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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

Memorable adventure for Calvin Chen
Patricia Arquette to star in CSI spinoff
Lindsay Lohan to guest star on '2 Broke Girls'

Memorable adventure for Calvin Chen

Posted: 07 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PST

The Taiwanese artiste relives his university days in the road trip movie 3 Peas In A Pod.

THREE best friends in university: One is a straight-A Taiwanese student, another a wealthy Korean and the last, a pretty Singaporean. Add to that, a scenic road trip through Australia and you've got one interesting road trip movie.

Taiwanese artiste Calvin Chen may have been wary about playing a student again when he was asked to star in his debut film 3 Peas In A Pod, but the premise of a multicultural experience and a major road trip in Australia sealed the deal for him.

"I had been cast as a student too many times in Taiwanese idol drama series, so I wasn't particularly keen about another similar role. But, having a Korean and a Singaporean as co-stars presented an excellent opportunity for a cross-cultural experience that is not easy to come by," shared Chen, 33, in a recent phone interview from China where he is shooting some television shows.

"When I furthered my studies in Canada, I really loved to go on road trips. So, filming 3 Peas In A Pod was quite a nostalgic experience and brought back fond memories of the times I used to drive with my friends from one province to another," said Chen, a member of Taiwanese boyband Fahrenheit who completed his Masters degree in Economics at the University of Victoria in Canada.

3 Peas In A Pod is Singaporean actress-turned-director Michelle Chong's second movie (her first was Already Famous released in 2011).

In the coming-of-age romantic comedy, Chen portrays a Taiwanese university student Perry Yang who embarks on the road trip with his best friends – bubbly Singaporean girl Penny Yang (played by Singaporean newcomer Jae Liew, 23) and wealthy Korean student Peter Park, played by Korean-Chinese-Portuguese singer-actor Alexander Lee Eusebio, 25 (better known as Xander, a former member of K-pop boyband U-KISS).

"It was a very enjoyable movie to shoot and the road trip was so much fun. The three of us drove some 300,000km around Australia and it felt like we were taking a vacation. We even made a beach stop because we love the sun, sea and surf; unfortunately, it was too cold to swim. Although my co-stars are younger and we're culturally quite different, we got along very well, and had lots in common," recalled Chen, who is Taiwan's cultural ambassador to Japan and South Korea.

After filming for a month together, Chen says he became good friends with Xander and they continued to keep in touch via WeChat, a popular mobile multimedia communication service among the Chinese.

Chen works out in a gym four times a week and says he looks forward to some action-oriented projects or physically-demanding roles like those that fellow Taiwanese artiste Eddie Peng is known for. Peng, 31, scored nominations at Taiwan's prestigious Golden Horse Awards for playing a gymnast in Taiwanese movie Jump! Ashin (2011) and a mixed martial arts boxer in Hong Kong movie Unbeatable (2013).

"I've spoken to Eddie Peng and learnt about the sort of commitment and perseverance it takes to embark on such projects. So, I'm already mentally and physically prepared to do what it takes to take on such roles. I'm also open to learning other languages if the project is compelling enough," said Chen, who has made his name hosting variety shows and entertainment programmes in Taiwan and China.

Apart from its breathtaking scenery of Australia, 3 Peas In A Pod also explores how friendship is affected by a love triangle. Find out what happens to the trio in the movie, now available on HyppTV VOD until March 11.

Patricia Arquette to star in CSI spinoff

Posted: 06 Mar 2014 07:25 PM PST

The actress is set to play the lead in the upcoming spinoff from the popular TV franchise.

First mentioned last month, the third spin-off on the hit CBS police series has found its leading lady. Former Medium star Patricia Arquette will become the first woman to head up an investigation team in the fictional world of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

The actress will return to TV in the role of Avery Ryan, the agent in charge of an FBI cyber crime investigation division in Quantico, Virginia. On the air since 2000, CSI has already outlived two of its spin-offs, which were set in Miami and New York.

Anthony Zuicker, the creator of the original series, will write for the new spin-off alongside CSI regulars Carol Mendelsohn and Ann Donahue. The new series will be introduced this spring through an episode of the original CSI, which is set in Las Vegas.

The project will give Arquette her first regular TV role since the end of Medium in 2011. The actress recently appeared in episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and in the fourth season of Boardwalk Empire.

CBS has two spin-offs in preparation for the 2014-15 season. In addition to the new CSI, the network is developing an NCIS spin-off set in New Orleans and starring Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap). — AFP Relaxnews

Lindsay Lohan to guest star on '2 Broke Girls'

Posted: 06 Mar 2014 07:30 PM PST

The singer-actress will be playing a young bride in the sitcom.

Will she or she won't she? That's the question when Lindsay Lohan guest stars on CBS comedy 2 Broke Girls. The Mean Girls actress will appear on the April 14 episode (US airdate) as Claire Guinness.

She's described as a soon-to-be-bride who asks Max (Kat Dennings) and Caroline (Beth Behrs) to make her wedding cake. But as Max and Caroline get to know her, it quickly becomes clear that Claire has trouble making decisions.

Lindsay Lohan

Lohan found early fame when she played the lead role of twin sisters Hallie and Annie in the Disney remake of The Parent Trap. She went on to star in several feature films including the hit Mean Girls. Recently, she starred in the erotic thriller, The Canyons. Her television credits include guest starring roles on Ugly Betty, Glee and Anger Management. She has also hosted Saturday Night Live multiple times.

