#GiveElsaAGirlfriend: “Frozen” Fans Wants Disney To Make Elsa A Lesbian Queen

So a new hashtag is trending on Twitter – a campaign to have Disney make queen Elsa from “Frozen” a lesbian.

#GiveElsaAGirlfriend creator, Alexis Isabel Moncada, is the first person to bring up the idea of making Elsa a lesbian character through her Twitter account. Her first tweet was, “I hope Disney makes Elsa a lesbian princess imagine how iconic that would be.”

— Alexis Isabel (@lexi4prez) May 1, 2016

According to an article she wrote for MTV, many people in the LGBT community viewed the movie as a metaphor for “coming out of the closet” and accepting yourself. Yet ironically, Disney will definitely pair Elsa up with a charming prince or king for the animation’s sequel.

The intention behind the movement is to help kids understand that being gay is acceptable. “#GiveElsaAGirlfriend because LGBT kids deserve to know that there is nothing wrong with them,” wrote Alexis.

While many social media users are showing their support for the campaign, many parents think otherwise.

One parent tweeted, “#GiveElsaAGirlfriend and I would not allow my daughters to watch the film. Not anti-gay. I don’t want Hollywood explaining sex to my kids.”

Disney hasn’t given a response to the campaign yet but Alexis hopes that even if Disney can’t make Elsa lesbian in “Frozen 2”, they will consider making a gay princess in the future.

She said, “Giving young girls the chance to understand that a princess can love another princess the same way Cinderella loved her Prince Charming is vital to their development. No one deserves to feel isolated and confused about who they are.”

What do you think of a Disney LGBT princess/prince? Should Disney make Elsa lesbian? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below ;)


Bunkface Talks Augmented Reality & #BBMM!

Four more sleeps till the biggest New Year’s Eve party of the year. Slated to happen on 31st December 2012 at Stadium Malawati in Shah Alam, the BlackBerry Music Mania Concert and Carnival (#BBMM) is expecting up to 5,000 attendees. All set to get their socks rocked off by the line up of acts.

#BBMM will feature the ever-popular band from Indonesia, Sheila On 7, local rock scene heavyweights Hujan and Bunkface as well as the country’s foremost hip-hop family, Kartel (featuring Joe Flizzow, Altimet, SonaOne, and Ila Damiaa).

Last week, we spoke to local band Bunkface and they shared with us what fans can expect from their #BBMM New Year’s Eve gig:

Hey! How is it going? We heard that Bunkface has been super busy..

“Hey what’s up guys! Well, we’ve been touring across the country for our shows as we just launched our new album last July titled, ‘Bunk Not Dead’. We also just relaunched it few weeks ago – but this time with ‘augmented reality’ features in it. Go check it out!”

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

Bunkface has come a long & far way since 2005. What are the aspects, would you say, that contributed to your mainstream success?

“We’re just doing what we love, writing good songs, produce quality products, and of course with strategic planning by our team. Thanks to all our Bunkers (our fans) that always be there to support us. We love them so much.”

What would you say was your most memorable gig and why?

“MTV World Stage 2010! We performed in front of 17,000 awesome fans and shared the stage with A-list artists like Katy Perry , Tokio Hotel, and Wonder Girls.”

How would your upcoming performance at BlackBerry Music Mania stand out from all of your other performances?

“We always make sure the crowd would have a good rocking time whenever we take over the stage! We’ve got a special set all planned out for this New Year’s Eve party. You don’t want to miss it. So be there to find out.”

Leave a message for Hype Malaysia’s readers and tell them why they should be rocking out at BlackBerry Music Mania for New Year’s Eve this year.

“Guys, if you want to start your 2013 with a blast, come join us this 31st Dec for the BlackBerry Music Mania Concert, because we will rock the best New Year’s Eve in town! See ya!”

To score passes to the hottest New Year’s Eve concert and party in town, all you gotta do is purchase a BlackBerry Curve 9220 or BlackBerry Curve 9320 smartphone! Yup. A pair of concert tickets will be given out* with every purchase of a BlackBerry Curve 9220 or BlackBerry Curve 9320 smartphone from 1st December to 25th December 2012. Tickets can be redeemed at any AirAsia RedTix outlets.

* While stocks last. See Terms & Conditions on the event website for more info.

Alternatively, you could also hit up Wanista to find out how you can snag FREE tickets to what is slated to be the biggest New Year’s Eve party of the decade. Let’s rock out!

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#LaVieEnRose: Landslide Destroys Kitchen Of Famed French Restaurant In Jalan Raja Chulan

A landslide has reportedly destroyed the kitchen of a famed French restaurant near the Maybank Tower in Jalan Raja Chulan.

According to Bernama, a RM1 million retaining wall collapsed at about 2:30am yesterday (16th November) and destroyed the kitchen of the infamous French dining spot, La Vie En Rose.

When met at the scene of the incident yesterday, Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) assistant director Azizan Ismail told reporters that they received an emergency call at 10:53am yesterday on the incident.

“The impact caused the liquefied petroleum cooking gas in the kitchen to leak out,” he said, adding that JBPM would go into the kitchen when it was safe for them to retrieve 4 gas cannisters and other items. To ensure safety of residents of an apartment behind the restaurant, Azizan said that JBPM has ordered residents to vacate their units temporarily.

A 74-year-old resident, who only wanted to be identified as Lee, told reporters that he heard a loud “boom” said when he was sound asleep. However, he didn’t pay any attention to it.

I was shocked when I find the back portion of the restaurant near my apartment destroyed by a landslide when I woke up at 9:30 am today.

Having stayed in the area for 50 years, Lee expressed his shock over the incident because the retaining wall was supposed to prevent the landslide that occured at the same place last year.

According to Astro Awani, the restaurant will be closed for 2 weeks and the Public Works Department will conduct soil checks after the rain subsided.

To prevent fire or an explosion from happening, firefighters also released gas from the leaked LPG tanks in a controlled environment.


#CoachKLCC: Jay Park Brings The Party To The Coach Outlet Redesign Launch

Coach, a leading New York design house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle collections, unveiled the company’s next generation retail concept at its Suria KLCC store.

Coach hosted a private reopening party at the store with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with celebrity guest, Korean-American sensation Jay Park, Mr. Ian Bickley – President of Coach International Group, Mr. Andrew Stanleick – President of Coach SEA & Oceania and Mr. Andrew Brien – Executive Director & CEO of Suria KLCC.

The new store design was developed by Coach Executive Creative Director Stuart Vevers, in partnership with world renowned creative firm Studio Sofield, led by Designer and President William Sofield.

Drawing from a wide range of influences, the concept places a premium on contrasting textures and luxe materials.

The 1,600 square foot retail space is warm and inviting, reflecting the sophisticated yet playful refinement of New York – the city the brand has always called home.

Throughout the space is a mix of custom-designed cabinetry fabricated from natural and ebonized ash, blackened steel, antique bronze and mahogany trim. The store interiors consist of iron spot brick pavers, reclaimed heart-pine wood flooring with custom hand-tufted wool carpeting and statement mid-century furniture punctuating the elegant lines and muted colors.

A variety of guests, including members of the press and Malaysian high society attended the launch event. Celebrities like Joe Flizzow, Sona One, Joanne Yew, Juliana Evans, Debbie Goh, Nazim Othman, Cristina Suzanne, Jane Chuck, and Yumi Wong among others were dressed in Coach latest Fall Winter 2015 collection.

Guests were invited for a tour at the Coach KLCC store to experience the new modern luxury concept store right after the official ribbon cutting ceremony. The event continued with an after party at Marini’s 57 with a special musical performance by Jay Park.

More pictures from the night in the gallery below:

The Coach Suria KLCC store is located at Lot G01A – G01C, Ground Floor Kuala Lumpur City Centre and is open daily from 10.00am to 10.00pm. Customers can also call 03-23001300 for enquiries.

For more information, visit Coach Malaysia‘s website or Facebook page.

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#WhatsApp: Users May Soon Revoke, Recall Or Edit Messages That Have Been Delivered

Some people find texting easy and more convenient than talking to the person. Unless of course, you’ve accidentally texted the wrong person before and embarrassed yourself in the process.

To counter that problem, WhatsApp is working on a new feature that allow users to recall, revoke, or even edit text messages that have already been delivered to contacts in the chat app.

According to reports from WABeta info, the new feature has already been spotted on a number of iPhone beta version apps. The upcoming WhatsApp feature to retract or edit messages sent by accident, will work by long pressing the delivered message. It is believed that this feature also extends to group chat messages.

Although the edit and revoke function will allow users to change the message content or pull the text from the conversation (as if it never existed) respectively, the ability to revoke your messages will only work if the recipient hasn’t read your text. If it’s a double tick check mark in blue colour, then you’re unlucky.

As per sources online, WhatsApp is also reportedly working on a new way to display a user’s status update. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see how soon WhatsApp will roll out these new features to all of its users.


Hype’s Now Playing: 15 Popular Music Videos That Were Filmed In One Shot

We love one-shot music videos and there simply aren’t enough to go around. Perhaps it’s because a lot of work goes into pre-production, production, and post-production. Well, more pre-production and production than post-production, we reckon.

A “one-shot” music video is any music video which consists of action, continuous in time and space, from the perspective of a single camera. More often than not, it’s done in a single long take. But in order to be able to make one-shot music videos, several special techniques are used. And in order to not screw up, everything has to go according to plan.

Basically, all it takes is for someone to sneeze at the very last minute of the take and the entire thing has to be shot all over again. It’s safe to say that one-shot music videos are tedious!

One of the most famous music video directors for this genre is French film director Michel Gondry, who has done many of his videos in this style. He has previously worked with the likes of The White Stripes, Kylie Minogue, and Radiohead for one-shot music videos.

Other artistes that Michel Gondry can boast about (although not necessarily because of one-shot music videos) are such as The Chemical Brothers, Björk, Kanye West, The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, and Sheryl Crow, just to name a few.

But enough about Michel Gondry. Here are some of our personal top 10 picks for what we think are some of the most popular one-shot music videos of all time. The songs alone are pretty good too, of course!

