EDITOR'S PICK 



FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
(UIP)

Director: Nicholas Stoller
Cast: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, Jack McBrayer, Maria Thayer, Liz Cackowski

Release Date: August 7, 2008

Produced by Judd Apatow, who seems to not be able to do wrong whenever the subject matter revolves around a slackerish, slobbish, hopeless guy as proven with his hits The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up and helmed by Fun With Dick and Jane writer Nicolas Stoller in his directorial debut and from a script penned by lead star Jason Segel (TV's How I Met Your Mother), Forgetting Sarah Marshall is one of this year's biggest comedy hit.

When musician Peter Bretter gets (Segel) dumped by his actress girlfriend Sarah Marshall (a rather hilarious performance from Kristen Bell), he is convinced by his stepbrother Brian Bretter (Bill Hader) to take a holiday in order to forget about Sarah, whom he still pines for. So Peter takes off to a Hawaiian resort because it's Sarah's favourite place but when he gets there, lo and behold, he bumps into Sarah, who was at the same resort with her new boyfriend, a free spirited British rocker Aldous Snow (scene-stealing Russell Brand). Both were shocked with each other being there at Hawaii but both refuses to flee from each other and so, both tolerated each other even though it was obviously uncomfortable for poor Peter to see Snow's hands all over Sarah.

But lucky for Peter, he could always rely on a motley crew of memorable and eccentric hotel staff to help him beat the blues of his painful break up. And with the beautiful hotel receptionist Rachel (Mila Kunis) feeling sympathy for him and starts hanging out, Peter may just be able to forget no good Sarah Marshall for good!

What endeared this comedy to the audience is that all us guys who has ever had a break up with a girlfriend and finding it hard to get over her will know and can relate to just how Peter felt. The writing was smart and funny but most of the laughs were derived from physical gags, toilet and bedroom humour. However, thanks to the amount of nudity and dirty humour in the film, it was not spared by our friendly moral guardians, the censors. The interruptions may have affected the flow of the film minimally and is a minor irritant, but it did not affect the story of the film as a whole. The cast did fairly well but kudos must be due to British comedian Russell Brand for his scene-stealing performances as well as from the supporting cast such as Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd and Taylor Wily. Not to forget the cameos from William Baldwin and Jason Bateman as well!

All in all, a good watch on a date out with the girlfriend.

- Philip C.K. Gan



THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR
(UIP)

Director: Rob Cohen
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, Luke Ford, John Hannah, Isabella Leong, Datuk Michelle Yeoh, Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Russell Wong

Release Date: July 31, 2008

From the deserts of Egypt, we follow the O'Connells to the land of China... where terracotta warriors come alive and its one dimensional evil leader with control over the five elements seeks to conquer death and all of China. There you have it, the entire story of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (TM:TDE) in one sentence. Throw in a few abominable snowmen and a pool of immortality in a place called Shangri-La (and here I thought Shangri-La had always been a five star hotel!) and you'll have a movie like TM:TDE - one that doesn't take itself seriously and only seeks to give you your two hour thrill and even if you're not satisfied, you won't get your money or time spent back.

That's how I felt after watching this second sequel to Stephen Sommers' The Mummy (1999), which takes place several years after the events of The Mummy Returns (2001). Sommers has relinquished the director's seat to Rob Cohen, but he watches over this new addition to franchise in his capacity as one of the producers. You can only expect what kind of movie this would turn out to be if you're familiar with Cohen's work, which includes The Fast and the Furious (2001), xXx (2002) and Stealth (2005). The fights and the action scenes are very nicely done but you still feel a little "huh, is that it?".

From the original cast, only Brendan Fraser and John Hannah returns, both still in good form, although the former's chemistry with Maria Bello is not as sizzling and funny as with Rachel Weisz. Not that Bello, who only took over the role after Weisz turned down the chance to return to the franchise, didn't do a good job, she's funny and very voluptuous but you easily get annoyed with her British accent. Hannah easily steals the limelight, having the best and wittiest lines in the film. There's no doubt he's just there for comic relief. Luke Ford was so-so, he came across as a sullen, akward fellow and even the romantic scenes with Isabella Leong feels forced. He still got some ways to go as an actor. Even Jet Li is fairly watchable here as the cruel emperor of China, thank goodness there's no repeat of The Forbidden Kingdom farce in which he speaks English in ancient China. He speaks Mandarin throughout, which is only right as he's an ancient Chinese emperor!

