Friday, October 30, 2020

Tune in For Love


1 Corinthians 13:4. Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag. is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way



Okay, so my heart is so kilig right now hahahahaha I was ignoring this movie because I kinda felt that the movie will lead me to heartaches because of the color palette of the movie and the tone. The beginning didn't attract me as much as it attracts me to its trailer.
 

I love Kim Go Eun so much, as well as Jung Hae In so yeah, hello it's me, and I gave it a try! The movie started in a very slow phase. Meeting in the year 1994, a Juvi Hyun Woo went to buy Soy Milk at Misoo's bakeshop but ended up buying it in a convenient store. Fate pulls them together because of a "Miracle" (that's what Hyun Soo described). Things had abruptly changed when Hyun Soo didn't came back to the bakery due to some bad things that had happened and then fast forward to the year 1997, they met again and then lose contact with each other and then met again in the year 2000.
 
Their relationship seemed to be like a push and pull love affair created by fate. Despite of the years of not seeing each other, the time they could have spend more was always been cut off because of something that they didn't expect. But Love moves in mysterious way! When you thought it's already over and then you see that person again your heart is always excited to see more of what the relationship could be. 

I love how the movie showed genuine responses when it comes to love. How you can't help but to smile just seeing him or her. The awkwardness of your first kiss, first touch, and all your firsts. Despit time had tried to stop you, love always find a way for you two to meet and lastly the magic of first love. 
I also love how it brings back memories of childhood. Your old PC computer, the creation of email, that blue screen, the windows 98, the songs, and how the radio has been a big part of our lives until now. Funny how my tears drop when the Coldplay song Fix you started to play and Misoo was on her way to meet the man who she really loves. 

 







 

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Flower of Evil


Finally watched Flower of Evil! I always binge watch Kdramas and finally I had some time to finish this series during the weekend. 

I have been waiting for Lee Joong Gi and Moon Chae Won's team up after their subtle partnership in Criminal Minds and their series didn't disappoint. 
 


Lee Joon Gi is Hee Sung/Do Hyun Su, my brains just flipped over because he's so good on this one! He literally made my heartache for his character.  He has an antisocial personality disorder that cannot empathize or feel emotions for others. He totally let me hook into watching this series because of him, especially the times he shifts emotions! There's this sudden shift where he practices his facial expressions and then goes to understand his wife's facial reactions. All we could say was he is so good in this drama that we couldn't forget the emotions he gave!  


Moon Chae Won is Jiwon. During the first few episodes, she seems to be a bit naive and has some idealistic personality. But as the series progress, she's really a detective! Strong-Willed and super intelligent! She's so good in solving cases that even before you speak she already has the hint that you are innocent or you are a suspect. She did really well in finding the truth about her husband's case.

Jang Hee Jin as Hae Soo. Do Hyun Soo's older sister. Her story is a bit well not a bit but heart-wrenching just like Do Hyun So's background. From the moment he met his younger brother to the moment things didn't turn out the way they planned it, to little success, her character was a support system to why Do Hyun So had to be in a situation he is in. You could feel her love as an older sister to Do Hyun. 
The surprising bromance between Seohyun Moo as Moojin and Do Hyun So. Their characters started in a very ROUGH situation! Because if I were Moojin I would totally be scared whenever I see Hyun So! But I guess the friendship that was connected between them was the main source why their friendship had last. He's also the mood changer in the drama. 

Didn't expect to see you here Attorney! Hahahaha... Kim Ji Hoon as Hee Sung. Much to my surprise, this man was the villain in the series. His character is very creepy and disturbing! He really changed his romantic comedy side from being a psycho in this drama! 



Despite of the complexity of the characters, and plot, everyone in the cast we're fitted in where they belong. There are just a few things that didn't make sense, like what happened to this? I need closure to this. But yeah all dramas do have their way in making a series a hit despite of some flaws. It was still an enjoyable series to watch. 





