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Reviews
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Better than the original
Recently rewatched the original Top Gun and it is as good as it was 25 years ago. A classic. So I don't expect a lot from Top Gun: Maverick as most sequel tend to disappoint. Boy, was it wrong. It is better than the original.
The storyline is straightforward, bringing Maverick back to train the young Guns for a difficult or impossible mission. You have the typical competition among the team and so on.
The flying scenes are incredibly well done, the IMAX clarify, the sound, the cut on/off the aircraft carrier, low flying over the desert, ocean, and mountain terrain are superbly done.
What make this Top Gun better than the original is the human element of it. The Ice Man (Val Kilmer) scene is sad and emotional. I teared up watching it. And the relationship with Rooster (Goose's son) is a big part of the story. Lastly, I find his relationship with Penny is loving and genuine. It is funny to see Maverick doesn't know how to sail as a Navy man. It makes Maverick a human. Plus the fact Penny has a teenage daughter give us a view what Maverick life will be like after retirement.
All in all, a great movies in my book. The fighter jet and boy-boy scenes are to be expected. But seeing Val Kilmer plays Ice Man one more time is priceless life. And see Maverick's life to be give me a lot of peace and closure of a beautiful ending of this beautiful story.
Moneyball (2011)
Moment for forgiveness
I, of course, have heard of the Moneyball, but never gotten around to watching until now. Wow, it was good.
Growing up in the Bay Area, I was mostly a A's fan, more so than a Giants fan. From the Billy Martin era, to the Tony. La Russa era, then the frustration around year 2000 when Giamb and Damon left, then Hudson, Mulder, Zito, Tejada all left. I couldn't stand the team any more and stopped watching baseball altogether until the Giants' dynasty. The fact is I never forgive the A's for their disappointment for their fans.
In a way, this movie does give me some closure and sympathy for the organization. I actually was thinking I should go to a few A's game this year.
7500 (2019)
Truly a low budget movie
Got to know this movie thru the "74 Gear" YouTube channel on aviation. The channel talked about the accurate pre-flight check as portrayed in the movie.
On to the movie itself and with spoiler. The movie tried to show the pilot's struggle and focused on him too much. It never explain the true motive behind the hijacking. And how it ended so suddenly.
Also, after hijacking started and the hijackers tried to get into the cockpit, the struggle is understandable but there isn't nothing the pilot can do. He could have depressurized the plane and/or rolled it to get hijackers off their feet. It ended up showing Tobias being weak and indecisive which isn't how a pilot should be.
All in all, there isn't much to this story at all. Looks like a very low budget, mostly shoot in the cockpit, and only a few on screen characters.
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021)
Surprising good documentary
Surprising good documentary on Nimsdai Purja's quest to summit 14 peaks in 7 months. I appreciate the low-key and non-sensationalized nature on how the documentary was done. But nonetheless, not to diminish his accomplishments.
Don't Look Up (2021)
Is this supposed to be funny?
The possibility of the earth hit by a comet is a serious topic. So is politicians and business leaders look out for own good rather for man kind is also a serious topic. Yet this movie took a somewhat sarcastic, somewhat comical takes on a serious topic missed the mark for me. I would rather it goes all-in in being serious or all-in in being funny. This half-way approach drove me crazy.
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Hotel Del Luna (2019)
Beautiful
Hotel Del Luna was actually very interesting story. But to start off, it was a somewhat similar twist as in "Guardian: The Lonely an Great God".
First, Man Wol, played by IU, was amazing in her acting. Plus her non-repeated stylist dresses was all beautiful. The storyline was great, having a hotel to house death people before they go to the afterlife. But the parallel story between Man Wol and Chan Seong made you wonder who he was in his previous life and why he is here.
Ojing-eo geim (2021)
Watched with finger on fastward button.
Saw the trailer and wasn't going to watch. But then a friend recommended and insisted that I watched.
Binged through it over one weekend and found it intriguing but not earth-shaking for me. The concept was interesting, and the moral of the story was powerful. The execution was great, from the movie making, shock value, and financial gain was amazing for sure.
The story was simple to bring in desperate people to play games with their lives. The cruelty and brutality were the shock to most viewers. Yet, there were the body part scene which was too gruesome and the undercover policeman has no impact to the story line.
