Movie Review: Nocturnal Animals

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,
With the Golden Globes nominees announcement made few weeks back, I shall start off with reviewing one of the potential films foreseen to be nominated at Academy Awards next year... and that is Nocturnal Animals. Nocturnal Animals is a film directed and screenplay by Tom Ford who many years back debuted with his other film, A Single Man. Unlike A Single Man which tells a story of a man who was coping with his life after the death of his lover, Nocturnal Animals takes a turn on psychological love and how two characters cope with haunting, strange connection and existence with one another.

Starring Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal in this neo-noir psychological thriller, the story tells a woman, Susan who is seemingly haunted by her estranged ex-husband, Edward's novel titled of the film name. In this film, we, as an audience member, is plunged into two worlds; one that is revolving around Susan and another revolving the characters in Edward's novel. In Edward's novel, Nocturnal Animals, the story revolves on a family who were on a vacation to somewhere when they were being stopped by a gang including a psychopathic charmer and leader, Ray (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson).

Rocking back and forth between the real and fictional world, Nocturnal Animals offers a beautifully crafted and eerily tale of loss, grief and love. Between shots as the story progresses, by understanding Edward's novel, we can therefore deduced and analysed the relationship and characterisation of Susan and Edward. During the entire film, we noticed that Susan and Edward have difficulty in their marriage where their interests and personalities conflicted with each other, including to the point where Susan's mother (prior to being married) even said Edward was incapable and not worthy of her affections. It sure was devastating that Edward tried his best to fix the relationship and Susan getting involved with another man, Hutton whom she later married to (and sadly what goes around, comes around).

Nocturnal Animals is a novel, a message to Susan that how much she missed out when Edward disappeared completely from her life since she doubt him. It was a hahaha to the woman, indicating he was able to write a novel filled with raw emotions and dark content - showing his creativity and what he had been through during the separation and estrangement. With the ending that captures the regret and loss Susan faced in the restaurant, it felt like a sweet revenge for Edward and I truly agreed she should face this consequence, although it is upsetting that she was left alone in the restaurant, waiting for him to showed up.

In conclusion, Nocturnal Animals is a stylish thriller filled with captivating emotions, shots (thanks to Tom Ford's brilliant 'observant' directing) and even great acting provided by Jake Gyllenhaal. Although Taylor-Johnson's portrayal as Ray was indeed scary as a spot-on psychopath (even to the extent, well deserved nomination at next year's Golden Globes), I felt Gyllenhaal should actually be part of the nominees at Golden Globes for his portrayal as Edward and Tony brings out the emotions in the film and helping us to understand Susan as she read the manuscript and reminisced. If you happened to be finding a film to watch, Nocturnal Animals is one that shouldn't be missed, especially during the awards season.

Ratings: 7/10 

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Letter to Myself

Dear Crissie,

It has been quite a year and you have been disturbed lately. You can't remember details like you used to, that foretelling dates and times become a lost paradise. To find something to give yourself peace is one's journey to rediscover what you have lost and unfortunately, things happened broke your reality and fantasy. You fell in love, betrayed, sinned and most importantly trusted. All of these things questioned yourself, are you a good person or not?

Although you are still discovering yourself, I hope this letter or a short note will help you along the way. You have a journal to rely on, so never losed sight of what could have been an opportunity. I hope you will stop overthinking and find positive on the situation and the people who cared. No one is against you, except yourself. You have been battling your past and why do you still hope it tightly? You left secondary school, the people who did you wronged have already become a better person and no one is conspiring, so why hold and bruised yourself?

Most importantly and the sad truth, you are on your own to figure out what happened. You can depend on people, but only you know yourself better and deeper. You see, if you think that everything is perfect, then you aren't seeing reality. The world isn't Instagram-filtered and so does people. While it is okay to suspect, please don't try to jump into conclusion until you have proof. He said that you jumped into feelings and also get involved in matters too emotionally, so please listen and trust me. I am no saint, but still at least I know what is happening on your mind. In fact, we are one and no one wins.

With much love and Merry Christmas,

Crissie

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Movie Review: Allied

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

Today I will be writing a short review on Allied which starred Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard as an intelligence officer and French Resistance fighter, supposedly on a deadly mission to assassinate a German ambassador. While the mission was successful, the couple found themselves facing an obstacle where their relationship is tested and people are watching.