At the end of the day, after watching this drama it tells us that in Love we should TRUST each other and COMMUNICATION is the key. Our partners are not mind-readers, we should say what we want to say, what we want to feel or what we need at the same time we should also listen. In marriage, it's always about TWO people becoming one. Just like they say "It takes two to tango"



Monday, October 19, 2020

Strangers From Hell


This is had been on my list of Lee Dong Wook Series that I wanted to watch but it took me a year before finally watching it. because so many Kdramas just come and go! At the same time I'm also excited for Im Si Wan's comeback after his military service! 

This is the first drama I have watched that I didn't look or read the reviews, I just let myself enjoy the series and let myself experience the 10 episode drama. Yes, this drama has only 10 episodes. So if you feel like 16 episodes or more is too much here's a drama that you won't be dealing with too much due to its longevity. 

Strangers from Hell is adapted from the manhwa of the same name. It's a story of a young man looking who came all the way to Seoul to work under his Senior from their University. As soon as he came to Seoul, Jong Woo searched for different places where he could stay as he works. As soon as he landed at the Eden Studio, "I knew" from that moment, the place was no good. But still, since he doesn't earn yet from his job, he stayed in the apartment and from that moment the creepiness just goes over. 



Im Si Wan is Jong Woo. All I can say is Si-wan is a chameleon! He could portray characters uniquely and drastically! I remember watching him before from Moon Embracing the Sun, I didn't know he was an Idol! ahhaha... Si-wan can go childlike to dark in this drama. I don't know if it's just me but his eyes are like words from his heart. It felt like he was Jong Woo, it felt like I wanted to help him.


Lee Dong Wook is Dr. Moon Jo. This was like a twist from all the fairytale-like characters of Lee Dong Wook. I didn't expect how creepy and scary he was in this series. He was a serial killer. He doesn't care about anything, he just wanted to put blood on his hands to satisfy his amusement. 


People at the Apartment. 

This is the place that started where things went wrong. From the moment I saw the place, if I were Jung Woo, I wouldn't dare to check the place not because of me being judgemental because of the place but from the moment I felt like there's something not good about it, I would totally walk away. 


Ahjumma from the Parasite everyone! Lee Jung Eun is the landlady of Eden Apartment, Eum Bok Soon. She's always so happy and giddy, but between smiles and laughter is that she loves marinating human flesh into their food. 


 The men from the apartment. 

Left to right: Yoo Ki Hyeok, Byeong Deuk Jung, and Hong Nam Bok. 

- Yoo Ki Hyeok is the man living in Room #302, he has the same stature of Moon Joo and also does some killing and whom Moon Joo calls Jagiya or Honey

- Byeong Deuk Jung is a man with special needs. He has a twin brother that also wreaks havoc in the apartment. But things didn't turn right when his twin brother was killed

- Hong Nam Bok is a creepy pervert who holds a knife in his back while staring at Jong Woo creepily. 


-Ahjussi (Ahn He Joong) - is the only tenant who knew about the creepiness of everyone in the apartment. He was also the only person who warns Jung Woo with everyone in there. 

- The men in the apartment are all a part of the huge story. As the story progress, it was shown that all of them were almost trained to be killers themselves. Raised by Eum Bok Soon, almost everyone turned dark and chaotic. 


Kim Ji Eun is Min Ji Eun, Jung Woo's boyfriend. I like how her character was when she stands up from her mean boss about her working hours and how her work was. She's firm and strong and very pretty!  But the only downfall from her character was she didn't recognize the change Jung Woo had for the past few weeks. She was a character that tells you to "Suck it up, you're not the only one who has a problem" person. 


Ahn Eun Jin is Police Officer Jung Hwa. Her investigation started in the serial killings of cats that led her into investigating the missing police and how she felt that Eden Apartment was a part of the case. She was the first person who heard Jung Woo's sentiments on how scared he was at the apartment. 

Chae Rae Young as Shin Jae Ho. I felt this sunbae seems to be a cocky human being especially during the first episode. But I also feel like I understand him in some ways where he tries to lecture Jung Woo. But sometimes his advice was a little bit unsolicited. I felt like he cares for Jung Woo but at the same time, I feel like he doesn't. 

