There are bad movies, there are good movies, there are mediocre movies and there are great movies. But every now and then a movie comes along and it changes your life. “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” is THE movie that started it all for me. My love for reading, my passion for writing and my addiction to film. Heck, if “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” didn’t exist, I wouldn’t be sitting on my ass all day, writing about movies in the name of work. I’ve watched the Harry Potter films a bazillion times and read the books, even more so. I even have a Harry Potter tattoo.

We all know the story about the boy who lived and so, I will not dive into that in detail. And for those of you who have not watched/read Harry Potter, it’s about damn time you crawled outta the rock you’ve been hibernating under. Watching this movie (in concert) again a couple of days ago was a peculiar experience. The movie that I once found to be the embodiment of PERFECTION, isn’t anymore. That’s the thing about art: Your perception and interpretation of it changes as you gain different experiences in life.

There are things in this movie that are outright silly and I’m not talking about moving staircases and flying broomsticks. Those are fine. But as hundreds (maybe thousands) of letters bombard into Number 4 Privet Drive, why does the eleven-year-old Harry Potter jump in the air, repeatedly, to grab one? He literally takes a good 10 seconds, maybe more. Couldn’t he have just picked one up from the floor?

And did Gryffindor really deserve to win the House Cup? I mean, sure, awarding Ron, Hermione and Harry 160 points is fine. They did defeat Professor Quirrell and Voldemort, after all. But c’mon, Neville Longbottom does not deserve 10 points for getting his ass handed to him by Hermione. Also when it comes to Quidditch, why bother scoring regular points at all, when catching the Snitch gives you 150 points? Nit-picking? Perhaps. Our heroes, played by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint weren’t exactly the best child actors you’ll ever see, either. Had this been the first time watching this film, I am certain I would have cringed at many of their line deliveries. Of course, in retrospect, it doesn’t really matter, considering how good their performances are from the 3^rd movie onwards.

Despite its many flaws, I LOVE this movie. We live in an era where everyone thinks it’s cool shit to make a movie that laughs at itself. Many critics complain when a movie takes itself too seriously and hail movies like “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2” and “Thor: Ragnarok” for being able to poke fun at themselves. The characters in these movies seem to know that they’re in fictional universes and are constantly making fourth-wall-breaking jokes. Not everybody is Deadpool, so stop trying to be. The more I think about “Ragnarok”, the more it irks me. “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” could have easily been one of those movies.

Thankfully, director Chris Columbus, fully embraces the fact that this is a fully-fledged fantasy adventure and brings JK Rowling’s fantastic novel to life in the most earnest of ways. Just like “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones”, this is a movie that DOES take itself seriously. Don’t get me wrong, this movie isn’t void of humour. In fact, there are numerous occasions throughout this film in which I find myself cracking up. But the humour in this film is situational and organic. Characters don’t look at the camera, wink and crack a joke. When Harry ignores Hermione’s lectures and flies off on his broom, Hermione says, “what an idiot.” The crowd burst out laughing. It’s funny, sure, but it’s exactly what a person of her character would say in the real world. As a result, despite the hilarious nature of that moment, we’re not taken out of the movie.

Columbus doesn’t just make us care about the protagonists, Harry, Ron and Hermione’s journey, but also constantly makes us excited about the world in which the adventure takes place. He does so by adapting Rowling’s wonderfully penned immaculate reality — world that feels very different from ours, yet very much believable — to perfection. It is consistent, detailed and highly imaginative.

Objectively, I may know that Rowling’s wizarding world is a work of fiction, yet over the years, I have genuinely wondered if the reason I haven’t received my Hogwarts letter, is because I’m a muggle. I can’t be, right?? Columbus’ attention to detail makes this world feel REAL and lived in. Even something as ridiculous as running into a wall at King’s Cross or a talking hat that sorts you into your houses, feel authentic. So much so, that all these years later, fans of the franchise still talk about what houses we belong to and even find it necessary to mention it on our Tinder profiles. #RavenclawAndProud #FOffSlytherin I’m not one who’s very interested in traveling the world, yet one of my biggest dreams is to go on the Harry Potter tour at the Warner Bros studios in London just to buy a wand. RM 300 for a piece of wood? Take my money!

Even the adult cast, consisting of a bunch of A-list British actors, play their roles sincerely just like they would in a Sundance thumbsucker. The late, great Alan Rickman is a standout in particular. As bizarre as it may be to use the word “nuanced” in a fantasy movie, it definitely holds true to Rickman’s performance. It’s not easy to play a bad guy, who’s actually a good guy, who’s actually a bad guy, who’s actually a good guy. Rickman should have gotten an Oscar nomination for his performance in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”, but that’s a story for another day. Maggie Smith and Richard Harris are both excellent in their respective roles as Professor McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore, too. Same can be said for Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid.

The action sequences are gratifying. While the CG looks rather dated, it does not dampen the excitement one bit. The Quidditch sequence is riveting, the chess game with huge, deadly pieces, an absolute thrill ride. In between those are flying keys, philosophical centaurs, dingy libraries and a dead unicorn. Not forgetting cellars, hidden passages, and a forbidden forest that our protagonists are forced to explore. These scenes are distinct and memorable; a rare feat in movies these days.

A 2 hours and 32 minutes’ runtime may seem rather long for a children’s movie. Is it a children’s movie, though? “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s” stone is a transportive experience, rich in wonder, joy and discovery. The fact that my eyes still tear up when we get a glimpse of the Great Hall in Hogwarts for the first time, will tell you everything you need to know.

Dedpewl Rating

Concert review:

Despite my lack of musical knowledge, I could tell that the entire orchestra consisted of insanely talented musicians, who performed John Williams’ score note for note to perfection. Therein also lies the problem.

Why do people like going for concerts? Is it to listen to Metallica stand in a straight line and play “Master of Puppets” exactly how it is on the album? Perhaps not. People go for concerts to listen to Axwell ^ Ingrosso scream, “F**k your dreams and dream bigger!” People go for concerts to sing the entirety of “In the End” along with Linkin Park during the Chester Bennington tribute. People pay hundreds of dollars for a concert ticket for the unique EXPERIENCE. Unfortunately, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in Concert” did not provide that experience.

Look, I’m not saying I needed the conductor of the Orchestra to snap his baton in half and start headbanging while flashing his middle finger. I get it, this was no rave, nor was it a rock concert. I wanted the Orchestra to play a cover (of sorts) of the music – to put their own spin on it. I wanted the music to be overwhelming; to reach into my soul and give me intense orgasms. I wanted to walk out of there with my knees weak, emotionally destroyed, adrenaline at an all-time high. But instead, I walked out of there talking about the movie. Just about the movie. Which begs the question: What’s the point? What’s the point of paying hundreds of dollars to watch something that feels literally the same as watching the movie in the cinema?

The post Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone Movie And Concert Review appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

You get an iPhone X, she gets an iPhone X, everybody gets an iPhone X!

An engineer from Shenzhen, China recently pulled off an over-the-top proposal to his girlfriend. Plus, he did that with 25 newly-purchased iPhone Xs. It didn’t take long before news of his proposal made headlines all over the internet.