Her reality series, titled Lindsay, premieres on OWN on Sunday in the US. — Reuters

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates

Colombia election shrinks government majority in Congress
Merkel raps Putin as Russian forces tighten grip on Crimea
China's Xi urges political solution to Ukraine crisis

Colombia election shrinks government majority in Congress

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 09:20 PM PDT

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's governing coalition emerged from elections on Sunday with its congressional majority intact but shrunken by the arrival of ex-president Alvaro Uribe's new party which opposes peace talks aimed at ending five decades of civil conflict.

The result consolidated President Juan Manuel Santos as front-runner in a presidential vote on May 25 but thins the majority he will rely on if re-elected, for legislative support to implement a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC rebels, if talks succeed.

Santos is seeking a second term to allow him time to complete negotiations with the FARC that could end a war that has killed around 220,000 and transform Colombia's political makeup if the rebels' gain the political participation they seek.

Uribe is a fierce critic of the government who believes the FARC should instead be beaten militarily. His party will likely seek to obstruct legislation if a peace deal is reached that would enable FARC rebels to enter the political system without serving considerable jail time.

With 95 percent of votes counted, 62-year-old Santos' center-right U Party emerged the single biggest party in both Congressional houses with 15 percent of the vote for each.

Including votes for coalition parties including the Conservative, Liberal, Green, Radical Change and U parties, the alliance held on to a majority of the 166 seats in the lower house and 102 in the Senate.

Uribe's Centro Democratico garnered almost 15 percent of votes in the Senate where the ex-president will take up a seat marking his return to political office after his mandate ended in 2010. The party won just under 10 percent of votes for the lower house.

The secretive peace talks reached a partial accord late last year on the FARC's participation in politics, a highly controversial item on the five-point agenda. Any deal with the rebels would be put to the nation in a referendum, and then to congress to devise laws for its implementation.

Despite slow but encouraging progress at the negotiations in Cuba's capital Havana that began in late 2012, the decision to engage in peace talks with the guerrillas remains divisive and will be pivotal in voters' choice of president in May.

URIBE FEARS FARC IMPUNITY

Some 32 million Colombians are eligible to vote, though congressional elections have a particularly high abstention rate and less than half that number turned up at polling stations in a vote that passed off in generally peaceful conditions.

Ex-president Uribe became the de facto opposition and Santos' fiercest critic shortly after backing him for office in 2010.

The two fell out when Santos mended ties with Venezuela's then-President Hugo Chavez, who had engaged in a diplomatic tussle with Uribe for years. The acrimony worsened when Santos announced peace talks with the FARC, seen as a terrorist group by the United Sates and the European Union.

"I'm afraid of what will happen if an impunity pact is signed with terrorist leaders," Uribe said at the close of his campaign. "When crime is a champion, there's no condition in the heart to forgive the criminal. The lack of justice may lead to peace accords in Havana but more violence in Colombia."

Colombia, a recipient of hundreds of million of dollars in annual U.S. anti-narcotics aid, has fought the FARC, right-wing paramilitaries and a smaller rebel group, the ELN, since 1964. More than 200,000 people have died and millions have been displaced.

Santos is expected to reveal soon that the ELN will also start peace talks with his government, which is likely to give a further boost to his chances of securing another term.

Polls show Santos is likely to reach a second round of voting on June 15 with Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, the candidate for Uribe's party. The top two contenders go to a runoff if neither garners more than 50 percent of ballots cast in the first round.

Santos will also need backing in congress to pass reforms that would help bolster Colombia's $350 billion economy, create new jobs and cut the poverty rate, which affects about half the nation's population of 47 million.

(Additional reporting by Andres Rojas, Camilo Cohecha and Peter Murphy in Bogota; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Rosalind Russell and Eric Walsh)

Merkel raps Putin as Russian forces tighten grip on Crimea

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 09:20 PM PDT

SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine (Reuters) - Germany's Angela Merkel delivered a rebuke to President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, telling him that a planned Moscow-backed referendum on whether Crimea should join Russia was illegal and violated Ukraine's constitution.

Putin defended breakaway moves by pro-Russian leaders in Crimea, where Russian forces tightened their grip on the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula by seizing another border post and a military airfield.

As thousands staged rival rallies in Crimea, street violence flared in Sevastopol, when pro-Russian activists and Cossacks attacked a group of Ukrainians.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all parties to remain calm and urged a political solution to the crisis, during telephone calls with U.S. President Barack Obama and Merkel.

"The situation in Ukraine is extremely complex, and what is most urgent is for all sides to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid an escalation in tensions," China's foreign ministry on Monday cited Xi as telling Obama. "Political and diplomatic routes must be used to resolve the crisis," Xi added.

Russian forces' seizure of the region has been bloodless but tensions are mounting following the decision by pro-Russian groups there to make Crimea part of Russia.

In the latest armed action, pro-Russian forces wearing military uniforms bearing no designated markings sealed off a military airport in Crimea near the village of Saki, a Ukrainian Defence Ministry spokesman on the peninsula said.

The operation to seize Crimea began within days of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovich's flight from the country last month. Yanukovich was toppled after three months of demonstrations against a decision to spurn a free trade deal with the European Union for closer ties with Russia.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk will hold talks with President Barack Obama in Washington on Wednesday on how to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis, the White House said.

One of Obama's top national security officials said the United States would not recognise the annexation of Crimea by Russia if residents vote to leave Ukraine in a referendum next week.

"We won't recognise it, nor will most of the world," deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken said.

INTERNATIONAL LAW

Putin declared a week ago that Russia had the right to invade Ukraine to protect Russian citizens, and his parliament has voted to change the law to make it easier to annex territory inhabited by Russian speakers.

Speaking by telephone to Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron, Putin said steps taken by authorities in Crimea were "based on international law and aimed at guaranteeing the legitimate interests of the peninsula's population," the Kremlin said.

