Avengers: this is the way to do a superhero movie

 Then, came the movie. All the reviews came up with super high ratings for a super hero movie. So, it gets my hope flying high. And that is not a good thing. The story is simple. Loki (from Asgard or Thor's world) came to earth to steal a power cube (I was too lazy to type the name here) to open a portal to lead his army of alien to conquer the world. Agent Nick Fury from SHIELD assemble earth's mightiest heroes in the form of Captain America, Thor, Ironman, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow to foil the plan. Portal still open and the finale was a big fight against the alien army. Good win over evil; the end. 

I was never a fan of the Avengers. I do not like Thor or Capt America. Ironman, maybe but definitely do not like Hulk. Both the comic or the movies. Thor movie is a letdown; Capt was not bad though lack the excitement of a superhero movie. Ironman the first movie was good, but sank in the second. So, I never had high expectation of The Avengers.




The casting is good, especially Tony Stark aka Ironman; other than that, not much of comment. I always thought they could have pick a better choice for Thor. Chemistry between the superheroes is good, given the script itself is evenly written. All of them has adequate space for themselves to shine. All except Hawkeye though; pity, they could do much more for him. The clash of ego when the superheroes come together was expected. The one-liners is really funny without being silly. Really funny that the whole movie appeared light, in a good way. The character development is skipped here, basically because Ironman, Thor and Capt America got their own movies prior to this. Hulk and Black Widow are fairly well develop here, and again, they did not give Hawkeye much of a background history. And did I mention, nothing much was mention about Nick Fury at all.

The action is good. The finale fight is something to look forward too, and when the Avengers stood together, I cant help but to cheer them on. Loki as the villian is surprisingly good, but lack the "unbeatable" sense. Then again, he is afterall the God of Mischief, not someone that will strike fear to others.


The whole movie may lack the depth of Dark Knight series, but it is a different kind of superhero movie: light, fun and action. Avengers score high in all these areas. However, it still lack bit of oomph, that at the end of the year, I would probably forgotten most of the movie or would not make reference to this anymore.

ratings: 3 half poink! (wife give a 4 instead)
comments: do watch this, because so far, this is the best summer blockbuster yet. Heck, even the flying fortress of SHIELD looks better than Battleship. And given the correct direction, Marvel could revive X-Men (considering they really butcher the franchise) and make a perfect superhero out of it.

YeOlde English: nice reasonably price western pick

Ye Olde English, from the road side

business is so good that tables
are set up in the corridors
as well

It had been quite some time since the last time we paid YeOlde English a visit. There had to be a reason why the shop had been in existence for so many years despite the nearby restaurants changed owner few times. We decided to go to the one in Greentown business centre, just opposite O Place. In one of the corner, just drive around and one will not miss the green neon sign.

selection of cakes

The service is rather good despite full of customers. The menu is simple, basically western choices. That includes some delicious looking cakes. However, lately, the list expanded to include some local delights as well such as noodles. Expect the usual chops and steak, but did not find any pork served. Hmmm. bit disappointed there since was craving for a pork burger that night.

Grill fish

Chef chicken

The food. Do expect the norm. We ordered chef chicken (RM 12.99) which was served with french fries and coleslaw. The chicken was marinated with local spices, it just tasted like satay or rendang. Though it did not taste western at all, but I really enjoy the taste. Fries was bit soggy though. Not complaining since it is not the main star anyway. Grill fish (RM11.99) was next, it did taste good, not the usual frozen ones, but more like the better frozen ones. Served with wedges, but still, it tasted bit soggy like its fries brothers. Overall the taste is not bad, but the portion is bit small. It did look big on pictures, but both the meat and the fish is rather "thin" so it may satisfy my wife, but not me. I only felt full after finishing all the fries and coleslaw.

grill fish

Would I come back? Definitely, given the price of  most items here ranging from RM10-20 is really reasonable for a good selection and good taste. Taste is really up to par. But to call this great? There is still a far way to go.

