Exploring Medovik, Russian and Uzbek Food at Torte by Linda

I first came across Torte by Linda because of its Medovik (Russian honey cake). If I remember correctly, I might have come across postings of beautiful Medoviks on social media. Instead of thick layers of sponge cake and cream, Medovik is made up of multiple thin honey cake layers held together with frosting.

Eventually, what started as a visit for cake eventually became an opportunity to explore other items on the menu. Over several visits, I found myself trying not only different Medovik flavours but also a selection of Russian and Uzbek dishes that are not commonly found in Kuala Lumpur.

More Than Just a Medovik Cake Shop

While Torte by Linda is best known for its Medovik cakes, the menu extends beyond desserts.

The restaurant serves a variety of Russian and Uzbek dishes, making it possible to enjoy a full meal before moving on to dessert. For those unfamiliar with these cuisines, like me, it offers an accessible introduction without feeling intimidating.

The Savoury Dishes I Tried

Plov (Beef)

One of the dishes I tried was the Plov (Beef). Plov is a traditional Uzbek rice dish. Also known as Uzbek Plov or palov, the version served at Torte by Linda consisted of rice cooked in oil together with beef, julienned carrots, onions, garlic, and cumin powder.

The rice was flavourful without being overly heavy, and the beef was tender and paired well with the rice. It is the type of satisfying meal that works well if you are looking for something filling without being overly rich.

Lamb Dumplings (Kurze)

Next, I tried the Kurze, braided lamb dumplings originating from the Republic of Dagestan in Russia.

At first glance, they may resemble dumplings that many Malaysians are already familiar with, but the flavour profile is quite different. The lamb filling gives them a richer and more distinctive taste.

The dumpling skin has a nice, slightly chewy but soft texture and holds the filling well without becoming overly thick. They were served with sour cream and chilli flakes, which complemented the richness of the lamb nicely.

The Russian Treats That Accompanied My Coffee

Blini

Another item I tried was the Blini. Blini are often described as Russian pancakes, although they are not quite the same as the pancakes many of us grew up eating.

The Blini at Torte by Linda is filled with homemade tvarog (cottage cheese) and served with berries and honey. It was a pleasant snack alongside coffee – simple, comforting and easy to enjoy.

Oreshki

I was also curious enough to try the Oreshki. These are walnut-shaped cookies filled with dulce de leche and chopped walnuts. Their appearance immediately stood out because they look unlike most cookies commonly found in local bakeries. They look really adorable too!

The cookie shells had a pleasant texture while the filling added sweetness without making them overly rich. They are small enough to enjoy in a few bites, making them ideal as an accompaniment to tea or coffee.

The Medovik that I Have Tried at Torte by Linda

Of course, no visit to Torte by Linda would feel complete without Medovik. In fact, over time, I managed to try four different flavours.

Raspberry Pistachio Medovik

This is Raspberry Pistachio Medovik. The slight tartness from the raspberry helped balance the sweetness of the cake, while the pistachio added a subtle nuttiness. The combination worked surprisingly well and gave the cake a lighter overall profile.

Pistachio Kunafa Chocolate Medovik

This Pistachio Kunafa Chocolate Medovik was probably the most contemporary interpretation of the traditional Medovik. The chocolate added richness while the kunafa element introduced additional texture. It felt like a fusion dessert that combined influences from different regions into a single cake.

Check out my IG reel of this Pistachio Kunafa Chocolate Medovik to see what the insides of the cake looked like.

Honeymisu Medovik

The Honeymisu was perhaps the most memorable flavour I tried because I love the traditional tiramisu.

According to the menu description, it combines baked honey cake layers with infused espresso coffee, light mascarpone frosting and cocoa powder.

Those familiar with tiramisu will immediately recognise the inspiration behind the flavour profile. The coffee notes paired well with the honey cake layers, creating a dessert that felt familiar while still remaining distinctly Medovik.

Check out my IG reel of this Honeymisu Medovik to see what the insides of the cake looked like.

Chocolate Honey Medovik

The Chocolate Honey Medovik offered a more straightforward combination of chocolate and honey flavours. Compared to the Raspberry Pistachio and Honeymisu variations, this version leaned more towards richness. It would likely appeal to those who generally prefer chocolate-based desserts.