While Allied has garnered some attention during the height of Pitt's separation from Angelina Jolie and there were rumours involving him and Cotillard, the film was totally different from what people would think. Yes, both Allied and Mr & Mrs Smith are films involving spies and all sorts of missions, however Allied has its own flavour. Both Pitt and Cotillard were brilliant and their chemistry were on point. Their characters were happy loving and almost ordinary until the middle of the film, you could see the tension and the separation between them. I couldn't help but to observe the development of characters from beginning to the end, hence Allied was rather smooth and the whole characters flowed well, no gasps or awkwardness.

Like most stories that come from spies and espionage, Allied offers a rather dull story of one being suspected of being a spy and because of which, the whole story focuses on trying to find out whether this party was indeed a double agent. At such capacity of emotions and those shocking revelations, Allied brings my attention of how cruel it is be in a spy world. I meant to be saying that I can't imagine myself being able to do such daunting task where you are to figure out your loved one being a double agent or traitor. Therefore, to be in Max's position, I felt that this is asking way too much especially when it comes to your own spouse. All those suspicions... that was harsh.

In conclusion, Allied was still enjoyable to watch, especially when Pitt and Cotillard delivered wonderful performances that elevated the film to another level. Setting in such cold and gloomy 1940s, the film offfered a story which despite being a typical story, the emotions and the captivating revelation towards the end were enough to make me sympathetic towards the characters. I wouldn't exactly say this film is a strong recommendation to watch, but still if you are finding one to preoccupy your time, Allied is one of those films to see.

Ratings: 7/10

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Movie Review: Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THE REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I am back after many weeks and hopefully all of you are well. Today I decided to write out my delayed and most anticipated review on Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them. I wanted to write out a review last week, but I was hold back by my personal problems and time constraint. Last week was a tough week and so does few days, hence this review was overdue.

Starring Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them is a film based on J.K. Rowling's debut screenplay. I mentioned debut screenplay in case people choose to dispute the fact when Rowling herself confirmed that this film is based on her original screenplay.

Loosely titled based on Harry Potter universe's textbook of the same name, Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them is a story of an introverted magizoologist who travelled to New York in 1926 to pursue his own intriguing business (he has fascination for creatures and beasts). While he pursue his own business, Scamander found himself in a difficult position when his suitcase had been mistakenly taken and hence supposedly created chaos which could endanger both Wizarding and No-Maj (American term for Muggles) community.

Although Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them focuses on Scamander and the other people where time is precious and the creatures could have been endangered, the film brought more desserts to the table. Any Potter fans would be excited with all the familiar magic, terms and the way wizarding community work. This also included to the extend of having to introduced the then powerful wizard, Gellert Grindalward, who interestingly plays an important role in Albus Dumbledore's life. Knowing the reference of Grindalward, the relations between Wizarding and No-Maj Community and the laws run in America make Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them very enjoyable and also enlighten my young self who used to watch all Potter films in the Summer.

I truly loved the characters in Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them, especially Jacob Kowalski and Newt Scamander. I loved the chemistry between these two fellows and they certainly brought me laughters and tears throughout the film. Although I have seen Redmayne acting in several films (including his panned performance as Balem in Jupiter Ascending), I felt he was born to play Newt Scamander and because of that, it has already topped the list of my favourite characters in a fictional universe. This was evident during a scene where Scamander did a mating dance at the Central Park Zoo, so naturally done and it was seriously adorable not to ignore. With the addition of Dan Fogler's Jacob Kowalski, it makes the whole film more relatable and hilarious, never have I been so hyped about the characters in a film.

The setting of Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them was captivating and beautifully crafted. Taking place in the Roaring Twenties and also United States of America, anyone who catches all Harry Potter films, will be able to see the contrast between United Kingdom and United States. While the world looked brilliantly gorgeous and mesmerising, you can't helped but to notice the tension between Wizarding and No-Maj community. The tension in US is much considerably stronger than in UK and in fact, looking at the fighting styles, I would say that the American wizards aren't really well trained and equipped to fight. They are easily defeated and hence the evil tend to get the upper hand. Since we don't get to see the characters really mingling outside and only inside, for me, it was hard to distinguish the era took place. To me, the whole setting seemed quite modern instead of 1920s.

Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them is a film I wished was longer than it supposed to be. I wished I could watch more interactions between Newt Scamander and the other three people. I wished there were few more creatures involved in the fighting, although it was cool to see Swooping Evil releasing from Scamander. For Rowling to have the first screenplay written, it was pretty neat and the story flowed out well. The story was simply flawless and the plot twist was unexpected. The casting for almost all characters were perfect, especially I couldn't agree more that Eddie Redmayne was born to play Newt Scamander and it was something refreshing from his previous other roles (David Yates stated Redmayne was the first and only choice for the role!)

In conclusion, Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them was an appetiser before the main course which would only served two years later. Having Grindalward and also briefly introducing Newt's early life, I am very much anticipated to rejoin the wizarding world and hope to see more creatures in that brown suitcase. In a meantime, do grab your ticket and enter the wizarding world, enlightened the patronus in you (after five years). ;)

Ratings: 8/10

P.S. How can I resist the Niffler? Also, look out for a surprise cameo!

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TV Series Review: The Crown

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

The highly anticipated Netflix series, The Crown was released last Friday and all episodes can be streamed straight away. Since the series is the second most expensive drama made by Netflix, many people were having high hope for the series to turned out well. From lavishing costumes, props and even the settings in the Great Britain, The Crown managed to paid off the gamble well, especially with strong cast and brilliant storytelling.

Starring Clare Foy as Queen Elizabeth II, The Crown chronicles the life of Her Majesty as she ascended the throne at the age of 25 after her father, King George VI passed away. As the series continued, there are political rivalries, romances and even personal intrigues which would stand in Elizabeth's path, testing her endurance and also pleasing both public and the internal of The Crown.

Firstly, I would like to give praise to the cast, especially Foy as Queen Elizabeth II. I was sold the moment she entered the screen and even more so when she was sworn in as the Queen in Episode Two after King George VI suddenly passed away in his sleep. While Foy managed to capture the elegance and grace including how she waved to the crowd and giving speeches, she also managed to show us that the struggles she had in both public and personal lives as she tried to do anything in her own will to stand firm to her own decision. While Matt Smith as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, provides a lighter comedic performance to brightened up the serious drama, it is no doubt Jared Harris as the King George VI managed to make The Crown even more engaging. Somewhat similar to Colin Firth's Oscar winning performance in The King's Speech, Harris managed to bring us a saddened king and father who was already suffering not only his stuttering but a serious illness which he knew very well that someday his daughter would have to take over. In both first and second episodes, Harris's captivating performance was already enough to make me take a pity on his character and like almost all the people in the series when he died, I wept for the character as well.

Secondly, although I only watched up to six episodes, I would like to applaud how organised the series is. Each episode lasts for an hour or so and yet at the same time, each ends with a wonderful, clean cut cliff-hanger and excitement, leaving us as audience an understandable summary even if you never caught or pay close attention at the beginning. Each episode is named after a character in the series who happened to used the word in his or her conversation and to certain extent, the series has already been hinting us what is to come for Her Majesty and her loved ones and even in The Crown. Thus, kudos to the creator and writer, Peter Morgan for managing to cover one or two topics into an episode, leaving us not having our head bombarded with many plots at one go.

Lastly, The Crown as I mentioned earlier, managed to paid off with their effort especially in the lavishing costumes (if I am not wrong, there are an estimated total of 350 costumes in this season) and the settings. This can be seen from the scene when Elizabeth and Philip got married at the Westminster Abbey. Thousands of people gathered to watch the union, the decors hanging proudly and so many more, even the camera zooming out to show the whole setting making us very involved in the wedding, just like how the people of that era felt. Very magical, breathtaking and delightful.

In conclusion, The Crown is a joy and such privilege to watch, especially the long wait since early this year. As a long awaited series by Netflix, I do urge you to give this series a watch this month. Unlike other Netflix series, I would say that The Crown though it was a long awaited one, it did not leave me disappointed and as the series goes on, I am even more hooked onto the series, waiting for what would come for Queen Elizabeth II as she deals with the eye of The Crown, Royal Family and even the public. Good news is, The Crown has already been commissioned for a Series Two even before the premiere last week and the episodes streaming. Better yet, the series is said to have at least six seasons, so I am looking forward to how it would continue as the years passed and the character development of the outstanding cast, especially Foy's young Queen Elizabeth II.

