#Android: Top 10 Best Free Apps We Cannot Live Without

Can’t leave home without your smartphone? We’ll take it to the next level and say that we can’t have a smartphone without some of our favourite apps. Whether it’s for play (read: music), for work (read: reading), or for time management (read: alarm), we’ve narrowed down some of our top 10 best/favourite free apps for Android phones. We’ve left out the usual social networking ones (read: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, Bolt, etc.), of course, because we’re pretty sure that those are already staples in most people’s smartphones.

Amazon’s Kindle app is a one-stop marketplace and ebook reader app that seamlessly ties to your Amazon account and lets you access your digital library across all your mobile devices. The app opens up to the Home screen which displays the lists of best sellers, editors’ picks, and popular sample books. You can either tap a book to go inside or long-press to do other things such as going to the beginning of the book, going to the last page read, or removing it from your device altogether. The highly configurable viewer lets you set font size, background and other features to your liking, making for a pretty good overall mobile reading experience. Extra features include a built-in dictionary, as well as Google and Wikipedia searches.

Who needs a Kindle device when you’ve got the app, eh?

Sure, this sounds like something you don’t need because what, a flashlight? Too simply! But wait, the Tiny Flashlight + LED app is greater than most other flashlight apps out there because not only can it turn your Android smartphone or tablet into a portable torch that lights your way, it also lets you go for solid colours, police-like blinking patterns, and even Morse code messages. No clue why any ordinary person would need to send Morse-coded messages. No clue if we even know anyone who can read Morse-coded messages.

But one thing’s for sure, the strongest pulling point of this app is its powerful widget, which allows light activation with a single tap.

A fan of comics and in dire need of an app that’ll make it easier for you to fangirl/fanboy all over your favourite comics? The Comics app by Comixology is a great place to start! It serves as an all-in-one comics viewer as well as a digital marketplace. Yup! The app allows you read your favourite titles and to buy and read comics from DC, Marvel, and a bunch of other publishers. That, on top of allowing you to sync your content across multiple devices. There are also specific DC and Marvel versions of the app available for the hardcore fangirl/fanboy in you.

Looking for a way to truly personalise your phone just the way you want it to look? Try Nova Launcher. The app is fast, sleek, and highly customisable, allowing you to design your home screen (with some very minor limitations) to your liking. Nova Launcher allows for options such as colour themes to icon packs, to icon grids and icon sizes, and scrollable docks to app drawer customisations, plus folder settings and even infinite scrolling. The app’s newer updates allows users to access KitKat UI features such as transparent system bars. By the time you’re done with this app, your home screen won’t even look like the standard Android home screen anymore!

While we’re still on the topic of customising, here, have another app that’ll make your smartphone’s theme complete. The gorgeous Timely Alarm Clock app is both an alarm and a clock. It replicates the functionality of the native Android clock app but boasts a cool resizable widget and customisable themes e.g. animated backgrounds, sounds. On top of that, we especially love how easy the app has made it for us to set alarms and snooze by turning the smartphone on its face. Big plus here too is of course its stylish and elegant night clock design that, yes, you can also customise for yourself. Love it!

With its 20 million odd track catalogue and major labels from around the globe on board, Spotify is the envy of most major music streaming players. Maybe it’s branding, maybe it’s the selection, but Spotify has long since won over music fans as well as some techies. Truly a star in the music streaming space, the app brings free listening options to its app’s users albeit with an ad-supported shuffle mode. But if you subscribe to Spotify’s USD9.99 premium service (like we have), you get an on-demand playback, ad-free listening pleasure, unlimited skips, and even the ability to download your songs or playlists.

Honestly, USD9.99 for Spotify’s premium service is super value for money. Do it and you might just put your iPod out of business.

Much like Apple’s iCloud, Google’s cloud storage aka Google Drive has lots of perks to offer. For starters, you get up to 15GB storage for free, and once you’ve exceeded that (though we must say that 15GB is a lot so we’re not sure what exactly you’re storing to hit that limit) you can rent 100GB of additional storage for USD1.99 per month. Google Drive has a host platform that’s accessible via web but it also has a smartphone app which looks pretty minimalistic and super easy to navigate, as well as fast and intuitive. With the app, you can store your files and access them wherever you go/are and whenever you need to, thanks to the sync function. So if you’re trying to save/clear up some space on your Android smartphone (or tablet), upload your files to Google Drive!

Why scramble to paste the text you’ve just copied on your smartphone into a virtual smartphone memo pad or an empty chat window somewhere to save for later so that you can copy another chunk of text when you can have a handy app to do it for you? The Copy Bubble app lets you to copy multiple elements to a clipboard and then allows you to access them quickly from a, get this, floating bubble widget. All have you do is long-press copy to copy a text or image, after which it’ll be automatically sent to Copy Bubble. After which, you may tap the floating bubble to access your copy history.

It doesn’t sound like that big of a deal now but trust us, it’s one of those apps that will make you ask, “Where have you been all my life?!” because we sure as heck did.

Don’t you hate it when you misplace your smartphone somewhere and just so happens that when you do, it’s on silent? It could have just been accidentally left in your car or at your workplace but for the first few minutes before you remember the last time you saw it, you panic. And panic madly! Luckily, Google’s official phone tracking service helps you locate your phone and it works with any device (smartphone, tablet) linked to your Google account. You just need to access the Android Device Manager through the web interface, which shows your device’s current location on Google Maps. An inset window displays information about your device as well as allowing you to change the device’s name, refresh the location information, remotely wipe your device, activate an alarm, and remotely lock your device.

They say that this is the best Android keyboard app that Android smartphones have ever seen and it’s hard to disagree. If you’re not familiar with it yet, allow us to introduce you. SwiftKey is an Android keyboard replacement which has previously won the Most Innovative App award at the Global Mobile Awards in Barcelona, Spain. Not only does it understand the patterns in your typing, it’s also good at predicting the next few words that you need to type. SwiftKey also learns from you e-mails, SMS, and social media accounts if you allow it to, in order to make their predictive text feature better. The app also has Android’s Swype-like Flow feature that lets you type by dragging your finger across letters in a single continuous motion.

Oh, you can also customise the look and feel of the keyboard to suit your phone’s theme, if you want. And that’s important because customisation.

Got any interesting Android apps that you’d like us to check out? Do you have any suggestions for Android apps that you’re currently using and would love to promote? Let us know in the comments box below!

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#Malaysia: Global Warming & Heavy Rainfalls To Affect Cameron Highlands’ Agriculture & Tourism

Uh oh, things aren’t looking too well for Cameron Highlands :(

It appears that due to global warming and El Nino, Cameron Highlands’ temperature is rising at an alarming rate and it is affecting many vegetable farms. To make matters worse, the heavy rainfalls of La Nina at the end of the year may trigger landslides that can destroy vegetable plots and endanger lives.

According to climate expert Professor Datuk Dr. Azizan Abu Samah, global warming caused a 0.5°C rise in temperature around the world over the past 10 years and studies show that the temperature in Cameron Highlands has risen from 0.2°C to 0.3°C.

He added that most of the legislation on keeping a balanced development in Cameron Highlands have been made, but nobody is enforcing it. “If we are able to manage the development well we can have the cake and eat it too. But we must not be too greedy,” said Azizan in an interview.

On the other hand, there is a 70% chance of La Nina hitting Cameron Highlands between October and December during the north-east monsoon season.

Heavy rainfalls and major clearings of forests for vegetable farming can lead to severe landslides, especially at slopes with a 25-degree inclination. Experts said that forests are better “exporters” of rain than vegetables because the vegetable soil gets saturated quickly and it cannot hold water.

“It is a major disaster that can kill. You are talking About tonnes and tonnes of soil moving.”

Already, there has been a landslide in Kuala Terla, a small town in Cameron Highlands, just days ago.

Known for its cold weather, breathtaking hilltop sights, tea leaves, and strawberry farms, Cameron Highlands produces 600 tonnes of greens every year and it is one of Malaysia’s most popular travel destinations.


#TopGun: A Sequel Is Happening & Tom Cruise May Return As Maverick

The 80s were such a magical time to be alive. Not only was it a time when MTV began airing actual music videos, but it was also considered the best decade for movies as a number of hit films such as George Miller‘s “Mad Max” and Stephen Spielberg‘s “E.T.” were born.

And now, according to Collider, Skydance Productions CEO David Ellison confirmed during a “Terminator Genisys” press-day interview in Berlin that a sequel to 1986’s “Top Gun” is finally in the works. Ellison said that the script is currently being written and that Tom Cruise may once again play Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, the leading role of the movie.

Directed by Tony Scott, “Top Gun” is an American action drama film that was inspired by the article “Top Guns” written by Ehud Yonay for California magazine. It centres on Cruise’s Maverick, a young Naval aviator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. Along with his pal Goose (played by Anthony Edwards), he gets the chance to train at the Navy’s prestigious Fighter Weapons School at Miramar in San Diego, also known as “Top Gun”. There Maverick fights the attitudes of the other pilots and an old story of his father’s death in combat that killed others due to his father’s error.

The film was a box office success as the 1986 action flick, which was on a shoestring budget of $15,000,000, grossed $353,816,701 worldwide. Due to its tremendous success, Paramount Pictures has been meaning to develop a sequel, with Cruise returning to star.

A sequel is further proven to be in the works when producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed at the 2013 “Produced By” conference that they have been trying to make the 2nd “Top Gun” film for the past 3 decades.

Despite Scott’s death in August 2012, he said:

We still want to do it with Tom (Cruise) and Paramount are still interested in making it. What Tom tells me is that no matter where he goes in the world, people refer to him as Maverick. It’s something he is excited about so as long as he keeps his enthusiasm hopefully we’ll get it made.

Since then, a couple of rumours surfaced online, with one of them suggesting that Cruise will only appear in a cameo role. Fortunately, Ellison refuted the online rumours by revealing that the sequel is going to be “Maverick playing Maverick”, suggesting that Cruise may reprise his role.

Justin Marks is writing the screenplay right now. He has a phenomenal take to really update that world for what fighter pilots in the Navy has turned into today. There is an amazing role for Maverick in the movie and there is no Top Gun without Maverick, and it is going to be Maverick playing Maverick.

As the original film took place 30 years ago, Ellison also explained to Collider that the sequel will emphasise on “drone technology and 5th generation fighters”.