The rest of the Chinese cast are so-so, Hong Kong veteran actor Anthony Wong makes his third Hollywood appearance after 2003's The Medallion and 2006's The Painted Veil, playing a corrupt, ambitious army general bitter with the way his country is being run. Michelle Yeoh and Isabella Leong play mother and daughter, who allied themselves to help the O'Connells against the emperor, both, I think, are just okay although Leong does put in an effort to impress audiences with his command of English in her Hollywood debut.

After the dust has settled and all the mummies vanquished, you hope that the O'Connells would surely retire for good and not wake another mummy. But if the last scene involving Hannah is any clue, you can expect a fourth Mummy to return. With everyone still on a high over The Dark Knight, I doubt this would nudge Bats off the top of the box-office. Where The Dark Knight was a compelling, cinematic masterpiece, TM:TDE is run-of-the-mill popcorn movies that Hollywood continues to churn in excess these days.

- Philip C.K. Gan



THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE
(Fox)

Director: Chris Carter
Cast: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Billy Connolly, Xzibit, Amanda Peet, Mitch Pileggi, Callum Keith Rennie

Release Date: July 24, 2008

Of all the movies I've ever watched in my short lifetime as a movie reviewer, there's never been a moment where I just want to pull out my hair, gouge my eyes and run screaming out of the cinema because of the horror that is unfolding on the screen. Not until the genius that is Chris Carter's The X Files: I Want To Believe, which has to be the worst piece of rubbish of a film ever!

Try as I might to be objective here, to look for the good bits which I can say about the film, but not even seeing David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson and Mitch Pileggi back as Fox Mulder, Dana Scully and Walter Skinner can save this movie. If Carter thought this will win over a new generation of fans who have not seen The X-Files TV series, he's failed miserably. If there's ever a way to sully the good name of The X-Files franchise, this movie is it.

After an FBI agent has gone missing, Mulder and Scully were both reluctantly called back to assist FBI agents Drummy (Xzibit) and Whitney (Amanda Peet), who are in charge of the case. The only lead they have who could help them in the case is the paedophile priest Father Joe (Billy Connolly), a claimed psychic but who everyone else thinks is a sick freak who is just acting or is somehow involved. Mulder, because of his past dealings with psychics, was roped in to help determine whether Father Joe is a nutter or the real deal. As another victim gets abducted, the team races against time to hunt down the evildoers as both Mulder and Scully wrestle against their respective demons. Meanwhile, there's a side plot involving Scully's attachment to a kid suffering from a rare brain disease.

No conspiracies, no action, no alien brouhaha, nothing entirely paranormal (except if you consider bleeding tears of blood paranormal)... and they call this an X-Files movie? The entire feel of the movie seems to suggest it would've been better off as a TV movie or B-grade, straight-to-video crap. Weak dialogue that seems to be recycled from past episodes, cheap-looking, lazy filmmaking techniques and uninspired location and plot totally dooms this movie. Turkey of the year. Don't even bother with it. I don't want to believe it, but unfortunately... it is, so X-Files fans, you can all go home and have a good cry and curse the name of Chris Carter.

- Philip C.K. Gan



THE DARK KNIGHT
(Warner Bros.)

Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Eric Roberts

Release Date: July 17, 2008

Director Christopher Nolan has never made a sequel to his movies before, as he believed that there's no point in making sequels if you cannot make it superior than the the first. So, in directing this sequel to his 2005 blockbuster Batman Begins, which has been hailed for reinvigorating the Batman franchise and introducing a darker, grimmer portrayal of the Batman character and of the city that he protects, Nolan and crew set to ensure that The Dark Knight is better, darker, edgier in every way compared to the first.