A German government statement, however, said the referendum was illegal: "Holding it violates the Ukrainian constitution and international law."

Merkel also regretted the lack of progress on forming an "international contact group" to seek a political solution to the Ukraine crisis and said this should be done urgently.

On Thursday, Merkel said if a contact group was not formed in the coming days and no progress was made in negotiations with Russia, the European Union could hit Russia with sanctions such as travel restrictions and asset freezes.

Merkel, whose country is heavily dependent on Russia oil and gas, has so far been more cautious than some other nations, urging Western partners to give Putin more time before punishing Moscow with tough economic sanctions.

This stance reflects German fears of the geopolitical consequences of an isolated Russia as much as it does concern about its business interests and energy ties.

In a round of telephone diplomacy on Sunday, the German chancellor also spoke with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, agreeing that Ukraine's sovereignty must be preserved.

BORDER POST

Russians took over a Ukrainian border post on the western edge of Crimea at around 6 a.m. (0400) GMT, trapping about 15 personnel inside, a border guard spokesman said.

The spokesman, Oleh Slobodyan, said Russian forces now controlled 11 border guard posts across Crimea, a former Russian territory that is home to Russia's Black Sea fleet and has an ethnic Russian majority.

At a Ukrainian military base at Yevpatoriya on the coast of western Crimea there were reports that the Russian forces had issued an ultimatum to surrender or be stormed. It passed, as has happened on other occasions at bases across Crimea.

"They are putting psychological pressure on us. It is not the first ultimatum," Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Lomaka told Reuters by telephone, saying the Russian forces would not allow him out of the base.

"We have no fight with them, but we are not going to hand over our weapons to soldiers of the Russian Federation."

Dimtry Bolbanchyov, 50, who works as a cook on commercial boats, bicycles 13 kilometres across town to bring the besieged Ukrainians soldiers food.

"I am doing what I can to boost their morale. Ukraine has become so weak, we can only hope for help from outside," he said.

In Sevastopol, several hundred people held a meeting demanding that Crimea become part of Russia, chanting: "Moscow is our capital."

Across town at a monument to Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, violence flared at a meeting to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth, when pro-Russian activists and Cossacks attacked a small group of Ukrainians guarding the event and the police had to intervene.

Footage from the event showed a group of men violently kicking one of the Ukrainians as he lay on the ground and a Cossack repeatedly hit him with a long black leather whip.

In Simferopol, Crimea's main city, pro- and anti-Russian groups held rival rallies.

Several hundred opponents of Russian-backed plans for Crimea to secede gathered, carrying blue and yellow balloons the colour of the Ukrainian flag. The crowd sang the national anthem, twice, and an Orthodox Priest led prayers and a hymn.

Vladimir Kirichenko, 58, an engineer, opposed the regional parliament's plans for a vote this month on Crimea joining Russia. "I don't call this a referendum. It asks two practically identical questions: Are you for the secession of Ukraine or are you for the secession of Ukraine? So why would I go and vote?"

SOVIET SONGS

Several thousand Russian supporters gathered in Lenin Square, clapping along to nostalgic Soviet era songs.

Alexander Liganov, 25 and jobless, said: "We have always been Russian, not Ukrainian. We support Putin."

At a rally in the eastern city of Donetsk, home to many Russian speakers, presidential candidate Vitaly Klitschko, a former boxing champion, said Ukraine should not be allowed to split apart amid bloodshed.

"The main task is to preserve the stability and independence of our country," he said.

The worst face-off with Moscow since the Cold War has left the West scrambling for a response, especially since the region's pro-Russia leadership declared Crimea part of Russia last week and announced a March 16 referendum to confirm it.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking to Russia's foreign minister for the fourth day in a row, told Sergei Lavrov on Saturday that Russia should exercise restraint.

A spokeswoman for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said military monitors from the pan-Europe watchdog had on Saturday been prevented for the third time in as many days from entering Crimea.

Moscow denies that the Russian-speaking troops in Crimea are under its command, an assertion Washington dismisses as "Putin's fiction". Although they wear no insignia, the troops drive vehicles with Russian military plates.

A Reuters reporting team filmed a convoy of hundreds of Russian troops in about 50 trucks, accompanied by armoured vehicles and ambulances, which pulled into a military base north of Simferopol in broad daylight on Saturday.

Ukrainian troops are performing training exercises in their bases but there are no plans to send them to Crimea, Interfax news agency quoted acting Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh as saying. Ukraine's military, with 130,000 troops, would be no match for Russia's. So far Kiev has held back from any action that might provoke a response.

(Additional reporting by Natalia Zinets in Kiev and Alissa de Carbonnel at Yevpatoriya; Writing by Timothy Heritage and Giles Elgood; Editing by Anna Willard and Michael Perry)

China's Xi urges political solution to Ukraine crisis

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 09:05 PM PDT

BEIJING/BERLIN (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine and for all parties to exercise calm and restraint, during separate telephone calls with U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"Political and diplomatic routes must be used to resolve the crisis," Xi added.

China has an "open attitude" towards any suggestions or proposals which can ameliorate the situation, and is willing to remain in touch with all parties including the United States, he said.

Xi told Merkel that the Ukraine situation is "highly sensitive" and needs to be weighed carefully, according to a separate Chinese statement.

Merkel delivered a rebuke to President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, telling him that a planned Moscow-backed referendum on whether Crimea should join Russia was illegal and violated Ukraine's constitution.

"The chancellor explained the situation in Ukraine and efforts to come to a political solution of the conflict," German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement.

"The Chinese president was also in favour of finding such a solution through dialogue," the statement said, adding that Xi said the solution needed to be on the basis of international law.

