magnoliacream Reviews

A Hazard of Hearts (1987 TV Movie)

Swoonworthy period romance

[8/10 · 1 March 2024]

This is about a girl, Serena Staverley (Helena Bonham Carter), whose father Sir Giles (Christopher Plummer) gambles his whole estate and her away. The eventual winner, Lord Justin Vulcan (Marcus Gilbert), takes Serena to live with his mother Lady Harriet (Diana Rigg) at his estate, Mandrake, while he decides what to do with her.

Whatever the production lacks in quality - the acting of some characters and some scenes are rather cheesy - it makes up for it in spades (pardon the pun) with the stunning visuals of the lead characters. Marcus Gilbert, especially, is so swoonworthy, I wish more Barbara Cartland novels were adapted into movies with him as the male lead.

Life of a Mistress (2018– )

So glad I decided to check this out

[9/10 · 1 March 2024]

From the title "Life of a Mistress", I thought this was a seedy drama about a concubine or an "other woman", so I've been ignoring this for sometime while surfing shows to watch on Prime Video. So glad I finally took a chance on this as it turned out to be quite a gem.

After watching this, I think a more apt title would have been "The Serf Lady" or something like that.

This tells the story of beautiful Polina Lebedeva, born a serf in the estate of Prince Alexei Golovin but raised like his daughter. However, her freedom certificate he signed on his deathbed was stolen. So was his will that left all his estate to her.

The estate falls into the hands of a tyrannical neighbor Count Andrey Krechetskiy, who, along with his wife Anna, treat Polina as a serf. The drama shows the agonizing lives of serfs whose lives, including their marriages, are dictated by their masters.

Andrey's dashing brother Dmitriy, however, treats Polina as the lady she is. They fall in love, but it is illegal for noblemen to marry serfs. How the couple overcomes obstacles is riveting. I also love how the.drama shows the investigation process that culminates in the satisfying revelation at the courtroom.

Journey to Bethlehem (2023)

One of my favorite adaptations of the Christmas story

[9/10 · 11 February 2024]

Despite some creative license, this adaptation of the Nativity got fundamental things about Jesus' birth right. Like Mary and Joseph's engagement, her pregnancy before the wedding, her visit to Elizabeth, Joseph's dreams, their trek to Bethlehem for the census, the three kings, the lowly birth, the flight to Egypt. All told as down-to-earth and realistic as possible. Add in delightful new music including Antonio Banderas' impressive performance, stirring renditions of classic Christmas songs and romance between a pretty Mary and a handsome Joseph and you've got one of the best adaptations of the Christmas story I've watched.

The Greatest Night in Pop (2024)

Magical and awe-inspiring

[9/10 · 8 February 2024]

From Michael Jackson's pet snake terrorizing Lionel Richie while they were composing the music to Bob Geldof's simple but powerful speech to get the stars in the mood for what the evening was about to Lionel Ritchie recounting how he kept gushing about the recording session to his family the following day more so than his AMA hosting gig and wins just before the recording, this is one delightful anecdote after another. I was awe-struck at the affability and humility of the stars during the recording session. Smokey Robinson telling Michael Jackson his suggestion wasn't good and Michael smiling his agreement. Al Jarreau singing Harry Belafonte's Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) and everybody joining in. Diana Ross telling Daryl Hall she's his biggest fan and could he please sign her music sheet. The rest of the ensemble asking each other's autograph. Prince failing to show up. Huey Lewis confessing he was shaking at being made to sing Prince's part right after Michael. Stevie Wonder being naughty, pretending he made a mistake, and Quincy Jones making him and Lionel behave. Kenny Loggins' sweet voice balancing Bruce Sprinsteen's glassy one. Steve Perry effortlessly reaching those high notes. Cindi Lauper's bangles, baubles and beads creating some unwanted noise in her performance. Bob Dylan asking Stevie to help him understand what he's supposed to do. Bruce bringing such passion and dedication to his parts. Diana crying when the session wrapped coz she didn't want it to end.

This is such a precious look at these big names in pop music. I became a fan of all of them volunteering to help starving Africans. It made me love this music even more, I've been watching it and the finished product on Youtube over and over.