And yes, when we say “all time”, we mean everything old and new from pop to folk, alternative to rock, and even K-Pop. Just remember not to blink ;)

1. Lisa Loeb – Stay (I Missed You), released in 1994

2. Spice Girls – Wannabe, released in 1996

3. Smashing Pumpkins – Ava Adore, released in 1999

4. Semisonic – Closing Time, released in 1999

6. Christina Aguilera – The Voice Within, released in 2003

8. Linkin Park – Bleed It Out, released in 2007

9. Sara Bareilles – Gravity, released in 2008

10. Utada Hikaru – Goodbye Happiness, released in 2010

11. Bruno Mars – The Lazy Song, released in 2011

12. BIGBANG – Love Song, released in 2011

13. Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, released in 2012

15. Avicii – Waiting For Love (360 version), released in 2015

Tip: Watch the Avicii music video on your smartphone or tablet and have a little bit more fun. Try not to look silly while you’re at it though ;)

Which one did YOU like best? Do you have a personal favourite that’s not listed above? Let us know in the comments box below!

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What Are The 11 Members From Wanna One Up To Since The Disbandment

Can y’all believe that it has already been a year since Wanna One (워너원) disbanded and went their separate ways?

The 11 members of the “Energetic” hit makers bid their last farewell to Wannables (as fans are lovingly called) during a special concert held back in January 2019, following the end of their one-year-long contract with Swing Entertainment. Since then, all of the them have continued on their respective journeys in various fields of entertainment.

For those who are curious on what the members are currently up to now a year after their disbandment, then check out the list below:

Kang Daniel is now running his own entertainment company, Konnect Entertainment. He released his solo debut EP, “Colour On Me” under the label. However, the Busan-born heartthrob’s promotion for his 2nd single “Touchin'” was cut short, as it was announced that he would be undergoing an hiatus due to health issues.

Following Wanna One’s disbandment, Jihoon has went on to pursue a career in both singing and acting. Last year, he released 2 EPs – “O’Clock and “360”. Apart from that, the Masan-born cutie also starred as Go Youngsoo in “Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency”.

Brand New Music labelmates Daehwi and Woojin made their official debut with AB6IX with the song “Breathe”, along with 2 other “Produce 101” alumnis; Lim Youngmin and Kim Donghyun. The 4 talented boys were joined by former JYP, Woollim and YG trainee Jeon Woong.

The all-rounded musician went on to become a solo artiste under the same group that used to manage Wanna One; Swing Entertainment. Though most of his songs focuses more on mellowed down and chilled ballads, he still occasionally dances to choreographies from time to time.

Like fellow member Jihoon, Seongwu also went on to become an actor and a singer at the same time. He gained nationwide fame for his appearance in JTBC’s “At Eighteen”. For those who have been missing his soothing voice, he has just released a special single called “We Belong”.

Guanlin appeared in a special collaboration project with Pentagon member Wooseok in March 2019. Aptly named Wooseok x Guanlin, the duo released an album called “9801”, with the title track “I’m A Star”. In addition, he ventured into acting, like most of the members in this list. He acted as the male lead in Chinese drama “A Little Thing Called First Love”.

Former leader Jisung dropped his 1st EP “Aside”, not long after the end of the group’s contract. He also released a special single called “Winter Flower” as a gift for his fans before his enlistment. He is currently serving in the military.

Minhyun finally made his long-awaited to his original group NU’EST. The 5-member K-pop ensemble has been enjoying their new-found success following their stint in “Produce 101”. Their latest song, “Love Me”, managed to top the charts in all 5 major music shows – M Countdown, Music Bank, Music Core, Inkigayo and Show Champion.

The 20-year-old visual member is now a member of rookie group CIX. They made their official debut back in July 2019 with an EP called “Hello Chapter 1: Hello Stranger”. Just a few months before that, the group was nominated for Best Korean Act at MTV EMA 2019!

Last but not least is none other than Ha Sungwoon. The 26-year-old is arguably the most active member when it comes to his participations in a number of projects. This includes singles, drama soundtracks as well as variety show appearances ever since he embarked a solo career. We still have yet to hear any news about his group HOTSHOT, though.

Fingers crossed that all of Wanna One will reunite as a whole team again one fine day. :'(


#MADEinMY: Win “Soundcheck Party” & “Send Off” Passes For #BIGBANG’s Concert

After 3 years, BIGBANG will be back in Malaysia as part of their “2015 World Tour (MADE) in Malaysia”!

After the tickets sold out during the ticket launch in Wuhan, China and also for the 25th July 2015 show in Malaysia, organiser IME Productions announced an additional show on 24th July 2015.

One of the highlights of the production is the transparent floating catwalk stage with the lightning system, fireworks, and the stage effects that definitely will hype up the excitement for the audience. The concert will cost RM1 million to produce, which is the highest among all concerts in Malaysia this year yet. Other than hardware production, the band and production crew (about 100 people) will be flying in from South Korea as well as the US for the concert.

As for what Malaysian VIPs can expect, well, other than a guaranteed smashing time, BIGBANG will be performing 6 songs from their new (MADE) series album.

On top of that, IME Productions has also prepared 2 more surprises:

Rockzone A, B, and VIP CAT 1 ticket purchasers will automatically be entitled to join the lucky draw session to win Soundcheck Party passes, which will allow them to watch the concert rehearsal. The winners will be drawn from the ticketing system according to the tickets’ barcodes.

All Rockzone A, B, and VIP CAT 1 ticket purchasers will have the golden opportunity to join the “Send Off” event where they will be allowed to meet and send off the members backstage after the concert. The winners will also be selected via lucky draw from the ticketing system according to the tickets’ barcodes.

*There will be lucky draws for both days but winners will have to attend the surprise events according to the date on their ticket. For example, 24th July ticket holders will stand a chance at winning “Soundcheck Party” and “Send Off” event passes, same goes to 25th July ticket holders.

BIGBANG 2015 WORLD TOUR [MADE] IN MALAYSIA is supported by Malaysia Major Events, a division of Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture together with Official Telco Hotlink.

For more information, visit IME Productions’ Facebook page.

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S Club 7 Are Bringing It All Back For A Great Cause

There ain’t no party like a S Club reunion party!

All seven former members of British pop group S Club 7 are reuniting for the first time in over 10 years − and it’s for a great cause! Singers Rachel Stevens, Tine Barrett, Jo O’Meara, Hannah Spearritt, Bradley McIntosh, Jon Lee and Paul Cattermole, the people who brought us “Bring It All Back”, “S Club Party”, and “Never Had A Dream Come True” will team up to perform a medley of their greatest hits on the 2014 BBC Children in Need telethon to raise funds for the channel’s charity.

The group has already reunited on social media as the official Twitter and Instagram pages for S Club 7 were launched on Wednesday and the group released a special audio greeting.

There Ain’t No Party Like An S CLUB Party . . . #SCLUB7 #Bringitallback #SC7

Children in Need helps disabled children and other kids in need, including victims of bullying. The organisation’s mascot is Pudsey Bear, who sports a colorful bandage over his eye. The popular telethon, which is televised annually, takes place this year on November 14th (Friday), according to BBC News.

S Club 7 had in 2000 recorded the charity’s official single, “Never Had a Dream Come True,” and also released a second one, “Have You Ever,” for the group the following year. Both topped the U.K. singles chart.

We leave you with the charity’s official single “I Never Had A Dream Come True” by S Club 7.


There’s A “Sugar Daddy Dating App” & It Was Developed By A Malaysian Company

“Where romance meets finance”, its tagline reads.

Have you heard of TheSugarBook? It’s essentially a website that opens up possibilities for “Sugar Relationships” aka a relationship where both parties define what they want in a relationship in exchange for financial support. Most times this consists of a male/female who are eligible of financial backing in exchange for love and companionship.

First launched in December 2016, the website, which promises to be “a nice social networking platform where likeminded consenting adults can connect and form mutually beneficial Sugar Relationships in a safe online environment” currently has an approximately 55,000 active members and it is continuously growing. TheSugarBook also champions “honesty and transparency when it comes to developing Sugar Relationships”.

Here are some staggering facts about TheSugarBook that you probably weren’t aware of:

And that’s not all. They’ve also recently launched their iOS and Android app, which claims to help members “build legitimate relationships with benefits” that much easier. Interestingly, the app was developed by one Endeavor Standard Sdn. Bhd. located somewhere in Petaling Jaya, Selangor – yes, a Malaysian company.

Whether or not you think that it’s morally correct to engage in the activities of sugar babies/sugar daddies, TheSugarBook aims to acquire more than 100,000 users from all over the world by mid-2018.

For more information, hit up TheSugarBook’s Facebook page.


Vivian Lee Fined RM5000 Over Controversial “Bak Kut Teh” Post

Vivian Lee, one half of the infamous “Alvivi” duo, has been sentenced to RM5,000 over her controversial “bak kut teh” post in 2013.

Lee was charged with 6-months jail time in May 2016, but appealed the sentence. Today (Tuesday, 11th April), High Court judge Justice Mohd Sofian Abd Razak dismissed her appeal but decided to reduce her sentence. Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin’s appeal to increase Lee’s sentence was also rejected.

Justice Mohd Sofian explained that he referred to previous sedition cases and is confident that justice would prevail if she was fined instead of being jailed. He also took in account that the incident happened back in 2013.

However, he warned Lee to not repeat her offence in the future, saying, “If you are found committing the offence again, the sentence will be very serious.”

Lee paid the fine, but Wan Shaharuddin insists that the prosecution will be filing an appeal against the decision.

On 11th July 2013, Alvin and Vivian, who have since broken up, uploaded a controversial “Ramadhan greeting” posting, which contained the words “Selamat Berbuka Puasa (dengan bak kut teh… wangi, enak, menyelerakan)” together with a halal logo. Both Alvin and Vivian were charged on 18th July 2013 under the Sedition Act but Alvin is believed to have fled to the US.

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#RajaBomohSedunia: Raja Bomoh Performs Ritual To “Protect” Malaysia From North Korea

Ibrahim Mat Zin, otherwise known as Malaysia’s “Raja Bomoh Sedunia”, is at it again.

This time, he’s volunteering his “services” to protect us from a North Korean nuclear attack.

Ibrahim, who calls himself who calls himself Raja Bomoh Sedunia Nujum VIP with the title of Datuk Mahaguru, first made national headlines when he stepped forward in March 2014 to “help locate” the ill-fated Malaysian Airlines flight MH370. Armed with several assistants, “Zam-Zam” water, coconuts, and a “magical” walking stick and carpet, he conducted rituals at the Anjung Tinjau of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Pictures and videos of his “magical” session quickly went viral and spawned various memes. He even became a subject of fake news.