China has so far shown little public interest in participating in any financial aid for Ukraine, or becoming involved diplomatically, in line with its low-key approach to many international crises.

Last week China said that sanctions were not the best way to resolve the crisis, after Crimea's parliament voted to join Russia.

But China has also said it would like to continue to develop "friendly cooperation" with Ukraine and that it respects Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

(Reporting by Michelle Martin and Michael Nienaber, additional reporting by Megha Rajagopalan and Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Edwina Gibbs and Michael Perry)

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

Aaron Paul gets into full gear
Trailer Park: Extinction event
Now showing in Malaysian cinemas

Aaron Paul gets into full gear

Posted: 08 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PST

The Breaking Bad star hits breakneck speed in his new movie.

ONE of the most successful racing video game series, Need For Speed, is now a movie headlined by Aaron Paul. In his first lead role in a big-budget film, the 34-year-old American – most famous for portraying Jesse Pinkman in the acclaimed drama series Breaking Bad – not only gets to play "a man's man" but he also gets to drive all kinds of vehicles, especially iconic muscle cars.

As it turns out, Paul is a fan of cars, especially the classic vintage muscle cars – "Yeah, who isn't into cars, right?" he said in a transcript provided by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. He also digs the video game: "I've definitely played the multiple games and it's fun because all you're doing is just driving these crazy exotic super cars."

The film revolves around Tobey, a mechanic who's trying to keep his family-owned garage business going by participating in illegal street racing. In a desperate move to stay afloat financially, he teams up with Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper) who feeds him to the police instead, landing Tobey in jail for a crime he didn't commit.

Two years later, Tobey gets out of jail and is set on a revenge against Dino through a series of high-stake races. Only problem is, he must get from one coast to the other if he wants to enter this secret underground race. He must also dodge pursuing cops and avoid someone cashing in on the bounty Dino has put out on him.

"What's so great about the games is that they're full of adrenaline, and there's no narrative. So we had a giant blank slate to make it how we wanted, and tell this story however we wanted."

He added: "This film is not just a car movie, but it's a throwback to the classic car culture films. When I met with Scott Waugh, our director, he gave me this amazing pitch. He said it would be like a Steve McQueen-era film.

"That got me really excited. That's what first intrigued me about this story. And then he delved deeper into how he was going to tell the story. It's great because I think car movie buffs deserve something like this. It's not just a flashy car movie. I mean it does have that element to it, but it has an incredibly interesting story behind it."

To keep things real, the action sequences were shot with a stunt team, actual cars and very little special effects. This allowed Paul to do some of the "wild driving" which he described as super fun.

"Before we started shooting they wanted me to go through this crash course – so to speak – just to learn how to do drifts, and slides, and reverse 180s, and even 360s. And I learned all this in the first three days, and it's incredible. It's hard not to do it in your day-to-day life. Once you know how to really use the emergency brake properly you just don't want to ever stop doing it.

"Nowadays, the emergency brake doesn't really grip as well as it should on a lot of cars. So it doesn't allow you to kind of drift and slide the way you want to. But they have these cars all rigged up for us. They're just giant toys."

Need For Speed opens in cinemas nationwide on March 13.

Trailer Park: Extinction event

Posted: 07 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PST

DOES anyone even remember how the 2011 film ended? All we remember about that film is there were a lot of explosions, buildings were destroyed, and in the middle of all that, a pretty girl managed to do a lot of posing for a camera only she could see.

Anyway director Michael Bay says goodbye to Shia LaBeouf and casts Mark Wahlberg as an all-American fella doing his best to earn money for his family so he can afford to put his very beautiful daughter (Nicola Peltz of Bates Motel) through college. He does this by collecting junk and then selling it. Well, wouldn't you know it – one of the old trucks he buys turns out to be a Transformer, one that is out of commission until Walhberg's character – get this – jumpstarts it.

Figures, only Bay would think of this; or maybe it's an allegory for getting the franchise going again.

There are a couple of funny scenes too – other than Wahlberg jumpstarting a Transformer, the best one has Stanley Tucci shouting "Oh my God!!!" while mayhem is happening around him.

But any good Transformers film is all about action – and Optimus Prime gets the ball rolling by breaking out of a barn, and then later taking down a Dinobot. Prime's pals and enemies are featured in the more exciting bits of the trailer. Whatever Bay's flaws may be in storytelling and character development, he pulls out all the stops when it comes to the action sequences and special effects – once again, all the robots look great and move flawlessly.

Transformers: Age Of Extinction is scheduled to open in Malaysia on June 26.

Now showing in Malaysian cinemas

Posted: 07 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PST

American Hustle

CON artist Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) is hoping to hustle his way out of a prison sentence by helping FBI agent Richard DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) nab mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) and his gangster friends for fraud. Besides having to deal with the mob and a publicity-hungry FBI agent, Irving also has to make sure his unpredictable wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) doesn't get in the way of his plans. Then there is his partner in crime and lover Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), whose true intentions are no longer clear to him.

American Hustle is a highly engrossing film with colourful characters and plenty of intrigue. Nothing seems to go the way you think it should because the film introduces characters who disrupt the flow to make things more interesting.

Lawrence is a scene-stealer with her performance as the flamboyant (and somewhat dimwitted), estranged wife of Irving. There's also Victor Tellegio (Robert De Niro), a Mafia boss who makes things very difficult for Irving and Robert. He quizzes Irving's friend – a man pretending to a wealthy Arab sheikh – in Arabic and you simply have to watch it to find out how Irving gets out of that situation. – Angelin Yeoh (4/5 stars)

Non-Stop

Well, there was certainly non-stop suspense in this airplane-hijacking thriller from the moment US Air Marshal William "Bill" Marks (Liam Neeson) starts getting text messages from an anonymous number on his secure phone on board a flight from New York to London.