Leave the World Behind (2023)

This is how it will feel when it happens

[8/10 · 26 December 2023]

New Yorker City resident Amanda Sandford (Julia Roberts) wakes up one morning realizing she hates people so she whisks her husband Clay (Ethan Hawke) and children Rose (Farrah Mackenzie) and Archie (Charlie Evans) to a vacation, having rented a house in Long Island. While on the beach, they witness a ship run aground. In the middle of the night with the phones and internet not working, a man claiming to be the owner of the house G. H. Scott (Mahershala Ali) shows up with daughter Ruth (Myha'la) asking if they can stay the night. They came from an engagement and were on their way back to the city but had some difficultty due to a blackout. The suspicious Sandfords let then stay in the basement.

As the Sandfords and Scotts learn to trust each other, things get stranger around them - wild animals becoming bold, head-splitting noise, Archie losing his teeth, people like Danny, a guy GH knows, becoming hostile.

GH figures out what is happening, remembering something he heard from a client. Accordingly, there is a 3-step program on how to topple a country's government from within:

1. Isolation - disable communication and transportation. Make the target as deaf, dumb and paralyzed as possible

2. Synchronized chaos - Terrorise them with covert attacks and misinformation, overwhelming their defense capabilities, leaving their weapon systems vulnerable to extremists and their own military. Without a clear enemy or motivem people would start turning on each other. If done successfully, the third stage would happen on its own

3. Coup d'etat. Civil war. Collapse. This program is considered the most cost-effective way to destabilize a countrty. Because if the the target nation was dysfunctional enough, it would in essense do the work for you.

I'm reading reviews about how this movie does not make sense, and I think that is intentional. Put yourself in the shoes of Amanda or Clay, seeing and feeling that things are out of whack but can't understand what is going on. That is what we and everybody else in the US would be feeling when this program is unraveling all around us.

Bridgerton (2020– )

Entertaining though unexpectedly raunchy

[8/10 · 29 October 2023]

From its wholesome-looking trailers, I had expected this to be like Downton Abbey or an adaptation of a Jane Austen novel. I almost dropped this when it got more raunchy than expected. But as I had done with Game of Thrones, I ignored the unpleasant parts so I could continue following the story.

Overall, it's highly entertaining. Aside from the colorful and wholesome-looking cast, the costumes, houses, grounds and parks are lovely. The Bridgertons, with their capable and affectionate mother Violet (Ruth Gemmell), are a delightful lot. Composed of eight children with names starting from A to H, they really love their mother and each other, a testament to the great love between their parents before their father passed away.

Violet's best friend Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) is a rich and influential widow who is a friend of the eccentric Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), the wife of King George III.

The Bridgertons' neighbors, the Featheringtons, are quirky and rather silly, except for the youngest, sensible Penelope (Nicola Coughlan). A close friend of the rebellious feminist Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), pudgy Penelope has a crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).

The series showcases London society's obsession with finding suitable marriage partners during the Regency era. It depicts how fathers or guardians take their responsibility to find suitable husbands for their daughters or sisters seriously, the excitement and fuss that go with preparing for a ball especially during a girl's presentation to the queen, the importance of a girl's reputation, the long lines of suitors after a successful night at the ball, how being declared the diamond of the season by the queen can drastically improve a girl's marriage prospects, and a marriage proposal being the sought-after culmination of a London season.

Every now and then, a mysterious writer named Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews) would print scandal sheets that report on juicy tidbits about members of "the ton". Eloise, with Penelope's help, sets out to uncover her identity, even collaborating with Queen Charlotte one time.

Season 1 mostly deals with the Bridgeton's first sister and fourth sibling Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) who catches the eye of the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page) during her first season.

Season 2 is mostly about Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley).

I found both seasons delightful once I've decided to ignore the raunchy parts instead of fuming over how the producers were sullying sweet love stories with unnecessarily dirty scenes.

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Favorite movie adaptation of a beloved novel

[9/10 · 28 October 2023]

This adaptation of Jane Austen's novel about witty country beauty Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bennett (Keira Knightly) and super wealthy Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) is my favorite among the movie versions. My favorite adaptation of all time is the series starring Colin Firth. But whenever I hanker for a short get-together with the Bennets, Darcys and their friends, I pick this movie.

