#Darren Liew

[badmintonstorefan]

In Focus: Malaysian Badminton Star Lee Zii Jia Rises Again

Badminton is a game of grit, dedication, and finesse, even in the face of adversity. And one player who truly embodies the essence of badminton is Malaysian shuttler, Lee Zii Jia. Even though he has had a challenging year, he believes in the champions-never-quit approach. Let’s understand how this child prodigy is rediscovering his game and becoming a formidable player.

Career Profile:

1. Men’s Singles World Rank: 11 2. Men’s Singles World Tour Rank: 13 3. Career Best Ranking: 2 (on 25th October 2022) 4. 2022 Men’s Singles Asian Champion 5. 2019 Men’s Singles SEA Games Champion 6. Part of the Team that won the Bronze Medal at the 2023 Sudirman Cup

Personal Information:

1. Birth Date: 29th March 1998 (Age 25 as of 19th October 2023) 2. Country: Malaysia 3. Height: 1.86m (6 ft. 1 inches) 4. Handedness: Right 5. Independent Coach: Wong Tat Meng Liew 6. Assistant Coach: Darren Liew

A Quick Glance at the Wins of the Malaysian Star Shuttler

Lee Zii Jia held the World No. 2 rankings in 2022. However, after his career-best performance, his form suffered in 2023. It led to his rank slipping away. However, he is dedicated to his craft and working on his skills.

1. Victor Denmark Open 2023 (Odense Denmark): In the recently concluded Denmark Open on 22nd October 2023, Lee secured the silver and won the second position.

2. Clash of Clans Artic Open 2023 - Powered by Yonex (Vantaa, Finland): On 15th October 2023, Lee won the first position against NG Tze Yong in two straight sets.

3. 19th Edition Asian Games (Hangzhou, China): Lee Zii Jia lost in the quarter-final against Indian shuttler HS Prannoy in a well-fought match. The match lasted for 78 minutes.

4. Sathio Group Australian Open 2023 (Sydney, Australia): Lee Zii Jia was on a roll in the Australian Open but lost the semi-final to Chinese badminton player Weng Hong Yan. He secured the third position in the tournament.

5. Yonex Swiss Open 2023 (Basel, Switzerland): Lee won three matches in the tournament and reached the semi-final. He was third on the podium after losing the semi-final to Japanese player Koki Watanabe.

6. Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships 2023 (Birmingham, England): He secured the third position in the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 1000 event after losing the semi-final to Chinese ​​Y.Q. Shi.

A Worthy Successor to Malaysian Legend Lee Chong Wei

Badminton fans consider Lee Zii Jia as the next Lee Chong Wei. He has all the potential, talent, and skill to become the next badminton champion. He has a mantra, “Dare to Dream”. He says, “What I am trying to show them (the youth) is, I hope that they can dare to dream (of) whatever they want to become, and then decide to become (it) one day.”

Born in Alor Setar, Lee Zii Jia’s parents were former international basketball players. His parents introduced him to badminton at the young age of six. Considering his potential and performance in under-12 competitions, the Bukit Jalil Sports School quickly selected him.

Lee Zii Jia began his career with the Junior Championship in the 2015 Perak and Selangor Badminton Open tournament. His achievement secured him a seat at the big table. In the following year, he won a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships. In 2017, Lee won his first senior title at the Polish International Tournament.

2018 was a memorable year for the Malaysian player because he won his first BWF World Tour title against Riichi Takeshita. His victory brought happiness across Malaysia because Lee became the only player other than Lee Chong Wei to win a BWF title since 2013. Lee Zii Jia also reached the finals of the Korean Masters in the same year.

In August 2019, Lee reached the semi-finals of the Thailand Open. He secured the world No. 11 in the BWF World rankings and ended the year on a high with a gold medal in the men’s singles tournament at the SEA Games. He also helped the national men's team win the silver medal at the SEA Games.

Lee Zii Jia was a semi-finalist in the 2020 Malaysian Masters. Under his captaincy, the team won a silver medal at the Asian Team Championships. Owing to his incredible performance at the All England Open in 2020, he entered the coveted list of the top 10 badminton players.

Lee won his first-ever Super 1000 tournament at the 2021 All England Open Championship by defeating world no. 1 player and defending champion Viktor Axelsen.

When Lee decided to quit the national badminton team in January 2022, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) banned him for two years. However, the ban was lifted quickly in the same month. In May 2022, Lee won the Badminton Asia Championships and BWF World Tour Super 500 title at the Thailand Open. He also reached the final of the Denmark Open against Chinese shuttler Shi Yuqi.

In 2023, Lee was part of the Malaysian team that won the bronze medal at the Sudirman Cup. He had decided to take a break from badminton in 2023 and only returned to competing in July with the 2023 Korea Open. He ended his drought by winning the 2023 Arctic Open against another Malaysian player Ng Tze Yong.

A Change in Playing Style: Lee Zii Jia’s Latest Strategy

Currently, Lee Zii Jia is in a transformation phase where he is changing his strategy from being an aggressive to a control player. Smashing used to be his biggest strength, but he needed a transition because other players were figuring out his game effortlessly.

His athleticism is top-notch, and his aggression is second to none. Each of his badminton fans hopes his transition is successful and he soon becomes the international player he deserves to be.

Lee’s Favorite Badminton Racket and Other Equipment

Lee has always favored an attacking racket and still prefers the Victor Thruster Ryuga (flame red) badminton racket. He was also associated with Thruster Ryuga II in the past.