Would I Return to Torte by Linda?

Absolutely, without a doubt! The restaurant's ambience is soothing and perfect for coffee and dessert, especially for anyone curious about trying Russian and Uzbek food. Torte by Linda offers an approachable place to start. And if you only have room for one dessert, my recommendation would be any of the Medovik cakes.

Address: Lot No B-G-06, Eight Kinrara, Jalan BK 5A/1, Bandar Kinrara, 47180 Puchong.

Check out their social media links via their Linktree.

Note: This is not a paid collaboration or advertorial. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal dining experience at Torte by Linda.

0

Movie: Pacific Rim (2013) in 3D

To fight monsters we created monsters

Pacific Rim (2013) is AWESOME!

No worries, no spoilers at all.

You just need to remember two things: massive robots called Jaeger (German for "Hunter") and giant monsters called Kaiju from a portal between dimensions opened at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Kaiju (Japanese for "strange beast") means giant monsters from Japanese sci-fi movies, such as Godzilla.

Then, just lean back and enjoy multiple impressive and intense digital fight sequences between Jaegers and Kaijus.

The movie's soundtrack composed by Ramin Djawadi adds necessary gravity and grandeur. The cast, especially Idris Elba as Stacker Pentecost, commanding officer of the Jaeger project gives a very convincing performance. He exudes a lot of authority effortlessly and you could feel the weight of the world on his shoulders when he shouts, "Today, we cancel the apocalypse!" 

Most importantly, the Jaegers are too darn handsome!

[Photo source]

Gipsy Danger

Striker Eureka

Cherno Alpha

 

Coyote Tango

 Crimson Typhoon

You must watch this movie!

0

The New Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

The New Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko - volume five of the Night Watch series: Night Watch, Day Watch, Twilight Watch, The Last Watch.

Synopsis:

At Moscow airport, Higher Light Magician Anton Gorodetsky overhears a child screaming that a plane is about to crash. He discovers that the child is a Prophet: an Other with the gift of foretelling the future. When the catastrophe is averted, Gorodetsky senses a disruption in the natural order, one that is confirmed by the arrival of a dark and terrifying predator.

From the Night Watch headquarters Gorodetsky travels to London, to Taiwan and across Russia in search of clues, unearthing as he goes a series of increasingly cataclysmic prophecies. He soon realizes that what is at stake is the existence of the Twilight itself - and that only he will be able to save it.

0

Movie: A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)

Like father. Like son. Like hell!

A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) is the fifth movie in the Die Hard movie series.

Synopsis: John McClane (Bruce Willis) flies to Moscow to help his seemingly wayward son Jack (Jai Courtney) in a Russian prison, but discovers that Jack is a CIA operative out to stop a nuclear weapons heist. Now father and son are forced to put aside their differences and battle the Russian underground forces to stop a war.

I couldn't recall how Bruce Willis was like in his previous Die Hard movies as John McClane. I guess he must be quite a memorable character. However, in this fifth movie, I don't really see an impressive McClane in terms of character development.

But, if you're looking for really bad-ass action sequences and stunts, you'll get what you're looking for. In fact, the factors that save this movie from getting too monotonous are the super high-octane actions after actions, be it high-speed car chases, gun fights, and bombings; and a lot of double-crossings and unexpected triple-crossings. 

Then, get ready to listen to cheesy lines between father and son and lots of asinine family bits as they struggle to work together as a team. I guess in the next Die Hard (if there is), we'll see junior McClane replacing senior McClane? I don't know. 

In the end, A Good Day to Die Hard is just another adrenaline-pumping action flick with two heroes who could survive all sorts of accidents, [minor spoiler] including one that involves a burning helicopter.

Having said that, if you're a Bruce Willis fan, you won't want to miss seeing him in action at this age. :)

3

Movie: My Way (2011)

They met as enemies, but fate brought them together. 

My Way (2011) is a South Korean war movie inspired by true events.

Synopsis (summarized from here): 1928, Gyeong-seong (modern-day Seoul), Korea. Young Kim Jun-shik, his father, and sister work on the farm of the Hasegawa family in Japanese-occupied Korea. Both Jun-shik and Tatsuo Hasegawa are interested in running and by the time they are teenagers, are fierce competitors.