Lizzie's respectful relationship with her parents (Donald Sutherland and Brenda Blethyn), her warm bond with lovely older sister Jane (Rosamund Pike) and homely friend Charlotte Lucas (Claudie Blakley), and her loving tolerance of her three rather silly younger sisters Mary (Talulah Riley), Kitty (Carey Mulligan) and the flirty Lydia (Jena Malone), feel real and heart-warming. Coupled with the rustic and homey setting of Longbourn, the Bennets' estate, with pigs and geese freely coming in and out of the kitchen while Mary's piano playing fills the house with pleasant music, re-watching this feels like visiting some favorite cousins' home in the countryside.

Matthew Macfadyen's Mr. Darcy is a contrast of snootiness and gentleness. He delivers his lines just right, with the right expression of disdain, confusion and affability as appropriate. The most anticipated proposal scene does not disappoint. However, when he does not take center stage, he blends into the background. I don't get curious about how he feels when Mrs Bennet is bad-mouthing him in his presence or when he and Mr. Bingley go back to Longbourn after a long absence.

Charles Bingley (Simon Woods) is as amiable and proper as Jane wants him to be. However, I don't feel any chemistry between them.

George Wickham (Rupert Friend) is as dashing as Lydia desires and as caddish as Darcy knows he is.

Judi Dench is as imposing and obnoxious as one would expect Lady Catherine de Bourgh to be.

Tom Hollander's portrayal of Mr. Collins, showcasing his ridiculous pomposity and impropriety as well as obsequiousness towards Lady Catherine, provides a welcome source of merriment.

Despite any aforementioned shortcomings, the characters are portrayed not too far off the mark. Well, almost. Lizzie's tendency to make fun of other people is rather grating, like she has some sort of a superiority complex. I also don't like the part where she yells at her parents and sisters after Lady Catherine's visit. It feels like overacting and out of character. Might this be intentional, an attempt to give Lizzie more spirit? If so, it's rather off-putting. It could be one reason this adaptation, while likeable, has not captured my heart the way the series has. Nevertheless, I still enjoy it whenever I'm the mood to revisit Longbourn and Pemberley.

Casper (1995)

Timeless entertainment with heart and soul

[9/10 · 28 October 2023]

Years after watching this gem countless times when it came out in 1995, I recently watched it again to see whether my older self would still love this as much as I did. The verdict? It is timeless, drawing me again into a world of humans who can't move on from their dear departed and the not-so-humans who have unfinished business in this life.

The animated Casper is as cute and lovable as I had hoped he would be first time I watched my favorite cartoon. He and his uncles, the ghostly trio, live in Whipstaff Manor, a spooky and quirky mansion that has cool features, providing an apt setting for a fun showdown between a friendly and not so friendly ghosts and a ghost therapist out to get rid of them.

Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman), the ghost therapist, is a widower with a 13-year-old daughter, Kat (Christina Ricci). Hired by the owner of the manor (Cathy Moriarty) to get rid of the ghosts, he and Kat move into the manor so he could find out the ghosts' unfinished business and thereby send them off to the afterlife.

The interactions between the humans and ghosts are funny and touching. Casper and Kat become friends, with him helping her settle in her new home and school and her helping him remember his life. They find the contraption Casper's departed scientist father created to resurrect his son and try to make it work. Will they succeed?

There is a most delightful surprise involving Kat's dance partner that would send every young girl's heart a-flutter. That and the accompanying song always make me feel giddy and wistful at the same time. Yes, even now.

Talking of music, the soundtrack by James Horner adds just the right touch of fun, whimsy and nostalgia to this most entertaining story about love, friendship and letting go.

Haereul poomeun dal (2012)

Great story and first half, but gets draggy towards the end

[7/10 · 22 October 2023]

This is about Joseon crown prince Lee Hwon (Yeo Jin Goo, Kim Soo Hyun) who at 15 falls in love with the chief scholar's intelligent and sensible 13-year-old daughter Heo Yeon Woo (Kim Yoo Jung, Han Ga In). Their love would be tested by political schemers who prefer a crown princess who would advance their standing in court.

I love the first 6 episodes of this drama, before the kids grow up. Kim Yoo Jung is loaded with charisma even at such a young age. Her chemistry with Yeo Jin Goo is much more palpable than that of their older counterparts.

