#this was instead a very intense korean thriller

[ennaih]

Every Film I Watch In 2023:

208. Forgotten (2017)

[itsdeniini]

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SUNGHOON'S TWIN FLAME - A TAROT READING

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🫧‧₊˚⋅ n ¤ t ə ⋆ : : i am a self-taught tarot reader, and the interpretations i provide are personal. if anyone would like to share their own insights, i would be more than happy to hear them! please be kind <3

★2: in this reading, I will be talking about a person from the future and how their relationship will progress at the moment when they are already know each other; that's the twin flame that he's yet to meet. 👾

GENERAL READING ︻╦╤─

The Sun, The Emperor, The Star, Queen of Wands, 8 of Pentacles, The Chariot, The Tower, The High Priestess

There's an unmistakably regal air to this person. Yes, that's the first thing that came to mind, because she's literally exuding the vibes of a royalty. A 𖤓 Leo perhaps? She's carrying herself as a noble with dignity, and it's not only this but also the fact that she's conceited. Leos have a reputation for being conceited, but let's think AGAIN 🤓☝️ Leos do feel important, but it's usually because they want to change the world in some way to make it a better place. In our case, our twin flame is motivated by affection for people and often has big dreams and plans to make people happy. She is hard-working. After all, she is attracted to the good things in life and knows she has to work to get them, something she is doing at the moment. She most surely works in entertainment, just as Sunghoon, but in a different direction. She's quite emotive, so I bet she's an actress or a presenter.

But one thing about her is that she was not always a go-getter typa girl. In those past ~2-3 years she was in a languid mood that put her career under some sort of limitation. She used to sleep in, laze around, and luxuriate for long periods of time. However, this year she seems to have pulled herself together and gotten to work, and she's doing it with new determination and intensity. She's still early in her career, so I can suppose she's 20–23 years old. She tends to blow up and create herself a new image, and the fact that she's versatile enough to do that will help her thrive. Now (before too, I think) she is staring in something thriller-like with a lot of action, and she likes this genre so much. I got reminded of Sunghoon's acting in the UNTOLD Concept Cinema and his gun scene, and with that, I mean that she's having similar roles where she's the mean girl that has bad blood with the antagonist. And she fits in SO GOOD, her acting agenda is 🤌... Investigation drama? Yes. Something post-apocalyptic? Yes. Detective? Mhm! She also has experience playing in romance/teen romance movies/television series, so again, she must be extremely driven to stare in as many movies this year and get that bag in.

The worst thing you can do to her is accuse miss twin flame of bad intentions. Displaying behavior that makes her think you don't appreciate her runs a close second! She might become mighty hurt and pouty when others (especially her lover, so take notes Sunghoon ✍️) don't see her for the noble intentions she has.

And something I wanted to point out! In my Could Sunghoon date a foreigner post, the anon mentioned that they see Sunghoon as a Korean guy with traditional views on life, and as I said, he's not that traditional, at least in comparison to THIS young lady who has fixed views and may also appear conservative. She'll hold on to situations and people for a very long time before giving up completely, while Sunghoon is more of a "Meh, I'm done with A, B, and C... with all of them!"

And just as I thought, she's both idealistic and perfectionist, just like Sunghoon! She has a very noble inner code that she answers to. Although she appears rather confident on the surface, she can also be humble. She is the first to blame herself when something goes wrong. Once again, it's her self-importance at work, and this characteristic works in unexpected ways. Instead of being the conceited, self-absorbed show-offs of reputation, she can be very self-aware, self-conscious, and, yes, even humble.

ᡕᠵ᠊ᡃ࡚ࠢ࠘ ⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊ࠢ࠘𐡏~♡ So that's what we have so far...

Positive traits: She is masterful, brave, and competitive; she likes authority; and she aspires toward an ideal. She likes to give advice. She is honest, frank, loyal, open, and sincere. Possible issues: pride, vanity, arrogance, presumption, and disdain for others.

And from the Sun we go to the Moon... ☾𖤓

The Fool, The Knight of Wands, The Wheel of Fortune, The Page of Swords, 8 of Wands, Temperance, 3 of Cups, 7 of Swords

Sunghoon's ☾ is in Aquarius, and since they're quite similar, I can presume that it's the same thing for her, but I'm more inclined towards her being a Sagittarius ☾. ☾ Sagittarians, just like ☾ Aquarians, need personal freedom and space. She is extraordinarily happy and easygoing, as long as she doesn't feel caged in or cooped up. Also, Sagittarians have a simultaneous need for activity. Meeting new people, going out in the world, or traveling are all important to their well-being. She loves open spaces and, in her house, a roomy and bright environment. Eh, this girlie 😭 She easily forgets appointments or veers from her schedules, a bit irresponsible, hehe~ However, it is hard to stay angry at her for that! She is just too cheerful and upbeat while working with the crew, and her optimism is catchy. So outdoorsy! At the very least, she has a great love for friendly competition. When she gets tough, she gets moving. She doesn't like to be caught up in routine for too long, and she needs frequent escapes. She's such a dreamer as well <3 There's a blind faith that is admirable; she believes that everything will ultimately work out. She is not much for making detailed plans; she prefers to wing it and deal with whatever comes her way when it comes. She's very adaptable and generally on the go.

ᡕᠵ᠊ᡃ࡚ࠢ࠘ ⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊ࠢ࠘𐡏~♡ So what do we have now...

Positive traits: May like to throw herself into the unknown and into adventure; she is agile, tough, and enthusiastic. Attracted to long trips or discovering the unknown, she has a need for escape or flight and room for spontaneity. Possible issues: May take great risks by throwing herself into the unknown. Audacious, bold, and rebellious. Unable to stay in one place, she was always ready to risk everything to achieve her goal.

PERSONAL STYLE ! >.<

1. Vibrant maxi dress with bold patterns, statement earrings, comfortable sandals.

2. Tailored bright-colored blazer, casual tee, distressed jeans, standout necklace.

3. Jumpsuit, bangles, stylish yet comfortable shoes.

[ 𖹭 approximative representation ↗ and face card ⁀➴ˎˊ˗ ]

[bellahorror323]

Blog 3: Korean Horror

Horror can be a genre that is incredibly versatile when going from one nation to the next, especially when going from an idea of American horror to that idea of horror in the eyes of Korea. Korean horror utilizes many different things in their horror films compared to other horror films, like those in Spain and America. The horror genre within Korea relies on a more subtle and slow approach to its horror rather than the quick, jump-scare like horror that many other countries rely on to make their horror films really scary. The films tend to take a route where the horror comes from dealing with a person’s psyche and mental state rather than from blood and gore and extreme violence. If there are flashes of gore or the use of scary images, they are usually very fleeting and are not the main source of scare throughout the film. The images are usually very unsettling and even though only a glimpse is shown, they stick with you throughout the rest of the movie. 

As seen in the gif below from the Korean horror movie “A Tale of Two Sisters”, the use of a frightening image is very fleeting, and nothing is actually shown that is extremely gory or frightening. The character’s fear alone is enough to portray the horror of the moment. 

The films also played on the dynamic of family life as a major way to represent the horrors that can occur when something goes wrong within the said family dynamic. For a culture that is very much based in interdependence and close relationships with others, and especially family, it makes sense that problems within the family dynamic can be seen as very scary to those people from Korea. There is also a recurring theme of “outsiders” or people who are not welcome within the family unit being portrayed as extremely evil and in turn throughout the film, have bad things happen to them.  

