taken from TheStarOnline

66-year-old Baba Nyonya actor Chee Hood Siong dies

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has lost one of her most beloved television icons. Chee Hood Siong, of the popular 1990s comedy Baba Nyonya, passed away on Sunday of a heart attack.

He was 66, and left behind wife Gladys Ong Keng Wah and two children.

Chee was best known for his role in TV1's Baba Nyonya, in which he dressed in drag to play Ah Chim, a Peranakan woman together with his long-time partner Kenny Chan, who played “her” best friend Bibik Kim Neo.

Reel buddies: Chee (left) and Chan on the set of ‘Nasi Lemak 2.0’ recently.

 

The series is recognised by the Malaysian Book Of Records as the longest-running TV series in the country ever, lasting from the late 80s till 2000, with 509 episodes in total.

Chan, who now owns a restaurant called King's Caf in Malacca, said that Chee would be sorely missed.

The pair of close friends had worked together in show business for more than 30 years.

“He was a very versatile actor. He could take on whatever role you gave him,” Chan said.

“We've gone through thick and thin and travelled all over the world together.”

The pair was most recently seen in the local box-office hit Nasi Lemak 2.0, directed by Namewee, in which he and Chee played a Baba and Nyonya couple who taught Namewee's Chef Huang character how to make a good nasi lemak sambal paste.

Fred Chong, producer of Nasi Lemak 2.0, said it took him and Namewee two months to convince Chee and Chan to come out of retirement and appear in their movie.

“Uncle Chee had already retired, and did not want to do the show without Kenny. We finally convinced them to do it after they learnt about the message of social unity that we wanted to convey,” said Chong.

“When they finally came on the set, they were amazing! They had so much chemistry that only about 50% of their scenes and dialogue were scripted. The rest was done impromptu!”

According to Chan, Chee was initially reluctant to take the role because he did not want to act as a woman anymore.

“I had to convince him to take the role by becoming my husband instead!” he said.

“I was glad that we took part in that movie, but I am also sad that it was to be his last movie.”

 

 

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My fav Korean Actor

taken from Dramabeans

here's the story ..

Gong Yoo, shedding his softer image
 

by sassychef | September 18, 2011 

He’s back! He went off to the military as a sweet loverboy boss in Coffee Prince, and came back a different man in his upcoming movie, The Crucible. If you’ve seen the trailer, damn — he takes his acting skills up a notch…or two…or three. In this Star News interview, Gong Yoo talks of his years in the military, what it’s like to be back and shedding his image as the typical leading romantic actor.

Gong Yoo has been typecast as the gentle and romantic guy in his previous projects.  And why not?  He was boyishly charming in Coffee Prince, and adorkably cute in Finding Mr. Destiny.  But he has taken a huge leap in his acting with The Crucible, which is based on Gong Ji-young’s novel of the same name.  The novel is based on a true story of the terror that went on behind closed doors at a school for the deaf.  (It makes me just shudder to think that the ones you should be able to entrust your chidren to can turn out to be the definition of evil in human form.)

The movie is reportedly dark, chilling, and terrifying.  Gong Yoo read the novel during his days in the military and was shocked and horrified. He decided that if the novel was ever made into a movie, he would become a part of the project. Then his personal magic genie (a.k.a talent agency) went on to buy the rights to the film, and a movie was in the making.

Receiving wide attention for this movie, Gong Yoo states that he is merely a person who relays the story, and that he was lucky enough to be brought into the project when there were so many others who have put their hearts and soul into making the film.  Hot, talented, and now modest?  Tell me he can cook, and I’ll be putty in his hands…

Even though this project is of a dark and disturbing subject, it is the first project you ran to.  Is it because you were trying to shine a light on this dark story to bring to others’ attention, or did you just find yourself going along for the ride?
I lost my sense of individuality in the military.  When I thought of getting involved in the movie, I didn’t think about how difficult it would be.  All I knew was that I wanted to do the project with every breath I took, and every move I made.  It is true that I had concerns of how to tackle the project when the filming started.  But I knew that this was a story I wanted to tell no matter how long it took to tell it.

          Did you feel a sense of duty to tell the story?

It wasn’t because I felt the need or sense of duty as an actor to tell the story.  It also wasn’t because of the attention this character may bring me.  All I felt was this surge of compassion for those students in the story.  It was the images of those students who couldn’t do anything for themselves in those terrifyingly darkened alleys.  Even the people around me were wondering why I would want to do such an ominous project.  [...and I guess that’s why those people aren’t Gong Yoo.]

After your discharge, you went back to the safety net of films such as Finding Mr. Destiny, but you shocked us by following that up with The Crucible.
Finding Mr. Destiny wasn’t really a safety net either.  I’m not one to keep going for safe and easy projects.  People tend to think romantic comedies are simple and easy projects.  All I thought was that I wanted to make a really good quality romantic comedy.  That’s what made me go for Finding Mr. Destiny.  It wasn’t because the movie was a feel-good fluff film which I thought I’d be good at.

The Crucible is an adventure for the actors, writers, and the investors alike.  Like the movie Voice, movies based on true stories have a weighted ambiance that is felt by the audience.
I told myself the same story before the filming started, as well as after it wrapped.  If this movie ends up doing well, then of course it is a good thing.  However, if I go into this project just hoping for a box office success, then I probably shouldn’t do it.  We all made this movie with the same thoughts and hearts.  I’m just so thankful to have been a part of it. 

The image you’ve had as the gentle ladies’ man must come with a certain preconceived notion. You must have some interest in knowing how that image may have changed.
If I were to say I didn’t feel a certain amount of apprehension regarding how my image perception may have changed, I would be lying.  However, since returning from the military service, I have become more accepting and comfortable about how others may view me.  I have never had the thought to pick a project just because it was a the type of project I was used to and comfortable with.  I never had those thoughts from the beginning.  If you were to take a look at my list of projects in the past, you may think there’s quite a bit of contradiction in that.  I even had disagreements with my managers because of this and there was even an instance when I ran away because I didn’t want to do a project.  

In saying so, I hope that the first thing people talk about regarding the movie isn’t about Gong Yoo.  If the movie becomes about how Gong Yoo came to do this movie, or how Gong Yoo told the story in the movie, that really won’t do.  I worry that such talk would interfere with what The Crucible really is meant to portray.  How I have transformed for the movie isn’t what’s really important here.

As you’ve mentioned, you’re not someone who easily shows your emotions. This couldn’t have been an easy role for you to play.
Because of that reason, I had a lot of concerns.  Even working to the point of exhaustion, I still felt the pull of the character.  Even when the director told me it was fine, I couldn’t shake it off… Therefore, it was really difficult.

What did Gong Ji-young, the author of the novel, have to say?
I was worried that writer Gong Ji-young was being given the impression I was trying to negotiate doing a movie of her novel or something… but that isn’t what happened.  Just that if the novel was to be made into a movie, I wanted to become a part of it.  Luckily, she was thinking of turning the novel into a movie herself.  When it came to my acting, I was told she said it was a movie that I could tackle as an actor.  When I met her myself, she cheered me on and told me to give it my best.  I felt as though she was proud to be there to watch me bring this character to life onscreen.

How much are you hoping this movie will succeed?
I don’t think it’s right to say “Please enjoy the movie.”  I just hope that through this movie, we can increase the awareness of such heinous acts as told in the story about these students.  It would be nice if more people could feel what I felt after being made aware about this story.  If that happened, maybe such crimes could be prevented in the future… I would like to believe that.

As a popular artist, I’m sure there’s a need for you to do more popular commercial projects in the future
I would like to do an independent film sometime as well. Re-Encounter [혜화,동] was a really enjoyable movie to watch.  I really want to do a project with director Min Yong-geun.  There are a lot of people wanting me to do a television drama too.  However, my last drama, Coffee Prince, was so popular that there’s a lot of pressure in doing a television drama versus a feature film.  I would like to become an actor who can be a positive addition to the Korean film industry.

         Catch Mr. Delish in his new move, The Crucible, when it opens in theaters September 22.

Via Star News

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Sedetik Lebih - Anuar Zain

Hi y'all .... just wanna share with you ... I loveeeeeee this song so much ... the melody, the lyric, the singer everything is just so good ... a beautiful ballad sung by none other than our very own king of ballad .. my oops Anuar Zain :) .... the song composed by Edry Abdul Halim and it is for the film soundtrack for Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa or in English title "The Malay Chronicles : Bloodlines".  This film has been screened here in Malaysia since 10th March.  I haven't get the chance to watch it but from what I've heard this film has good reviews... worth watching :)

Here's some of the basic information of the film...

Release date	10 March 2011
Genre	Action Adventure Epic
Studio	KRU Studios
	An epic film directed by Yusry Abdul Halim.

Plot outline	Based loosely on the 16th century historical document entitled ‘The Malay Annals’, ‘Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa’ is an action-packed epic adventure, with mythical characters, magical moments and dazzling visual-effects sequences. Merong Mahawangsa was a descendant of Alexander the Great, a renowned naval captain and traveller who came to Asia several hundred years ago. The year is 120 AD… a time when the Roman Empire is at the height of its power, during the reign of Hadrian – one of the Five Good Emperors. Meanwhile in China, the Han Dynasty is firmly cemented as the ruling empire and is expanding into Central Asia… one hundred years before the period of the Three Kingdoms. As the Roman fleet did their repairs and traded in Goa, they asked Merong Mahawangsa to escort a Roman prince to Southeast Asia, to wed a beautiful Chinese princess from the Han Dynasty. The Chinese princess and the Roman prince are supposed to meet halfway and be married on neutral grounds. However, the pirate nation of Geruda had other plans. They decided to kidnap the Chinese princess and use her as ransom. En route to the Straits of Melaka, Merong Mahawangsa’s fleet was attacked by Geruda’s forces while stopping at a small island to replenish supplies. Will Merong Mahawangsa be able to rescue the Princess and re-unite her with her betrothed in a marriage that is set to bring together two great civilizations from the East and West ?
Starring	Stephen Rahman Hughes, Gavin Stenhouse, Jing Lusi, Craig Robert Fong, Eric Karl Henrik Norman, Keith Chong, Deborah Henry , Wan Hanafi Su, Dato' Rahim Razali, Khir Rahman, Ummi Nazeera, Nell Ng, Jehan Miskin, Umi Aida, Hafidzuddin Fazil, Mano Maniam
Directed by	Yusry Abdul Halim
Written By	Amir Hafizi / Yusry Abdul Halim
Screenplay by	Yusry Abdul Halim
Produced by	Norman Abdul Halim, Yusry Abdul Halim, Edry Abdul Halim

Website	http://www.hikayatmerongmahawangsa.com

The film trailer in Malay as well as in English

 The song has two versions, one is in Malay and the other is in English ... I love both versions ... here are the music videos and the lyrics .. enjoy :) 

Malay Version

Sedetik Lebih - Anuar Zain 

Setiap nafas yang dihembus

Setiap degupan jantung

Aku selalu memikirkanmu

Dalam sedar dibuai angan

Dalam tidur dan khayalan

Aku selalu memikirkanmu

Ternyata ku perlukan cinta dari dirimu sayang

Barulah terasa ku bernyawa

Kasihku ku amat mencintai kamu

Kerana kau beri erti hidup

Ku kan terus mencinta sedetik lebih selepas selamanya

Di kala penuh ketakutan dengan badai kehidupan

Ku bersyukur adanya kamu

Biarlah kehilangan semua yang dimiliki di dunia

Asal masih adanya kamu

English Version

The Memories Remain - Anuar Zain

i can see the sadness in your eyes

and every teardrop that you cry

i hope you know it's hard to let you go

the time is here i have to say goodbye

i laid my life i’ve seen the light

i hope you know it's hard to let you go

i swear to be the shadow by your side

to be the shining star

to light the darkness of your night

i will survive

in the end

as i cross the line of life and dead

i find my way back in your heart again

and i promise i will stay for ever and a day

the memories remain

i want to be the pillars of your strength

to give you hope until the end

no matter where i will be there

as long as u will let me stay

i'll be with u

no matter when or where

i will be there

i swear to be the shadow by your side

to be the shining star

to light the darkness of your night

you will survive

keep me alive

in the end

as i cross the line of life and dead

i find my way back in your heart again

and i promise i will stay for ever and a day

the memories... remain

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Movie Trailers :)

Some of upcoming movie trailers ... enjoy :)

The Adjustment Bureau 

Synopsis : 


Do we control our destiny, or do unseen forces manipulate us? Matt Damon stars in the thriller The Adjustment Bureau as a man who glimpses the future Fate has planned for him and realizes he wants something else. To get it, he must pursue the only woman he's ever loved across, under and through the streets of modern-day New York. On the brink of winning a seat in the U.S. Senate, ambitious politician David Norris (Damon) meets beautiful contemporary ballet dancer Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt)-a woman like none he's ever known. But just as he realizes he's falling for her, mysterious men conspire to keep the two apart. David learns he is up against the agents of Fate itself-the men of The Adjustment Bureau-who will do everything in their considerable power to prevent David and Elise from being together. In the face of overwhelming odds, he must either let her go and accept a predetermined path... 

Red Riding Hood

Synopsis :


Valerie (Seyfried) is a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider, Peter (Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie's older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (Oldman), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon's arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them. As the death toll rises with each moon... 

Sucker Punch 

Synopsis :


A young girl (Baby Doll) is locked away in a mental asylum by her wicked stepfather where she will undergo a lobotomy in 5 days time. Faced with unimaginable odds, she retreats to fantastical world in her imagination where she and four other female inmates at the asylum plot to escape the facility. The lines between reality and fantasy blur as Baby Doll and her companions battle various creatures and enemies to retrieve the 5 items they need that will allow them to break free from their captors before it's too late... 

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Finding Mr. Destiny (2010) Part II

here are some of the delicious movie photo releases ^___^

 

  

  

All pictures credited to : www.hancinema.net

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Finding Mr. Destiny (2010) Trailer Eng Subbed

Alternative title : "Looking For Kim Jong Wook", "First Love"

Synopsis

"Hello, this is the 'First Love Office' where people can request to find their first love."

Han Ki-joon, the man with 2:8 ratio parted hair, slim body and inflexible character who always look before he leap, got fired from his company, mainly due to his 0% flexibility. He accidently finds a clever founding item, which is a job which finds people's first loves. He opens 'First Love Office' only with passion toward people's move.

"My first love is Kim. Jong. Wook...."

Suh Ji-woo, was proposed by her present boyfriend. But even her father, her only parent who leaves everyday with hope of his daughter's marriage, she refuges her boyfriend's proposal. Inside of her they is a person named 'Kim Jong-wook' who she can never forget.
She eventually forced to visit Ki-joon's office by his father, and decide to find her first love, who she has barely has a memory left.

"Do I have to follow your every step? Even quitting my current job?"
"When the information is poor, at least your passion shouldn't be poor."

Suh Ji-woo become the first client of 'First Love Office' but all she know about her first love is the name, Kim Jong-wook.
To complete his company's first request successfully, Ki-joon does his best to find 'Kim Jong-wook but Ji-woo is getting tired of his precisionism and too much paasion. He eventually planning a trip to find Kim Jong-wook, who lives in many parts of Korea (since there are so many people named as Kim Jong-wook), and he want Ji-woo to accompany him for this trip...


I'm sooooooooo gonna watch this movie just bcoz ..... there's GONG YOO .... it's his first acting gig after being released from the military early this year ..... "GONG YOO oppa .. saranghae.."  ^_____^

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