Sinister: cliche done well

It had been really long time since I go to the movies for a horror show. I mean a real horror show, not the survival pseudo horror such as Resident Evil. Since there is nothing interesting to watch in Ipoh, Sinister probably is the better choice. ( Come on, they decide to skip better rated shows such as Looper or Thieves but instead show some other poorer movies)


The story is simple. Crime writer Ellison decide to write on a murder of a family whereby one of the daughter went missing. As foolish enough, he moved into the house of the murder together with his family. As he dig deeper, he found that there is more than what he bargained for and decide to move out.

SPOILER AHEAD


He basically discovered home made clips of the murder, and discover more murders link with it. More clues and extra ordinary experience ensues and clearly this is supernatural dark forces in play.

Acting is good, as expected from Ethan Hawke. However, it is not the actor nor actress that drive a horror movie. There is not many characters in the whole movie in fact. It is the direction and the scare tactics. It actually works in this movie.


Everything cliche about horror movie is here. The ambiguous murder story, which get me guessing whether is this a serial murder- torture movie (Hostel anyone? ); or demon worshiping which ended up in human sacrifice. Mid way in the movie it is clear that it is a run of the mill demon- haunted house story. The logic defying reason why the main characters still want to remain in a haunted house despite knowing that it is haunted. The spooky children running around (Ju-On). The possessed film (the Ring- at one point, I expect the demon to jump out from the film). And from the beginning, you know that the whole family will die in the end of the movie (practically every horror show nowadays). Even it pays homage to found footage films (Blair Witch to paranormal activities). HOWEVER, the cliche is done so well that I actually found it to be scary. Not the real ghost though. It was the build-up that is spooky. The scores. The dark corridor. The moment the ghost appeared, it ceased to become scary.

The story is bit too slow though and by the end, one may probably guess the climax. Overall, this is like a roller coaster ride. It may be so spooky that you may close your eyes during the ride, but at the end, it may not be that scary after all. I swear in the cinema this will gives me nightmare, but by now, I am happily writing  the review thinking why am I so scared.

ratings: 3 half poink!
comments: Not defining the genre. Not Emily Rose either but definitely one of the better horror story. cliche, but done well.

Taste Good: fried mee cafe style!

I had blog about Taste Good in Kampar a while ago. My recollection of the place and food was fairly good. That was until my friend told me to try the original Taste Good in Ipoh. " the main one is way better". So, my journey for the supposedly famous Buntong fried mee began.


Taste Good is a series of 3 restaurant at the time of writing. The 2nd branch is in Kampar which I blog earlier. The newest one is in Ipoh town. And my destination is the one and only, original Taste Good restaurant. Situated in town, opposite Tower Regency hotel, the same row as Pakeeza, smack at the corner.

Entering the restaurant, one have the familiar deja-vu sense that this is another kopitiam or cafe. Colourful deco. Staff with uniform. Electronic ordering system. Very spacious table. Air conditioned space. It is really spacious, even more than Old Town. Staff is rather courteous, polite, always eager to serve. All this made the eating experience here enjoyable. My guess that this is open at lunch as well, although my experience here was dinner.

fried beehoon + kueitiao

fried mee + beehoon

chef recommended "wa-dan-ho"

The menu is the same in all 3 restaurant. Imagine eating the road side chinese fried mee. Yup, that is "da-chao" for you. The usual fried mee, meehoon and kueitiao. On top of the list would be the chef recommended "wat-dan-ho" or Cantonese style kueitiao (RM 8.50). It is so unique that it is served in a bowl. The taste is of a better wat-dan-ho with lots, lots of gravy. So much that it felt eating kueitiao soup. I enjoyed that, though not many will agree with me. However, at the end of the meal, even I feel so full. The fried beehoon, kueitiao and mee all would share the similar taste (RM7.90). It is of the wet style of frying, and the taste is rather good, though it is too oily for some. There is also some simple pseudo-western dish such as chops, and rice available but for that, one probably would choose other place.

Overall, the price is a bit expensive for something that you would eat at roadside, but considering the whole experience and taste, it is worth it.

ratings: 3 poink!
comments: imagine going to those kopitiam or cafe, but instead of coffee and bread, I came here to enjoy a authentic chinese fried noodle.

Taste Good HQ
23, Jalan Dato Seri Ahmad Said, Greentown, 30450, Ipoh.
05-2532211

KL Cili Pan Mee: exciting lunch experience

look out for the billboard

It had been a while since I took lunch in Greentown area. Since it is really out of the way on a normal working day; since I was around last week for a mini conference in Hospital Ipoh, took the chance to meet up with a few old friends for a nice lunch in the area.

KL Cili Pan Mee, or its chinese name "la-yi-la" literally means HOT as in spicy hot. Situated in Greentown business centre, it is along the same row as Ye Olde English. Not sure whether it opens the whole day, but my guess is it should be available for dinner as well. Deco is simple for a chinese restaurant, service and cleanliness is all up to par. No complain in that department.

cafe style environment

open air kitchen

The star of the whole shop definitely is the pan mee. There are many varieties, but the main chef recommended is the spicy hot pan mee. Warned by my friend that it could be too hot, but I took up the challenge and happy to report that, it was still within my spicy limit. RM4 for a small bowl (or RM4.50 with additional egg) is a slightly expensive for a bowl of pan mee but given the shop or cafe environment, one would expect to pay that amount. The noodle itself is not bad, although clearly not the best of the lot. Felt that it still lack the consistency but for what it lack in noodle, it make up in taste. Taste: good. For some, it may be really too hot, but I just love spicy so it strike a right cord with me.

spicy panmee

spicy panmee up close

Cant comment on the rest of the menu though, my guess is the noodle would be the same. Judging from the spicy pan mee, it should be as good. Nice lunch.

ratings: 3 poink!
comments: spicy, spicy. I just love spicy.