The question is, does he and the crew succeed? While there's no doubt that most, if not all, of us will be flocking to the cinemas mainly to watch Heath Ledger's final performance, and that we probably wouldn't care if the story sucked, I am glad to say that Nolan delivered his promise to serve us up a rollicking, uber-cool and wickedly dark sequel.

Superior in every way indeed, from the multi-layered plot, the cinematography, cast performance and strong writing, each and every frame of the movie oozes quality, each and every second of the film worth the ticket price. It's hard to pinpoint a flaw, because there seemed to be none. From the start, we're thrust into the dark world of Gotham City and taken on a fantastic, tension-filled ride that causes us to jolt, laugh and gasp in horror and delight as Christian Bale's Batman pummel the baddies and Ledger's villainous The Joker relishes in the chaos and mayhem that he created.

The Dark Knight is THE most anticipated film of the year, and it lives up to all the hype and glory that the media and critics had heaped on it. This is THE film to watch this year. Forget the rest as there's no sequel like it. An awesome, awesome movie that continues to resonate within your being long even after you left the cinema. And at the end, one wonders how Nolan would be able to top this performance if there ever were a third and whether there's anyone who could ever fill the large boots that Ledger left behind. We have lost a great performer and entertainer, and this film marks his triumphant end in this life.

- Philip C.K. Gan

  EDITOR'S PICK 

VIVA LA VIDA OR DEATH AND ALL HIS FRIENDS
Coldplay
(Parlophone/EMI)

With an album & song title inspired by one of the artworks from the great Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, Coldplay's much-awaited fourth studio album Viva La Vida or Death and His Friends can best be described as a monumental, artistical piece of sheer musical genius and brilliance. It's a mark of incredible triumph for Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland and Wil Champion, the quartet that formed Coldplay and moves the British alternative pop rock band to greater heights since their 2000 debut Parachutes. Coldplay diehards have no need to fear of the bands' departure from their usual sound - all the plangent chords, trademark piano hooks, emotive melodies, stadium-rock rhythms and universal lyrical concerns synonymous with the band remain in the first two singles - "Viva La Vida" and the haunting "Violet Hill" but for the rest of the songs in the 10-track album, it's a mesmerising blend of Eastern and Latin American sounds infused with religious and political themes. Literally half of the tracks evoke haunting images of death, war, God and religion - such as the atmoshperic "Cemeteries of London" and "42" which has lyrical references to ghosts and heaven. The title and the album cover artwork should provide more than enough clues as it is for listeners on what to expect of this album but never could one imagine the emotional impact it'll do to one's being listening to the entire 45-minutes of the album. In a year that has been ravaged by disasters, death and catastrophes, this album could yet be 2008's most defining album yet.

ROCKFERRY
Duffy
(Mercury Records)

Is it any wonder that after the impact of Amy Winehouse's Back to Black that recording companies are scrambling to look for artistes of similar ilk? And in Duffy, they may just have the next best pretender to Winehouse's throne. Duffy's debut album Rockferry has already won credible plaudits from critics who have compared her to Winehouse and even The Supremes. Indeed, much of the material on this album sounded as if they were recorded in the heady, soulful of the 60's. While the first single "Rockferry" is a grand, soul-gratifying ballad, it is Duffy's vocals in the 2nd single "Mercy" that drew most of the Winehouse comparisons because of its retro-soul style fused with a dash of modernity. The petite singer from Wales also demonstrates an impressive vocal range and flexibility on this album, frail and tumultous when the song calls for it then strong and forceful the next. It seems that thanks to Winehouse and Duffy, music that harkens from the past is clearly all the rage at the moment but it's not going to last. For now though, Rockferry is a rather enjoyable debut, refreshing even, when you consider how the mainstream music scene has been diluted with too much hip hop, poppish, synthesized sounds. Other tracks of note are "Serious" and "Hanging On Too Long".

