TRAVEL TO MOVIES: UPCOMING SUMMER

Director: Leste Chen

Cast: Zifeng Zhang , Lei Wu , Lei Hao , Feng Zu , Xiaohai Liu , Dan Liu , Tie Zhou

Plot: Chen Chen, high school student, finds the love affair of her mother just before the college entrance exam and gets depressed. After the unsuccessful exam, Chen gets acquainted with Zheng Yu Xing, handsome campus cyber celebrity, because of a lie. The two join hands to face growing pains, and witness growth and metamorphoses of each other, in the summer of their unsettled youth.

Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13575838/?ref_=ls_mv_close

My Movie Review: The movie is whimsical don't know but there's something magic on it about these two young stars who are high school seniors under pressure to pass college exams on the top of it all discovering selves, falling in love, dealing with family affairs- in their pivotal time! Upcoming Summer is captivating presenting us different scenarios that put us on the spot of seeing the light coming to one's life that changes the course of her life the advent he represent show us a person can change one lonely life and bring some color to it when you least expect:) The feelings were so raw their romance comes natural as when you feel unsure on what you feel that's when you know that the feelings are real just like Chen Chen feels to Zheng Yu Xing! As seen in my poster the film ends with Chen Chen comes to the crowd while Zhen Yu-Xing walks himself to the stage so he finally gets to lives his dream as a DJ. It closes with a narrative by “Zhen Yu-Xing, when is the future?” Asks Chen Chen. “It’s right now. The time when the person you like, likes you back. It’s the future.” Zhen Yu-Xing replies. An open ending and up to your interpretation nevertheless them two starts with a lie but ends up with their truth!

Critic Reviews: The relationship between [the teens] is touching and complex, and the actors make it feel as if their difficult navigation of the grownup world is real. Lighter than a mooncake and full of the stuff that's fueled tales of teens in love for ages now, Upcoming Summer strikes a nice balance between self-awareness and cutesy burgeoning romance. Even though they’ve found themselves an item despite themselves, railroaded into dating by grownups, you find yourself rooting for Chen Chen and Zheng Yuxing to get together for real since they’re so darn cute together. When an after-school study session becomes an opportunity for Zheng to show off his DJ gear and skill as a guitar player to the shy, curious Chen Chen, the pair are singing a song about lotus flowers and hugs until a stern glare from Zheng’s dad kills the moment. But what might’ve been pretty soon becomes what’s meant to be as they stare into each other’s eyes at a rate of 128bpm, it’s another chance for Upcoming Summer to scratch that familiar teen rom com itch. Upcoming Summer wears its coming-of-age bona fides on the sleeve of a Chinese high school uniform, and the chemistry between its two young leads-- carries the day:)

Source: https://decider.com/2021/10/04/upcoming-summer-netflix-review-stream-it-or-skip-it/

TRAVEL TO PLACES: SINGAPORE-- JEWEL SOUTH GATEWAY GARDEN

My Personal Experience: I went to Jewel South Gateway Garden at Singapore Changi Airport last August 5, 2022, together with my sister. We went there after seeing The Rain Vortex to cap up the night before dining at one of the restaurant around the vicinity while taking photos along! Love the triangular glass panels there specially when it reflected a dark sky it brings elegance:)

Jewel South Gateway Garden

Jewel's South Gateway Garden is the closest spot that you can get to for a photo of the iconic Changi Control Tower! And with its statuesque palm trees and triangular shaped glass panels on the facade, the garden is also the perfect backdrop for that memorable photo! Have you taken any photos here before? Share with us if you've, and remember to tag us too! 📸 #Jewel

Source: https://www.facebook.com/jewels-south-gateway-garden-is-the-closest-spot/

TRAVEL TO MOVIES: SWALLOW

Director: Kunle Afolayan

Cast: Niyola, Deyemi Okanlawon, Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha , Kunle Afolayan , Mercy Aigbe , Eniola Badmus , Omotunde Adebowale David , Kevin Ikeduba , Ijeoma Grace Agu , Bala Bello

Plot: A naive secretary whom after a series of career woes, considers her roommate's offer to work as a drug mule in mid-1980s Lagos. Waylaid by life's pressures in 1980s Lagos, Nigeria, Tolani becomes involved in drug smuggling with her streetwise friend and must face the fallout.

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/swallow_2021

My Movie Review: The movie is gritty and bit chaotic it takes patience when you watch this kind of story to find the hidden gem towards the end one may feel nonsense but come through! The main themes about drug pill to swallow by the women who want to escape the poverty and change their destiny one whose bent in line of survival can do everything seem impossible! Swallow is a Nigerian drama set in capital city Lagos of the 1980s, two women room together in a dilapidated apartment, both working as assistants in the bank. Rose (Ijeoma Grace Agu) is regularly abused by her lecherous boss. When she talks back to him, he fires her. He replaces her with Rose's roommate Tolani (Niyola) and the abuse begins anew. Out of money, Rose throws herself at OC, a mysterious man tossing around cash at the market. He buys her nice things and assumed they're having sex, although there's no visual indication of it. In exchange, he expects her to swallow wrapped-up drugs and smuggle them into various international cities. Tolani is struggling with Sanwo, a hopeless boyfriend she doesn't seem to respect! They've been together for years but he won't marry her until he's financially established and, since he doesn't have a job, likely the prospects for nuptials aren't good. Tolani condemns the hypocrisy of the Christian church, the unfairness of her workplace, the idiocy of her boyfriend when he's scammed out of the money she lent him, and other annoyances it's choice take turn!