Chen, who works as a game programmer, had scattered red rose petals on the floor before arranging the expansive Apple gadgets in a shape of a heart. A pink engagement box was strategically placed in the middle of the iPhones. When asked the reason for presenting 25 iPhones, Chen explained that it was because his beau, Lee, is 25 years old this year.

In planning for his marriage proposal, Chen enlisted the help of Lee’s sister and close pals. The unsuspecting Lee was taken by surprised by his sweet gesture when she walked into the romantic location that was decorated with white and purple balloons. Chen then got down on one knee and proposed to his sweetheart with a custom-made engagement ring.

During the happy occasion, Chen decided to gift those who helped in pulling off this proposal with an iPhone X each. How generous! “One iPhone X in China starts from RMB8,388 (RM5,356). With 25 models of the iPhone X, he would have paid RMB209,700 (RM133,915), which can be used for paying a down payment for a house,” one netizen was quoted as saying.

Congrats to the happy duo

Source: News Asia / Featured image: Apple Daily.

The post Man Proposes To Girlfriend With 25 New iPhone Xs appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

If you have been going crazy with polls on Instagram, you will love this new Facebook feature!

Facebook has launched a new polling feature for both mobile and desktop versions of the app, so you can now create polls and get your friends to give their feedback in a more interactive way. You can also add images and GIFs to your polls and decide when you want the poll to expire.

However, just like Instagram, you will be able to see who has responded to the poll – the responders will not be anonymous.

Creating the poll is really simple; all you have to do is go over to your profile, click on “write something” and choose the “poll” option. Simply write your question, fill up the 2 options, add photos or GIFs, set when you want your poll to expire – and voila – you’re good to go!

Go on, try it, and let us know what you think!

Source: The Verge

The post Have You Tried Out This New Facebook Feature? appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

Ever heard a of container flea market? It’s a night market concept that has been gaining popularity in Bangkok, Thailand over the pass few years. If you have heard of Artbox, we’ve got good news for you.

The pop-up creative market will be bringing its awesomeness to Malaysia and Brunei in the first quarter of 2018.

As aforementioned, the stalls at Artbox are housed in giant metal shipping containers, making it a mobile shopping attraction. Predominantly run by young entrepreneurs, you can find a variety of hipster products ranging from music, fashion, handmade accessories, gadgets, home decor, to F&B, and other miscellaneous items.

Just like the previous Tribune flea market at Sunway Nexis, Kota Damansara 2 years ago, next year’s Artbox promises to be just as fun with tonnes of goods and activities to offer. It’ll be a real blast for sure!

Not much has been revealed other than the fact that Artbox will be in Malaysia in February 2018, followed by Brunei the following month.

For more information, visit their Facebook page here.

Source: The Hive.

The post Bangkok’s Popular Container Market, Artbox, Coming To Malaysia appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

You heard the saying before, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach“. There’s no doubt about it, we Malaysians love good food.

This is probably a valid excuse for all foodies to visit Mid Valley this week. Beginning this Friday (10th November), the Taste Fully Food and Beverage Expo will be taking place at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre (MVEC) on Level 3.

The international food fair, which features 800 food varieties from Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, America, and more, is an annual event that travels to major cities in Malaysia. What better way to sample cuisines from different counties that are gathered under one roof? It’s one of those rare occasions where you’ll be able to take your tastebuds on a global adventure.

This time around, Taste Fully Food and Beverage Expo will host more than 300 booths in the exhibition halls. Not only will you get to taste Korean snacks, Taiwanese street food, and Japanese desserts, there will also be cooking demos and fun activities to keep visitors entertained.

The details to Taste Fully Food and Beverage Expo are as follows:

• Dates: 10th – 12th November 2017 (Friday – Sunday)
• Venue: Mid Valley Exhibition Centre (MVEC)
• Time: 10am – 9pm
• Ticketing: Free admission

For more information, visit their Facebook page here.

The post Popular International Food Fair To Take Place In Mid Valley This Week appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

Are you in the mood to win some goodies? If your answer is yes, then you’re in luck. If your answer is no, keep reading anyway and we’ll change your mind.

One-stop global shopping platform Ezbuy is celebrating Singles’ Day this Saturday, 11.11 by throwing a mega sale with slashed prices and special promotions for everyone. To kick it up a notch, Ezbuy will be giving away 3 exclusive Hype backpacks especially for our Hype readers – and if that isn’t cool enough – they will also throw in an RM15 voucher for you.

It’s REAALLLY easy to win; just register on Ezbuy via our Hype Giveaway link and you’re automatically in the running to be one of the 3 lucky winners to walk away with a Hype backpack. When you register, you also automatically receive an RM15 voucher for your first purchase with Ezbuy.

Ezbuy offers a wide range of options from beauty products, clothing, bags, shoes, electronics, home decor, car electronics, office supplies, and much, much more with the lowest international shipping fee, starting at only RM4.50.

When you shop with Ezbuy, you’re also shopping straight from manufacturers – which means you omit a third party and thus get a cheaper deal for your purchases!

So what are you waiting for; click here to claim your RM15 voucher and be in the running to win a limited edition Hype backpack now.

*Terms & conditions apply 

The post GIVEAWAY: Here’s How You Can Win An Exclusive Hype Backpack & RM15 Voucher appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

Christmas came early for Sia fans

When the 41-year-old singer-songwriter found out that some paparazzi were trying to sell naked photos of her to fans, she decided to take things into her own hands. Her approach? Sia decided to post a blurry shot of herself nude on Twitter.

“Someone is apparently trying to sell naked photos of me to my fans. Save your money, here it is for free. Everyday is Christmas!” the hit-maker tweeted this morning (Tuesday, 7th November). In case you didn’t know, “Everyday is Christmas” also happens to be the title of her upcoming Christmas album. That was a clever marketing ploy, wasn’t it?

The naked picture shows the Aussie artiste standing outside some sort of residence. The “Chandelier” singer, who is well known for wearing huge wigs and other accessories to hide her face, has her back to the camera. It is unclear which photo agency was attempting to sell the photos, but we heard that they had at least 15 shots of the entertainer.

Anyway, here’s your early Christmas present courtesy of Sia:

Someone is apparently trying to sell naked photos of me to my fans. Save your money, here it is for free. Everyday is Christmas! pic.twitter.com/aeQlnTwLuy

— sia (@Sia) November 7, 2017

Sources: The Guardian, Billboard / Featured image: GC Images.

The post (NSFW) Sia Leaks Her Own Nude Photo After Paparazzi Tried To Sell It  appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

In conjunction with Thor: Ragnarok, I figured I’d do a Top 10 Marvel movie list. We live in an era where geeks are considered HOT (that is a lie I tell myself every day) and comic book movies are the epitome of pop culture. And at the center of that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But Marvel movies go beyond just the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “Blade”, anybody? At the Box Office, Marvel movies have grossed more than US$ 9.9 billion in North America, alone.

So, without further ado, let’s look at the Top 10 Marvel movies of all time. Just a reminder, I will not only be focusing on movies that are under the Marvel Cinematic Universe banner but all movies based on the Marvel comics.