There also seem to be strong stigmas within the Korean horror genre around mental health as mental illnesses also play big parts in the horror aspect within the films. A person’s mental status seems to have a huge effect on the amount of horror that goes on within the film itself. It also gives an aspect of suspense and confusion that other countries lack within their horror movies. With the idea of mental illness incorporated, there can be such things as hallucinations, both auditory and visual, that lead to subtle scares and overall a sense of uncomfortableness for the watcher. It can also lead to intense paranoia within the characters themselves, leading to overreactions and franticness within situations that would be considered fine to others, but adds to the horror of what is really happening. The worst horror can truly be what’s going on in one person’s mind. 

“A Tale of Two Sisters” is a Korean horror movie marketed as a horror/thriller. It is very much a horror film based on drama within the family and also has a major component of mental illness that causes there to be a twist ending that can only very vaguely be seen coming in the minutes before it is revealed. The movie is based on a Korean folktale in which there is a family consisting of a father, mother, and two daughters, and the mother tragically dies. This leads the father to marry a new woman who becomes a very evil stepmother-like figure in the daughters’ lives. One of the daughters then dies at the stepmother’s hand. This shows how family connections and the passing down of stories is incredibly important within Korean culture, even when the stories have somewhat of a terrifying undertone.  

The movie begins with Su-Mi, the daughter that the movie focuses on (who can be seen in the gif above), in a mental health institution being discharged and then arriving back home with her father and younger sister, whom she had a very very close relationship with throughout the movie. The sisters were constantly in scenes together, one barely even being without the other, showing their interdependent relationship in how the sisters were deeply connected and ingrained in each other’s lives. Su-Mi also had a close relationship based in respect with her father who took care of her after getting out of the mental institution, even though she had feelings of hate towards him because of him having an affair with the woman who would eventually become Su-Mi’s stepmother. This ranked relationship between father and daughter also shows the interdependent nature that is present within the Korean culture which then reflects within their horror culture. The movie progresses with a turning point revealing that the girls’ mother killed herself (by hanging) because of the father’s infidelity, and when the youngest daughter tried to free the mother, the wardrobe the mother hung herself in fell over and in turn ended up being the cause of death of the younger daughter. The stepmother saw the younger daughter and could have helped, but instead ignored her which lead to her tragic death. This then leads to a very shocking twist ending which reveals that Su-Mi had dissociative identity disorder, causing her to act as both her younger sister and step mother throughout earlier parts of the movie. 

(Su-Mi, on the left, with delusions of her younger sister, right, and “evil” stepmother, middle)

The horrifying and uncomfortable series of events that are based around the mental illness of Su-Mi show the stigma that is present for mental illness within Korea. The true horror is based within her own mind as she torments herself about the events of her sister dying because of her stepmother and also her mother’s suicide. It also shows how Su-Mi’s connection to her sister was so great that she had convinced herself that her sister was still alive. 

The Mimic is a 2017 Korean horror/thriller that is based off an ancient folktale about a tiger-like creature that would mimic the voice of a wailing woman in order to draw people towards their awaiting death before the creature consumed them. This movie adaptation of this folktale puts an even more sinister twist as the creature is not only able to mimic one voice, but is actually able to possess the bodies of people and mimic the voices of any loved one of the victims; alive or dead. 

The movie is based around a small family that recently had the youngest son go missing after the mother and grandmother took the young son out to the mall. After an extended period of time and no luck of the son being found, the family moves to a quiet house in the country away from the busy city of Seoul. This incident leads to deep cuts in the family dynamic as the mother, who has no intention of giving up on her missing son, clashes with the father who just wants to move past the event and the grandmother who was with the young boy immediately before he disappeared. This crumbling of the relationships in the family shows how damage to an interdependent relationship can take its toll more than independent ones; part of the mother’s being was torn away from her and she has immense struggles in healing. So, it is no surprise that when the mother hears a young girl crying in the middle of the woods who is about the same age as her son and takes her in immediately. The mother tries to repair this damage to herself by acting as if the little girl was her own daughter. A twist arises though when it is revealed that the little girl has actually been missing herself since the 80′s, never aging, due to the fact that she and her father were possessed by the terrifying mimicking creature. Even after realizing this, the mother still continues to try and help the little girl, even going so far as crawling through a dark cave, while going blind (due to extended time being around the creature), when hearing the little girl crying from deep within. The interdependent nature of the mother was ultimately her undoing within the film, a true horror for those within the Korean culture as interdependent relationships are deeply ingrained within them. 

(An image of the mother with the little girl looking concerned after bringing her in and seeing extensive bruising on the little girl’s back)

The horrors within the movie truly stem from very subtle images and sounds, the mimics, that cause a deep unsettling within the watcher. It also comes from the declining mental state of the mother as she slowly gives in to the monster, choosing to sacrifice her own life for the sake of the little girl she had saved from the woods in order to just hear her lost little boy’s voice once again from the creature’s mouth. This leads then to the terrifying reality of interdependent relationships being torn apart due to harsh realities and decisions; the father becomes an outsider who cannot be trusted by the mother and the same goes for the grandmother. The movie truly leaves the watcher questioning all of their relationships and even questioning themselves in what they would do in the situations the family is put through. 

Sources:

https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2017/09/281148/review-south-korean-horror-mimic-builds-korean-urban-legend

https://screenrant.com/what-korean-horror-movies-do-differently-better-than-u-s-releases/

https://screenrant.com/tale-two-sisters-shocking-twist-explained/

http://fascinationwithfear.blogspot.com/2012/06/janghwa-hongryeon-eon-korean-folktales.html

[sternbilder]

Camille Has Many KDrama Thoughts

As some of you have possibly noticed, I have recently fallen into a KDrama hole and I can’t get up, and I have just finished my 10th drama, which seems like less of an accomplishment than I thought now that I say it out loud, but anyway,

As a checkpoint/thinly veiled plug of some shows I love very much, here is a very long post with some of my thoughts on all the KDramas I’ve seen so far, as well as what’s next on my list, in case you too were interested in joining me in nonexistent fandom hell!

So firstly, all of the dramas I have watched to completion, in the order of how much I like them. First, my top five:

1. Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010). My #1 favorite drama to date. I’ve probably watched it in full 4-5 times, and it’s still an absolute treat every time. Is it the best drama I’ve ever seen? Probably not. But it’s so fun and charming that it’s just gotta be at the top of my list. 

The best way I can describe this drama is Ouran High School Host Club, except in Joseon era Korea, and instead of flirting with girls the main characters learn about Confucianism and solve mysteries and play sports (twice) and end up accidentally involved in a complicated political scandal. Also, that one text post about how Shang from Mulan is bi because he falls for Mulan while he thinks she’s a man...This drama has that, except actually canon. And while I won’t pretend this is show is a shining beacon of representation, there are multiple main characters who are explicitly not heterosexual and several others with very plausible queer readings, which earns it a very special place in my heart.

As for the actual premise of the show, it’s basically about a wonderfully determined and kind and clever but lower-class girl whose writing skills catch the eye of the most stubbornly strait-laced but idealistic aspiring politician-type on the planet. She ends up getting a one-way ticket to the most prestigious school in the country, except she has to pretend to be a man the entire time because women aren’t allowed to be educated at this time. 

