Friend Zone, 2019 - ★★★½
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Watched on Thursday February 14, 2019.
Long Posts
Suck Seed, 2011 - ★★★★
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Watched on Thursday March 17, 2011.
Snow White, 2025 - ★★★
Thursday, March 20, 2025
For a story about inner beauty, this movie seems to have only shallow visuals to show off. I’m sorry if I offended anyone. I have never watched the original version of Snow White, but isn't the story just plain bad? And aren't all the characters just dumb? The premise seems fundamentally flawed, raising questions about how this story gained enough popularity to warrant a remake in the first place. The musical numbers are enjoyable, and I like the performances.
Ne Zha 2, 2025 - ★★★★½
Friday, March 14, 2025
Ne Zha 2 will undoubtedly be one of the best animated films of the year, and it will be fascinating to see how it fares in terms of visual awards, as I don't believe anything released this year could surpass this masterpiece. This movie stands as one of the most ambitious projects, achieving something exceptionally spectacular with its meticulous visuals. It's undoubtedly a film that demands to be experienced on the big screen.
Novocaine, 2025 - ★★★½
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Novocaine is a movie with a fascinating concept for comedy. It's an action comedy where the protagonist goes through terrible, gruesome scenes, but he doesn't feel any pain. So while all these horrible things happen to his body, he remains unfazed, yet we, the audience, internally scream for him. It's an intriguing concept—how much would you feel pain for someone who can't feel it themselves? Being an action comedy with a touch of romance, it plays to these genres and uses body horror for comedic effect.
Mickey 17, 2025 - ★★★★
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
I love the Bong Joon ho's decision to have fun following his major success with this story. He clearly wanted to see Robert Pattinson showcase his unhinged acting abilities, and who could blame him? I mean, is there any role this actor cannot play? Who would have predicted that a performer from Twilight would evolve into one of the best and most versatile actors of our generation? I anticipated another outstanding performance from Pattinson, and I was not disappointed.
The Commission 00010-The Zuiker Chronicles Branding
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
The logo of The Zuiker Chronicles Anton Zuiker approached me for a commission, after a referral from Pratik, my former client (Thanks for the shout-out!). He provided a comprehensive brief with references, which I greatly appreciated. The Brief The brief was straightforward: he wanted a logo for his personal website that would also serve as his personal branding. He requested a website header image incorporating both a wordmark and an icon mark, as well as brand guidelines for colors and typography to make it a complete branding package.
A Complete Unknown, 2024 - ★★★★
Saturday, March 1, 2025
"A Complete Unknown" is about a journey for authenticity and artistic expression, highlighting the struggle of forging one's own identity. It explores the balance between staying true to oneself and conforming to external expectations. Growth is something personal, and it's challenging to make others understand the changes within you. And not everyone will understand why you must change at all. This is even more true in music industry, where resistance to change is so baffling common.
I'm Still Here, 2024 - ★★★★½
Saturday, March 1, 2025
I love this movie. The story is so powerful, for its message and its narrative. I believe it's best to enter this movie without any prior knowledge. Allow the characters and the narrative to guide you, enabling you to experience their confusion and pain more vividly. You just need to know that this is one of the great movies based on real event. — "I'm Still Here" can be interpreted in two ways: as a plea, begging someone to notice you, and simultaneously, as a declaration, taking a stance and holding your ground.
The Girl with the Needle, 2024 - ★★★★
Saturday, March 1, 2025
I had no idea what the movie was about; I didn’t even read the synopsis. However, nothing could prepare me for the horror in this film. The fact that it is inspired by real events sent chills down my spine. The film explores how societal pressures and economic hardship can alienate individuals, compelling them to take extreme measures for survival. This desperation drives people to make questionable choices and seek harmful relationships, all in an effort to survive and experience even a glimpse of warmth to keep going.
Nickel Boys, 2024 - ★★★★
Friday, February 28, 2025
I was eager to love this film. Its innovative use of a first-person point of view in the cinematography intrigued me. The story also seemed to provoke many conversations and emotions, depicting the shared bond between two boys in an inhumane reform school. However, the movie disappointed me in its execution. After watching the movie, I understand the need for a first-person point of view in the narrative; however, it did not work as well as I had hoped.