Recently, fans noticed that he used a different racket at the BWF Arctic Open 2023 in Vantaa, Finland. Many think it is a new racket in accordance with his changing playing style. However, it might be a yet-to-be-released version of Ryuga itself.

Did you know around two years ago (around the time of the Tokyo Olympics), he wielded the Astrox 100 ZZ Kurenai and then the Astrox 99 Pro Cherry Sunburst?

Currently, Victor has exclusively signed him. He uses the Victor A970 Ace badminton shoes, the BR5610LJZ racket bag, and the BR5010LZJ backpack.

The Phoenix Will Rise

Lee Zii Jia had a devastating year, but ever since his return from the hiatus, he seems to be enjoying the game and winning titles. His recent achievements are a testament to his never-say-die spirit and his motto of “Dare to Dream.”

Lee’s journey to reaching the world no. 2 rankings, the subsequent losses, and the comeback make him a true phoenix. Truly, his story is of grit, dedication, and commitment against all odds.

[doonitedin]

भारत, वियतनाम ओपन बैडमिंटन टूर्नामेंट के तीसरे दौर में भारत के सिरिल वर्मा ने गुरूवार को यहां तीन गेम तक चले पुरूष एकल के चुनौतीपूर्ण मुकाबले में मलेशिया के शीर्ष वरीय डेरेन लियू को हराकर उलटफेर किया और वियतनाम ओपन बैडमिंटन टूर्नामेंट के तीसरे दौर में प्रवेश किया।

[aion-rsa]

New British Comedy TV Series for 2021: BBC, Channel 4, Sky, Netflix, ITV

https://ift.tt/3ohYR6W

An inter-generational zombie horror-comedy, an Alan Partridge-presented travelogue, Rowan Atkinson fighting a bee… 2021 British TV comedy is a broad church, and that’s before we’ve come to all the stand-ups slicing up their Edinburgh shows into streaming half-hours and Daisy May Cooper playing a 17th century witch. Here’s the info about those new shows and more.

This list will be kept updated through the year as new commissions, casting and release dates arrive. Here’s a look back at the new British comedies that arrived in 2020, here are the new British dramas on their way this year, and here are 2021’s best returning British TV series.

And Did Those Feet

In addition to a second series for The One Show-spoofing This Time With Alan Partridge, the son of Norwich is back to poke fun at the history TV genre. With a working title of And Did Those Feet, Steve Coogan’s character will present what Chortle describes as “a Simon Schama-style historical documentary of Britain” for the BBC, directed and co-written by frequent Steve Coogan/Partridge collaborators, Rob and Neil Gibbons.

Baby Reindeer

Here’s a promising commission: stand-up-actor-screenwriter Richard Gadd, winner of the 2016 Edinburgh Comedy Award, is bringing his one-man show Baby Reindeer to Netflix. It won’t be a stand-up special, but a comedy-drama adapted into eight half-hour episodes about the true and revealing story of Gadd’s experiences with his stalker.

Big Boys

Comedian Jack Rooke (above, left) has adapted material from his stand-up shows into six half-hour TV episodes for Channel 4. Big Boys is a university-set comedy about a friendship between shy, closeted student Jack and his boisterous mate Danny. Derry Girls’ Dylan Llewellyn stars alongside Plebs and Pls Like’s Jonathan Pointing.

Bloods

Famalam, Sliced and Truth Seekers’ Samson Kayo has created paramedic comedy Bloods for Sky One. In it, he stars alongside Jane Horrocks as a pair of paramedics working for a south London emergency service. Motherland’s Lucy Punch, Ghosts’ Kiell Smith-Bynoe and The Mighty Boosh’s Julian Barratt co-star.

Buffering

Comedian and TV presenter Iain Stirling, best known as the voice of ITV’s Love Island and for his presenting work alongside CBBC’s Hacker the Dog as well as his appearance on Taskmaster series eight, has co-written a sitcom for ITV2. Buffering is a six-episode coming-of-age comedy starring Stirling, written in collaboration with Steve Bugeja.

Chivalry

A six-episode comedy series promising to “skewer and satirise the complex state of contemporary sexual politics” is on its way to Channel 4. Written by and starring Him & Her and Ridley Road’s Sarah Solemani, Chivalry asks if romance can survive in the post #MeToo era (answer: yeah, of course. Predatory, entitled sleazebaggery has never been romantic). Steve Coogan stars as a successful film producer and womaniser, with Solemani as a writer-director seeking funding for her next feminist project. The two are thrown together and thrash out two different perspectives on gender, sex and romance.

Finding Alice

Keeley Hawes stars in this six-part ITV comedy about a recently widowed woman (Hawes) who’s forced to wade through a mountain of debt and secrets left behind by her husband. Among the cast are Joanna Lumley, Nigel Havers, and Sharon Rooney. It starts on ITV1 on Sunday the 17th of January at 9pm.

Generation Z

Cult British filmmaker and sometime Doctor Who director Ben Wheatley (Free Fire, High Rise, Kill List) is writing and directing a six-part satirical comedy about the generation gap for Channel 4. Using the supernatural premise of a retirement community becoming infected with a toxic substance that turns them all into flesh-eating zombies, Generation Z will see yoots vs boomers over six hour-long episodes. 

Lethal

Diane Morgan, star of Mandy, Motherland and Philomena Cunk, has co-written new half-hour comedy pilot Lethal for BBC Two. It’s about a Bolton woman so obsessed with emigrating to the United States that she plans to marry a prisoner on death row to get her Green Card. The pilot was created with comedy producer and co-creator of Holly Walsh secret family comedy The Other One Pippa Brown.