Tatsuo's grandfather is killed in a bomb attack by a Korean terrorist and subsequently a Korean runner, Son Gi-jeong, wins a marathon race against Japanese competitors, further inflaming Korean-Japanese tensions.

May 1938 - Jun-shik (Jang Dong-gun) is working as a rickshaw runner as Koreans are banned from taking part in sports events and Tatsuo (Joe Odagiri), now a fierce Japanese nationalist, has sworn that a Korean will never again win a race. Though he has been accepted by a medical college in Berlin, Tatsuo decides to stay in Korea to run in the All Japan Trials for the marathon. Son Gi-jeong secretly backs Jun-shik and the latter wins the race, though Tatsuo is awarded the medal when Jun-shik is disqualified for allegedly cheating. Following a riot by Korean spectators, Jun-shik is among those - including his friend Lee Jong-dae (Kim In-gwon) - who are forcibly drafted into the Japanese army.

July 1939 - Jun-shik, along with 100 other Koreans, are in a battle at Nomonhan, on the Mongolian border, where a Chinese sniper, Shirai (Fan Bingbing), avenging the death of her family at the hands of the Japanese, is captured and tortured. Tatsuo, now a colonel, arrives and takes over command. After refusing to join a suicide squad organised by Tatsuo to fight the Soviets, Jun-shik is imprisoned with Shirai but escapes with her, Jong-dae, and others to the River Khalkhin, where Shirai dies after shooting down a Soviet plane. Jun-shik tries to warn the Japanese forces that a large-scale Soviet tank attack is coming but in the ensuing battle Tatsuo refuses to order a retreat.

February 1940 - Jun-shik and Tatsuo end up in Kungursk POW camp, north of Perm, in the Soviet Union, where both Koreans and Japanese are incarcerated together. Under the name of Anton, Jong-dae has become a work-unit leader and helps his Korean friends, while Tatsuo is humiliated and almost killed by Jun-shik in a fight. When news comes that Germany has declared war on the Soviet Union, Jun-shik and Tatsuo are among those forcibly drafted into the Soviet army.

December 1941 - Following a bloody battle against the German army at Hedosk, Jun-shik and Tatsuo set out on a journey westwards that will find them on the beaches of Normandy, France, just prior to the D-Day Allied invasion.

That's a very long and detailed synopsis. In simple words, this 141-minute movie is about a Korean man and a Japanese man who met as enemies, but fate brought them together as they experience humanity that transcends borders and nationalities.

My Way is undeniably, an impressive South Korean production. 

There are a few contributing factors:

• One, excellent visual effects.
• Two, lavish cross-border landscapes - Asia, Russia, Europe (Normandy in France).
• Three, the scale of war sequences is very impressive, graphical, and super bloody.
• Four, there is a solid storyline no matter how absurd and unlikely it is. Some historical facts are a bit off but most of us are not historians, so it doesn't really matter.
• Five, Jang Dong-gun and Joe Odagiri share a very good on-screen chemistry. This might sound weird, but thank goodness the level of bromance is still acceptable. There's actually more emphasis on brotherhood, patriotisme, and sacrificial acts.
• Six, the ending is bittersweet.

More information: Here's very good interview article with the director, Kang Je-Kyu.

If war is your thing, you gotta add this movie to your must-watch list.

0

Movie: The Darkest Hour (2011)

Survive The Holidays

The Darkest Hour (2011) is a science-fiction movie about an alien invasion in Russia.

Synopsis: Five young people - Sean (Emile Hirsch), Ben (Max Minghella), Natalie (Olivia Thirlby), Anne (Rachael Taylor), and Vika (Veronika Ozerova) - have to stay and work together to survive alien invasion in Moscow. They must find a way to safely board a military submarine rumored to be in a nearby river.

Seriously, the trailer looks really good. And honestly, if you've watched the entire trailer, it pretty much shows the entire movie. So yeah, I was a bit disappointed.

We've watched too many sci-fi movies with apocalyptic theme and so, we'd have certain expectations. This movie has a lot of expected similarities - aliens, aliens' aggressive attack, some survivors scattered here and there, empty streets, wrecked cities, military.