The emotional Lee Hwon is everything I don't like about kdrama acting - too melodramatic and the yelling! Gosh I really hate when kdrama actors end heated remarks with yelling at the top of their lungs. Seems to me like whining, but yelling to desperately assert a frail ego. I can understand an immature character doing this once or twice in a series. But to treat the audience with this outburst as often as the grown-up Lee Hwon does in this drama is rather traumatic. Surely a grown man, especially a powerful man - a king! - at that, would realize that outbursts are signs of character weakness.

The grown-up Yeon Woo is also a disappointment. Her bulging eyes are distracting. But at least she's not too melodramatic.

The story is compelling but gets draggier and draggier after the first half, or maybe I just stopped caring about the characters by then.

Considering the number of awards this drama got, I had hoped for a much better viewing experience.

Heirs to the Land (2022)

Engrossing, almost epic

[8/10 · 12 October 2023]

This is a sequel to Cathedral of the Sea, though it's entertaining on its own, even if you haven't watched the prequel.

In 14th century Spain, 12-year-old Hugo Llor (David Solans, Yon González), his mother Antonina (Marta Belaustegui) and sister Arsenda (Bruna Cusí) have to go their separate ways to find work after his father's death. Hugo becomes an apprentice at a ship-building company owned by Arnau Estanyol (Aitor Luna), the male lead in Cathedral of the Sea, and now a well-to-do and respected elder in the community.

At the same time, Arnau's son Bernat (Arturo Sancho, Rodolfo Sancho) goes out to sea to learn navigational skills.

Not long after, the king dies, ushering in a change in power dynamics that upends Hugo's life. Events happen that end up with Hugo living with Arnau's friend Jucef Crescas (Nancho Novo) and his community of Jews, helping them attend to their vineyard. He falls in love with Jucef's daughter Dolca (Gabriela Andrada) who becomes his lover.

A change in political situation again upends Hugo's life. This becomes a recurring theme in this series, showing how power struggles in the upper echelons of society affect common folks. Religious persecution, particularly of Jews, is also depicted.

Amidst these social and political changes, Hugo soldiers on. He reconnects with Arsenda and Bernat in much different circumstances, the entanglement of their stories fantastically woven.

Reptile (2023)

Slow-burn, steadily building up to an explosive ending

[8/10 · 7 October 2023]

Detective Tom Nichols (Benicio del Toro) investigates the gruesome murder of a real estate agent who was the girlfriend of Will Grady (Justin Timberlake), the son of the owner (Frances Fisher) of a real estate company.

The case leads Tom to uncover hard truths about his job. It reinforces the warning against judging a book by its cover, as humans have the ability to change behavior like snakes shedding off their skins.

The movie takes its time to lay the groundwork of the story, showing Tom's almost idyllic life with wife Judy (Alicia Silverstone) and his co-workers in the police force that will make the revelations at the last few minutes of the film more shocking.

Beckham (2023)

Ups and downs of a legendary career

[9/10 · 6 October 2023]

From the point of view of somebody who seldom follows sports news and only knows David Beckham as a great soccer (I'm an American) player and Posh Spice's better half, this is quite informative, shocking at times.

His rise to stardom is awe-inspiring and much more pleasant than the abusive treatment some famous talented children (think Mozart and Beethoven) have experienced from elders who try to force them to be the best they could be. His parents appear to be loving and nurturing. His self-control (no drinking), humility and diligence (even when benched) that are most probably the fruits of an exemplary upbringing, are truly admirable.

The bullying he got from Manchester United fans for that one mistake is shocking. From being treated like a legend, he was bashed like no other. It's a wonder he did not crumble. That might be attributed to his awesome support system - his loving wife, parents and teammates, among others. But mostly, his nerves of steel and grit make him a giant among men.

The English Game (2020)

A story worth telling

[9/10 · 4 October 2023]

Based on true events, this dramatizes how football, a game originated by English gentlemen, was shared with the common folks. It also depicts the start of professional football.

Arthur Kinnaird (Edward Holcroft) is the captain of the Old Etonians football team, the reigning champions of this game for the wealthy who developed the rules of the game.

Fergus Suter (Kevin Guthrie) and Jimmy Love (James Harkness), players for Partick, a football club in Scotland, were recruited to play for Darwen then Blackburn, working-class football clubs in England. Their recruitment as professional football players became controversial and led to the Backburn team being banned from the finals against Old Etonians.

