Ajooma Reviews: 2020 was My Kdrama Year (1 of 2)

What experience gave you a big surprise that changed your mind and attitude towards an object, an event or a person? Was there a specific event you participated in that made you a believer of some truth or reality? What did your friends push you into doing that turned you into a solid fan of? In my case, it is the experience of watching Korean dramas (Kdrama) since my friends relentlessly nagged me. I had a 180 degree turn after finishing Crash Landing on You on Netflix eight months ago. This is my story of the change, not only in my mind but also of my heart on Kdramas.

I used to think that watching KDramas is a waste of time. Why would I spend an hour watching a telenovela when there are more productive ways to use my time on. I held on to the belief that telenovelas have the same troupes and patterns of storytelling. I have seen one. I have seen them all. But, my friends were bent on making me a Kdrama fan.

My friends at work convinced me that it is the kind of entertainment we deserve to watch. According to her, Kdramas have the aesthetics and production value. Another said that it is worth one’s time and Netflix subscription because the Kdramas offer a new spin or a novel way of presenting a story. In previous years, friends would tell me to watch Descendants of the Sun or Goblin. These Kdramas were highly recommended. I considered their opinions. Well produced series. Aesthetic appeal. A different and unique way of telling stories. I stopped the eye-rolling and listened to my friends.

My first KDrama to see on Netflix is Crash Landing on You (CLOY). After watching CLOY, I finally understood what my friends were saying. Take for example the story line of CLOY. A beautiful rich girl with family issues got lost in North Korea. Blame it on a tornado on the day she went paragliding. She landed on the Demilitarized Zone between NoKor and SoKor. This is no man’s land for Koreans living on either side. Apparently, a captain of the NoKor army who is on patrol found her. At that particular moment, when the two lead characters met, the conflict was established. It posed a lot of questions and because the actors have chemistry, it promised a lot of surprises and discoveries. I was not disappointed. My questions were answered. Though the story was not really new, the telling was. 

3x3 Movie and TV Series Review: The Prom, Bridgerton, The Princes Switch (1 and 2)

Here is my 3x3 reviews of Netflix movies and TV series I have seen over the holiday break. It was fun to watch them all but none of of them has really resonated with me.

The Prom (Murphy, Martin, Beguelin Ryan Murphy Productions, 2019) has spectacular acting. The music and the choreography are dazzling and on quiet and gentle moments, it is honest in its message of inclusion and tolerance. Then again, on its final note, I felt I had been chewing gum all along.

Vanessa Hudgens shines in the The Princess Switch (Rohl, Burger and Metzger MCPA, 2018) and The Princess Switched Again (Rohl, Burger and Metzger MPCA, 2020). A very predictable script is made charming by the actors' visuals and production design. These two movies are Christmas candy canes and I had to drink hot chocolate less the sugar and the vanilla right after.

And then, there is Bridgerton (Van Dusen, Netflix 2020). Is it worth all the hype?

It is not Pride and Prejudice so don't keep your hopes up if you are a loyal Austen fan. There are eye-rolling moments but the chemistry between Rege Jane Page and Phoebe Dynevor, as well as the friendship of Eloise and Penelope make up for the enormous cliché. Women in this Regency era TV series are given agency enough to crack open the patriarchy a little bit but it is Lady Danbury, portrayed by Adjoah Andoh, who wields power over them all.

Oh, Lady Danbury! How to be you? There are explorations of gender roles and the treatment of race in a multiracial London is a given. Yet, social class and elitism remain the primary conflicts affecting beloved characters. The OST is pretty cool!

Netflix Series Review: Cobra Kai

Netflix Series Review: Cobra Kai
Created by: Josh Heald. Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg
Based on The Karate Kid film series by Robert Mark Kamen

How did I stumble upon Cobra Kai? I think this question is no longer important. I watched seasons 1 and 2 of this Karate Kid reboot and I was glad I gave it try. It is a sweet drive down to memory lane and revisiting this well loved 80s classic made more sense to me now. There is no more Mr. Miyagi which the content creators and producers made use of exceptionally well to dwell on the grey areas that were never explored in the movies.