Man vs Bee

Johnny English’s Rowan Atkinson and Will Davies have collaborated on a new comedy series for Netflix. Told over 10 x 10-minute episodes, Man vs Bee is… exactly what it sounds like: the story of a man who does battle with a bee, and causes untold damage to a luxury mansion in the process.

Murder, They Hope

Following on from Death on the Tyne and Dial M for Middlesburgh, Gold’s Jason Cook-written Agatha Christie spoofs starring Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson will be back for a third instalment. Murder, They Hope sees Gemma and Terry chuck in the coach tour business and become private investigators.

Read more

TV

New British TV Series for 2021: BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky Dramas and More

By Louisa Mellor

TV

Best Returning British TV Series 2021: the Most Anticipated Series Coming Back This Year

By Louisa Mellor

The Baby

Comedy producer-writers Lucy Gaymer and Sian Robins-Grace (Sex Education, pictured) have created an eight-part darkly comic horror series for Sky about a 38-year-old woman unexpectedly landed with a baby that changes everything. “Controlling, manipulative and with violent powers, the baby twists Natasha’s life into a horror show. Where does it come from? What does it want? And what lengths will Natasha have to go to in order to get her life back?” This one’s likely to arrive in 2022, but we’re banging the drum early.

The Cleaner

This six-part BBC comedy is adapted from a German comedy original about a man who works as a crime scene cleaner. Man Down and Taskmaster’s Greg Davies stars in the title role as Paul ‘Wicky’ Wickstead, the cleaner responsible for removing traces of murder from a scene, who meets and gossips with some interesting people on the job.

The Offenders

Stephen Merchant (The Office, Extras) has created new BBC comedy The Offenders about a group of strangers flung together as part of a community payback scheme. Think Misfits without the superpowers? The cast welcomes Christopher Walken to British TV comedy, alongside Merchant, Rhiane Barreto, Gamba Cole, Darren Boyd, Clare Perkins and Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson.

The Red Zone

BBC One’s football comedy The First Team may not have set the world alight, but Netflix is trying a different tack with The Red Zone. Created by sports writers Barney Ronay and Jonathan Liew, it’s described as “a comedy about football, but also not about football,” so that clears that up. Casting is tba.

The Witchfinder

On its way to BBC Two from the writer-directors of the excellent This Time With Alan Partridge is historical comedy The Witchfinder. Set in 1647, it’s the story of a failing witchfinder played by Tim Key (stand-up, poet, actor, Side Kick Simon from loads of Alan Partridge shows and most importantly, Taskmaster task consultant), on a horseback road-trip through East Anglia with his latest captee, played by Daisy May Cooper (writer-creator of This Country, the brilliant Kerry Mucklowe on screen and people’s champion of Taskmaster series 10). Six half-hour episodes will air on BBC Two. 

This is Going to Hurt

Everybody should read Adam Kay’s excruciating but brilliant and moving memoir of his time as a junior doctor, then they should immediately buy a copy for a friend. If the BBC Two adaptation, written by Kay (he left medicine for comedy writing years ago), is even half as good as the book, it will be a must-see. Ben Whishaw stars.  

Toast in America

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Thespian, egotist and voiceover artiste Steven Toast is returning to the screen. Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows) and Arthur Mathews’ Toast in London ran for three series on Channel 4 between 2012 and 2015, following the embittered actor’s career ups and downs, with a host of outrageously unexpected guest stars. Now a spin-off is on its way to a new home on the BBC, tracking Toast’s attempts to break America.

The post New British Comedy TV Series for 2021: BBC, Channel 4, Sky, Netflix, ITV appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[sportsflu]

India defeats China and tops the list in latest BWF Rankings

India defeats China and tops the list in latest BWF Rankings

Badminton in India has been growing rapidly in the recent times with so many Indian players doing outstandingly well in international tournaments. Recently with the Korea and Japan Open Superseries coming to an end, it was speculated that India would outdo itself in the BWF rankings. But much to everyone’s surprise, India has not just outperformed itself, but has also topped the list leaving…

[cvrnewsdirect]

Vietnam Open: Siril, Sourabh Progress But Shubhankar Crashes Out

Vietnam Open: Siril, Sourabh Progress But Shubhankar Crashes Out

Siril Verman and Sourabh Verman made it through to the third round of the Vietnam Open it was curtains for Shubhankar Dey.

PTI

Updated:September 12, 2019, 4:54 PM IST

Sourabh Verma and Siril Verma (Photo Credit: BAI)

Ho Chi Minh City:India’s Siril Verma stunned top seed Darren Liew of Malaysia in a hard-fought three-game contest to enter the men’s singles third round of the…

[thenorthlines]

Siril Verma stuns top seed Darren Liew in Vietnam Open India’s Siril Verma stunned top seed Darren Liew of Malaysia in a hard-fought three-game contest to enter the men’s singles third round of the Vietnam Open badminton tournament today.

[sowhatisthisfor]

Movies 2017

List of films I watched in 2017 from best to worst.

Updated soon after I’ve seen them.