Critics Reviews: Swallow brings its characters and 1980s Lagos to life, and asks the central question: how far will you go to get by, while keeping your dignity intact? A haunting mini drama... The subjects in Swallow would make anyone cry -- poverty, sexual harassment, drug dealing, systemic corruption -- but the movie and all the characters are flat and emotionless! People are either talking loudly or in a monotone, but nothing feels real, nothing seems to come from the heart. Perhaps it's because so many in the cast are non-actors. The result is two hours of valuable material oppression of the poor, downwardly-mobile lives, religions taking advantage of rather than helping the needy wasted in drama-less social drama. Scenes dribble on far too long. Logic eludes most of the characters. The one theme that emerges -- far too late -- is that the film's most intelligent character finds her voice and finally starts to call it as she sees it. Perhaps the English subtitles are translated badly. Perhaps the cultural habits and customs of Lagos in the 1980s cannot be understood by Americans of the 2020s. But one thing is sure -- the movie doesn't get interesting or even seem to reflect any kind of emotional truth until a good 85 minutes in. The last 45 seem the most real, but it would be hard to imagine an audience sticking with this that long- families can talk about how the movie talks about poverty!

Source: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/swallow-0

TRAVEL TO PLACES: SINGAPORE-- THE RAIN VORTEX

My Personal Experience: I went to The Rain Vortex at Jewel Singapore Changi Airport during night time last August 5, 2022, together with my sister. We went there to take a closer look at Light & Sound Show that really surprise us with the variety of colors it produce to the waterfall as we're leaving unexpected harmonies drawn us back-in feast to the eyes & feels to the core:)

The Rain Vortex

HSBC is the proud sponsor of the HSBC Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Come marvel at the stunning display of water cascading down 7 storeys at the heart of Jewel! The Marvel-- Stunning By Night-- When the sky outside darkens, the continuous pour of the HSBC Rain Vortex takes on a mystic splendour. Come nightfall, the sheet of water becomes a Light & Sound Show. Relax or sit at one of the many vantage points surrounding it and enjoy the show!

Source: https://www.jewelchangiairport.com/en/attractions/rain-vortex.html

TRAVEL TO MOVIES: THE GUILTY

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal , Riley Keough , Peter Sarsgaard , Christina Vidal , David Castañeda , Ethan Hawke , Edi Patterson , Paul Dano , Adrian Martinez , Eli Goree , Da'Vine Joy Randolph

Plot: The film takes place over the course of a single morning in a 911 dispatch call center. Call operator Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) tries to save a caller in grave danger-but he soon discovers that nothing is as it seems, and facing the truth is the only way out.

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_guilty_2021

My Movie Review: The movie is a tour de force for Jake Gyllenhaal, who again proves what a magnificent talent and his great actor doing intense scenes in isolated area and limited space! As The Guilty is about a demoted police officer assigned to a call dispatch desk is conflicted when he receives an emergency phone call from a kidnapped woman with her daughter in too! The Guilty's tension is just enough to send you climbing back to your seats to know what will happen next as you relentlessly clambering though largely identical to the original, is catnip to Gyllenhaal, into whose tortured eyes who's very impressive, but “The Guilty” almost certainly would have been more effective if he'd dialed down the intensity a bit could have so better! The Guilty is riveting, with a strong moral worldview based on the Christian, biblical premise that the truth will set you free, but it's marred by excessive foul language and disturbing violence! Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Joe Baylor, who works for the 911 Communications Center for the Los Angeles Police Department- gaunt troubled officer with a failed marriage and failing health! The movie was entertaining to me, and not only because of a well-written storyline, but most certainly also because of a stellar performance put on by lead actor Jake Gyllenhaal. And also the plot twist was rather enjoyable. He then calls Emily's home phone number, speaking to her young daughter Abby. She tells him- her mom was taken by that her ex-husband Henry Fisher!

Critics Consensus: The Guilty is another Americanized remake overshadowed the original, but its premise is still sturdy enough to support a tense, well-acted thriller. Does just enough to keep you engaged but nothing more. Gyllenhaal works hard to make Baylor a more conflicted character. Yet in humanizing him the film also reduces an institutional failing into an individual one. I felt more caught up in the situation here...we stay engaged and enjoying the story... If you come to this Netflix remake first, you are going to be blown away by a hurricane-force performance from Gyllenhaal. Nails the setup, but there's still the matter of generating a tight enough plot to justify Jake Gyllenhaal's grand efforts. And that's where the picture runs into trouble. Fans of the original will feel like they have been put on hold listening to the same piece of music on a 90 minute loop but for new audiences, this is an edge-of-your-seat thriller than you won’t want to hang up on. Gyllenhaal's best performance since his phenomenal turn in Nightcrawler. Fuqua does add some interesting touches, setting his movie to the backdrop of the California wildfires. But no matter how hard the film tries, it’s never able to muster the same intensity or humanity as its Danish inspiration. The adaption itself however does fail to make convincing argument for its existence. {Gyllenhaal's} unhinged turn that you can practically see mental come apart at the seams. One of his best. The rare Hollywood remake that get's it right!

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_guilty_2021