DEPARTURE
Jesse McCartney
(EMI)

Who would've thought that Jesse McCartney, a former boy-band member and teeny-bopper, would go on to co-write "Bleeding Love" UK's monster hit single for Brit sensation Leona Lewis and then re-invent himself Madonna-style to come up with a fairly brilliant third studio album, the aptly titled Departure. By enlisting top-notch producers such as Tricky Stewart & The Dream, The Clutch and J.R Rotem, McCartney's new album is a departure from all the usual sweet mainstream fare that listeners were acquainted with from his previous efforts. The 21-year-old has certainly come into his own and taking cue from the likes of Justin Timberlake and Usher, the material on this album features an impressive mix of ballads and club hits, from the catchy first single "Leavin'" with a fantastic hook, to the mature sounding "Rock You" and the feet-tapping, hip-swaying "Make Up". This is McCartney's best album yet and as he continues to sharpen his skills in lyrical work, he may become a major force in the music industry in the years to come. A bonus track Included in the Asian edition of this album is none other than McCartney's own version of "Bleeding Love".

SPIRIT
Leona Lewis
(Sony BMG)

It is hard to deny the fact that TV talent show alumnis have it hard when they try to break into the music industry with their debut albums. While they may have won the hearts of TV fans and reality-TV show junkies, most real music fans are less than impressed. Take for example American Idol rejects like Bo Bice, Katherine McPhee and winners like Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino - all no doubt have the talent but the music they produced are often bland, half-hearted and any genuine feeling or quality.

Unfortunately, the same fate seemed to have fallen on Leona Lewis, winner of Britain's reality TV singing contest X-Factor Season 3. Her debut album, Spirit is anything but 'spirited'. Her first single from the album, "Bleeding Love" may have risen to the top of the US Hot 100 Singles charts, making the song the first U.S. number one song (debut or not) by a solo British female since Kim Wilde more then 20 years prior and is technically a great song, but it's the only song from the album that Lewis' vocal talents shone through.

Although her true first single was actually "A Moment Like This", that was released back in December 2006, it's a shame that the single was not included in this album except as a bonus track in the UK edition. That track encapsulates what Leona Lewis is like - a mish mash between the balladry of Mariah Carey and the soulful voice range of Whitney Houston or Alicia Keys. "Bleeding Love" is proves that point, a song that was written for her by OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder and pop singer Jesse McCartney and produced by Tedder. Since it's release, the song was a frequently requested and played song on the airwaves.

It's unfortunate then, that the rest of the album fails to live up to her talent - it's not really a bad album but it seems Lewis has trouble finding her footing on the path she wants to go. Spirit is a strange blend of music genres - there's a so-so soul/gospel performance with "Whatever It Takes", a mediocre ballad with "Footprints In the Sand" and a R&B collaboration with Ne-Yo on "I'm You" - and neither really demonstrates Lewis' talent and vocal range. It's fortunate on her part that "Bleeding Love" was released first, otherwise, her efforts would not have been as well received.

She's already working on her second album, let's hope she raises her standards with a more "spirited" album than this one.

  EDITOR'S PICK 



DIRTY SEXY MONEY
(8TV (ASTRO Channel 718))
(Saturdays, 10.30pm beginning July 12, 2008)

If you think that Dallas and Dynasty will forever remain as your all time favorite soaps, then you've seen nothing yet as Malaysia’s hottest TV station 8TV is bringing home viewers a new drama series entitled Dirty Sexy Money.

Betrayal, greed, lust for power and dirty secrets abound in this new series revolving around Nick George (the talented Peter Krause from Six Feet Under fame) and his work as a lawyer for the powerful, rich Darling clan. After the death of his father, who was the lead lawyer for the Darlings, Nick had thought his comfortable life was over until the Darlings offered him to replace his father as their lawyer. Thinking that this would be a great opportunity to put his life back on track, he accepts. Soon though, as he deals with the shenanigans of the Darling family, led by patriarch Tripp Darling (the ever amazing Donald Sutherland), he begins to wonder if he made a mistake but the shocker came when he was informed that his father's death had been planned. Suspecting the Darlings to behind this, he resolved to continue working for them while doing his own investigations in secret, in hoping to find out the truth.