10) Spider-Man: Homecoming

If it weren’t for scenes that tried too hard to be a typical superhero stuff, it would be higher up on this list. The parts that have Peter Parker without his suit are brilliant. The parts that have Spider-Man in his complete high tech costume are mediocre. The final action scene feels like a cop-out.

Tom Holland is my favourite Spider-Man. He truly embodies the Spider-Man that everyone knows and loves from the comic books. “Homecoming” is an awesome coming of age story about a young boy who wants to tango with the big boys AKA The Avengers, but learns that his true purpose is to protect the little guy. This movie asks the question, what will you do if you’re a teenager with superpowers? One of the best moments in the film happens at a party, as Peter Parker sits on the rooftop contemplating whether he should show-off in front of his peers or be the “better man.”

The chemistry between Peter Parker and Tony Stark is fantastic, and Iron Man does not overstay his welcome. “Homecoming” should have focused more on the man underneath the suit because that’s where things are interesting. The interaction between Tony and Peter that happens after Peter’s failed attempt at saving the Ferry is more interesting than the Ferry rescue scene itself. Peter’s interaction with Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton) in his house and in the car, is more engrossing than their final action sequence.

“Homecoming” is a good movie that should have been great, had director Jon Watts not bothered about large action set pieces.

9) X-Men: First Class

“X-Men: First Class” may not be my favourite of the X-Men films, but it is perhaps the most important. It is important because it breathed life into a franchise that was spiraling into a shithole. After two good movies by Bryan Singer – “X-Men” and “X2” – Singer decided to jump ship to DC and helm “Superman Returns”. The reigns of “X-Men” was left to Brett Ratner. Yeap, THE asshole Brett Ratner who clearly spent his time harassing women than learning how to make a movie properly. As expected, “X-Men: The Last Stand” turned out to be a giant misstep. Then came “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” which would give “Batman & Robin” a run for its worst comic book movie of all time, spot.

Then came Matthew Vaughn and “X-Men: First Class” and boy, did X-Men become cool again. Unlike the other X-Men films, “First Class” is a prequel that focuses on younger versions of Professor X, Magneto and Mystique, played by James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Jennifer Lawrence respectively. While Jennifer Lawrence is completely miscast, McAvoy and Fassbender are remarkable. Fassbender is a standout in particular, delivering a layered performance that allows us to understand why Magneto eventually becomes the extremist we know him to be. The scene in an Argentinian bar is something that I can watch over and over and over again because of how magnetic (pun definitely intended) Magneto is.

My biggest problem with “X-Men: First Class” is its continuity issues. Why does Beast invent Cerebro when it’s mentioned in “X-Men” and “X2” that it’s made by Professor X and Magneto? And if Mystique and Professor X have been friends since young, why do they not acknowledge each other in “X-Men” and “X2”?

8) Deadpool

I once explained “Deadpool” as such: If Quentin Tarantino, George Miller, and Edgar Wright had a threesome for eight hours and for whatever reason one of them gets pregnant, has a kid that grows up to be a supermodel and that supermodel masturbates on a rainbow, the mixture of the supermodel’s vaginal juices and the rainbow’s residue would be this “Deadpool” movie.

I stand by my statement. This movie is batshit crazy. It had no right to be made, but I’m glad Ryan Reynolds fought hard for it. This is the COOLEST comic book movie ever made. This movie is no story and all storytelling. It’s also extremely hilarious in the smartest of ways. The true heroes, as the opening credits of the movie indicate, are the screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who previously penned “Zombieland”.

Interestingly enough, “Deadpool” is also one hell of a love story. The romance between Deadpool and Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) is sincere. I genuinely believed that despite how flawed and crazy both of them are, they would die for each other.

7) X2

“X2” is the first, really good comic book movie after the abomination that is “Batman & Robin”. Sure, “X-Men” set the groundwork in 2000, but it is its sequel, also directed by Bryan Singer that really made people slowly start to take comic book movies seriously.

“X2” opens in spectacular fashion, with the teleporting mutant, Nightcrawler infiltrating the White House. To this day, it is still one of the best comic book movie action sequences. The scene in the X-Mansion where Wolverine goes full berserker mode is also riveting.

But what makes “X2” truly standout is its commentary on LGBT. The X-Men comics have always been a metaphor for the oppressed, but in “X2” we got to witness it on the big screen. This was clearly a passion project for director Bryan Singer, who’s a homosexual himself. One of the more interesting scenes in the movie takes place in Bobby/Iceman’s house.

Now, switch the word mutant with the word gay.

To read my full analysis of X-Men and real-world LGBT, click here.

6) Spider-Man 2

It’s hard to believe that the same guy who made this, also went on to make its shitty sequel. Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 2” is by far the best Spider-Man movie to date. Period. No competition. Toby Maguire may not be my favourite Spider-Man, but boy is this movie effing good.

Coming at a time where we weren’t getting 273 comic book movies a year, it’s surprising that Sony allowed Sam Raimi to make a movie like this. This movie is free of cheese, nods, and winks. It takes itself seriously, very seriously, and tells a story about a teenager with a ridiculous amount of burden to bear. “Spider-Man 2” is personal, just like a Spider-Man movie should be. While the movie is titled Spider-Man, the focus is on Peter Parker. Here Peter Parker realizes that he shouldn’t be in a relationship with Mary Jane, although it’s something he has wanted since he was a little boy, because he knows that being together with her would put her life in danger. Even his relationship with the villainous Doctor Octopus is fleshed out.

This is a superhero movie that transcends geekdom, one of the very few to do so.

5) The Avengers

Watching “The Avengers” on the big screen, for the first time, still remains one of my most memorable cinematic experiences. After laying the groundwork in films like “Iron Man”, “Thor”, “Hulk” and “Captain America: The First Avenger”, all eyes were on Joss Whedon to execute what many considered at that time to be the biggest film in the history of cinema. This was going to change the game forever, one way or another.

Whedon teased it out. Our favourite characters bickered and got into minor scuffles. It was fun and at times, even emotional – Loki murdering Phil Coulson. And then came the big moment. And it DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Every single second of the climactic battle sequence had me either go WTF or HOLY SHIT, before getting a heart-attack and dying on the spot, only to be brought back alive when my friend said, “Oi! I bought tickets for round 2 already.”

“That’s my secret Captain. I’m always angry.” *Orgasms*

4) Captain America: The Winter Soldier

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” propelled the Russo brothers to heights they probably never imagined reaching. Prior to this, Joe and Anthony Russo were known for working on many episodes of “The Community”. But even then, it was evident that these were filmmakers who were first and foremost geeks. And when they got the opportunity to work on “The Winter Soldier”, they did not disappoint.

“The Winter Soldier” is a comic book movie that played like an espionage thriller. The first Captain America movie was more light-hearted, fun and full of hope. “The Winter Soldier” is completely different. From almost killing off Nick Fury, to the end of S.H.I.E.L.D as we know it, “The Winter Soldier” does not mess around. This movie also reintroduces Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers’ childhood best friend who was thought to be dead. The friendship between Bucky and Captain is still one of the more interesting character arcs in the MCU and is explored even further in “Captain America: Winter Soldier.”