When you look at the world of dogfighting, what’s interesting about it is that it’s not a world that exists to the same degree when the original movie came out. This world has not been explored. It is very much a world we live in today where it’s drone technology and fifth generation fighters are really what the United States Navy is calling the last man-made fighter that we’re actually going to produce so it’s really exploring the end of an era of dogfighting and fighter pilots and what that culture is today are all fun things that we’re gonna get to dive into in this movie.

Well, we are more than ready for some cool plane stuff, especially when the sequel is slated to arrive in theatres in IMAX and 3D.

But if you really need to why this movie is considered iconic, allow us to tide you over with Cruise’s charm in the following clip:

So, is this a “Yay!” or “Nay” for you? Who else do you think should join the sequel? Sound off in the comments section below.

Source: Collider / Image source: Comic Book Resources

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Why Are People Making Funny Faces At Their Smartphone Screens?

If you been noticing people (be it family, colleagues, school/uni mates, friends, or random strangers) unabashedly make funny faces at their smartphone screen as of late, don’t worry. It’s not because they know something and they didn’t let you in on the secret or joke.

It’s because of a new app called the FaceDance Challenge app.

As seen in the video above, it’s basically a facial recognition game that requires players to mimic different emoji that are shown onscreen to the beat of the background music. The player will have to match the expression of the emoji to gain points, as ridiculous as it may look.

It sounds incredibly silly too but the app has quickly spun off the “Face Dance Challenge” aka #FaceDanceChallenge, in which players all across Asia e.g. the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and now even Malaysia, compete to top each other and to see who can make the silliest face of all.

The (free, yes, FREE to download!) app, which is available for iOS and Android, was created by Vietnam-base DiffCat Game Studio. On Google Play Store alone, the app has been downloaded about 500,000 – 1,000,000 times. Who would’ve imagined that combining Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) and a person’s selfie game in an app would go viral?

#FaceDanceChallenge is doing pretty well on Twitter, and let’s not forget that it even has its own Facebook page, which allows the FaceDance players to gather around (albeit virtually) and communicate with each other. Funny face community, anyone?


MTV Sessions: The Temper Trap Live In Singapore!

MTV announced that The Temper Trap will be featured in the sixth installment of MTV Sessions taking place at Resorts World Sentosa’s Waterfront Studio on 16th May 2013 (Thursday). The five-member group will rock the stage with songs from their latest self-titled album which debuted at #1 on the ARIA Albums Charts in May last year and contained tracks such as “Need Your Love” and “Trembling Hands”.

The Temper Trap, consisting of frontman Dougy Mandagi on vocals and guitar, Lorenzo Sillitto on guitar, Jonny Aherne on bass, and Toby Dundas on drums found success with their 2009 debut album Conditions. The album sold nearly a million copies worldwide and led to a BRIT Award nomination for International Breakthrough Artist and two sold-out tours in the U.K. They burst onto the scene with hit single “Sweet Disposition” which made it into the soundtrack of U.S. romantic comedy 500 Days of Summer and was named Most Popular Australian Single at the 2010 APRA Music Awards.

[youtube id=”vN7HQrgakZU” width=”600″ height=”350″]

MTV Sessions is taped live in front of a 200-strong studio audience. It is a series of music shows created for regional and international entertainers to showcase their craft in a state-of-the-art studio environment. On top of performing their own songs, the artists also entertain audiences with personal favourites of remixes and covers. The show is produced locally and uses a revealing and casual format where the artists highlight their work and life through their music and personal experiences.

From now till 12th May, music fans who wish to catch The Temper Trap’s gig can take part in a weekly online contest here to win tickets to the music showcase on 16th May. Resorts World Sentosa will also be running a Facebook contest from 8th to 12th May to award passes. As part of the “WACKY WEDNESDAYS” series, fans will respond with their favourite song from The Temper Trap. Three entries will be chosen to win a pair of passes to attend the live event.

MTV Sessions with The Temper Trap will premiere on MTV SEA 1st June (Saturday) at 11:30am (WIB), 12:30pm (SG/HK/PH) and 1:30pm (MAL) with additional content available online here.


5 Things Shila Amzah Revealed About Her Role In BM-dubbed “Aladdin”

As we previously revealed last week, Malaysian songstress Shila Amzah has been cast to voice Princess Jasmine in the Malay-dubbed of Disney’s upcoming live-action feature “Aladdin”.

Apart from voicing the character, Shila will also be singing all the music in the film including a new song called “Speechless”, known as “Raungan Suara” in the Malay version.

Furthermore, Shila will also team up with AJL-winning singer Hael Husaini to sing the Malay version of the classic “Aladdin” tune, “A Whole New World”, known as “Dunia Baru”. The 2 songs will be released on Spotify and other music platforms on 24th May.

Disney’s live-action “Aladdin” will be the first foreign live action film to be released widely in the cinemas in Malay language alongside the English version. Both versions will be available in cinemas from 23rd May 2019 onwards.

“Princess Jasmine is a character of courage and self-determination, which are qualities that Shila Amzah embodies. The Walt Disney Company continually strives to collaborate with talented local artistes to bring relevant quality entertainment to audiences in Malaysia,” Said Tom Batchelor, Vice President of Studio, Live Entertainment and Music (South Asia).

Before Disney’s live-action “Aladdin” is released in nationwide cinemas on 23rd May 2019, Hype Malaysia managed to have a quick chat with multi-award winning songstress Shila Amzah on her experience in voicing Jasmine and dubbing for the first time.

Shila Amzah has been singing her whole life, but she has always wanted to act. However, the right opportunity never knocked on her door – until Disney came along and offered her the role of Princess Jasmine.

“I am so proud and honoured to be given this role. It is a dream come true to be a part of the Disney family, to be part of ‘Aladdin’. This is my first time dubbing, so I really didn’t expect that I would get the role.”

Apart from Shila, other Malay voice cast on the movie include Vince Chong as Genie, Nabil Zamanhuri as Aladdin, Yazid Asril as Jafar, Fadhli B Mohd Rawi as Sultan and Aby Zarina Ahmad Roslan as Dalia.

The singer revealed that the reason she doesn’t really act is because she found the roles that were offered to her unsuitable. However, when she was offered to play the role of Jasmine – even though it’s only voice acting, she immediately said yes due to 2 reasons; it’s Disney and she has always dreamt of doing a musical.

“I always wanted to do musicals because it’s something that’s close to my soul. So when I got the job, and knew that I get to sing all of the songs in ‘Aladdin’, I’m already so happy. My family was ecstatic as well because they know that I love these sort of things.”

“This is a new challenge for me, something new in my career. So I hope that it will be accepted by everyone and I welcome and accept all criticism.”

Assalammualaikum semua! The time has come for my special announcement ? This Ramadan is a special one because I will be collaborating with @disneystudios to voice Princess Jasmine (Puteri Jasmine) in the BM dub of Disney’s Aladdin. I will also be doing a duet with @haelhusaini to bring to live a BM version of A Whole New World (Dunia Baru). I can’t wait for the movie to hit the cinemas on 23 May for all of you to see it! ❤ P/s : my beautiful dress by @azuracouture ? #AladdinMY #DuniaBaru #ShajadiPuteriJasmine #alihsuara #myfirstexperience #withmybabyS ??

A post shared by  씰라茜拉shila amzah?? (@shahilaamzah) on May 9, 2019 at 6:06am PDT

According to Shila, the recording process took around 5 to 6 days. The 28-year-old singer started by recording all the songs first before going to the dialogue. “I record the singing part first because it’s something that I’m used to but it did took me around 3 days to record the singing part while the acting was done in 2 days.”

Shila had a few acting roles in the past. She was the lead star of Astro’s telemovie “Patah Seribu” in 2012, and she had a guest role in Hunan’s “Roco Kingdom: Magic School Season 1” in 2014.

Comparing her previous acting roles with voice acting, Shila said that the two jobs are difficult in their own way. “Acting in front of camera and in studio is totally different. For me, voice-acting is really hard because you really have to sync with the character on screen.”

Semoga Ramadan kita akan dipenuhi dengan sgala apa yang baik-baik sahaja.. Berkata baik, berbuat baik.. Doakan yang baik2… Bersangka baik.. ? #RamadanKareem #ramadanmubarak

A post shared by  씰라茜拉shila amzah?? (@shahilaamzah) on May 5, 2019 at 5:22pm PDT

After getting pregnant, Shila thought that her career would slow down a bit and she wouldn’t be getting any job during this period, but she thought wrong. “Alhamdullillah, maybe it’s the baby’s rezeki (good fortune), I’ve been getting offer after offer including the role of Princess Jasmine.”

Furthermore, when Shila found out about her role, it was back in March. At that time, she still didn’t know the gender of her baby, so she was planning on naming her baby Jasmine if it was a girl. “But turns out, it’s a boy. But I don’t plan on naming him Aladdin though. Jasmine is still acceptable, not Aladdin.”

Playing the role of Princess Jasmine, Shila admitted that she was a bit bias when she was asked of her favourite song from “Aladdin” soundtrack. Though she noted that all of the songs in the movie are classics including the official theme song “A Whole New World”, her favourite would definitely be “Speechless”, not only because it’s a new song but also because she can relate to the song.

“I think Jasmine is similar to me in certain areas like she is quite strict, she wants to be heard and she loves to voice out her opinions. So, ‘Speechless’ is a song about voicing out your opinion and wanting people to hear you. It’s like a female empowerment kind of song about a woman who just wants to be herself.”

Shila also mentioned that “Speechless” which is known as “Raungan Suara” in the Malay version is one of the hardest songs she ever sang, especially since she needed to record it while being pregnant and the song needs a lot of energy since there are plenty of high notes. Shila recorded a total of 6 songs; 3 versions of “Speechless” and 3 versions of “A Whole New World”. We can’t wait to hear them all ;)

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#TinosPizzaCafé: Durian Pizza Now Available In Singapore

You may have tasted durian in desserts and cakes in the past, but have you tried the king of fruits served on a pizza?

If you’re a fan of pizza and durian, then we can’t think of a better treat to satisfy your cravings. And the best part? You don’t even have to wait till June for the start of durian season!

When Tino’s Pizza Café in Singapore first introduced this new exotic dish on 1st April 2017, everyone assumed it was an April’s Fool joke (can you blame them?). Turns out, the family-friendly restaurant wasn’t fooling around at all.

