Monday 31 May 2021

Good Friends

May 31, 2021 10 Comments
Assalamualaikum, good day dearest!



Title : Good Friends / Confession
Runtime : 114 minutes
Genre : Drama, Crime
Country / Language : South Korea / Korean
Released year : 2014
Director : Lee Do Yoon
Writer : Lee Do Yoon
Cast : Ji Sung, Ju Ji Hoon, Lee Kwang Soo
Plot : 

Three men, Hyun Tae, In Chul and Min Soo have been friends since their high school days. Their friendship continue until they are in the adulthood. One day, In Chul met Hyun Tae's mother who ran an arcade business. His mother signed an insurance policy for fire with In Chul. To get the insurance, they are scheming an incidence. In Chul asked for Min Soo's help and claim it for everyone's good. Things take turns when Hyun Tae's father suddenly showed up. In Chul who was baffled that their plan went awry, begin to burn down the building and bring Min Soo out. The two friends hide the truth from Hyun Tae but Hyun Tae is seeking for justice for his dead mother.

SPOILER ALERT

The beginning of this movie is when the three friends are back in their high school days. They went to mountain climbing instead of attending their graduation. This already caught attention as Min Soo got injured and it starts to snow. When In Chul left them at the abandon house to get help, I honestly thought he left them. But that was not the case and their friendship continued until they are adult. 

I love how the three of them have a totally different personality but still managed to keep their friendship going. Hyun Tae is gentle and have a strong principle, In Chul is harsh but mean well (except he always help his client to get the insurance money) and Min Soo is a bit on the dumb side. The chemistry between the actors are undeniable and I really love how they played out their character.

The moment In Chul make plans with Hyun Tae's mother, that's the moment their friendship started to go downhill. I don't know who to blame. Should I blame Hyun Tae's mother for being greedy for insurance claim? Or should I blame In Chul for agreeing to help her? Whoever it was wrong definitely helped the drama in the plot. 

After that faithful night, Min Soo who was filled with guilt wanted to confess but In Chul doesn't agree. He don't want to ruin their friendship, even though he knew it was over the moment he went through with the plan. It was an emotional ride for me. Knowing Hyun Tae will found out that his own close friend had killed his mother and make his father fell into coma, knowing that Min Soo had to pretend that nothing was wrong, knowing that In Chul doesn't for things to fall apart and trying his best to fix things up. Especially when there's involvement from the loan shark, insurance investigator and the police. Things are a little messy but that's how life is. And not to mention the misunderstanding Hyun Tae had towards In Chul since the day at the mountain was never cleared up.

I am extremely sad how this three friends fall apart. This movie is great and if you are planning to watch it, maybe, prepared for some tissues.




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-thes
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Monday 24 May 2021

The Universe's Star

May 24, 2021 12 Comments
Assalamualaikum, good day dearest! I'm finally back with another k-drama review. Huhu, and, no this is the only k-drama that I watched since the semester start... As for movies, I haven't got to watch another so... yeah.

not mine; credited to the rightful owner



Title : The Universe's Star
Episodes : 3
Genre : Fantasy, Romance, Comedy
Director : Kim Ji Hyun
Writer : Kim Ji Hyun
Network : MBC
Cast : Suho, Ji Woo
Plot : 

Woo Joo is a singer-songwriter. His seventh comeback did not receive the support from the public. Byul is an angel of death. Out of all angel, her performance is the worse, she can't sent any single soul to the up. Byul doesn't remember her live when she was a human. However, she remember being a fan of Woo Joo. When she found out that Woo Joo is scheduled to die, she plead to her boss for her to save him. Her boss then agreed to sent her as human again with a condition that she must not cross the seven things/wish she couldn't fulfill during her lifetime. And if she broke them, she will be sent to the above.

SPOILER ALERT

There's nothing much comment on this drama, honestly. As it is only 3 episodes, the plot is really simple. It's a story of an angel of death and a superstar. Byul, the angel of death, doesn't remember anything from her live as a human except for a fact that she's a fan of Woo Joo. And because of his current song is not doing well, Woo Joo is uner a lot of stress. He feels like dying. Byul receives that the VIP from above has expecting Woo Joo for a long time. She determined to not let Woo Joo died.

Every character in this drama is connected to one another in a way. However, it wasn't that hard to digest because their relation is revealed slowly.  Plus, there wasn't a scene where they're too many things happening at the same time. It is a really light watch. And in fact, I watch this drama when I have a gap in between classes and I'm not feeling like doing any works.

