TRAVEL TO MOVIES: MUNICH: THE EDGE OF WAR

Director: Christian Schwohow

Cast: George MacKay , Jannis Niewöhner , Jeremy Irons , Liv Lisa Fries , Raphael Sowole , Sandra Hüller , Jessica Brown Findlay , August Diehl , Ulrich Matthes , Leni Erceg , Nich Shaw

Plot: Based on the international bestseller by Robert Harris. It is Autumn 1938 and Europe stands on the brink of war. Adolf Hitler is preparing to invade Czechoslovakia and Neville Chamberlain's government desperately seeks a peaceful solution. With the pressure building, Hugh Legat, British civil servant, and Paul von Hartmann, German diplomat, travel to Munich for the emergency Conference. As negotiations begin, the two old friends find themselves at the center of a web of political subterfuge and very real danger. With the whole world watching, can war be averted and, if so, at what cost?

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/munich_the_edge_of_war

My Movie Review: The movie is a period spy thriller that hit the right notes did not disappoint in historical retelling but felt quite short on the thrill aspect although the immense acting save it! Munich: The Edge Of War is an entertaining movie to watch just don't get mislead by the title though it's not really a literal war film but war in ideology that push the limit of its two leads! Though the story has weak points it still kept me at the edge of my seat, the unraveling of the events was gripping and full of suspense in some sense, saw it week ago but still on my mind:) Jeremy Irons is a force bonifide actor that transcends time was great and he shined a bright light on the prime minister that was later overshadowed by his successor fairly, but still it was the first time I got to appreciate Chamberlain's Passion, impressive filmography then and now:) I had never seen a movie with any of the two main actors starring before, but from now on I will definitely keep my eye on any other work they may do like I Came By as lead George MacKay! The subtle tension between the two lead men that impress shifts to different notions as the story evolves is very intriguing and I love the fact that words are mostly left unsaid about that relationship between them, but the emotions flow effortlessly from their eyes made this worth it! World War 2 films like this have always intrigued viewers, especially younger ones as they look to relive an experience how such a global conflict impacted the lives of people during that time!

Critics Consensus: Sharp direction and some outstanding performances make Munich: The Edge of War a gripping historical drama, even though the ending's no secret. Director Christian Schwochow has made a classy thriller and draws out strong performances from all three of his main actors. A really solid, old-fashioned, well-crafted war-spy drama. The movie is handsome in an oak-paneled-office way, there's life in it too. You feel there's something at stake for the two young would-be heroes, as there is for the world. Munich: The Edge of War is an uneven, sometimes perplexing narrative, but moreover its a touching story about friendship, about the ways in which the personal and the political can collide. WWII origin film Munich: The Edge of War works well as a political biography of Neville Chamberlain, but not as a tense espionage thriller. Despite the liberties the script takes, “Munich: The Edge Of War” is an engrossing film with interesting perspective. Munich: The Edge of War is a riveting very well put together film that is true to its source material. It may perhaps fly under the awards radar but is worthy perhaps of some recognition and in another year Irons would be in the mix. A piece of fact-based historical fan fiction about sacrifice and the greater good. The difference is by letting go of facts and giving yourself over to speculation. Poses the question of when patriotism means becoming a traitor against the powers that be agonizing; gripping account of hope and history:)

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/munich_the_edge_of_war

TRAVEL TO PLACES: SINGAPORE-- TAMPINES 1 ROOFTOP PLAYGROUND

My Personal Experience: I went to Tampines 1 Rooftop Playground Singapore last August 21, 2022, together with my siblings and nephew this the first time I saw him standing with help!! Tampines 1 is one of our new mall to explore since it's near to my sister new home and the thing that surprise me rooftop playground it's like a lowkey place not most go for in Tampines 1!