It’s a bit of a silly, cheesy show, and here are many wacky shenanigans, but the main cast is full of incredibly highly endearing and multifaceted characters, there is a lot of sexual confusion, the slowburn roommate romance has an incredible payoff, and it’s also full of deeply moving social commentary about class, privilege, and gender roles. This drama is a blast and I could go on and on about what I love about it, I absolutely adore it to pieces.

2. Six Flying Dragons (2015-2016). I debated between this and Tree With Deep Roots (next on my list, to which SFD is a prequel) as my #2 but I do think I want to place SFD higher just because it's the drama that I keep thinking about even after finishing it. of course, it has the dual advantages of 1) being released chronologically later (and having better production value, etc., because of this) and 2) being twice as long, but there’s just so much stuff to unpack with SFD that it makes me want to keep coming back to it. 

The show is about the founding of the Joseon dynasty, and six individuals (half of whom are based on real historical figures and half fictional) whose lives are closely tied to the fall of the old regime and the revolution that brought in the new. It has an intricate, intensely political plotline based on the actual events that happened during this time, and though this may sound kind of boring if you’re like me and not super into history (admittedly, the pacing in the beginning is a tiny bit slow), it quickly picks up and becomes this dense web of character relations and political maneuvering. Though none of the major events should come as a surprise if you’ve seen TWDR or if you happen to already know the history it was based on, the show adds such a depth of humanity and emotion to every event and character that nothing ever feels boring or predictable. As a matter of fact, there are several events that were alluded to in TWDR that, when they actually happened in SFD, left me breathless--because although I 100% knew these were foregone conclusions that were coming up at some point, I still had a visceral moment of, “oh no, so that’s how that came to happen.” 

But though I really enjoyed following the story of SFD and learning about the history behind it, the highlight of the show for me is definitely the great character arcs. I loved TWDR’s characters, too (especially Yi Do, So Yi, and obviously Moo Hyul), but with double the episode count SFD just has so much time for rich, dynamic character development, and I absolutely loved seeing how these characters grew and changed over time when their ideologies and fates collided in this turbulent and violent age: How young and ambitious Yi Bang Won eventually spiraled into a ruthless tyrant, how the naive and kind-hearted Moo Hyul struggled to retain his humanity in a bloody revolution that challenged his values and loyalties to the core, how the fiercely determined and idealistic Boon Yi grew into a pragmatic and capable leader who comes to realize what politics and power mean for her and her loved ones. 

SFD was also everything I wanted as a prequel to TWDR--I loved seeing the contrasts between some of the TWDR characters and their younger selves in the SFD timeline: The hardened and ruthless Bang Won as a passionate and righteous adolescent, the cynical and resigned Bang Ji as a cowardly boy who grows into a traumatized and bitter young man, and my personal favorite character, the comically serious bodyguard Moo Hyul as the very model of the dopey, lovable himbo archetype. And though the ending was controversial among fans (particularly those who watched SFD first), I loved how it closed all the loops and tied it back to the events of TWDR, both providing that transition I wanted but also recontextualizing and adding new meaning to the original work. I think it's still a very good drama on its own, but this hand-off is what really sealed the deal for me personally, because it was not only super emotionally satisfying to watch how the stories connected, but it elevated TWDR to something even greater (suggesting that Yi Do and the events of TWDR was the culmination of everything the six dragons fought so long and hard for), which is exactly what I expect from a good prequel. 

I’ve already talked so much about this drama but I also do need to mention that the soundtrack to SFD is A+, and the sword fights are sick as hell. There is also some romance, though it’s not really a focus--and all the pairings that do exist are extremely tragic, which is exactly up my alley. Overall, this is a hell of a historical drama, coming of age, villain origin story, and martial arts film in one, and I highly recommend it.

3. Tree With Deep Roots (2011). The sequel to SFD, though it aired first chronologically. Although this show isn’t one of those shows that I could rewatch once a year like SKKS or keep ruminating on like SFD, TWDR (much like Les Mis, or Fata Morgana) is thematically the kind of story that just makes my heart sing.

The story centers around the creation of Hangul, the Korean alphabet, by Yi Do (a.k.a., King Sejong the Great, who is the son and successor of Yi Bang Won, the main character of SFD) as well as two fictional childhood friends whose backstories and ambitions become central to the story of how and why this alphabet came to exist. Not only is the actual process of creating this alphabet absolutely fascinating from a linguistic and scientific POV, but the show dramatizes Yi Do’s motivations in a way that’s so incredibly touching and human--portraying the king as a soft-hearted and extremely charismatic yet fundamentally flawed and conflicted figure who tries so desperately to do right by his people. 

The show explores both a number of personal themes like redemption, atonement, and vengeance, as well as broader societal themes such as the ethics of authority, the democratization of knowledge, and the power of language and literacy. Though the show never forgets to remind the audience of the bitter reality of actual history, it’s still a deeply idealistic show whose musings on social change and how to use privilege and power to make the world better are both elegant and poignant. 

Romance definitely takes a backseat in TWDR, even more so than SFD, though this isn’t something I personally mind. There are, however, a lot of interesting politics surrounding the promulgation of the alphabet, including a string of high-profile assassinations--if SFD is historical/political-thriller-meets-action-film, then TWDR is historical/political-thriller-meets-murder-mystery, and it’s an incredibly tightly written and satisfying story whose pieces fall into place perfectly. Though not the sprawling epic that SFD is, TWDR is an emotional journey and an extremely well-written story with a TON of goodies if you’re as excited about linguistics as I am. 

4. White Christmas (2011). My first non-sageuk on this list! White Christmas is, in a lot of ways, an odd drama. It’s an 8-episode special, and featured largely (at the time) new talent. it’s also neither a historical work nor romance-focused, but instead a short but intense psychological thriller/murder mystery. 

The premise is this: Seven students at a super elite boarding school tucked away in the mountains receive mysterious black letters that compel them to remain on campus during the one vacation of the year. The letters describe various “sins” that the author accuses the students of committing, as well as the threat of a “curse” as well as an impending death. The students quickly find that they’re stranded alone at the school with a murderer in their midst, as they are forced to confront their shared histories and individual traumas to figure out 1) why they’ve been sent the letters, and 2) how to make it out alive. At the center of the survival game the characters find themselves in is a recurring question: “Are monsters born, or can they be made?”

If you’ve been following me for a while, it’s easy to see why I was drawn to this drama. In terms of setup and tone, it’s Zero Escape. In theme, it’s Naoki Urasawa’s Monster. It’s Lord of the Flies meets Dead Poets Society. or as one of my mutuals swyrs@ put it, Breakfast Club meets Agatha Christie. The story is flawlessly paced with not a scene wasted. There’s so much good foreshadowing and use of symbolic imagery, and though I’ve watched it at least 3-4 times, I always find interesting new details to analyze. The plot twists (though not so meta-breaking as ZE) are absolutely nuts, and aside from the somewhat questionable ending, the story is just really masterfully written.

Above all, though, WC is excellent for its character studies. Though I typically tend to stay away from shows that center around teenagers because I don’t find their struggles and experiences particularly relatable, WC does such an excellent job of picking apart every character psychologically, showing their traumas, their desires, their fears, and their insecurities. We see these kids at their most violent and cruel, but also their most vulnerable and honest. Their stories and motivations are so profoundly human that I found even the worst and most despicable characters painfully sympathetic at times, as cowardly and hypocritical and unhinged as they became. 