Recently, a new 3-minute 18-second video of Ibrahim conducting a ritual on a beach surfaced. The clip features the “Raja Bomoh Sedunia” and his entourage ankle-deep in water with coconuts (yes, again), 5 pairs of sticks (used as binoculars), 5 bamboo cannons, a carpet, and a bowl of seawater.

Ibrahim can be seen reciting prayers during the ritual before throwing the coconuts into the water. There’s even a disclaimer that cautions viewers against conducting the ritual at home.

“This time, the ritual is to protect Malaysia from any threat or attack from other countries especially North Korea,” SMASANEWS quoted Ibrahim as saying, adding that the bamboo cannon is symbolic.

Ibrahim also urged all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, and political affiliation to jointly defend national dignity in the face of the threat of North Korea.

In case you missed it, North Korea barred Malaysians from leaving the republic in retaliation to Malaysia expelling North Korean ambassador Kang Chol over the handling of the assassination of Kim Jong Nam. 2 Malaysians, Stella Lim and Nyanaprakash Muniandy of the United Nations’ World Food Programme, were allowed to leave North Korea last Thursday (9th March 2017), while 9 others are still stranded there.


#Twitter: Microblogging Platform Rolls Out #GoLive, Their New Live Broadcast Tool

Twitter fans, guess what? You can now broadcast live video from within your Twitter app (for iOS and Android).

The microblogging platform officially announced today (Thursday, 15th December) that they’ve finally rolled out the much needed update by integrating with its live video app, Periscope.

All you need to do is click to compose a tweet and tap the “Live” button which opens a pre-broadcast screen. From there, you can frame your shot before starting your video. When you’re ready, hit “Go Live” to launch the live stream.

Powered by Periscope, Twitter’s broadcast function allows viewers of the live video on Twitter to interact with the broadcaster/creator through comments and hearts. Users will be able to receive live video notifications for certain people by following said person on Twitter.

We're making it easier for you to share what's happening in your world. Now you can #GoLive on Twitter!https://t.co/frWuHaPTFJ pic.twitter.com/Xpfpk1zWJV

Also, live videos created from Twitter will appear on both Twitter and Periscope, and users will be able to search for live videos created on either app through Periscope.tv’s web player. But unlike Periscope, which is a standalone app, the live function is built in to the Twitter app. So you don’t need to download another app to use it.

Note: Twitter previously integrated a Periscope button to their app but all it does is redirect you to Periscope or the app store to download it.

Of course, this will essentially help Twitter go up against Facebook, which rolled out its live video feature earlier this year. But we’re not sure how this will help Periscope in a long run. Goodbye Periscope?

Twitter’s live video broadcast feature has been rolled out globally starting today on both iOS and Android.

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16-Year-Old Penang Teen Is On Team Jay Chou In “Sing! China”

Penangite Janice Tan (陈颖恩) has joined Jay Chou’s team in “Sing! China” (中国新歌声, formerly known as “The Voice China”) season 2!

Over the weekend, the 16-year-old student wowed the judges during the blind auditions with her strong vocals. Janice, who sang JJ Lin’s “Those Were The Days” (那些你很冒险的梦), said “It’s a dream come true. I have no regrets.”

Her rendition of the popular ballad caught the attention of 2 judges – Na Ying (那英) and Jay Chou (周杰伦). After some consideration, Janice ultimately chose to be on Jay’s team. The Taiwanese singer said that he needs someone like Janice to defeat Na Ying, who has a powerful female ballad singer in her team.

Other judges in the panel includes Hong Kong singer Eason Chan (陳奕迅) and Tianjin-born musician Liu Huan (劉歡).

During an interview, Janice, who also studies in the same school as last year’s finalist Lee Pei Ling, said she dreams of becoming a singer-songwriter. She also said that she chose to sing “Those Were The Days” because of her little sister. According to Sinchew, she is the youngest contestant in the season.

Besides that, Malaysian participant Jeffrey Chen (谢少唐) joind Liu Huan’s team after singing Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man” during the blind auditions. The 23-year-old aspiring singer was praised for his good looks and husky voice.

“Although Liu Huan looks very stern, he is actually a very warm person,” said Chen.

Sources: Sinchew (1)(2), Kwong Wah / Featured image: Sinchew.


#CarlyRaeJepsen: “I Really Like You” Cover Ft. Bieber, Ariana Grande, 2NE1’s CL & More

Remember once upon a time in 2012 when Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale, and friends posted up a cover video of Carly Rae Jepsen’s cute hit song, “Call Me Maybe”? Well, they’re at it again – or at least some of them.

Justin Bieber recently grouped up some of his celebrity friends such as Ariana Grande, Lance Bass (of N*Sync fame), Kendall Jenner, and South Korea’s very own “gizibe” aka 2NE1 leader CL to have a little fun with Carly’s newly released single, “I Really Like You”.

As per usual, the cover video included montage clips of the gang having fun at different venues. More importantly, we got to see CL hanging out with them!

Now we really, really can’t wait for her US solo debut. We already know that she will have some interesting collaborations and surprises but do you think she’d be featuring her US “family” e.g. Bieber, Carly, and Ariana in her upcoming album too? Would you like it if she did? Feel free to discuss it in the comments box below :)

Meanwhile, CL also recently owned the UMF Miami 2015 stage where she appeared as a guest performer during Skrillex and Diplo’s Jack Ü closing set. In cased you missed it, watch it here.


Why Casting Lashana Lynch As The New 007 Is A Terrible Idea

You’ve heard it here folks, actress Lashana Lynch will officially be taking up the mantle of 007. We’ve long speculated in the past regarding Lynch being a possible replacement to Daniel Craig’s James Bond. The actress recently confirmed it in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar. She was initially coy about the rumour but now Lynch has finally confirmed it.

For the first time in the history of the franchise, the moniker will be passed down to a woman. This marks a historic moment for the illustrious “James Bond” film saga. That being said, we can’t help but think this a terrible idea. And no, before any of you come jumping at us in the comments, it’s not because we hate women. There’s obviously a place for both men and women in the spy thriller and action genre. Films like 2017’s “Atomic Blonde” and last year’s “Birds of Prey” are plenty proof of that.

No, the problem here is within the context of this specific franchise, this decision won’t bode well. There could even be far-reaching consequences that could forever alter the franchise’s future.

To be fair, there’s a slim chance we may be wrong. Perhaps, director Cary Joji Fukunaga could find a way to introduce Lynch’s Nomi in an endearing and captivating way. Perhaps 2021’s “No Time to Die” could find both a satisfying and organic segue into Nomi’s future as 007. Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against them. This is the first time fans of the franchise are introduced to the character of Nomi. Beyond the fact that she works for MI6, we know nothing else about her. No previous foreshadow. No easter eggs in the background to give us some hint of her history with Bond and the agency. So to have her suddenly appear at the tail-end of Daniel Craig’s run as Bond to replace him feels cheap and insincere.

If the studio was planning to do this all along, then they should have done a far better job of easing us into it. Instead of introducing some random new character near the end, they should have picked a female partner or agent to Bond whom fans have had time to grow attached to over the years. There have been some fantastic female characters in Craig’s Bond films. There was the sexy and intelligent Vesper Lynd, played by Eva Green, who proved to be every bit Bond’s equal as an agent, a fighter and a lover. One who tragically died before her time.

There’s Léa Seydoux’s Madeleine Swann, Bond’s current lover, whose father was a member of the infamous SPECTRE crime organisation. Someone who has fought by Bond’s side since 2015’s “Spectre”. Then, of course, there’s the obvious candidate they could have foreshadowed to succeed Bond, Miss Moneypenny. A headstrong, competent agent of the British Intelligence Agency. Someone who has been in the fight with Bond since 2012’s “Skyfall”.

The point we’re trying to make is that from a storytelling perspective, having Nomi replacing Bond as 007 without any proper setup seems like bad writing. It feels cheap, lazy and derivative. There isn’t necessarily a problem with having a female spy take the helm of a major franchise. So as long as it’s done in an authentic way that honours the tradition of the past. “No Time to Die” sounds less like a rousing send-off than it does a soft reboot. Which brings a slew of problems in itself.

Historically, all-female reboots based on popular franchises don’t perform well in the box office. The most prominent example of this can be seen in the case of 2016’s “Ghostbusters”. A modern retelling of the cinematic classic of 1984, except this time all the members of the team are replaced with women. The film was met with strong opposition from fans of the franchise. At some point, the film’s trailer even clinched the unenviable achievement of being the most disliked film trailer in YouTube history. Oh but it doesn’t stop there, the film would also make a loss of a whopping approximately USD$70 million.

This isn’t an isolated incident, mind you. The latest casualty in the box office bomb came in 2019 with “Terminator: Dark Fate”. A film that significantly changed the franchise by having the leader of the human resistance be Dani Ramos instead of established John Connor. The way “Dark Fate” nonchalantly killed Connor off to make for Ramos sparked outrage amongst “Terminator” fans. The film ended up underperforming with 20th Century Fox making a loss of over USD$120 million.

Now, are we saying that female-centred action, comedy or spy films can’t do well? No, that’s obviously not true. What we are saying is that franchises can’t expect to simply resort to gender-swap reboots in the hopes of reinvigorating them. It could very well have the opposite effect, alienating fans of the old guard and tarnishing the legacy of its predecessor. Worst of all, it continues to perpetuate the notion that female-led films can’t stand on their own two feet. That they need more recognisable properties, with historically male leads, to prop them up.

Which brings up back to the issue of having Lynch take up the mantle of Bond. Regardless, how you personally feel about 007 being a woman of colour, we need to at least acknowledge the risk of alienating fans of the franchise. “No Time to Die” runs the risk of dishonouring the legacy of the property the same way “Dark Fate” did with John Connor. Also, if the “007” franchise bombs at the box office with future films starring Lynch, it could result in a cinematic hiatus or even death.

Now, this isn’t an open-and-shut case. There’s a chance we could be wrong, we certainly hope so. Nobody wants a film to be bad. Fingers crossed, Fukunaga defies expectations and creates a truly amazing film that gives Bond proper closure with Nomi inspiring confidence in fans. Till then, we don’t have particularly high hopes for Lynch’s character. “No Time to Die” is set to premiere on 2nd April 2021.

So what do you think of Lashana Lynch’s Nomi becoming the next 007? Do you disagree with us and believe she’ll make for a great replacement? Be sure to let us know in the comments down below!