Ratings: 8/10 

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Movie Review: Doctor Strange

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THE REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I am back with a review on Marvel's Doctor Strange and honestly I am happy that I managed to watch it after almost two years of waiting (since the day Marvel Studios announced Benedict Cumberbatch was casted as the titular character).

Starring the one and only Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular character, Doctor Strange tells a story of an arrogant neurosurgeon who lost his marvellous ability on both hands after the car accident. After months of searching for a cure, Strange decided to use his remaining money left to visit Nepal where he discovered the mystic arts which would eventually changed everything he knew and also his perception.

Along with Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, he was joined by English actors, Chiwetel Eijofor, Benedict Wong and Tilda Swinton and Danish actor, Mads Mikkelson. Doctor Strange somehow boasted with a dream cast and managed to deliver great performances in their own portrayal, so believable that I felt memerised throughout the film. I may be biased about Cumberbatch because he is one of my favourite actors, however his portrayal of Doctor Strange was good and his acting never fail to impressed me, especially how here he played an arrogant American man whose life is destroyed after a car accident. The scene where Strange was on the hospital bed got me. I understood his pain when he woke up to the sight of his once remarkable hands, no longer able to do what he loved anymore.

Doctor Strange began with an opening where Kaecilius (Mikkelson) and his minions invaded the library of Kamar-Taj and killed the librarian, later searching for a manuscript page which hold the details on ritual of rising Dormammu, the darker villain who wants to take over Earth. A fight broke out between The Ancient One (Swinton) and Kaecilius where both used their powers to attack one another. It was this fighting sequence that sold me because I was amazed by the visual effects used from manipulating of buildings and roads, cracks and even teleporting from one place to another. The opening was already enough to make me stunned for a moment and hence I was already off the auction.

Doctor Strange not only catered audience with simple, short and sweet storyline, but kudos to the department handling the special visual effects. From throwing Strange from one place to another as he was shown to another whole new level of perception to the finale involving time loop, it is no wonder that the film development took years before creating a cast and started filming. Had the effects been lazily edited, Doctor Strange will not be a spectacular film by Marvel. While storyline is important, it is completely nothing without the amazing job of handling visual effects.

With the colourful kaleidoscope Inception feel visual effects, great performances by the outstanding cast and simple storyline, it is important to know Doctor Strange tells us that not everything is about ourselves. Strange spent his whole life only thinking of himself and always believed he was the best until the car accident destroyed him. With the guidance of Ancient One, he changed his perception and slowly drawed away from his egotistic and arrogant personality, later appreciating what he has and how he could actually do something good. Like a Doctor, he can still saved lives. Not as a brilliant neurosurgeon, but a brilliant socceror who can protect the world from mystical dangers.

In conclusion, though I felt the film duration of Doctor Strange was shorter compared to the rest of Marvel Cinematic Universe films, the film offered a great and stunning trip back and forth, playing and tangling our perception to see things for the way it works or seemed. With the trip back and forth in the world of illusion, reflections and time, almost mirrored off from Christopher Nolan's Inception, Doctor Strange is a must see Marvel film.

While I talked about Doctor Strange, I must tell you that I probably be preparing to watch the film for the second time to relieved the trippy adventure again.

Ratings: 8/10

P.S. There are two post-credits scenes including one which featured a familiar hero. 

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Happy 4th Anniversary, Devil In The Skull!

Happy 4th Anniversary, Devil In The Skull!

I am so glad that I managed to run this blog for the past four years. It never occur to me that I would be able to keep Devil In The Skull for more than two years and thus, I would like to thank each and every reader for taking their time to explore the blog and read the reviews and recommendations. Without you, I don't know how I would be able to run the blog for a long duration and also without you, what is the point of me writing and reviewing.

Although the number of posts posted this year compared to other years is terribly little, I would say I am proud how far Devil In The Skull has come. I started the blog without expectations and posted content which I felt I needed to recommend and share to the world. Back then, in 2012, there aren't many websites which talk about films, music, food and personal life altogether here in Singapore. Based on newspapers and online, Singapore doesn't provide much recommendations on films and television series, only bringing those deemed popular in our country and not bring those which are fantastic and enjoyable, real film or television series. I also noticed how much people aren't aware of the films which defined our today (another reason why I started Devil In The Skull).

