malaysian time). Catch the games here.

Meanwhile, the FIFA World Cup Trophy will once again be unveiled at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final and this year’s special guests primed to do the honours are none other than Carles Puyol as well as Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen. The trophy is housed in its tailor-made Louis Vuitton travel case, commissioned specifically for this purpose by FIFA in 2010.

This has been one of the most surprising World Cups ever, with equal amounts of strange and shocking incidents to boot even on the local front  – and it’s not over yet. It’s going to be a nail-biting, hair-tearing, cardiac-arrest-inducing weekend, guys


Marry Me Review: A Decent Option For A Valentine’s Day Date Night

Jennifer Lopez is back on the big screen! This time around with something a little less haram than her last major acting role. For those not in the know, the film “Hustlers” was banned for a theatrical release in Malaysia due to some very interesting scenes involving exotic dancers (don’t worry, you can now catch it on Netflix).

While she’s certainly made her name for herself in the music industry, her track record as an actor has not exactly been the best. Especially when it comes to romantic comedies like “Second Act” and “The Back-up Plan”. Don’t even get us started with the time she played a high-school teacher who got into an affair with a student in “The Boy Next Door”. The thriller film was horrifying…for all the wrong reasons.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, she’s making a comeback with the upcoming romantic-comedy film “Marry Me”. A film that seems to be based around a fictionalised version of the pop-star falling in love with an ordinary schmuck played by actor Owen “Wow” Wilson. So will Lopez and Wilson’s combined star power be a match made in heaven? Let’s find out!

Similarly to Addison Rae’s “He’s All That”, “Marry Me” follows the story of a famous celebrity, Kat Valdez, choosing some random guy to make him her beau in an effort to get back on top. Albeit, the budget for this film is much higher than the TikTok star’s Netflix film. This is JLo we’re talking about here afterall. Owen Wilson’s Charlie Gilbert is a nerdy, single father math teacher who just so happened to be there when Kat decides to marry him after realising her future fiance had cheated on her. Cue the cutesy relational mismatches before the romantic adjustment period, followed by personal conflict involving the couple reconciling their two worlds. Finally, we end with some sort of heartfelt speech and a healthy compromise between the two.

The big subversive angle that “Marry Me” tries to constantly sell you on is how Jennifer Lopez’s Kat is the free-spirited initiator to the relationship between her and Charlie. A role that’s typically reserved for men. Which is fine but when you stop to consider how she essentially bullied him into marrying her for the sake of publicity, you can’t help but feel your skin crawl. Imagine if a famous male rapper did the exact same thing to some poor random lady. She’d be utterly humiliated, and most likely harassed, if she said no. Needless to say, the basis in which their relationship is formed is deeply problematic and unsettling.

In spite of this issue, the film does have some really endearing scenes between Kat and Charlie. They open up to each other about their past, go on fun little trips together and even teach a class to dance. It’s all very cheesy and wholesome, made to appeal to the audience’s idea of authentic love. That being said, we couldn’t help but notice that “Marry Me”, much like “He’s All That”, seems to go to great lengths to prop up Jennifer Lopez’s talent as a singer and performer. All thinly disguised by the rather transparent analog of Kat Valdez. No matter how big a fan you are of the Latin singer, at some point you will winge at the level of pandering the film stoops to.

In fact, there are moments in which the plot beats of the film seem more concerned with trying to cram in another soundtrack by Lopez than to properly develop the characters’ relationship. Unfortunately, this all leads to a very emotionally, muddled climax involving a conflict that seems to have arrived out of nowhere. If you’re willing to overlook some of the more glaring plot issues of “Marry Me”, there’s still some fun to be had here.

Make no mistake, the dialogue in this film is utter garbage. It calls for the actors to recite some of the most brain-dead, inane lines we have heard in a long time. The writers very well could have been scrolling through Instagram looking for inspirational quotes while penning the script. If you take a shot every time you hear Jennifer Lopez’s Kat awkwardly spouts a cliche about life and love, you would have probably died of alcohol poisoning by the time the credits rolled. As for her performance itself, Lopez isn’t terrible in any way. A tad melodramatic at times but overall, she’s proven that she’s capable of carrying a lead role in films.

It certainly helps that she has Owen Wilson’s comedic chops to bounce off. The two do make for an odd but adorable pair with Wilson’s Charlie acting as the timid voice of reason to Kat’s wild, spontaneous energy. One particular scene involving the two attending a high school dance together was admittedly pretty heartwarming. Singer Maluma as Charlie’s romantic foil, Bastian was by far the most one-dimensional character out of the lot. His only purpose is to create some artificial love triangle between Kat and Charlie. Which, of course, ends exactly how you’d expect it to.

Earlier, we mentioned how “Marry Me” acted as a thinly veiled promo for Lopez’s new singles. While we totally stick by that statement, we would be lying if we didn’t say that our girl does have some bangers on here. “Love of My Life” has a bubbly infectious rhythm that echoes in your ear while “On My Way” delivers with some soaring vocals that does more to connote Kat’s grief that anything the screenwriters came up with. Expect to see these tracks blowing up the Spotify charts this February, or at least until Valentine’s Day passes.