Like I said, it’s only 8 episodes long with probably the best rewatch value on this list. My only complaints about it are its ending, as well as its relative lack of female characters, but otherwise I would absolutely recommend.

5. Signal (2016). Okay, this might be the recency bias talking because I just finished this series but I'm sure but I'm still reeling at the mind-screw of an ending and I feel like it deserves a place on this spot just for that.

Signal is a crime thriller based on a number of real-life incidents that happened in Korea in the last 30 or so years. In short, a young profiler from the year 2015, who has a grudge against the police after witnessing their incompetence and corruption twice as a child, happens to find a mysterious walkie-talkie that seems to be able to send and receive messages from the past. on the other end is an older detective from 2000 who tells him that he’s about to start receiving messages from his younger self, back in 1989. Through the seemingly sporadic radio communications, the two men work together to solve a series of cold cases, which begin to change the past and alter the timeline.

As they solve these cases, expose corruption within the police department, and correct past injustices, the two men (along with a third, female detective who has connections to both of them) also begin to unravel the mysteries of their pasts, as well as why and how they came to share this connection.

Like WC, the story and pacing of this drama were flawless, reminding me of an extended movie rather than a TV series. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and the 16-episode run went by in no time at all. I always love timeline shenanigans and explorations of causality and fate and the consequences of changing the past, and this show has oodles of that peppered with the heartbreakingly tragic human connections and stories that the main characters share. The main pairing has great chemistry and gave me exactly the pain I crave from a doomed timeline romance, and the cinematography and soundtrack were also beautiful, which also contributed to the polished, cinema-like feel.

My only complaint is that I wish that the ending felt more like an ending, such that the drama could stand on its own. I do realize this is because there’s a second season coming, but right now the show feels somewhat incomplete, ending on a huge, ambiguous cliffhanger/sequel hook and with several loose ends. I obviously can’t give a final verdict until the entire thing airs (and I typically don’t like multi-season shows, so I will wait for the next season to come out both reluctantly and begrudgingly), but even where the show leaves off I still did enjoy it immensely.

...And now, some brief thoughts on the other 5 shows I’ve watched, because I ran out of steam and have less to say about these:

6. Healer (2014-2015). It’s been a few years since I’ve seen this show, but I remember being really impressed by this drama at the time, especially the storyline. Unfortunately though I don’t remember too much about the drama itself, which is a shame. It’s a mystery/thriller, I think, and there is hacking and crimes involved? The main character is a very cute and sweet tabloid writer and she falls in love with a mysterious and cool action boy who helps her uncover the truth behind a tragic incident that relates to her past, or something. Judging from my liveblog it seems like this was an extremely emotional journey, and I enjoyed the main couple (who are both very attractive) a lot, and it was just overall a cathartic and feel-good experience. I feel like I should rewatch this drama at some point?

7. Rooftop Prince (2012). It’s also been forever since I watched this show but I remember thinking it was hilarious and delightful and I definitely cried a lot though I do not remember why (probably something something time travel, something something reincarnation/fated lovers??). I do remember that the premise is that a Joseon-era prince and several of his servants accidentally time travel into modern-day Seoul and end up meeting the main character who is the future reincarnation of his love (?) and he is hilariously anachronistic and also insufferably pretentious, which the MC absolutely does not cut him any slack for, and they have an extremely good dynamic.

8. Coffee Prince (2007). I watched this around the same time as Rooftop Prince and I remember really enjoying it! it’s basically just SKKS, but the modern cafe AU, and I mean that in the best way possible? It definitely shares a lot of the same tropes--crossdressing/tomboy female lead, sexually questioning male lead who falls in love with her despite being “straight,” very good chemistry and also extremely charming secondary characters.

9. Shut Up Flower Boy Band (2012). This show...Was just OK. I enjoyed it at the time, but I can’t say I found it particularly memorable. As I said, I don’t typically find stories about high school students particularly relatable, and the battle of the bands-type plot was interesting enough at the time but didn’t really leave a lasting impression. As expected, the music was pretty good. I kind of watched this mostly to hear Sung Joon sing tbh?

10. Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People (2017). I wanted to like this show. I really did. I wouldn’t say it was bad, but the beginning was painfully slow, and I only really enjoyed the last 10 episodes or so, when the vive la révolution arc finally started kicking off. The pacing was challenging--the pre-timeskip dragged on about twice as long as it needed to, and I just wasn’t really interested in the Amogae/Yiquari storyline very much. I also really, really disliked all the romances in the show, especially the main pairing, since I didn’t particularly love either the male or the female leads until pretty late in the show. Overall I think I would have enjoyed the show more if the first 2/3 of it was about half as long, and it either developed the romance better or cut it out altogether.

What I’m thinking of watching next:

1. Chuno (2010). Mostly because the soundtrack to this show is so goddamn good, but also because I’m craving more historical dramas with good sword fights after SFD. I was kind of hoping Rebel would fill that need but I was a little disappointed tbh?

2. Warrior Baek Dong Soo (2011). Same reasons as above, honestly. also has a very good soundtrack, and Ji Chang Wook, who is a known nice face-haver, doing many very cool sword fights.

3. Mr. Sunshine (2018). Late Joseon era is something I’ve never really seen before in media so I’m pretty intrigued? Also Byun Yo Han was one of my favorites from SFD and I definitely want to see him in more things.

4. Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung (2019). A coworker recommended this to me and the trailer looks delightful. first of all it’s a sageuk with the gorgeous and talented Shin Se Kyoung in it playing a smart and plucky female lead, which have historically been extremely good to me, but also it gives me massive SKKS vibes, so how could I not.

5. My Country: The New Age (2019). This caught my attention because it’s based on the same historical events as SFD, so it features some of the same characters. I am very very interested in Jang Hyuk’s take on Yi Bang Won, even if he is less of a main character here compared to SFD, and he’s already an adult so he’ll already be well on his way to bastardhood. I also hear it’s very heartbreaking, which is instant eyes emoji for me?

6. Chicago Typewriter (2017). It’s about freedom fighters from the colonization era, which I’m very intrigued by after The Handmaiden and Pachinko, plus a reincarnation romance. I am very predictable in my choice of tropes. Also, Yoo Ah In is in it.

7. Arthdal Chronicles (2019-). Ok, it’s a gorgeous-looking historical fantasy set in Korea written by the same writers as TWDR and SFD, plus it has not just one but TWO Song Joong Ki characters, one of which is a pure, doe-eyed soft boy and the other an evil long-haired fae prince looking asshole who I hear is a complete and utter Unhinged Bastard Supreme. Nothing has ever been more Camille Bait than this, but unfortunately this show hasn’t finished airing, which does pain me deeply. speaking of,

8. Kingdom (2019-). It’s a fantasy sageuk with zombies, is about the extent I know about this show. The fact that it also hasn’t finished airing turns me off a bit but it looks absolutely gorgeous and I also just found out it was written by the same writer as Signal, so,,,,,,,,,

9. Gunman in Joseon (2014). I honestly don’t expect too much from this drama but I just enjoy its premise a lot? From what I understand it’s just Percy from Critical Role, but make it Joseon era.......Like, they just straight up took a Shadow the Hedgehog, “let’s make a sageuk, but guns,” approach, and I kind of unironically love that. Also the soundtrack kicks ass, which like...you can really see where my priorities lie here, huh,

10. Misaeng (2014). I don’t remember at this point why this is on my list but I found it in the Keep note I have of all the media I want to watch?? I have no idea what this show is about, except that it takes place in an office. Apparently Byun Yo Han is also in this one? I’m sorry this is the only non-sageuk or sageuk-adjacent show in this list, I know what I’m about, and it’s fancy old-timey costumes and cool braids.