The fantasy aspect may become a little bit too much for my realistic view. I hate how both the doctor (Woo Joo's childhood friend) and the rescuer (the person who responsible for Byul's death) did not question how could she be alive again. Also, how could she married Woo Joo when she don't have a definite identity. Ohh, I am really not into fantasy brought into real world. My brain can't comprehend that.

Other than that, this drama is very much enjoyable and I really love it. In fact, this is my third (if I remember it correctly) time watching it. Even thought I watch it solely for Suho at first and had zero expectation. 

For more k-drama reviews, please visit 'K-drama review' on the menu tab !

-thes
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Sunday 23 May 2021

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Happy Birthday Giveaway by Abam Kie

May 23, 2021 8 Comments

Assalamualaikum, good day dearest! Lama dah rasanya tak sentuh blog lama-lama apatah lagi berblogwalking. Tengah dok usha reading list ternampak banyak pulak giveaway bulan. So, jom join ramai-ramai, mana tahu ada satu dua yang jadi tuah.


 Syaratnya mudah je... Jadi jom meriahkan lagi giveaway ni! Tamat 31 Mei 2021


-thes
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Monday 17 May 2021

Code Name Wolf by Sara Aisha

May 17, 2021 4 Comments
Assalamualaikum, good day dearest! It's been soooo long since aku buat review novel, kan? Well, I'm back! Kalau ikutkan banyak dah habis baca novel tapi untuk aku type review tu sangatlah.... Memalaskan. InsyaAllah aku rajin nanti aku type semua lepastu schedule kan terus, senang.



Tajuk : Code Name Wolf 
Penulis : Sara Aisha
Mukasurat : 707 pages
Penerbit : SA Publications
Terbitan : April 2021
ISBN : 9789671771433
Blurb : 

2021. BLACK OPERATION
Objektif: Menjatuhkan Black Diamond Group, sebuah syarikat konglomerat yang sebenarnya dalang di sebalik pasaran pemerdagangan manusia di Asia Tenggara.
Misi: Menyelamatkan mangsa-mangsa di bawah Black Diamond Club
Sasaran: Madam Lee

"Apa kau buat di sini?"

Semuanya bermula dengan persoalan itu. Wolf bertemu kembali dengan wanita yang selama ini menguasai hidup dan hatinya.

"I'm here for Madam Lee. Hanya itu."

Wolf mengerti. Wanita di hadapannya bukan lagi wanita yang suatu masa dahulu dia kenal. Di antara mereka kini hanya tinggal urusan Black Operation. Dia sebagai Wolf. Wanita itu sebagai Pheonix.

Namun...

Berdepan dengan seorang Pheonix, bukanlah semudah yang dia jangka. Kerasnya wanita itu terlalu mencabar dirinya. Apatah lagi, di antara mereka sebenarnya terjalin satu perhubungan yang tidak semudah itu putus.

"Aku hanya ada dua pilihan sekarang. Pertama, aku jadi seorang ejen yang bertindak rasional. Kedua, aku jadi seorang suami yang naik gila."

Tidak cukup dengan itu, kemunculan Madam Lee di hadapan mereka menghuru-harakan lagi keadaan. Pheonix jadi semakin tidak terkawal. Wolf semakin terdesak. Di antara menyelamatkan isterinya, atau membiarkan Pheonix terus-terusan terperangkap dalam matlamat gilanya. Kerana, sesungguhnya, dia juga mahu membunuh mereka.

"You're mine. Mereka dah sentuh apa yang jadi hak milik aku. Jadi, mereka akan jilat akibatnya."
"Aku tak perlukan kau untuk balas apa-apa bagi pihak aku. Biar aku yang buat sendiri."

Permainan kini bermula. Di antara sang serigala yang mahu menjadi pelindung, dan seorang Pheonix yang bangkit dari abu kemusnahan. Namun yang nyata, mereka berdua ialah pasangan pemusnah. Mereka... akan emnguburkan Black Diamond Group.