In a meeting between Arthur and Fergus, Arthur pointed out that hiring professional players is against the rules. Fergus argued about the unfairness of well-fed gentlemen who have time to practice playing against men who are breaking their backs at work, who can hardly put food on the table, who don't have time to practice and rest. That is, being professionally paid is the only way common men could level the playing field against gentlemen.

This story is worth telling not only for its historical significance but mostly for showing men in their best light. Watching a spoilt and entitled rich young man maturing into an honorable gentleman is truly a delight, reviving my admiration for people who try to do what is logical and right. In the end, the whole of England wins.

Messiah (2020)

Thought-provoking, keeps one guessing

[8/10 · 2 October 2023]

This could be one scenario for the second coming. If Jesus were to come back to the world in our time, how would that play out? This does a good job of keeping the viewer guessing: is the Messiah/al-Masih (Mehdi Dehbi) a fraud or for real? Why did he choose such a weak follower as the desperate Pastor Felix Iguero (John Ortiz) whose family is messed up, with an alcoholic wife Anna (Melinda Page Hamilton) and rebellious daughter Rebecca (Stefania LaVie Owen). But then one remembers Simon who denied Jesus three times. And Felix does bring him to his intended destination, so might that have been his purpose? Al-Masih's other follower, Jibril Medina (Sayyid El Alami), is a delight though, very loyal and devoted to him, calling to mind Jesus's disciple John.

I feel that this is supposed to have a second season that would expound on the roles of CIA officer Eva Geller (Michelle Monaghan) and Aviram Dahan (Tomer Sisley) in al-Masih's story, aside from investigating his background and their tug-of-war of Eva trying to keep him in the US and Aviram trying to get him back to Israel.

The Bonfire of Destiny (2019)

Rising from the ashes

[8/10 · 1 October 2023]

This tells a fictional story of how a true event in Paris affected the lives of three women.

Adrienne de Lenverpré (Audrey Fleurot) is the wife of powerful politician Marc-Antoine de Lenverpré (Gilbert Melki). He has recently found out she is considering divorcing him so he is hiding their daughter in an unknown location. Alice de Jeansin (Camille Lou), Adrienne's niece, is close to being engaged to a wealthy aristocrat. Alice's loyal maidservant Rose Rivière (Julie de Bona) is married to the Jeansins' coachman Jean Rivière (Aurélien Wiik) who has been asking her to go to the Americas with him.

The three women attend a charity event at Bazar de la Charité that notoriously caught a devastating fire in 1897 causing the death of 126 people, most, if not all, women.

The dramatic changes in the lives of these three women is told in a riveting manner. I love how strong these women become. It is a compelling watch.

Encounters (2023)

Left me feeling mostly skeptical but hopeful

[7/10 · 29 September 2023]

This documentary explores cases of UFO sightings in different places on earth, from giant noiseless orbs of light seen by over 300 residents of Stephenville Texas in 2008 to a spaceship and big-eyed man-in-black seen by 62 students of Ariel School outside Ruwa Zimbabwe in 1994, spaceships and tall long-armed men seen by residents of Broad Haven Wales in 1977 and lights seen over the Fukushima Power Plant after the nuclear accident in 2011.

Featuring interviews of witnesses including those conducted by psychiatrist John Mack of Harvard University who risked his career and reputation when he made sure the schoolchildren of Ariel School were heard, this series also airs dissenting views about the Ariel School sightings.

The opposing stand of one student from Ariel School is like a splash of cold water over the whole incident because it makes sense. As much as I would like to believe the professed UFO sightings by the other students, I can't ignore the fact that children tend to have overactive imagination. The same argument holds for the UFO sightings of school children in Broad Haven.

The Stephenville Texas sightings are the most credible as they are backed by radar data. And I like to believe the Japanese witnesses of the lights over Fukushima Power Plant who think that the lights reduced the severity of the damage and were generated by non-humans who are watching over us and cleaning after our mess.

28 Days (2000)

Sandra Bullock sheds her good-girl image

[6/10 · 29 September 2023]

New York journalist Gwen Cummings (Sandra Bullock) and sister Lily (Elizabeth Perkins) grew up with an alcoholic mom. Lily seems to have overcome her mother's influence but Gwen struggles with alcohol and drugs, egged on by boyfriend Jasper (Dominic West), also an alcoholic. In a drunken stupor during her sister's wedding party, Gwen crashes a car into a house. To stay out of jail, she goes to rehab for 28 days.