The purpose of “Marry Me” is to push Jennifer Lopez’s singles and feed holiday-themed ticket sales. Once you’ve made peace with that fact, it becomes easier to enjoy “Marry Me” for what it is: a cheesy rom-com that does just enough to justify a date-night at the cinema. While the leads do a decent job at selling you the time-tested odd couple fantasy, it’s the music that stick with you. The story is simply a vehicle.

For all you lovers out there, you can catch “Marry Me” when it hits theaters on the 10th February!

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The purpose of "Marry Me" is to push Jennifer Lopez's singles and feed holiday-themed ticket sales. Once you've made peace with that fact, it becomes easier to enjoy "Marry Me" for what it is: a cheesy rom-com that does just enough to justify a date-night at the cinema. While the leads do a decent job at selling you the time-tested odd couple fantasy, it's the music that stick with you. The story is simply a vehicle.


tvN Movies Comes To Malaysia; Astro To Present “The Battleship Island” Star Tour

Astro customers will have even more movies to watch with the launch of tvN Movies, featuring blockbusters and critically acclaimed movies from Korea.

That’s right! Fans can soon enjoy both newly released movies and all-time favourite movies that they have always wanted to watch but did not have access to.

From 1st August 2017, tvN Movies will be available on demand on Astro GO and Astro TV and on Channel 435 offering first run and exclusive Korean titles ranging from action, thriller, romance, comedy to even horror. The stellar line-up features Korean stars and blockbusters such as “Master” (Lee Byun-hun, Kim Woo-bin), “Mood of the Day” (Moon Chae-won, Yoo Yeon-seok), “Train to Busan” (Gong Yoo), “The Age of Shadows” (Gong Yoo, Lee Byung-hun), “Like for Likes” (Choi Ji-woo, Kang Ha-neul), “One Way Trip” (Suho, Ji Soo), “Gangnam Blues” (Lee Min-ho, Kim Rae-won) and many others.

And that’s not all! Excited about the expansion of tvN Movies, Mr Samey Lee, CEO of CJ E&M HK remarked, “For the launch of tvN Movies on Astro, we are proud to present the Star Tour of ‘The Battleship Island’, the war action blockbuster opening in cinemas on 17th August, with participation by Best Actor Hwang Jung-min, heartthrobs So Ji-sub, Song Joong-ki and high-octane director Ryoo Seung-wan, aiming to promote quality Korean films in Malaysia.”

Agnes Rozario, Vice President Content Management Group of Astro, added, “Kicking off tvN Movies with the star-studded cast tour of the most talked about Korean movie of
 the year, ‘The Battleship Island’, is the icing on the cake and we are keen to do more. Song
 Joong-ki, So Ji-sub and Hwang Jung-min and director Ryoo Seung-wan fans will now get to see their idols live!”

From 1st August 2017, all Astro HD customers who subscribe to the Movie Pack will enjoy tvN Movies on demand and linear via Astro GO and Astro TV with movies subtitled in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese.

Some key titles that will feature on tvN Movies at launch include:

Hit up Astro’s website or CJ E&M’s website for more information on this Hallyu wonderfulness!


Contest: Win The Script’s “No Sound Without Silence” Album

Meet The Script: Danny O’Donoghue (vocals, piano), Mark Sheehan (vocals, guitar), Glen Power (vocals, drums). 3 Irish men who are as direct – as impassioned – as their songs.

The onetime studio whizzes who stepped up to form a band, then, on their last album, stepped front and centre. It was called #3, it featured the trio on the artwork, and did exactly what that no-nonsense cover and title intended.

“The last album was us stepping out in to the light,” affirms Danny, as impressive a speaker as he is a frontman, but now with a top-spin of telegenic confidence, courtesy of his 2 seasons judging on The Voice on BBC1. “We’d been the faceless band before that. We’d had 2 albums that were enormously successful but there was a disconnect – people might know the song but they wouldn’t know the band, or the name of the band.”

But now they’re back after their #3 world tour in 2013 tour which spanned 11 months and included shows throughout Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. And after selling 20 million records, with 5 platinum US singles (2 of which are triple platinum). The Script’s fourth album, “No Sound Without Silence”, is the sound of a band firing on all cylinders and channelling the momentum of their last, rocket-powered campaign. After finishing touring #3 at the end of last year, took a scant couple of weeks off, then quickly re-entered their studios in London and Dublin.

Their first single, the ultra-catchy “Superheroes”, was warmly received, as expected:

Like it? Wanna listen to the rest of The Script’s “No Sound Without Silence”? Then you’re in luck!

We’re got 10 copies of the album to giveaway to 10 lucky winners. Yes, that’s one copy of “No Sound Without Silence” per winner. Here’s what you gotta do to win one! Tell us:

E-mail your answers with your details (Name, IC, Contact number) to submit@hype.my and if you’re the winner, we’ll contact you via e-mail after the submissions have closed.

Special thanks to our awesome buddies from Sony Music Malaysia for making this contest happen!