3) X-Men: Days of Future Past

I kept switching back and forth between “Days of Future Past” and – spoiler alert – “Logan” for my number 2/3 spot. Ultimately I placed “Logan” at number 2 for how ballsy it is.

“Days of Future Past” marks Bryan Singer’s triumphant return to the X-Men franchise. While Matthew Vaughn reinvigorated the franchise with “First Class”, Singer tied the best parts of X-Men together, while completely erasing the shitty movies. Goodbye “The Last Stand”, Sayonara “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”

Oh, this movie is a blast from start to finish. The cool action sequences take place in the future, where Fan Bing Bing, who plays Blink, steals the show despite not having a line of dialogue. The meat of the story takes place in the past, 10 years after the events of “First Class”. Surprisingly, this wasn’t just the Wolverine/Hugh Jackman story, but rather, an emotional and thrilling tale with well-written characters all around, and even better performances. Even Jennifer Lawrence who as mentioned before this, is totally miscast as Mystique, delivers a fine performance.

Surprisingly, it is Evan Peters as Quicksilver that goes on to steal the show, in a thoroughly enjoyable extremely comic book-y scene.

2) Logan

Just like “The Dark Knight” and “Deadpool” before it and “Wonder Woman” after it, “Logan” further proves that comic book movies aren’t necessarily a genre, but a form. “Logan” isn’t a film about a man with superpowers going up against a giant light beam in the sky. “Logan” is a western-drama about once strong, powerful men coming to terms with their old age. It is a great story about a father, grandfather and a daughter. This is a tale about kinship and the pain that comes with it.

Everybody dreams of becoming Wolverine; to have claws and be able to heal all wounds in an instant. “Logan” is a story that shows you the sufferings that come with it – when everyone you love is dead and gone and you’ve lost your cause for living. Everybody dreams of becoming Professor X; to be able to read and control minds. “Logan” deals with the repercussions of having the most powerful mind in the world when you’re at the age where you’re unable to control it.

1) Captain America: Civil War

This was an easy pick. “Captain America: Civil War” is hands down the best Marvel movie to date. It seems Disney-Marvel Studios have struck gold with the pairing of the Russo brothers (directors) and Markus & McFeely (Scriptwriters). Captain America: Winter Soldier was great, this is greater.

There are so many things that could’ve gone wrong in this movie, from juggling a large ensemble to making the disagreement between the members of The Avengers feel organic. Making everything look cool is one thing, making the whole thing meaningful and purposeful is another *cough* BVS *cough*.

While THE AIRPORT SEQUENCE has etched its name in the history books as one of the best comic book film action sequences, the thing that really sticks with me is how the Russo brothers make you flip-flop between supporting Captain America and Iron Man. The Russo brothers could’ve taken the easy route and made one the by proxy villain and the other, the clear hero, but they didn’t. They chose to challenge us and made a movie worth dissecting and debating. Ultimately, who you route for depends on your own moral compass and opinions on real-world politics.

The post Top 10 Marvel Movies Of All Time appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

Oh bummer, here we go again. Pump prices for fuel will go up yet again:(

Starting from Thursday midnight (9th November) onwards, our source states that petrol prices for RON95 and RON97 will see an increase. However, the price of diesel will remain the same.

The expected prices for petrol and diesel for 9th – 15th November 2017 are:

• RON95 : RM2.31 per litre with increased by RM0.07
• RON97 : RM2.60 per litre with increased by RM0.06
• Diesel : RM2.20 per litre with increased by RM0.03
• Euro 5 : RM2.30 pet litre with increased by RM0.03

The current prices for 26th October – 1st November 2017 are:

• RON95 : RM2.24 per litre
• RON97 : RM2.54 per litre
• Diesel : RM2.17 per litre

We will update the fuel prices should the official announcement differs from aforementioned prices.

Source: Malaysia Freebies.

The post Petrol & Diesel Prices Malaysia For 9th – 15th November 2017 appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

Christmas – the most wonderful time of the year – is fast approaching.

Several franchises (e.g.: Starbucks’ festive cup) and malls have already started rolling out holiday themes, so you might as well get started. While you’re at it, why not add some brand new tunes to your Christmas playlist?

It seems that we aren’t just the only ones feeling the Christmas spirit though. Every year, some of your favourite artistes release holiday albums; 2017 is no different. Pop fans are in for a treat this year because we’ve compiled enough new music in one handy Christmas playlist for your listening pleasure.

Enjoy jamming to these festive tunes while you’re decorating the tree

1. Fantasia – Christmas After Midnight

’Tis the season! Fantasia is treating fans with a dose of classic holiday tunes with her new release, “Christmas After Midnight”. The project features 12 songs including classics such as “This Christmas”, “Silent Night”, “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto”, and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. CeeLo Green also makes an appearance on “Baby It’s Cold Outside”.

“I feel like times have changed, families have changed. People are not as close anymore as they used to be, and one thing about our house was music always kept us close,” said the American Idol winner. She added, “This album pays homage to my grandmother and is a gift from me to all of those who remember their grandparents or parents putting up Christmas trees and being a blessing into people’s lives.”

2. Kelly Clarkson – “Christmas Eve”

Never mind that Kelly Clarkson has just released her 8th studio album, “Meaning of Life”. The mother-of-2 also debut an original Christmas song, “Christmas Eve”, complete with jingle bells and upbeat Motown melodies. “Christmas Eve” accompanies the 35-year-old singer’s 2nd children’s book, “River Rose and the Magical Christmas”.

3. 98 Degrees – “Let It Snow”

The last time 98 Degrees released a Christmas record, it was back in 1999. Almost 2 decades later, Nick Lachey and his bandmates – Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons, and Justin Jeffre – are hoping to recreate the same magic with “Let It Snow”. “We thought, ‘Why not do a 2nd version of that?’ and try to create the same type of timeless classic sound that we thought we accomplished in the 1st one. It just made the most sense. We loved the 1st record and we’re loving the 2nd record, too,” said Nick.

The 14-track album includes 1 original tune, “Season of Love”, and will not repeat any songs from their 1st Christmas album. “We just literally went down our favourite Christmas songs and figured out which would work well and compliment each other. We didn’t just want song after song, we wanted a journey – for the album to be a complete work of art as a unit,” Drew added.

4. Hanson – “Finally It’s Christmas”

Similar to 98 Degrees, it’s been 20 years since Hanson last had an Christmas album. In celebration of their anniversary as a group, Taylor, Isaac, and Zac  have finally released a long-awaited follow-up, “Finally It’s Christmas”, and it doesn’t disappoint.

The album not only has covers of modern classics like Paul McCartney’s “A Wonderful Christmas Time” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas,” it also features a mash-up of “Joy to the World” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain” as well as 4 original songs. Interestingly, the trio’s children also make an appearance on tracks like “Happy Christmas”. Be sure to look out for that!