At first antagonistic and unpleasant in the rehab facility, Gwen eventually learns to be responsible and gets close to other patients, though the relationships are shown naturally, not super sweet. Having not been in such facilities, I can't say whether it's realistic, but it's definitely not Disneyesque, depicting human flaws at their worst. In fact, a lot of the patients are rather unlikeable, including Gwen. Sandra Bullock did a great job shedding her sweetheart image.

I was looking forward to a romantic angle between Gwen and Eddie Boone (Viggo Mortense). But the movie left their relationship too open.

Lady J (2018)

Surprisingly romantic

[8/10 · 25 September 2023]

Madame de La Pommeraye (Cécile de France) is a young widow who has retired to her country estate. Her libertine friend, Marquis des Arcis (Édouard Baer), visits her every once in a while, regaling her with stories about his exploits. They eventually have an affair. But after two years, she notices his interest drifting to his work. She tests him by telling him their feelings for each other have faded. Though rather taken aback, he agrees with her and they part ways seemingly amicably, but her feelings have been hurt and she plots her revenge.

Madame finds out about an unfortunate woman, Madame de Joncquières (Natalia Dontcheva), an illegitimate child of a nobleman who herself got hoodwinked by a Duke, bore his child and is now working in a house of ill repute with her pretty daughter, Mademoiselle de Joncquières (Alice Isaaz). Madame de La Pommeraye hires them to pose as very religious mother and daughter and introduces them to the Marquis who immediately falls in love with Mademoiselle. Madame de La Pommeraye however, would not let the Marquis get his prey that easily, dangling it as much as she could until he succumbs to the condition she has been shooting for so she could exact her revenge.

What happens next would be beyond anything Madame de La Pommeraye could imagine. But it shows that one should be honest at all times and not use people and toy with their emotions.

I think if Madame de La Pommeraye were honest with the Marquis, they might not have broken up. The Marquis seems to be sincerely looking for a loving relationship but maybe the ladies he consorts with are like Madame de La Pommeraye who are clingy, expecting their men to be attentive to them at all times. His reputation of getting easily bored with women precedes him though, so his women also get insecure. This is where honesty might have served Madame de La Pommeraye better, instead of tricking him into agreeing to a loss of feelings as she falsely confessed. It makes one wonder whether that's how his affairs ended, with his attentiveness ebbing as what happens in any relationship, though it does not mean the end of love, and him spending more time with work as every man does after the honeymoon period, an insecure woman testing his feelings by conjecturing they have lost their feelings and him agreeing to the woman because he does not want to force her to stay in a relationship she does not care for anymore. Ugh, why can't people be honest?

Among the things I love about this drama is the cinematography. Madame de La Pommeraye's estate, especially where the chairs were placed overlooking the lake, is idyllic. It makes one wonder how people who live in such places could be anything but happy.

My Happy Marriage (2023– )

Cinderella meets anime

[8/10 · 25 September 2023]

Miyo Saimori is a lovely and meek young woman bullied by her stepmother Kanoko and stepsister Kaya. Her father Shinichi favors Kaya who inherited the supernatural ability of the Saimori family. When Miyo and Kaya come of age, Shinichi gives Kaya's hand in marriage to Kouji Tatsuishi, the second son of another family with supernatural abilities. He is Miyo's childhood friend who she had hoped to marry. Instead, Miyo's father marries her off to Kiyoka Kudou, known to be a ruthless and picky military commander who has driven all his intended brides away.

However, when Miyo moves into the Kudou family estate as Kiyoka's fiancee, she finds a side of him far removed from his notorious persona. Kiyoka learns to care for his beautiful and gentle bride-to-be. When Kaya comes across them and sees how handsome Kiyoka is, she schemes to have him. What happens next is anybody's guess.

The schemes and mysteries don't end there. The story has so many secrets involving not only the Kudou, Saimori and Tatsuishi families and their supernatural abilities but also Miyo's mother's Usuba family, it's like peeling layers of onion, with a side of a sweet blossoming romance between Miyo and Kiyoka.