[kpoptimeout]

My Top 10 K-Dramas of 2019 - What’s Yours?

2019 is ending soon and K-Dramaland has once again brought us so many goodies this year. As per our blog’s tradition [For 2018 faves click here], below are my Top 10 favs of the year (my faves in alphabetical order so it might not be yours so please don’t judge). (For our blog’s 2019 music ratings, click here!)

My only specific criteria usually is that the show must have had started in 2019 to be considered a 2019 series but this year I have made an exception for dramas that started very late in 2018 and it required watching well into 2019 for to be sure it was a great drama.

Without further ado, check the list below!

Doctor Prisoner (KBS2)

If you are looking for a thriller with insanely good acting, I would highly recommend Doctor Prisoner. Set in a prison clinic with Namkoong Min’s disgraced doctor as the lead plotting to right the wrongs society has done to him, the drama blurs the lines between good and bad. The medical director of the prison played by Kim Byungcheol seems like the perfect evil archetype for the audience to hate on but over time the plot and the acting allow us to soften up to his character and worry about his well-being. The drama also thrived in the current political climate in South Korea with its nuanced look into corruption and class issues. It was also a delight to see Namkoong Min’s rise in the past years from a rom-com lead to a seasoned leading man able to take on many diverse roles. If you love a drama that discusses the conflict between humanity and greed with stellar acting, you would love Doctor Prisoner!

Extraordinary You (MBC)

I actually struggled with whether to put Extraordinary You in the Top 10 due to the poor writing in the last few episodes of the show but caved in due to the spectacular quality of the earlier episodes and the consistently amazing acting of the main cast. Based on the popular webtoon “July Found By Chance”, the drama is about a girl called Eun Danoh who discovers she is in a shojo manga and not even the female lead - just an extra there to drive the love line between the male and female lead and stuck with a one-sided love to the biggest f*ckboi in school. Danoh decides to fight against fate (the writer’s plot) and try to change the storyline with her friends who start to also gain consciousness as well as the male lead Haru, a nameless background character who seems to have a mysterious connection to Danoh and an ability to switch characters in and out of scenes. The first half of the drama is pure K-Drama gold and consistently makes self-aware jabs at K-Drama tropes. Also, the quality acting of Kim Hyeyoon really breathed life into the character of Danoh, whose many monologues during her self-aware moments would fall flat without good delivery. While playing Haru was SF9’s Rowoon’s first major lead role, he carried the part well and was able to show the changes in Haru as he went from brainless NPC to an increasingly aware player in the plot to take down the comic book writer. Lee Jaewook, April’s Naeun, Jung Gunjoo, Kim Youngdae and Lee Taeri also all excelled in their respective roles. If you would like a drama where you can discover lots of young talent, Extraordinary You is the drama for you!

He is Psychometric (tvN)

While using the common K-Drama trope of male lead has a peculiar and uncommon superpower, and teams up with a female lead with secrets and some investigators to solve crimes, He is a Pyschometric excels in how it used these tropes well. I mean it is a tvN production and they own the supernatural mystery/romance genre these days. The male lead has the power to know about people’s past by touching their skin so of course we know plenty of skinship shenanigans and questions about human nature and trauma would be explored in this drama. After providing backstory and building up the personality of the main characters in the first few episodes, the series was consistently intense and the chemistry of the characters is great. GOT7’s Jinyoung has proven that he is ready for lead roles in more dramas, while Shin Yeeun showed that she is ready to take on the television screen after her quick rise to fame as a web drama actress in the record-breaking web series “A-TEEN”. SISTAR’s Dasom has also continued to grow as an actress, as seen in her role as police investigator in this series. If you are a fan of supernatural and mystery based K-Dramas, He is Psychometric is definitely one of the best dramas this year for you!

Hotel del Luna (tvN)

Another fantasy series coming from tvN, Hotel del Luna was definitely one of the most talked-about dramas of the year and rightly so. Set in a hotel that caters to ghosts, e.g. the dead with grievances and unable to “move on” to the world of the dead, you know you are in for episodic adventures involving the lives of many guests. We are also provided with the interesting relationship between IU’s Jang Manwol (her name literally means full moon) who is the ghost hotel owner for over 1000 years as a punishment for her sins and Yeo Jingoo’s Koo Chansung (his name literally means bright star) that the deities believe is the key to Manwol’s emancipation from ghost hotel running duties. In a way, it is like a gender-swapped version of the Goblin relationship going on but due to additional plotlines and character relationships, it is honestly a lot more and I will leave it to you guys to find out when you watch the show yourself. If you enjoy a fantasy drama involving ancient supernatural beings, Korean folklore and diverse stories, you would enjoy Hotel del Luna!

Kingdom (Netflix)

Netflix Korea continues to churn out amazing dramas and Kingdom is definitely one of the best this year. Adapted from the Korean webtoon series “The Kingdom of Gods”, the drama is set in Joseon Korean (in the 16th century) where a crown prince already dealing with court intrigues and trying to make it out alive is thrown another deadly problem - zombies. Given the stellar performance of Netflix’s earlier Korean period drama Mr. Sunshine and the amazing global box-office results of Korean zombie movie Train to Busan, this concept itself already sounds like a perfect cocktail for success. And the drama was received very positively, with a second season renewed for 2020. Besides the ridiculously addictive plot, the acting is also superb. The crown prince is played by none other than Ju Jihoon, who has long been popular in South Korea and among K-Drama fans for his dark and brooding demeanour perfect for an apocalyptic series. Bae Doona, who has found great success in Korea and in Hollywood for her roles in K-Dramas and movies such as Cloud Atlas and Netflix series Sense8, expertly takes the female lead role of the physician uncovering the zombie epidemic. If you love period dramas, zombie movies or both, this is the drama for you!

Sky Castle (JTBC)

Widely lauded as the best K-Drama of the year, Sky Castle is arguably one of the best K-Dramas of this decade because of the amazing acting, the unpredictable plot and its inclusion of many societal issues in South Korea. The show set the record for the most-viewed cable drama in South Korean history. Set in the opulent neighbourhood called Sky Castle, the story revolves around the “real” housewives of the neighbourhood who are all trying to get their kids into the top three universities in South Korea (SNU, Korea U and Yonsei - often also abbreviated as SKY universities). This concept of looking at the competitive education environment of East Asian countries is not new but the series set itself apart but including a mystery element, where deaths, secrets and intrigue involving members of the neighbourhood also shed light to class issues spanning across generations, gender issues, work culture, as well as familial relations in the conservative Korean society. The show also employed an extremely talented but underrated cast of actors who either spent many years honing their craft as side characters of many shows or are star film school students. The show also gave many opportunities to the cast afterwards, as seen in Kim Byungcheol’s lead role opportunity in Prison Doctor and Kim Hyeyoon’s lead role in Extraordinary You that are both discussed above. If you love a socially aware drama full of intrigue and mystery with great acting and cinematography, you would love Sky Castle!