5. Sia – “Everyday Is Christmas”

Have you been naughty or nice this year? Ready or not cause “Santa’s Coming For Us”, and Sia has a whole song about it. The uptempo single opens with a line about hot chocolate before breaking into the fun holiday spirit. Sia’s mini-muse and main dancer, Maddie Zeigler, can also be seen on the cover art, rocking the singer-songwriter’s signature bob. “Everyday Is Christmas” will feature a whopping 10 original songs.

6. Lindsey Stirling – “Warmer in the Winter”

The holiday season is a lot warmer thanks to Lindsey Stirling’s newly-released Christmas album, “Warmer in the Winter”. Best known for creating her own musical niche as an electronic violinist, this talented musician now presents a collection of 13 songs. Aside from her original holiday track “Christmas C’mon” featuring Becky G, her latest LP also includes Sabrina Carpenter (on “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch”), All Time Low’s Alex Gaskarth (“Time To Fall In Love”), and Trombone Shorty (“Warmer In The Winter”). Stirling’s musicianship is always stellar, and opening track “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”, is a perfect example of that.

7. Blake Shelton – “Cheers, It’s Christmas”

Remember Blake Shelton’s 2012 “Cheers, It’s Christmas” album? Even if you’ve already own that record, you may want to get the re-release 2017 version so that you can listen to his new duet with girlfriend Gwen Stefani. In addition to his previous collaborations with Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson and Michael Buble, the new addition adds “Two Step Round the Christmas Tree”, “Christmas Eve”, and “Savior’s Shadow”.

Speaking of the country crooner’s love interest…

8. Gwen Stefani – “You Make It Feel Like Christmas”

Gwen Stefani also has a new Christmas album out! “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” is a mixture of holiday favourites with a pop twist and original songs co-written by the former No Doubt singer herself. The title track, featuring Blake Shelton, is one of the 6 original tracks on the LP, where the couple sing about their red hot romance.

“I love the idea of being a part of the joy of Christmas. And I love the idea of having a record that will be an annual thing. I really hope we hit on something that people want to hear every year,” the 48-year-old pop star told Entertainment Weekly.

9. Cheap Trick – “Christmas Christmas”

American rock band Cheap Trick love the yuletide season so much that they named it twice. “Christmas Christmas” marks the first Christmas album for the rock veterans. The quartet’s record label, Big Machine Records, released a statement saying, “With ‘Christmas Christmas’, Cheap Trick delivers a sleigh full of Rock & Roll Christmas classics and festive favourites by Wizzard, Slade, Chuck Berry, The Ramones, and The Kinks as well as newly penned offerings like the joyous lead track, ‘Merry Christmas Darlings’.”

10. Josh Groban – “Noel”

In celebration of it’s 10th anniversary, Josh Groban will also be re-releasing his Christmas album “Noel” (originally released in October 2007). The new edition will feature 6 new songs including “White Christmas” with an orchestral backing, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “Christmas Time Is Here” a duet with Tony Bennett, a cover of the John Lennon classic “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”, “O Holy Night”, and “Believe” (from the “Polar Express” soundtrack).

Sources: iHeart Radio, Pop Sugar / Featured image: Google Images.

The post Brand New Christmas Music To Help Get You In The Holiday Season appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

British-Malaysian TV presenter Henry Golding had to deal with some backlash after landing the dream role of Nick Young in ‘Crazy Rich Asians’, a major Hollywood studio production directed by Jon M. Chu for Warner Bros.

Many criticised the decision to cast Henry Golding as Nick Young, as Golding is of Malaysian, Singaporean and British descent and he grew up in England. People were expecting to see Nick Young played by someone who fully Asian, or Chinese – since Nick Young is a university professor who is originally from Singapore.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Henry Golding felt like the criticisms directed at him were quite hurtful.

“For me, it was almost like being kind of stabbed in the back. I was like, ‘Aren’t we meant to be in this boat together? Aren’t we meant to strive together for something bigger than these boundaries that we’re putting on ourselves instead of bullying each other?’”

“People were like, ‘This guy’s half-Asian, he’s half-white, he’s not even full Asian,’ and it comes to, like, how Asian do you have to be to be considered Asian?” he added.

“I’ve lived 16, 17 years of my life in Asia, and that’s most of my life. I was born in Asia, I’ve lived cultures that are synonymous with Asian culture, but it’s still not Asian enough for some people. Where are the boundaries? Where are the lines drawn for saying that you cannot play this character because you’re not fully Asian?”

“I live in Singapore, I’ve lived here for six years, so you think I’m less suitable than a Godfrey Gao or a Leehom Wang?” Golding said, referring to the two actors who fans were expecting to see as Nick Young. “I was chosen because I came as close to the character as possible.”

Director Jon M. Chu explained that the actor who plays Nick Young had to be a “charming, leading man” who would have to be able to sound educated from Oxford, and he must also have an English accent – and Henry Golding seemed to fit all of that criteria.

‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is set to hit cinemas on 17th of August, 2018.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

The post Henry Golding Criticised For Not Being Asian Enough For ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

Can’t get enough of matcha goodness? FamilyMart Malaysia has a match(a) made in heaven for you.

In celebration of of their 1st anniversary, the popular convenience store franchise will be introducing some great launches in stores throughout the country. One of them is the Matcha Latte (comes in iced and warm).

Starting from next Monday (6th November) onwards, you’ll be entitled to a free Matcha ice cream (worth RM2.90) when a purchase a Matcha Latte. A cup of Matcha Latte is priced at RM13.90. This promotion will last till Sunday (12th November). While some may think RM13.90 is overpriced for a Matcha Latte, the free dessert is a good incentive.

Besides the Matcha Latte, FamilyMart Malaysia is also launching other food items such as Chicken Salami Sandwich and Japanese Cheese Bun. More food and beverage items will be introduced in batches. We’re probably most excited for the new Hokkaido Melon ice cream. We haven’t had any new flavours since the cheese-flavoured ice cream replaced the vanilla-flavoured.

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

The post Purchase The New Matcha Latte At FamilyMart & Enjoy Free Matcha Ice Cream appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, short for KLPac, has been entertaining the public with cultural and art plays for more than a decade. However, the centre may be forced to close down.

Due to the lack of funds from corporates, the non-profit organisation has been barely keeping afloat. KLPac initially had 12 sponsors for a 3-year term, but that number has since severely dropped to 3.

According to The Malaysian Reserve, companies are now reluctant to provide sponsorships, mainly because they are required to obtained government approval. KLPac founder Faridah Merican has also commented that the government hasn’t been prioritising culture and the arts.

“If it cared, it would have allocated some funds in Budget 2018. If I’m not mistaken this is the 3rd time there has been no allocation for arts and culture. So it shows that we are not important,” she told Free Malaysia Today.

Reports show that KLPac annual revenue from ticket sales is RM3.46 million. This is not enough to cover its upkeep of at least RM4.18 million. “It will be a total loss to Malaysians if KLPac is shut. The relevant authorities should take the opportunity to help out as a sign of support and appreciation for KLPac’s role in promoting the development of the art,” PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil added.

For those that want to know how they can help, you can either make a donation here or visit KLPac’s Facebook page.

Sources: FMT, Lipstiq / Featured image: Geometria.