Conclave, 2024 - ★★★★½
Friday, February 28, 2025
In times of change, we are gifted with the perfect opportunity to reflect on our faith and the course of our lives. The quote from Conclave, “Faith is a living thing,” prompted me to contemplate the nature of faith. If faith truly is a living thing, it requires our nurturing, for its potential for growth is limitless. However, like any living thing, it is also vulnerable to decline and can ultimately perish.
Nosferatu, 2024 - ★★★★½
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Nosferatu is a remarkable film, an adaptation based on Dracula, crafted by true masters of filmmaking. The directing, cinematography, sound, music, editing, and performances all come together to create something truly extraordinary. Particularly, the cinematography stands out. The clever use of shadow and darkness gives the impression that the darkness itself is moving through each scene and set. You can literally feel the darkness creeping in with every scene, creating this constant tension that pulls you deeper into the story.
Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants, 2025 - ★★★½
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
The movie, *Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants* (known as *มังกรหยก* in Thai), is a story that has been told countless times, with numerous remakes over the years. Despite this, this version stands out for its stunning visuals. The team clearly knows how to create impressive scenes and action sequences. The use of colors, visual effects, and cinematography is outstanding, making for a spectacular experience. However, while the movie excels in visuals, it heavily relies on prior knowledge of the story, making it difficult for newcomers or even casual fans to follow.
The Substance, 2024 - ★★★★
Saturday, February 22, 2025
The Substance is a wild ride and so over the top—like, how could you ever forget this movie, especially those last 30 minutes? It’s one of the most bizarre and grotesque experiences on screen. I love the style of this film; it has a unique taste in terms of cinematography, musical score, and all the technicalities involved. The movie excels at making you feel uncomfortable in your own skin and paints a vivid picture of the grotesque experience of society norms.
September 5, 2024 - ★★★½
Thursday, February 20, 2025
I have always been intrigued by stories that reveal the behind-the-scenes aspects of any production. So, it's no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed September 5. At first glance, it appears to be a typical sports TV production—a narrative about people working in television during the 70s. However, it gradually unfolds into something far more dramatic, and much deeper themes. The film navigates the challenges faced by a team inexperienced in live crime broadcasting, highlighting the real-time consequences of their decisions and the moral dilemmas accompanying their pursuit of sensationalism.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, 2025 - ★★★½
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is a charming addition to the beloved series that pleasantly surprised me—it exceeded my expectations. There were many great dialogues throughout, and I adored how these characters interacted with each other. They are filled with humor and affectionate moments, making it both cute and engaging. They also captured friendships and the challenges of adulthood, which adds layers to the overall narrative. However, I found the plot involving the boy to be less enjoyable.
Captain America: Brave New World, 2025 - ★★★½
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
"Captain America: Brave New World" feels like an extended episode of "The Falcon and The Winter Soldier," lacking the reintroduction and depth needed for Sam Wilson as Captain America, or even as a person. The story maintains the same beats and tone that align with the TV series. To make matters worse, they attempted to connect it to *Incredible Hulk*—a 2008 film released even before *Iron Man*—without providing a proper reintroduction and sufficient context.
Flat Girls, 2025 - ★★★★
Friday, February 7, 2025
While *Flat Girls* has an undertone of girls' love, its primary focus is on social class and how it affects our interactions with people and the world. The movie seeks to illustrate the various dimensions of gaps in relationships: love, power, interests, and even survival. Each relationship has many layers, each with its own texture. Our interpretations of relationships and thoughts profoundly influence our decisions. This film centers on characters who cannot escape their own values, cultural standards, and worldviews.
Flow, 2024 - ★★★★
Friday, February 7, 2025
"Flow" is a visually stunning animated film that captures the compassion, relationships, and the interconnectedness of all beings amidst a natural disaster. I think that’s truly beautiful how the movie portray how we share a universal language of kindness, even among different species. Each character—a cat, a capybara, a lemur, a secretary bird, and a Labrador dog—is incredibly cute, adding to the charm as they navigate their way through rising waters.
The Apprentice, 2024 - ★★★½
Monday, February 3, 2025
The Apprentice movie offers a unique perspective on Donald Trump, highlighting the influence of Roy Cohn. The movie’s release timing is interesting, providing a glimpse into how Trump became the person he is today. What stands out in The Apprentice is the remarkable acting. While many might focus on Sebastian Stan’s portrayal of Trump, Jeremy Strong’s portrayal of Roy Cohn brings more intrigue and depth to the screen. Both actors deserve significant recognition for their performances.