And so it begins 30 plus years after the fated loss of Johnny Lawrence to Daniel Larusso. Lawrence remained a loser while Larusso is basking on the fruits of fame, success and the life changing influence that Mr. Miyagi made in his life. Needless to say, they lead opposite lives now that they are about to go over the hill. And that is where everything begins, actually.

Lawrence is seeking redemption. Larusso is hanging on to the wisdom of Mr. Miyagi but fails miserably at it when his rival started to set up a dojo. In between their search for meaning and redemption are new Karate Kids to train, mentor and guide. And they make Cobra Kai more exciting, greyer and complicated for their elders - the ones who love the Karate Kid movies and the adults who play their parents and mentors in the series.

Cobra Kai is filled with 80s nostalgia, including a dream sequence that will remind Gen Xers like me of the MTV back then. Clear storytelling, outrageous clothes, teased hair and amazing music. Well loved characters from both sides of the fence made valuable appearances. Even a visit to Mr. Miyagi's resting place was well shot and appropriately placed an one episode in the first series. Miyagi's memory lives but no one can ever take his place. No, not even Daniel-san.

I enjoyed the episodes where there are shots of the beach, Miyagi's house and the training sessions which Larusso and Lawrence had with their students. The later amplifies the different philosophies of both dojos and the principles that each sensei teach their students. This was not further explored nor elaborated on in the movies but in Cobra Kai, I got to ponder more about the value systems we subscribe to and the beliefs that anchor us to lead a life that is not only good but purposeful.

Overall, Cobra Kai is a good watch for those who love the original materials and this generation of viewers who deal with so many grey issues in society. The season 2 finale left me unsettled though. I could not reconcile the artistic liberties that the film makers made with real life events, especially violence in a school. But, this is the America as we know it now where shootings happen in spaces we thought were sanctuaries and issues of racism remains in the collective consciousness despite the integration of different ethnicities in society at large.

Rating - 4/5

Movie Review: The Knight Before Christmas

The Knight Before Christmas (2019)
MPCA Productions
Director: Monika Mitchell
Screenplay:Cara Russell

Vanessa Hudgens plays Brooke who is still on the mend after a break up. She finds joy in teaching, hope in community work and faith in her promising student and adorable niece. A valued member of the community, Brooke continues on the tradition of her parents at Christmas when her family would host a get-together for everyone. It is in the busy-ness of all this preparations when Cole, a knight from the Middle Ages, blasted into Brooke's life.

Cole was sent to the future by some magic as he was in search for a duty that befits a knight of his stature. No problem adjusting in modern day America, Cole's good deeds earned him the admiration and respect of the community. Brooke could not help but fall in love and, as they say, the rest is history.

But Cole remains confused in finding the real meaning of being transported through time. Hesitant to leave Brooke, he goes back to where he came from and discovers the essence of his quest later upon seeing his brother. He foregoes the knighthood ceremony of his brother and went back to the future to be with Brooke.

Rating/Recommendation: Just right to while away the time in traffic or long lines at the mall

Movie Review: The Family Stone

The Family Stone (2005)
Family Drama, Comedy
Direction and Screenplay by Thomas Bezucha

The first time I saw The Family Stone on cable TV, I was floored by the sheer fun of watching Sarah Jessica Parker falter and fall. A decade or more after, her character remains the same. She is that sister-in-law you always wondered why she ended up with your brother who deserves better. She is the new family member who annoys you to pieces but redeems herself in the end simply because, uptight and lacking of empathy most of the time, she is just being herself. And no one can fault a person for being so.

This is what makes The Family Stone an endearing movie to watch during the holidays. The characters are who they are, faults and all. It is through these imperfections that each of the characters rise above their own personal struggles and challenges. The unfolding is subtle and quiet until, some slapstick has to be done for the viewer to laugh it off with the family. Underneath all the family drama is a deeper pain and a greater loss that each of the members of the Stone family foresee. But, they go on as Christmas goes on until the year after when each of them has seemed to made peace with themselves.