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AirAsia’s New Fast Food Restaurant To Open In Mid Valley Megamall

Have you been missing the signature foods served on-board AirAsia? Fret not because it’s finally announced that the popular low-cost airline is bringing their local delicacies in-stores this December!

The good news was made official by CEO, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes via his Twitter account that the food and beverage outlet – Santan – will debut their first ever franchise in Mid Valley Megamall.

He further added in his post that he will be opening franchise application soon. Additionally, Santan is set to debut their 2nd outlet in Sunway Pyramid in the near future.

Since its launch back in 2015, AirAsia’s signature delicacies offered in their Santan menu has won the hearts of many Malaysians. The menu offered various yummy treats including the all-time favourite Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak, Thai Green Curry, Kamal’s Mee Goreng Mamak as well as Burnt Cheesecake for dessert.

Are you guys excited for Santan outlet’s official debut?


#ScamAlert: Beware Of Fraud Credit Card SMS Messages From “Banks”

Listen up, peeps! A new credit card scam has emerged.

On Monday (21st November), a Facebook user named Kelly Hoong took to her page to share a post detailing an incident that she encountered after receiving a dodgy SMS from RHB Bank, which she is not a customer of. As at time of writing, Hoong’s post has been shared over 1,900 times.

In her status, she wrote, “At 1:11pm today, I received an SMS from RHB bank claiming that I have a transaction from a premium watch shop in KLIA2. I have never owned an account with RHB, yet alone owning a CC (credit card). Obviously the amount displayed gave me quite a scare. I chose to ignore it but after a quick discussion with my colleagues, I decided to call the phone number displayed.”

At first glance, the above text message seemed like the typical kind of message you’d received after swiping your credit or debit card at a shop. But as Hoong doesn’t own an RHB account, she called the number provided in the SMS and a woman named “Summer” picked up. After listening to Hoong’s situation, “Summer” went on to ask for her phone number, reference code from the text, and the sender’s number.

“About 10mins later, she did call me back and told me that I have a credit card registered by my phone number and she mentioned my full name AND my house address too! Here, I would like to stressed to all my readers, I did not mention my full name to her at any time during our conversation!” she continued.

“Summer” then told Hoong that she owed the bank over RM8,000 and gave her the number of “Bank Negara Malaysia” (BNM), which was 03-27884726, urging her to “lodge a report”. Sounds familiar? That’s because the sequence is very similar to the BSN credit card fraud calls.

But luckily for Hoong, the number “Summer” provided couldn’t go through so Hoong decided to Google BNM’s other numbers. She stumbled upon a BNM article titled “Are you a victim of a credit card fraud?” and found her answer – “Summer” was working for the questionable syndicate all along. She eventually called BNM’s hotline, which starts with 1-300, and the customer service personnel told her that she is not the first victim to receive such text messages.

Another Facebook user known as Sunny Ng shared that he received a message saying that he made a transaction, amounting to RM4299, at KLIA. Other netizens also shared photos of scam messages they received recently and it all points to one similarity – the transactions were all made in KLIA or KLIA2.

Swindlers nowadays are very clever and convincing, therefore we urge all our readers to be alert of this. Share this information with your family and friends because they need to know what’s going on.

Sources: Kelly Hoong’s Facebook page, Sunny Ng’s Facebook page.


This Woman Is Not Kiki Kamaruddin

A local car site received a lot of flak today from netizens when a (apparently) “familiar” face was spotted on their ads, both virtually and out-of-home. One such advertising medium was first spotted by TV presenter and radio announcer Sarimah Ibrahim.

She took a picture of the bus ad and uploaded it on her Twitter account with the following caption:

why on earth is this happening..? pic.twitter.com/sFo5PyZXHI

The news then spread like wildfire, as quickly as you would expect a tweet to. Within just a few hours, netizens got word of the ad, with many believing that the woman in the picture was indeed Kiki Kamaruddin. As such, a public backlash ensued, with retweets and harsh comments coming from Malaysian Twitter-ers. Some with thousands of Twitter followers, even.

TV presenter and radio announcer Sarimah Ibrahim has about 244k Twitter followers while Malaysian politician Nurul Izzah, who also picked up on the “Kiki ad”, has 369k Twitter followers.

Nurul Izzah too, expressed her disbelief:

Seriously Malaysia! “@sarimahi: why on earth is this happening..? pic.twitter.com/VRkiaJtwn7” — Nurul Izzah (@n_izzah) July 31, 2014

However, the people behind the car site has just come out to confirm that it isn’t Kiki, but an employee in the company.  In fact, they’ve since released an official statement on their Facebook page to debunk the rumours:

Some Facebook users have also come out to defend the site, confirming that they’ve seen the ads even before the Kiki video went viral.

Moral of the story? Perhaps we all shouldn’t always be too quick to judge and above all, keep calm.

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BMW Shorties Is Back For Its 8th Year

BMW Group Malaysia once again dares Malaysians to dream big with Malaysia’s leading short film competition – BMW Shorties. Back for it’s 8th year, the BMW Shorties short film competition will once again provide promising film enthusiasts in Malaysia with the chance to win an RM75,000 production grant as well as recognition for film making talent in a line-up of awards which includes:

“When first conceptualised, the BMW Shorties was meant to be a platform through which a dynamic and emerging generation of talented Malaysian short film makers could both push the boundaries of their abilities and be recognised by a growingly interested Malaysian audience. From humble beginnings and goals of perhaps encouraging the creation of a dozen short films every year, the BMW Shorties surpassed expectations in each and every year of the competition. To date, an astonishing 540 short films have been submitted to the competition with winners of the BMW Shorties going on to achieve even greater artistic and professional heights both internationally and right here in Malaysia’s emerging film industry”, said Mr. Alan Harris, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.

With “Connections” as this year’s theme, BMW Shorties would like to challenge Malaysians and their story-telling abilities by exploring the essential human need of being connected, be it with other human beings or with the world around us.

The theme, obtained from BMW’s ConnectedDrive philosophy, which stands for the intelligent linking of vehicle, driver and the outside world in a way that safeguards that BMW owners are connected with information and services which lets them make the most of a driving experience. Hence, “Connections” looks to challenge Malaysians to seek out and explore the definition of connections which they hold and have with one another, with our nation and with our world, through their very own and original perspectives.

This year’s BMW Shorties competition will be judged by a line-up of experts from Malaysia’s film making industry including four-time BMW Shorties veteran and commercial filmmaker Lina Tan, feature film producer Nandita Solomon; actor, screenwriter, and director Bront Palarae; highest grossing Malaysian film director Chiu Keng Guan as well as one of Malaysia’s original and most celebrated short film directors, Tan Chui Mui.

“By every yardstick available, the BMW Shorties has been a tremendous success as it has instilled amongst many Malaysians the desire to pursue artistic, intellectual and creative values to their absolute limits, and in others the appreciation for and interest in subject matter which has challenged them to be more than what they are. Nevertheless, as a company known around the world for it’s ability to beat even it’s own innovative benchmarks, we at BMW aim to pursue new directions which will continue to capture the spirit and values of what the BMW Shorties is, through a platform which will embrace the contemporary innovations and social dynamics of today”, added Mr. Harris.

Entries to BMW Shorties is now open and aspiring short filmmakers have until 3rd November (Monday) to submit their short film entries.

More information regarding BMW Shorties and participation can be obtained via these portals: Website & Facebook.


#Taiwan: Magnitude-6.4 Earthquake Shocks Taiwan City Of Tainan

A powerful 6.4 magnitude struck Taiwan on Saturday (6th February) just before 4am at the start of a Lunar New Year holiday.

The emergency response center told The Associated Press that 3 people were killed, including a 10-day-old infant, a 55-year-old woman, and a 50-year-old man. Taiwan’s official news agency said the infant and the man were pulled out of a 17-storey Wei Guan residential building in southern Taiwan and that both were later declared dead. The agency said 256 people were believed to have been living in 92 households.

According to Reuters, citing a fire brigade official, rescuers mounted hydraulic ladders and a crane to scour the wreckage, plucking more than 120 survivors to safety.

Elsewhere in the city of 2 million people, several buildings tilted at alarming angles but a fire department official said rescue efforts were now focused entirely on the apartment block.

The quake was centered 27 miles (43 km) southeast of Tainan, at a depth of 23 km (14 miles), the U.S. Geological Survey said. Several aftershocks shook Tainan, Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau said.

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, speaking to reporters in the capital before leaving for the disaster scene, said authorities were not clear on the extent of the disaster.

“The disaster situation is not very clear yet. We will do our utmost to rescue and secure (survivors),” Ma said.

The quake initially cut power to 168,000 households in Tainan, many of whose residents lived through a massive 1999 tremor that killed over 2,400 people and injured 11,305. Later, utility Taipower said power had been restored to all but about 900 households.

Taiwan’s Formosa TV said its reporters could hear the cries of people trapped inside the collapsed apartment tower as firefighters, police, and troops swarmed the area. The defense ministry said 810 soldiers had been mobilised for rescue efforts.

Some bullet train services were suspended to the south of Taiwan as inspections were carried out on the tracks for damage, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp said in a statement.

Taiwan lies in the seismically active “Pacific Ring of Fire”. Television quoted Tainan residents as saying the quake felt worse than the 1999 tremor, centered in central Taiwan.

Sources: AP, Reuters / Featured image from Reuters.

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Supposed Member Of Super Junior Expresses Desire To Commit Suicide

Former trainee of SM Entertainment Kang Junyoung has wrote a shocking status on his Weibo account, shocking many of his fans and followers.

Since all of his social media accounts are private, his fans have screenshot the post and shared it all around social media, hoping that someone can help him.

The post read “I want to die. I don’t want to wake up. I’m sorry for all of you. It’s really hard. Bye,” accompanied with a cross image.

A few minutes later, he put up another status, “I hope come on a good day when we can meet again. Thank you and I’m sorry and I love you. I want to rest,” he then signed the post off with today’s date and his name.

For those of you who may not know, Junyoung was an SM trainee who was supposed to debut with Super Junior but got replaced by Ryeowook at the very last minute due to some reason.

During Super Junior pre-debut showcase, many fans believed that Kang Junyoung was the member wearing the white hoodie at the dance performance.

Fans have made his posts viral all around social media, tagging another former member of Super Junior, Han Geng and several Christian organisations in hope that one of them can help him.

