Series Review | My Name

Synopsis | Following her father's murder, a revenge-driven woman puts her trust in a powerful crime boss and enters the force under his direction.

It's been awhile since I last watched a Korean movie or series properly but I've literally finished the whole 8-episode series in one day! I personally love watching crime and thriller series but I totally into action series like the recent Uncanny Counter (also a Netflix series) and loved all the noir series made by South Korean movie channel, OCN. This series is totally right down my alley so if you're into dark and thrilling series, definitely check this series out. I give this 9/10 for the cinematography and surely will rewatch! 

Let me know if you've got the chance to watch this and tell me what you think by leaving comments down below. Until next time, annyeong~ 

Log | Rurouni Kenshin : The Final Is Coming to Netflix!

 

Oh my God! I was scrolling down the Coming Soon section on my Netflix app and the first thing that popped was this Rurouni Kenshin The Final movie which is the fourth installment of the franchise! I don't know if you know this about me but I'm obsessed with the franchise since 2012 thanks to my best friend. 

To me, the whole franchise is the best live-action adaptation from Japanese manga and I'm so elated that Netflix picked up the final 2 movies; I think (and pray) the final instalment too seeing that this one is a Netflix movie. 

While I'm not a fan of the mangaka due to a moral reason, I'm also not a fan of the anime because the 90s vibe doesn't match my taste and I honestly don't think it's going to survive this millennium but when it comes to the live-action movies, Sato Takeru has done brilliant job playing Himura Kenshin and I've become a bigger fan after seeing footages of some behind-the-scene showing how he's done a lot of his own stunts.

Anyway, I just want to say that I'm so excited to watch this movie and it has been a while since I'm this excited! I'm so thankful that it's coming to Netflix and I don't have to wait till we all can go and watch in cinema - man, Demon Slayer Mugen Train was such a treat after almost 2 years since I last stepped into my local Golden Screen Cinemas. 

What about you guys? What's your latest binge on streaming platforms? Definitely let me know by leaving comments down below. 

P.S.: My original Banpresto Q Posket Rurouni Kenshin for Himura Kenshin, Yukishiro Enishi and Saito Hajime are here! 

I guess that's all of it and I'm going to blast ONE OK ROCK's Renegades along with their latest song Broken Heart of Gold so I'll see you guys on my next post! 

Series Review | Dracula (2020)

I read a lot of Classics just not this one although I've seen plenty of movies based on Bram Stoker's 1897 novel, Dracula. At this point, I bet many of you already know what's a vampire or at least the concept of it so you are probably having some kind of ideas in your head before watching any vampire movies and I am not excluded from it.

*spoiler alert*

The first episode was lovely in ways that I dig the tones, the settings, some Easter Eggs and as I did studied architecture a little bit, I do appreciate that this series took place in one of the most beautiful castle in Slovakia, the Orava Castle which was built in 13th century originally in Gothic and Romanesque style.

While we all know the characters in Dracula from other movies, this series focused on the titular character's weaknesses and while the scene where Dracula emerged from the black creature was so hauntingly beautiful (read: terrifying enough to induce nightmare last night), I find myself drawn into his curiosity and therefore experiments with his brides. This gave me the idea that he was really desperate for companies. While thinking he was a mere monster, he still acted or maybe at some point feel like any human.

The second episode was the highlight of the series, I'd say. While the writers coloured some LGBTQ+ theme to it, I was actually quite surprised when it was revealed that the room number 9's occupant is Agatha herself! Surrounded by flies, I thought it was filled with the bodies drained by Dracula but nope!

The third episode while it was kind of not in the direction I would fancy it was supposed to, not only skipped a whole century into the future but also the lingering scenes between Seward and Lucy is not something I am overly fond of. Safe to say, it went downhill until the bittersweet end of it all.

*spoiler ends*

I've got to point out that this short series indeed breathed in something fresh and I'd say successfully put Dracula into a new light (pun intended, literally) but I admit, I rather liked it. I don't know about you but at some point of watching the series, I felt like while I was all into gaining superficial things in life for most of my awaking hours, I forgot to live while making a living.