📝 My Stoic Journal Week 4: Take Another’s Perspective—Nobody Wants to Do Wrong on Purpose
Sunday, February 2, 2025
Last week, I have practiced taking an outside view of my own struggles, as guided by “A Handbook for New Stoics.” This week, the practice shifts its focus to taking an inside view of other people’s actions. By doing so, we aim to gain perspective, cultivate compassion and understanding within ourselves—recognizing why people’s actions may appear reasonable to them. A fundamental principle of stoicism is that no one intentionally intends to do wrong, and everyone believes their actions are justified, and have valid reasons for their actions.
A Real Pain, 2024 - ★★★★
Friday, January 31, 2025
Pain takes on many forms, and we can grieve over various things, expressing our emotions in many ways. Yet, we can sense the pain of those around us if we are willing to see it. Because pain and suffering are inherently rooted in every being—a part of life itself—making pain a shared experience for all of us. The dialogue in the film is beautifully authentic, with exceptional performances that convey deep pain and emotions.
Companion, 2025 - ★★★★
Thursday, January 30, 2025
I can’t say much about the story without giving away spoilers. If you’re interested in watching this film, I recommend going in blind—avoid trailers or any other information about it. What I truly appreciate is the metaphorical exploration of relationship dynamic and modern technology presented in the film. It serves as both entertainment and social commentary simultaneously. The screenplay is solid, and the performances by the main cast are great. All technical aspects effectively support the tone they aimed for.
🎥 My Own Oscar Awards 2024 (Movies from 2023)
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Welcome to my personal analysis of my favorite movies from 2023, which I like to call My Own Oscar Awards. After watching most of the nominations and beyond, I couldn’t help but compare these films to each other. My personal picks focused not on the names, prestige, or past work of the filmmakers, but rather on the impact these films had on me in each category. Each category features three nominations that truly sparked something within me.
Flight Risk, 2025 - ★★★
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
I appreciated the cinematography and sound in this movie; they effectively set an atmosphere of suspense within a confined space with no way to escape. The premise also laid the groundwork for a compelling thriller. The performances of each cast member were good, given the script they had to work with. However, the screenplay was very lacking. The materials were all there to explore the idea of three individuals, each with complicated backstories, trapped together on an airplane.
Sing Sing, 2023 - ★★★★
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
The story revolves around the notion that art has the power to heal the soul. Art is fundamentally human; it expresses the essence of our humanity and brings out the best in us. It also beautifully illustrates the process of grappling with our traumas, mistakes, hopes, and dreams for the future. Sometimes, when we step outside ourselves, we enter a transient space that transcends individuality and connects us to our shared humanity.
📝 My Stoic Journal Week 3: Take an Outside View—Self-Sympathy Over Self-Empathy
Sunday, January 19, 2025
This week's exercise from a handbook for new Stoics focuses on comforting ourselves by achieving equanimity through a shift in perspective regarding our own troubles. At the core of this practice is the distinction between sympathy and empathy. The Stoics put forward the idea that we should lean more towards cultivating sympathy rather than empathy. Empathy, sharing another person's feelings at an emotional level, often leads to overwhelming responses. Empathy is stronger towards known or visible people but weakens with anonymity.
Babygirl, 2024 - ★★★½
Saturday, January 18, 2025
"Babygirl" presents an intriguing premise, featuring a high-powered CEO engaging in a controversial sub-dom romance with her younger intern. However, the film struggles to deliver a cohesive and engaging narrative, as the power dynamics between the characters are ambiguously portrayed. The story is barely there and the intern is poorly developed, making it difficult to invest in the story. Instead of a deep exploration of their relationship, viewers are left with two confused individuals navigating a sub-dom dynamic that feels awkward, uncomfortable and at times, surprisingly dull.
📝 My Stoic Journal: Week 2 Focus on What Is Completely in Your Control
Monday, January 13, 2025
This week, the exercise focuses on the concept of aversion, which can be seen as a type of desire, as in the desire to avoid misfortune. People have very different reactions to similar misfortunes, and the reason is that some people are better at redirecting the aversion away from things that they dislike but are not in our power, and transferring it to things that we can completely control. The true challenge is taking actions on something we can be guaranteed to achieve, instead of desiring something that is outside our control.