According to Sina, Junyoung has deleted the previous statuses and his latest updates suggest that he is fine. “Stop calling me and my friends and stop sending messages. Please. I’m sorry. Let’s just stop whatever is happening right now. Good night.”

“I’m sorry I worried you all. I will grit my teeth and hold on. Thank you. I am really not alone. Thank you all,” then he proceeded to delete all of his posts on Weibo.


Contest: Win “Puss In Boots: The Last Wish” Merchandise

It’s been over a decade since the “Shrek” sequel introduced us to the Zorro-inspired Puss in Boots. The swashbuckling ginger cat with a tiny sword, slick pair of boots, and an adorable pair of enormous kitten eyes is finally back with another epic adventure this holiday season, so buckle up peeps!

Unlike his previously outings, “Puss In Boots: The Last Wish” tackles more serious topics, such as death when Puss comes face to face with his own mortality. As such, the stakes are much more serious this round.

“Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives, though he lost count along the way. Getting those lives back will send Puss in Boots on his grandest quest yet. He embarks on an epic journey into the Black Forest to find the mythical Wishing Star and restore his lost lives. But with only one life left, Puss will have to humble himself and ask for help from his former partner and nemesis: the captivating Kitty Softpaws.

In their quest, Puss and Kitty will be aided—against their better judgment—by a ratty, chatty, relentlessly cheerful mutt, Perrito. Together, our trio of heroes will have to stay one step ahead of Goldilocks and the Three Bears Crime Family, Jack Horner and terrifying bounty hunter, the big, bad Wolf.”

Despite the darker tone, “Puss In Boots: The Last Wish” is still every bit as amusing and enjoyable. To quote actor Antonio Banderas, “It teaches you to value life more than anything else — you only have one life and you have to fully live it.”

Thanks to our friends from United International Pictures Malaysia, we’ve got some cool movie goodies to give away before “Puss In Boots: The Last Wish” premieres locally on 22nd December. The following merchandise will be given out randomly and are subject to availability:


#ASA: KL’s Music-Centric Flea Market Returns This Sunday With 2nd Edition

In 4 days’ time, TREC’s signature programme A Sunday Affair returns with its 2nd edition on 27th March

Bigger and better, the city’s first music-centric flea market will see Zouk Kuala Lumpur joining the fray this Sunday – with the community of musicians, indie retailers, F&B brands at Electric Boulevard and KL’s well-loved food trucks.

The superclub will have 2 tents – one F&B tent selling drinks, satay and roast lamb, and a lifestyle tent that incorporates a membership recruitment, Zouk KL merchandise (T-shirts @ RM29.90 each), and some 3,000 secondhand vinyls that will also be up for sale.

The 2nd edition of ASA will also see a bigger games element: Zouk KL will have a life-size Jenga, while TREC will have beer pong and there will be vintage retro games from the good ol’ Atari, Nintendo, and Playstation 1 at Electric Boulevard.

Bittersweet will be ASA’s headlining act. Showing up on stage in well-fitted, colour-coordinated suits, they whip up a good blend to the likes of the British rock bands. They will be joined by ASA’s curators LapSap (Blink & Xu) and some of Malaysia’s most gifted musicians – Froya; +2dB; Tubby; Jee Hoe; Irama and MMMeng.

Besides live entertainment, there will be lots to do and see. Food for one, will be in abundance, from the F&B brands at Electric Boulevard to the mobile food trucks and Zouk KL. And shopping is a big thing at ASA. Indie retailers will present their latest collection in pop-up stalls along Electric Boulevard.

For more information, visit TREC’s Facebook page.

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#Skrillex: DJ/Producer “Makes It Rain” At Coachella Pool Party

Welp, Skrillex has definitely found a new way to have fun during his gigs while making headlines in the world of electronic dance music (EDM).

Over the weekend, he played at a Coachella-branded pool party, also known as the New Era Cap LED Club Pool Party. Known for his eccentric style and crazy drops, he decided to drop more than just beats during his set. In fact, he figured it was best if he could shock fans beyond just giving them sick choons.

Yup! Echo-ing Carnage and his Chipotle gang’s move in hiding a whopping total of USD10,000 in confetti cannons during his “Parental Advisory” tour last November, Skrillex tossed money into a crowd of assumingly shocked partygoers. Although the exact amount of his generous “donation” wasn’t disclosed, it certainly made his fans pay attention, with some scooping up the dough as well as picking up their jaws from the floor.

Oh, Skrilly! Come do that in Malaysia sometime soon, maybe? :D


WINNERS: Assemble For “The Avengers”

Thank you all for the super hard work. You’re all super sports and superheroes!

Here’s the complete list of winners (the initial 10 plus 33) for our #AvengersHype movie tickets giveaway:

Kindly collect your tickets from our counter at GSC Mid Valley from 8pm onwards. Remember, tickets are non-transferable.


Batman: Robert Pattinson Is Reportedly The New Bruce Wayne

Bye bye Batfleck, hello Patman? If the rumours are true, then Robert Pattinson may very well be the next Batman.

Variety broke the news that Pattinson is in negotiations to play ”The Batman” in the Matt Reeves-directed movie. Although “it’s not yet a done deal”, the 33-year-old Brit is the top choice for Warner Bros.

It’s also worth noting that “X-Men” star Nicholas Hoult is also shortlisted but reports suggest that Pattinson pretty much has this in the bag. Besides the aforementioned actors, Armie Hammer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson were also considered for the Caped Crusader role.

Reeves is still working on the script for ”The Batman”. According to the filmmaker, the DC superhero flick will more of a detective story than a superhero movie. “It’s very much a point of view-driven, noir Batman tale. It’s told very squarely on his shoulders, and I hope it’s going to be a story that will be thrilling but also emotional,” he was quoted as saying.

“It’s more Batman in his detective mode than we’ve seen in the films. The comics have a history of that. He’s supposed to be the world’s greatest detective, and that’s not necessarily been a part of what the movies have been. I’d love this to be one where when we go on that journey of tracking down the criminals and trying to solve a crime, it’s going to allow his character to have an arc so that he can go through a transformation,” Reeves added.

Pattinson rose to fame as Cedric Diggory in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”. He soon shot to superstardom when he played the heartthrob vampire Edward Cullen in the “Twilight” saga.

The English actor is slightly older than Christian Bale when he portrayed Batman but younger than Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, and Adam West when they took on this DC hero.

“The Batman” is scheduled to open on 25th June 2021.


Scalpers Are Reselling Westlife’s KL Concert Tickets Up To RM3500!

As soon as MacpiePro announced that Westlife’s “The Twenty Tour” in Malaysia had sold out, we suspected that scalpers would attempt to earn some extra cash.

While Westlife’s concert for Friday (9th August) sold out after a day it went on sale, the concert organiser soon updated their social media that the Thursday show (8th August) had also sold out within a record setting of 32 hours.

Just a quick recap on the official ticket prices for Westlife’s concert in Malaysia: they are RM693 (VIP) , RM573 (Red), RM483 (Yellow), RM373 (Purple), and RM273 (Green). A quick survey at resellers sites show us that people aren’t just reselling concert tickets for double the price but some are actually reselling 5 times more!

At Viagogo, someone has auctioned up 4 VIP tickets at RM3500 per ticket. It’s outrageous considering the original price for a VIP ticket only costs RM693. Even for the cheapest zone (Green Zone), scalpers are reselling them between RM711 – RM799. Do note that the original price is only RM273.

Elsewhere on Carousell, 2 VIP tickets are being sold at RM2500 by someone staying near Kelana Jaya. The cheapest ticket we notice is a Green Zone seat resold at RM400.

A quick look at the comments section at MacpiePro’s Facebook post show many fans demanding for a third show. While that would be nice, but we’re not sure if another concert date is possible. In the meantime, many are still desperate to get their hands on Westlife tickets.

Be cautious peeps, and try not to support any scalpers out there.

Psst, did you hear? Shane Filan gave a shout out to Malaysia yesterday after finding out that both concerts had sold out.

Viagogo has since issued a statement regarding the reselling of Westlife tickets on their platform. It reads:

“Viagogo does not set ticket prices, sellers set their own prices, which may be above or below the original face value. Where demand is high and tickets are limited, prices increase. The tickets sold on Viagogo’s platform are genuine tickets that have been sold on by the original ticket purchaser in good faith.”

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Joe Flizzow’s Famous Rap Series “16 Baris” Expands To Thailand

Since its debut in 2017, Joe Flizzow’s famous rap cypher show has not only become a platform to discover up-and-coming rappers, but also a place to grow the hip hop community and strengthen the rap scene.

The show, which is a collaborative effort between Kartel Records and Rocketfuel Entertainment, is so successful that a Thailand version of the rap series, known as “Sip Hok Bar” AKA “16 Bars Thailand” is currently filming their own stuffs.

It is revealed that “16 Bars Thailand” will be hosted and produced by Thai superstars Prinya Intachai, better known as DaBoyWay as well as DJAY Buddah of Thaitanium fame, featuring 45 of Thailand’s top rappers.

“It’s very inspiring to see how a homegrown idea can be developed and translated to other countries in different languages,” Rocketfuel’s admiral, Murali ‘Moots’ Marimuthu said.


#SNSD: Sunny Teases Group’s Impending Comeback On Instagram

Forget about the “Catch Me If You Can” music video fiasco. Girls’ Generation is going to bring the roof down very, very soon!

It seems like SM Entertainment is aiming for a July comeback for the girl group after all, as member Sunny has already started to tease her fans on Instagram. She uploaded a few photos today (23rd June) which sent fans into a frenzy.

First, she posted a photo of herself with a cat, along with the caption, “good morning world~ I have something to show you… To be continued…“. In this photo, she can be seen sporting a brown and short hairstyle.

A few hours later, another photo was uploaded, this time showing off some pink hair, presumed to be Sunny’s new hairstyle. The photo came with the caption, “Teaser 1 with #joefresh“. She then posted another photo of the pink hair, with “Teaser 2 with #nail #tam2na” as the accompanying caption.

Previously, SM Entertainment stated that SNSD will be releasing their album on the 2nd half of the year, but did not specifically reveal the date or month. However, Sunny’s recent Instagram photos are suggesting that the girl group’s comeback will happen in July or early August. This will also be Girls’ Generation’s first comeback without Jessica Jung, who left the group in September 2014 due to a number of reasons including the clashing schedules.