Buku ketiga dalam The Shadow Series. Abang long, finally is here! Dari bab epilog buku kedua (Code Name Shark), aku dah tertanya sangat-sangat akan identiti si perempuan yang berjaya buatkan abang Wolf kita ni terkaku. Banyak jugak andaian yang aku buat dan akhirnya terjawab bila cik penulis post teaser dekat IG. Isteri. Ya, itulah status perempuan itu kepada Wolf. Sungguh aku tak sangka tapi mengena la sikit aku punya andaian. Walaupun sipi-sipi. Pheonix. Seorang agent daripada Armour, sebuah organisasi yang serupa The Shadow yang berpangkalan di Thailand. Pheonix. Dia juga seorang isteri kepada Wolf. Isteri yang suatu ketika dulu pergi meninggalkan suaminya.

Misi kalini adalah untuk menjatuhkan sindiket pemerdagangan manusia dan sasaran kita adalah Madam Lee, peneraju utama Black Diamond Club, sebuah kelab pelacuran eksklusif di Thailand. Bermakna, misi kalini kita perlu terbang ke Thailand. Aku sangkakan, lepas 'Chan Rak Ter... Aku Cinta Kamu', SA takkan kembali ke Thailand. Bukan nak kata CRT is a failure or that Thailand tak best ke apa, tapi kan selalunya penulis-penulis akan explore negara yang belum pernah jejak. Ke aku je yang fikir ceni?

Siri ketiga ni aku rasa kurang mendebarkan jika nak dibandingkan dengan the first two. Awal-awal lebih fokus kepada hubungan Pheonix dengan Wolf. Tapi bohonglah kalau aku kata aku bosan sebab aku sendiri tertanya-tanya macam mana mereka boleh kenal, siapa yang tinggalkan siapa, kenapa, semualah. So, permulaan novel, lebih banyak kepada hubung Wolf-Pheonix, dan selingan juga dengan siapa sebenarnya Pheonix. Juga the big why and how Pheonix boleh terlibat dengan kes ni.

Kemunculan Pheonix, membawa satu sisi baru Wolf yang sebelum ni tak pernah lagi ditonjolkan. Siapa sangka Wolf yang beku, yang sentiasa serious juga tegas ni boleh pulak tiba-tiba terjangkit perangai romeo Cobra? Menyempat pulak dia puji Pheonix comel masa tengah geram. Dah la depan Cobra dengan Shark! I is kenot laaaa. I love his serious character tapi bila tetiba puji-puji ceni haihhhh. Comel! And that protective side of him? A plus!

Dari segi perjalanan cerita tentang misi kalini, it's more smooth. Unlike CNC and CNS, bila dorang dah halfway kena interrupt dengan 'dark side' CNW punya mission berjalan lancar. Tapi! Lancarnya perjalanan mission mereka, rupanya pihak kejahatan tahu segala pergerakan Wolf-Pheonix. Hence, serang hendap yang entah berapa kali. Aku tak sure berapa banyak kali aku tercarut masa baca novel ni. Geram kot, ingatkan nak menang dah rupanya belum lagi.

Paling aku tak sangka,  that plot twist, the one where Madam Lee's identity was revealed. That moment, aku rasa macam we are back to Athena all over again. A victim seeking out for revenge. Tapi Madam Lee is not as strong and berpengaruh macam Athena. So, kelainan sikit lah kat situ. Tapi aku still rasa it will be better kalau Madam Lee is the mastermind instead of a puppet. Impact dia mungkin akan lebih strong.

Watak Pheonix ni memang sesuai digandingkan dengan Wolf. She's so strong. Berapa kali dia dijatuhkan, tetap jugak dia bangkit melawan. Cumanya, bila satu nama tu disebut dia jadi emotional. Watak dia banyak terpengaruh dengan emosi. Lagi-lagi during that final confrontation. Dia hampir-hampir kalah sebabkan emosi dia. Nasib baiklah cerita fiksyen so encik suami sempatlah selamatkan dia, walaupun dah nyawa-nyawa ikan. Apapun, disebabkan watak Pheonix ni, mata aku selalu je berpeluh. 

Final confrontation is crazy. Macam yang aku cakap, pihak jahat is one step ahead. Memang gila! The Shadow nak serang hendap BDG tapi mereka pulak yang yang diserang. Gila! Sangat-sangat gila. On par lah dengan babak final confrontation John Carlo-Shark dalam CNS. Seronok baca. Sangat gripping, walaupun aku terpaksa berhenti banyak kali. Ambil nafas, terasa tak cukup nafas kot baca babak macam tu!

