6 bilingual bars in Singapore
[inSing.com] From dishes of a multi-ethnicity variety available in the same kopitiam to emergency announcements in four different languages, Singapore is indeed –pardon the cliché– a cultural melting pot. While our hawker centers are the great social equalizer, these bilingual bars are the lifestyle equivalent offering entertainment that crosses all borders, subtitles not included.
Review: P.O.V (A Cursed Film)
[inSing.com] The Story: Two Japanese teen idols host a recorded television show on paranormal sightings captured on smartphones. While the girls were presenting a prepared list of submitted videos, an unknown footage began to play unexpectedly on the monitors. Familiar to Haruna –both using their actual name for the film—the video showed a segment of her school where a ghostly urban legend was seen. The girls, their director and producer set out to the haunted school to investigate only to discover a frightening truth.
inSing.com thinks: Well, the frightening truth for us is how this might perpetually ruin director Tsuruta’s curriculum vitae. He had a good run with ‘Ju-On’; an average run with ‘Premonition’. That and the sad fact that horror flicks based on “true amateur recorded footage” had us fooled once too many.
Review: House of Pleasures
[inSing.com] There’s rarely a film that weaves the most awful stench of man’s degrading sexual fantasies and crippling feminine doctrines and delusions in such a cinematic visual grandeur – both in a frightening and gripping spectacle.
Writer-director Bertrand Bonello “House of Pleasures” resides in the colourful time-period of “Moulin Rouge!” and fringes on New French Extremism, a term coined for the genre of French transgressive films, where no topic is ever taboo and no subjects unexplored.
Review: Madam Butterfly 3D
[inSing.com] Liping Zhang is in the “zone” as Butterfly. Breathtakingly beautiful and resonating the melodies of an angel, she plays her role next to perfect. James Valenti complements Zhang briliantly. However, sporadic Royal Opera House branding throughout the film does feel like a cheap shot.
Review: Naruto Movie: Blood Prison
[inSing.com] For some of you (like me) who have no idea what Naruto is all about, here’s the nutshell. The popular Japanese manga tells the story of teenage ninja Naruto Uzumaki, a Hokage — the crème de la crème of all ninjas — wannabe. He has been battling demons and other ninjas since 1997. 59 manga issues, 478 animated TV shows (258 from the series sequel, ‘Naruto: Shippuden’) and eight big screen films later, the ninja warrior is still at it.
From the cauldron: LeVel 33’s new Smoked Beer
[inSing.com] It was a welcome accident that led to whisky being distilled from leftover beer malts in the 13th century. And true to its medieval times, most of the malts were dried over an open wood flame. However, in the turn of the 18th century, kilning malt over wood was replaced with indirect heat that the industrialist of that era and beer drinkers of today have indulged.
Shaken & Stirred: 4th edition of RIPE-WSA Cocktail Challenge heats up
[inSing.com] Come April 17 to 19 bartenders will shake, stir, blend, muddle, flair and work the beer openers in the 4th edition of the RIPE-WSA Cocktail Challenge –organized in conjunction with the trade show, Wine & Spirits Asia 2012 to be held over the same period.
Liquid Gold: The Balvenie Tun 1401
[inSing.com] Balvenie is one of the last few family-owned distilleries left in the world. Run by the award-winning William Grant & Sons –the third largest producer of whisky in the world. Founded 120 years ago, the distillery still employs all the traditional craft of whisky making from using home-grown barley to floor malting.
Review: Trespass
[inSing.com] This film is about desperation. We are not talking about the core of the film; we are talking about the studio’s decision to even release this film in the first place. The “family held hostage by violent robbers” model rings so many predictability bells, it’ll deafen your senses right in the first few minutes of the film.
Best Neighbourhood Bars
[inSing.com] With increasing taxi fares and fuel charges straining your wallets, the exuberant price paid for your nocturnal activities might be the best cure for your hangover. Coupled with a heftier price tag on your favourite pints in the city, the heartland is the best place to do the math while you scull $5 beers down your throat. In that note, here are some of the best bars near your doorstep. Now you can brush off those “don’t drink and drive” campaigns because you’ll be strolling home instead. Just remember not to puke all over your neighbour’s lawn.