The cafe, which serves authentic Italian food, has 2 new durian-flavoured pizzas on its menu: the D24 Pizza (SGD16.90) and the Mao Shan Wang Pizza (SGD21.90). So what’s the difference between the 2 options, you ask? Is one better than the other?

According to The Smart Local writer, Choo Hui Zhi, eating the D24 Pizza came close to eating the real spiky fruit itself. “Thick crust pizzas are usually a hit or a miss, and I usually find myself sticking to the thin crust alternative to avoid disappointment and a total waste of crust. So it was a pleasant surprise to find that Tino’s Pizza’s thick crust was buttery, airy, and not too dense. And there was just the right proportion of topping to crust for the durian flavours to make their red carpet entrance. At the end of it, no crust was wasted – so that’s saying something,” he wrote.

As for the Mao Shan Wang Pizza, Choo felt that it had the unique combination of sweet and salty, adding that “the base of this pizza is almost completely covered with a generous layer of cheese and durian“.

Tino’s Pizza Café isn’t the first to introduce durian pizza though. Singapore’s Godfather Pizza, Sarawak’s 900 Inn Café, as well as China’s Blue and Brown had previously offered this dish. In 2015, Pizza Hut attempted the same idea but end up scrapping it.

In case you’re interested, Tino’s Pizza Café 3 outlets in Singapore are located at Centrepoint, Tiong Bahru Plaza, and Resorts World Sentosa.

For more information, check out their Facebook page here.


4 New CNY Films Have Been Postponed Due To China’s Coronavirus

Oh boy, things aren’t looking good for China. Following the outbreak of the Coronavirus in Wuhan, 4 new Chinese New Year titles have been postponed.

TGV Cinemas, GSCinemas and MBO Cinemas all released statements on their respective Facebook pages informing movie-goers of the last-minute cancellation.

As pictured in the poster above, the 4 CNY movies are “Vanguard” (急先锋), “Detective Chinatown 3” (唐人街探案 3), “The Rescue” (紧急救援) as well as “Jiang Zi Ya: Legend of Deification” (姜子牙).

Due to the severity of the Wuhan’s Coronavirus, the studios in China have collectively made the call to postpone worldwide theatrical releases. Those who have purchased tickets in advanced may refer to the local distributors for refund.

We have attached the statements from TGV and MBO below:

As for GSCinemas, those who have purchased tickets online, your purchases will be refunded within 14 working days. If you have purchased tickets from the Box Office counter or e-kiosk, do proceed to the cinema where you have purchased your tickets to get your refund within the next 7 days.

Fret not, there are other Chinese New Year movies available in cinemas.

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#Christmas: 3D2N (Flights + Hotel) Travel Package Deals From RM388 Up For Grabs!

Dying for a quick getaway now that it’s year end? Are great travel deals on your Christmas wishlist? Look no further than Expedia, APAC’s best online travel agency website because from 1st Dec to 25th Dec, Expedia’s Merry Marketplace is offering a 3D2N (flights + hotel) package deal priced from RM388 per person, with bookings from now until 25th Dec. Bookings will be valid for travel until 31st March 2015, where travellers can explore these top destinations and more!

Your Instagram pictures of your wooly coat, sunglasses or sandals are just a booking away with one of Expedia’s favourite lists of destinations like Taipei, Tokyo (DisneySea, anyone?), Osaka, Singapore (perhaps high time to check out Madame Tussauds!), Penang (where you can check out these hidden gems), London, Kota Kinabalu, Hong Kong (home to this Disneyland), Melbourne, Phuket, Bali, and Bangkok:

Your holiday vacations with Expedia will allow create memories with your loved ones that will last a lifetime. And with the Expedia Best Price Guarantee policy, millions of customers around the world are now assured of the best deals every day.


Enjoy 15% Off Karen Mok’s Malaysian Concert; Seating Plan & Tickets Unveiled

Asian diva Karen Mok (莫文蔚) will be making her way to Kuala Lumpur in November. This major concert will be her first – and also last – as she plans to retire from concert touring.

Titled “The Ultimate Karen Mok Show”, this anticipated tour will celebrate Mok’s 25 years in show business. The last time the 49-year-old songstress was in Malaysia to promote her music was back in 2013, for her English jazz album, “Somewhere I Belong”.

According to the press releases, “this well-curated world tour will feature an innovative blend of musical genres and is adorned with rich cultural elements such as tango, classical music, and traditional drums and ethnic dances with a strong oriental flavour“.

Music lovers will get to witness the singer-actress belt out her iconic ballads, show off her Guzheng skill in a suave solo, and a fashion extravaganza (that will include a nude-coloured bodysuit, sexy skin-tight Cat woman jumpsuit and a glittery golden princess gown).

Known for her classic songs such as “Glowing Fond of You”, “He Loves Me Not”, “When You Are Old”, “Suddenly”, and “If Without You”, concert-goers can expect performances from her latest studio album “Half Time” as well.

Despite “The Ultimate Karen Mok Show” being her final concert, the pop star wants fans to know that she’s not quitting show business. “I’m not going to retire because performing is my life’s mission. It’s something I knew I wanted to do since I was little,” she was quoted as saying.

Mok explained, “With a solo pop concert, there’s only so much one can do. These are your songs and this is your basket of material, so how different can you regurgitate it every single time? So by now, after 25 years, this is the ultimate I can do with the material that I’ve got.”

The details to “The Ultimate Karen Mok Show” Live in Malaysia are as follows:

Jointly organized by Star Planet and Entertainment Impact, co-organised by Live Nation, tickets for “The Ultimate Karen Mok Show” in Kuala Lumpur 2019 will go on sale starting on 20th September, from 11am onwards. Star Planet members who sign up on or before 18th September 2019 will enjoy a 15% off on tickets (except RM228 ticket).


#GuinnessAmplify: Curates Presents Jumero

Guinness Amplify, the music platform championing bold Malaysian musicians recently made its triumphant return with a new side-stream series – Amplify: Curates. Holding the concept of “paying it forward”, Amplify: Curates highlights one local artiste who will choose 2 to 3 more local acts to a share a stage with, giving them a chance to shine.

The Guinness Amplify: Curates series kicked off in April 2015 with Sabahan songstress Froya headlining the show. Supported by Jumero, 2DB and Rozella Marie, Guinness Amplify: Curates presents Froya also served as the official launch for Froya’s new album, “Panic Bird”.

Now following the success of the inaugural event, Guinness Amplify returns with another show in its “Curates” series and this time round, the black brew supporting Malaysian musicians will feature local 3-piece indie band, Jumero, who will be launching their debut album, “Stepping Stones” at the event.

Set to happen on August 21st (Friday), Guinness Amplify: Curates presents Jumero will also see the band share the stage with all-female quartet Crinkle Cut, and singer-songwriter Natallie Ng. Event details are as follows:

GUINNESS Amplify: Curates presents Jumero

To RSVP for the event, head on over to the official website.

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Hype’s Now Playing: David Bowie – Lazarus

One would have mistaken David Bowie‘s “Lazarus” music video for a trailer for an upcoming horror film.

However, it’s nothing too shocking since the rock legend gave us an equally creepy short film-esque video for “Blackstar” last year.

Directed by Johan Renck (of “Breaking Bad” fame), the “Lazarus” music video features Bowie himself as a bedridden patient in an instutional hospital.

With buttons and a bandage placed over his eyes, Bowie writhes around in a hospital bed while a strange woman hides under the bed. Her hand reaches out to his bed and suddenly, he levitates above the mattress.

The rising-from-near-death scene is followed by another scenario that shows Bowie dancing in a very odd pattern. The video then shows him frantically writing something with a foundation pen before disappearing into a closet.

“One could only dream about collaborating with a mind like that; let alone twice,” Renck said in a statement of his work with Bowie.

Intuitive, playful, mysterious and profound … I have no desire to do any more videos knowing the process never ever gets as formidable and fulfilling as this was. I’ve basically touched the sun.

“Lazarus” is the 2nd song to be released from Bowie’s 25th studio album, ★ (pronounced “Blackstar”). It is set to be released today (8th January).

Check out the music video for David Bowie’s “Lazarus” below:

Visit David Bowie’s official website or follow him on Facebook and Twitter for more music updates.


Woman Recalls LDHN Scammer Cussing Her: “Mak Kau Anjing, Mak Kau Hijau”

Scammers always find new and creative ways to scam others. We’re not going to lie, some of these scammers have bright minds; if only they put it to good use.

Their targets are usually vulnerable individuals like the elderlies, or those who are probably not tech-savvy. One netizen on Twitter, Tatty Hassan (@tattyhassan), recently got scammed by an organisation called, “LDHN”.

She stated that she was working from home on a Sunday when she got the phone call. When she was connected to the scammer, she immediately snapped at them saying “Oi don’t you have anything better to do other than scamming people? I don’t have time to entertain scams.” And the scammer responded with a series of cuss words, “Pig. Your mum is a dog, your mum is green,” which had turned out as a cussing session between the two of them.

Instead of getting more angry and ranting about it on a Twitter thread, Tatty just stated that it was a good way to release her stress and anger, “It was a good session. Managed to unload my anger on someone, at least.” When someone asked who won the shouting match, the Twitter user claimed the victory.

Have you ever experienced receiving a call from scammers? How did you respond?


#Malaysia: Police Force To Start Using Drones In Combating Crime

It’s been confirmed. The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) will be releasing drones into the sky for added surveillance coverage.

According to Bukit Aman’s Management Department director Comm Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah, the usage of drone technology is to assist police personnel in their crime prevention initiatives throughout Klang Valley.

Zulkifli said the remote controlled surveillance drones would be an additional unit on top of the existing Motorcycle Patrol Unit (URB) and the Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) that are used to help law enforcement monitor felony and situations such as illegal gatherings.

“Currently, we have the URB and MPV units in place. They’re effective but the drones will be our eyes in the sky. We can keep an eye over bigger areas and save costs at the same time. With drones, MPVs need not be on patrol all the time. They can monitor crime from one spot and move in when they see anything happening. It saves petrol, too,” he told The Star.

He further added that the implementation of drones would be used for surveillance during public rallies or other sticky situations that might endanger lives. For instance, the police can scout a dangerous location first before carrying out their crime prevention duties.