Lady Bird [Greta Gerwig, 2017, United States] Small scale with great impact. It's the type that doesn't want to make you cry but makes you cry anyway. I love it with all my heart. 10/10

Call Me By Your Name [Luca Guadagnino, 2017, Italy, Brazil, France, United States] Its authenticity is incredibly palpable, I can taste it in my mouth. Something made with much love, my heart aches. Timothée Chalamet is remarkable. That last frame is unforgettable. 10/10 

Bliss [Jerrold Tarog, 2017, Philippines] Touches the fine line between dreamland and reality, and examines dreams or aspirations as mere illusions. It is wicked. It’s well-crafted. It’s a mindfuck. It’s deeply, as in deeply affecting 10/10

Your Name [Makoto Shinkai, 2016, Japan] Star-crossed love at its smartest, warmest, and vividly-made anime. Something highly satisfying, I have no words. 10/10

Arrival [Denis Villanueve, 2016, United States] An admirable sci-fi thriller where aliens teach humans about humanity. 10/10 

Salvage [Sherad Sanchez, 2017, Philippines] A film that’s meant to look like a found footage, with one single camera perspective. It used unconventional, long continuous odd angles and silence that made it feel so raw and real, it’s haunting. 10/10

Moonlight [Barry Jenkins, 2017, United States] A rare impressionistic film on a man’s struggle to finding himself, something so rich in poetry and visual excellence, it’s spell-binding. 10/10

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri [Martin McDonagh, 2017, United States] Too much hate and too much heart both at the same time. It is as shocking as it is enchanting. 10/10

About Elly [Asghar Farhadi, 2009, Iran] Its narration of a mystery is already engaging but its inner observation of truth and convictions is even more captivating. 10/10

Respeto [Treb Montreras II, 2017, Philippines] Uses the power of words to compare past and present. Shows the cycle of oppression in a well-crafted film of bewitching artistry. 10/10

Beats Per Minute (BPM) [Robin Campillo, 2017, France] Goosebumps. This is a film clear of its objective, it is exhilarating and exhausting in the good kind of way. 10/10 

Thelma [Joaquim Trier, 2017, Norway] Meticulously-crafted film that questions fundamentalism as a basis for joy and purity. I yearn for films as poetic as this. 9.5/10

On Body and Soul [Ildikó Enyedi, 2017, Hungary] Too cold yet too heartfelt in all its complexity. 9.5/10

Manchester by the Sea [Kenneth Lonergan, 2016, United States] a quiet yet profound drama narrated too effectively resulting to a mournful yet beautiful symphony. A film that brings the kind of sadness that is both painful and alluring. 9.5/10

La La Land [Damien Chazelle, 2016, United States] Is really technically excellent, but is also really disconnected. Kind of something you adore rather than love. 9.5/10

Bad Genius [Nattawut Poonpiriya, 2017, Thailand] Brimming with excellent editing and direction, it is a thriller and an ingenius commentary on how social class inequalities lead to inevitable corruption. Brilliant. 9.5/10

Les Innocentes [Anne Fontaine, 2016, France] a battle between religious order and moral conscience, one whose importance cannot be omitted. 9.5/10

L’enfant [Luc Dardenne, Pierre Dardenne, 2005, France] It offers the kind of suspense that attacks your soul rather than just your senses. 9.5/10

First Girl I Loved [Kerem Sanga, 2016, United States] a tender coming-of-age drama that tackles discovering self-identity and the fear that comes with that realization. So raw, it’s thrilling. 9.5/10

Birdshot [Mikhail Red, 2017, Philippines] Beautifully shot, it swims along two storylines at par -- both in search for impunity in a corrupted society. Too relevant. 9.5/10

Grave of the Fireflies [Isao Takahata, 1988, Japan] Save your fragile heart, this isn’t for the emotionally weak. 9.5/10

One Week Friends [Masanori Murakami, 2017, Japan] There’s a good reason for my sunken eyes right now, right? 9/10

Vertigo [Alfred Hitchcock, 1958, 2012 restoration, United States] Where obsession leads to objectification of love and desire. 9/10

El Acompanante [Pavel Giroud, 2016, Cuba] Distinct character pairing in an equally distinctive tales of adversity. 8/10

Battle of the Sexes [Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris, 2017, United States] Makes me feel bad for not being alive yet when it happened. Ace. 8/10

Love You to the Stars and Back [Antoinette Jadaone, 2017, Philippines] Kind of wants to make you believe in destiny, kind of succeeds in that sense. A tender take on teenage love and loss, so pure, it’s precious. 8/10

The Killing of a Sacred Deer [Yorgos Lanthimos, 2017 Greece, UK , US] Yet another solid psychological thriller by the master of contemporary enigma. 8/10

If Cats Disappeared From the World [Akira Nagai, 2016, Japan] a tearjerker drama that examines the essence of living as opposed to just merely existing. 8/10

Coco [Lee Unkrich, 2017, United States] Understands what La La Land doesn’t -- relationships shouldn’t suffer when achieving our dreams. 8/10

Changing Partners [Dan Villegas, 2017, Philippines] uses strong dialogues and character play that makes it rare and magical. 8/10

Paterson [Jim Jarmusch, 2016, United States] Poetic is an understatement. 8/10

Chemi Bednieri Ojakhi (My Happy Family) [Nana Ekvtimishvili, Georgia, 2017] Paints quite vividly a life of a woman in a patriarchal society. Remarkable. 8/10

Beach Rats [Eliza Hittman, 2017, United States] Overall, a substantial commentary on the stigma of homosexuality and its effect on why people choose to hide. 8/10 

Krigen [Tobias Lindholm, 2016, Denmark] Feels a little rushed in the end, but affecting overall. 8/10

Little White Lies [Guillaume Canet, 2010, France] I love these characters too much to the point of wanting them to be real. 8/10

