TRAVEL TO MOVIES: YAKSHA: RUTHLESS OPERATIONS

Director: Nah Hyeon

Cast: Sul Kyung-gu , Park Hae-soo , Dong-kun Yang , Lee El , Song Jae-rim , Park Jin-young , Lee Soo-Kyung , Jin Kyeong , Hiroyuki Ikeuchi , Jin Seo Yun , Nam Kyung-eup , Jongman Kim

Plot: On assignment in a perilous city to inspect a Black Ops team and its notorious leader, an upstanding prosecutor steps into a deadly war between spies.

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

My Movie Review: The movie is a spy action thriller about spy agents from different countries fighting seemingly conspiracy in the air, very good to some extent spy thriller with many twists:) Yaksha: Ruthless Operations is nicknamed after a human-devouring spirit, the ruthless leader of an overseas black ops team takes up a dangerous mission in a city riddled with few spies! What's nice to see if you want to spend your time action packed thriller, and entertainment, it is a good choice, watch dubbed one which good with extremely brisk pace there's little downtime! Park Hae-soo balances Han’s inherently noble aims as a prosecutor nobody’s above the law, not on his watch with the emergence of something within that’s still virtuous, but more irregular! He begins as the eyes and ears of the audience in this chaotic world of spies killing spies, and becomes the key to generating results although a bit confusing at times it comes back in place! Midway through Yaksha: Ruthless Operations, as Ji Kang-in and Han Ji-Hoon have it out in a rain-spattered fistfight set among the gaudy neon glare and crowded food stalls of a Shenyang night market, it’s finally clear why the NIS loose cannon has willingly illuminated his operation to the straight-arrow lawyer from HQ: these two see at least bit of themselves in each another:) Together with Yaksha’s dedicated young team of shooters, it’s the kind of crew you can believe in and that’s important because besides them, nobody in Yaksha is who they say they are! That emphasis on chemistry is certainly by design, since the film’s finale leaves the possibility of a sequel on the table by the point of its culminating showdown, it’s easy to wonder what other corrupt operators could get the treatment' from Yaksha and Han going forward to look up!

Critics Reviews: It’s a bit sluggish during the last leg and devoid of the action we desperately crave, kind of making watching this a mixed bag. By sidestepping [the] basic moral conflict, Yaksha is artistically hollow. A fast-moving action film full of special ops, backstabbing and political intrigue, "Yaksha: Ruthless Operations" doesn't pretend to be a prestige film. But it's a fun ride with (straight-laced) fish-out-of-water concept. The plot in Yaksha: Ruthless Operations is quite weak, and the characters rather boring. For a film that follows several characters who bend the law if it means achieving their goals, it's a little dissatisfying the extent to which the film plays things by the book. Nah Hyeon stands out as a direct heir to early John Woo, exhibiting a perfect pulse for action sequences... This is a spy thriller that takes the proverbial "web of intrigue" to new levels. Sluggish, predictable and almost wilfully devoid of thrills, South Korean action thrill drama Yaksha: Ruthless Operations offers none of the unpredictable or mischievous antics teased by its curious title. It brings a heap of trigger-happy spy craft to its tale of secrets and lies and two-faced promises on the way to sorting out some hard-earned justice. Briskly pace spy thriller with quality action sequence and engaging character. Definitely, it gives you moments of entertainment, but the bumpy roads give you the jerk, which is neither comfortable nor satisfying. Yaksha: Ruthless Operations doesn't reinvent the wheel but it does embrace the spy subgenre with open arms, allowing the tropes to do the work without getting bogged down by them, and always keeping it characters primary to the story in some of extent!

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

TRAVEL TO PLACES: SINGAPORE-- SERANGOON RIVER

My Personal Experience: I went to Serangoon River also known as Sungei Serangoon last August 8, 2022, together with my sister and brother-in-law who's picked up after finish working! Its my first time seeing this part on our way to our neighborhood, its so refreshing to see scenic route even if its a bit tiring walking I appreciate the lush greenery and the bridge majestic view!!