The Fiery Priest (SBS)

The highest-rated miniseries of 2019, The Fiery Priest is really a unique show unlike any other. The story follows an investigation into the death of an elderly priest, with the Scooby-Doo crew made up of a young priest, a detective, and a prosecutor. While the crime-solving trio dynamic in the synopsis would definitely give “The Guest” flashbacks, this drama is completely opposite to OCN’s 2018 gritty horror extravaganza and is instead heartfelt and utterly hilarious. The priest clearly has anger management issues, the detective sucks at his job and the prosecutor has questionable moral standards. And Kim Namgil, Kim Sungkyun and Honey Lee all played these roles ridiculously well. Like other great dramas this year, The Fiery Priest looks at social issues in South Korea but instead of extremely serious commentary, touches of them in a humorous and sarcastic manner. This allowed the show to get away with more than you would expect on Korean non-cable TV. One thing the show did do which was similar to the much more serious “The Guest” was not having a romance plotline shoved down our throats like many K-Dramas. If you love a good comedy-mystery drama, you should check out The Fiery Priest!

The Tale of Nokdu (KBS2)

Another drama based on a webtoon, The Tale of Nokdu received average national ratings but was massively successful among the Gen Z of Korea and overseas fans. The reason may be the premise of the series. We have seen a good amount of girl masquerades as guy romcoms in the late 2000s and early 2010s such as the legendary dramas “Coffee Prince”, “You Are Beautiful”, “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” and “To The Beautiful You” but HAVE WE SEEN A REVERSED VERSION? Well look no further as The Tale of Nokdu is exactly that. Set in the Joseon Dynasty, the male lead has to hunt down a female assassin who has taken refuge in a women-only widow’s village and he must pretend to be a woman to live in the village to catch the assassin. Jang Dongyoon and Kim Sohyun delivered quality acting but probably what really made the show so popular with the Gen Z audience is seeing the male lead coming to realise the struggles of women in ancient times, with some struggles still existing today, as he lived in the widow’s village and the fierce and strong personality of the female lead who keeps saving the male lead’s ass. While there are some expected period drama tropes with royal court politics and will-they-won’t-they in face of the greater good, The Tale of Nokdu is one of the standout dramas this year for its fresh take on the cross-dressing K-Drama trope. If you have enjoyed previous cross-dressing K-Dramas, you should give The Tale of Nokdu a try!

Vagabond (Netflix/SBS)

Lee Seunggi and Suzy reunites in Vagabond for the first time since Gu Family Book in 2013 and this was definitely a great reunion. With a backdrop involving government corruption and terrorist attacks, Lee Seunggi dons the role of a retired stuntman turned vagabond to avenge the death of his nephew and uncover the truth. Suzy joins Lee Seunggi as a rookie special agent who gets pulled into the investigations after being in the wrong place during the wrong time (or the right place in the right time depending on how you view the investigations). This action-packed series was filmed across many countries such as Portugal and Morocco and would give you a huge adrenaline rush as the main cast faces new obstacles and betrayals in every episode. The current ending of the series suggests a possible Season 2. If you are a fan of spy and action-type thrillers like City Hunter and IRIS, you would love Vagabond!

When the Camellia Blooms (KBS2)

The highest-rated mini-series this year after The Fiery Priest, When the Camellia Blooms is a slightly more light-hearted slice of life series set in the fictional matriarchal town of Ongsan. The series stars Gong Hyojin as a single mother who moves to the town to raise his son and run a bar called “Camellia”. The story revolves around Kang Haneul’s small town cop (and lowkey village idiot with a heart of gold) who has a crush on Gong Hyojin and her baseball star ex-boyfriend and the boy’s father played by Kim Jiseok trying to win her back. What makes this series so well-loved is that besides the love triangle shenanigans set in the small-town community, the endless line of useless pushover men, and the community drama between store owners and neighbours, there is also a mystery involving a serial killer who holds a grudge against the female lead. But ultimately it is a quirky drama where the slice-of-life really dominates over the mystery aspect of the series and we learn a lot about the characters and their backstories as the series progresses. If you like a more slow-paced, slice-of-life series, When the Camellia Blooms is the series for you!

Honourable Mentions:

Dazzling/The Light In Your Eyes (JTBC): The story about a young woman who suddenly became 70 years old but with the ability to manipulate time. The series received critical acclaim for its portrayals of the struggles of everyday folk in South Korea and for its surprising twists.

The Secret Life of My Secretary (SBS): The male lead is a childish company director who lost the ability to recognise faces and must enlist the help of his secretary to maintain the pretence of normalcy. Rainbow’s Jaekyung was a complete scene-stealer for her role as the over-the-top CEO Veronica Park. 

The Last Empress (SBS): Set in the alternate reality where South Korea is a constitutional monarchy, this is a melodrama involving a bodyguard who wants to seek revenge on the King’s mistress and a Queen who discovers her fairy tale marriage was just a PR ploy by the royal family. Basically, peak quality makjang.

What’s your Top 10 K-Dramas of the Year? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below and may the drama sharing begin (and the road to more excuse for holiday procrastination!)

Also, if you want to check out underrated K-Pop songs of 2019, here are the lists for idol songs and artist songs. We have also made a list for the Top 20 most underrated K-Pop songs of the decade!

[digdeepergravedigger09]

So I was tagged both by @naferty and @imaginestarkquill about this ... post meme thing. It took a while because of some certain questions. And also I talk a LOT. It’s just a thing I do. Talk a lot. Get into a tangent. I may have taken this way too seriously. One of the questions also contain a certain aspect of myself that I really dislike about myself. I tried to answer honestly, but I have to admit I am very defensive and I’ve qualified a lot of things trying to excuse myself. I answered it as honestly as I would on a personal blog that this is.

Also, gross insect death.

Rules: answer the questions in a new post and tag 20 blogs you would like to know better!

A - age: 25... 26? I’m not entirely sure. It’s hard to remember when you’re one year older than your birthdate says you are apparently B - birthplace: Korea C - current time: 3.46 PM D - drink you last had: Water E - easiest person to talk to: It depends on what I want to talk about. I usually talk most of everything with my mom, and all that I don’t want to talk about with her, with my bf, and all that I don’t want to talk with either of them, with @deredana.  F - favorite song: For the longest of time, it had been Chrystalanthemums from the Homestuck Album 1-4, but these days I’m in love with Hey Judy by Julie Robert from the Event [0] Soundtrack.

Continued under Keep reading.