Things have changed over the past years. Ever since the opening on October 19, 2012, I have friends and family who told me how Devil In The Skull served as a guide to films and television series. For example, a few months ago, I have a classmate and friend who told me how she loved the blog, especially the films recommendations which some of the films she never heard and know. I am happy that my blog has been used as a guidebook 101, hence I have decided what I wanted to do besides blogging reviews and personal life.

Things to look forward in 2017

• I have decided to spend at least some time to collate a list of films recommendations (including those I haven't shared or never gotten to) along with a short review, so that readers will be able to find a film to watch in one list (a post).
• Besides watching latest releases, I decided to check out on classic films and at least write a review on them. There just certain films from another era which I haven't check them out and hence, it would a learning curve for me and so do you.
• Since 2014, I have been wanting Devil In The Skull to become a community-type of blog. Users or readers like you can share your recommendation on films, music, food or anything you want to spill out here on this platform. How to do so? Just email crissie_tan@outlook.com and I will have a read on it. :)

While this is the day where I celebrate my happiness of the blog, Devil In The Skull still has lots of things to improve on and hopefully you, reader, will join me as I continue my journey to making the blog even bigger and better for everyone.

Happy four years, Devil In The Skull!

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Movie Review: The Handmaiden

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I just finished Park Chan Wook's The Handmaiden and would like to leave a short review here if you are interested.

While I have seen psychological films that plays with sexual tension, feelings and thoughts, the idea of being submissive and all that, The Handmaiden was a film on another level.

Lust, Caution and even Chan's Stoker, The Handmaiden replaced all these films, for its suspenseful act and its erotica setting which left me dumbfounded. The sexual scenes were very intense and in the moment, for both ladies brought the whole film to another dimension; even more than Carol if you have seen it.

The Handmaiden not only brought a whole new dimension, but also a game changer for Park Chan Wook who utilised the cameras, the focus on both ladies' perspective and other cast as well. With additional scenes coming along as the film progresses, I was absolutely sold. Words can't expressed how in the element of surprise I was when I found out about the real intention and also things that wasn't shown earlier including Hideko's early life. Jesus, I cannot imagine how stunned I was.

I couldn't agree more that The Handmaiden provides a Hitchcockian feel; the suspense, the psychological effect which reminded me of several short episodes on Alfred Hitchcock Presents. In conclusion, kudos to Park Chan Wook, as a director for successfully presenting the audience a perfect psychological thriller film which leaves us in for a surprise and I would never forget how I felt after watching to the end. The cast were also very convincing in their roles and even though the screenplay made the film on another higher scale, they were the ones who elevated the whole film with their beautiful expressions and acting that could con and tease us anytime.

Ratings: 6.5/10

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Movie Review: The Accountant

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I will be writing a review on The Accountant and it starred Ben Affleck as Christian Wolff, a high functioning autistic man and forensic accountant in the thriller journey.

As high functioning autistic person myself, I was happy with the portrayal done by Ben Affleck as he adopted an acting which was unlike other roles he ever played. The character, Christian Wolff, felt like myself; the way he wanted to finish his job when he couldn't and how he organised his lifestyle. I sympathised with the character for what he went through along with his brother as things happened in the family and his upbringing. Their mother gave up and left the house, leaving the two with their father who had brought the children up with things most normal people wouldn't go through (No parents should ever abandon or forced something on their children, whether they like it or not.).

The Accountant opened with an unknown man entering a building and was a little shocked to see some crime family members laid dead. As he went up the stairs, he overheard a man pleading for his life and then a loud knock which we, as an audience, knew very well that he was dead. Before the man could even peak and probably enter the room, we see a shadowy figure casted on the wall and was raising a gun pointing at the man's head before the film title was shown. This opening left me with so much questions on why this scene was played and what the f*** was happening after that.

After the film title was shown and the rest of the scenes were played, I was left a little confused and almost wanted to give up the film altogether. However, as the film went along in a slow revealing plots here and there, I soon was able to pieced the whole scenario out from beginning to the middle of the film. This was what make The Accountant an agreeable thriller film; for most of the storyline were important to one another. The revealing of the other half from Christian Wolff was amazing, probably the best after enduring the film and piecing up the puzzles just like an accountant finding out the problems in ledger books.

