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.
The 2025 #Oscars had me nodding in agreement with most of the winners, but then they chose “El Mal” for Best Song and “Anora” for Best Picture. Did they momentarily forget the names of more deserving nominees?
Before #Oscars2025 announcement, I invite you to read My Own Oscar Award for last year, where I discussed my favorite #movies. My picks were quite different from the official ones, and I believe this year’s choices will be even more distinct.
"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 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.
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"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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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" 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.
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" 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 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.
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.
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.
This Readwise update is incredible! Similar Highlights and Chat With Your Highlights features are like having a citation on steroids. After years of collecting thousands of quotes within the service, the payoff is finally here.