Ro Jung Hyun as Hang Seok Yeon. Jung Woo had resonated with fellow border Seok Yeon when he found about who he is in the apartment and his backstory. He is the only person who had trusted him, listened to him and was there for him when he wasn't okay with the people within the apartment. 



Jung Woo started very hopeful about how's Seoul is going to be for him. But as soon as he came to the apartment, her personality changes bit by bit, not to mention that he has anger management tendencies. The breaking point of his character sums up what is happening beneath him. From his financial crisis, his writing career, his girlfriend, an incident during his military, his officemate, his family, and the drugs that were put into his drink are somehow contributed to his mental health and then eventually breaking point where he had killed people as a test from Moon Joo. 

I was actually hoping that Seok Yeon didn't die. That maybe he could save Jung Woo from his own demons. But I guess, it also adds up with his snapping out and completely forgetting everything because of his PSTD :((((







Verdict

The series had so many metaphorical meanings that it kinda brings me back during my time in college when we're studying about films. It's ending was like "What in the world is this?" It felt like the past few episodes had meaning on each beginning and end but what more could it be. 

Slowly diverting into each episode, the story has been giving us a glimpse that Jung Woo may have or has been suffering from mental problems. From his stay during his military to the people who surround him at his place and at his work, to his anger management snaps, and the moment of fear he has been feeling. It gave us the sense that he needed help but no one had helped him, no one had listened. 

He had that one apartment friend but in the end, was also taken away from him and one of his hoobaes in the army was also killed. Police Officer Jung Hwa tried to listen but their time was too short for some details the series didn't tackled. 

Since the drama is all about metaphors, I kinda feel like sharing this because this is what my mom and I had talked about when we're watching it. Just like how the Apartment of Eden resonates with a certain character. Due to it's dark, and gruesome atmosphere and of course everyone living there it kinda shows that what you surround yourself with is also a reflection of you. 

Jung Woo had this anger management that he compress it all by himself and in the end due to his surroundings, his character, his personality went on an outrage when Moon Joo had given him a test to save himself. It just like how the old saying goes, "Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are". 

And because of what everything that surrounded Jung Woo is crazy wild, he had turned himself  (unconsciously or consciously) into someone way more than what he had never imagined. Just like the ending of the series. 


I like how the characters are well portrayed and despite the short amount of episode they did really a good job (of course they're actors) in portraying them. The series is like a 2-hour psychological movie chopped into 10 episodes. :) 










 

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Miya Miya Authentic Lebanese Garlic Sauce


 If you guys grew up in the Middle East like me, I bet garlic sauce is one of the main dips you have on your table. Back in the days, I never liked garlic sauce, because ketchup is my main game. Who needs garlic sauce if you have ketchup all day long!


But as my childhood was filled with fried chicken, Sambusa, Shawarma's, Kebabs, Tabouleh, and some famous restaurants like Al Tazaj, Al Baik, and our favorite chicken Sems. 

Fast forward today, because garlic sauce has been a huge part of our childhood, our family is selling Authentic Lebanese Toum! Once you taste it, it will bring back you to the memories of you and your childhood. Miya Miya (thanks to mah chingu Denise for helping us out with name, design and label), 

Because of Toum, I have been checking my taste buds with different viands, snacks, meal, I kinda feel like my taste buds are into garlic sauce that everything I taste suits perfectly. 






Aside from Toum, Miya Miya also offers Baharat Spice. It suitable for all your marinating purposes! Sobrang saya guys na baka after nitong buong GCQ balloon na ako! hahaha sa kakatikim at kakaexperiment kung anong bagay sa Garlic Sauce at Baharat :)






Featured Post

26 things I have learned in Life and in achieving my dreams

Happy Birthday To ME!! Feelings about being 26, well not that much, I still feel the same but this time I am a little bit of “gigil” in d...