G - grossest memory: Grade 7. First biology class of the year. Sat next to this kid who had a plastic folder/bag. Very sturdy, holds textbooks. There was a fly in the room, and apparently it sat on the table, before this kid with the bag. He slams it on the fly. Apparently, the fly tried to take off, but its lower... half... got crushed by the folder bag. Apart from the disgusting black mess that was the fly, there were.... white... tiny... things. That were crawling everywhere. Just... tiny, tiny tiny maggots crawling to every which direction. I don’t remember what happened after that, but I’m still scared of hitting/killing flies that I will just run away from them instead of swatting them away. I don’t want to look at flies, I don’t want to think about flies.  H - horror yes or horror no: Horror no. Just no. Thriller is fine, but horror is no. I - in love?: In love what? Am I in love? What is love? Baby don’t hurt me No but seriously, everything that people say about “love” seem to be accepted to be all simultaneously accurate and incoherent mess of contradictions. How can you know the “love” you say is the same “love” I feel? I know “love” can be felt in differing intensity, but how would I know, in the root, that they are the same feeling? I can’t tell if I am “in love” because I don’t know if what I’m feeling is love. I don’t understand whatever feeling the world’s literature describes love to be, it’s all nonsense. I think I’d prefer the phrase “extreme fondness” over “love” to be honest. “Love” is such a loaded word. But yeah, I guess I am “in love” currently, with someone.  J - jealous of people?: Yes. I’m a jealous and envious person. I hate that I can’t be 100% genuine when I say I congratulate people for succeeding, especially in areas where I myself want to succeed. I don’t actually hate the individuals themselves, I don’t think. But I do get resentful - I know that it is irrational and petty and ridiculous and just overall it says a lot about what person I am - when I am not the best/better. I think I got it down to a point where I will have a constant, low undercurrent of envy and resentment under my skin, but I like to think that I do a good job on not outwardly hating the people themselves for their success, at the very least. And I know this might taint some people’s perception of myself, that I may be lying to them about me being happy for their success. I’m not lying about that part; I really am glad they are getting a good thing in their life. But if you don’t believe me (and I don’t blame you, after everything I’ve written), don’t mind the selfish person being jealous. You got your success because you worked hard for it, or if it was a lucky break, but it was your well-deserved lucky break.  K - killed someone?: Only in my dreams. Wow, that sounds wrong. I mean nightmares. But also dreams sometimes. I kill a lot of people in both my dreams and nightmares. That’s not a better answer.  L - love at first sight or should I walk by again: I don’t believe in “love” at first sight. I prefer the understanding that “love” comes after years of stable, familiar relationship where you can accept everything of each other. So, no, no love at first sight, nor walking by again would help. M - middle name: I don’t have a middle name. N - number of siblings: I’m an only child. O - one wish: To have enough money to not have the audacity to make up an excuse to pass by any people who ask for help on the streets. To have enough money that I made on my own, to not be a burden on my parents or on my significant other. To be self sufficient and more, to be able to be generous without feeling guilty and facetious. P - person you called last: My boyfriend. Q - question you’re always asked: "How’s life?” “What will you do after you do (this thing I’m currently doing)?” Everything is going horribly, thank you, and I have no idea where my life is headed currently. But I’m trying to manage everything. I appreciate that you’re trying to help, and they probably will help in the end, but right now as I hear that question I am filled with anger and resentment and everything that pops into my head is venom and vitriol.  Unfortunately I don’t get asked many questions that don’t have to do with things I hate to think about the most. R - reason to smile: Healthy, happy animals. People who enjoy their lives. (I’m envious, but I’m also happy to see others be happy and passionate about their life and work. I don’t know what that’s about either) S - song you sang last: As in Karaoke? It’s been so long - 낭만고양이 by Cherry Filter, I suppose. Gosh, it’s been ages. Just by myself? Art is Dead by Bo Burnham.  U - underwear color: Navy and Black. V - vacation: I might go to where my parents are for like a week, once everything is over.  X - x-rays: What do you want from this question? I don’t understand. Have I ever been x-ray’d? Yes. I think most people would have, at least once in their lives? Y - your favourite food: Noodles. All noodles. Instant noodles, Udon, Ramen, Gooksoo, Pho, Bun Cha, Spaghetti, Phat Thai, Bun Bo Hue, etc and all that I may not remember. With few notable exceptions: I don’t like Korean Soy noodles, and I don’t particularly enjoy vermicelli, unless cooked in a very specific dish. Z - zodiac sign: Virgo    

 I do have some certain people I would like to get to know better. I have a feeling many of you have already done this - it’s been a while since I got tagged too, so. But if you haven’t, please do?  @reioka @tonystarktogo @saved-by-the-notepad @westbrookwestbooks @feelingsinwinter @deredana @beir @bloody-bee-tea and any of you who might want to try too, consider yourselves tagged! 

[ruraljuror94]

My Top 15 Films of 2016

Since the Oscar nominations were announced this morning, I figure it’s time I get off my ass and compile my personal top 15 movies of the year. And since I’m too indecisive this year to make a Top 10 I’ve decided to expand it to 15. Stay tuned, my 3 followers!!

1. MOONLIGHT

Initially, I had a difficult time choosing between this and La La Land as my #1 of the year, but after letting it sink in, I can confidently put Moonlight in the top spot. A haunting and moving piece of cinema from a perspective that is all too rare in movies in general, featuring the best ensemble of the year. However, I wish Trevante Rhodes and Andre Holland got more attention throughout awards season given how they electrifying they were together in the last 40 minutes. The movie is subtle and tells its story through body language, facial expressions, and glances, and yet still manages to say a lot. Although it is harsh for the most part, Moonlight is ultimately hopeful and an important depiction that needs to be shared.

2. LA LA LAND

Magical is the world I would use for this film. From the stunning opening to that spectacular ending, La La Land proves that Damien Chazelle is one of the best working directors today. It’s joyful and a gorgeous piece of filmmaking. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling’s chemistry are out of this world; but if I’m to be honest, it’s the former who is the true heart and soul of the story. On top of that, it has managed to snatch 14 Oscar nominations along the way. I have been playing the soundtrack almost everyday and I doubt the songs will leave my head soon.

3. ARRIVAL

OK, let’s get this out of the way first: Amy Adams was goddamn robbed by that overrated Meryl. Sad! But on a more serious note, it was upsetting to see her best performance yet to be overlooked by the Academy. Her subtle performance anchors the movie and makes the entire thing the more effective knowing the outcome of the third act. Possible my favourite sci fi movie, Arrival is a unique entry to the genre, using communication and language as the focus to tell a beautiful and intimate human story at its core.

4. THE HANDMAIDEN

Another outstanding achievement by Park Chan-wook. Adapted from the novel Fingersmith, The Handmaiden brings a fresh take to the story with its settings and time period. Visually striking and engaging from start to finish, the film is a thrill ride with two amazing leading performances by .Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri. It’s the kind of story that will keep you guessing throughout its 140 minute runtime, which passes by as quickly as it came.

5. THE WITCH

It has been a while since I have seen a movie as unsettling as The Witch. Not exactly full of scares like Insidious or The Conjuring, this period piece horror film is a slow burner that is filled with a dreaded atmosphere from its very first shot, and the tension just gradually creeps up throughout the runtime, resulting in an unforgettable and terrifying entry to the genre.

6. CLOSET MONSTER

Described as Xavier Dolan meets David Cronenberg, Closet Monster is a stylish gay coming of age story that follows a teenage boy in a small Canadian town. This premise might not be original, especially within queer cinema, yet Stephen Dunn manages to create a unique voice for this movie, from a talking hamster voiced by Isabella Rosselini to disturbing surrealist imageries presented at unexpected moments. Overall, it’s a well made film with obvious personal touches from the director/ writer himself, making it the more intimate.

7. THE WAILING

Korean cinema has always been a personal favourite of mine, and movies like The Wailing reinforces my love for it. Starting off as a seemingly common murder mystery story, The Wailing slowly builds and hints at something much more sinister, and the result is one of the most original, terrifying, and thought provoking horror films in a while. Although it could use some trimming in the runtime as the middle drags a little bit, the film is still fascinating to follow, and the distinctive cultural lores of a small Korean village is what makes it so unique as a whole, and the last 30 minutes of The Wailing will surely haunt you for a long time.