Paki [Giancarlo Abrahan, 2017, Philippines] an illustration of how even the most prosaic narrative could be weighty through the power of storytelling and good direction. 8/10

A Gift [Jira Maligool, 2017, Thailand] One of those films that could effortlessly make you laugh and cry. Charming. Very very charming -- definitely a favourite. 8/10

Personal Shopper [Olivier Assayas, 2017, France] A subtle but dreary take on grief. Slow but rewarding in the end. 8/10

Moglie e Morito [Simone Godano, 2017, Italy] Could be the funniest film I have watched this year. 8/10

Hacksaw Ridge [Mel Gibson, 2016, United States] Is one of those war films that stand out. 8/10

Hidden Figures [Ted Melfi, 2017, United States] For those questioning the existence of women figures in history, here’s a good start for you. 8/10

D'Ardennen [Robin Pront, 2016, Belgium] Just about the right amount of violence and grim unpredictability paced quite effectively. 8/10

Mother! [Darren Aronofsky, 2017, United States] It wore me thin down to the core then ended quite brilliantly. My social anxiety is triggered, I am petrified and annoyed both at the same time. 8/10

Blade Runner 2049 [Dennis Villanueve, 2017, United States] Despite its cringe-worthy attack on my feminist self, it actually has a rich cinematic vision of a bewildered 2049. 8/10

Ang Larawan [Loy Arcenas, 2017, Philippines] Has such polished musicality that it overwhelms you to the point of it defying the flaws. 8/10

Lipstick Under my Burkha [Alankrita Shrivastava, 2016, India] Comes with great intentions but lacks the powerful female characters the film supposed to have. 8/10

L’Avenir [Mia Hansen-Love, 2016, France] At this point, everyone should know that there is nothing Isabelle Huppert cannot do. 8/10

Nocturnal Animals [Tom Ford, 2016, United States] This is how a writer dies, and this is how a writer comes back with a kill. 8/10

La Tortue Rogue [Michael Dudok De Wit, 2017, France, Japan] A dialogue-less animation that proves that silence speaks a thousand words and could even provoke deep thinking. 8/10 

Everybody Loves Somebody [Catalina Aguilar Mastretta, 2017, Mexico] Nothing much is special and new about it which is why I don’t understand why I love it to a great extent. 8/10 

Baby Driver [Edgar Wright, 2017, United States] The ending blew it, but I had so much fun anyhow. 7.5/10

Loving Vincent [Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman, 2017, Poland-UK] Focused too much on visual mastery, wasn't impactful, narrative-wise. 7.5/10 

I, Tonya [Craig Gillespie, 2017, United States] Despite Robbie's knockout portrayal, I still need to connect more with Tonya Harding. 7.5/10

Dunkirk [Christopher Nolan, 2017, United States] Boasts Nolan's technical superiority. 7.5/10

Tu Pug Imatuy [Arbi Barbarona, 2017, Philippines] Great. Everything here feels authentic, it’s powerful. 7.5/10 

Wonder Woman [Patty Jenkins, 2017, United States] More than it being a feminist is it being human and that I think is more important. 7.5/10 

That’s Not Us [William Sullivan, 2015, United States] Very real and natural, I’m nostalgic for reasons I cannot explain. 7.5/10

Other People [Chris Kelly, 2016, United States] So subtly-made, yet is filled with so much emotions. I have much respect for this. 7.5/10

Logan [James Mangold, 2017, United States] Could be the marvel movie that made me feel the saddest. 7.5/10

Kita Kita [Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, 2017, Philippines] I have a problem with what it's trying to romanticize, but I still find it romantic, I'm conflicted. I don't know but i tend to like films/books that border on finding comfort in loneliness. Kita Kita understands that concept pretty well.  7.5/10

You’re Ugly Too [Mark Noonan, 2015, Ireland] An engaging journey of two unusual characters thrown together infused with a great sense of authenticity. 7.5/10 

The Beguiled [Sofia Coppola, 2017, United States] Powerhouse cast in one of their most memorable performances. 7.5/10

Star Wars: The Last Jedi [Rian Johnson, 2017, United States] I like how it understands the inevitability of war, and how good and evil coexists. 7.5/10

Singing in Graveyards [Bradley Liew, 2017 Philippines, Malaysia] It’s the things that it did not say that made this movie stirring. 7.5/10

Kiko Boksingero [Thop Nazareno, 2017, Philippines] A small movie with lots of charm. A film about longing and finding satisfaction from things that are there all along. 7.5/10

Haunted: A Last Visit to the Red House [Phyllis Grande, 2017, Philippines] a quiet little gem. I would have want to cut it shorter though. 7.5/10

I Saw the Devil [Kim Jee-Woon, 2011, South Korea] A traumatic examination of how a monster is made. Creepy yet insightful. 7.5/10

Bagahe [Zig Dulay, 2017, Philippines] Proves that mental disturbance hits my emotions more than seeing physical violence. Affecting once digested. 7.5/10

Baconaua [Joseph Israel Laban, 2017, Philippines] Hypnotizing. A small-town tale with profound ideologies buried under its simplicity. 7.5/10

Alipato: The Very Brief Life of an Ember [Khavn, 2016, Philippines] An enjoyable mix of weird artistry, whimsical storytelling, significant animation. Ridiculous but ridiculously exceptional. 7.5/10 

Jackie [Pablo Larrain, United States, 2016] Portman delivered a warm performance in what could be a cold memoir. 7.5/10

Italian for Beginners [Lone Scherfig, 2001, Denmark] an enjoyable character-driven story of adults finding love in the most unexpected moments. 7.5/10

