Shark: The Beginning(샤크: 더 비기닝) Korean Film Thoughts(2021)

 

   Shark is a 2021 film that was directed by Jae Young Joon and was based off the popular webtoon written by Un while Kim Useop did illustrations. Kim Min Seok, Wi Ha Joon(Squid Games) and, Jung Won Chang star in the film. 

   This film is the perfect example of a film where the trailer nor the review did any justice to make me want to watch. I bypassed this film a couple of years ago because the trailer looked like a cheap television movie... Then, recently I was at an anime convention where they had this film, so I bought it while shopping. Thank God that I did since this film was such a shockingly good film. There's such an essence of heart in the story even though the subject matter centers around bullying. I felt warm after finishing this film and its a great victim overcomes his bully success story. I enjoyed how the ending wasn't just about beating his perpetrator. Instead, it was about being brave in the face of his bully. Fans of Wi Ha Joon will like this film as well. You get to see him in a project before Squid Games. 

  The acting was great across the board. There wasn't a performance that really brought down the film. I like how the director chose a pretty boy to play the evil character. Normally the main actor and him might be switched based on looks. I'm glad they didn't do that. I've seen Kim Min Seok play evil characters though.  I'm glad that I picked up the blu-ray by chance!!!!

Show-Wa - Kimi no Oujisama(君の王子様) Mini Album Thoughts (jpop)

 

  Show-Wa is a 2023 Japanese pop boy band that was formed on a program containing three thousand applicants. Avex entertainment ends up choosing twelve men and Show-wa wa formed. Their brother group named Matsuri was also created. Kimi no Oujisama is their debut single. 

＜CD＞
01. Your Prince
02. Kiss kiss kiss
03. DESIRE -Passion-

＜DVD＞
01. Your Prince Music Video
02. Your Prince Making Movie

    

[CD only]
AVCD-61457
Price: 1,200 yen (tax included)
First press bonus: trading card (1 of 7 types randomly included)

◆Contents
＜CD＞
01. Your Prince
02. Kiss kiss kiss
03. Megumi no Hito

   

  I didn't think that I would start the new year talking about these guys. Especially since I didn't like them when I first came across them on Youtube. After looking at a photo book, I came back around and checked out the single. I was skeptical at first but when I witness their music, lord was what I heard needed in the Japanese music industry. Show Wa has a kind of music that brings the listener back to a certain era of Japan. They are reviving this genre of Show-Era that brought showy love songs to Japanese audiences decades ago. Production uses dance disco beats with violins and electric guitars. These sounds take me to a place where Japan's music had emotional depth, yet there was a fun essence as well. I've been playing Desire to death. It's such a great song or maybe even their best song to date in my opinion. 

   The vocals are greatly planned out in the group like most Jpop groups. I love the vibrato of some of the vocals. They have songs where you really have to give a solid vocal performance and all the guys are on the older side. Unlike a lot of groups that start out super young. 

   One of the members was in another popular group called SOLDIMO. I can't take wait to hear more from Show-wa. Hopefully a new single or album is released soon.