The post Say It Isn’t So! Is KLPac Closing Down Soon? appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

Take note for those driving around Kuala Lumpur, you may experience some inconvenience over the next 2 months.

Syarikat Mengurus Air Banjir & Terowong (SMART) has announced that several major roads in the city have been closed to facilitate upgrading works along Jalan Tun Razak. The road closures is expected to carry on until January next year.

The 3 main effected roads are:

1. Jalan Tun Razak
2. road exit to Kampung Pandan Roundabout
3. Jalan Davis

“The closure is for upgrading works to improve traffic flow in the city at Jalan Tun Razak from Jalan Langgak Golf to Kampung Pandan Roundabout and Tun Razak Exchange (TRX),” reads the official statement from SMART.

It added, “Highway commuters from the direction of Seremban-Cheras-Sungai Besi heading to Kuala Lumpur city centre such as Jalan Tun Razak-KLCC, Bukit Bintang can use the Smart Highway to reach their destination more smoothly. Meanwhile commuters intending to exit from Kuala Lumpur city centre can use the Smart Highway to avoid traffic congestion at Jalan Davis and Bukit Bintang.”

For further information, visit the Smart website here.

Source: Paul Tan via Bernama.

The post Road Closures In KL To Upgrade Jalan Tun Razak appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

Coco may not be Pixar’s most complex movie – see “Inside Out” – nor is it Pixar’s most exhilarating – see “The Incredibles” – but it is rich. Rich in colour and more importantly, rich in culture. I may not be Mexican, but witnessing people of colour on the big screen, in a positive light, without their cultures being watered down or whitewashed (a Hollywood norm), but rather, celebrated, is an awesome experience in and of itself. Donald Trump probably disagrees. If Disney’s “Moana” was a step in the right direction, then “Coco” takes another five steps forward. This gives me hope. Perhaps one day I’ll get to see Disney/Pixar’s bring the Ramayana story to life.

This movie involves the adventures of Miguel – Coco is his great-grandmother – a young Latino who desperately wants to be a musician. His family, as nice as they are, know not of his talent and care not for his passion. Just like the Dursleys in “Harry Potter”, Miguel’s abuelita treats the ‘M’ word like it is the most repulsive and vulgar cuss word in the English dictionary. Except instead of magic, here it refers to music. “The Riveras are shoemakers!” they proudly proclaim. When his abuelita puts her foot down and bans him from indulging in music every again, Miguel chooses to run away from home.

Things happen afterward, that I will not spoil, but the meat of our story takes place during Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) when Miguel is magically transported to the Land of the Dead. I find it ironic and perhaps even poetic that it is here, that Miguel feels truly alive. He even gets to perform in front of a crowd, for the very first time. I like movies like these. Stories about finding yourself and being who you are meant to be; tales of passion and art and choices and sacrifice. If only “Coco” stayed focused.

The problem with “Coco” is that co-directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina fail to keep their eyes on the prize. Or perhaps their eyes were on the wrong prize. It’s as if, in an attempt to celebrate the beauty and wonder of Mexican culture – this movie is GORGEOUS – they forgot about characters and storytelling. The script, penned by Adrian Molina and Matthew Aldrich is loose. It is filled with unnecessary twists and turns that one would be able to sniff out from a mile away.

It could have worked, maybe, had Miguel been a fully realised character, like Marlin or Joy or Woody or Mike Wazowski. But Miguel isn’t layered. He wants to play music and that’s about all there is to his character. In every great Pixar movie, there is a companion who follows our hero on his/her journey. Woody has Buzz Lightyear, Mike Wazowski has James Sullivan, Marlin has Dory and Joy has Sadness. The dynamic between these duos is what keep us engaged throughout the adventure. Without these iconic pairings, there would be no “Finding Nemo” or “Monsters Inc” or “Toy Story”.

Here, the dynamic is bland. There is very little between Miguel and his skeleton friend Hector. They’re neither funny nor emotionally moving. The dialogues lack wit and weight. The rest of the characters are bland too. The moral of the story – in which you are reminded of every 0.2 seconds – doesn’t exactly hit home, as well. I GET IT but I don’t FEEL it. The score, composed by Michael Giacchino is fitting, but not necessarily memorable. The same can be said about the soundtrack, which is good, but if you’re looking for the next “Let It Go” or “How Far I’ll Go”, you won’t find it here.

I can’t help but compare “Coco” to “The Book of Life”, a 2014 animated film by Fox. That too is about a Latino character who wants to pursue music, despite his family’s wishes. That too, takes place during the Day of the Dead. I left the cinema on that day, feeling shook and broken. I guess the difference between “The Book of Life” and “Coco” is that “The Book of Life” is a movie about its lead character Manolo, but also happens to have a message, and is rich in Mexican culture. Whereas “Coco” is a movie about Mexican culture and a message, that so happens to have a character named Miguel. Big difference, mi amigos.

Dedpewl Rating

The post “Coco” Review: Bursting With Mexican Culture, Lacking In Substance appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

The long school holidays are approaching and that means that shopping malls and supermarkets are likely going to be filled with people.

It is common that small kids tend to wander off and end up getting separated from their parents. In order to deal with cases of missing children, Sunway Pyramid has announced that they are implementing the Child Safety Emergency Contact Tattoo.

The statement from Sunway Pyramid reads:

“Hey parents! With school holidays coming up, we’ve prepared a Child Safe Emergency Contact Tattoo that can be easily placed on your child’s arm with a damp cloth or sponge. If he/she wanders away in the mall, the emergency contact number on the tattoo can be used to get help from a Concierge staff or Auxiliary Police. To remove the tattoo, simply use baby oil, hand sanitizer or wet wipes. Grab the free Emergency Contact Tattoo at G Floor Main Concierge or LG2 Concierge (near Marrakesh).”

The best part of this? It’s absolutely free of charge and parents can also customised the temporary tattoos with their contact numbers. Personally, we think this is a great idea. Perhaps other malls should follow Sunway Pyramid’s example as well.

Source: Sunway Pyramid’s Facebook.

The post Sunway Pyramid Implements Emergency Contact Tattoo In Case Kids Get Lost appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

Uh oh, it looks like Mariah Carey may be in trouble.

Her former security guard Michael Anello, who is also the founder of Anello Security & Consulting, is threatening to sue the legendary diva with legal action. According to TMZ, he claimed that the 47-year-old singer had sexually harassed him, humiliated him, and owes him money.

Anello alleged that Carey owes him US$221,329.51 after working for the pop star from June 2015 and May 2017. In his draft lawsuit, Anello pointed out that the entertainer had committed “sexual acts with the intent that they be viewed by (him)”. There was one incident that took place in Cabo San Lucas where the singer requested Anello to move some luggage in her room. She was apparently wearing a see-through negligee and had left it open on purpose.

Besides calling him “a Nazi, a skinhead, a KKK member, and a white supremacist”, Anello also claimed that Carey had made a comment about only “wanted to be surrounded with black guys, not white people” when it came to her security team. Since this was made public, the A-lister’s rep insisted that they have no information on sexual harassment claims made against Carey.