8. HIDDEN FIGURES

While it follows a pretty typical route for biopic films, Hidden Figures lends a voice to a perspective that we usually don’t get to see, and in this case it’s from 3 brilliant black women working for NASA, whose stories remained untold til now. With 3 ferocious performances from Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae, and Octavia Spencer (congrats on her nod!), Hidden Figures is inspirational as it is important and essential. Unfortunately, Taraji P. Henson didn’t receive a nomination for her incredible performance as Katherine Johnson, but hey, it’s the Oscars. Janelle Monae is proving to be a natural screen presence with her second movie role this year, and Octavia Spencer is always reliably great.

9. GREEN ROOM

Possible one of the most intense cinematic experience of 2016. Green Room is an unnerving thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout its entire run. The suspense is impeccable and the way Jeremy Saulnier lets it build and build to the point of unbearable is simply masterful. It’s violent and brutal and certainly not for the easily squeamish. 

10. AMERICAN HONEY

Initially, I was put off by this movie because damn, it’s almost 3 hours. But I’m glad I came around to it. Raw and authentic, American Honey doesn’t feel like it’s as long as it is, and it makes you want to following these youths living their care free lives, even though it’s from motel to motel and they have to share a cramped up van everyday. The standout of the film is Sasha Lane, who is such a natural that it feels like you’re a fly on the wall in this young woman’s life as she searches for herself on the road. Don’t let the runtime intimidate you and miss out on this gem.

11.10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

Another incredibly suspenseful thriller set in a contained space on this list, but instead of Nazis, it’s John Goodman this time. 10 Cloverfield Lane is nailbiting tension as its finest, making you doubt everything and having you nervously waiting for everything to unfold. John Goodman is absolutely menacing in this and Mary Elizabeth Winstead does an amazing job as the intelligent heroine who is constantly 2 steps ahead of the audience.

12. NOCTURNAL ANIMALS

Nocturnal Animals is possibly one of the most polarizing movie of the year. You either love it or hate it and I happen to fall in the love camp. It’s incredibly stylish and unsettling, and the way Tom Ford intertwines the 2 tales is masterful. Amy Adams gives another great performance here, and Michael Shannon and Jake Gyllenhaal are also solid but the biggest surprise is Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the psychopath redneck, who is chilling and so perfectly despicable as the main antagonist.

13. SPA NIGHT

Mostly under the radar (and is now on Netflix!), Spa Night is another gay coming of age story, but this time it’s from the perspective of a young Korean American man. Representing a voice that never seemed to get any attention in queer cinema, Spa Night also depicts a brutally honest reality of what the American dream is for immigrants of colour coming to the country. A confident debut from director Andrew Ahn, who I’m looking forward to see tackling on future projects.

14. KRISHA

Filmed with such a low budget that most of the cast comes from the director’s family, it’s amazing how well craft this little movie is. Krisha Fairchild, hands down, gives my favourite performance of the year. While the role has been done before, Fairchild skillfully injects so much layer to this pained woman who is silently suffering and slowly boiling up throughout the movie, leading to an explosive and absolutely gut wrenching climax. 

15. TRAIN TO BUSAN

Every zombie movie that has ever made has been leading up to Train to Busan. This Korean zombie flick is highly entertaining, thrilling, at times scary and surprisingly emotional, and in my opinion, the best that the zombie subgenre has got to offer.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

DON’T BREATHE

After giving us a horrifying bloodbath with the Evil Dead remake, Fede Alvarez and Jane Levy team up again in this anxiety ridden thriller that involves a robbery gone horribly wrong.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

One of the rare trilogy where the sequels improve with the third one being the best, Civil War successfully adapts the iconic comic storyline to the screen, resulting in a critically acclaimed thrilling spectacle.

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The Top List Of Really Good Movies To Watch From All Genres

Instead, spend your every free moment watching Ultimate Women flee monsters, murderers, and different creeps courtesy of the wealth of nice horror movies at the moment obtainable to stream. Rotten Tomatoes workers presents 200 essential movies to watch now, whether you're a film buff or simply starting your journey into cinema! Check out our household movies list for your subsequent night in. We have now the round-up of the all-time top family movies—like Goonies, Pollyanna and Wall-E—that parents will get pleasure from, too. Under, the definitive list of dance movies, in no particular order (and minus film adaptations of Broadway musicals, because that's a category for one more day). So what is the cope with the "A Star Wars Story" movies? The 5 'Star Wars' movies you must binge-watch this weekend before seeing 'Solo' This is one of the funniest movies of all time and anyone who disagrees can meet me within the front yard with two units of boxing gloves. You can start watching the movies on one gadget and resume watching on another. Netflix is the world's hottest subscription service for watching TV episodes and movies. The app distributes more than 5, 000 free movies in numerous categories like Battle, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Drama, Musicals and far more. Try the intensive list of movies you possibly can watch on Netflix Canada that managed to get the 90-one hundred% stamp of approval from Rotten Tomatoes: Powerful Methods for Watching Netflix Movies in Spanish. I love watching German language movies to help with my German missions. A list of Holocaust movies generally forgotten, however always worth a watch. How do you go about deciding on the list of the one hundred greatest comedy movies of all time? We'll hold this greatest-of list up to date with the newest movies that are a must-watch, so you waste zero display time looking out.

Spend less time looking by means of movies, and extra time watching them. From father-daughter comedies to heartbreaking art films and basic dad-bait motion thrillers, listed here are the best movies that commemorate dads. Why it's value watching: Whoever mentioned zombie movies are useless, is either attempting to make a funny or hasn't seen this crackin' South Korean horror outing. So I am going to list some feel good movies which might be value to watch and you'll positively love them. Thanks to Netflix, your little ones can watch tons of each new and classic children movies proper at home. But don't worry: there are a lot of brilliant cult favourites and award-winning movies starring Hollywood's nice and good hidden on Netflix UK. You simply want to know the place to look. Griffin took the story and script from the 1960 model and, with the assistance of Steven Soderbergh's route, created one the coolest heist movies of all time. Nicely should you're looking for lists of the greatest horror movies why would you count on them to be different? ‘Unrelenting' is a phrase often utilized to horror movies, however it's not often applicable: even probably the most excessive movies need the occasional moment of downtime to allow the audience to catch their breath. As he did in his ‘Dwelling Lifeless' movies, Romero keeps the horror grounded in nasty, messy actuality: that is additionally a film about American poverty, and its sudden consequences. http://thisisprocess.com/category/movies/ set new standards for martial arts movies as its 20-year-previous star turned probably the most renowned kung fu heroine in martial arts cinema history. It was additionally a pivotal transition between wu xia movies and kung fu films, and it introduced the world to the stoically charismatic Jimmy Wong Yu. Because of their current status in the American martial arts neighborhood, Black Belt asked me to devise a list of the top 20 martial arts movies of all time. So, in case your taste for thrills is not fairly sated by this list, try our collection of the very best automobile movies of all time. You possibly can even argue that these movies touch, even just a bit, on science-fiction.

All told, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, a fictional CIA-analyst-turned-motion-hero, has appeared in five completely different movies. Military Science Fiction Movies: Military sci-fi locations a heavy emphasis on the journey of a soldier (or platoon) that is part of a future military and the battles wherein they discover themselves.