The Avengers: Age of Ultron: repetitive, generic, aging recipe

Marvel movies were impressive so far. Not all of them were landmark or memorable, but the studio was definitely on the right track. However, The Avengers: Age of Ultron was a bit of disappointment to me. Not that the movie was not good, but the expectation was too high.
The Age of Ultron continues where the last movie ended; The Avengers initiative was started, they enjoyed a good run. While on a mission to retrieve the scepter of Loki, Stark and Banner meddle with it, and unleashed Ultron into the online world. Ultron took over Jarvis's network, and replicate himself into Iron-Man like robots. So, the rest of the movie was Ultron's army vs Avengers. In the middle was the appearance of Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and of course the creation of Vision. But all these did not save the movie to regress to mediocre.


Do not understand me wrong. The action sequence is top-notch. The humour, is placed smartly over the dialogue to ensure a light moment where it needed one. All the actor and actress are very comfortable in their role. I am even comfortable seeign "Robin" in her uniform. But what went wrong? The way the story was written. I am not a purist, and I do not mind whether Ulton was created by Stark or Ant-man. But even on the name of simplifying the movie, it is not an excuse to make Ultron into a 2 dimensional villain. Ultron appears too superficial. And the reason for him to evolve and create Vision is not even explore delicately. All the rest of the characters were there for the sake of being there. None of them stood out in their own, except Iron Man. It was as if they were there so the director can create a super fight sequence. The conversion of the villainous Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver was hilarious. From someone who were bent on destroying Avengers to becoming one of them just to save the world, is totally unbelievable. Yes, this kind conversion story could of work in the silver and golden age of comic, but it totally lack of depth today.


In the end, I still enjoyed the 2 half hours movie, but this is a step back for Marvel.

ratings: 2 half poink~!
comment: as usual, after the closing credit, it was hinted infinity gauntlet is next on the list. Cross my fingers.

Gopeng Laifun 务边四会濑粉

Tired of all the cafes and western joints, sometimes I yearn for a simple lunch. Yet, on a Friday long lunch break, I would hope for a nice shop to lepak a bit longer. Gopeng Laifun in Bercham seems to fit the description. Located across Tesco Bercham, it is among the row of relatively new shop facing the main road.

Entering the shop impress me. The owner really put in effort in collecting old items for the retro decoration. We had seen many similar items in other boutiques cafe, but there are one or two things that I had not seen since my childhood, for example the "tikam-tikam" (lottery) game where we spent multiples of 10 cents in front of grocery shop. Not all of my friend even seen these boards at all.

Then comes the menu. Even though it is suppose to be a straight forward noodle shop, but the menu offers different sets with different combination with different add-on that it became so confusing. My friends needed the waiter to help fill in the orders. Luckily the staffs are patient enough to help us through it. Essentially, the list is noodle with different "liu"'s. On top of the list would be the famous laifun. I ordered the mince sauce dry laifun (RM4.30) served with minced pork, while the set of soup laifun plus add on comes to RM9.90. Most of us would find that the noodle and soup is nothing to shout about. Comparing to the ones I had previously tasted in Gopeng (vaguely recalled the market ones and the "big water pipe" place), this version pales in comparison. I even prefer the ones I had in my hometown Kampar market which is served with a simple soup and deep fried taufu. I could still recall eating those cheap bowl of laifun with roasted pork bought in other stall. Laifun, to me, has a different kind of consistency but the version here clearly is bought from generic factory which lacks the after taste.

However, for dining experience, this is a place to start and a place to have a decent meal without breaking the budget. Not all would like to hang out on a long lunch break in roadside stalls. I would still want to see some improvement on the noodle but I have to admit that to eat the authentic laifun, this may not be the place.

ratings: 2 half poink~!
comments: nice place to hang out. I lowered the poink since I expect some nostalgia with my bowl of noodle, but was disappointed of it. Typing this prompted me to go out and get a bowl in the market this weekend.

Gopeng Laifun
30, bercham Bistari 1
Medan Bercham Bistari
Ipoh
05-5412418