The difference is, the aliens in this movie are invisible and it's difficult to kill them. And yeah, you'll be watching all sorts of innovative ways to defeat some of the invisible aliens.

Another point, I love the fact that this movie is shot in Moscow. At least, it's something different from LA or NY or London.

If you ask whether watching this movie is a waste of time, I'd say no. Just watch it without expectations and you might enjoy it. :)

0

Movie: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

No Plan. No Backup. No Choice.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) is an action spy movie, which is also the fourth installment in the Mission: Impossible series.

Synopsis: This is not just another mission. The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in a global terrorist bombing plot. Ghost Protocol is initiated and Ethan Hunt and his rogue new team must go undercover to clear their organization's name. No help, no contact, off the grid. You have never seen a mission grittier and more intense than this. -- (C) Paramount

Let's take a look at the cast of good guys - Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), William Brandt (Jeremy Renner from The Town), Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg from Shaun of the Dead), Jane Carter (Paula Patton).

Here are the bad guys - Kurt Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist from the Swedish movie The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Sabine Moreau (Léa Seydoux).

According to director Brad Bird, this movie is shot in IMAX, as opposed to 3D, as he felt that the IMAX format offered the viewer more immersion due to its brighter, higher quality image, which is projected on a larger screen, without the need for specialized glasses. [via]

I personally enjoy watching impossibly stylish, fast-paced, and gripping stunt scenes in different parts of the world - Budapest, the Moscow Kremlin, Dubai, Mumbai. The action scene whereby Ethan Hunt is scaling the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai, the tallest building in the world gives me the jitters. This is definitely the best moment of the entire movie!

I like this comment the best: "...brims with scenes that are exciting and amazing at the same time; they're brought off with such casual aplomb that they're funny, too. Ghost Protocol is fast and explosive, but it's also a supremely clever sleight-of-hand thriller."

Simon Pegg provides smart comic relief to the movie without being overbearing. Even Jeremy Renner joins in the "fun" without being overly casual amidst tension. Tom Cruise, as usual, the suave pack leader. Michael Nyqvist's stoic appearance is very convincing as the mad nuclear scientist who believes that world peace will be achieved by starting a nuclear war.

Oh, and the BMW i8 concept car is featured in this movie!!!

Photo Source

Seriously, if you don't watch this movie, you'll lose out on enjoying another big-budget popcorn entertainment before 2011 ends. :)

If you wish, you can watch it at the TGV IMAX theater.

0

Project 365 2011 - Photo #198 - The Last Watch

The Last Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. The Last Watch is the sequel to the Night Watch trilogy: Night Watch, Day Watch, Twilight Watch.

Synopsis:

The Last Watch is the stunning sequel to the Night Watch trilogy, following the fortunes of the Others. Indistinguishable from normal people but possessed of supernatural powers and capable of entering the Twilight, a shadowy world that exists in parallel to our own, each Other owes allegiance either to the Dark, or to the Light...

While on holiday in Scotland, visiting 'The Dungeons of Edinburgh', a young Russian tourist is murdered. As the police grapple with the fact that the cause of the young man's death was a massive loss of blood, the Watches are immediately aware that there is a renegade vampire on the loose.

Anton - the hero of the Night Watch trilogy - is detailed to this seemingly mundane investigation, but begins to realize that there is much more to the story than a wildcat vampire and a single murder, and discovers that a team of unlicensed Others are hunting for a fabled magical treasure, hidden in the sixth level of the Twilight by Merlin himself...

0

Project 365 2011 - Photo #173 - Twilight Watch

Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. The first book in this series is Night Watch and the second book is Day Watch.

Synopsis:

A dark and exhilarating hybrid of fantasy, vampire story, and detective potboiler, Twilight Watch is the third volume in the series that has become an international sensation.

Living among us are the "Others", an ancient race of humans with supernatural powers who must swear allegiance to either the Dark or the Light. A thousand-year treaty has maintained the balance of power between the two sides, but when a renegade Other absconds with a fabled book of spells and appears intent on using it to alter the course of humanity, the forces of Light and Dark must cooperate to stop him.