And then, there was the ending ....
Persona (2019)
What is the point of these stories?
Have no idea what this series was about. Four unrelated short stories. I was surprised IU would stared in it. And that was the reason I watched.
Still don't see the point of this.
Hi Bye, Mama! (2020)
Entertaining but nothing to write home about.
After seeing how pretty Kim Tae-hee was in IRIS, I decided to give this one a chance. She did look a bit different after 17 years but still very pretty. All in all, my expectation was low because the silly plot.
A deceased mother wanting to help her daughter to chase away ghost was brought back to life for 49 days. It was lovely to wanting to be with her daughter, but the story has pretty much has an established on what will happened after 49 days. So, what kind of surprise would you expect.
The story does drag on-and-on, both for Yu-ri and her husband, Gang-hwa. There wasn't a lot for 16 episodes.
Somewhat entertaining but nothing to write home about.
Ailiseu (2009)
One of the best, must watch
One of the best Korean action TV series. The story of the all-powerful IRIS was too difficult to believe but let's go with it. The wish of the S. Korean President for a summit and reunification was a bit stubborn and wishful thinking. But let's do with it again.
Beside that, the story was solid, especially on the South side. The North side was a bit wishy washy, but the North Korean team (Mr. Pak and Sun-hwa) were excellent.
On the South side, all the casts were wonderful, especially Seung-hee, Hyun-jun, and Baek San. The love story between Seung-hee and Hyun-jun were short but lovely. Seung-hee, played by Kim Tae-hee, was absolutely gorgeous and stunning beautiful.
The fight scenes in this drama were excellent, including those in Hungary, Japan, and Korea. One standout scene was the 10 minutes gun fight at downtown street. It was non-stop shooting, something you don't see even for high budgeted movies. A must watch.
Without spoiler, the story did end in a somewhat of a clip hanger. Naturally, people wanted a season 2. They did make a season 2 but from what I saw, it was a big disappointment.
Manifest (2018)
Weirder and weirder
Started watching this show because there was an airplane. The concept of time-travel (or time-missing) intrigued me. Then, it comes the "Calling". Fine, these are special people.
But then, there were other "special" people. Then, there are "death-date". And it appeared to be scientific.
And then more "special people" and appeared to be natural phenomenon. Huh?
Ben Stone became a crazy nuts and Cal became more annoying.
After 3 Season, it is time to stop.
The Man in the High Castle (2015)
Not sure where it goes next.
A parallel and what-if world is an interesting concept that got me intrigued. The cruelty was tough to watch but I can hang with it. But after a full season about mysterious films and a "man in the castle" without knowing where it will lead led me to stop watching completing.
The Crown (2016)
Instant Classic
A surprising great series to watch. I am not a close follower of the British crown, so I find the series enlightening, informative and entertaining. The stories were well written, directed, and acted. My favorite (and sadden for) was Princess Margaret.
I love forward to the new Season 5.
La casa de papel (2017)
Very good in Part 1, but became a mess in Part 2
Part 1 of the series was amazing. The story twisted and turned so unexpectedly that I gave the writers lots of credits. The robbers seemed to have the upper hand very steps of the way. Each of the robbers has his/her interesting characters and I like them all.
But the story took a dramatic turn toward weirdness in Part 2. Maybe the writers ran out of good ideas and the bad ones started to come out.
**** Spoiler Alert *****
I was never a fan of Raquel but I do understand people get manipulated emotional, especially someone as good as The Professor. But for someone at her level, leading the crisis management team would do something so reckless to kidnapped The Professor. Why? Because you slept with him? Then, got overpowered (surprised) and eventually turned to the robbers' side. WTF. Then, go back and lied to his colleagues on the police side. WTF*2? With all that, they just let her walk away.
Some people has the stereotype (and I don't buy it) that "women are too emotional to make the tough things". Well this story fed directly into that wrong stereotype. If that is who she is, she should have and could have never gotten to her position. Something doesn't add up.
Now, back to the heist plan. If The Professor has it all figured out, was flirting with the inspector part of the plan? What if the inspector was a guy? What if the inspector wasn't desperate for love? Would everything fall apart then?