Tampines 1 Rooftop Playground

Soak up all the thrills and spills at our water playground located on rooftop, suitable for children age 5 to 12 years old. Operating Hours: Mon 4pm to 8pm, Tue to Sun 12pm to 8pm. Tampines 1 is a trendy mall for the young and young-at-heart, offering a wide array of fast fashion, beauty and trendy F&B concepts. This iconic retail landmark in the East houses over 180 retail and dining options. Shoppers are welcome by a curated range of brands including The Editor's Market, The Closet Lover, Love & Bravery, Playdress, 6ixty8ight, Daniel Wellington, Muji, Adidas, Vans, Sephora and household names such Cold Storage, Daiso and Don Don Donki:)(

Source: https://www.tampines1.com.sg/about.php

TRAVEL TO MOVIES: HOW I FELL IN LOVE WITH A GANGSTER

Director: Maciej Kawulski

Cast: Tomasz Wlosok , Janusz Chabior , Magdalena Lamparska , Julia Wieniawa-Narkiewicz , Antoni Królikowski , Eryk Lubos , Sebastian Fabijanski , Mikolaj Kubacki , Klaudiusz Kaufmann

Plot: A mysterious woman tells of the ups and downs in the life of Nikodem `Nikos' Skotarczak, one of the biggest gangsters in Polish history, but fact and fiction become muddled as the story becomes darker.

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/how_i_fell_in_love_with_a_gangster

My Movie Review: The movie is pushing the story beyond its limit inspired by a true story but lost in translation the thing that make you forgive it is the visiual it's giving rich gothic vibe that looks nice and expensive from the dark bar scene to daylight room scene lighting was spot on:) How I Fell In Love With A Grangster is long hard drive who took detours when ever it's possible leaving us stuck in a moment for a time without noticing the time we spent in watching scenes:) How I Fell In Love With A Gangster ends with Jet and the police officer visiting the gravestone of Nikos and offering flowers; a good light game for Polish cinema, a romantic, calm ballad with the mafia in the background, keeping all the proportions, at times he reminded me of great' act! Many women end up killing themselves, and many does the violence in How I Fell In Love With A Gangster make the movie better or worse? In a hindsight this create consciousness of the world its living where we got to see some reality on what's go down in a mob crew night lookin! Beautifully made, artistic, truly a masterpiece but it's not for everybody unless you are an 'old' soul, the acting is really superb therefore I loved the cast also the music was perfect, exactly 'where' it was supposed to be, I mean the ending song for example, 'One of These Mornings' by Moby brilliantly tied up the rollercoaster of emotions and encompassed the actual vibe of the whole movie from the first minute of film to the last, another thing to mention is I feel that everyone who participated in the making of this movie really went for it with craft in their hearts!

Critic Reviews: How I Fell in Love With a Gangster has the core of a really solid film, but its lack of selective editing results in a somewhat arduous three-hour watch. How I Fell in Love with a Gangster is too overwrought with style and uneven in its storytelling to be taken seriously. It’s a bit too long, but I Fell In Love With a Gangster relishes in that time spent with a central criminal character who could always grin his way out of trouble, right up until he couldn’t. Most of the elements of a good gangster crime drama are here, but unfortunately, they don't make for a good movie. Part of the issue in How I Fell in Love with a Gangster has to do with the source material, as Nikodem's actual life should seem to limit what this film could do. The roadmap to the flashy gangster flick is a tried-and-true formula, and Nikos' life lives up to the flair.  How I Fell in Love with a Gangster has a hero who might aspire and very well become a tiger, but he is slowed down by a turtle of a film. The film tells the story of the rise and fall of Nikodem "Nikoś" Skotarczyk. Nikoś was born in Pruszcz Gdański, a small town in Pomerania, to a father who abused and beat him. As he grows up, he gathers around him a gang of delinquents, led by his good friend "Komo". At first, Nikoś and his gang engage in petty crime, but later begin stealing cars from Germany and selling them in Poland. Business yields them enormous profits and turns Nikoś into underworld ruler of the Polish coastal area. Nikoś's story is told from perspectives of those surrounding him: friends, family members, and women:)

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/how_i_fell_in_love_with_a_gangster

TRAVEL TO PLACES: SINGAPORE-- BIRD'S-EYE VIEW

My Personal Experience: I went to CapitaSpring Singapore to have a little bit different Bird's-Eye View of the lion city in this side on 17th floor last August 12, 2022, together with my sister:) This Bird's-Eye View post is the culmination of what happened in that such long day were I got to spend a whole day with my sister who took day off from work to treat me and show's the city!