Backstory [Joschka Laukeninks, 2017, Germany] Insightful in all its vehemence. 7/10

Heartland [Maura Anderson, 2017, United States] A lot of technical expertise is lacking but it's heartbreaking just the same. 7/10

The Hitman’s Bodyguard [Patrick Hughes, 2017, United States] To hell with that, I enjoyed it. A lot. 7/10

The Journey [Chiu Keng Guan, 2014, Malaysia] Gives you a glimpse of Chinese culture against the backdrop of the beautiful Malaysian landscapes. I really had fun. 7/10

I’m Drunk, I Love You [JP Habac, 2017, Philippines] Makes you feel so much. Something too relatable, it’s terrific. If only for its music scoring, it’s already worth the watch. 7/10 

Vince & Kath & James [Theodore Boborol, 2016, Philippines] wait taym pers, bakit ampogi nung bagets? 7/10

The Girl King [Mika Kaurismaki, 2015, Sweden, Finland] has a strong female character who does not dare conform to society’s truths. 7/10

Captain Fantastic [Matt Ross, 2016, United States] a thoroughly-observed film that asks too many radical questions that can only be answered by contradicting its own philosophy. Quite a realization that balance is the key to life. 7/10 

La Pazza Gioia [Paolo Virzi, 2016, Italy] The chemistry and the friendship formed between Beatrice and Donatella is a delightful box full of surprises. 7/10

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time [Mamoru Hosoda, 2006, Japan] an entertaining anime on time travel done with slick sensitivity. 7/10

The Write Moment [Dominic Lim, 2017, Philippines] Incredibly funny. Unfamiliar yet relatable. 7/10

Baka Bukas [Samantha Lee, 2017] A realistic take on coming out and drifting apart. 7/10

The Battleship Island [Seung-wan Ryoo, 2017, South Korea] Kind of an upset for a big-budget film. It was entertaining anyhow. 7/10

One Day [Banjong Pisanthanakun, 2016, Thailand] I could buy the romance here but I wouldn’t. Still quite good though. 7/10

Hunt for the Wilderpeople [Taika Waititi, 2016, New Zealand] Boasts really funny puns, and spectacular landscapes. All fun. 7/10

Nabubulok [Sonny Calvento, 2017, Philippines] With how much I read and watch crime and legal thrillers, I find this film very problematic in more ways than one. Still worth a watch though. 7/10

Cafe. Waiting. Love [Jiang Jin Lin, 2014, Taiwan] Better if cut into two different films. Says something important somewhere. 7/10

Instalado [Jason Paul Laxamana, 2017, Philippines] Has a creative approach in showing education as a privilege in a world of Insta-everything. Clever, it resembles the paranoia Margaret Atwood gives, and the subtle societal dysfunctions Yorgos Lanthimos offers. 7/10

High Tide [Tara Illenberger, Philippines, 2017] There’s something beautiful behind this film’s innocence. Too slow for my taste though. 7/10

Sa Gabing Nananahimik ang mga Kuliglig [Iar Lionel Arondaing, 2017, Philippines] Experimental with its cinematography and is probably its greatest strength. It’s 4:3 frame explains the film pretty well. 7/10

The Edge of Seventeen [Kelly Fremon Craig, 2016, United States] Full of hypothetical teenage angst, and coming of age romance. Was okay. 7/10

Certain Women [Kelly Reichardt, 2016, United States] It takes patience to watch this, but in the end, the winning silences and subtleties are worth it. 7/10

Atomic Blonde [David Leitch, 2017, United States] I love it. I hate that they killed the part of her that makes her human, but I love it. 6.5/10

Siargao [Paul Soriano, 2017, Philippines] Succeeds as a promotional movie for the island’s tourism but falls short on its storytelling of a narrative that should have been affecting. 6/10

Tisay [Borgy Torre, 2017, Philippines] Has an interesting turn of events and neat filmmaking to back it up, but it isn’t as effective as I hope it to be. 6/10

All Of You [Dan Villegas, 2017, Philippines] Why is it so hard to give Jennylyn Mercado a character that's likable? 6/10

Medusae [Pam Miras, 2017, Philippines] A lot of potential but felt a bit crammed. 6/10

The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister [James Kent, 2010, United Kingdom] Anne Lister in eighteen hundreds is interestingly and impressively way ahead of her time. 6/10

Death Note [Adam Wingard, 2017, United States] First 40 minutes was awesome. Last hour is spent deciding whether to finish it or not. 6/10

The Other Half [Joey Klein, 2017, Canada] Finds perfect balance in its two leads whose portrayals of self-destructive individuals are astounding and believable. Maslany is a gem. 6/10

La Lengua de las Mariposas [José Luis Cuerda, 2000, Spain] A bittersweet take on patriotism and cowardice powered by its distinct simplicity. 6/10

The Neon Demon [Nicolas Winding Refn, 2016, United States] It was doing pretty well before it tried too hard to be grotesque. 6/10

Water Lilies [Céline Sciamma, 2007, France] A little bit pretentious and typical. An exploration of sexuality with nothing much else to offer. 6/10

Split [M. Night Shyamalan, 2017, United States] James McAvoy is good. Aside from that, this film is trash and extremely flawed. [6/10]

Past Life [Avi Nesher, 2017, Israel] Clattered and unfocused with a number of things happening all at once. 6/10

Lady Macbeth [William Oldroyd, 2017, United States] As empowering as that should be, I had a hard time liking her character as a feminist. 6/10