As the show progresses, viewers are treated to an immensely colourful set of characters, from the sarcastic Reverend Brian Darling (Glenn Fitzgerald) to the seductive Karen Darling (Natalie Zea), who nurses a crush for Nick. With engaging character development and strong writing from the writers, Dirty Sexy Money makes for a riveting watch on a Saturday night!

Dirty Sexy Money premieres on 8TV starting July 12, 2008 at 10.30pm. 8TV is also available on Astro’s Channel 718.



MONSTER QUEST
(The History Channel (ASTRO Channel 555))
(Thursdays, 10.00pm beginning July 3, 2008 )

Have you ever wondered if there were any truths to the Bigfoot and Sasquatch sightings reported in the press? Have fantastic beasts and legendary creatures such as werewolves and the Loch Ness Monster ever fascinated you? Ever heard of the fearsome Birdzilla?

If these mysterious monsters and legendary creatures of old have captivated you for as long as you can remember, then, be prepared to tune in every Thursday starting from July 3 to The History Channel®'s Monster Quest, a new 13-episode series which hopes to shed some light on these ancient creatures and more.

The series hopes to reveal the truth of these legendary monster sightings around the world by deploying the latest in hi-tech equipment, with each episode scientifically examining the best evidence available, from pictures and video, to hair and bones, right down to the eyewitness accounts themselves. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, this series will surely to fascinate and astound you.

One part history, one part science and one part monsters, Monster Quest will take you on journey towards discovering the truth behind these legendary monsters.

Monster Quest premieres on The History Channel (ASTRO's Channel 555) on Thursday, July 3, at 10.00pm.



JOURNEYMAN (Season 1)
(RTM 2 (ASTRO Channel 102))
(Tuesdays, beginning June 24 at 10.00pm)

Sci-fi fans will be delighted to know that the first (and only) season of the time-travelling series Journeyman will make its much awaited premiere on Tuesday, June 24 at 10.00pm at RTM 2.

The series, comprising of 13 episodes, made its premiere in the US on NBC last September, revolves around a San Francisco-based reporter, Dan Vasser (played by Kevin McKidd) who involuntarily travels through time, an ability which he seemed to have no control over. Occuring at random, with the only indication of such a "jump" is a feeling in his head, Dan travels years into the past, working his way into the lives of people whose destinies he was meant to help change.

His time-travelling causes discord in his family life, with his wife Katie (Gretchen Egolf), who is the only one who knew of his time-travelling abilities and his brother Jack (Reed Diamond), a police detective unimpressed by Dan's frequent "disappearances" and thinking that Dan has gone back to his gambling habits. To complicate matters, he discovered that his ex-fiancee, Olivia (Moon Bloodgood) is very much alive and is also a time-traveller like him. On top of all the problems Dan is facing, he must also grapple with his constant fears of neglecting his only son Zack (Charles Henry Wyson), as Dan himself had grown up without a father.

The series is created by Kevin Falls, a co-executive producer on The West Wing. While Journeyman tries to entertain, the characters are not well-developed enough to engage the audience and the plot at times suffers from mediocre writing. The actors themselves seemed to sleepwalk through their roles at times and doesn't seem to have their heart in it. It's regrettable that Journeyman only made it through one season before being cancelled due to poor ratings, with better writers and better actors, this could've turned out to be a hit to rival NBC's own Heroes.





GOSSIP GIRL (Season 1)
(8TV (ASTRO Channel 708))
(Wednesdays, beginning April 23 at 10.00pm)

As if teen dramas like The O.C. and One Tree Hill were not enough to satiate viewers' appetite for the shenanigans of America's middle to upper middle class youths, here comes CW's Gossip Girl, which will debut on Malaysian TV on Wednesday, April 23 on 8TV.

The series revolves around the cool, hip and seedy lives of socialite young adults growing up on New York's Upper East Side who attend elite academic institutions while grappling with typical teen issues of sex, drugs, and the like. Told from the perspective of a seemingly omniscient character dubbed 'Gossip Girl' who writes about these Upper East Siders on her blog, thus practically driving the plot with her gossip about their lives, and stirring the hornet's nest and creating potentially explosive rivalries that will test the friendships and relationships between the members of this exclusive circle of friends.