We have to admit that we’re as excited as you are and honestly, we can’t wait for their highly anticipated comeback!

What do you think Girls’ Generation’s comeback concept will look like this time round? Do you think the pink hair belongs to Sunny? Leave your thoughts in the comments box below!

Sources: Koreaboo, Sunny’s Official Instagram


“Spider-Man: No Way Home” Trailer Reveals Doctor Strange & 2 Villains

Peter Parker has had his “Homecoming”, he’s been “Far From Home”, but now, it looks like there’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home”.

Following the trailer leak yesterday, Sony Pictures has officially released the first teaser trailer, which shows Tom Holland reprising the wall-crawling superhero. Besides Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch)’s role in establishing the multiverse, the trailer also reveals the return of 2 villains.

Here’s the official synopsis for “Spider-Man: No Way Home”:

“For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighbourhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a Super Hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.”

A big chunk of the trailer is a follow up on the post-credit scene from “Far From Home” where Mysterio reveals Peter’s identity. Another highlight is when the young hero seeks Doctor Strange’s help to make everyone forget his identity, but the spell goes awry. Nonetheless, fans are currently buzzing about the return of Doctor Octopus and Green Goblin. Some are also suggesting that the yellow lightning around 2:27 could be Jamie Foxx’s Electro.

Although Electro had blue lightning in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”, perhaps it was redesigned to yellow here? Other speculations also note that Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield‘s rumoured cameos will be held until the 2nd trailer.

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#Malaysia: 64-Year-Old Man Dies From Heart Attack While Watching Lee Chong Wei-Lin Dan Match

Everyone was on the edge of their seats while watching the nerve wrecking men’s single badminton semi-final match between Malaysian shuttler Lee Chong Wei and arch rival Lin Dan at the Rio Olympic Games last Friday (19th August).

Unfortunately, the intense competition proved too overwhelming for a 64-year-old man named Lum Wah Wong when he collapsed and died of heart attack at 8.55pm while watching the game at his sister’s residence in Papan, Ipoh.

The elderly man’s cousin, Bibi Lam, told The Star that Wah Wong got overly excited when the 2 badminton rivals drew level at 20-20 in the deciding set during the match. The family member claimed that Wah Wong, who was watching the match with his niece, stood up and shouted before the heart attack occurred.

“They were the only ones watching the match in the house. He stood up and shouted. Seconds later, he sat back down, took 2 breaths of air and fell unconscious. Our niece tried to wake him up. He opened his eyes for a second but slipped back into unconsciousness. When the ambulance came, the personnel checked his pulse and confirmed his passing,” said Bibi.

Sadly, by the time Wah Wong was brought to the Batu Gajah Hospital, the senior citizen had already passed away. District police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Nasri Omar confirmed he had been receiving treatment before this unfortunate incident.

Our condolences to the victim’s family and friends.


5 MCU Characters That Are Totally Like Our 5 Malaysian Prime Ministers

What a wild ride it’s been for the last few weeks. Just when it looked like victory was assured for Perikatan Nasional (PN), Barisan Nasional (BN) came out of the gate with a wild card. Alas, it all ended with Pakatan Harapan (PH) clinching a seemingly miraculous win with Dato Sri Anwar bin Ibrahim becoming the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia!

Regardless of what side of the political aisle you’re from, you have to admit that we’ve seen some of the most exciting moments in Malaysian politics and that this year’s election will be remembered as one of the defining events of Malaysia’s 2020s. So as the year winds down to an end and the holidays are near, we figured that now would be an excellent time to have some comic-book film fun.

From our dear Datuk Seri Najib “bossku” Razak to the latest kid on the block, Anwar Ibrahim, we’re matching five of the most recent Malaysian prime ministers to characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) based on their personalities and tenure.  Please note, this is all done in the spirit of fun so don’t take it so seriously lah. If you think your guy is Steve Roger’s Captain America, you are more than welcome to do so!

Nowadays, when you hear the name Najib Razak, it’s hard not to immediately think of the infamous 1MDB scandal and the beginning of the end of BN’s dominance over the Malaysian political landscape. Whether you think he’s innocent or guilty, there are two things you can’t deny: the man loves the spotlight and he is a massive troll! While in the midst of a corruption trial, this guy takes to social media to profess his love for Super Rings! He’s even decided to try his hand at acting with his debut in an RTM drama show called “Tunjang”. In spite of his shady past, the man even has followers who refer to him as “bossku” (my boss) and he’s become something of a meme legend! Oh, and when our latest PM was sworn in, Najib congratulated him with a meme. This cheeky man.

Much like Loki from the MCU, Najib lives for the controversy and while the man’s finally behind bars, his legacy as a trickster and a troll lives on. Like we said, whether you love him or you hate him, you gotta admit that the guy has got style!

Not unlike, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has played the role of a unifying force for multiple political rivals and parties to work together for a common end over the years. For an unprecedented 23 years, Mahathir was the top man of BN, made up of parties like the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) and a host of other parties. Also like Fury, Mahathir wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in service of what he thought was the greater good. By far the most controversial thing this man has ever done, something that still affects us to this day, is his creation of the Internal Security Act (ISA). An act that has suppressed criticism against his administration and became a dangerous weapon.

Yet in spite of this, the man would return in 2018 to lead the charge against the very party he once led. Calling upon the forces of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), the Democratic Action Party (DAP),  Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Parti Amanah Negara (AMANAH), the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) and the young Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) to assemble! Mahathir sure does love crossovers.

In 2020, with one fell swoop (or finger snap), Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin changed the course of the country, ending PH’s short reign after collecting the political factions of BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Bersatu, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) to form PN. Together with his allies, Muhyiddin managed to form a new government and Malaysia with just one move – the Sheraton move.

And while PN has been through some ups and downs due to some disagreements with BN, Muhyiddin made one hell of a comeback this year in Malaysia’s 15th General Election (GE15). If you thought “Avengers: Endgame” was long, try sitting through six days of agonising waiting to find out who won. Much like Thanos in the film, just when victory seemed certain for Muhyiddin with his claims of 112 statutory declarations (SDs), it was all snatched away with Anwar claiming a win. It certainly was a tight race with PN winning a strong 73 seats to PH’s 83 seats. Muhyiddin and his coalition made for a strong adversary to PH, and that is certainly worth noting.

Hey, remember Danny Rand, also known as the Iron First, from Netflix’s Marvel series “Iron Fist”? No? Well, we don’t blame you, he’s a pretty forgettable character, which is essentially how we’d describe the next PM on our list: Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob. Much like Iron Fist in Netflix’s “The Defenders”, Sabri is best known in association with other more popular figures. Look, he was PM for less than a year and besides coining the term “Keluarga Malaysia” ( which is not nearly as catchy as Najib’s “1Malaysia” slogan), we honestly don’t remember much about him. He played his role and left the stage. The End.

While Anwar probably hasn’t exactly claimed to have enough numbers to be PM as many times as Doctor Strange has told Dormammu that he’s come to bargain, he certainly does have the patience and tenacity of the Sorcerer Supreme. Seriously, the man has waited 25 years to become PM. Now, that’s a superpower in itself! He’s been jailed twice and lost a chance to be PM in 2020 due to Mahathir keeping his seat warm just to have Muhyiddin land right on it. Still, Anwar didn’t give up. He played the long game and suffered through many obstacles to lead the PH opposition to victory!

In a way, PH is stronger than ever with Bersatu out of the coalition. He now has the mandate of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and the support of nearly every political coalition in his unity government, except for PAS and PN. Strange knew the price of victory would not come cheap and endured being blipped out of existence for 5 years. Anwar could definitely relate to that with his lengthy periods in prison. Now, at last, he’s beaten the odds and now stands as the Perdana Menteri Supreme of Malaysia!

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#LRT: 2nd Breakdown This Week; Hundreds Made To Walk On Tracks During Downpour

On 7th September (Wednesday), thousands of commuters were stranded at several stations due to “glitches in the signalling and communication system” that delayed LRT trains between Ampang Park and Dang Wangi.

According to Kelana Jaya LRT Line COO Ismail Abdullah, the glitches forced RapidKL to “power down the line” at several stations in the city to allow for rectification and repairs. As a result, commuters were held up at the affected stations and were late for school/work.

RapidKL has since apologised for the incident.

However, just this morning, commuters found themselves stranded once again when LRT services came to an abrupt halt during a downpour.

According to some pictures and videos that have been circulating on Facebook, some LRT passengers were made to evacuate stalled trains. The commuters were taking the Kelana Jaya line when the trains came to a standstill. As such, hundreds of passengers had no choice but to walk between the tracks to the nearest station.

people walked between the LRT railways. This is in between Dato' Keramat & Damai station. #rapidKL pic.twitter.com/Vv5Ff9IfY0

— M. Radzi™ 🇲🇾 (@RadziCOYS) September 9, 2016

The incident drew ire from netizens, who took to social media to express their dismay over the 10am incident. “I still remember how satisfying the #LRT service in the past and how low the fare was.. It’s so sad to see we’re paying more for nothing,” one Twitter user posted. “I think RapidKL should really issue some simple technical explanation of what’s going on with the LRT,” another said.

What went wrong, you ask? RapidKL explained via their Twitter that the disruption was due to a power trip from Setiawangsa to KLCC, and continuously posted updates about the situation.

At 10:48am, RapidKL requested for the affected passengers to proceed to the Customer Service at their LRT stations for a trip refund.

Were you affected by the stalled trains too? Leave a comment below and tell us about your experience.

Sources: Astro Awani, Anwar Rahmat, RapidKL / Featured image: Anwar Rahmat.


MTV VMA 2012 Winners List!

One of MTV’s biggest award shows of the year happened this morning and now, the world of the entertainment industry has the newly ranked winners. Who were you rooting for? Was in Rihanna?

Video of the Year: Rihanna, “We Found Love”

Best New Artist: One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful”

Best Female Video: Nicki Minaj, “Starships”

Best Hip-Hop Video: Drake, featuring Lil’ Wayne, “HYFR”

Best Male Video: Chris Brown, “Turn Up the Music”

Best Pop Video: One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful”

Best Video With a Message: Demi Lovato, “Skyscraper”

Best Electronic Dance Music Video: Calvin Harris, “Feel So Close”

Most Shareworthy Video: One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful”

Best Choreography: Chris Brown, “Turn Up the Music”

Best Visual Effects: Skrillex, “First of the Year (Equinox)”

Best Cinematography: M.I.A., “Bad Girls”

Best Art Direction: Katy Perry, “Wide Awake”

Crazy cheers and thunderous applause for your favourite celebs, please. Also, don’t forget to check out what went on during the MTV Video Music Awards 2012 Red Carpet walk.