100 Tula Para Kay Stella [Jason Paul Laxamana, 2017, Philippines] I’d like it to be more poetic, I’d like it to be more heartfelt. It’s inconsistent production design and sloppy editing is also kind of distracting. 6/10

Bar Boys [Kip Oebanda, 2017, Philippines] Nothing more than just watching a movie about men in law school. 6/10

KFC [Le Binh Giang, 2017, Viet Nam] Wicked. A reverse perspective of how life would be if we are animals. Interesting to be honest. 6/10

My Cousin Rachel [Roger Michell, 2017, United States] Perhaps its strength is how well it makes us delve into its characters without knowing who’s side to favour. 6/10

The Girl With All the Gifts [Colm McCarthy, 2016, United Kingdom] Whatever I say about this film is a biased opinion for being madly in love with the book. That said, I have higher expectations than what was delivered. 6/10

Les Chansons d’amour [Christophe Honoré, 2008, France] Has an interesting take on love, intimacy, and sexual desires, but has an ensemble of half-baked characters to make it work. 6/10

Passengers [Morten Tyldum, 2016, United States] I kind of find problematic as a sci-fi, kind of find it okay as a romance. 6/10

Almost Adults [Sarah Rotella, 2016, United States] Even with its uneven acting, I really find it entertaining. 6/10

Lila Says [Ziad Doueiri, 2005, France] Anything involving cross-culture captures my attention intently. 6/10

Our Love Story [Lee Hyun-ju, 2017, South Korea] I would love to have liked it but the chemistry doesn’t work for me. 6/10

El Jugador de Ajedrez [Luis Oliveros, 2017, Spain] With its precise and slick storytelling, it’s hard to pinpoint what went wrong. 6/10

It [Andy Muschietti, 2017, United States] A good take on trauma, a boring horror. 6/10

Confessions [Tetsuya Nakashima, 2010, Japan] Just another revenge thriller in a not just another cinematic style. 6/10

Jamais Contente [Emilie Deleuze, 2017, France] It was charming but wasn’t anything more than that. 6/10

Eight [Peter Blackburn, 2017, Australia] That has got to be the most exhausting film I have watched. 6/10

Little Sister [Zach Clark, 2016, United States] A quiet and sentimental journey to realizing one’s growth. 6/10 

Beauty and the Beast [Bill Condon, 2017, United States] I am just not made for this. 6/10

Creepy [Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2016, Japan] Cliche, and because you expect it not to be cliche, it’s not cliche being cliche. 6/10

La Vie en Rose (La Mome) [Olivier Dahan, 2007, France] Despite Marion Cotillard’s amazing portrayal of Edith Piaf, the narration is kinda dragging that you find yourself exhausted halfway to the end. 6/10

High Art [Lisa Cholodenko, 1998, United States] Solid, sexy, crafted characters. a psychological rollercoaster. 6/10

My Egg Boy [Tien Yu Fu, 2017, Taiwan] Problematic for my feminist standards, a little bit entertaining still. 5/10

Einmal Bitte Alles [Helena Hufnagel, 2017, Germany] One of those films that refuse to grow up. 5/10

The View From Here [Kellen Garner, 2017, United States] The lack of chemistry is distracting. I like Garner's performance tho. 5/10

Can’t Help Falling in Love [Mae Czarina Cruz, 2017, Philippines] There’s cuteness there somewhere, it’s just lacking a believable story. 5/10

Breathe [Andy Serkis, 2017, United States] It bores me, then it gets me. Then it bores me again. 5/10

Before I Fall [Ry Russo-Young, 2017, United States] Well that's a major disappointment. 5/10

Maestra [Lemuel Lorca, 2017, Philippines] Has something good to tell but wasn’t executed good enough to make it great. If not for Angeli Bayani and her effective portrayal of an Aeta teacher who walks 5 hours to reach school, I would have given this a failing grade. 5/10

Bhoy Intsik [Joel Lamangan, 2017, Philippines] Good intent but done in mediocre filmmaking. 5/10

Above it All [Anysay Keola, 2015, Laos] a glimpse of Laotian culture and familial traditions that surprisingly still exist. It was okay. 5/10

Below Her Mouth [April Mullen, 2017, United States] Besides the sexual chemistry between its two characters, nothing much is in there. Just another erotic lesbian film that's already bordering on soft porn. Not buying the "love" there. 5/10

The Autopsy of Jane Doe [André Ovredal, 2016, United States] I most love it for its suspense, I most hate it for its horror. 5/10

Slumber [Jonathan Hopkins, 2017, United States] A sleep doctor who uses wikipedia for research ruined it. bahaha 5/10

Heart Attack [Puri Jagannadh, 2014, India] Kind of too long for something that’s going nowhere. 5/10

Collateral Beauty [David Frankel, 2017, United States] Wow, what a waste of powerhouse talents. 4/10

Requited [Nerissa Picadizo, 2017, Philippines] Should have been boring but its bad sound design made me more frantic than bored. 4/10

Tell Me How I Die [DJ Viola, 2016, United States] Something that could be interesting, only it fails miserably. 4/10 

Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha [Mes De Guzman, 2017, Philippines] Somewhat funny, somewhat just another film you enjoy while it lasts. 3/10

Olaf's Frozen Adventure [Deters, 2017, United States] Kind of wasted my time, really. 3/10

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer [Tom Tykwer, 2006, United States] Dragging and fabricated. Materializes women, mis-manufactures beauty, and misunderstands love. I hate it with passion. 3/10 

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse [Christopher Landon, 2015, United States] It’s full of laughs and nothing else. 3/10