Anton, the hero from Night Watch, is back, but when the culprit turns our to be an old friend, the race against time becomes more urgent than ever. In a world where reality and magic commingle, and where different degrees of existence are layered one atop the other, nothing is ever quite what it seems.

0

Movie: X-Men: First Class (2011)

Witness the Moment that Will Change Our World.

X-Men: First Class (2011) is a superhero movie based on the characters in Marvel Comics. It's the prequel to the X-Men movie series, focusing on "the formative years of Xavier (Professor X) and Magneto" and set primarily in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Synopsis from IMDb: Before Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lensherr (Michael Fassbender) took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-MEN.

I'm clueless about the X-Men characters because I don't read the comic books and the only X-Men related movie that I've watched was Wolverine. I've no inkling of X-Men's back story or the entire list of characters. So, I watched this movie in total ignorance. :P

Since this movie focuses on the early years of Professor X and Magneto, there are quite a number of teenage mutant characters - Mystique (blue-skinned shapeshifter), Beast (beast, obviously), Havok (plasma blaster), Banshee (sonic screamer), Darwin (the evolution adapter who died early), and Angel (the winged mutant who turned away from Professor X's team).

The villains are the Hellfire Club led by the narcissistic former Nazi scientist, Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon). His minions are Azazel (teleporter), Emma Frost (January Jones) (a mutant who can turn into diamond form), and Riptide (a mutant who can create whirlwinds).

Well, since I'm unfamiliar with the X-Men franchise, I watch this movie for pure entertainment value. The part that I like the most is Hugh Jackman's cameo appearance as the future Wolverine. Cool! The special effects are pretty good too, especially when Magneto deflects missiles from the navy or when Banshee is flying and doing his supersonic stunts.

A very entertaining movie indeed!

0

Movies: Day Watch (2006)

From the visionary force behind 'Night Watch'.

Day Watch (2006), a Russian dark fantasy action movie is also known as Night Watch 2: The Chalk of Fate. As the sequel to Night Watch (2004), Day Watch is based on the second and the third part of the novel Night Watch, the first book of Sergei Lukyanenko's internationally acclaimed trilogy rather than the second book, Day Watch.

Both "Nochnoi Dozor" (Night Watch) and "Dnevnoi Dozor" (Day Watch) are novels about the everlasting fantasy battle Good and Evil, Light and Darkness.

Synopsis: Anton Gorodetsky (Konstantin Khabensky) and his love interest Svetlana (Mariya Poroshina) are Light Others, working as Night Watch operatives in Moscow. Anton's son Yegor (Dmitriy Martynov) is a powerful young Dark Other who would become a Great One as mentioned in a prophecy. The balance between Light and Darkness is affected by the murder of some Dark Others and Anton finds himself framed and accused of the murders. Realizing that the chain of events starts off with a mistake he made a long ago, Anton seeks an ancient Chalk of Fate that has the power to change destiny.

Having read the novels, I decided to watch the movies too. However, I only managed to watch Day Watch on DVD and I couldn't seem to find Night Watch online. Day Watch has a straightforward plot and continuous timeline from its prequel, Night Watch. Apart from the main plot about Anton trying to change destiny, there are quite a number of subplots involving other characters. So, if you haven't read the novels and if you haven't watched the first movie as well, you'll find yourself lost while trying to understand the characters and storyline that don't seem to make any sense most of the time.

Let me highlight some of the main characters:1. Anton: The main character who wants to use the Chalk of Fate to change destiny, Light Other, Night Watch operative.

2. Svetlana: Anton's love interest and apprentice, Light Other, Night Watch operative.

3. Gesar/Boris: Head of the Night Watch operatives/Light Others.

4. Olga: Light Other, Night Watch operative.

5. Yegor: Anton's son who chooses Darkness. Note: In the novels, Yegor is not Anton's son.

6. Zabulon: Head of the Day Watch operatives/Dark Others.

7. Alisa: Zabulon's minion and love interest.

8. Kostya: A vampire whom Alisa falls in love with, Dark Other.

The best parts of the movie come from its fast-paced and mind-boggling scenes, such as a car being driven vertically along a tall building and racing cars driven at impossible speed without causing disastrous accidents. Excellent special effects and well-composed soundtracks give added boost to the movie too.