Permulaan novel is a bit slow, dengan kemunculan Pheonix, inner turmoil Wolf, it's nothing much. Tapi lepas Shark dengan Cobra balik ke Malaysia, it's picking up its pace. Dengan serang hendap yang terpaksa Pheonix-Wolf ni hadap, dengan rahsia seoarang Pheonic, dengan kejutan yang Pheonix terima. Memang gila nak  kejar. Aku punya reading pace pun jadi laju, sehari setengah je dah habis baca (part of the reason, aku nak habiskan baca so aku boleh buat assignments walaupun sampai ke harini saya masih belum nak buat huhu).

Terlebih panjang pulak review kalini. Anyway, aku expect it's gonna be a trilogy je sebab baca epilog pun still fasal Pheonix dengan Wolf. But! Last line, last dialogue, buat aku expect next book. Lucy hilang! The youngest agent in Puan Ana Maria division, hilang! Ahhh, bencinya kena tunggu. Haih. Sementara aku nak hilangkan rasa tak boleh move on daripada novel ni, aku just nak kata. Nama sebenar Wolf is very.... him. Oh, one last thing yang aku sangat tertanya-tanya, Pheonix... dia pegang citizenship negara mana?





-thes
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Wednesday 12 May 2021

Salam Aidilfitri!

May 12, 2021 5 Comments


 Assalamualaikum, good day dearest! I actually had planned to post few entries during Ramadan, tapi ada masalah teknikal yang tak dapat elak so tak jadilah post. Dengan mood nak karang ayat pun kelaut, memang tak bukak sangat pun blog ni haha (saya masih malas nak mengarang jadi tunggulah rajin yang entah bila)

Anyway, selamat menyambut hari raya semuanya! 

With me,
-thes
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Monday 3 May 2021

Bring Me Home

May 03, 2021 2 Comments
Assalamualaikum, good day dearest!

not mine; credited to the rightful owner

Title : Bring Me Home
Runtime : 108 minutes
Genre : Mystery, Thriller, Drama
Country / Language : South Korea / Korean
Released year : 2019
Director : Kim Seung Woo
Writer : Kim Seung Woo
Cast : Lee Young Ae, Yoo Jae Myung
Plot : 
Jung-Yeon’s son with an intellectual disability went missing 6 years ago. She still has not given up hope on finding him. One day, Jung-Yeon receives a tip that her missing son is at a fishing village on an island. Jung-Yeon travels there to find her son.
Plot synopsis by AsianWiki. Pardon me for being lazy hehe.

SPOILER ALERT

I feels like I will give too much spoiler so read with caution hehu.

For me, this movie is pure evil. Starting off with the couple, Jung Yeon and her husband trying to cheer up one another even when their only son had gone missing for six years. Her husband had quit his jobs to travel all over the country to spread the news of their missing son. However, when he decided to start working again, a joke, prank message saying that his son is  alive and working somewhere sent him straight to the underworld (if you don't understand, he died, because of a joke, a prank). I actually saw someone comment on this movie, regarding the same matter saying and I quote, "....if you can't help other people's distress, don't add to it", I couldn't agree more.

Just when Jung Yeon was about to end her suffering by herself, she got an information that her son is at a fishing spot on an island. Aren't you guys curious who is the informer? Well, in case you decide to watch and doesn't know who it was, I will be gladly tell you that it was her own brother-in-law. He did it to get money from her, anonymously so that he could pay for his son's tuition. What a  messed up person he is.

Anyway, when she go to the place, she doesn't directly met with Min Su, the boy that looks like her son because the people on that freaking island was sooo secretive and mysterious. From this moment, I am officially become an emotional mess. Whether or not Min Su is Jung Yeon's son, it was so damn wrong for those people to abuse that child. It feels so damn cruel with the beating, sexual harassment, overworking. I can actually feel the anger while writing this because those scenes keep playing in my head.

And the most hated character, was that freaking policeman! He got so damn proud being a police officer but he can kindly go to the hell with his badge. Just because he keep saying he is a cop, doesn't mean he is nice. He seriously angers me the most. And those people on the island, especially the one at the fishing spot were really messed up for doing whatever they did.  They themselves weren't sure of Min Su's real identity so why the hell give the woman to confirm whether or not it was her child.

It was an emotional ride for me. One moment I am sad for her, another moment I'm freaking livid with those people, one moment I could feel the hope for them to be safe and sound. It really drained me. Especially with the final scene at the beach when the tide is low and it was all mudflat, it was so damn sad. Oh, I am not spoiling the ending, so go watch it for yourself (if you don't understand, reach out to me, maybe I can explain, maybe).



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-thes
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