Life

The Hustle’s stars hit it off

Actresses Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson have had their share of haters. Hathaway was ridiculed for what some saw as her gushy, insincere public appearances, including the speech she made accepting the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for the musical Les Miserables (2012). Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Learn more […]

Life

Diane Keaton on staying single: I might be a freak

LOS ANGELES • Diane Keaton claims to be one of the fortunate ones. As the screen legend reflects on age, marriage and nearly half a century of working in Hollywood, she says she has never felt sexually harassed. “Never. Maybe I just wasn’t harassment material,” jokes Keaton, who has 68 screen credits since her 1970 […]

Life

Telemad: From taut to warm and fuzzy

Following the success of JTBC’s Sky Castle (2018), about the competitive South Korean education system, the cable channel is offering another school-themed K-drama. School violence comes under the spotlight in Beautiful World, which begins with the unsettling scene of Seon-ho (Nam Da-reum from 2018 series Radio Romance), a sweet-faced, third-year middle school student, falling in […]

Life

Tanya Chua, Cyndi Wang to sing at awards showcase

Singaporean singer-songwriter Tanya Chua will take the stage at the Singapore edition of this year’s Global Chinese Golden Chart (GCGC) Awards showcase on May 28, organised by UFM100.3, which is part of SPH Radio. Singaporean singer-songwriter Boon Hui Lu, Singapore band Neko Highway and Malaysian singer Lim Wen Suen will also attend the event at […]

Life

Free Old Chang Kee multicoloured curry puffs for ST subscribers

Direct subscribers of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) newspapers will have the chance to redeem a free multicoloured curry puff at Old Chang Kee Coffee House @ Rex on Saturday from 2 to 5pm. The exclusive giveaway is part of the Old Chang Kee flagship store’s first-year-anniversary celebration event, jointly organised by Old Chang Kee and […]

Life

New home for Asian films

Singapore’s newest cinema will welcome its first ticketed audiences next week, on May 18. The Asian Film Archive’s (AFA) Oldham Theatre will be a venue screening works from the Singapore International Festival of Arts’ film programme, Singular Screens, which runs from May 18 to June 2. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the […]

Life

An amiable but forgettable adventure

REVIEW / COMEDY POKEMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU (PG) 105 minutes/Opens today/2.5 stars The story: In this first live-action movie adaptation of the Pokemon game and cartoon franchise, every person on Earth has a Pokemon companion. Tim (Justice Smith) has to discover why his father Harry is missing. In Ryme City, where Harry lives, humans and Pokemon […]

Life

Uneven blend of comedy, caper show and tribute

REVIEW / CRIME DRAMA KING OF THIEVES (NC16) 108 minutes/Now showing/2 stars The story: Brian Reader (Michael Caine) is a seasoned jailbird and burglar who, at age 77, wants to do one more big heist. His accomplices are all almost as old as he is, save for one. Their target: the vaults at London’s Hatton […]

Life

ST subscriber wins trip for two to Tottori

The first time Mrs Suzy Wong, 61, read about Tottori, Japan, was in March, when she came across a travel article in The Sunday Times about the destination. “I read about the sand dunes there and remember telling my daughter that it was an interesting place, but would we have the chance to visit it?” […]

Life

Historical buildings bank on new lease of life

NEW YORK • The fate of the soaring, palatial and utterly impractical Dime Savings Bank in Downtown Brooklyn was inevitable. The 1,556 sq m, 12m-tall chamber, with seven kinds of marble flooring, a vaulted-tile dome and Corinthian columns, closed in 2016, a victim of automated tellers and digital payments. Its last full-time tenant, Chase Bank, […]

Life

Where artists show their manga-inspired fan art

Artist Lyana Lee has done what many young illustrators dream of doing. She pursues her passion fulltime and makes a living from her work, which includes melancholic goth drawings with Japanese flower motifs. Her output ranges from fan art featuring popular K-pop boy band BTS to drawings of original characters. Please subscribe or log in […]

Life

Saving old, stained clothes

NORTHAMPTON (Massachusetts) •It is possible that one of the more telling narratives of women’s lives in 20th-century America is housed in 50 metal storage lockers in a basement room in the theatre department of a women’s college in Northampton, Massachusetts. To reach it, you descend a flight of stairs and pass through a cinder block […]

Life

Meet celebs and sit on the Iron Throne at StarHub event

A host of celebrities – including Story Of Yanxi Palace actor Nie Yuan and Taiwanese actor-model Jasper Liu – will be in town next week as part of an experiential entertainment event by StarHub, titled It’s Show Time. Others appearing include Taiwanese heart-throb James Wen, TVB actors Edwin Siu and Oscar Leung; and local comedians […]

Life

Chewbacca actor ‘the gentlest of giants’

LOS ANGELES • Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films, describes castmate Peter Mayhew as “the gentlest of giants”. The actor, chosen for his 2.18m height to play Wookiee warrior Chewbacca in the blockbuster franchise, died on Tuesday at home in Texas. He was 74. A statement from Mayhew’s family said: […]