Ratings: 3 half poink!
comments: extra poink for the price and combination. I prefer Hot Jack though....

YeOlde English Sdn Bhd
Greentown Business Centre

Cabin in the woods: cheesy but it is brilliantly cheesy!

 

Help me please!!!

I would never imagine the day when I would actually pay to watch a slasher flick. And that is what the trailer hinted about. Then again, 2 main reason I would still pay: the ridiculously high rating given in numerous review site, and the movie poster. The cabin in a rubic cube style definitely give a plus point to Cabin in the Woods. 

The less said about this movie is better. Despite expecting a twist, it still manage to entertain. Simple story. 5 friends went for a weekend outing in the woods in a newly bought cabin. Strange things started to happen and one by one they die. Slasher flick? Not so simple. The show started with few guys in lab coat walking in a control centre discussing how the mission had failed and it is left to US and Japan to complete the task. Hmmm. No more telling about the story or I will be tempted to reveal more. 

why people always want to explore creepy basement?

Acting? Who cares even if Thor is inside the movie. The star of the whole show is how the story is written and shot. Of course the monster is the star. Me and my wife still wonder how did this movie work so well? I do agree to all the high ratings given in all reviews. It actually manage to be suspenseful, scary, AND funny in the SAME time. No, it is really funny. Dead pan humour. Even when the scene suppose to be gross. Not Hostel or Saw kind of gross but still gross.The show actually pay tribute to all horror show in the past, and did not take itself too seriously.The creepy old man. The deserted cabin. The dark cellar. And it actually works. Did I mention there's a twist some where? We manage to guess the story half way through the movie, since they kept on dropping clues. Though our initially theory that it is a reality show (think Hunger Games) is sort of wrong.

beware of werewolf

The movie started off as Scream. Big chunk of the movie felt like watching Lost series. And it ended up as Wrath of the Titans. LOL. And I actually enjoy it so much that I ran back after going to the toilet so that I do not miss anything.

ratings: 4 poink!
comments: story has so many holes, more than a Swiss cheese. But hey, I love cheese anyway! Watch it!

Battleship: just to watch the ships

Hasbro and movies. Not a good combination. Look at how they actually destroy the Transformers franchise. And to translate the board game battleship into a alien movie? And I am not battleship kind of person either, probably more of battle tank or fighter jet. Even Apache helicopter get more attention from me. So, the following review may be bias.

Then again, I really have low expectations of Battleship even before entering the cinema. All the online review actually gave me some mental preparation. The story is simple. Alien invade earth. Shield off Hawaii island. Only 3 destroyer within the shield. Sink 2, left 1. Unlikely hero, Alex Hooper promoted to captain (since the top officer died) sink alien. The end.

Basically, I hated the acting. Taylor Kitsh is horrible. Rihanna is ok. Liam Neeson is not even the star of the show. Brooklyn Decker, who is that. They all got the constipated look through out the movie. Then again, I did not came to watch any of the acting anyway.

The action. Only start mid of the show. Now, the first 20-30 minutes supposedly was meant for some character development, but it was so draggy, I might as well enter the cinema late. The show only did start after the alien comes. The CGI is good, not spectacular though. The action sequence between alien warship vs destroyer is good. The sequence imitating the boardgame is really brilliant, using boey as coordinate to hit the alien warship which bounces rather than sails. Alas, those boardgame alike sequence is only bout... 10-15 minutes of the show, and I do not understand why they want to pay Hasbro just for that.

Other than that, there are some funny moments, but then again, to laugh in a summer action show is not a good sign either. The show did proves me wrong in some way. Unlike what I think before, battleship, carriers, destroyer (all are ships) are cool. However, I still agree with most of the reviewer, this show sank. Not because the action is not good, but with so many blockbuster in vicinity and coming out soon, this certainly is not good enough.

ratings: 2half poink!

comments: at least they have one ship from Malaysia. Plus, I still enjoy ID4 more than this. At least that show has action, humour and story in a show. And, I really hate this when it always have to be the Americans who save the world....Bah, Humbug!

