My general thoughts on movies, dramas, anime, RPG games, and music from East Asia.(Japan, South Korea, and China.(Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China)
Please note that this blog is not a review blog nor do I clam to be a professional. I just like talking about East Asian pop culture. My opinions are my opinions good or bad. It's no hard feelings. Feel free to comment your thoughts as well.
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This is the second installment to the Death Notice trilogy titled Fate. The story was much more fast paced than the first novel only because the existence of the killer Eumendies(Goddesses of revenge in Geek mythology) as been greatly established by the first novel. There's a new person taking up the title and the police force must find out who this person is and how he is connected the first Eumendies. Much of the story is a cat try to catch mouse thriller as, just like the first killer, Death Notices are sent out to those who are going to be murdered. Author Zhou Haohui gives more of an in depth look at our new killer. He even writes hime to feel more human than his mentor. The story overall is so thrilling that the pages keep turning and before you know it the book is over. I'm excited to see where book three takes the cast of characters. Especially since the twist in this installment was so good.
I really want to see the web drama and the movie based off this series. I've only seen screen shots and it looks insanely good. Zhou's other book called Valley of Terror has been on my bookshelf for months and I need to read it.
On the heels of director Ryusuke Hamaguchi's academy award nominations, most people who are interested in his pervious works might want to check out Happy Hour, Asuko, as well as this film titled Wheel of Time and Fantasy. The film stars Kotone Furukawa, Ayumu Nakajima, Katsuki Mori, Shouma Kai, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Aoba Kawai, and, Hyunri. Most films have given rave reviews after watching this film showing that the director is on the raise.
There's three short stories contained in Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy. Each story tells of a relationship that ended badly but the characters try to pick up the remaining pieces, for even more ruin. The actions taken by the characters are vey manipulative in a way. However, I believe that we as the viewers can understand how love can make you act crazy sometimes. When you like or love someone, you want them to have an emotional reaction to you. Otherwise, your love doesn't feel real or validated. The cast holds the foundation of the script since most of the action is conversation.
Story one was my favorite and the best acted in my opinion which was probably why it's the opening ark. Furkukawa and Nakajima give Oscar worthy performances in the office and restaurant scenes. Viewers will be able to feel the mess up love that the two characters have for each other. They both try to hurt each other so badly that their relationship could never be stable even though they have still a great love for one another three years later. Story too would have been as engaging as the first story had the director went along with the "Honey Trap" theme. Instead, that idea falls by the waist side to be replaces by a somewhat awkward tale of events. We all know that the situation couldn't end well. The last story was was a tad bit too long. I've seen other people say this and I defiantly agree. One scene drags on for more than the scene needs to. I found myself skipping the last part because Things were stuck in a wheel of time...... Hamaguchi could have edited that down. Especially when I was yelling cut during a couple of points during the two scenes. I'm sure he had a vision though.
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy has a similar style to Hong Sang Soo where in conversations take a front row seat in most of his films but it's interesting. I'm happy for Hamaguchi receiving Oscar nominations even if he doesn't win.
Directed by Ryoo Seung Wan, Escape From Mogadishu is a 2021 film that stars Kim Yoon Seok, Jo In Sung, Heo Joon Ho, and Kim So Jin. The film was one of the biggest money makers of that year, bringing in over 29 million won in South Korea alone.
South and North Korean workers are trapped in Somalia during the 1990s Somali War. During that time, North and South Korea were also struggling to be recognized by the United Nations. This story is based on the true events of how Koreans attempted to escape back to their homeland.....
I don't have too in depth thoughts about this film because the plot is straightforward. You get a little information on the events that are taking place and you kinda run with it. You as the viewer don't even really need to read up on the history if you don't want to. Of course, many events were dramatized though. People could very easily call this film a war film. A lot(this may be an understatement) was going on in the background of this film and its so disheartening that Somalia is still at war as I type this post... Wan does a fantastic job in the role of director as he makes sure to show the good verse bad of the Somali people forced to take a stance in the war. Then, you have Koreans who have their own fight with each other pertaining to the two Koreas. However, I felt that the film does well highlighting the main focus on the Korean workers who are trapped in a more clever thriller. There wasn't ever a time while I watched that I was in a mode of disbelief or said that the events weren't believable. Everything felt realistic, creating more of a thrill ride for viewers. It wasn't that I liked the characters either..... I just wanted to see them make it out because none deserves to die like that.
Performances for the film were kinda like assigned roles that were given to whatever actor was known the most for doing a character like that in the past. Everyone was a seasoned actor but they didn't show people who know them from other media anything new.
Escape From Mogadishu is a film that I would watch again. This is a film that defiantly came through with a good plot and pace that I'm used to from South Korean films. South Korea got this film when it needed it the most.
Boys Run The Riot is a four volume manga series written and created by Keito Gaku. The series broke barriers in Japan for touching on a subject through Manga that was once seen as an unknown topic for many Japanese people. The English language release was translated by an all transgender team and Kodansha USA also asked Gaku to redraw some of the covers for the North American releases of volumes three, two, and four.
Ryo is a transgender who see herself as male. She wants to be herself in high school but is afraid that people will judge her. She mets a boy who is also seen as a social outcast and they decide to start a fashion club to express what they can't say out loud themselves.
My opinions on this manga are pretty straight to the point. The aspect of a transgender character trying to find her footing in a society that tries to hammer down anything that sticks out is a compelling read. I enjoyed reading in witness to Ryo's progression as she tries to express who she is without fear. It's a very rocky road in the beginning, Even for the side characters around her as they also dear witness or connections to those who are seen as outside social norms. I liked all the characters but I didn't feel that the story utilized the idea of fashion too deeply. Ryo and her friends spend four volumes trying to kick start their fashion brand while not really doing much at all. They do all but dream then print a small logo on a white tee shirt like that's really going to be enough for adults to take your brand seriously..... The volume covers would have you believe that Ryo was going to do big things in the fashion world, which honestly never happens. Ryo's strong bearing over who she wants to be is sort of "resolved" before volume four(outside of her telling her parents..) so, I was more interested to see if the characters could create a famous brand using transgender models etc. Instead, the story hits me with a "this is just the way the world is" sort of ending that wasn't fulfilling at all. Boys Run The Riot falls sort in giving a completely flushed out story since the main focus is Ryo's fight being transgender. I don't think this fact is strong enough to push a story forward. Especially when you use fashion as a catalyst before throwing the concept on the waist side in a rushed conclusion. There could have been at least two more volumes before ending the series. With that being said, The short short at the end of volume four was more interesting than what Boys Run The Riot became toward the middle of it's run.
Keito's art is fantastic and one of the qualities that this series has going for it. The covers are very eye catching and I think it's cool that North America got new covers drawn especially for the release. I just wish that more fashion was presented in the manga itself.