While The Accountant sounded dull and probably doesn't strike one as a espionage-y thriller film, I would say that this film literally blown my mind until the end and also the portrayal of autism spectrum disorders are quite accurate, almost as if the screenwriter at least has done his work. In my opinion, The Accountant should definitely get an Oscar nomination for its screenplay because it is cold hard thriller and the plot twists were interesting, true thriller. The cast did a wonderful job in the film, though I would say Ben Affleck getting Best Actor for his portrayal of Christian Wolff is something that would remained hopeful. A Best Actor nomination is likely for him and hopefully he does.

In conclusion, The Accountant is definitely a must to watched film this October (especially during this period for those interested in finding out what films are Oscar-worthy). I am betting on Oscars to nominate this film for Best Screenplay. If they don't, it would be a terrible waste.

Ratings: 8/10

P.S. This is one of those thriller films where the kills were straight-forward.

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TV Series Review: Luke Cage

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THE REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I finished Luke Cage on Netflix yesterday and finally got the time to review this. Since the end of Daredevil Season Two and also Jessica Jones, I have been anticipating Luke Cage for a long time until September 30; all episodes were up. Like the rest of the Defenders, the series offered 13 episodes and it was stoked.

Staring Mike Colter as the Harlem titular hero, Luke Cage somewhat falls in the similar category as Daredevil. Like Daredevil, audience are shown another side of New York where there is Harlem, full with rich diverse culture of the district and dominated mainly by the blacks where everything is about power and respect. In this series, Luke is first seen helping out Pop's salon parlour and then also works at Harlem's Paradise where there is Cottonmouth, a ruthless and supposed King of Harlem whom our titular hero will have conflict and battle with.

Luke Cage took place after Daredevil Season Two and Jessica Jones as evident of Luke who decided to come to Harlem and refreshed himself, so does the recurring nurse, Claire Temple who this time has more screen time in this series since she is an original character in Luke Cage comic. In my opinion, Luke Cage's personality somehow falls in between both Matt and Jessica, for he wants to keep a low profile and also at times doubt himself. He is then dragged into the evil's mayhem as political and personal gameplay comes along for Mariah Dillard and some shady crews including Shades and the vengeful Diamondback (both played an upright disgusting role in Luke's life).

I personally enjoyed Luke Cage for its Harlem culture (the hip hop, soul songs, etc.), the dynamic and well developed characters (including Cottonmouth and Mariah Dillard), the dramas and showdowns that are usually found on blaxploitation films. Luke Cage can actually topped over Jessica Jones and Daredevil because of how excellent and brilliant the story goes and the set ups for the future Defenders. While I was watching the series, I couldn't help but to braced myself for unpredictable gameplay by the shady people especially Mariah who managed to slyly tied up loose ends (benefitting herself as a Madam Councilwoman), making me dislike her character even more (well done actually).

In conclusion, Luke Cage is the set up for the man who ultimately chooses to be a hero and save Harlem from the greedy evil, despite the fact he knows the past would eventually catch up (then exploited) with him. After all, Luke is a human and citizen just like you and me, entitled to feelings and judgements. He isn't anyone's keeper or punching bag. I can't wait to see how the series would proceed and after watching the last episode of this season, Luke Cage easily wins my heart for its honest storytelling of both Harlem and the unbreakable black man. I totally recommend anyone especially those who watch Daredevil and Jessica Jones, to give this series a watch.

Ratings: 7/10

P.S. The opening sequence is so yellow and very Harlem-ish, I totally love it. 

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Movie Review: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I am back again with another review on the anticipated Tim Burton's film, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Since the film came out today in Singapore, I will try my best not to giveaway the whole plot but only the synopsis.

Based on the novel by Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine is a story which involves time. It starts with the death of Jake's grandfather and later how he figured he should visit Wales where there is a house that homed strange and peculiar children. Jake then discovered lots of things he never knew about himself and also how he was wrong about his grandfather who always told stories when he was very young. In the house with peculiar children, they are then protected by Miss Peregrine, who devoted herself in protecting them from the Hollows and Wights and has an ability to turned into peregrine falcon.

