'Eid Mubarak

I would like to wish my Muslim friends ‘Eid Mubarak 1430H. من العائدين والفائزين. May we be among those who return to purity and are granted glory.

Surrogates (2009)

Maggie (Rosamund Pike)

Jennifer Peters (Radha Mitchell) and Tom Greer (Bruce Willis)

Pictures: www.rottentomatoes.com

Set in a futuristic world where humans live in isolation and interact through surrogate robots, FBI agent Tom Greer, is forced to leave his home for the first time in years in order to investigate the murders of others’ surrogates.

Rating: 1/5.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

Duke (Channing Tatum)

Baroness Anastasia DeCobray (Sienna Miller)

G. I. Joes

Storm Shadow (Byung–hun Lee)

Pictures: www.rottentomatoes.com

An elite military unit comprised of special operatives known as G.I. Joe, operating out of The Pit, takes on an evil organisation led by a notorious arms dealer.

Rating: 1.5/5.

The Informant (2009)

Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon)

FBI special agents, Bryan Shepard (Scott Bacula) and Dean Paisley (Allan Havey) with Mark

Mark with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) colleagues

Pictures: www.rottentomatoes.com

Based on true events and the non–fiction by journalist Kurt Eichenwald, the U.S. government decides to go after a lysine developing company with a price–fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, Vice President turned informant, Mark Whitacre.

Mark Whitacre talks too much, but Matt Damon is a fine actor.

Rating: 2/5.

Taken (2008)

Kim Mills (Maggie Grace), Lenore (Famke Janssen) and Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson)

Kim, minutes before being kidnapped

Jean–Claude (Olivier Rabourdin) and Bryan Mills

Pictures: www.rottentomatoes.com

A former CIA operative relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter after she is kidnapped by slave traders in Paris.

This is by far the best action film I've seen since The Bourne Ultimatum, albeit with an older hero. Liam Neeson rocks!

Rating: 3.5/5.

Tenderness (2008)

Detective Cristofuoro (Russell Crowe)

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The path of a serial killer intertwines with that of a teenage runaway who cannot resist his charm. Meanwhile, a retired detective followed them in the hopes of averting a tragedy. Based on the novel by Robert Cormier.

Rating: 1.5/5.

Duplicity (2009)

Claire and Ray

Ex–CIA agent, Claire Stenwick (Julia Roberts)

Former M16 member, Ray Koval (Clive Owen)

Pictures: www.rottentomatoes.com

A pair of corporate spies who share a past hook up to pull off the ultimate con job on their respective bosses. Outwit. Outspy. Outsmart. Outplay. Then get out.

Be prepared for the twists and turns, which can be confusing at times.

Rating: 2.5/5.

Zulka'edah Flavours

Home–cooked nasi lemak (coconut rice) served with turmeric beef stir–fry, cockle sambal, fried anchovies, sliced cucumber, fried chicken, and prawn sambal.

Cockle sambal

Lemon chicken

Prawn tempura

My sister's Baked Blueberry Cheesecake garnished with white chocolate shavings, made for a client.

Chilled Blueberry Cheesecake for a client

Sweet Butter–Glazed Poppy Seed Soft Pretzel, my first attempt. My sister and niece liked it. The dough was enough for a dozen pretzels. Coated some with chocolate. Yummy!

My Chocolate Cake topped with with Frosted Swiss Chocolate (with 72% cocoa), Cadbury's Chocolate Mousse, Cadbury's Hazelnut Praline Chocolate, almond chunks and hazelnuts. Made for my final class of the semester.

My Brownies garnished with Frosted Swiss Chocolate (with 72% cocoa), Cadbury's Chocolate Mousse, Cadbury's Hazelnut Praline Chocolate, almond chunks and hazelnuts. Made for my final class of the semester.

My baked macaroni for a group study

My sister's prawn wantan (dumplings)

Fish ball and tofu soup

Chicken rice served with fried chicken, sliced cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, soy sauce, chilli and garlic sauce, and chicken feet's soup.

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

Walter Garber (Denzel Washington)

Motorman Jerry Polard (Gary Basaraba), Ryder (John Travolta) and Phil Ramos (Luis Guzman)

Bernard Ryder (John Travolta)

Pictures: www.rottentomatoes.com

A remake of the 1974 film and based on the novel by Morton Freedgood (John Godey) of the same title, armed men hijack a New York City subway train, holding the passengers hostage in return for a ransom, and turning an ordinary day's work for MTA dispatcher, Walter Garber, into a face–off with the mastermind behind the crime.

Rating: 2/5.

17 Again (2009)

'Spirit guide' janitor (Brian Doyle–Murray) and adult Mark O'Donnell (Matthew Perry)

Maggie O'Donnell (Michelle Trachtenberg) and teen Mike O'Donnell (Zac Efron)

Mike and Alex O'Donnell (Sterling Knight)

Scarlett (Leslie Mann) and Maggie O'Donnell

Pictures: www.rottentomatoes.com

A guy whose life didn't quite turn out how he wanted it to wishes he could go back to high school and change it. He wakes up one day and is seventeen again and gets the chance to rewrite his life.

Rating: 2/5.

Four Christmases (2008)

Kate (Reese Witherspoon) and Brad 'Orlando' (Vince Vaughn)

Courtney (Kristin Chenoweth) and Marilyn (Mary Steenburgen)

Sisters, Courtney and Kate

Brad, Kate and Paula (Sissy Spacek)

Pictures: www.rottentomatoes.com

A couple struggles to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas Day.

Rating: 2/5.

The Time Traveller's Wife (2009)

Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana) and Claire Abshire (Rachel McAdams)

Pictures: www.rottentomatoes.com

Based on the best–selling book about a love that transcends time.

Rating: 1.5/5.

The Ugly Truth (2009)

Colin (Eric Winter) and Abby (Katherine Heigl)

Abby and her assistant, Joy (Bree Turner)

Abby and Mike (Gerard Butler)

Pictures: www.rottentomatoes.com

Abby Richter is a romantically–challenged morning show producer whose search for Mr. Perfect has left her hopelessly single. She's in for a rude awakening when her bosses team her with Mike Chadway, a hardcore TV personality who promises to spill the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick.

After watching Knocked Up, 27 Dresses and now this, I am convinced that Katherine Heigl is not cut out to play a leading role. She seemed like she tried too hard. Hence, her acting didn't appear natural at all.

Rating: 1.5/5.