...dalam botol

Trailer

(U)
Release Date: 24th March 2011
Language: Malay
Running Time: 90 mins
Genre: Drama
Director: Khir Rahman
Cast: Arja Lee, Wan Raja, Normah Damanhuri, Diana Danielle, Fauziah Ahmad Daud
Distributor: MIG Productions

Onlookers,

I don't even know why I agreed being dragged (pun intended) to this movie, without any idea what it was in the first place. I know it was sensationalized, when the original title was changed from Anu Dalam Botol to ...dalam botol. I thought it was a horror movie involving Jenglot or some other ghosts...

NOT!!!

Storyline: Boy meets boy, boy loves boy, boy decided to have a sex change, repented and eventually meets girl. And this was annouced to be based on a real-life story.

This movie opens up a new perspective for Malaysian Film industry, and for that the producers should receive a pat on the back for being daring. Apart from that, and the fact that the female actors were excellent (even in a crappy movie) I dont have much good to say about this movie.

They are trying so much to make the movie artistic, that it lost substance and flow. The end product is not artistic at all! Picture quality and editing is below average. Script is bad, lead actors have lack of feel. And the list of bad remarks goes on...

I had the feeling to get out of the movie theatre even in the first ten minutes of the movie...

*0 of 5*

However, it is fun to watch these audition videos...


Ady Putra


Keifli


Arja Lee

Clearly they've chosen the perfect actor for this. But nontheless...overall, its not worth watching even if you get free tix.

World Invasion : Battle Los Angeles

(U)
Release Date: 17th March 2011 (Malaysia)
Language: English
Running Time: 116 mins
Genre: Action/Sci-Fi
Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Jonathan Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez
Distributor: Columbia Pictures

Onlookers,

The story centers around Staff Sergeant Nantz, and his platoon, who were ordered to advance towards downtown LA to save civilians hiding in a police station in the midst of an alien colonization. That occupied two third of the story. And the rest of it showed how this platoon heroically destroyed the alien command centre and brought mankind to victory.

Did I make it sound boring? It is a movie with a predictable ending. But generally, this movie is fantastic to watch. It is a crossbreed of black hawk down, or saving private ryan, and the day after tomorrow. (maybe comparing this movie to the day after tomorrow is a bit degrading but i couldnt think now a closer knit genre). If you love the above films, you wont regret every cents spent on your tix, popcorn and ice lemon tea.

Non-stop action till the end. Superb war shots. And these are some memorable scenes and its adversaries.

Memorable scenes
-----------------
1. Surreal war shots
2. Beautiful night shot of devastated Los Angeles on Fire

Scenes to improvise
---------------------
1. The sewage scenes are too short and abrupt. They found the command centre too easily
2. The aliens looked like mere exoskeletons and there's no closeup glimpse on them

But it was a fun watch which kept us at the edge of our seats. My friend who's well known to doze off in the plush comfort of the cinema seats, didnt sleep on this one. And thats a compliment! ;)

*3.5 of 5*

6 Mistakes That Keep You Fat

Onlookers,

In the anticipation of contemplating my post-exam weight-reduction regime, this tip (courtesy from Men's Health Magazine) might be useful coz i think these are the very same mistakes that i personally did, and is currently doing still...:(

1. Skipping Meals/Snacks
- Reason : brain activity is needed to regulate yourself and skipping meal deprive glucose for brain to work.
- Action : Spread Calories between 3 meals of 500kCal, and 2 snacks of 100kCal. dont restrict yourself from eating, merely change your eating regime.

2. Speed Eating
- Reason : need to allow some time, so that you dont keep eating when youre full
- Action : Slow down, eat like a Frenchmen...

3. Weekend Feast
- Reason : Palmitic acid in saturated fat can inhibit leptin, a hormone that regulate appetite. Effect of pigging from friday - sunday can have effect till Monday
- Action : Have only one cheat day and not the whole weekend coz you'll be leptin deficient for the following few days...

4. Gorging on Salty Snacks
- Reason : Sodium causes us to eat unconsciously
- Action : goodbye Mr Potato, goodbye popcorn :((

5. Alcohol Drinking
- Reason : lots of calories in beer, and booze undermines your willpower
- Action : None needed coz im a teetotaler :)

6. Eating in front of the tv, and then dozing off
- Reason : You ingest calories but burning none
- Action : I dont watch tv too much, so i guess its not much of a problem

And so, I'm settled with 2 of 4 tips...so which one should i attack next?
And to add exercise in the program...either gymming, jogging, or wii exercise? Which one is more alluring?

I have 2 months left to decide ;)

Big shot cheesy pops

Onlookers,

It's a new dish on the block from Pizza Hut Malaysia, featuring double-layered cheese stuffed crust and tempura king prawns atop a moist chicken pizza. The promo started since March 10th.