For more information, visit The Script’s official website.

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(UPDATE) #ZooNegara: Adorable Panda Cub Ready To Meet The Public!

Get ready to have a “panda-tastic” time at Zoo Negara!

After nearly 3 months growing behind-the-scenes, the giant panda cub of Xing Xing (father) and Liang Liang (mother) is finally ready to meet the public from Tuesday (17th November) onwards.

On 16th November (Monday), National Zoo’s deputy president Rosly@Rahmat Ahmat Lana told reporters that visitors can meet the adorable panda cub from 2:30pm to 3:30pm daily.

“We are fully prepared to control the situation if too many visitors came at one time,” he said, adding that they’ve prepped everything following the much-awaited exhibition.

Currently weighing at 5.6kg, the baby panda has become quite the talk of the town since it was born in August this year. It hasn’t been given a name yet, but Malaysians are invited to pitch ideas for its name via a national naming contest. Acccording to Rosly, it is now able to crawl and walk, but still inactive.

A regular visitor of the National Zoo, Nizrul Khalid was quoted as saying that both he and his 3-year-old daughter were thrilled and could not wait to see the cub. “My daughter has imagined that the panda cub looks like her teddy bear…I want to take her to see for herself the differences between those 2 animals,” the 37-year-old father said.

Artikah Jaafar a big fan of giant pandas and the 26-year-old has apparently been following the news of the giant panda pair since their arrival in Malaysia. She was quoted stating that she was very happy that the cub would be meeting the public from Tuesday. “I will be among the earliest visitors to view the baby panda tomorrow,” she said cheerfully.

You better plan a trip to the zoo soon because the cub will be returned to China after its 2nd birthday.

Some lucky Zoo Negara visitors were amongst the first to meet the yet-to-be-named baby panda yesterday! The adorable panda is much larger now as compared to its last known pictures, and super cute :)

It made is official debut at Zoo Negara yesterday (17th November, Tuesday).

Visitors can meet the adorable panda cub from 2:30pm to 3:30pm daily.

Its parents Xing Xing and Liang Liang will remain here for 10 years based on the Malaysia-China Giant Panda International Conservation Agreement.

Earlier known as Fu Wa and Feng Yi, the panda pair arrived in Malaysia on 21st May last year as a symbol of 40 years of diplomatic relations between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing. They also gave Malaysia an opportunity to conduct panda-related conversation research.

For more information, visit Zoo Negara Malaysia’s website or Facebook page.


#Penang: Woman Shot 6 Times By Gunmen While Driving

Yesterday (Tuesday, 21st February), a 49-year-old businesswoman was shot dead by gunmen at Taman Pekaka, Penang. According to the police, the gunmen fired about 10 shots at her.

The victim, known as Ruby Lee Poh Ai, was hit 6 times in the chest, killing her on the spot. The incident happened around 5:45pm.

It is believed that the gunmen had been waiting for Lee to leave her office, which is a logistic company located at a building in Lebuh Pekaka 1, before killing her.

State Criminal Investigation Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Zainol Samah said, “The woman was driving at Jalan Pekaka 1 heading towards Bayan Lepas, when 2 men on a motorcycle approached the driver’s side and fired 10 shots at her.”

Zainol mentioned that her white BMW then crashed into a sports utility vehicle and swerved into Lintang Pekaka 9 before stopping near a double-storey house. He also shut down rumours about the incident being a gang-related case, adding that Lee was not related to any “Datuk”.

The case had been classified as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Police has urged the public not to speculate on the incident and asked for those with information to call the Rakan COP hotline at 04-269 1999 or any police station.

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Dream Theater To Bring “Images, Words & Beyond” Tour To Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Metal fans, are you in for a treat or what?

Well known for the technical proficiency of its instrumentalists, Dream Theater, the American progressive metal band, is coming to Malaysia.

Consisting of members John Myung, John Petrucci, James LaBrie, Jordan Rudess, and Mike Mangini, Dream Theater boasts an ensemble of some of the world’s best musicians, having won many awards from music instruction magazines.

In fact, guitarist John Petrucci was named #2 best metal guitarist in the “Top 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists” book by Joel McIver and one of the “Top 10 Fastest Shredders of All Time” by GuitarOne magazine. Jordan Rudess, on the other hand, is considered to be one of the greatest keyboard players of all time by many publications like MusicRadar, while John Myung was voted the greatest bassist of all time in a poll conducted by MusicRadar in August through September 2010. Dream Theater was officially inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2010.

Currently on their 25th anniversary tour, “Images, Words & Beyond”, the band took to their Twitter to announce their upcoming gig at Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on 2nd October 2017.

Just Announced: Kuala Lampur, Malaysia – Oct 2 at Plenary Hall https://t.co/ks5Rmfx3gh

— Dream Theater (@dreamtheaternet) August 7, 2017

As at time of writing, ticketing details have not been released. Just a quick heads up though. As far as we know, Plenary Hall has a seating capacity of only 3,000 so there’s a chance that tickets will be snapped up quite quickly!

Sources: Lowyat.NET forum, Dream Theater / Featured image: