Book Review: KL Noir: Volume 2: White by Various Authors

Title: KL Noir: White

Editor: Amir Hafizi 

Author(s): Nadia Khan, Foong Li Mei, Terence Toh, M. Shamunhalingam, Angeline Woon, Terence Tang, Dipika Mukherjee, Maya Tan Abdullah, Eillen Lian, Hasrul Rizwan, Lim Li Anne, Arif Zulkifli, Cheryna Zamrinor, Jimie Cheng, Hadi M. Nor, Bathma Loshanee, Raja Faisal, Amir Sharipuddin 

Publisher: Fixi - Fixi Novo 

Language: English 

Ratings: 6/10 

Summary:

KL Noir: White is the second of 4 volumes about the city's dark side. The 18 short stories tell of what lies underneath the shiny facade of Kuala Lumpur. Some might even revel in the juxtaposition of order and innocence amidst the shadows. You will find murder, drugs, corruption, time travel, superheroes, politics and genitilia mixed together with taxis, dolls and children. Light and shadows mix, and we explore the gray lines of a city's silhouette. 

Review:

Okay, first of all I would like to emphasize on how much I love the cover. Classy and a little bit dangerous, mostly highlights on how the story is "unfiltered" that could mean original in some way. Yes, I have never came across a Malaysian originated book that contains too much darkness; maybe it is the truth about this country and city we live in. Filled with darkness; but sometimes too much light. 

KL Noir: White contains 18 short stories by 18 different writers. Original and addicting, this book has surprised me on how forward Malaysian literature is going. But unfortunately, I would like to say that the editor has picked too gruesome stories for the readers, who are mostly underaged to read. Well we all have different backgrounds and different stories, but discretion must be advised. Some are too black and white, spine-chilling; but sometimes not the good kind. Too dark and too deep to save, KL Noir White's audience must be approached subtly, not in full on.

But I would like to mention the approach that KL Noir White has brought. Don't get me wrong, they are very good stories. But some are too gruesome to mention, and could really mess up your head. 

Book Review: Cerpen by Khairulnizam Bakeri

Title: Cerpen 

Author: Khairulnizam Bakeri 

Publisher: Buku Fixi 

Language: Malay 

Ratings: 6.5/10

Summary:

Life is like a collection of short stories. Every second, we combine these events that brings a meaning to ourselves. Not every single one of them are kept neatly in our thoughts, our minds. Some that gives out a snort of laugh, some slices our soul - these are those that are nailed stronger in our memories. Without us knowing, we write these stories when our hearts are in vain, flipping through the pages one by one. 

I hope CERPEN is like that too. Sixteen short stories or kispen, (I like this label far more), that rides across the mind's region. Ah, Bobo and Fifi meowed already. Needs to be fed. 

- Khairulnizam Bakeri 

Review:

Honestly, to me Khairulnizam Bakeri's cerpens or kispens, are a little bit bland than the books and cerpens I used to read. Some are too repetitive, too twisted and too imaginative for my taste. Some are beyond unrealistic. 

But it does not mean that this book has no good qualities at all. Full marks for how it is written, poetic and imaginatively stimulative. Filled with plot twists and agendas, Cerpen is a great read, wonderful to be exact but probably not my taste for sure. Filled with dark genres and themes, it is an exciting one, pages and pages to be filled with stories that could surprise you. 

Khairulnizam Bakeri's Cerpen is a wonderful read, to all that has been waiting to read. Honest, black and white and absolutely spine-chilling to those who loves thrillers and dark humor, noir type of things. 

Film Review: Delivery Man (2014)

Title: Delivery Man

Language: English

Running time: 1hr 43 m

Distributed by: Dreamworks Pictures

Directed by: Ken Scott

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Ratings: 7/10

Summary:

From DreamWorks Pictures comes "Delivery Man", the story of affable underachiever David Wozniak, whose mundane life is turned upside down when he finds out that he fathered 533 children through sperm donations he made twenty years earlier. In debt to the mob, rejected by his pregnant girlfriend, things couldn't look worse for David when he is hit with a lawsuit from 142 of the 533 twenty-somethings who want to know the identity of the donor. As David struggles to decide whether or not he should reveal his true identity, he embarks on a journey that leads him to discover not only his true self but the father he could become as well.

Review:

With a very unbelievable concept, Delivery Man to me has approached my standards. To be honest I don't really like Vince Vaughn. Well sure he's funny and stuff but I don't think he's not much of an actor to begin with. He suits to be the All-American stand up comedian rather than an actor. Even so, Delivery Man was actually a very good sappy comedic movie that I really did enjoy. Perfect for people who loves somehow rom-com or any type of Vince Vaughn movies that does not include any Christmas theme and includes a hot girlfriend, this would be the film for you.

A concept of having five hundred plus children would be impossible except if you donated some sperm into a sperm bank just like David Wozniak did, to pay off a holiday trip, a trip of a lifetime for his parents and ends up with six hundred kids due to the clinic, giving it off for the people in need. David, who has always been such a loser delivers meet for his family butcher shop, and tends to do reckless decisions that mostly harms himself without even thinking about it in a sole prospect.

Somehow I don't know why but Vince Vaughn is very likable in this movie and has lost weight, compared to him in The Break-up I guess. Impossible to not laugh and a very fine-family-oriented movie, Delivery Man to me is a wonderful comedy that is still hitting screen. 

Film Review: 47 Ronin

Title: 47 Ronin 

Language: English 

Running time: 2hr 7min

Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama, Fantasy & Science Fiction 

Directed by: Carl Rinsch

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Ratings: 5/10

Summary:

From ancient Japan's most enduring tale, the epic 3D fantasy-adventure 47 Ronin is born. Keanu Reeves leads the cast as Kai, an outcast who joins Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada), the leader of 47 outcast samurai. Together they seek vengeance upon the treacherous overlord who killed their master and banished their kind. To restore honor to their homeland, the warriors embark upon a quest that challenges them with a series of trials that would destroy ordinary warriors. 47 Ronin is helmed by visionary director Carl Erik Rinsch (The Gift). Inspired by styles as diverse as Miyazaki and Hokusai, Rinsch will bring to life the stunning landscapes and enormous battles that will display the timeless Ronin story to global audiences in a way that's never been seen before. 

Review:

To me, 47 Ronin is a little bit predictable but it does include with amazing sound effects and actual effects. The story line was quite fascinating, highlighting the art of old Japanese traditions, including Samurai legends and also the ultimate act of honor (well to them at least), Shipuku. I once read that during the olden days, where the women used to be raped by the West soldiers, when they heard the news that they were going to invade the houses, probably to rape and kill them, they would "shipuku" themselves, about thirty or fifteen minutes in advance.

It is probably a little dull, that the story line is like any low-grade fantasy movie. Maybe Hollywood have lacked on ideas to spice it up. The cast was excellent but the story was actually quite bland and distorted. But 47 Ronin is based on a real legend, a group of master-less Samurais, or a  group of "Ronin"s trying to bring honor to their land, even though banished. 

So, the ratings are accurate, it lacks surprises and a little bit too predictable for my taste, honestly.

Book Review: Gantung by Nadia Khan

Title: Gantung

Author: Nadia Khan 

Publisher: Buku Fixi 

No. of Pages: 293 pg 

Genre: School, Paranormal, General 

Ratings: 8/10 

Summary:

The second novel for the writer of the best seller novel, Kelabu. 

"Musketeer Code - no all for one, just one for all." 

Gibbs, Ray, KJ and Troll - a group of popular male students and probably the closest in an elite boarding school. The four of them built the Musketeer Code - an unbreakable code for none of them to have a real and steady girlfriend, but any scandalous relationship are welcomed and shared with all. 

Until the rule is broken... and one psychotic chick triggers an even that would haunt all their lives - Then - 

Review:

I love every book, done by Nadia Khan and she is probably my most favorite writer that embarks a new book, with a different set of view about a liberal high school full of sin and scandal, that would be a reality for carefree teenager these days and possibly the truth. This book would add from a little bit of scandal to a paranormal genre, that would please any die hard fans out there. 

The plot is exceedingly great, and really meaningful. Highlights a group of friends, making a pact to not have a girlfriend and once one of them does, probably the founder of the rule breaks it, hell breaks loose. Pushing a girl exceeding to her limit and driving her to suicide would probably be the climax of the story. This book isn't poetically written,  but it does have a  voice. It has a story line that is acceptable, better than most books. 

So I would say, Nadia Khan's Gantung is a wonderful read and should be enjoyed by anyone who favors what it has to say. 

To buy Nadia Khan's Gantung online: http://fixi.com.my/produk/gantung