Had a taste of it in Pizza Hut bandar Baru Nilai 13032011. These are the review of each of the menu's segments.

The crust: easily eaten as finger food. Similar gummy-cheesy texture as previous stuffed crust but somehow less queasying even though it has similar amount of crust and stuffing in view of it's two layers.

The tempura: So-so. Edible. Fresh prawns but not succulent enough, slightly on the dry side.

Pizza: basic pizza of chicken, vegetables and cheese. However, taste differed from it's other companions because it has a thin base with a thick spread of sweet mayo. Perfect combination especially for mayo lovers.

Price: Ala carte. Rm27.90 regular, rm37.90 large.

It's a must try, and probably one of the best combination of salt, sugar and fat ever concocted by pizza hut. As Fran the Nanny always say its good for the lips yet bad for the hips! (Probably better to eat for lunch rather than dinner ;))

*3.5 of 5*

P/s would've been perfect if the tempura was as succulent as advertised...

Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa

(U)
Release Date: 10th March 2011
Language: Malay/English
Running Time: 110 mins
Genre: Action
Director: Yusry Abdul Halim
Cast: Jing Lu, Stephen Rahman Hughes, Khir Rahman, Ummi Nazeera, Dato Rahim Razali.
Local Distributor: Kru Films

Onlookers,

***Disclaimer : Movie spoiler ahead

Watched Hikayat Merong mahawangsa 10032011.

It is an epic of Merong Mahawangsa, an outcast sea captain known to be a descendent of Alexander the Great, enthroned King of Langkasuka after a journey to the Golden Chersones to unite the Prince of Rome and Princess of China in the hand of marriage. Their ceremony was abbreviated by the attack of a pirate pack called Geruda, led by an invincible barbarian, Kemawas, alongside a powerful witchdoctor named Taji. The Princess of China was kidnapped for ransom by the Gerudas and Merong was badly wounded in the gruesome battle. A local shaman, Pak Kesum, healed his wounds and prophecised his reign and role in defeating the Gerudas. With the help of the Chinese and Roman army, Merong is able to free the nation from Gerudas in the expense of his own life.

This movie shall be distributed to 72 countries worldwide entitled The Malay Chronicles : Bloodlines, which i think has a clinch and prospect of producing The Malay Chronicles 2. Kudos for the producers, casts, art directors and the whole crew for making a movie, which i think is at par with international standards.

Impressive CGI, outstanding cinematography, good casting... with subtle element of comedy within. Several weakpoints and errors, but overall, it was an astounding movie.

Weak points would be the lead actor not being fluent in Malay but he is much better as compared to his feature in Puteri Gunung Ledang. Certain dialogues and scenes also can be done without. These are some of the memorable scenes and dialogues in the movie as well as those that...mmm...sucked.

Memorable scenes :
-------------------
-Mass fighting scenes. A bit more upgrade and itll be as good as the scenes in the Gladiator
-Gory scenes of axe on head, and slashing of neck
-Princess bathtub scene
-handmaiden playing dead ;))

Scenes to do without :
----------------------
-Hugging scene of two Malay warriors before being overwhelmed by the Gerudas
-Prince of Rome *feeling2 superman
-Long-winded speech by stephen rahman hughes, when he couldnt fluently pronounce them.
-Princess of China informing the world that she had taken off Kemawas' talisman

Memorable dialogues :
---------------------
-Handmaiden : muscular, tall... youll get strong sons from this one. younger, not so muscular, youll get beatiful daughters from this one :))
-Maybe its my uncle, merong mahasuasa

Dialogues to do without:
--------------------------
-apa salahnya mengintai di bawah tudung saji
-pintu pagar telah terbuka, manakan boleh ditahan airnya (which i felt a bit Xrated)

Last but not least, i dont think that Malay farmers and fisherman of the past are THAT scrawny...

Standing ovation to the supporting role of the handmaiden who is amazingly entertaining. (I just learnt that her name is Nell Ng)
*4 of 5*

FenestraZ - Windows to My World

Onlookers,

My days of blogging began way back in 2005 when i posted my very first article on May 14th, entitled "Meaning of Gifts". It was made public, and further posts received comments and critics. As days go by, life stories emerged and involved surrounding souls. Although depicted with anonimity, unwanted conflicts ensued and "My Thought Blog" was made private until date.

I still blog my life stories in it, clammed up like a virtual diary, to reminisce and learn from previous experiences. After more than 5 years now, republishing "My Thought Blog" seem equivalent to revealing a Pandora's Box. Instead, I decided to create FenestraZ, for onlookers to peep into my world for issues worth sharing.

Thus, the journey begins...