Serangoon River

Sungei Serangoon (Malay for Serangoon River; Chinese: 实龙岗河) is a river in the north-eastern part of Singapore. The 8-kilometre river starts as a canal near Tampines Road, and flows through Hougang, where it is joined by tributary Sungei Pinang just before Sengkang, before flowing towards Lorong Halus, where it is joined by another tributary Sungei Blukar, before emptying into the Serangoon Harbour. The river is known as the Serangoon Estuary. Since 2011, the river has been converted into a reservoir - Serangoon Reservoir. Coordinates: 1°24′03″N 103°55′49″E, A number of development projects at Sungei Serangoon had been carried out, which include the construction of an overhead bridge linking Old Tampines Road and KPE expressway to Sengkang and a metal bridge linking Punggol East and Lorong Halus!!

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sungei_Serangoon

TRAVEL TO MOVIES: DANCING ON GLASS

Director: Jota Linares

Cast: María Pedraza , Marta Hazas , Ana Wagener , Paula Losada , Iria del Río , Javier Lago , Andrés Lima , Mona Martínez , Jota Castellano , Silvia Kal , Juanjo Almeida , Samantha Vottari

Plot: When pressure threatens a ballerina in a new lead role, she and an outcast dancer create their own world, free from others' expectations.

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

My Movie Review: The movie is a fine material that's quite intense like 2010 Black Swan that poses pertinent questions on the militant methods employed by the perfectionist world of ballet! Dancing on Glass is dangerous, painful, and completely foolish yet its perfect romanticization of the pain ballerinas endure for hell of spotless execution' go lengths just to please the crowd:) Maria Pedraza is such a memorable actress there's something about her face that sticks we first saw her in the first two parts of Money Heist as one of the hostages in the Royal Mint of Spain but she shine in Elite even though she got killed on the first season she leaves a lasting impression then on Toy Boy a pro bono lawyer taking on a case to free a dancer from prison time and now here in Dancing on Glass she's a trained ballet dancer that will do anything for the role as well as actor exceptional graceful and impassion in her dancing a delight to witness! The film follows the relationship between two female ballet dancers, Irene and Aurora, as they vie to win top roles in a new lead role as a star ballerina commits suicide as the story begins! Maria, the principal ballerina for the dance production of Giselle, takes her life during untimely visit to the States also Bare-chested dancers of both genders shown and a homoerotic subtext! There's plenty to dissect in the final act of Dancing on Glass after many scenes and moments of skewed reality, the opening night of the ballet: Irene watches Aurora and Norma argue, and it continues to escalate as the physical altercation between them led to Norma's death. Their fight ends on all freeze-frame of Irene and Aurora' dancing and enjoying each other's company!

Critics Reviews: For all the depth that the characters and plot Dancing on Glass bring to bear, it simply doesn’t fulfill its potential. Like most distinguished cinematographic feats covering the ballet universe, story churns passion, discipline and tragedy. Despite convincing performances, it all makes for depressing slog through the lives of girls who feel misunderstood, overworked, and terrified that they're expendable and replaceable. The performances in Dancing on Glass are stellar, but the story about the damaging impact of this kind of pressure on the psyche, feels too familiar to leave much of lasting impression. The ballet performances were beautiful. Dancing on Glass weaves complex story strands that the audience will take some time to work out in a story full of stern performances. Audience Reviews: The way this movie encapsulates the despair that comes with a passion, and the fear of losing it is just perfect. Great characters with whom anyone can relate. Only thing I would have like to see more would be more insight on Norma, the director, and the effect she had on other dancers. Magical and worrying study of the world of ballet and potential depression, besides the lives of Generation Z. It's just over extended its welcome, though a lot of that extra material was a wonderful choreography of Giselle, a famous ballet whose name I knew, but whose story I didn't. The plot could have been improved by better balancing action with monotony and sending just a more hopeful message:)

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

TRAVEL TO PLACES: SINGAPORE-- DON DON: DONKI

My Personal Experience: I went to Don Don: Donki at Tampines 1, one of the nearest mall in Pasir Ris just station away last August 4, 2022, together with my big sister we went there night! Since its still stick to go out that time and wearing a face mask is a must going out on those time were precious cause we gotten used to staying at home so had a blast visiting this Donki:)

Don Don: Donki

The largest Don Don Donki in Singapore was at City Square Mall, spanning 26,000 sq ft with a food court and a bargain section. However, this size has since been surpassed by other locations, with Jem Mall and Jewel Changi Airport also opening their own largest stores in sequence, with the latter specifically being the largest outlet in the East. While City Square Mall once held the title for the largest, the store at Jewel Changi Airport is the current largest Don Don: Donki outlet in Singapore. This is Donki in the East and has an aviation-themed concept with travel essential, wider selection of products, including perishables and delicatessen items!!

Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=don+don+donki+singapore&rlz=1C1CHBF

TRAVEL TO MOVIES: FURIOZA

Director: Cyprian T. Olencki

Cast: Mateusz Banasiuk , Weronika Ksiazkiewicz , Mateusz Damiecki , Wojciech Zielinski , Szymon Bobrowski , Lukasz Simlat , Janusz Chabior , Sebastian Stankiewicz , Konrad Eleryk

Plot: A policewoman makes her ex-boyfriend an offer he can't refuse: Either he infiltrates and informs on a gang of hooligans or his brother goes to jail.

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

My Movie Review: The movie is complex in a simpfy form this Polish police drama follows Dawid, a doctor who receives a visit from his ex-girlfriend and the story revolves around Michal a former police officer who is forced back into the dangerous world of crime and group of gang! An event from the past separates the fate of three friends, unexpectedly in the life of Dawid she appears again, storyline is easy to follow and that makes the film more enjoyable for me:) It is action heavy and carries a competitive vibe through out honestly a good film actors and stories are good, you really want to watch it until it ends with 2h 19m runtime, realistic film with the violence that goes with these characters' what can I say more is you won't be disappointed! Golden is the scene stealer the furioza tattoo on his hard chest and his awesome body really standout without saying a word just standing infront of the gang you can feel the intensity around him as he embodies what the film symbolizes his presence is enough to tell sides story! This is an efficient feature but not for sissies! A hooligan and crime film in the same time! Maybe it is accurate and close to reality in Poland. It's usually this mob dealing drugs and making rivers of money. The cops have undercover inside the club lighting up their operations from the inside. The gang gets into assorted meleés with rivals fighting with punches and kicks, starts with imagery that is quite contrasting with the movie's overall theme. The whole length of the film is filled with thrill after growing amidst gang violence, seeing deaths in front of his eyes, Dawid decided to be done with that hard life and aim to save lives' but Golden is the takeaway!

Critics Reviews: Furioza is a film that is dark, grim, and brutal. It is not everyones cup of tea! The themes of family, brotherhood, and morality resonate, even with its superficial treatment! And that's why it should be appreciated. Furioza from director Cyprian T. Olencki and 365 Days screenwriter Tomasz Klimala, spins a brutal tale of soccer hooliganism taken to extremes, the deathly grip of the European drug trade, and the shifting opportunism of the authorities tasked with keeping the peace. You better crack your knuckles before cueing this one up. There’s a turf war afoot in the Baltic port city of Gdynia, Poland. Furioza is just that, a proud group of bruising soccer hooligans chiefed by a noble warrior type named Kaszub (Wojciech Zielinski)! Furioza’s legit business is nightclub security, but their main business is knocking heads with their perpetual rivals gang of drugrunning “hools” whose captain, Antman (Szymon Bobrowski), reports to area kingpin Polanski (Janusz Chabior). The police are aware of the ongoing gang war and hooligan violence, but that’s low level stuff in comparison to bringing down Polanski, and a jaded police lieutenant Bauer (Lukasz Simlat) sees an opening that could score a win for the law, he pressures police detective Ewa Drzewiecka (Weronika Książkiewicz) to exploit her personal connection to Furioza. Mateusz Damięcki is a complete titan in Furioza as Golden, the hool lieutenant whose intensity is defined in his raw-boned, veiny musculature rippling beneath tats that slither up his shoulders and onto his neck, and eyeballs that seem to become more crazed and convex with each ratchet of perceived wrong or like underworld double-cross!