Lastly, the casting is amazing and so is the acting.

Rating/Recommendation: Highly recommended

Movie Review: The Two Popes

The Two Popes (2019)
Netflix
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Screenplay: Anthony McCarten

Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce play Pope Benedict and Pope Francis respectively and with such conviction that I had to remind myself very so often that this is a Netflix movie is written by Anthony McCarten. Make no mistake, it is a good thing as McCarten wrote Bohemian Rhapsody and Darkest Hour. Both are Oscar winning movies that elevated Freddie Mercury into the status deserving of a god and Gary Oldman as a tough but endearing Winston Churchill. Both actors in the said movie won an Oscar too.

I digress. Needless to say, I did enjoy the movie as it is done so well I won't be surprised if it gets several Oscar nods this year.

But what engaged me in the movie is the depiction of man's relationship with God. It is an endless journey of seeking and journeying that in the end, all that matters is faith. Even that is a tenuous thing when, even the strongest among us must choose between principle and the common good. One pope represents change and reforms. The other is a standard bearer of tradition and compromises. Such contradictions exist in the Vatican and permeates to the entire Catholic congregation.

So, we end up with two popes instead of one.

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Rating/Recommendation: Go stream it!

Movie Review: Klaus

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_(film)

Klaus (2019)
Aniventure
Director: Sergio Pablos
Screenplay by: Sergio Pablos, Jim Mahoney and Zach Lewis

I heard friends talk about Klaus as a heartwarming take on the legend of Santa Claus. It has good reviews online as well, so I included the movie in my list to validate what I have read and heard. It did not disappoint.

The animation is amazing, smooth and clean. I enjoyed the colors: beige, mocha, blue and gray. I am not a fan of steam punk, but it is the movie and it grew on me. The 19th century setting of the movie was a factor, I think. It is old and miserable, sentimental and full of hope all at the same time.

Of the many Santa Claus portrayals I have seen over the years, this Klaus is now my favorite. This Klaus has a past, does not talk much and perceives signs in nature around him. All the stories and details that made Santa Claus a legend are in the movie. Watching these scenes were all comforting as I dig deep into childhood memories of the rituals of gift giving. What made this legend all the more real to me (while watching an animated movie) was the rendition of the stories about Klaus told by the children as Jesper, who is actually the lead character, delivers all of the toys that Klaus made for them. That is the power of imagination right there. Truth and faith as well.

In the end, I gained a new insight about Klaus. He wants us to play. He wants us to laugh. In play and in laughter, we become.

Rating/Recommendation: 4 of 5
Go and stream it! 

Movie Review: A Christmas Prince

Of the five Netflix original movies I have in my To Watch list this month, I have successfully seen two, so far. I am putting a check on Klaus (2019) and A Christmas Prince (2017). Here is my review of A Christmas Prince.

A Christmas Prince
Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA)
Directed by Alex Zamm

One of two romcoms I have in my list, A Christmas Prince contains all the recipes of a Hallmark movie. The characters are pretty much what you would expect from a trope that uses mistaken identity and clean-up-your-mess-to-be-redeemed ending with a kiss in the middle of a snow covered street. There is the scheming and conniving ex-girlfriend, the ambitious royal cousin, the endearing and imperfect princess that acted as the female lead's bestie and fairy god mother. Yes, Cinderella lives!

I did find Rose McIver endearing and Ben Lamb as the titular Christmas Prince is charming. However, sparks were low between the two actors. While I did root for them, their chemistry lacked the fire that says, "We are a sexy pair, so we deserve to be together" at the end of it all. But, the movie has two sequels up in Netflix. But. I am skipping it.

I am moving on to A Knight Before Christmas where Vanessa Hudgens is the female lead. I want to give myself a chance on her again as I loved her in the first High School Musical.

Rating / Recommendation: 3 of 5
Stream it if you are a fan of romcoms :-)