Nandos @ Ipoh: finally peri peri is here!

Me and wife are ardent fans of Nandos, but according to cousin, not all Nandos is the same. So, patiently we waited for the famous chicken to come to Ipoh. I just love the spicy
and hot roasted chicken, better than the next door Kenny Rogers. However, since Station 18 Aeon had opened 3 weeks ago, the first 2 visit was truly disappointing whereby they were unable to serve us due to technical problem.

So, finally we manage to patron Nandos today for dinner. The deco, is truly nice. It gave you the impression it is a small hut or house, complete with zinc rooftop but the interior design is modern minimalist. The waiter and waitress are so welcoming, and accommodating. It nearly made me feel that the over-the-top service charge was worth it. Nearly. Still not near enough.

The chicken, is simply tender (Rm16.90 for 1/4 chicken with side dishes). Spicy in the marinate, so.... peri-peri. The extra hot peri-peri chicken is simply amazing, spicy and hot enough to challenge the taste bud yet not too hot to numb the mouth. It really reminded us of our favourite Nandos joint in Atria, PJ. Simply amazing. The side dish was average though. However, I, trying to outdo myself in my adventure, ordered something different. I ordered Cataplana (Rm25.90). It is basically Nandos chicken strip cooked with Peri-peri tasted rice, with mushroom. I am not sure the last ingredient is grape or olives, but my hunch it was olives. The first few spoonfull is nice. But the later half of the dish was bit... odd. Somehow, the peri peri sauce with rice is too sour for my liking. It actually feel weird in my tummy as well. Somehow, overdose of the sauce in rice is not a good combo. I do not mind the sourness of tomyam but this, is different.

Anyway, do come and try the peri peri chicken. It is definitely worth the price. Other dishes on the menu.... probably may not excite you as much.

ratings: 4 poink for the peri peri chicken!

comments: trivia, peri peri is acutally chili originate from Africa...I always thought it was Mexican.

Nando's Chickenland Malaysia

Nando's Jusco Ipoh

Lot G-57, Aeon Ipoh Station 18

No2, Susuran Stesen 18, Station 18

31650, Ipoh

05-3235655, fax: 05-3235657

Good Taste Chef: bakuteh for lunch is always nice

It is always a puzzle where to get nice lunch for the long Friday lunch breaks. So, I could not resist having pork for lunch; in addition to that it is not that far in Bercham. I did not manage to get the full address, but look for WongKam food
court in Bercham (after Tesco/ Giant if coming from the main highway road); next to it is a big semi empty complex which supposedly is an IT centre. On the ground floor, and it is not hard to find, tucked in a corner is this Bakuteh shop, Good Taste Chef.

Having spend a year in Klang where we try to taste all kind of Bakuteh there, I have my doubts about bakuteh elsewhere. This shop is rather well kept with easy to understand menu, but still lacking the local flavour in Klang where by we eat at roadside stall and everyone share a common kettle for tea, with the gas tong just beside you. Then again, one could not complain about a clean shop, right?!. Anyway, there is set lunch available, good to feed 4-5 persons which cost more than RM10 per person depending what you add.

First the basic bakuteh, they are rather generous with the meats, and I always enjoy the fat part to take with the soup. But alas, the soup lacks the kick, and tasted bit mild for my taste bud. I always enjoy the last bakuteh before any stall close shop because those are the ones with the most tasty bit with the soup boiling whole night with the meat. This, is definitely still lack in that part. The vegetable is good enough. The good part, is the dry bakuteh, which is relatively new to local arena. It actually taste quite good, not too hot but spicy enough to take with rice. It tasted bit like pork cooked with salted fish (hamyu falam) minus the salted fish.

Overall, it is a nice place. I enjoy the dry more than the normal bakuteh. Then again, it may be just me.

rating: 3 poink!

comments: not the best, but I would still come back for the dry bakuteh.