Director Jaume Collet-Serra helpfully zooms in on certain passengers to help us narrow down the suspects list, but the final reveal was a surprise to me.

Neeson seems to be coasting along on his by-now familiar performance of a flawed (very flawed, in this case) anti-hero with a gun and a noble purpose. Not to say he doesn't play the role well, just that this role ain't adding anything to his acting portfolio.

The few close-quarters fight sequences were well done, I thought – direct and brutal. But I do wish some of the implied relationships between the characters were more fleshed out.

If you're all about the journey and enjoy suspenseful thrillers, then I would definitely recommend Non-Stop. However, if you like a nice tidy end, then you might want to think about it, because the reason for the hijacking turns out to be rather lame. I would have given this a higher score, if it weren't for that. – Tan Shiow Chin (3/5 stars)

Snowpiercer

With a short intro on how an experiment to stop global warming goes disastrously wrong – it's the Ice Age again! – director Bong Joon-ho immediately zooms in on the living conditions of the survivors on board a very long train. For 16 years, the train and its occupants have been ceaselessly moving (otherwise they all freeze, see), and it hasn't been an easy road.

Based on a French graphic novel, the story illustrates social classification in an enclosed space and the result is just amazing – it is as if everything has been put under a microscope, amplifying the dire situation.

Other than translating the comic-book imagery onto the big screen successfully with an impactful storyline, director Bong draws brilliant performances from his cast especially Chris Evans and Jamie Bell. Tilda Swinton in particular, with fake teeth and hair, is a standout.

This is one future apocalyptic movie that you won't want to miss. – Mumtaj Begum (5 stars)

The Monuments Men

If you're looking for a different type of World War II movie, sometimes funny, occasionally touching, and somewhat philosophical, then this movie might be your thing.

Admittedly, I wasn't quite sure I could buy into the idea of saving great works of art from the Nazis when so many lives were being lost, even though the story is based on real events.

But my heart still broke a little at the senselessness of it all when the Germans torched some of the stolen masterpieces.

The Monuments Men is entertaining, but doesn't quite achieve its full potential – the story is not quite tight enough, the characters a tad underdeveloped, and the transitions from comical to touching not always smooth.

However, it's a character-driven movie, and I particularly enjoyed the affectionately antagonistic relationship between Preston Savitz (Bob Balaban) and Richard Campbell (Bill Murray), Cate Blanchett's all-too-human Claire Simone, and Hugh Bonneville's flawed Donald Jeffries.

A decent option, particularly for those who enjoy World War II movies. – Tan Shiow Chin (3/5 stars)

Pompeii

This is a mash-up of a disaster movie, a gladiatorial epic, a tale of star-crossed lovers and a revenge flick.

It's not as bad as it sounds, but neither is it awesome (depending on your sensibilities).

It's just ... all right.

As disaster movies go, the eventual eruption of Mount Vesuvius is pretty well done, bar the way the tsunami came to a weird, abrupt end.

The gladiator-love-revenge bit is all right too – nothing groundbreakingly original, but entertaining enough.

And that about sums up the movie; it's a perfectly average epic, good to while away a couple of hours, but not particularly memorable, except maybe for the exploding volcano bit.

Note: Fans of Kit Harington should definitely check out this movie, as he is in superb physical shape here. – Tan Shiow Chin (3/5 stars)

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

Aaron Paul gets into full gear
Trailer Park: Extinction event
Now showing in Malaysian cinemas

Aaron Paul gets into full gear

Posted: 08 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PST

The Breaking Bad star hits breakneck speed in his new movie.

"What's so great about the games is that they're full of adrenaline, and there's no narrative. So we had a giant blank slate to make it how we wanted, and tell this story however we wanted."

To keep things real, the action sequences were shot with a stunt team, actual cars and very little special effects. This allowed Paul to do some of the "wild driving" which he described as super fun.

Need For Speed opens in cinemas nationwide on March 13.

Trailer Park: Extinction event

Posted: 07 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PST

Figures, only Bay would think of this; or maybe it's an allegory for getting the franchise going again.

There are a couple of funny scenes too – other than Wahlberg jumpstarting a Transformer, the best one has Stanley Tucci shouting "Oh my God!!!" while mayhem is happening around him.

Transformers: Age Of Extinction is scheduled to open in Malaysia on June 26.

Now showing in Malaysian cinemas

Posted: 07 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PST

American Hustle

Non-Stop

Director Jaume Collet-Serra helpfully zooms in on certain passengers to help us narrow down the suspects list, but the final reveal was a surprise to me.

The few close-quarters fight sequences were well done, I thought – direct and brutal. But I do wish some of the implied relationships between the characters were more fleshed out.

Snowpiercer

This is one future apocalyptic movie that you won't want to miss. – Mumtaj Begum (5 stars)

The Monuments Men

If you're looking for a different type of World War II movie, sometimes funny, occasionally touching, and somewhat philosophical, then this movie might be your thing.

Admittedly, I wasn't quite sure I could buy into the idea of saving great works of art from the Nazis when so many lives were being lost, even though the story is based on real events.

But my heart still broke a little at the senselessness of it all when the Germans torched some of the stolen masterpieces.

A decent option, particularly for those who enjoy World War II movies. – Tan Shiow Chin (3/5 stars)

Pompeii

This is a mash-up of a disaster movie, a gladiatorial epic, a tale of star-crossed lovers and a revenge flick.

It's not as bad as it sounds, but neither is it awesome (depending on your sensibilities).