Source: https://decider.com/2022/04/18/furioza-netflix-review/

TRAVEL TO PLACES: SINGAPORE-- FUN CLAW MACHINE

My Personal Experience: I went to Fun Claw Machine at White Sands Mall in Pasir Ris MRT last August 4, 2022, together with my big sister this is one of my first outing upon arriving then:) This files our quite hidden so were backtracking a bit on my stays in Singapore last 2022, I've stayed in my big sister's home in Pasir Ris once in a while she treat me like that time in Astons!

Fun Claw Machine

FunClaw is a brand-new concept of automated Claw Catcher machine launched in 2018. Our concept is to create a space exclusively for claw machines where families and friends can bond over the simplicity of having a fun time while shopping together. Our family friendly environment offers a cosy game play experience that prominently differentiates us from others. FunClaw aims to rekindle the excitement of visiting the shopping malls and encourage people to step outside to have fun. FunClaw is a home-grown brand which aims to bring quality to life and good omens to everyone. 楽しい爪 represents the joy in playing at Fun Claw. By adopting the 4-leaf clovers as our brand embellishment, we hope to bring luck to our customers who love and have faith in our brand. Every catch encompasses anticipation, thrill, and excitement:)

Source: https://www.funclawsingapore.com/pages/about-fun-claw

TRAVEL TO MOVIES: ALL HAIL

Director: Marcos Carnevale

Cast: Guillermo Francella , Peto Menahem , Martín Seefeld , Norman Briski , Romina Pinto , Laura Fernández , Nicolás Scarpino , Viviana Saccone , Pompeyo Audivert , Matías Santoianni

Plot: After failing to predict a destructive hail storm, a famous meteorologist flees to his hometown and soon finds himself on a journey of self-discovery.

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

My Movie Review: The movie is saving the best for last but I think it's too late save it cause most viewers might lost interest on how boring all throughout but the end took my breath away! All Hail is spectacular in execution of the hail storm very overwhelming and quite good very believeable I've just wish they put glimpse of it thoughout of the film so that people might be excited and it might worth watching instead focusing in such nonsense drama that hard to deal! TV weatherman Miguel Flores becomes public enemy number one when he fails to predict a terrible hailstorm so he's forced to flee Buenos Aires for his birthplace of Córdoba. The result will be a voyage of rediscovery that is as absurd as it is human- fairly enjoyable picture, which casts the spotlight on cancel culture, personal battles as he struggle to cope up his new reality! The movie solves Miguel's career problems in the laziest way as he happens to find a mystical mysterious man in a bar who can predict the weather with 100% accuracy too silly but that's it:( It's true one mistake does not define you but when it what defines you it's hard to bound back! Although it cannot take away all the other right things done in the past after all we are humans but we cannot completely depend on others cause most people have initial judgement once you make that mistake so prevention come with self awareness and self responsibility after all:)

Critics Reviews: All Hail’s core premise is so deeply flawed, so eye-rollingly implausible, it fatally infects otherwise passable elements of the movie. Hopefully this likable Argentinean comedy doesn't get buried in Netflix's back catalog. All Hail deserves better. Basic, elementary, and excuse the adjective - televisual. The final scenes are dramatic and, ultimately, surprising. That the weather is involved is an infallible forecast. All Hail’s core premise – wanting to stone the weatherman in the public square for one single lousy dumb inaccurate prognostication – is so deeply flawed, so eye-rollingly implausible, it fatally infects otherwise passable elements of the movie. Despite some solid performances resulting in reasonably likable characters, the dopey concept makes their emotions feel bogus. For a while, the film is wholly unpredictable, but not because it’s suspenseful or original. It adheres to an illogic bordering on nonsense, as if the filmmakers tried to develop an original idea but didn’t stop to consider whether this poppycock would yield amusing farce or constant eyerolls. The heart of the movie is a weary old father-daughter reconnection story that struggles to get much traction; the Luis subplot goes nowhere until it lands on the film’s only decent punchline; Miguel ends up meeting an eccentric man who has a more natural, intuitive way of predicting the weather, an anti-science, pro-woo-woo statement that just rubbed me the wrong way. This is big, glossy sitcom stuff, too broad, exaggerated and silly to be palatable. Our Call: SKIP IT. All Hail will leave you very cold!

Source: https://decider.com/2022/04/06/all-hail-netflix-review/