*not sure open not for dinner but certainly for lunch

Wrath of the Titans: not so epic tale

I have to apologize. I could not recall the first movie Clash of the Titans. I could recall the original one though, where all the special effect is plastic. But not the one by Sam Worthington. That could only mean that the movie was rather traumatizing that my mind decide to chuck it somewhere in my subconsious. But since I feel forgiveful today, and there are nothing much to watch anyway in the cinema, we decided to give Wrath of the Titans a try.

Continuing the story, Greek Gods Zeus and Poseidon was betray by Hades and Ares and Zeus was captured and his power is used to free Chronos, the big bad villian. So, it is up to Perses, the demi god, son of Zeus to save his God-father Zeus with the help of Agenor, half son of Poseidon and Andromeda, obtain the 3 legendary weapon and stop Chronos.

The script do improve this time, less cheesy. Th acting also bearable. I like Sam Worthington as Perses. I like Rosamund Pike a lot; I always think she has such elegance, but I do not understand her role in the whole movie except to put a female face there to avoid being call a gender bias movie. Toby Kebbell is funny as Agenor and got all the funny one liner but still, his character appear rather paper thin and how he redeem himself, from zero to hero was not explore at all.

The action was good. In fact, the CGI is impressive that the panning shot of Tartarus Prison is nice and the portrayal of Chronos as a huge lava creature is brilliant. Sometimes, the action was too fast that I could not appreciate much of it though. For example, the minotaur was not shot well. The battle scenes with the Titans was not shot clearly except that some black creatures charging at the Greek soldiers. Overall, the way everything is shot, makes the whole move feel kind of lacking something. The story of obtaining saving Gods, obtaining legendary weapons do make a good RPG game story but lack the excitement. The so call final battle scene lack the epic feel to it, even LOTR which was made eons ago beat this one to a pulp.

In the end, I do enjoy the film a bit, probably since I have no expectation at all when I enter the cinema. However, I am sure that few weeks down the line, I would forgotten this movie.

Ratings: 2 half poink!

comments: my wife seems to enjoy the film more than I do, probably I was sleepy when I watch this.Then again, maybe not.

Pancake House International: decent, generic western outing

Eating in Aeon Station 18 this 1-2 weeks is rather frustrating affair, since most of the eating joints are rather new and not all the
item in the menu is in there. There was this one time we
enter the restaurant and to be told that the main item eg rice, noodle is not available, leaving just the dessert. As expected, we left. And we went to another roast chicken shop to be told that they could only be ready to serve customer at noon. Hmmm...

So, this I had to give it to Pancake House. It is in one of the shoplots on the ground floor of Aeon Station 18. The staff are friendly and helpful. Despite being new, the menu is readily available. Early in the morning, there are already few tables full. Definitely a good sign. Personally, I had never tried this franchise before, but browsing through their menu, it is not just pancakes only whereby they also serve western dishes. We decided to try the set lunch which look good on the menu.

First to come is the "Best Taco in Town" (set cost RM 12.29 with lemon tea), basically taco with chicken fillings. I am not a Mexican person, so could not say whether the tacos are up to par not. However, I do enjoy the crispy taco with the tasty fillings though I prefer more meat in there. I certainly tasted better tacos elsewhere but this do feel good. Next to come is my house burger (set cost RM 14.19) which is basically a beef patty burger with chicken strip and mushroom. It tasted like a Big Mac done right with a dash of bacon taste in there. Frankly, I could not taste the mushroom though. I do enjoy it, and the patty do remind me much of the ones in Big M. The dressing is bit plain though. Finally we added Mini Pancakes (Rm 0.99 with set) cause it will be ridiculous to come here without tasting the pancake. It is ok, rather nice to take with the given cream and syrup. Even though the pancake is rather good, it still taste rather generic. I prefer the consistency to have more substance though, then again, it is personal preference.

Overall, this is a decent outing. Some restaurant which one would consider while in the ground floor of Aeon Station 18.

Ratings: 2 half poink!

comments: decent, but generic.

Pancake House International

Lot G70, Aeon Station 18

2 Susuran Stesen 18, Station 18

31650, Perak.

05-3217382