Mr Church [Bruce Beresford, 2016, United States] Shouldn’t be as boring and disconnected as it is if it was written better. 3/10

Better Off Single [Benjamin Cox, 2016, United States] Let’s just say if this film is the only man left on earth, I’m still gonna be better off single. 3/10

Where’s Sydney [Marsh Allen, 2017, United States] Where is it going? Nowhere really. 3/10

The Painter’s View [Kim Hee Chul, South Korea, 2017] Too short at 66 minutes but too long to keep me interested. 3/10

Mujeres con Pelotas [Ginger Gentile, Gabriel Balanovsky, 2014, Argentina] Doesn’t quite hit the senses, couldn’t engage enough. 3/10

Liebmann [Jules Herrmann, 2016. France, Germany] Has a nice backstory to offer but is somewhat trapped in the present. 3/10

Everything, Everything [Stella Meghie, 2017, United States] a lousy stupid story of a girl who needs saving by a boy. Yuck. 2/10

Voice from the Stone [Eric Howell, 2017, United States] a slow nonsensical thriller that goes nowhere. 2/10

Poolside Man [Hirobumi Watanabe, 2017, Japan] I would blame this for losing my sleep at night cos I napped during this afternoon screening. 2/10

Marry Me at Christmas [Terry Ingram, 2017, United States] Rachel Skarsten is the only reason how I got through it. 1/10

Ang Guro Kong ‘Di Marunong Magbasa [Perry Escano, 2017, Philippines] If there is one film to avoid this year, make it this one. The kids were good but they’re in unbelievably wrong hands. 0.5/10

Kamandag ng Droga [Carlo J Caparas, 2017, Philippines] I absolutely don’t know why I watched this. Help me unsee. 0/10 

[bharatiyamedia-blog]

Malaysia's last male Sumatran rhino dies in captivity

http://tinyurl.com/y4oufzmo Tam, the last male Sumatran rhino is seen covered in mud in Sabah, Malaysia May, 2014 in this picture obtained from social media on May 27, 2019. CHRIS ANNADORAI/via REUTERS KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia’s last male Sumatran rhinoceros has died, an official said on Monday, dashing efforts to save the critically endangered species in the country. The rhino, named Tam, was about 30 years old and lived at a wildlife reserve in Sabah state on Borneo island since his capture in 2008, Christina Liew, state minister for tourism, culture and environment, said in a statement. The Sumatran rhino, the smallest species of rhinoceros, was declared extinct in the wild in Malaysia in 2015. Iman, a female captured in 2014, is now the only surviving member of the subspecies left in the country. Another female rhino, Puntung, died in captivity in 2017. Wildlife experts estimate that only about 30 to 80 Sumatran rhinos remain in the world, mostly on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and on the Indonesian side of Borneo. Their isolation, caused by habitat loss and poaching, means they rarely breed and may go extinct in a matter of decades, according to conservation group International Rhino Foundation. Since 2011, Malaysia has tried to breed the species in captivity through in vitro fertilization, but without success. Liew said Tam’s genetic material has been preserved for future attempts to reproduce Sumatran rhinos. Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; editing by Darren Schuettler Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Source link

[sportsflu]

Badminton in India has been growing rapidly in the recent times with so many Indian players doing outstandingly well in international tournaments. Recently with the Korea and Japan Open Superseries coming to an end, it was speculated that India would outdo itself in the BWF rankings. But much to everyone’s surprise, India has not just outperformed itself, but has also topped the list leaving behind major countries such as China, Malaysia and Denmark.

According to the latest BWF Rankings, India has a total of 13 players in the top 100, defeating China (7), Denmark (8) and Malaysia (9) by a huge margin. Adding to the aforementioned victory for India, the male shuttlers from India have set a new record as five Indian players attained the Top 20 of the BWF Rankings. These include Srikanth Kidambi, H.S. Prannoy, B. Sai Praneeth, Sameer Verma and Ajay Jayaram. Here are the countries with the most male badminton players in the Top 100 of the list, with India topping the charts –

INDIA

In the latest BWF rankings, 13 male badminton players from India secured a position in the Top 100. They are Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Sai Praneeth, Sameer Verma, Ajay Jayaram, Sourabh Verma, Parupalli Kashyap, Subhankar Dey, Aditya Doshi, Abhishek Yelegar, Pratul Doshi, Harsheel Dani and Siril Verma.

MALAYSIA

Malaysia comes second on the list with 9 players making it to the Top 100. They are Lee Chong Wei, Wei Feng Chong, Zulfadli Zulkiffli, Darren Liew, Lee Zii Jia, Iskandar Zulkarnain, Joo Ven Soong, Giap Chin Goh and Lim Chi Wing.

DENMARK

Denmark takes the 3rd position on the list with 8 shuttlers on the list. In fact, one of their players, Viktor Axelsen, takes the top position. The players are Viktor Axelsen, Anders Antonsen, Jan O Jorgensen, Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus, Emil Holst, Kim Bruun, Rasmus Gemke and Victor Svendsen.

CHINA

In the latest BWF rankings there are 7 Chinese players in the top 100. They are as follows, Lin Dan, Shi Yuqi, Chen Long, Tian Houwei, Huang Yuxiang, Qiao Bin and Zhao Junpeng. Also, it is appreciable that all 7 players are within the top 50 rankings.

These BWF rankings show how India has performed exceedingly well in the latest tournaments and this increases the hopes of the Indian fans to see their favorites achieve a lot success in the future endeavors.

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