It's just ... all right.

As disaster movies go, the eventual eruption of Mount Vesuvius is pretty well done, bar the way the tsunami came to a weird, abrupt end.

The gladiator-love-revenge bit is all right too – nothing groundbreakingly original, but entertaining enough.

And that about sums up the movie; it's a perfectly average epic, good to while away a couple of hours, but not particularly memorable, except maybe for the exploding volcano bit.

Note: Fans of Kit Harington should definitely check out this movie, as he is in superb physical shape here. – Tan Shiow Chin (3/5 stars)

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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Don't sacrifice EPF to pay for your kids’ education
Cahya Mata Sarawak falls as investors take profit
KLCI falls in early trade, MAS in focus

Don't sacrifice EPF to pay for your kids’ education

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT

I must sacrifice my EPF or retirement funds to pay formy kids' education

It's time that parents view their own retirement planning as more important than their kids' education planning. The kids can possibly get a scholarship or even work their way through college. The best gift we can give our children is that we do not burden them when they are struggling to make ends meet in the difficult sandwich generation. After all, they can get a loan for education but we cannot get a loan forretirement.

I worked so hard, I deserve a nice house

The current financial system that allows a home owner to spend up to almost half of his netincome on his home can be a detriment to him. A family with several kids and perhaps an ailing parent should not afford a home of that magnitude. Perhaps it would be more prudent to have a more modest home to reduce the mortgage repayments stress and at the same time, to be able to build a buffer of six to 12 months for rainy days.

As long as I save a percentage of my money, it should be okay

What is also important is where you are putting your savings. If you leave RM10,000 in the savings account, in 25 years at a 6% inflation, your money will only be worth about RM2,300.You need to put your money into a vehicle that at least beats the inflation monster.

I need to leave a legacy

The Asian way of showing love by leaving a sum of money for the children may lead to many children leading irresponsible lives, e.g. not working hard because there is a financial safety net, or even spending beyond their means. It would be more practical and 'loving' to teach the kids financial literacy.

I never want to work ever again

It may no longer be possible to be completely idle during our retirement due to either late retirement planning or an unexpected illness expenditure. Perhaps what we can aspire to when we finally get a decent retirement plan started is to pursue work that we enjoy during our golden years.

If you have a question, Amelia can be contacted at info@successconcepts.biz

Cahya Mata Sarawak falls as investors take profit

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 06:30 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (CMSB), whose shares has advanced to their highest since 1997 several times last week, saw investors taking profit on the cement manufacturer.

At 9.22am, CHMSB was down 78 sen to RM8.22 with 7,400 shares done.

The FBM KLCI fell 11.49 points to 1,820.77. Turnover was 329.97 million shares valued at RM123.59mil. There were 81 gainers, 300 losers and 194 counters unchanged.

The fall in the share price was also in line with the weaker broader market. Key Asian markets fell on disappointing Chinese trade data and concerns about Ukraine.

CMSB shares had run up recently as it was seen as a proxy of the Sarawak infrastructure development.

KLCI falls in early trade, MAS in focus

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 06:15 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's blue chips fell in early Monday trade, tracking the weaker key Asian markets on disappointing Chinese trade data and concerns about Ukraine, with more downside seen.

At 9am, the FBM KLCI was down 5.02 points to 1,827.24. Turnover was 71.47 million shares valued at RM21.62mil. There were 59 gainers, 128 losers and 145 counters unchanged.

BIMB Securities Research said there remains some uneasiness amongst investors as equity markets are stuck in a rut of late. Though many perceived the Ukraine-Russia tension had abated, there are still many that are sceptical over the developments there, it pointed out.

"The KLCI lost 6.43 points to 1,832.26 (last Friday) from the lack of catalysts. We sense the local bourse may be on the verge of being downgraded following the less than inspiring results recently. Expect the index to see further downtrend to around 1,825 level today," it said.

Malaysia Airlines was the most active stock with 27.97 million shares done as families await news about the fate of Flight MH730 which disappeared early Saturday morning. It fell three sen to 22 sen.

MAHB fell 18 sen to RM8.20 and Brahim's 12 sen to RM2.52 on profit taking measures.

United Plantations fell the most, down 34 sen to RM24.04,

Scientex lost 24 sen to RM5.46 on profit taking after the recent run-up in its share price.

Petronas Gas lost 16 sen to RM22.98 and Petronas Daganagan was down 10 sen to RM10.10.

Among the banks, Public Bank foreign lost 10 sen to RM19 and BIMB eight sen lower at RM4.04.

Amway was the top gainer, up 34 sen to RM12.28 but with 100 shares done. Pharmaniaga rose 10 sen to RM4.19 while MISC added six sen to RM6.60 and Lafarge four sen to RM9.33.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Nation

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Female captain runs the show at RMAF base in Banting
Missing MAS flight: Scholarship holder among those on board
Missing MAS flight: Psychiatrists available to help families

Female captain runs the show at RMAF base in Banting

Posted: 08 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PST

BANTING: Skill, knowledge and ability are the definition of strength for Kapt V. Premalatha (pic) of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

"In the armed forces, women have to be as tough the guys. There are things that we can do just as well as them, and there are things that we cannot do as well.

"Leadership is one of the things that puts us on equal footing. Leadership is strength," she said.

Kapt Premalatha, 37, is adjutant of RMAF Regiment in Jugra, Banting, which houses the Royal Malaysian Air Force Special Air Service (Paskau).

Her role puts her in charge of planning, controlling and monitoring base operations with her superior officers.

She also shoulders the added responsibilities as facilities officer and security squadron leader.