Bird's-Eye View 

A bird's-eye view is an elevated view of an object or location from a very steep viewing angle, creating a perspective as if the observer were a bird in flight looking downward. Bird's-eye views can be an aerial photograph, but also a drawing, and are often used in the making of blueprints, floor plans and maps. Before crewed flight was common, the term "bird's eye" was used to distinguish views drawn from direct observation at high vantage location' like top tower!

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird%27s-eye_view

TRAVEL TO MOVIES: THE WASTELAND

Director: David Casademunt

Cast: Inma Cuesta , Roberto Álamo , Alejandra Howard , Asier Flores , Víctor Benjumea

Plot: A family that lives in isolation from the rest of society find their tranquillity disturbed when a terrifying beast approaches them and tests the ties that bind the family together.

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_wasteland_2022

My Movie Review: The movie is dark whimsical tragic that can be viewed as a poem about brokenness and loss, Diego's numerous fear allusions to the dead of his father suggests that it played a significant part in his bringing about this social, psychological, and emotional collapse! The Wasteland is eerie in every sense I like the gloomy haunting environment it created not a waste afterall its beautifully shot and really well acted the kid was convincing and not annoying! Although the film shows how loneliness can be a terrifying emotional breaking point, it does not have much aspects of a typical horror film it eloves with the darkness within but the suspense it generates by showing how isolation and abandonment can destroyed a person's sanity works:) This horror drama is a kind of film that's polarizing either you like it or you don't like I don't mind a slower paced film if it's done right, but The Wasteland is just too slow and threatens to grind to a halt at times, visually it's here that I thought the film was admirable; Cuesta's performance is consistently excellent, and simply the threat of what's out there really shaken up us but the mere fact its a depressing subject this caliber of acting pulls you closer and embrace darkness! The Wasteland has a rather ambiguous ending, but the main take from the psychological horror is that The Beast however real it seemed to Lucia and Diego isn't an actual supernatural being but rather a symbolic manifestation of their fears of being alone and vulnerable in the wake of Salvador's death that takes a toll in a bloody shocking manner which is vividly shown!!!

Critics Reviews: The Wasteland is able to suck you into its candle-lit world of discomfort, but it ends up being not as claustrophobic as it could be. The Wasteland is an attractive slow-burn, not to mention a welcome addition to the wild, wild world of horror Westerns. The Wasteland proves to be a solid start to the horror genre but suffers from pacing issues. While too many creepers come across as derivative and old hat, there are still filmmakers who are constantly finding new ways to use horror. The Wasteland certainly falls among the latter. The Wasteland is an impressive film, horrifically beautiful at times. But there is a sense of missed opportunity, as initial themes are abandoned in favour of portraying survival amidst home invasion. Drifting between two forms of monsters ultimately adds up to less, that it's difficult to remember, on top of everything else, if there was even a beast to begin with. At its best and most memorable, it's perhaps the eeriest and strangest coming-of-age movie ever made. As pretty as the movie can be on a technical level, it can't save itself from the shallow premise and the number of horror clichés that are present in it. Without great fuss or technical fanfare, The Wasteland confronts us with our worst demons through the immense Inma Cuesta and Asier Flores' tremendously moving mother-child relationship. The film constantly conflates darkness with fear, barren with loneliness, and silence with terror. The story shows restraint in a way that benefits the growth of the characters, but may not be enough here to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. An estimable debut, especially in terms of its abilities to create a stifling and rarefied atmosphere:)