In the end, I feel so humbled by the fact that I often ignored my duties towards myself and other people in my life, only remembering God when bad things happened to me.

Overall, I loved it. I'd be looking forward to more of Claes Bang work after this.


By the way, have you seen the network's teaser billboard in the UK? Absolutely, masterpiece!

I guess that's all from me. Hoped you guys enjoyed your recent CNY long weekend. As for me, I took a trip across the state to Miri, Sarawak. It was hellish but I'll update on that soon.

Until then, take care!

Series Review | Shadowhunters (2019)

Finally, I've finished the whole 3 series of Shadowhunters in merely less than a month as I've watched the special season finale last night. Like Clary after receiving the message from Angel Raziel, I can't help but tearing up throughout watching the whole last 2 episodes.

I don't want to talk about how this series is somewhat differs from the book as it's pretty much similar to Twilight saga before; there's just too much to be packed in a series plus I haven't finished reading not even the first instalment of the Mortal Instruments books so I can't really say much about it.

*spoiler alert*

But I can tell you this, I really wish that instead 2-episode special is at least 3 hours long. After all those dramatic entrance of the villain, the final battle to defeat him was too simple and plain for me. The series already gave us audience away about it when the villain emerge into a whole different level of villain when he allied with another enemy of the Shadowhunters so I was expecting a little bit more resistance from him. I can't help but feeling like the writers just want to finish off the whole thing and rush to the fairy tale ending.

*spoiler ends*

Still, I do love how the end just brings me back to the very first episode of the series. Somewhat similar to what I've felt with How I Met Your Mother. with all the feelings just wash all over me like wave of happiness with a tinge of sadness but as the title of the episode goes, all good things...

I guess it's time to finally go back to the books to finish off what I've started although I did actually finished a book that is a sequel to the whole Mortal Instruments series. I'll review that soon!

Which Netflix series that you're indulging yourself in right now? Tell me in the comment sections down below. I guess that's all of it and I'll see you guys on my next post. Take care!

Movie Review | "Unbroken" (2014)

Finally! I've been waiting for Netflix to add this movie to their long-list of movies based on real life story like several years already! I've seen the movie in the cinema when it first came out and remember going out feeling numb from all the crying. 

I kept on thinking, how someone's trust in him/herself was built based on others' belief towards him/herself. Zamperini's brother believed in him. Refused to let him be nothing. I myself don't know or probably am blind to anyone who actually ever believe in me. 

Also, for Zamperini who probably yearning for audiences while striking victory in the Olympic, he probably felt much prouder of himself for gaining audience while he raised the huge block of wood in front of the Bird. He had showed to others that he can never be unbroken. At this point of the movie, I can't help feeling ashamed of my points of weakness for not being able to achieve certain things in my life. I failed in design studies hence my decision to quit architecture school. I never felt so depressed in my life.

Of course,  that was 5 years ago. I still feel I could have done better but one of things that I have learned as part of being an adult is to learn from past mistakes, embracing that part of myself today for tomorrow's wiser decisions. I do feel like as if I'm floating in between things in my life - not for 47 days in open ocean but it does feels like that some times especially when I'm between blogging jobs and that's when reality strikes me, pulls me back to the ground.

while the movie mainly pulls focus on Zamperini, I also can't help shed some tears for the Bird at the end of the movie too. As Zamperini was sitting against the wall of the Bird's room, looking how modest his room looked like; with a single photo of the Bird and his father, I can only imagine his frustration of being a single child of a renowned family with high expectation to hold high position in military only to be denied and forced to be prison guard. Obviously, I can totally relate that.

Now, this movie is more than just average to me. I haven't got the chance to actually read the book but I'd say Angeline Jolie has definitely earned the 1 million Dollars she got paid to direct this movie. I actually love Domnall Gleeson's portrayal of Russel Phillips' character alongside Jack O'Connel's Louise Zamperini's character. I feel like he is like the Tiger in Life of Pi; he kept Zamperini to go on and not give up even when they both captured and almost went insane.

Overall, I definitely would love to recommend this to anyone above the age of 18. Definitely inspiring. 

Do let me know if you have recommendation on similar movie to this by leaving comments down below and until next post, take care.