And of course, with all the talk about supernatural abilities, there would be need for them. And the series does not disappoint in that regard.

I love the story and the animation. However, I could not get drawn to the characters as much I've wanted to. It's not because it's animation; the emotional attachment I formed with Beauty and the Beast was as deep as could be. I suppose it's because Miyo is depicted to be too subservient, even obsequious, her voice rather unnatural, too tentative and breathy as if begging for sympathy. I would love to watch a live action version of this with a female lead who has more spine.

Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction (2023)

Origin story of a famous seduction expert?

[7/10 · 25 September 2023]

In this adaptation of a Karen Blixen novel, Cazotte (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) discusses the art of seduction with The Grand Duchess (Sidse Babett Knudsen) while painting her. They hatch the idea of him teaching her shy son, Prince Lohar (Emil Aron Dorph) how to seduce Princess Ludmilla (Emilie Kroyer Koppel). The plan works and the young couple gets married.

However, a scandalous situation breaks out that requires the couple to hide from society for a few months in the country. Cazotte, who has been fancying lovely and proper young woman Ehrengard (Alice Esther Bier Zandén) for sometime now, suggests that she keeps Ludmilla company while the couple is in hiding.

Cazotte makes a bet with the Grand Duchess that he can seduce Ehrengard during this period of seclusion.

The conniving pair could not imagine that Ehrengard is not as naive and dumb as they think she is. What she does would leave a lasting impact on Cazotte and society.

This is pleasing to the eyes thus manages to hold the attention while the viewer keeps wondering what the story is leading up to. The twist at the end would leave the viewer chuckling.

Love at First Sight (I) (2023)

Fate or choice

[7/10 · 22 September 2023]

Hadley Sullivan (Haley Lu Richardson) is attending her father's wedding in London but misses her flight. She books another flight and while waiting for it, she meets British Ben Hardy (Oliver Jones), a math student, who is also bound for London. They bond and spend the time waiting for their flight in easy conversation.

On the plane, Ben proceeds to economy class while Hadley goes to business class. A problem with his seat belt gets Ben upgraded to business class and seated beside Hadley. Their bond gets deeper as they spend more time getting to know each other better. Before they part in London, Ben enters his number in Hadley's phone. However, Hadley drops her phone and it dies.

At the wedding, Hadley overhears some guests talking about an event at Peckham House. From what she learned about Ben during their conversations on the plane, she realizes the guests are talking about the event Ben is going to.

Since the wedding reception is going to be held several hours after the ceremony, Hadley decides to go to Peckham House in the meantime. She meets Ben again, as well as his parents and brother. Hadley and Ben have some disagreement that lead to her leaving the venue quickly, inadvertently leaving her bag there.

With his family, Ben goes to the wedding reception to give back Hadley's bag back. At the reception, Ben and Hadley come to an understanding. And they live happily together for the rest of their lives.

This is a pleasant love story that shows how fate seems to be throwing two people together but in the end, it's their choice whether to grab the opportunity to be together or not.

However, I didn't get drawn to the characters as much as I would have wanted. The actors were charming enough but I didn't get the heart flutters that would have made me give this a higher rating.

Once Upon a Crime (2023)

Cinderella with a twist

[7/10 · 16 September 2023]

Little Red Riding Hood (Kanna Hashimoto), an adventurous and inquisitive girl, sets off on a journey to enrich her life. She meets a bedraggled girl who introduces herself as Cinderella (Yûko Araki). Little Red Riding Hood goes to the ball with her. She also helps authorities uncover a mystery or two.

Those who think this is just another take on an oft-repeated tale, think again. The story is very daring, turning as beloved a fairytale as Cinderella on its head. I bet you would not expect what happens in the end. Question every scene and see if you can find clues along the way.

I actually liked it. Mysteries and twists always entertain when they are plausible. And the story makes them so.

The Untamed (2019)

Fascinating story, great acting, but rather violent

[8/10 · 16 September 2023]

Wei Wuxian/Wei Ying (Xiao Zhan) is playful, fun-loving and rebellious but has a strong sense of justice. He does not care what others think of him. Though orphaned at a young age, he grows up happily with cousins Jiang Yanli (Xuan Lu) and Jiang Cheng (Wang Zhuo Cheng) after his uncle Jiang Fengmian (Lu Jian Min), the leader of the Jiang clan, took him in when his parents died.