While Miss Peregrine provides a rich and colourful world of peculiarities and danger, its storyline somehow bore me at the beginning. The pace at the beginning was rather slow and sometimes loses focus, especially how the dialogues were draggy. The story in fact for me, begins when Jake visits Wales with his father and the whole mystery, the surroundings and buildings amazed me. I like the locations used in Miss Peregrine which make the film rather breathtaking and so does the visual effects used especially the stop-motion animation, something that is familiar to Tim Burton's audience.

Miss Peregrine build up lots of emotions as the story progresses and I couldn't help but to feel the sense of sadness and the emptiness. I remembered feeling that way when it comes to the scene between Jake and Emma and I think that both Asa Butterfield and Ella Purnell were brilliant in the film, though they can actually try to bring out more feelings and captured that mood. Eva Green, as usual, was amazing as Miss Peregrine and in fact brought me tears when her character supposedly sacrificed herself to save her children, even mean having to leave them. I almost forget to mentioned that the opening of the film was fantastic, being able to captured the feels of the novel itself (the photos, designs and its music).

In conclusion, Miss Peregrine was quite an enjoyable film, particularly I liked the skeletons fighting – truly Tim Burton-ish. Anyone who is a fan of Tim Burton should really give this film a watch and enjoy the beautiful landscapes and the whole peculiarities. While the film was fun and adventurous, I was thinking the story could be a lot more better since the information provided was sparse and a little out of focus at times.

Ratings: 6/10

P.S. Florence + The Machine's Wish That You Were Here is a beautifully written song and it well captured the whole Miss Peregrine, especially for Emma and Jake. If you haven't listen to the song, you should try to give it a listen and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

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Movie Review: Magnificent Seven (2016)

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I am back after some weeks to give a review on Magnificent Seven. Starring some familiar faces like Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Vincent D'Onofrio, Ethan Hawke and Lee Byung Hun, the film brings the audience back to western world and unforgettable gunslinger moment, horses, explosives and of course, a baddie in a town.

In this 2016 remake, Magnificent Seven began with a baddie, Bartholomew Bogue (played by Peter Saaguard) who decided to take over the town called Rose Creek after figuring out there were lots of gold and it was good for mining business. Such a baddie and quite an asshole, Bogue somehow killed a man who wanted to stand up aganist him and as a result, leaving his wife who seeks to revenge. Flash forward many years later, this widow decided to give the avenging task to a sheriff from Wichita, Sam and soon along with him and her colleague, they began travelling to certain places which they scouted for a group of capable men who can take down this Bogue asshole.

While Magnificent Seven perfectly captured the Western period cowboy feel and its music soundtrack reminded me somehow of last year's Macbeth, there were a few moments which bore me out. As someone who never watches the original one back in the 1960s, I can not make much comparison and thus can't argue with those who have seen the original. However, the film cast here were awesome and you can't say that you never saw some comradeship here. The characters did what they could for this small town and hands down to the fight showdown finale between Bogue's people and the town people.

If you are a fan of Western movies (my mother enjoyed this remake), wanting to watch some eye candies with cool fighting choreography (check out Billy Rocks and Red Harvest!) or whatever, Magnfiicent Seven is an absolute Western film to watch this week.

Ratings: 6/10

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TV Series Review: Victoria

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THE REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I'm back again with a review on pilot episode of Victoria. As you may have already seen or heard of the series, the series depicts the early coronation of Queen Victoria to her marriage to Prince Albert. Starring Jenna Coleman (most prominently known for her portrayal as Clara in Doctor Who) as the titular character, the series also featured her companionship with Melbourne and how her role as Queen affects the household and society.

When I first played the pilot episode, I couldn't help but to be reminded of the 1996 version of Pride & Prejudice. Although these series belong to different era, I can't help but to notice a little resemblance between the two series. Anyone who is interested in history and also how the monarchy worked should try to watch Victoria. Jenna Coleman's portrayal of Queen Victoria was just right and despite that funny looking blue contact lenses, her acting in this series... She made it her own. I am impressed with the scenes of companionship between the Queen and Melbourne (played by Rufus Sewell) and hopefully he would continue to guide her through the stages of being in power.