After meeting up with Anello’s lawyer earlier this week, Carey’s people have agreed to pay at least some of the bills that is being owed. However, Anello is apparently not satisfied with the amount. The lawsuit is currently put on hold, presumably so that both parties can come to an agreement in settling this deal.

Sources: Daily Mail, Hot New Hip Hop via TMZ / Featured image: Btale.

The post Mariah Carey Accused Of Sexual Assault By Security Guard appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

Bad news EDM fans. In case you haven’t heard, Hardwell won’t be making an appearance as scheduled at Zouk Club Kuala Lumpur tomorrow (Friday, 10th November).

The world-renowned and record producer took to his Facebook page yesterday (Wednesday, 8th November) to apologies to Malaysian party-goers on his last minute cancellation.

“Hi Malaysia I’m so sorry but I can’t play Zouk in Kuala Lumpur this Friday because of doctor’s orders. I have pneumonia and I’m not allowed to travel while recovering. I hope to make it up to you guys!” the 29-year-old Dutch DJ wrote. His show has been postponed until further notice.

Zouk Club KL also took to their Facebook page to notify those who have previously purchase prepaid tickets (and made table reservations) on how they can claim a full refund:

• Cash payment refunds are available for collection at Zouk Club KL’s office on Tuesday (14th November) or Wednesday (15th November) between 12:30pm and 7:30pm.
• If you’re unable to collect your refund on those dates, call Zouk Club KL at 012-5093215 or 03-21103888 to arrange for cash refund collection on another date.
• For debit/credit card or in-app purchases, send an e-mail to thomaszee@zoukclub.com.my

Goldfish & Blink were also scheduled to play but Zouk has clarified that tomorrow’s itinerary will be back to the regular program.

Get well soon Hardwell, we hope to see you in the near future

Sources: Zouk Club KL’s Facebook, Hardwell’s Facebook.

The post Hardwell Apologies For Cancelling Tomorrow’s Zouk KL Show appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

Our office is almost like our second home, our colleagues another annoying family that we put up with. We eat together, laugh together, cry together, break stuff together when things get too tense – but you cannot imagine life without them.

Just like ours, we’re sure your office is also filled with a bunch of people with different quirks and personalities. We love them, we hate them, sometimes we want to strangle them; but they’re all we’ve got to get through the day. They come all shapes, sizes, and dimensions – here are 13 types of colleagues you will surely identify with:

1. The early bird  

This person is the first one to arrive in the office and lives by the motto, “early to bed, early to rise, make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” In fact, this person is so early that they usually teman the cleaning aunty in the morning. If they are ever late, you’re convinced that something very, very bad has happened to them and proceed to file a “missing person” report.

2. The xoxo Gossip Girl 

Every workplace has that one person who just loooooves dishing out details about others. They have very sharp eyes and excel at the science of deduction  – just show them 1 Instagram photo of a colleague and they will “Sherlock Holmes” the sh*t out of it. They love hanging out by the coffee maker, just waiting for someone to walk by so they can share their ‘new findings’. Honestly, this person should be working with the FBI and help with solving crimes.

3. The joker 

You know you can never have a serious conversation with this person because they end up saying the darnest things ever. No matter how tense the situation, they always manage to turn it around and find the humour in it. This is the person you feel like talking to after a long, hard day at work, because you know they are going to crack you up and make you feel better.

4. The social butterfly 

For us introverts, we never know how this person does it. They can go up to literally anybody – even a new colleague – and start having a jovial conversation with them. This person can BFFs with pretty much anybody. They build rapport instantly and know how to include everyone in the conversation. This is also the person who can sit anywhere in the office – next to ANYBODY – and still end up being the chatty one.

5. The one who punches out on the dot 

If you ever need this person at 6.01 pm – forget it, you might as well be wishing for unicorns and for Liverpool to win the English Premier League. This person comes in at 9am sharp and leaves at 6pm sharp – and there’s no other way around it.

6. The happy hour junkie 

This is the colleague who knows all the bars in town and knows all the happy hour promos by heart – they’re more reliable than Google and TimeOut. This is the person who must hit the bar after work – because life is too short to just go home and be lazy in your PJs. They’re always trying to rope in people for happy hour, so you’ll probably find them at your desk at 6.01 pm convincing you to go out tonight.

7. The one who stays back until 1 am every day 

In case you ever forgot anything in the office, you know you can head back there even at 11pm because this nocturnal colleague is still there. This person has breakfast, lunch, dinner, and supper in the office – they’re there when you arrive and still there when you leave – they’re just ALWAYS there. You won’t be surprised if they actually had a sleeping bag stashed in the office somewhere.

8. The one who never looks up from the screen 

This colleague never looks up or talk to anybody; you can’t even remember when was the last time you heard their voice. They barely look up from the screen. Sometimes you forget that this person is even there. You wonder what’s going on in their head – how is it even possible to remain silent for 9 hours straight and not talk to anybody? But then again, this person causes zero problems or drama in the office, so perhaps they’re not so bad after all.

9. The annoying couple 

The couple who come in wearing matching clothes and go for lunch together everyday. You dare not sit next to this person during company events, because you know that seat is reserved. One day they’re all cute and clingy, and the next day they refuse to look at each other because they had a fight – and it gets awkward for everyone else because you have a project to work on together and you can’t proceed when two people don’t want to look each other in the face. So more often than not, you resort to being the couple’s therapist.

10. The ultimate breaker of rules 

You don’t know whether to hate this person or to idolise this person. They are always running late, they show up in their PJs with their hair in a mess and yet they still get things done – and more surprisingly – still around.

11. The guy who fixes everything  

It’s true, not all heroes wear capes, sometimes they’re simply wearing a pair of jeans and sweater. When the wifi is down, this guy knows exactly what to do, what cables to tweak, and how to get it up and running within minutes – which means you don’t have to wait hours for the technicians to arrive. Forgot to bring your charger? This guy has every Apple and Android charger under the sun. Your phone is lagging? He knows exactly how to fix it up as good as new. Seriously, what would we do without this guy?

12. The one who is always red-carpet ready 

She lives life in the fab lane. She struts into the office in her platform heels and hoop earrings, sunglasses resting on her head, a cup of Starbucks in one hand and her brand new phone in the other. She is manicured from head to toe, dressed to kill, and her make-up somehow stays on forever – even in the scorching hot Malaysian weather. She has over a thousand followers on Instagram, has 300+ likes on all her photos with the hashtag #wanderlust.

13. The Ninja 

No one sees this person coming or leaving. One minute he’s there, then he’s gone. Then he appears again and vanish out into thin air. You try to confront him about his Mr. Invisible superpowers, but of course you can’t because he disappeared before you can even broach the question.

The post 13 Types Of Colleagues We All Have At Work appeared first on Hype Malaysia.

For the past couple of days, one of the hottest news in the industry revolved around Kevin Spacey being a piece of shit. This is not that story. This piece is about the second biggest (or maybe 5th biggest) news, which is Disney being in talks with Fox to buy some of its entertainment assets.

Note: It’s now being reported/rumoured, that those talks are now dead. Gee, thanks for being the party pooper, Bloomberg.