Life

Reynolds heads list of top Hollywood earners

NEW YORK • Justice does not come cheap. Ryan Reynolds is getting US$27 million (S$37 million) to star in Six Underground, a film about a billionaire-financed vigilante squad. His reward heads a list of top earners compiled by trade publication Variety. He is benefiting from a push by Netflix – which is bankrolling Six Underground […]

Life

Sleep easy, rest pretty: 10 bedroom designs to aspire to

1. Big on art PHOTO: SPH MAGAZINES; DESIGN: MUSEUM HOMES Art collectors, this look is for you. Make space for your prized collection and dedicate the best spots in your room for your favourite piece. A large artwork above your headboard is sure to make a statement in this intimate space. 2. Portals and frames PHOTO: SPH […]

Life

Root Awakening

Fruit of the Giant Indian Fig are edible What is this tree (top)? The fruit look like figs, but the leaves’ shape is different. Are the fruit edible? David Seah The tree is known via common names such as Broad-leaf Fig, Giant Indian Fig and Elephant Ear Fig Tree. Its botanical name is Ficus auriculata. […]

Life

More space, services at Muji

Even after 16 years in the home-grown market, Japanese lifestyle juggernaut Muji is showing no signs of slowing down. At the opening last week of its 12th outlet here, in Jewel Changi Airport, the Japanese lifestyle giant unveiled its first takeout counter in the world to provide convenience for customers in transit. Please subscribe or […]

Life

Fitbit Inspire HR light on the wrist and the wallet

The Fitbit Inspire HR feels so comfortable and, at a mere 17g, so light, that I often forget it is strapped to my wrist during this review. This fitness tracker is also light on the wallet at $158 and one to consider if you are looking for a simple, affordable and lightweight fitness tracker. It […]

Life

Metaride shoes reduce effort needed to run

The Asics Metaride, the Japanese sports apparel company’s first energy-saving running shoes, took two years to develop and incorporate several proprietary Asics technologies. The result is a pair of shoes that, according to Asics, have been scientifically proven to reduce energy loss at the ankle joint by 19.1 per cent. The first thing you will […]

Life

Tech Life Hacks: Guard your phone from malware

Your mobile phone is your closest companion, the first thing you check when you wake up and the last thing you close before you sleep. Your virtual life resides in it – details of friends, personal photographs, messages from beloved people, your banking app, passwords and more. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading […]

Life

Unbeatable bang for your buck

Xiaomi has done it again. Known for inexpensive, value-for-money devices, the Chinese smartphone maker has launched the Mi 9, which boasts flagship-class performance and features at mid-range prices. It costs $599 for a model with 6GB of memory and 64GB of internal storage. My 128GB review set is priced at $699. This is at least […]

Life

New Products

Razer Blade Pro 17 GAMING LAPTOP From $3,799, available next month Rebuilt from ground up, the new Razer Blade Pro 17 gaming laptop has a chassis that is milled and cut from a single block of aluminium for a robust frame, and an anodised matt finish to resist scratches. Its 17.3-inch (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) […]

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Extreme survivors of the wild

Unlike many nature documentaries, new National Geographic series Hostile Planet will not “sugarcoat or sanitise” how ruthless Mother Nature can be, says host Bear Grylls. And the famous British survivalist says some of the resilient creatures featured on the show – which spotlights how species adapt to the most extreme environments on Earth – put […]

Life

De Niro quizzes Scorsese about films like Raging Bull

NEW YORK • Director Martin Scorsese and his frequent star Robert De Niro shared a few small details about their forthcoming film, The Irishman, as part of a wide-ranging discussion on Sunday at the Beacon Theatre in New York, where audience members were surprised to learn that Leonardo DiCaprio was in their midst. For the […]

Life

Game for a song? Top 5 songs of hit series Game Of Thrones

Music has always played a significant role in Game Of Thrones, from the iconic theme by Iranian-German composer Ramin Djawadi to albums such as For The Throne, released last Friday and featuring original music by popular acts such as SZA, The Weeknd, Travis Scott and Ellie Goulding. In the hit television series’ story-line itself, the […]

Life

More hurdles ahead for e-sports

He is Singapore’s most successful and recognised e-sports professional, but Daryl “iceiceice” Koh will not be representing his country in e-sports’ debut at the SEA Games in November and December. Because of hefty opportunity costs to his professional career, Mr Koh could not agree on an arrangement with the Singapore Esports Association (SGEA). Please subscribe […]

Life

Wireless charging for AirPods 2 earbuds

You will not be able to tell the new AirPods from the old ones by just looking – the second and first generations of Apple’s true wireless in-ear headphones have identical designs. Not messing with a winning design is understandable, but I am disappointed that Apple did not at least offer colour options. A pair […]

Life

Unmasking The Phantom Of The Opera

The musical The Phantom Of The Opera, back in Singapore till June 8, has enthralled millions since it opened on West End about three decades ago. When I saw it last week for the third time, I was impressed by the improved set and the lead actor’s pitch-perfect vocals. This is Phantom at its finest, […]

Life

Cool victory at a tremendous cost

In a daring move, the makers of Game Of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3 decided to release the Battle of Winterfell as a radio play. Against a black screen, one could hear thrilling sounds of the combat promised in last week’s episode. However, it becomes clear that this is a normal episode, not a radio […]