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_wasteland_2022

TRAVEL TO PLACES: SINGAPORE-- SUN & MOON-- SOL & LUNA

My Personal Experience: I went to Sol & Luna at CapitaSpring Singapore on the 17th floor last August 12, 2022, together with my sister who took me on my first ever high tea experience! Sol & Luna is perfectly set-up place with lush greenery outside on a top floor where you can enjoy some view of Singapore's Bussiness Disrict as you taste few exotic delectable selection:)

Sun & Moon-- Sol & Luna

The Latin translation of sun & moon, SOL & LUNA represents the diverse offerings available day to night, in the only spot in town with urban views amidst fresh air and natural charms of a garden getaway. From morning to night, Sol & Luna offers a seamless all-day Latin-European menu that showcases the four cuisines of Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain. Timeless recipes are reinvented with a twist and finesse for a sense of discovery} Monday-Sunday: 07:00-23:00}

Source: https://www.klook.com/en-PH/activity/89897-sol-and-luna/

TRAVEL TO MOVIES: MOTHER/ ANDROID

Director: Mattson Tomlin

Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz , Algee Smith , Raúl Castillo , Kiara Pichardo , Oscar Wahlberg , Jared Reinfeldt , Christian Mallen , Owen Burke , Kate Avallone , Stephen Thorne , Jon F. Merz

Plot: Set in the near future, Mother/Android follows Georgia and her boyfriend Sam through their treacherous journey of escape as their country is caught in an unexpected war with artificial intelligence. Days away from the arrival of their first child, they must face No Man's Land -- a stronghold of the android uprising, in hopes of reaching safety before she giving birth.

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mother_android

My Movie Review: The movie is giving me some the 5th wave since Chloë Grace Moretz and the set-up of post apocalyptic are somewhat the same but this time she's pregnant Georgia with her boyfriend Sam, flee their country in a desperate search for safety as the world battles artificial intelligence, science fiction film that overtaken America by a deadly and violent robots:) Mother/Android offers a dystopian sci-fi scenario that starts with a bang, even if it falters in the later going it manages to be something to look for ward yet quite slow and uneventful, some  scenes lack tension and suspense but overall is a journey that open to potential if put on track! A few years after graduating from film school, Director Tomlin struggled to write his first movie, until he decided to loosely focus on a very personal story, that of his own adoption, which he said became a personal love letter to his biological parents so you can say it's partly true story! The thing that sadly happen to Sam don't like presumably dead by the end of Mother/Android after he is tortured by the A.I. and used as bait to catch Georgia, his legs are destroyed as the origins of his devastating injuries aren't clearly stated, but he either fell off of the dirt bike during his capture or the A.I. decided to start with his legs I was hoping for a complete family survives! Arthur's twist changes everything for humanity in Mother/Android: not only does he ends up leading some of the androids into Boston, but he also reveals himself to Georgia as being an android himself with ulterior motives, goes on rampage Georgia shoots him activates' the EMP!

Critics Consensus: Mother/Android transcends its budgetary limitations on a visual level -- unfortunately, this sci-fi drama is far less successful on the storytelling front. Even though its personal backstory is touching, this weird apocalyptic survival thriller lacks thrills and even elicits unexpected laughter at what are supposed to be its most poignant moments. There is some panache to the film's visuals and a lot of heart in the actors' collective dedication, but Mother/Android feels like a mash-up of genre staples to forgettable effect. It's well-crafted and resourceful within its bounds, smoothly integrating Massachusetts locations and modest FX to create a credible-enough portrait of a civilized world that's badly eroded in just a few short months. Though it has a strong sense of urgency and a backstory rooting for, Mother/Android is bland Netflix Sci-Fi flick that takes influence from many before it yet doesn't have enough flair of its own. There’s a sense of irony the fact that this story is about humanity of emotional connections distinguishing us from the cold callousness of machines. A stale and spineless post-apocalyptic thriller. Mother/Android isn't the sci-fi movie you think it's going to be, or even it probably wants to be, but it's nonetheless a solid first-time feature from from writer/director Mattson Tomlin. For it to truly connect with its audience, things still have to make sense don't always, low budget sci-fi flick Mother/Android no masterpiece but it's step in the right direction:)

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mother_android