Leading a force which is predominantly male, Kapt Premalatha said none of her colleagues or subordinates treated her any differently because of her gender.

"They treat me like they would any other officer. I have not had any problems although managing people can be difficult," said Kapt Premalatha, who joined the service in 1998 as a cadet officer.

She decided to join the Air Force because she felt it suited her personality.

"I was head girl in school and I was always involved in co-curricular activities. The Air Force was the perfect place for me to develop my leadership qualities," said Kapt Premalatha.

Being the only member from her family to join the armed forces, she said her parents initially had no idea what it entailed and generally thought that "only men joined".

Only after she passed her training course did they understand that the focus was on training leaders.

Missing MAS flight: Scholarship holder among those on board

Posted: 08 Mar 2014 03:00 PM PST

PETALING JAYA: One of the Malaysian passengers on board the missing MH370 is Singapore scholarship holder Tony Tan Wei Chew (pic), 19, a recent graduate of the republic's St Andrew's Junior College.

Tan was on the way to Beijing for a vacation with his parents, according to his former roommate of two years and compatriot Aaron Quek, reported The Straits Times.

Quek, also 19, added that Tan had two younger siblings who were not on the flight. Schoolmates said they last saw Tan on Monday when they went back to school to receive their A-level results.

Quek, who attended St Andrew's Junior College with Tan and shared a room in the school's hostel with him, said Tan did think about applying to universities in the United States.

Tan came to Singapore on a scholarship when he was 15, and attended Catholic High School together with Quek.

Missing MAS flight: Psychiatrists available to help families

Posted: 08 Mar 2014 03:00 PM PST

PETALING JAYA: A team of five psychiatrists are now stationed at the KL International Airport and nearby hotels to offer help to the family members of the passengers of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

Ministry deputy director-general Datuk Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai said the members would also be stationed at the two hotels where the families have been put up.

"The psychiatrists will work on a rotation basis.

"They will be replaced by a fresh team every six hours," he said.

Dr Jeyaindran said the assistance involved staff from all psychiatric departments at the government hospitals in the Klang Valley.

"But only a few doctors are taken from each department as regular hospital services must not be interrupted," he said in a text message yesterday.

Dr Jeyaindran noted that the team was providing psychosocial and psychiatric support to the families without charge, and that the number of doctors would be rotated based on need.

"It is likely that more doctors will be needed once the fate of the missing flight is confirmed, but of course we are hoping only for the best," he added.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the Welfare Department has also set up a team of 10 counsellors to provide counselling and moral support to the families.

Deputy department director Zulkiply Ramly said that the services would be available for the families in the holding room in Anjung Tinjau, KLIA by today.

"All our team members will be at the airport to give as much help as we can and our hearts go out to them," he said.

"If the need arises, we will also track down the family members and offer them counselling," he added.

Zulkiply said that the department would also offer similar services for the family members at 20 public universities around the country.

"It is so that they don't need to make their way here (KLIA) to get help," he added.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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Afghan Vice President Fahim dies of natural causes

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 01:39 AM PST

KABUL, March 09, 2014 (AFP) - Afghan Vice President Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim, formerly one of the country's much-feared warlords, has died of natural causes, officials said Sunday, adding that three days of national mourning would be held.

Fahim, a leader of the Tajik ethnic minority, served as senior vice president to President Hamid Karzai, who is due to step down at elections next month as NATO combat forces pull out of Afghanistan after 13 years of fighting the Taliban.

Aged 56, Fahim was accused of being a ruthless strongman who maintained his own militia forces, but he also received American support as Afghanistan sought stability after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001.

"With deep sadness, the 1st vice president, Marshal M.Q. Fahim has passed away. May his soul rest in peace," presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi said on his Twitter account.

"The government of Afghanistan has called for a three-day national mourning, during which the national flag will be half-hoisted for his demise."

Sri Lanka warns developing nations

Posted: 08 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PST

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka warned that US efforts to force an international investigation into alleged war crimes on the island could have an "adverse impact" on all developing nations.

The Colombo government told the ongoing UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva that a draft resolution against Sri Lanka could set a "bad precedent".

The US has given notice of a resolution backing UN rights chief Navi Pillay's call for an external probe into charges that Sri Lankan troops killed up to 40,000 civilians while crushing Tamil rebels in 2009.

"Being intrusive, politicised and in clear contravention of accepted principles of conduct in the council, the resolution sets a bad precedent, and can in the medium-to-long term have an adverse impact on all developing countries in the council," Sri Lanka's envoy in Geneva, Ravi Aryasinha, said.

In his statement to the council, a copy of which was released in Colombo, Aryasinha said the draft resolution was also a violation of Sri Lanka's sovereignty as well as its constitution.

Dozens of pro-government women staged a demonstration outside the US embassy in Colombo, denouncing the US-led censure move at the UNHRC.

International rights groups and UN experts had said there are "credible allegations" that up to 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed after government forces ordered them into a no-fire zone in 2009.

The US-led resolution asked Pillay to give an oral report on progress to the council at its 27th session in September, and provide a written report by March 2015.

The draft also called on Sri Lanka to investigate allegations of military excesses and expressed "serious concern" over continuing reports of human rights violations five years after the end of the decades-long separatist war. — AFP

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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Findars: Building an art community

Posted: 08 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PST

Art, music, coffee, mayhem: art collective Findars makes a smashing return with its new gallery.

BEING hidden at the top of four flights of stairs is one way to make people breathless about the artwork, jokes a visitor to the Findars collective's new art space in the old heart of Kuala Lumpur.

"If you have the passion you won't make excuses," states artist Tey Beng Tze, motioning to his bicycle parked in the gallery, which he drags up those four storeys every day.