If you missed it this morning, don’t fret!  Catch the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards LIVE on MTV Asia, Astro (CH 713) on 7th September 2012 (Friday) during the primetime encore at 10pm!

For more information, hit up the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards microsite.

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DJ Benjamin Brings A Night Of Epic Fun To Providence

Holding 10 years of experience as a working club DJ under his belt, DJ Benjamin is set to make his way to Malaysia! Guaranteed to keep the energy high and adapt to any big room, DJ Benjamin who is originally from Los Angeles was first scouted by the late DJ AM at Hugh Hefners old stomping ground, The Garden of Eden.

DJ Benjamin left Los Angeles for New York City in 2011 and has since launched an apparel line, Headliner, which is now a staple brand name to most working DJ’s in America. He landed his first major contract at Club Circle in New York after bouncing around Manhattan clubs for a couple of years.

Set to surprise revellers with his open format style, DJ Benjamin heads to Providence, Kuala Lumpur on June 21st (Saturday).

For more information check out the event page on Facebook.


#SNSD: Girls’ Generation To Release Studio Album For August Comeback

Bring the boys out because Girls’ Generation is coming back!

SM Entertainment has confirmed that the 8-member idol girl group will be releasing their 6th studio album in August. This would mark the group’s first release in 2 years.

In a statement, the entertainment powerhouse said, “Girls’ Generation’s 10th year anniversary is coming up in August and to celebrate that milestone, Girls’ Generation will be coming back with their 6th full-length album. This will be their first album after 2 years since their 5th album, ‘Lion Heart’,  released on 2015.”

It was previously reported that Girls’ Generation has decided on their new title track. Furthermore, SONEs (as Girls’ Generation’s fans are affectionately known) are also hoping that the group will be previewing some of their new songs in their upcoming performance at SM Town Live World Tour VI in Seoul on 8th July.

While the release date for their 6th album has yet to be revealed, Girls’ Generation will be holding their 10th anniversary fan meeting, titled “Holiday to Remember”, on 10th August.

For more info, hit up Girls’ Generation’s official Facebook page.

Sources: Koreaboo, All Kpop / Featured image: SM Entertainment.


#SDCC2015: #Deadpool Trailer Gets An Encore; Footage Description Unveiled

Over the weekend, comic book fans from all over the world made their way to the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) to attend panels and get the full convention experience. The 20th Century Fox panel at Hall H were among the most popular panels being held at the SDCC 2015.

Following the debut of Entertainment Weekly’s special Comic-Con issue that features Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with the Mouth, the “Deadpool” director and cast members made a surprise appearance at the Fox panel to talk about their upcoming antihero movie.

During the panel presentation, Reynolds revealed that he is eager to show off his portrayal of the antihero in the “Deadpool” movie as he has been wanting to see the movie grow into fruition for over a decade. “(It’s) the most faithful adaptation of a comic book to a movie I’ve ever seen,” he said of the film. “I’ve only ever done one other proper, actually not proper, superhero movie,” he added, throwing shade at “The Green Lantern”, a movie he starred in but stumbled at the box office.

Among those who attended the “Deadpool” presentation include Morena Baccarin, Gina Carano, T.J. Miller, Brianna Hildebrand, and Ed Skrein. Together with Reynolds and director Tim Miller, they took to stage to showcase the first unedited trailer of “Deadpool”. Needless to say, fans went apesh*t-crazy over the trailer, which also received a long standing ovation at Comic-Con. Reynolds and Miller were stunned by the audiences’ reactions and gave each other high fives after the buzzing fans requested the exclusive footage to be shown the 2nd time.

You can check out a leaked version of the trailer at The Daily Beast, or read the footage description (via Screen Rants) below:

Though the footage pleased the Comic-Con audiences, Reynolds took to Twitter to reveal that the studio wasn’t able to release it online as “the VFX shots aren’t done yet”.

As much as I want the #deadpool footage from #SDCC officially released, the VFX shots aren't done yet. We have something for you in 3 weeks.

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) July 12, 2015

No further details regarding the upcoming  trailer has been revealed, but it is expected to please even a wider audience when it is available online in the next 3 weeks.

Directed by Tim Miller, the R-rated movie is based on a script by “Zombieland” writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.

Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, “Deadpool” tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

“Deadpool” is currently slated for release on 12th Feb 2016.

For more information, visit its official Facebook page and Twitter.

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(UPDATE) #KLEcoCity: Link Bridge Connecting KL Eco City To The Gardens Mall Collapses

It was brought to our attention that an unfortunate mishap just happened at the construction site of KL Eco City.

A 2-storey pedestrian link bridge connecting KL Eco City’s 40-storey serviced residence, ViiA Residences, to The Gardens Mall and Mid Valley City collapsed earlier this afternoon (30th November, Wednesday). Eyewitnesses sent us a couple of images of the collapsed bridge and from the pictures, it looks like the bridge came crashing down onto an access road that is as yet unopened to the public.

The damage looks severe but is not known if anyone was hurt in the mishap. According to our source, a few BOMBA personnel can be seen on site and searching the rubble.

Helmed by SP Setia, KL Eco City is a development sits on 25 acres of prime land, the site of former 200-year-old Kampung Haji Abdullah Hukum village. It is said to be the first integrated green luxury development anchored by prime commercial offices, high-end retail outlets, world-class serviced residences, and luxury residential towers.

KL Eco City is also one of the largest integrated mixed commercial and residential developments in Malaysia with 7.5 million sq ft gross floor area. The project was launched in 2011 and development is still in progress.

According to Astro AWANI, citing the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Operations Centre, 3 individuals were critically injured while 1 individual sustained a minor injury in the incident.

According to MMO, citing KL Eco City developer SP Setia, 1 worker died today in the collapse of the 2-storey pedestrian link bridge. Meanwhile, 5 others are currently being treated at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). NST quoted UMMC’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery director Prof Dr Tunku Kamarul Zaman Tunku Zainal Abidin as saying that one of the victim’s had to have his legs amputated on the site.


#SNSD: Seohyun To Drop Solo Mini Album On 17th January; Teaser Photos Released

The release date for Seohyun’s (서현) solo mini album has been confirmed!

The singer’s first mini album, titled “Don’t Say No”, will be dropped on 17th January through music sites while the physical album will be released on 18th January. Luckily for SONEs (as Girls’ Generation’s fans are lovingly known), SM Entertainment has blessed us with 3 gorgeous teaser images of the singer.

The teaser images show Seohyun’s glamorous and sophisticated side. 2 black-and-white images feature her in a long black slit dress and a large brim hat while in another photo, she can be seen wearing a bedazzling 2-piece outfit, posing against a glittery backdrop.

It is believed that “Don’t Say No” is both the name of the mini album and title track. Judging from the looks of the promo pictures, we foresee a retro-inspired dance track.

25-year-old Seohyun (real name Seo Ju Hyun, 서주현) made her debut through Girls’ Generation in August 2007 and the group became one of the most popular female idol groups in the K-Pop industry.

Known for her astonishing vocal skills, she is the maknae (youngest member) of the group. She is also in a sub-unit called TaeTiSeo (TTS) alongside fellow members Taeyeon (김태연) and Tiffany (티파니). She is also the 4th member to make a solo debut.

Which is your favourite photo of Seohyun? Let us know in the comment box below ?

For more information, visit Girls’ Generation’s official Facebook Page.


13 Howling Points To Get You Primed For Marvel Studios’ “Werewolf By Night”

The night is chilly. A full moon peers out from amongst the clouds, beaming down upon the maze of rocks below. In a gloomy cavern, a group walk in, hooded and mysterious. As the room becomes more populated, the eyes of these… people, these hunters they were called, pierce the shadows. They stare up at a coffin. The chilly atmosphere soon turns to dread as it becomes a battle for survival. Twas the night Marvel Studios delved into the horror… and the spine-chilling terror of “Werewolf by Night!”

Starring Andrew Garfield Gael Garcia Bernal (“Old”, “Amores Perros”) and Laura Donnelly (“The Nevers”, “Tolkien”), “Werewolf By Night” follows a secret group of monster hunters as they gather at Bloodstone Manor following the death of their leader. As they engage in a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic, their endeavours would bring them face to face with a dangerous monster.

With his upcoming feature set to debut on Disney+, we thought we’d journey up to the mountains and wait for the round satellite to let some chilling “AWOOOooooooos” into the valleys. And maybe cook up some fun facts up the super Lycan while we’re at it…

Just like goalkeepers scoring a goal on the football field, it isn’t every day that you see a film composer make the jump to directing a project. As such, “Werewolf By Night” is that one unique occasion.

Taking the reins of this project is Michael Giacchino, who is best known for composing fan-favourite tunes for various films with the likes of “The Incredibles”, “Star Trek” and “The Batman” all under his belt. Over at the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Giacchino has more credits than any other composer, having done work for all three of Tom Holland’s solo films, the first “Dr Strange” feature, and most recently, “Thor: Love and Thunder”.

Whilst discussing his potential to direct something in the MCU, Kevin Feige himself was surprised that Giacchino wanted to be involved in “Werewolf By Night”. But as Feige loves crazy ideas, they soon came together quickly and secretly.

Speaking to the press after an advance screening of the feature, directing this project was something that can be attributed to fate. For Giacchino, he spent his Saturdays as a kid watching the “Creature Double Feature”. “Twilight Zone”, the famed anthological fantastical serial was also one that he particularly loved and he cited it as being an inspiration for how his direction would be.

“We have to think of this as an episode of ‘The Twilight Zone’… As you can tell, I’m sure, the “Werewolf by Night” special is a love letter to all of those things. It’s a complete love letter to all of them, for all the inspiration they gave me over the years.”, Giacchino said.

This is the first Marvel Studios Special Presentation. While this is the first time that this term is being used, we don’t think it’ll be the last. Nevertheless, we believe this kind of presentation will be used to spotlight various characters and give them a one-shot-issue type of feature. Remember those One-Shots that Marvel Studios used to develop for Blu-Ray releases back then? Yeah, it kinda is like that.