This could certainly help in reducing manpower and costs, but do you think that it’d be more effective? After all, the drones would still need to be remote controlled by people for the in-air surveillance to work. Let us know what you think in the comments box below.

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


Join The Gru-Crew With Levi’s Exclusive New Minion Patches

Guess Gru’s back, back again! That’s right ladies and gentlemen, your favourite animated super-villain is back with Illumination’s latest entry into the Despicable Me saga, “Minions: The Rise of Gru”! Accompanying a young Gru through his wild adventure is of course his trusty potato-shaped, yellow henchmen, the Minions!

If you’re excited about the upcoming new film, why not show it with Levi’s brand new Minion patches? They come in a stunning variety, featuring the iconic trio: Kevin, Stuart and Bob.

You can get your mad scientist on with a skeleton patch of your one-eyed pal, Stuart. Show your love for Bob with an adorable patch of him busting out of an apple. If you’re looking to get the whole gang together, you could always go for the three separate BA-NA-NA patches with each of them peeping out. For those looking to put some colour back in your life, there’s some awesome patches with rad rainbows. Those are just some of the ways you can get despicable with Levi’s Minion patches.

Minion patches are available exclusively at the Levi’s Tailor Shop in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) and Pavilion Bukit Jalil (PVBJ). Be sure to get them while stocks last and to check out “Minions: The Rise of Gru” right after!


First Official Look At Zachary Levi In Shazam Superhero Costume

Even a superhero needs his soda every now and then…

Entertainment Weekly recently revealed an exclusive new photo (pictured below) featuring Zachary Levi in his Shazam costume. Standing beside him is young actor Jack Dylan Grazer, who plays Freddy Freeman.

In speaking to EW about the titular superhero’s suit, director David Sandberg shared that he took inspiration from various Shazam costumes throughout the years – including materials from the classic comics and the animated TV shows.

“I wanted to keep the shorter cape as a throwback to the original because that’s something that sets him apart from Superman or Batman. It makes him feel a bit more Golden Age superhero, which is the vibe I’m going for,” the filmmaker told the publication.

A post shared by Zachary Levi (@zacharylevi)

“We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s case, by shouting out one word—SHAZAM!—this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult Superhero Shazam, courtesy of an ancient wizard. Still a kid at heart—inside a ripped, godlike body—Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them!

“Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he’ll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana.”

“Shazam!” opens in cinemas 5th April 2019.


LEGOLAND® Malaysia is RED HOT for Malaysia Day!

As great excitement builds for the opening of LEGOLAND® Malaysia this weekend, the theme park today announced the sale of limited 1-Day tickets to commemorate the opening weekend.

The advance purchase tickets will guarantee entry on the 15th, 16th, and 17th September.

Upon the announcement, Siegfried Boerst (General Manager, LEGOLAND Malaysia) said, “We are really looking forward to welcoming our fans to the Park on our opening weekend. The opening weekend celebrations will see LEGOLAND® come to life like never before, with marching bands from Denmark, street performers, dance shows and fireworks. We have lined up three days of non-stop fun and wonderful events to mark this very special occasion and create memories that our visitors will treasure for years to come”.

Additionally, with the advance purchase  there will also be a giveaway of a limited edition T-shirt and keychain worth up to RM80. The  special tickets are sold only via AirAsia RedTix and cost RM140 for adults and RM110 for children and seniors. Tickets will be on sale for a limited period and details are on the LEGOLAND website.

To check out what went on when our team “escaped” to Johor for a little media sneak preview of LEGOLAND® Malaysia, click! Oh, you know, just to help you make up your mind about taking your entourage there ASAP.

For more information on LEGOLAND® Malaysia, visit their official website. Don’t forget to LIKE their Facebook page!

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


Robert Downey Jr. May Reprise Iron Man Role For New Disney+ Series

Tony Stark/ Iron Man may have sacrificed himself in “Avengers: Endgame” but that doesn’t mean we won’t see on screen again.

Word on the street has it that Robert Downey Jr. is in talks to possibly reprise his Iron Man role for a potential “Ironheart” series for Disney+. Marvel apparently is keen on doing Disney+ show that centres on Riri Williams.

Riri Williams is the teenager who continues Iron Man’s legacy in the comic books. We could very see her as the newest Iron-based superhero. Similar to Paul Bettany’s J.A.R.V.I.S., Downey Jr. will likely return in a voiceover capacity for her suit’s AI.

The most telling clue of “Ironheart” was when the 54-year-old actor recently brought the female hero writer Eve Ewing up on stage at the Film Center Gala few months ago. He publicly proclaim that Ironheart needs to be included in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

This seems like the most logical move seeing as how Spider-Man is no longer in the MCU (for now).


Water Disruption In Klang Valley To Last For 4 More Days

Update: For the full list of areas affected, visit here.

Over a million people living in Klang Valley will have their water supply disrupted over the next four days.

1.2 million account holders will experience dry taps as a result of the industrial effluent pollution at Sungai Selangor. This will certainly cause great inconvenience to many people.

The water supply was affected because pollution is still being detected near the plants with a pollution reading of 1 ton this morning, FMT reported. Water supply will only resume when the Threshold Odour Number (TON) reaches to zero, three times, says Air Selangor chief executive officer, Suhaimi Kamaralzaman.

“Currently, it is still at 1 TON. But we are hopeful, since the number dropped from 3 TON yesterday. My concern is that (not) everyone understands the magnitude of the problem. We are taking this seriously. It is not fair to consumers to get smelly water. We want clean water to get to the consumer. Their health and safety is paramount to Air Selangor,” he said during a press conference today.

Cleaning efforts have been ongoing since yesterday while water is being supplied to residents affected. pic.twitter.com/q9oMMGhH7t

BFM News had just tweeted, “Selangor has closed down and impounded a factory responsible for the pollution in Sungai Selangor, which disrupted water supply to 1.2 million consumers in the Klang Valley.”


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles To Invade Pavilion KL This Raya

This Hari Raya, Nickelodeon welcomes you to the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Hari Raya Open House at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, set to be held from 14th to 16th June 2019 (Friday to Sunday).

Fans of the children series “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle” can drop by the mall to catch the 4 Turtles – Raphael,  Leonardo, Donatello and Michelangelo – who will make their appearance in Malaysia for the first time ever!

Look out for Turtles-themed activities and game booths for the family, be entertained by screenings of the “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” episodes, or create photo memories with the family at the Turtle display area with life-sized standees.

What’s more? Fans will also have a chance to meet-and-greet the Turtles on 15th and 16th July. Furthermore, visitors can also get first dibs on the latest “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle” toys at the merchandise booth during the Nickelodeon event!

Celebrating National Brothers Day with your #80s bros #TMNT

A post shared by  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (@tmnt) on May 24, 2019 at 7:02am PDT

Details on the Hari Raya Open House are as below!

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


Done Deal: Jay Leno Leaves “The Tonight Show”

After weeks of news media reporting that the changes in “The Tonight Show” were imminent and speculations about behind-the-scenes friction between NBC and Jay Leno, it has been confirmed that they’re saying goodbye to the TV talk show host.

“The Tonight Show” will begin a new era next February.

NBC has announced that Jimmy Fallon will succeed Jay Leno as host of the most successful program in late-night television, also the show’s sixth host. This, of course, isn’t the first time that Jay is being replaced. His first departure from “The Tonight Show” was in 2009, which saw Conan O’Brien taking over. But Conan left after only nine weeks on the show and Jay resumed his role.

The main difference between this and the other time is I’m part of the process. The last time the decision was made without me. I came into work one day and – you’re out. This time around, there really aren’t any complications there were the last time. This time it feels right.

Jay Leno, who will turn 64 come 2014, also mentioned that he expects to be back on the road, being a comedian again after leaving “The Tonight Show”. And we applaud him for making the choice.

[youtube id=”YS0jVU8fLc4″ width=”600″ height=”350″]


#OrlandoShooting: Korean Celebrities Offer Condolences & Support For Victims Of Pulse Massacre

Over the weekend, 2 very unexpected tragedies happened: the murder of Christina Grimmie by a gunman and the massacre of 50 people in a gay bar, both of which happened in Orlando.

While it showed the worst of humanity, the good in mankind prevailed too. Not only did netizens all over the world condemn the actions of the gunmen and vowed to make changes, countless celebrities poured in support too.

— G-DRAGON UK (@GDragonUK) June 12, 2016

South Korean celebrities such as Jay Park, G-Dragon of BIGBANG, Amber of f(x), Peniel of BTOB, Jo Kwon from 2AM, CL of 2NE1, and Brian of Fly to the Sky left messages of condolences to the victims as well as their families, and condemned the actions of the gunman responsible for the death of over 50 people in Pulse Orlando, dubbed as the “hottest gay bar” in the heart of Orlando.

G-Dragon posted an Instagram video in direct support of the incident, but has since deleted the video as it amassed hundreds of hateful comments such as homophobic slurs and offensive insults against the LGBTQ community and G-Dragon himself. The BIGBANG leader has since posted up 2 indirect photos in support of the victims of the mass murder.

View the messages from the Korean celebrities here:

The gunman of the Orlando shooting has been identified as Omar Mateen, 29, who started his rampage a little after 2am during Pulse Orlando’s “Latin Flavour” event.

An estimated amount of 300 patrons were in the bar, with 39 of them and the gunman pronounced dead at the scene. Meanwhile, an additional 11 people were taken to the hospital for injuries but were unfortunately pronounced dead there. 53 other guests were hurt in the incident.

Amongst the victims were Cory James Connell, a 21-year-old student at Valencia College who aspired to become a firefighter. He was gunned down while leaving Pulse with his girlfriend when the gunman walked in. Shane Evan Tomlinson, singer of the band Frequency, who performed in the bar just hours before the shooting, was another victim of the injustice.


(UPDATE) #Lunafly Make Their Way To Malaysia This December

Brought to you by The Quartz Team and Nega Network, Korean acoustic band Lunafly is set to make their way to Malaysia again this December!

Despite not having any broadcast activities, Lunafly first gained attention from the worldwide fans for their brilliant cover videos on Youtube as well as their live performances on streets. They debuted in the second half of 2012 and their career began to soar when their self-composed tracks such as “How Nice It Would Be” rose to the top of some of the major music charts in Korea.