"On the bright side, I lost some weight." he adds.

This new art space is truly a passion project, the third time the collective has run a gallery since Tey first got together with fellow Malaysian Institute of Art alumni Wong Eng Leong, Lim Keh Soon, and Wong Min Lik, in 2008.

The latest address for Findars, located in the maelstrom of MRT development right off Jalan Sultan, is a homecoming of sorts for the roster of varied artists. Findars was originally based in a non-profit art space in Central Market in Kuala Lumpur before moving to parts unknown in Wangsa Maju.

Hustle bustle: A floor-to-ceiling display of Findars co-founders Wong Eng Leong and Tey Beng Tze's artwork take up the back wall. The display is "semi-permanent" in the sense that it'll stay there till the pieces are bought. — RAYMOND OOI/The Star.

Wong says they almost moved even further, to Rawang, before an invite from LostGen gallery's Yeoh Lian Heng lead them to open shop just upstairs from LostGen.

"We've always toyed with the idea forming an art community, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity. Plus, Jalan Sultan has an interesting vibe, walking around here you can see these old businesses and its history," shares Wong. He admits that local artists have been talking about forming an "art hub" for years, but humbly adds that he would be happy just to have like-minded people around him.

In line with building bridges among artists, the group started its own residence programme with the cheeky acronym FAIR (Findars Artist In Residence programme). The first FAIR, in collaboration with Goethe Institute Malaysia, features German sound artist Tim Blechmann.

"The residencies are one month long and will conclude with an exhibition or event by the artist themselves. Tim will have his performance, workshop, talk and share through out the whole programme at Findars," explains Wong.

"We also encourage artists having their exhibitions to organise talks and workshops to share their artworks with other artists, students and the public," says Wong. The programme titled "Artist Talk C**k", he jokingly insists, is not a jab at how some people think art conversation tends to devolve into self flattery.

The fine-art major opines that art education would be an important issue moving forward.

"Being Findars' third move, we wanted to take a different approach to running the gallery. We were too underground, and that made people uncomfortable," says Wong. And the new space had exactly the right quality for Findars to explore that new direction: it was a bare-bones hall.

The members of Findars' Art Collective (from left) - Wong Eng Leong, Thong Yee Theng, Bannai Roo, Wong Min Lik, Chiang Meei Yi, Tey Beng Tze and Lim Keh Soon - posing at their newly completed art space, featuring wall-to-wall collaborative paintings, a coffee bar, woodwork and sculptures. - BANNAI ROO.

"It was completely empty when we came in, unlike those rental galleries where you just turn on the lights and hang your stuff," recalls Wong. Not wanting to spend on furniture, they put their talent to work designing and making the tables and chairs out of recycled metal pipes and wood planks.

"Why buy (furniture)? We can do it ourselves," he says, gesturing to the collection of functional furniture that fills the gallery.

Tey notes that in the month (early January) Findars opened its doors, it has seen many new faces visiting the gallery. Findars hosted its first exhibition Food, Drink, Play & Enjoyment, which was curated by art scene maverick Goh Lee Kwang.

The group exhibition featured Findars regulars like Wong Eng Leong, Tey Beng Tze, Goh Lee Kwang, Lim Keh Soon and Wong Min Lik.

Food, Drink, Play & Enjoyment was the first exhibition in Findars' new programme at this new venue. The plan is to host between six and eight art exhibitions this year.

On the independent literary front, Findars also opened its doors to the first writers' session called the UnRepresented KL programme earlier this month.

"The new location is easier to get to compared to the old gallery in Wangsa Maju. I think there's also people wandering in after checking out the other nearby galleries," says Tey.

Findars is the third art gallery to be housed in the same building across from the old theatre (now a restaurant) on this old Kuala Lumpur street. On the first floor is chic coffee house/art gallery Aku Cafe & Gallery, on the third floor LostGen, and now Findars at the literal top of the roost.

Findars founder Wong Eng Leong talking about the collective's new space, while seated on a piece of their handmade furniture.

Taking a page out of Aku Cafe's cafe-in-a-gallery concept, Findars has introduced a coffee bar. Wang Liang Roo, the man behind the brew, explains that it was an idea the collective had mooted some time back but never had the space to execute. "For me, brewing and enjoying coffee is an art form in itself," says the self-taught barista.

The Coffee Bar is no mere decorative touch, added to keep up with the hipster cafe scene. Wang reveals that introducing the bar was a business decision, to provide an additional income stream for the gallery. The AV + Coffee night sessions which involve documentary screenings have also packed the venue on quiet nights.

"It's a perfect fit, having a cuppa while you take in the art. Even if you're just looking for a quiet place to lepak (hang out), you've to admit this beats your average noisy cafe," he jibes.

The larger space also means Findars can get back on track with its pursuit of aural art. It recently hosted China's one man shock-rock band GuiGuiSuiSui, then a performance by artist-in-residence Blechmann, right to Japanese singer-songwriter Nacca Natsuka and local songbird Sulyn and folk rocker Azmyl Yunor.

Tey says they are still testing the waters with the bands and how much noise they can make.

"Now we're not in the middle of nowhere (the last venue in Wangsa Maju) any longer, we might have to start caring about what the neighbours think!" he says.

However, considering Findars' art-inclined neighbours and the noise from the MRT construction next door, signs are good that this arts hub will be free to rock whatever madcap idea comes to mind. And that's just how this bunch likes it.

Findars Art Space is located at 8 Jalan Panggong, off Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur. The gallery opens 2pm-10pm daily. For more information, check their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/findars) or e-mail findars@live.com.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Ahad, 9 Mac 2014