In summary, this movie is recommended for those who are into dark fantasy.

0

Project 365 2011 - Photo #150 - Day Watch

Day Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. The first book in this series is Night Watch.

Synopsis:

The second in a blockbuster series of novels from Russia's most popular science fiction author, Day Watch brings us back into the hyper-imaginative world of Sergei Lukyanenko and continues the dramatic battle betwween good and evil, light and dark, day and night.  

Day Watch introduces the perspective of the Dark Ones, as it is told in part by a beautiful but troubled young witch. When she falls in love with a handsome young Light One, the balance is threatened and a death must be avenged. Replete with the thrilling action and intricate plotting of the first tale, Day Watch is fueled by cunning, cruelty, violence, and magic. It is a fast-paced, darkly humorous, haunting world that will take root in the shadows of your mind and live there forever.

0

Project 365 2011 - Photo #133 - Night Watch

Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko, known as the extraordinary bestseller from Russia.

Synopsis: 

Others. They Walk Among Us, Observing.

Set in contemporary Moscow, where shape shifters, vampires, and street-sorcerers linger in the shadows, Night Watch is the first book of the hyper-imaginative fantasy trilogy from bestselling Russian author Sergei Lukyanenko. This epic saga chronicles the eternal war of the "Others", an ancient race of humans with supernatural powers who must swear allegiance to either the Dark or the Light.

The agents of Light - the Night Watch - oversee nocturnal activity, while the agents of Dark keep watch over the day. For a thousand years both sides have maintained a precarious balance of power, but an ancient prophecy has decreed that a supreme Other will one day emerge, threatening to tip the scales. Now, that day has arrived. When a mid-level Night Watch agent named Anton stumbles upon a cursed young woman - an uninitiated Other with magnificent potential - both sides prepare for a battle that could lay waste to the entire city, possibly the world.

With language that throbs like darkly humorous hard-rock lyrics about blood and power, freedom and responsibility, Night Watch is a chilling, cutting-edge thriller, a pulse-pounding ride of fusion fiction that will leave you breathless for the next installment.

0

Movie: The Tomb (2009)

Her Body, Your Soul

The Tomb (2009) is also known as Ligeia, a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe.

Synopsis from IMDb: Successful writer and scholar Jonathan Merrick (Wes Bentley) falls under the spell of the irresistible, bewitchingly beautiful Ligeia (Sofya Skya). She's fighting a fatal illness and will stop at nothing to defeat death, her one true enemy. She steals other people's souls and on her quest to immortality, she tricks Jonathan into supporting her work, breaking him apart from his fiancée, Rowena (Kaitlin Doubleday) and pulling him into her dark, mysterious world. They settle down in an old manor by the Black Sea where Ligeia's everlasting presence slowly drives Jonathan to madness.

I wouldn't say "The Tomb" is a good horror movie. Its pacing is weird and painfully slow, and the acting is bland and boring. The concept of binding ancient witchcraft with science to steal people's souls is interesting and the director should have explored more on this point, not exploiting the two beautiful female lead actresses in erotic scenes, which are rather unnecessary.

Overall, this is not a recommended movie.

0

Movie: Salt (2010)

Who is Salt?

Salt (2010) is an action thriller movie starring Angelina Jolie as CIA agent Evelyn Salt.

Here's a good synopsis written by Sony Pictures: As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt's efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who is Salt?"

Liev Schreiber is Ted Winter, Salt's colleague. Schreiber is Victor Creed/Sabretooth, Wolverine's brother in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) & Zus Bielski in Defiance (2008).

Overall, this is an adrenaline-pumping action thriller with Angelina Jolie kicking bad asses wherever she goes and performing almost all of her own stunts. However, its storyline is not super-exciting or entirely new -- Russian moles in the CIA of America, assassination plots of presidents, nuclear war prospects, etc. Sounds familiar, right? In fact, I feel like I'm watching Mission Impossible or James Bond or Jason Bourne movies with a female protagonist. :D

However, I'm not overly disappointed because Angelina Jolie is still giving her top-notched performance as a female action star. On top of that, the little twist at the end of the movie is quite unexpected and it sort of defies all predictable moments from the beginning of the movie.