After making multiple visits to Malaysia for 2 separate showcases, Lunafly will make their third visit to Malaysia for another showcase this December. The details of the showcase are as follows:

Magical Moment with Lunafly in Malaysia 2014:

The location will be announced on The Quartz Team’s Facebook page soon but for now, Malaysain Lukies can purchase their tickets by sending their email to quartz.malaysia@gmail.com with the subject “Ticket purchase for Magical Moment With Lunafly”. Interested participants must include their personal details such as name, IC no, passport number (for non Malaysians), choices of stage, type of passes, and the quantity of the passes in their email.

The Quartz Team revealed that a private event will be held for the showcase, where only the first 15 Premium Passes holders can enter the event. A Lunafly’s Autographed “Special Guy” album will be given away for the first few fans that purchased the Premium Passes!

There are no further details yet but tickets are very limited for the showcase. The team behind the showcase will send you the details about how to bank in the money for ticket purchase after you have sent in your details.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Lunafly’s upcoming showcase in Malaysia has been cancelled.

The organiser of the Lunafly’s showcase in Malaysia took it to Facebook to announce about the cancellation of the showcase. The full statement is as follows:

Dear Lukies, We understand how you have been looking forward to this showcase but due to unforeseen circumstances, we have to cancel the planned event. We deeply apologise for the disappointment caused. However, we are negotiating with Nega Network so that we can hopefully hold this event at a later date. We will refund your money in phases and if you have any questions about the refund, please do not hesitate to ask us. Thank you for your understanding and sorry once again.

It is unfortunate that the event got cancelled but we certainly hope that the group will make their way to Malaysia again soon!

For more information about the showcase, visit The Quartz Team’s official Facebook page and Twitter.

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


#Beyonce: Another Surprise Album In The Works?

Well, well, what do we have here? It seems that Beyoncé is ready to drop another “TADAH!” surprise album on us. Or at least that’s what an unverified image making the rounds online suggests.

The Queen dropped a visual album last year out of nowhere, which effectively broke the interwebs for about, oh, only 24 hours or so. Now, the TIME 100 cover star might just be wanting to do it all over again. According to the image, which could just be an overzealous fan’s cruel hoax, Beyoncé is re-releasing her self-titled surprise album with 10 new songs (plus the previously released “Flawless” remix with Nicki Minaj) and 3 DVDS of video content (including new music videos and an HBO special of her tour with husband Jay Z).

In case you haven’t seen it, here, let us do the honour:

According to TIME, there are a few suspicious red flags:

Rumours of the “Flawless” remix preceded its arrival, so the secrecy surrounding the first visual album may be hard to recapture now that fans know what Beyoncé is capable of. But like that’s going to stop anyone from running around shrieking in excitement.

Hoax or not, the image is a reminder that Beyoncé could spend the rest of her career just dropping new music whenever she feels like, at any hour of the day, any day of the week, with any number of visual goodies. After all, they don’t call her Queen Bey for nothing.

We’ll leave you now with the remix of “Flawless”, featuring the Queen herself and Nicki Minaj. Enjoy:


McLaren 650S Is Finally Here In Malaysia!

Luxury super car enthusiasts will be delighted to hear that McLaren Kuala Lumpur has officially unveiled its groundbreaking super car — the 650S.

Taking Performance Luxury Standards to new heights, the 650S was designed to give drivers the ultimate driving luxury, engagement and excitement as it also offers the widest breadth of capabilities for any super car.

With its design and engineering inspired by the groundbreaking McLaren P1TM, the 650S made its highly anticipated debut in Malaysia on June 9th, 2014 bringing much joy to both fans and owners. Dubbed McLaren Automotive’s fastest, best equipped, and most beautiful series-production super car, the 650S is crafted for drivers who indulge in celebrating life and brings a new level of excitement to the McLaren drive experience.

“Malaysian drivers and McLaren enthusiasts expect nothing but the best. Following the success of the 12C and McLaren P1TM here, we’re very excited to be bringing the new pinnacle in high-end luxury supercar offerings to Malaysia,” said Simon Rock, Director at Sime Darby Auto Britannia Sdn Bhd, the local representative of the iconic British brand of high performance sports cars in Malaysia.

Commenting on the launch of the 650S in Kuala Lumpur, George Biggs, McLaren Head of Sales and Operations Asia-Pacific, said: “We are very excited to bring the McLaren 650S to Malaysia. This car really stands out on its own as no other series- production sports car on sale today offers such a breadth of capabilities”.

Commenting further, Biggs added: “Since launching McLaren in Malaysia last year we have been impressed with the passion and enthusiasm our customers have demonstrated for the brand and our products. We are pleased to continue to showcase the McLaren brand in Malaysia by bringing our latest edition of groundbreaking supercars to the region. There is lots of potential in the market and we look forward to bringing more products to Malaysia.”

The launch of the 650S which took place at the McLaren Kuala Lumpur Show Gallery was attended by George Biggs, Head of Sales and Operations, McLaren Automotive Asia; Dato’ Lawrence Lee, Managing Director of Sime Darby Motors; Dato’ Mokhzani Mahathir, Director of Sime Darby Auto Britannia; Simon Rock, Director of Sime Darby Auto Britannia; and Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, Head of Retail, Sime Darby Auto Britannia.

Following the McLaren design ethos of ‘form follows function’ the 650S spots a front bumper that provides a dramatic, yet clean, appearance while the integrated front splitter contributes to increased levels of down force offering a greater level off steering feeling and confidence to the driver on turn-in, while also adding to the agility and handling balance. Unique door blades behind the front wheels, on the leading edge of dihedral doors, direct air from the trailing edges of the front splitter, further benefit front-end grip and vehicle balance.

The dramatic exterior styling includes full LED headlamps derived from the McLaren P1TM provides a distinguished illumination of the road ahead, and echoes the signature McLaren ‘speed marque’ logo in the design. The bonnet is finished with a new McLaren badge that is inspired by the badge fitted to the iconic McLaren F1 whilst the rear of the 650S has been designed to optimise aerodynamics, with a 12C GT3-inspired three-piece bumper.

Rock said, “The bottom line with the 650S is performance. Beyond its stunning looks, the 650S is all about amazing performance wrapped up in the very latest in technology to bring about an unbeatable drive and driver experience.”

The 650S badge designation refers to its engine output: 650PS (641 bhp). The unique British-built McLaren M838T twin turbo V8 engine produces impressive 650PS (641 bhp) and 678 Nm of Torque, the 650S Spider can accelerate zero to 100km/h in a staggering 3.0 seconds, reach 200km/h in 8.6 seconds and with top speed of 329km/h.The engine has undergone significant changes for the McLaren 650S.

Performance is class leading for both the Coupé and Spider models: 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration takes only 3.0 seconds, 0-200 km/h (124 mph) takes just 8.4 seconds for the Coupé [Spider 8.6 seconds]. Maximum speed is 333 km/h (207mph) [329 km/h (204 mph) for Spider].

The McLaren 650S is now available for bookings at McLaren Kuala Lumpur. Prices start at RM2.4 million for the 650S Coupe while the 650S Spider price starts at RM2.6 million (price quoted includes duties & taxes).

For those who are interested in registering to preview the 650S, can log on to McLaren’s website or check out the Facebook page.

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


#ParkSangHyun: Former MBLAQ Member Thunder Preparing For Solo Debut

This time, it’s former MBLAQ member Thunder, who is currently preparing for his solo debut sometime in the middle of December.

In a statement released by Thunder’s current label, Mystic Entertainment, it was expressed that the idol will be promoting under his birth name Park Sang Hyun. The album will reportedly show “a different side of him that has not been seen before”.

Not much is known about his upcoming album, as Mystic explained, “Although we do have outlines for the title track as well as the follow-up tracks, we’re currently not at a stage where we can exactly reveal any details.” However, the chances that the title track will be a dance track is fairly high.

Thunder, brother of 2NE1’s Sandara Park, debuted with MBLAQ in 2009, under legendary K-Pop idol Rain’s company, J. Tune Camp. They produced several hit tracks like “Y”, “This Is War”, “Mona Lisa”, and “Smoky Girl”, but at the end of 2014, Thunder and Lee Joon decided to leave the group to focus on their individual activities.

The 26-year-old idol then signed with Mystic Entertainment’s music label APOP and kick started his acting career in MBC’s “Make A Woman Cry”.


Hype’s Movie Review: #TMNT, A Flop Or Not?

When it comes to silver screen adaptations of childhood cartoons, the end result can either be good or catastrophic. In rare cases, it sits on neutral grounds. One such movie that have falling in that “a bit of both” rating category is none other than “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”.

The bad was mostly in the first half of the movie, slightly slow so people might find it boring because there’s no action involved whatsoever. Megan Fox fans, however, will love the first half.

As plucky TV reporter April O’Neil, her character shines as she seeks to do more than just “fluffy” news. So, she closely follows a story of the Foot Clan that’s busy terrorising New York and some mysterious vigilantes that keep foiling their criminal activities. Little did she know, those vigilantes are actually genetically enhanced turtles, Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo aka the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”.

Then the second half of the movie kicks in, so does the speed. It’s more fast-paced, coupled with the turtles being the turtles that we’ve always loved – fun-loving, jokes-a-cracking, butt-kicking, and pizza-loving. Some might say that it’s the second half that truly saves the film from catastrophe and well, that much is true. The second half was really just an excuse to see the turtles brandish their ninja skill and do cool things!

Isn’t that what everyone wanted to see, anyway?

Because aside from April chasing down her story, running around the city looking for “the vigilante”, and more or less convincing people that she belongs in a psych ward because she was busy trying to “sell” the idea that there was a superhero in the city, the only other thing impressive about the entire movie was its creative action choreography. Oh, and also, the smooth animation and the CG of the turtles. Nevermind that they look like they’re turtles on steroids.

The “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie is not meant to take seriously but we can tell you one thing – it’s entertaining. More importantly, it’s not going to spoil your childhood memories for you.

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is showing in a cinema near you. Hit up GSC or TGV to purchase tickets. Don’t forget to check out our list of little known “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” facts here!