At an indoctrination meeting conducted by the Lan clan, he meets reserved and taciturn Lan Wangji/Lan Zhan (Wang Yibo), the respected young master of the Lan clan who is serious and diligent with this training. Due to their different personalities, they did not get along at first but shared adventures and secrets brought them together.

A series of chaotic events causes Wei Wuxian to lose his spiritual power and forces him to use crafty tricks to survive and help people in need. This alienates him from other cultivators until the only person who believes in him is Wangji. When more disasters occur due to his crafty tricks, he throws himself down a high cliff.

After 16 years, Wei Wuxian's spirit is brought back by Mo Xuanyu to avenge his (Xuanyu's) maltreatment by relatives. Somehow, Wangji finds out Mo Xuanyu is Wei Ying. Together, they solve mysteries that caused disastrous events in the past and present times.

This has such a fascinating story. The writing is commendable, with its colorful characters and the way it depicted how, in a corrupt world, the just suffers.

Xiao Zhan is truly outstanding as Wei Wuxian, making the character three-dimensional, with his bravado and a naughty grin almost always plastered on his face, his cavalier look daring viewers not to take pity on him when he is misunderstood, especially after sacrificing so much for somebody clueless about what he did.

The main thing I didn't like about this is the violence. Does the audience really need to see wounds up close? Also, I'm terribly heartbroken about the fates of some characters. Another thing, sometimes, the story drags, like when they were in Guanyin Pavilion after Guangyao's confession. They were just sitting around doing mostly nothing, Wangji just looking at Wei Ying who was just dabbing his neck.

But all in all, it's a great drama ang highly recommended.

Woody Woodpecker (2017)

Woody defends his home

[7/10 · 9 September 2023]

Lawyer Lance Walters (Timothy Omundson) decides to build a house at a land his father has left him. Together with his and ex-wife's son Tommy (Graham Verchere) and city-loving girlfriend Vanessa (Thaila Ayala), he camps at the land.

It so happens that a woodpecker has made his home in that area. Tommy makes friends with him and names him Woody. As the building of the house goes underway, Woody would not let this encroachment into his territory off lightly and wrecks havoc to Lance and Vanessa's construction plans.

This is as entertaining as most cartoons out there so I'm surprised at the bad reviews this got. What did the viewers expect? A Godfather-level film? This is obviously meant for kids and the kids at heart.

One thing I like about this movie is how it shows the disruptive effect of man's seemingly innocuous actions on wildlife. If animals can talk and think like humans, this would be how they would react when their homes are being taken away from them.

Woody's attempt to defend his home is funny but also sad, considering he is a tiny speck compared to the powerful forces he is battling with - the builder and construction workers who are out to lay waste to the part of the forest where he has been living in peace.

Bullet Train (2022)

Who would have thought a movie about assassins could be this funny?

[8/10 · 9 September 2023]

Brad Pitt is an assassin codenamed Ladybug who has been tasked to recover a briefcase containing cash from a bullet train. He gets entangled with other assassins on the train. Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry) and Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) have just rescued the son (Logan Lerman) of Yakuza crime lord White Death (Michael Shannon) from kidnappers and are taking him and the cash-filled briefcase to the father. Yuichi Kimura (Andrew Koji), a Yakuza member and father of a boy, Wataru, who is in a hospital after being pushed from a building, as well as his father and Wataru's grandfather, the Elder (Hiroyuki Sanada), are looking for the culprit. The culprit is the Prince (Joey King), disguised as a schoolgirl, who pushed Wataru and has her henchman currently holding the boy hostage in the hospital, to force Yuichi to kill White Death. The Wolf (Benito A. Martínez Ocasio) thinks Ladybug killed his wife and wants to avenge her. Another assassin, the Hornet (Zazie Beetz) uses the poison of a boomslang snake, slithering loose on the train, to kill.

If the synopsis above is confusing, you should watch how these entanglements play out on the screen. As wild and violent as can be. The comedy, mysteries and thrills of this action-packed adventure are so riveting, I overlooked the violence. Sandra Bullock as Maria, Ladybug's handler, mostly lets her presence known through phone conversations with Ladybug, but her lines are no less funny. This is surprisingly exceedingly entertaining.