But this is a fun topic to discuss. WHAT IF Disney acquires the Marvel comic properties that are parked under the 20^th Century Fox banner. How different would our lives be? Would it lead to a zombie apocalypse or worse yet, would the senile orange man be re-elected as president? Let’s find out.

First of all, …

WTF is Disney, Marvel, Sony, DC, Fox??!! SO CONFUSINGGG!!

Rilex, I got your back.

There are two major comic book companies that everyone is familiar with. One is DC and the other is Marvel. There are also independent comic book companies like Dark Horse, which gave us Hellboy and Icon Comics, which published Kingsman. But let’s forget about the independent, smaller publications, for now, and focus on the two behemoths.

Warner Bros owns the film rights to the entirety of DC comics, whether it’s Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Joker, Cyborg and even Goddamn Egghead. Which means, if Warner Bros decides to make a movie titled “Batman & Robin jerkoff Condiment King” they can. Simple, right?

However, if Marvel Studios want to make “Wolverine & Iron Man: A trip to Brokeback Mountain” they can’t, despite both Wolverine and Iron Man, being Marvel comic characters. What about the much dreamed of “X-Men VS The Avengers”? Nope.

There is a lengthy, complex story here involving a crap ton of businessy terms that would make you feel stupid – it made me feel stupid. But here’s the interesting gist:

1. Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, just like how Lucasfilm (Star Wars) is owned by Disney, too.
2. Back in the early 90s, because of financial issues and whatnot, Marvel sold the film rights of many of their popular characters to other major Hollywood studios. Notably, 20^th Century Fox acquired X-Men(which includes Deadpool) and Fantastic Four, while Sony acquired Spider-Man.

This means, that while it is possible for you to see X-Men, Spider-Man and Avengers participate in an orgy in the COMICS, it isn’t possible on the BIG SCREEN, unless there is some sorta renewed agreement between the major studios that own these rights.

Disney-Marvel Studios have come a long way since their humble days. Despite being left with B-grade superheroes like Iron Man and obscure ones like Guardians of the Galaxy, Disney remained relentless. With Kevin Feige in the captain’s chair, Disney created a cinematic universe that has changed the landscape of cinema and pop culture. The fact that Disney took a bland character in Iron Man, who was once known as just a Batman rip off and turned him into the coolest shit ever, speaks volumes of their accomplishments.

Recently, Sony and Marvel revisited their contract and added a clause which allowed Spider-Man to be shared between Marvel Studios and Sony. Which is why we see Tom Holland’s version of Spider-Man in the MCU.

When reports came out that Disney was in talks with 20^th Century Fox to acquire some of their entertainment properties, many got excited. Could this mean that we would finally get to see X-Men VS The Avengers?! While that does sound like a boner-inducing idea, it would not be the best course of action in the long run.

The part where I actually get to the point.

From the year 2000 to 2014, the X-Men film franchise has been largely hit or miss. For every “Days of Future Past” there is an “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”. The “Fantastic Four” movies have all been futile, with each attempt being a bigger shit storm than the previous. But, over the past couple of years, Fox’s comic book universe has seen a renaissance.

“Deadpool” should have failed at the box office. I mean, who would actually pay top dollar to watch an unknown comic book character in a violent, R-rated, COMEDY? Only, it didn’t fail. Crass, bloody and most importantly, different, “Deadpool” turned out to be exactly the film we didn’t know we needed. It even managed to get a Golden Globe nomination for best comedy/musical and there was serious buzz surrounding the film during Oscar season. But pleasing critics and film buffs is one thing, making waves at the box office is something else entirely. Well, “Deadpool” didn’t just make a profit at the box office, grossing US$783 million worldwide with a US$ 58 million budget, it shattered records, too.

Earlier this year, Fox produced “Logan”, another R-rated comic book movie. This time, a powerful drama about family and sacrifice. It is perhaps the most realistic comic book movie to date, even more so than Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight”. “Logan” isn’t interested in being quick-paced and rushing to the large action set pieces. It is a slow character study. In fact, there isn’t a bombastic action sequence in this film at all. Plus, the lead character, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) actually DIED in this movie. A ballsy move for a comic book film.

A few weeks ago, 20^th Century Fox released the trailer for another movie that is a part of the X-Men franchise, titled “New Mutants”. Once again, the film looks distinctly different and mature. Instead of marketing the movie as a colourful, larger than life blast, featuring young mutants, Fox is marketing this film as a claustrophobic horror set in a single location.

Fox is able to do this with its comic book movies because they’re not tied to a larger cinematic universe. And even when it comes to sequels and prequels, Fox has made it clear from the start that they do not give two hoots about continuity. This opens the door for directors to be true blue auteurs and make a movie they want to make without worrying about restrictions. It allows creative freedom and experimentation.

Over at Disney-Marvel Studios, things are completely different. Since 2008, Kevin Feige and gang have built the Marvel Cinematic Universe from ground up and made sure that every single one of their comic book movies fit into this universe. This universe works like a TV series: The tone is set in the pilot and no matter the director, no matter the episode, the tone will remain the same. Whenever the MCU does try something completely different, like with Taika Waititi’s “Thor: Ragnarok”, it feels jarring and out of place. Imagine turning on HBO one day and finding the latest episode of “Game of Thrones” to be a colourful comedy. There is no room for error in the MCU because each movie is affected by the movie that comes before it and will affect the movie that comes after it.

Disney-Marvel Studios will also not make an R-rated comic book movie, understandably so. It is the house of Mickey Mouse, after all. As reported by Daniel Miller of LA Times, Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger has confirmed this:

“We don’t have any plans to make R-rated Marvel movies.”

Not every comic book movie needs to be R-rated. We don’t need to see Black Panther decapitating people with his claws. But some characters, like Deadpool and Wolverine, work best with the R-rating. I’m not just talking about blood, guts and curse words, either. Remember the scene at the end of “Deadpool”, where Deadpool chooses to shoot Ajax at point blank, despite Colossus’ pleads? We will never see a scene like that over at Disney, bloody or not.

This formulaic, by the numbers approach that’s taken by Disney, doesn’t just stop at the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even over at Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy puts her foot down the moment she feels a director is stepping out of line. Most recently, she parted ways with the pairing of Lord and Miller after 4 months of shooting “Solo: A Star Wars Story” because the film they were making felt too comedic and didn’t belong in the Star Wars universe.

I love this about Disney. I want my favourite universes and franchises to have a consistent tone throughout. I want each movie to feel like chapters in a book. Which is why I’m not a fan of “Thor: Ragnarok”. But I also want variation. I don’t want every single comic book movie I watch to be part of a larger universe.

This is why studios like Fox are important. Fox’s comic book movies can be the counterculture to the gigantic universes over at Warner Bros and Disney. Fox can be the studio that gives us darker more mature themes as compared to the more family-friendly approach taken by Disney and Warner Bros. Most importantly, Fox can give us Morena Baccarin pegging Ryan Reynolds. I think we all need a little bit of that in our life.

The post Why Disney Buying X-Men From Fox Is Horrible For Consumers appeared first on Hype Malaysia.