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


Black Adam: Ending, Post-Credit Scene & Future DCEU Films Explained

Black Adam has officially landed in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU)! A slave who became a god who must now contend with a new world of heroes. Set in the fictional kingdom of Kahndaq, the film explores the origins of Teth-Adam, how he acquired his divine abilities and his journey to becoming the nation’s protector. Along the way, he must also contend with villains like the criminal organisation Intergang, and heroes like Hawkman and his Justice Society of America (JSA). Will he be the doom of the world or will he be its saviour? If you’ve seen the film then you know the answer to that question. You may be wondering how his actions will further impact the future of the DCEU and where it’s heading from here.

Strap in guys because we’re breaking down the ending of “Black Adam”, the mid-credit scene of the film and how the DCEU franchise will go forward from here!

After defeating the forces of Ishmael Gregor as the demonic Sabbac and the forces of Intergang, the city of Kahndaq is now safe. The JSA leave Kahndaq on good terms with Adam, entrusting the city to him. From there, we see Black Adam proceed to go and destroy the throne, refusing to take up the role of ruler. Rather he chooses to be its protector. Before the post-credit scene, the film ends with Adrianna’s son asking Teth-Adam what name he’ll now take in this new world he will now defend. Boom, the screen cuts to the title: Black Adam!

Right, so it’s clear that Adrianna, played by Sarah Shahi, and her son played a significant part in Adam’s journey to becoming a better man and with the big man planning on sticking around Kahndaq, we could see their relationship develop a more romantic, and superheroic, component. The film’s character arc with Adam was heavily adapted from DC’s 2006 comic book series entitled “52” in which he saves Adrianna from Intergang. As the story goes on, she spurs Adam to become help Kahndaq. In turn, gives her the Amulet of Isis which grants Adrianna the power of the Egyptian goddess in the issue “52: Week Twelve”! Now, both Adam and Adrianna aren’t exactly an item yet but if there’s a sequel in the works, we very well could see Adam fly into battle with Adrianna assuming the identity of Isis.

By far, the saddest part of the film was seeing Doctor Fate’s host, Kent Nelson played by Pierce Brosnan, die at the hands of Sabbac. He was easily the most powerful member of the Justice Society and one of DC’s greatest magic users. That being said, the Helmet of Fate is capable of bonding with another host that can handle Nabu’s power. After Kent Nelson’s passing in the comics, the mantle of Doctor Fate passed to an Egyptian medical student named Khalid Nassour, who is also the grand-nephew of the late Kent Nelson. Currently, he’s still occupying the role of Doctor Fate in the comics, last appearing in DC’s “Dark Crisis” event.

Furthermore, we now know that “Black Adam” is set after the events of 2017’s “Justice League” (the Joss Whedon theatrical version). So this means that beyond the heroes of the League and Amanda Waller’s Suicide Squad, the JSA is still very much active. In an interview with “Black Adam” producer Hiram Garcia with Collider, he mentioned that he expressed his love for the DC universe and would be interested in further exploring the stories of the individual characters of the film in future properties. He also stated that “there’s 100% a vision of what we’d like to be doing in a multiple picture aspect when it comes to Black Adam and the JSA.”

It would be an exciting prospect to see the JSA grow from just Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman, Noah Centineo’s Atom Smasher and Quintessa Swindell’s Cyclone to include more characters like Black Canary, the Spectre, Mister Terrific and or even Black Adam himself. At some point in the comics, he did join the JSA, if only for a brief period. Perhaps, we could also see Doctor Fate return to the big screen with Khalid as the new host for Nabu? If all goes well at the box office, the DCEU is about to get a whole lot bigger!

Look we love Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson but like little Tom Holland, the man just can’t keep a secret, leaking the film’s biggest cameo! So yes, Superman, our boy Henry Cavill has found time from his busy schedule as Geralt of Rivia to appear in the film as the one and only Superman! The circumstances of his arrival though, we find quite intriguing. The mid-credit scene of the film sees Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller, the commanding officer of the Suicide Squad, sending a drone to Adam.

The drone then projects a hologram of Waller warning Adam to stay in Kahndaq or else he will not live to regret it. Adam challenges Waller saying no one on Earth can stop him. Waller replies by saying she can call in a favour for friends who aren’t from this world. Adam accepts the challenge before destroying the drone. Sure enough, Henry Cavill’s Superman appears in the room, wearing an updated version of his suit. He acknowledges Adam’s power and how he’s made the world “nervous”. Beyond that, there is no post-credit scene worth sticking around for.

In an interview with Cinemablend, the Rock has declared that he fully intends on making a “Black Adam v. Superman” film in the future. To that, we have to say: Okay…please be good. Full disclosure, we were not fans of “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice”. It was an utter mess in terms of pacing and storytelling, not to mention that to this day the “Martha” meme has yet to fully die out. That being said, we are utterly stoked about Cavill returning back to the DCEU. Beyond the match-up between just Superman and Black Adam, the Rock has also expressed that he is more than happy to team up with the Suicide Squad and the Justice League.

So is all this talk about Black Adam joining up with some of DC’s most iconic teams just all talk to get the fans hyped up? Well, as of now, Black Adam is still an official member of the Justice League. Arguably at some point during the “Dark Crisis” event, he was technically the only surviving member of the League! He’s been part of the team as far back as 2021, in spite of the fact that he and Superman have butted heads on more than a few occasions.

In Issue 59 of the “Justice League” comic line under the Infinite Frontier relaunch of DC Comics, we see that Adrianna played a huge role in Adam’s change of character. So with Adrianna Tomaz appearing in the “Black Adam” film, we could see her similarly drive him to become more than just Kahndaq’s protector. He could join the ranks of the Justice League! This probably won’t happen anytime soon but the pieces to have him play a larger role in the DCEU are there. Also, we’re pretty sure Warner Bros. can’t resist the prospect of having the Rock fight alongside Henry Cavill in a future Justice League film. The amount of star power there would break the world.

“Black Adam” is now out in theatres today!

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Contest: Win Disney’s Aladdin Limited Edition Premiums

The studio has been pumping up the marketing machine for Disney’s “Aladdin”, and we’re are admittedly excited for the upcoming live-action adaptation.

Directed by Guy Ritchie, Disney’s “Aladdin” seems very much in line with the 1992 blockbuster cartoon in terms of plot and story structure. Before you get ready to board a magic carpet ride to Agrabah, check out what we have in store.

The synopsis of Disney’s “Aladdin” reads

“A thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic, Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ is the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key to their future.”

In addition, fans can also look forward to 2 brand new songs composed by Alan Menken. One is an Aladdin solo song while another is a Jasmine solo song titled “Speechless”. “It’s basically her declaration that she’s not going to be silenced, which, as we all know, is a message that’s very important right now,” actress Naomi Scott explained.

*Do note that the merchandise will be given out randomly and are subject to availability.

Disney’s “Aladdin” opens in local cinemas on 23rd May 2019.


Netizens Outraged Over The Capture & Mistreatment Of An Endangered Malayan Tapir

Malaysian Facebook user Khairul Azri took to his profile to share several pictures and a video of an incident whereby a Malayan tapir was in the process of being captured by some authorities.

According to Khairul, the JPAM (Malaysian Civil Defence Force) and the BOMBA (Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia) were called in to help capture (and hopefully rescue/release?) the said Malayan tapir, which had accidentally run into the Taman Desa Saujana Langat neighbourhood in Hulu Langat late Tuesday (24th October 2017) night. To his dismay, the authorities’ handling of the gentle, herbivorous animal ultimately led to its death.

In his Facebook post, Khairul explained that the said Malayan tapir was strangled with what looks like a rope, as if it was a sacrificial animal. After a brief struggle, it died. Khairul even uploaded a video of the Malayan tapir, clearly alive and struggling to free itself from the rope’s restraint.

Khairul’s post has since gone viral, garnering over 5,800 shares in under 24 hours. However, the worst was yet to come.

According to Khairul, the animal’s carcass was then left by the roadside, and when morning came, it was discovered that it had been mutilated. “Its nose and ears were mutilated. I don’t know why they did that,” he wrote in his caption. From his picture, it also looks like someone had attempted to skin the animal. Khairul also noted that PERHILITAN (the Department of Wildlife and National Parks) only arrived that morning, about 12 hours after the incident, to collect the carcass.

Netizens are, of course, up in arms over the incident. “This is the result of deforestation, to the point where another life is forced out to seek food and shelter. It died and then it was abandoned. Where did the brains of these humans go? It’s sad to watch the tapir die when it wanted to live. It’s a protected species,” Syaza Amani wrote. “I watched the video. Really sad. I can’t imagine such a sweet animal treated this way. Why??? Who is responsible for this. Please seek justice. So cruel and really unacceptable. Please….?,” Sylvia Ben commented.

For the uninitiated, the Malayan tapir, also called the Asian tapir, is the largest of the 5 species of tapir and the only one native to Asia. Its numbers have decreased in recent years, and today, there are only approximately 1,100 Malayan tapirs left. The main threat to the Malayan tapirs is human activity, including deforestation for agricultural purposes, flooding caused by the damming of rivers for hydroelectric projects, and illegal trade.

There’s even a “World Tapir Day” (read: #TapiTapir) which aims to raise awareness that our local tapirs are in danger of extinction.

Wikipedia also notes that Malayan tapirs have very poor eyesight, making them rely greatly on their excellent sense of smell and hearing to go about in their everyday lives.

They have small, beady eyes with brown irises (often covered in a blue haze, which is corneal cloudiness thought to be caused by repetitive exposure to light) on either side of their faces. This causes the Malayan tapir to have very inadequate vision, both on land and in water. Tapirs are also most active at night and since they have poor eyesight, it is harder for them to search for food and avoid predators in the dark.

The Minister of Natural Resources and Enviroment of Malaysia, YB. Datuk Seri Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Bin Tuanku Jaafar, has since responded, releasing a statement on his Facebook page to confirm that he has instructed Director General of PERHILITAN to investigate the incident and make the necessary police reports.

Sources: Khairul Azri, Wikipedia, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar BN Sarawak.

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#SlideTheCityMY: Get Ready For A Splashin’ Good Time At Spritzer Slide The City Malaysia!

Get ready to have a splashin’ good time next month because Spritzer Slide the City Malaysia is ready to make a splash when it “slides” into Putrajaya!

On 17th November (Tuesday), Spritzer Slide the City Malaysia was officially inaugurated at Luna Bar, Pacific Regency Hotel. The launch ceremony was graced by Malaysia’s diving darling, Olympic medallist Pandelela Rinong.

