Showing 1 - 10 of 35
Traditional tales
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 05/11/2021
» Anyone who lives in Asia knows that the countries are a treasure trove of supernatural beliefs that scared the living daylights out of us as kids -- and perhaps even now, as adults. With Folklore, iconic Singaporean director Eric Khoo takes the helm as showrunner as he gathers superstitions and myths from across Asia in an anthology series with each episode directed by different directors like Indonesia's Joko Anwar, the Philippines' Erik Matti and even first-time director Seiko Matsuda, who is known for her singing and acting career in Japan. The second season of the anthology series premieres on Nov 14 on HBO Go. Guru speaks with Khoo and Matsuda, who directed the second episode, about the series.
Now showing
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 08/10/2021
» Cinemas are back! After another semi-lockdown that forced cinemas to close, we can finally enjoy a proper movie-going experience again. Sure, it might be capped at 50% capacity and you can only sit with one person beside you instead of the classic cinema experience of having your girlfriend on your left while a dude who munches popcorn loudly is on your right. Sigh, nostalgia! But we'll take what we can get for now. Though it's easy to simply go to the nearest mall to go to the cinema, we're spotlighting places that offer a different experience. These indie cinemas deserve as much love as any of the multiplexes do. After losing iconic places like Scala and Bangkok Screening Room, we should do what we can to keep these cinemas alive. Get the popcorn and settle in. It's time to go back to the movies.
The power of attraction
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 24/09/2021
» K-pop stans and Blinks across the world were sent into a frenzy when Blackpink's Lisa released her solo debut album, Lalisa, a few weeks ago. The internet quickly fell in love with its addictive beat and rhythm, but the accompanying music video featured more than just tantalising visuals drenched in neon lights -- it featured the Buri Ram native in a traditional Thai headdress and the Prasat Hin Phanom Rung.
When more isn't better
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 27/08/2021
» Adding too much to something can make it overly complicated and almost unenjoyable whether it's putting too much salt in a dish or stuffing a bunch of superheroes in a movie, who weren't properly introduced in their standalone films (looking at you, original cut of Justice League). In the case of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the base game provides a chunky amount of content, which is mildly enjoyable. But its second expansion, The Siege Of Paris, seems to be an expansion for expansion's sake.
Chip power
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 02/07/2021
» The new iPad Pro may not look new on the surface but Apple has long been vocal about this new tablet's under-the-hood specialty: the M1 Chip, the same chip found in the 13-in MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac Mini. The prospect of a tablet armed with a chip that's running MacBooks definitely piques interest to say the least, but the question is whether it's all it's made out to be.
Read all about it
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 23/04/2021
» A blogger a number of years ago cited an alleged Unesco statistic stating that Thais only read eight lines per year compared to the five books a year Singaporeans and Vietnamese read. I couldn't find the statistic anywhere but a former editor for Guru also wrote in one of her past editor's note that the National Statistic Office reported in 2005 that Thais read an average of just seven lines a year. However, the Unesco site which you can check out has traced that illiteracy has begun declining in 2015 so perhaps the seven-lines-per-year has improved. But why in the world am I talking about Thailand's literacy rates when we usually talk about food or Uncle Tu's latest blunders in this magazine? Well, today is actually World Book Day, and we're listing out a few things you can do to celebrate the occasion -- and perhaps also keep that upward trajectory on the Unesco stat going. So choose a cozy spot and get ready to bury your nose in a few pages as we celebrate World Book Day 2021.
Songkran summertime
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 09/04/2021
» Summer is here and Songkran is around the corner so get your water guns ready because Bangkok is about to become an all-out water war zone! Wait, no water battles? For two consecutive years? Sadly, Songkran hasn't been the same since Rona came around and it seems like we have to wait yet another year to -- hopefully -- celebrate Songkran in the wet and wild way we're familiar with. But that doesn't mean your summer has to be a bummer or that Songkran has to be spent cooped up at home -- though we know it's certainly tempting since it's getting too dang hot outside. Here are some things you can do this Songkran summertime besides being sad that water fights aren't a thing again this year.
2020 winners & losers in geek
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 25/12/2020
» The year of 'Rona meant a lot of changes in the way we do things hence the term "new normal", and Geekdom wasn't left unscathed. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it was all bad. There are things we enjoyed watching this year with all the time we had on our hands and fan events that we "attended" right in the comfort of our own home that we wouldn't be able to normally attend. At the same time, there were some things that sadly suffered because of the pandemic and a certain something that fell flat despite all the hype. Here's the winners and losers of 2020 in geek.
Watch yourself
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 04/12/2020
» In recent years, the Apple Watch has been touted as a health device that's a must-have, helping you keep track of fitness and activity goals day-to-day while also being utterly fashionable. The latest model is the Series 6, and it comes with a number of improvements that may not be obvious at first. However, are these improvements enough so that you shell out your cash for it?
To the moon and back
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 23/10/2020
» When young Fei Fei discovers that her dad has fallen in love with someone new, she surmises that he's probably forgotten about her late mother. To remind him, she sets on a mission to prove that the goddess Chang'e, who her mother constantly told stories about when she was a kid, is real. To do that, she has to go where the goddess lives: the moon. Netflix's new animated film is filled with songs, an emotional story, a stellar Asian cast and is a wonderful representation of Chinese culture. Guru spoke to the film's director, Glen Keane, a Disney legend who has worked as an animator for several classic Disney films, as well as the film's stars: Cathy Ang who plays Fei Fei and Phillipa Soo who plays Chang'e, to talk about the movie.