Gossip Girl stars Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick and Taylor Momsen with Kristen Bell as the narrating voice of 'Gossip Girl'. The series is developed by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, the duo behind the wildly popular The O.C.. Gossip Girl is also based on a popular teen novel series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar, although the series bear little resemblance to the characters and plot of the books.

Reviews have generally been mixed, but many agree Beverly Hills 90210 this is most certainly not although it aspires to be but only to fall short of expectations. Gossip Girl should really appeal only to those that thrive on mind-numbing inanity that's usually common with most teen soaps and series of Gossip Girl's ilk. You won't find award-winning writing or direction with Gossip Girl and some stories sounded like it has been rehashed from somewhere. Seriously, if you've watched a series like Gossip Girl, you've seen it all.

If this series is still your idea of fun primetime entertainment every Wednesdays, then be sure to tune in beginning April 23, 2008 on 8TV or ASTRO Channel 708 at 10.00pm and catch all the mud-slinging, backstabbing and sleazy, steamy action of these young elite Upper East Siders.

  EDITOR'S PICK 

ODD HOURS
Dean Koontz
(Bantam)

Master thriller Dean Koontz returns with the fourth book on the saga of one man named Odd Thomas, a fry cook, who is as strange and odd as his name. This is because he possess the gift of seeing dead people, and feeling compassion for them, Odd is compelled to help these poor souls. In "Odd Hours", intuition has brought him to the quaint, little coastal town called Magic Beach, where he finds work with a former movie actor and author of children's books. Haunted by a dream of an encompassing red tide, Odd is about to face the most difficult and profound challenge in his life yet, and he must act quickly before everything he holds dearly perish at the hands of a great evil. Like all of the "Odd" books in the series, which began with "Odd Thomas", "Forever Odd" and then "Brother Odd", "Odd Hours" is another wickedly delicious page turner that wil make you grip your book so tight in suspense that your knuckles' will turn white! Memorable, colourful characters abound with a fast-paced plot and great piece of writing, Koontz has cooked up the best Odd Thomas novel yet!

THE POST-AMERICAN WORLD
Fareed Zakaria
(W. W. Norton)

Rather than ranting about the decline of America in a post 9/11 world, Newsweek editor and popular pundit Fareed Zakaria, who is also the author of "The Future of Freedom", has written an immensely enjoyable new book on what he believes to be a bright, promising future for not only the US, but for the rest of the world in the 21st century. Incredibly optimistic and thought-provoking, Zakaria believes that despite its record of recent blunders at home and abroad, America will stay strong, buoyed by a stellar educational system and the influx of young immigrants, who should give the U.S. a more youthful demographic than Europe and much of Asia, whose workers support an increasing population of unproductive elderly. Nevertheless, he says in this book that the 21st century will see the "rise of the rest", specifically China and India, that these two will emerge as new superpowers and America may no longer be the sole power who dictates global policies and make important decisions. This is a lucid, bare-as-bones appraisal of world affairs, a rare gem of a book which no doubt will engage readers on both sides of the political spectrum. It doesn't matter if you share in Zakaria's optimism for a bright future ahead, this book should give its readers a sense of hope that impending changes to come will benefit the world.

CHASING HARRY WINSTON
Lauren Weisberger
(Simon & Schuster)

Lauren Weisberger, author of "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Everyone Worth Knowing" returns to form with a brand new novel that centres around three female BFFs (that's 'best friends forever' to the uninitiated) living in one of the best cities in the world - New York. Emmy, Leigh and Adriana are great friends who have vowed to love and support each other to the end. So when Emmy's failed to walk down the aisle after her boyfriend dumped her for her personal trainer, the friends rallied around her. One night, at an inn, both Adriana and Emmy decided to make a pact - within a single year, each will drastically change her life. Leigh watches from the sidelines, not making any promises, but she'll soon discover she has the most to lose. Their friendship is forever, but everything else is on the table. Three best friends. Two resolutions. One year to pull it off. Will they succeed? Billed as very Sex in the City-esque, Weisberger makes a departure from the style of writing she used in "The Devil Wears Prada", which offers her the chance to explore and develop her writing abilities. While she still has a powerful keen sense of observation, she managed to flesh out three very interesting characters and offers us readers a glimpse into the fast paced lifestyle of three single city girls with the world open to their explorations. A fun and exciting novel, this is chick-lit at its best.