Since its 2013 debut in the US, the global urban water chute phenomenon has developed an almost cult-like following worldwide, having reached more than 2 million people in major cities worldwide including London, Las Vegas, Sydney, Paris, Amsterdam, Japan and Hong Kong.

Now, this huge water slide party event is ready to make its Malaysian debut and turn our city into a humungous water park soon. Thousands of thrill-seeking buddies are expected to participate in the event that will feature a massive 3-lane slip n’ slide measuring 1,000 feet lining Lebuh Wadi Ehsan in Putrajaya on 5th and 6th December.

Since the event was announced in August, the response to its Malaysian debut has been overwhelming, to say the least, with passes have been sold out.

Monkey Theory Sdn. Bhd. are the official organisers of Spritzer Slide the City Malaysia and the launch ceremony on Tuesday served as a prelude to the big event. During the launch ceremony, Monkey Theory Sdn. Bhd. Founder and CEO Mr Leong Delon said:

We never anticipated such an astounding response but all participants of the event will experience what would perhaps be one of their best weekends of 2015.

“This is something truly never seen before. Imagine a giant waterslide with the length of three football fields lining the streets of Putrajaya. It’s just never been done – until now,” he said. “Visitors will indeed be in for a cool and refreshing treat – and we’re going all out to ensure this event is a success together with our esteemed title sponsor, Spritzer and our official sponsors, which include Nivea, Uber, GoPro, MY FM, and Playboy Condoms, as well as the awesome folks at MaxMan.TV as our official online partner.” he added.

He also added that besides experiencing the slide, visitors will get to participate in many other activities which will take place simultaneously. The carnival-like 2-day event will feature live music, food trucks, games, and a host of other activities set to offer fun for the whole family.

Spritzer Slide the City Malaysia is designed to be a fun family-oriented event within a carnival-like atmosphere, but it also champions a more serious, benevolent cause.

The event aims to raise awareness of obesity, targeting a healthy lifestyle in a fun and engaging event in which the whole family can participate. Thus, a portion of the sales proceeds will be channelled towards National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF) in support of patients suffering from kidney disease.

NKF CEO Mr. Chua Hong Wee said at the launch ceremony:

The statistics are really staggering. In addition to the high prevalence of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in Malaysia, our country has also registered the highest obesity rate in the world.

“I therefore laud the efforts of those behind Spritzer Slide the City Malaysia as they band together to organise such a big event,” he added.

Meanwhile, Pandelela Rinong said that she was inspired to endorse the event as it promotes a healthy lifestyle, heeding the government’s call to increase physical activity.

As a person who loves being active, I think that more Malaysians need be inspired to pursue healthier activities in their free time, increasing the quality of their lives and relationships with others – and Spritzer Slide the City Malaysia is the perfect example.

To ensure everyone will have a safe and enjoyable sliding experience, participants are expected to follow a few rules at the event:

Take a look at how the event was done in other cities here:

For more information on Spritzer Slide the City Malaysia, visit the event’s official Facebook page.

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Hype’s Now Playing: Nick Carter – 19 in 99

Can you still remember what you were doing in 1999? That’s right, do the math.

For Nick Carter, being “19 in 99” is a throwback tribute to 1999 when the former Backstreet Boys singer was only 19 years old. Looking back, he reminiscences on the popular boyband’s glory days singing, “Countdown back to Millennium, bleach blond, party on / Tank tops, tube socks and Filas / Skateboards, SEGAs.”

Playing a dad to 2 young kids, Carter decides to turn down a family day at the beach for work. After being called boring, the 36-year-old singer opts instead to dig out a treasure chest dated back to 1999. Feeling inspired by all the fond memories from yesteryear, he goes from being this responsible and geeky adult to the 90s kid he once was.

Being alone in the house can only mean one thing: it’s party time! He is seen mixing a bunch of his favourite cereals while dancing in his boxer shorts. The Backstreet Boys alum also shows us how to strut while carrying a boombox playing Tupac’s music. Carter’s music video is making us wish that we could party like it’s 1999 again!

If that wasn’t enough, Carter gave the ultimate nod to his Backstreet Boys days by reenacting the group’s “I Want It That Way” signature moves (dramatic hand motions and all) while sporting an all-white wardrobe and wind machine for effects. Nostalgia overload anyone? :D

Oh, and BSB fans, you may want to take note of the familiar pizza delivery guy. Because fellow band member and longtime friend, AJ McLean, makes a special cameo. Upbeat and catchy, the hilarious clip cleverly highlights the good times of being a young adult and not having a care in the world.

“19 in 99” is taken from Carter’s third solo album, “All American”, which was released last November.


Interview: Anthony Mackie & Sebastian Stan Talk Staring Contests, Stepping Up As MCU Leads & The Legacy of The Shield

In Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier”, Sam Wilson talks of the Big Three. “Androids. Aliens. Wizards.“, Sam informs as Bucky, unamused at his co-worker’s attempts to quip his way right before a mission, gives him a piece of his 106-year-old mind.

“A sorcerer… is a wizard without a hat…”

Cue the roll of eyeballs from The Winter Soldier and an overjoyed Falcon chuckling at his own line. Ah, we could watch this all day.

Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicked off at the start of the year with a most unique entry. Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision”, a series that took inspiration from six decades of television, interweaved a contained narrative with subversive writing and pleased both fans and critics alike. Without a doubt, the hive of fans swarmed the narrative, poring for golden eggs, with the weekly fan theories, however absurd, continuing to pile up.

In the end, it didn’t matter whether those crazy theories paid off due to one thing: It was “Agatha All Along”. Man, that jingle still courses through our brainwaves from time to time as we prepare our morning cereal.

Anyway, come Friday, the Big Three (if that’s even a thing) will be taking a backseat as the world needs saving from two heroes with a very specific set of skills.

James “Bucky” Barnes aka The Winter Soldier and Sam Wilson aka The Falcon first appeared on the pages of the Captain America comics in 1941 and 1969 respectively, serving as sidekicks to the famed Super Soldier. Indeed, these two personas have been essential elements to Captain America’s ethos and pathos, braving through the thick and thin with the man himself. As a matter of fact, both of these characters have also assumed the patriotic mantle at certain points in time, with Sam Wilson being the most recent.

Sam and Bucky’s journeys in the MCU have similarly been bound to Steve Roger’s tale since “The First Avenger”. They’ve been very much on his left, serving as both accomplice and foil to his nature. The development of these characters has been nothing short of spectacular. Conflict? Brotherhood? Loyalty? Yes! But most of all, there has been tremendous respect for the shield and what it stands for.

Following the Battle of Earth, Steve Rogers takes the Infinity Stones back to their respective timelines and goes on to live an alternate life with the love of his life, Peggy Carter. Needless to say, he returns to the present day to provide some sage advice to Sam Wilson, before passing his shield, along with his mantle and legacy to Sam.

Marvel Studios’ new series, “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier”, builds upon that aftermath and the legacy of the shield with Sam and Bucky embarking on a globetrotting mission 6 months later, facing down new and vicious threats. Staring contests may be one thing but going toe to toe with powered enemies may prove to be too much for one hero to handle alone. As this unlikely pairing will soon learn, the line between good and evil is not just delineated by the Star-Spangled red, white, and blue.

According to head writer Malcolm Spellman, the 12-second interaction in “Captain America: Civil War” was something that every single Marvel fan, Kevin Feige withal, craved more of. Building upon that premise allowed stars Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie to work their magic into that very dynamic and bring upon a whole new spin to these characters within the cinematic universe. Describing the show as a mix between the various offerings of the buddy-cop genre which includes films like “Rush Hour”, “Lethal Weapon”, and “48 Hours”, Spellman commented that the show provides audiences with a deeper dive into the heart and soul of these characters that we have grown to love.

Stars Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan further expanded on that notion, affirming that viewers will get to see more of their backstories, family, and all. The lingering effects of one’s past, and even PTSD, are also a major defining point in their being because, first and foremost, these two have gone through a lot as soldiers. Truly, this helped to ground the show in a more realistic manner.

We recently had the fine opportunity of sitting down with Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan virtually via Zoom as they discussed the show’s themes, the struggles of working during a pandemic along with some fun and juicy tidbits about the series they worked so hard on.

1. Of all of the characters in the MCU, why do you think The Falcon and The Winter Soldier story is one that needs to be told particularly in this TV show format?

SEBASTIAN STAN: We’re left off with a question mark at the end of “Endgame” and we’re also left off wondering about how these two are going to handle the end of “Endgame”. ‘What does Captain America mean?’ That in itself is interesting. It’s worth exploring. We’ve never really learnt so much about these two. Particularly for Sam, we never really learnt that much if you think about it. Just going deeper and having six hours to really flesh out who these guys are, why they are the way they are, and going into their psychology at this point felt very accurate and earned.

2. Disney+ is off to a flying start with its Marvel series. Obviously “WandaVision” did extremely well. Did you guys feel a certain level of pressure in order to follow in the success of that show?

SEBASTIAN STAN: I don’t think so. Honestly, because we are such different shows. If anything, it’s been really nice to just have them usher Marvel into the streaming world if you will. It gave us a chance to hone in on our series a little bit more because we got stopped during the pandemic.

We’re just different shows. We’re both just as vital.

3. So, this is a buddy-cop action story but it’s interesting that Kari Skogland, a woman, is directing the series. In your opinion, what is it that she brings to the show?

ANTHONY MACKIE: I think Kari is very good with character development and hiding exposition. So, when you watch her work, you’re getting information from the characters but it does not feel like she’s spoonfeeding you information.

A lot of the things in the script for the characters either didn’t work or weren’t put together right, she worked out those beats and moments to make those arcs and transitions really smooth. So, her smarts are something that can’t be questioned. She really brought an intelligent feel as a director to the show.

4. Do you think Marvel made the show because of your offscreen friendship which, by the way, has a massive global fandom?

SEBASTIAN STAN: I think that definitely helped for sure. I think that the ten-second scene in Civil War was a real jumping-off point for us. They’ve paired us together now for a couple of years and I think somebody was smart enough to go “OK, maybe there’s something we can explore here.” I think the story of Captain America itself caught up to both of us at the time.

5. “Black Panther” was a huge success for Marvel. It had a black cast and black lead. In a sense, Anthony, now you are a lead in “Falcon and The Winter Soldier”. How does that make you feel? Is it a deeply personal experience for you?