I give up and not continuing to Part 3.
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
Queen is the Best
By far, the best TV miniseries that I have seen in a while. The Queen's Gambit is a fictional story, yet the writing (and the chess playing) is amazing and captivating from start to end.
I love the story on how she learned how to play chess. In a way, it mirrored how I learned to play chess - by accident. However, I am not a fan on the drug use and how in any way help her played chess. But then, this is TV.
When she was adopted, I was so madly worried, like an uncle, a relative, a close friend would, something bad would happen to her. As grew older and appeared her parents weren't crazy, I was so relieved. Despite her mother's drinking, I love that relationship.
I love the accuracy that was portraited for the chess tournaments and the pressure players faced in the games. The only part that wasn't quite accurate was the speed of the match. But again, this is TV.
I found out later those games played on the TV series are real games played real grandmasters but modified for the dramatic effect. One of the consultants is none other than Grandmaster and World Champion Garry Kasparov.
Lastly, someone on Twitter asked this question. If you are to label a chess piece to each of the characters in the series, who would be what? Here are my picks and why.
- Queen - Beth Harmon (of course)
- Bishops - Alma Wheatley (adopted mother), D. L. Townes (were there to protect her)
- Knights - Matthew Lewis, Russell Lewis (accompanied her since the beginning of her journey)
- Rooks -Benny Watts, Harry Beltik (her helping to win the big games)
- Pawns (promoted to queen) - Jolene (insignificant at first but came up big at the end)
- Pawns (queen) - Mr. Shaibel (1st move for Queen Gambit opening)
- Pawns - Helen Deardroff and others are Methuen Home for Girls (everyone played a small role)
Anita (2021)
This movie falls far short
Anita Mui was an one-in-a-generation great singer of our time whose life was unfortunately cut short by cancer. This movie was supposed to tell her story and celebrated her legacy, but unfortunately, it fell far short and was such a wasted opportunity. All in all, this movie felt more like a 3rd rated documentary than a featured movie. It failed to take the audience through the emotional high and low of her life. The Director decided to take the audience through every little bit of her life but to connect deep emotionally.
To start off, the movie failed to tell the audience who she was from the beginning. Unless audience already knew who Anita was, they would not appreciate where she came from, life as a child singer, and the bond with her sister.
Second, her career took off after winning the New Talent Singing Award, but that backstory was completely missed. Other than problem with her throat, it failed to explain what she did to her voice, preparation, song selection, going through the earlier round, behind the scene of the competition. There were so much there at one of the height of her career.
Third, the story was told from a very narrow and singular perspective, possibly from Louise Kuo, who became the most important character in the movie. I think it was sloppy writing and he was the only source for the movie.
Fourth, the singing scene at the bar was great. The best scene of the movie, in my opinion
Fifth, as her rose to stardom, she won many awards and held concerts, that was the height of her career. There were barely mentioned except her relationship with Yuuki.
Sixth, failed to develop story behind her lifelong friendship with Leslie Chung and his death. It could have been a very powerful part of the story, both the success of the movies, the songs, and death.
Seventh, her sister's death. Had they developed their childhood story how her sister cared for her, grew up together, preparation for the New Talent Singing Award, and eventual death from cancer. Yet, the director chose to pick bit-and-pieces and the audience didn't feel the sadness when she died.
Eighth, her humanitarian story was very sloppy. They used old Anita footage, the SARS concert was good but could be better, and those feeding the homeless scene was ridiculous - it was the same scene, same location, under the bridge. Come on.
Nineth, her owner battle with cancer must be tough and difficult, but I didn't feel it because the Director failed to show me.
Tenth, the final concert was supposed to be the most climatic scene, both in sad and triumph. I wanted to know how that feel other than the wedding dress. I wanted to feel it and cried like a baby. But again, the Director failed to connect.
Lastly, I want to say Louise Wong is amazing, probably one of the best performance. Not just she looks like Anita, her gesture and movement carried a shadow of her, her acting, singing, and dancing were amazing.
P. S.: I see many rated this movie very highly. I too, at first. I would love to give a 10 for Anita Mui, the singer. But this is for the movie, which unfortunately, disappointed. I would have given it a 2 and decided to up it to 4 since it is for Anita.