Recommended to all action thriller fans and Angelina Jolie's supporters. :)

0

Weekend DVD 1: Defiance (2008)

Freedom begins with an act of defiance!

A true story.

It's August 1941. The Jewish Bielski brothers - Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber), Asael (Jamie Bell), and Aron (George MacKay) escaped from the massacre of the German soldiers in their village where their parents and many other Jews were either killed or sent to concentration camps.

The four brothers hide in the Belarussian forests and soon, other runaway Jews join them. Tuvia the eldest begins to assume leadership among the survivors and builds a village/community. Zus wants to fight the Germans and he chooses to leave the community and join the Soviet partisans. Tuvia continues his role as caretaker to protect all new and surviving Jews in his village with his two younger brothers and fight for food and ammunition.

This is a very inspirational movie with a touchy topic: the Holocaust. Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, and Jamie Bell give us powerful, impressive, and provoking performance as the Bielski brothers. You could feel the pain, loss, and suffering caused by war and death among the survivors. You could feel their strong determination to continue surviving amidst hardship. Some of them are at the brink of losing their faith at some point of time. This is indeed a very touching and intense movie.

Moreover, the beauty of this movie also lies in its balanced and non-provocative approach to uncover mankind's past, and possibly the worst history of genocide ever. You won't be stirred up too much to hate the SS or the Russian partisans or the Jews or anyone. There's no ground to harbor hatred and revenge. All you want to see is the possibility to survive and nothing else.

The movie ends with this statement. "The Bielskis never sought recognition for what they did, and that the descendants of the people they saved now number in the tens of thousands." This is amazing.

Final verdict: Highly recommended.

0

Я люблю тебя | 사랑해요 | あなたがすきです | Σ'αγαπώ

That's what I'd tell the Lord Jesus...

Russian
Я люблю тебя (Ya lyublyu tebya)
Ты нужна мне (Ti nuzhna mne)

Means: I love you ; I need you.

I love languages!

Add-ons for I love/like you:

Korean
사랑해요 (Saranghaeyo)

Japanese
あなたがすきです (Anata ga suki desu)

Greek
Σ'αγαπώ (S'agapo)

Lol... Just for fun.

0

Try this: Borscht (Vegetable Soup)

One of the dishes that caught my attention during my first lunch in Russia was a kind of vegetable soup called Borscht. The soup is purplish-red in color due to beetroot. I doubt we can find beetroot in Malaysia.

Errrr... The answer is yes, because I found beetroot-related recipes in one of the Malaysian food websites. Well... That's good!

In fact, this is a very healthy soup, not fattening (as long as the amount of sour cream is reduced), and is very refreshing. I was hooked to this soup and lunch time was a bliss whenever it was served.

If I can get hold of beetroots... then, I'll try out this simple recipe:

What to Prepare?
225g cooked beetroot, peeled and cut into strips
350g white cabbage, shredded
350g potatoes, peeled and diced
350g finely chopped carrots
1/2 stalk celery, chopped
1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 teaspoon of caraway seeds
1 liter of chicken or vegetable stock
1 tablespoon of vinegar, salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup of minced fresh dill
Some sour cream (optional, for garnish)

How?
1. Bring stock, vinegar and beetroot to the boil and let it simmer gently for 20-30 minutes.
2. Add cabbage, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion and caraway seeds, and let it simmer for another 20-30 minutes.
3. Add seasonings to taste.
4. Serve with minced fresh dill and a dollop sour cream (optional) on top.

1

Matryoshka Doll ~ Russian Doll

Have you seen something like this before?

They are called the Matryoshka Dolls, typical Russian gift dolls. I have bought one during my trip to Russia in January, 2007.

I'll link this post to a few websites that provide nice reviews of these delicate crafts.

Matryoshka Dolls

History of Russian Nesting Dolls

Nesting Dolls

Russian Legacy

If you happen to visit Russia, particularly Moscow and St. Petersburgh, don't forget to get one of these dolls as souvenirs. They are so demure and delicate, reminding me of fairy tales, princesses, princes, enchanted tales of cursed or forbidden love or something...

It's simply amazing...

0

Memories from Russia... Living

Life is not as comfy as Malaysia, but it's definitely a different kind of look-and-feel.

0