ANTHONY MACKIE: Of course it is a personal experience! I’m very fortunate to do what I love. It’s something I always wanted to do. It’s a reward, a blessing, to be able to have a show like this… to have a co-star like Sebastian and to have the ability to put my talents in the ethos for people to enjoy. It’s a huge blessing and I’m very grateful for it.

That being said, with the idea of representation, the idea of what it means for The Falcon going forward, and the Marvel universe… You know, Sam Wilson is kind of the eyes and ears of the Marvel audience. He’s not a superhero. He’s a regular guy that was asked by Captain America to help out. So, of course, there’s pride that goes along with that. Of course, there’s the recognition that comes along with that.

So, you just have to take it all in stride and never lose sight of yourself. That’s my goal. It would be so easy to become something that I’m not. So, I’m just going to focus on what I am.

6. Did you two ever seek out advice from Chris Evans or talk to him about your involvement in this show?

SEBASTIAN STAN: No. Not really. No. I don’t know if Anthony did. I don’t think so. No. [chuckles]

SEBASTIAN STAN: Because when we were shooting “Endgame”, we didn’t even know that we were going to do this series…

7. So there are a couple of exciting cameos from the first episode that are really exciting. Can you tease any other potential cameos that may be coming our way?

ANTHONY MACKIE: We don’t know. We haven’t seen the complete show yet!

SEBASTIAN STAN: Well yeah! Surprises are surprises.

8. Daniel Brühl’s Helmut Zemo is back. How does he factor into this series? Does his emergence from the shadows affect Bucky in any way?

SEBASTIAN STAN: Well, he’s tied into both The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’s past. It’s almost impossible not to have him involved in a way.

As for whether it affects Bucky, it absolutely does not! Helmut Zemo just comes on, buys an Armani three-piece suit, and then leaves. That’s sort of his whole arc!

ANTHONY MACKIE: He goes shopping… [giggles]

9. What did you like about each of your characters both on and off-screen? What sets this pair apart from all the other duos in the MCU?

ANTHONY MACKIE: I would say Bucky’s best characteristic would be his take no s*** attitude. I love how stern he is and how focused he is on getting the job done.

SEBASTIAN STAN: As for the other duos, there are none in the MCU that are of this caliber. We’re both the most charming men!

10.  Are there any particular scenes that you enjoyed the most during filming?

SEBASTIAN STAN: I would say anytime that we had a staring contest is always an interesting time because it’s sort of about who breaks first. And that’s usually me.

And just me guessing whether or not Anthony had his lunch before his scene because that was going to affect our energy going into it.

ANTHONY MACKIE: I have to say that there were a lot of scenes, lines and things between the two of us in the show. I feel that one of my favourite scenes was the one on the cargo plane that was in the trailer. I find that to be so funny because The Winter Soldier is just trying so hard to just, you know, be my friend. And I’m still over him and the idea of him. It just plays really well in the show.

11. What’s your biggest takeaway from finally being able to get back to work after the pandemic shut everything down? Is there anything that feels very timely for you in this show?

ANTHONY MACKIE: Appreciation. It’s really put things in perspective for me. Just slowing down, smelling the roses, and really appreciating the joy of doing whatever we love, I think, is a big thing for us… for me. It really puts things in perspective for me to have it all snatched away and now, having the opportunity to go back to it is huge.

SEBASTIAN STAN: I would say the whole nature of this show feels very timely… and the questions that it is asking and exploring all feel very timely. The show was supposed to come out in August of last year. It didn’t. A lot of things have happened since August of last year up until now.

I believe everything always happens for a reason but the series is coming out after all these things we’ve witnessed collectively. I think when you see “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier”, you’re going to see how much more timely it is.

Having watched the first episode of “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier”, we can undeniably tell you that it’s an explosive, action-packed MCU extravaganza with a specific amount of grit to it. There’s a distinct familiarity, surely, as the presence of Steve Roger’s Captain America is very much felt in the episode; his legacy, shield, contributions all mementoes of the past.

Nevertheless, while that was interesting to see, it does not overshadow the reinvention of Sam and Bucky’s arcs in any way as the duo are granted moments to grow and interact with the new characters and additions to the show. The signature quips have been kept to a minimum too for now but it will only get more intense from this point onward.

It might be hard to believe but oh hell yes, you’re gonna witness some of the greatest Falcon butt-kickery ever put together onscreen. Marvel Studios just went ahead and winged it! So, verily, we’d say that this pilot is a great tease for things yet to come. We guess we’ll be with “The Falcon and The Winter” till the end of the line!

Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon And The Winter Soldier” swoops in exclusively on Disney+ this 19th March.

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Inside Miranda Kerr’s Manhattan Apartment

Australian supermodel and international celebrity Miranda Kerr (the one with dangerous curves and dangerously cute dimples) has put her Manhattan apartment up for sale. Miranda Kerr first put the apartment on the market for USD1,395,000 in 2010 before reducing it to USD1,175,000 in February 2011.

The apartment is, in one word, stunning! But Miranda was willing to part with it as she wants more room for her husband Orlando Bloom and their two-year-old son Flynn.

Aww. That oughta kill rumours that her relationship with Orlando is on the rocks!

The loft-style abode was purchased for USD1,084,436 in 2006. Miranda Kerr’s residence in the Jade building was designed by style queen Jade Jagger aka daughter of rock legend Mick Jagger. It has a pod-like free-standing cube in the centre that holds a small kitchen area and bathroom.

And we know what you’re thinking. What about Miranda’s bedroom?

Miranda’s bedroom is light, airy, and would you look at that plush bed? It makes us want to, uh, jump in it.

The Jade building also boasts two floors of terraced space for residents, including a reflecting pool and soaking tubs, a fitness room, and a Moroccan-themed lounge. It’s a home fit for a princess, that’s for sure.

Or, you know, a Victoria’s Secret angel.


#DanceDanceAsia: Hit All The Right Moves With Famous Japanese Dance Groups

When it comes to performing a specially choreographed routine, it’s all about hitting the right moves. Some may say that dancing doesn’t require any special set of skills or techniques but we say, there’s no harm trying to invent some of the craziest dance moves that feels personal to you.

Not everyone possesses the ability to dance well or even sing well – case in point, we can neither dance nor sing. Having watched so many dance movies in the past, everyone would at least want to try and learn some amazing dance movies from these movies. Thus, the passion for dancing is born. To promote exchange and collaboration among street dance groups in the ASEAN region, the Japan Foundation Asia Center proudly presents us “Dance Dance Asia– Crossing the Movements “, a project that features Japanese dance groups including Wrecking Crew Orchestra, Time Machine, and Blue Tokyo.

Wrecking Crew Orchestra are no strangers to the world as they’re best known for their “EL Squad’s Dance of Light”, which is more commonly known as the “Tron”-inspired dance routine. Formed in 2003, the Osaka-based 8-member dance crew constantly evolves in pursuit of new possibilities for street dance. As a pioneer of the street dance scene, the crew frequently fill the venues of their showcases both at home and abroad. Just last year, they left a lasting impression on the crowd through their worldwide hit “Beat Bumper” at klpac and the George Town Festival.

The crew became a Youtube sensation through their “EL Squad’s Dance of Light” video that has been viewed on YouTube more than 25 million views and counting. Since then, Wrecking Crew Orchestra attracted a total of more than 8,000 for their 10th anniversary live performances in Tokyo and Osaka. They were also invited as representatives from Japan for the 60th anniversary of the establishment of a Japan-Myanmar diplomatic relationship, which was held in the spring of 2014 in Yangon, the capital of Myanmar, where they passionately entertained over 2,000 guests.

However, this time around, the 8-member crew will return to the original style that established their name in the Japanese street dance scene.

Award-winning dance crew “Time Machine” has been described as a group of artists who control time and space, which is understandable if you’ve seen their performances in real life or through YouTube videos.

Led by the award-winning Koutei Sennin, the crew put together will make a highly-anticipated appearance at Dance Dance Asia. Sennin’s charges are known for being so in-tune with one another that they seem to share a collective consciousness as they progress through their set pieces. Time Machine is a common fixture at such international tournaments as the Dance @live World Cup, Gatsby Dance Competition, and VIBE Dance Competition.

The dancers have been attracting attention from creators around the world for Sennin’s world-class, revolutionary choreography. It was even used in a Uniqlo commercial and won the grand prize for the advertisement category at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, as well as 23 other ad awards worldwide. The company’s unbelievable body control and extremely fine attention to detail, as well as the composition of their performances that features a variety of tricks and gimmicks, displays mastery of both time and space, wowing audiences in the process.

With a concept that goes beyond our imaginations, the group continues to showcase creative new works that are not limited to dancing alone.

Check out their award-winning performance below:

Last but not least, we have Blue Tokyo to complete the lineup for Dance Dance Asia workshop in Malaysia.

Known for their highly artistic acrobatic bodily expression, the dance group comprises male rhythmic gymnasts who stepped into the world of dance upon graduation from Aomori University and Aomori Yamada High School. In addition to lending their services on film, at corporate events and as back-up dancers to artistes, members regularly return to their respective alma maters to train the next generation of championship-dominating athletes.

This group was established as the first professional performance unit from the world of Japanese men’s gymnastics, and the members went from being athletes to artists. The group has masterfully utilised the strength of body and spirit that they sculpted during competition to create highly artistic performances in which they express a world refined through acrobatics. They have worked as performers for Ayumi Hamasaki, Daichi Miura, Lead, Hiromi Goh, and other top artistes.

They also notably performed as part of the cast of “Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour by Cirque Du Soleil”, performed on the French TV program “The Best” in January 2014, and continue to expand their scope of work to this day.

Though the dance groups have different dancing styles, young and aspiring dancers who hope to learn the ropes from the professionals will be heartened to know that all three groups will run workshops this weekend.

Dance Dance Asia will travel to three other Southeast Asian cities. s**t kingz, Tokyo Gegegay and Tapdancerize gets the ball rolling in Manila on January 17–18. March will see Memorable Moment, Moreno Funk Sixers and 90’s wowing audiences in Hanoi while Umebou, Tokyo Gegegay and 90’s are scheduled for Bangkok.

For more information, visit their official website and Facebook page or contact the Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur at 03 2284 6228.

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