We’re here to remind fans that “Werewolf By Night” is not a series. It is only a little over 50 minutes long and that’s it. Don’t tune in again for the next week expecting Daredevil to show up (sorry, “She-Hulk” ‘fans’).

Somehow, we think this sort of format would work for existing characters like Howard the Duck, or even to introduce more new characters like Bessie the Hellcow. Not sure why, but we’re just fascinated with the anthropomorphic animal side of the Marvel universe…

There is an unusual amount of gore in “Werewolf By Night” that further distinguishes it from the rest of the shared universe. Speaking to IGN, Giachinno admitted that he wanted to push the envelope in getting the horror and gore to the MCU.

“It was one of those things where no one said no… The big joke on set became when they would be like, ‘All right Michael, how is this? Is this good?’… I would start to say something, and they’d go, ‘You want more blood, right?'”, said Michael of his crew with regards to the crafting of violence on film.

So, how did this feature obtain a TV-14 rating? Indeed, getting this project graded in black and white somehow saved this project from getting a TV-MA rating. He did admit that a cautious air surrounded the production. There was always the question of whether they were able to get away with it. Would Disney or Marvel deem it too intense?

This project appears radically different from the rest of the shared cinematic universe in terms of its tone. In itself, the idea of having a full monochrome feature is indeed tantalising as it could allow for very stylistic storytelling. Indeed, it can be seen that “Werewolf By Night” takes inspiration from classic monster movies of the 1930s and 40s like “Werewolf of London”, “Dracula”, and the other Hammer Horror classics.

The initial idea was actually to shoot it in colour but Giachinno had some ideas of his own and decided to provide a secondary black and white cut. After showing said edit to Kevin Feige, the head honcho said “I think we have to release this in black and white, don’t we?”

Did you know that the character known as Werewolf is actually half a century old? That means he predates characters like Thanos, Wolverine, The Punisher, Howard The Duck, and even the X-Men (not by a huge margin of course). Yet, he remains fairly… we wouldn’t say obscure, but more of a character placed in the backseat within this era.

First appearing in Marvel Spotlight #2, the character of Jack Russell was introduced once the Comics Code Authority loosened their grip on Lycan storytelling. This meant that characters like Jacob Black Jack Russell could now be added into Marvel’s storytelling sandbox. Initially, he operated exactly like a werewolf, transforming once the full moon rose, and possessing supernatural/superhuman abilities of such.

Despite his powers, he does have the standard weaknesses of a conventional Lycan. He is vulnerable to silver and can be hurt by magical attacks. Therefore, he’d be useless if he ever had to fight the Silver Surfer… (just kidding)

The funny thing about this was that some readers noted that Jack Russell was actually a canine breed. Yet, Gerry Conway, the guy who came up with the alter-ego for Werewolf dismissed the reference, stating that he consciously did not know of the connection especially since his family did not own a dog and had never lived with one.

It is worth noting that a couple of characters made their debuts in a Werewolf by Night comic. Moon Knight, who had his TV show starring Oscar Isaac earlier this year, actually squared off against Jack Russell in his first appearance. Well, it’s kind of apt because you know… werewolves… moons, that sort of thing.

Another character of note is Tigra, who made an appearance this year in “Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers” voiced by Liz Cackowski. Although the character already existed prior, she wasn’t actually known as Tigra until she teamed up with Werewolf in his comic. And guess what she was called before that? The Cat! Mew!

We’ve had multiple adaptations of various game properties before like “Sonic”, “Rampage”, and “Resident Evil”. And yes, even those childhood games like truth-or-dare and tag have seen some live-action versions, some exaggerated, some stupefying. Of course, the game of Werewolf itself has seen its fair share of adaptations – one might even count Andrew Garfield’s performance on Jimmy Fallon and the Happy Sad Confused Podcast as one of them (heehee).

In the teaser trailer, it is explained that there is a killer hidden amongst the group of hunters. One of the hunters, Verusa declares that during this night, it is every man or woman for themselves. “But one of you is a monster, masquerading as one of our own“. It’s exactly how a game of Werewolf operates.

Since we are the audience, the intrigue of not knowing the characters, how they operate, and when the werewolf will strike will certainly be a great use of the concept. It’s not like it’s a game using established characters like Hulk and Spider-Man. Speaking of which, seeing the Avengers play werewolf would be kind of a neat scene to have…

Recently, Kevin Feige has spoken up about “Werewolf By Night” and has gone on record to state that the project will help open up new possibilities for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is a new beginning, with the seeds introduced being quite important for the future of the shared universe.

What is that world exactly? That folks… is the world of monsters.

That’s not to say that these literal monsters have not been operating prior to the Multiverse or that sort of thing. Rather, this feature is a gateway or a path for audiences to discover that they have been there for a very long time. Characters like The Living Mummy, Grogg, The Abominable Snowman, and other vampires could eventually be given time to shine both as formidable foes and misunderstood creatures.

“Werewolf By Night” will feature the return of the sinister book known as the Darkhold. First appearing (canonically) in “WandaVision” and further being used in “Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness”.

Gael García Bernal’s version of Jack Russell differs from the comic whereby he is not bitten by a werewolf. Instead, he inherits a curse of lycanthropy from his ancestors. How?

Well, if we look at his history, some guy named Gregor Russoff decided to wake a dormant curse until the full light of the moon with the Darkhold! From then on, the curse passed on until it reached Jack in the present. However, this now begs the question… Did the first Werewolf have a third eye like Dr Strange now? We’ll find out soon enough.

Whilst the name itself is pretty synonymous with a beloved Ice Queen over the past decade, another Elsa has been making waves in Marvel Comics in recent times. And she’s not here to build snowmen…

One of the actors placed front and centre in the trailer is Laura Donnelly. Sporting a trenchcoat and knee-high boots, she is one of the hunters who eventually gets trapped with the Werewolf. Friends, that is the badass hunter known as Elsa Bloodstone.

Born to Elise and Ulysses Bloodstone, this badass monster hunter was trained to pursue horrifying creatures ever since she was a baby. What makes her badass is the ammunition she carries as she prowls the hunting grounds. As far as powers go, she has the superhuman standard that a lot of other super-folk have with the added bonus of immunity toward vampire bites. Sorry, Morbius. You can’t morb this one.

One of the monsters featured in the trailer is a very familiar face to long-time Marvel fans. With his hulking build and distinct plantlike features, Man-Thing walks the swamps of Florida’s Everglades.

Introduced as Dr. Ted Sallis, he became known as the Man-Thing in a series of dire events. You see, Dr Sallis had been working on a recreation of Steve Rogers’ Super Soldier Serum. However, after working in the Everglades, he was betrayed and surrounded. In a last-ditch effort, he injects himself with the serum he created but crashes his car into the swamp.

During that point, magic and science combine to transform him into a creature with large red eyes. Ted Sallis fades out from existence at that point and is effectively dead. His brain and cells become scattered in an unpredictable manner that stripped most of his humanity away and turned him into a supernatural force unlike any other.

Man-Thing has the immaculate psychic and magical ability to sense ambient fear as his brain cells are scattered throughout his body. With that, he would become incensed and would secrete a powerful acid-like substance that would burn his victims. Such a substance is potent enough to corrode even the most durable of individuals.

Man-Thing is generally a tough nut to crack and is pretty hard to communicate with. Despite the horrific nature of his existence, he is somehow able to discern between innocence and crime, good and evil, and be the executioner when necessary. At times, he has also performed heroic acts and saved people from certain death.

There is also another aspect of Man-Thing which is worth noting. He is known as the Guardian of the Nexus as the swamp where he resided is actually the Nexus of Realities. Now, this is a place where all realities could be accessed, similar to the place The Watcher resided in “What If…?”. Being the guardian of such a place also grants him a load of mystical powers and benefits.

Man-Thing’s appearance in “Werewolf By Night” is actually his second live-action feature. Back in 2005, there was a movie with Man-Thing as the monster antagonist starring “Jessica Jones”‘ Rachael Taylor. Developed by the then Sci-Fi Channel (now SyFy), it was basically a supernatural monster horror film in a swamp. And yeah, it was a doozy like all these other SyFy productions.

Will Man-Thing will retain his comics backstory for the MCU? It remains to be seen. Regardless, he’s finally getting his dues and we can’t wait to see what comes next from him!

In the trailer footage, it can be noted that there are a bunch of Time Variance Authority agents in “Werewolf By Night”. The distinct black helmets and Timesticks can be seen as these TVA Agents attack Jack Russell, probably attempting to prune him or keep him at bay.

However, what are they doing there? We don’t actually know. Is Jack Russell causing a branch in time that was not in line with the Sacred Timeline?

Will Loki pull up in the special feature? We doubt that as he’s off with his own problems which will be saved for Season 2 of that show. As of now, we shall wait and see what TVA are up to in the world of monsters. Or probably they just wanted to ask Mr Wolf the time…

The appearance of Elsa Bloodstone and now Man-Thing further solidifies the idea of a Midnight Sons team-up. First created by Ghost Riders Danny Ketch and Johnny Blaze to take down a great supernatural threat, the first iteration consisted of Blade, Hannibal King, Morbius, and Vengeance (no not Battinson).

Though varying in its roster, the Midnight Sons typically consisted of heroes who dabbled or fought with supernatural forces. Like the Avengers, the line-up has changed over the years. Nevertheless, major names like Elsa Bloodstone, Dr Strange, Dr Voodoo, Iron Fist, Man-Thing, and Wong have all joined in at some point.

Fun tidbit, Morbius even leads a group of the Midnight Sons at one point. Wonder what he called it… Morbin’ Rangers? All in all, the future looks bright. Who knows? We might even have a tease to such a team-up at its end.

“Werewolf by Night” will terrify audiences on Disney+ this 7th October.

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#Grab: Get RM5 Off Rides In Klang Valley, Melaka, Penang, JB, & KK

The ride-hailing app is offering RM5 discounts for 20 of your rides in the Klang Valley, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Johor Bahru, and Melaka.

The promo began yesterday (Monday, 26th December) and will last until Friday (30th December). Do note that the offer is only applicable for 20 GrabCar (Economy) rides and it is limited to only 20,000 redemptions per day. Upon reaching the maximum redemption on the day, a pop up message will appear in the app.

Wanna know how to grab yourself a discounted ride?

And that’s not all. Now you can book a ride by typing “Grab to <location>” in the Google search bar!

For more info, visit Grab’s official website and Facebook page.