THE HOST
Stephanie Meyer
(Little, Brown & Co.)

From the author of the phenomenally successful teen vampire saga called "Twilight", comes her maiden plunge into the adult novel realm called "The Host". A supernatural alien romance, Meyer's first adult novel is set in a futuristic world where humans have been overtaken by a species of intelligent alien parasites, assuming control of the minds and bodies of their human hosts. However, there are those who have the courage and strength to resist these parasites from taking control and Melanie Stryder is one of those who refuse to surrender. Overwhelming her alien host called Wanderer with visions and emotions towards a man named Jared, the one she loves, her alien host actually succumbs to her desire to search for this man Jared. Together, they set off on an adevnture that takes them across a dangerous Earth, sparking off what is an unlikely love triangle between two human bodies and one alien soul! Ingenius writing, at times dark and compelling and peppered with cunning wit, Meyer successfully delivers her first adult novel with much aplomb, leaving readers wanting more. This book is a must read for sci-fi fans seeking a different yet refreshing take on the genre.

  EDITOR'S PICK 

A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING
Tickets: RM48, RM58 & RM68
(The Canticle Singers)

Showtimes: 8.30pm (July 16 - 20) and 3.00pm (July 19 & 20).

Venue: Lambang Sari, Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur (Location Map)

Come experience a joyful celebration and fusion of some of Broadway’s greatest music and acclaimed pop, rock, folk, jazz and gospel hits; with music ranging from ABBA to Schonberg. Revel with Mama Mia, whistle along with Oliver, stroll through Anatevka with Fiddler on the Roof, find your rainbow with The Wizard of Oz, groove through Earth Wind & Fire's September, soar over Rome with Light in the Piazza, roar delightfully with Lion King, rock with Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, be captivated by Miss Saigon, mesmerized by Sweeney Todd and more.

The Canticle Singers will take you on a passionate journey spanning several decades, from the 1920s to the present day, moving through a musical kaleidoscope and enjoying an ecletic anthology of songs and choral selections from distinguished stage and screen productions, billboards and pop charts that will keep you humming well after the show.

Get your tickets from www.axcess.com.my.

DISNEY'S BEAUTY & THE BEAST - THE BROADWAY MUSICAL

(Yvents!)
Dates: June 24 - July 3, 2008

Times: 3.00pm & 8.00pm

Venue: Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Price: Level 1: RM350/ RM250; Level 3: RM150/ RM90

Be prepared for the enchanting wonders of Disney's Beauty & The Beast - The Broadway Musical from June 24 to July 3 at Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. One of the most romantic and timeless classic ever told, this multi-award winning musical is staged for the first time in Malaysia, brought in by Yvents! and presented by CIMB Bank.

Nominated for nine Tony awards including Best Musical, this breathtaking Disney musical has been wowing audiences world-wide with record breaking runs in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Sydney, Tokyo, and London’s West End.

Disney’s take on the classic fairy tale follows the story of a small-town girl Belle who is taken prisoner by a reclusive Beast, who is actually a human prince under a spell. Within the confines of the Beast’s castle, both eventually learn about the true meaning of love and friendship together with the Beast’s league of enchanted household objects. However, desperately vying for Belle’s affections is the vain and arrogant huntsman Gaston.

Come, and be spectacularly amazed by the choreography, lavish sets and costumes and magnificent performances from a talented cast. This promises to be an unforgettable magical musical event that will stay in your hearts and mind for a long time to come.

Get your tickets from www.ticketcharge.com.my