Victoria not only talks about the life of the Queen herself, but also raised the awareness of the country back then. Women were simply looked down upon for they have different thinking and ideology from men. Also, in this series, Queen Victoria is also finding an identity for herself as she tries to distance herself from her mother and untrusting friend. For an eighteen years old woman, I could totally understand what she was going through at the point of time. By the end of the series, I hope to see the Queen truly knowing what she wants to achieve in years to come.

In conclusion, Victoria is a well paced series to watch and easily digestable for viewers. The series also allows viewers to see bits by bits of the episode instead of jumping from one point to another. As a result, the storytelling is smooth flowing and got me instantly hooked.

Ratings: 7/10

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Movie Review: Seondal: The Man Who Sells The River

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I shall be writing another review on this Korean caper film, Seondal: The Man Who Sells The River. Set in the Jeoseun era, the film starred Yoo Seung Ho and the rest of the gang as they teamed up to swindle their way and even elaborate a big game which is the central of the story.

Prior to moving on with the review, the leading man, Seung Ho, I must say that he holds the story very well and along with the cast, Seondal: The Man Who Sells The River is a film which you can't even missed. A veteran in acting, I am impressed by how far he come and by the age of 23, he is already selective of which role to act. Another show I would greatly and highly recommend you to watch is Remember: War of the Son. I will write a review for this series another time.

Back to Seondal: The Man Who Sells The River, initially the first half of the film seemed kind of redundant. Although it does provide some tacky comedy, the film almost lost my attention and also lost its momentum halfway. I was glad the film's pace was picked up again the moment when the gang decided to sell the river that was filled with gold. Anyone who likes conning and swindling theme would like this film as much as I do. For those who are interested in watching Seondal because of EXO's Xiumin's involvement, I suggest you to watch the film online or just go on YouTube and searched for his parts. His involvement although plays a part in the leading character, he only lasted for at least 40 minutes or so.

With the twist and swindling at its best, Seondal: The Man Who Sells The River is an absolute film to watch. Although the film with English subtitle can be found online, my suggestion is find reputable ones or wait for the DVD. Such film should be enjoyed with family at home and watching on an actual DVD player.

Ratings: 6/10

P.S. I look forward to Yoo Seung Ho's upcoming projects, though there isn't any yet. Looking forward to what he will bring to the dining table next. :)

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TV Series Review: W - Two Worlds

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

Long time no see! I am totally sorry for neglecting my blog over the month due to hectic schedules including projects, assignments and of course, catching up with my hobbies. I have long wanted to write a review on some television series I have been watching and since I have finished the latest episode of this Korean drama, W - Two Worlds, I thought it would be worth while to share this with you.

For your information, I have named this review as W - Two Worlds because to avoid some confusion and it would be easier for you to find in future. I was recommended by my sister to watch this series and since the last K-Drama series I watched was Master's Sun, I thought I should give it a watch. W - Two Worlds is a K-Drama about this cardiothoracic surgeon, Oh Yeon Joo who was mysteriously pulled by someone from the monitor while trying to find her missing father. Yeon Joo woke up on the rooftop and found the man unconscious and was stabbed very badly. After saving his life, she then found out the man was Kang Chul, the main character of the webtoon named W. This made her realised she was in the webtoon world her father has created and only can enter in and out based on the main character's emotions and thoughts.

Basically, W is a popular webtoon in South Korea created by the leading woman's father. In W, Kang Chul, the main protagonist, is a young and handsome billionaire whose main goal in life was to find the killer who murdered his whole family when he was a teenager. A celebrated Olympic gold medalist in shooting in his early days, Kang Chul's life was ruined when he was falsely accused for the family murder and was placed in prison as a result (though he was later released and remained low profile for a time being).

I totally enjoyed watching W - Two Worlds not only for its original plot but also the wonderful selection of the cast. The leading woman and man were terrific in their portrayals and I could simply relate to and sympathised with them. The most enjoyable part of the series was the comedy and it had me being tickled on my stomach on every single episode. You would agree with me when you see the scenes that include Yeon Joo's notable companion, Soo Bong.

Not only was the series funny, it was also at the same time got me crying so badly. This has to be the first time I ever cried over a K-Drama and also the most since last watching The Danish Girl. Almost all episodes got me emotional and I could not help thinking for the characters in the series. You can trust me when I said that you would totally be easily upset when watching most episodes, so kudos to the creator of W - Two Worlds.

With every emotions going up and down on every episodes, with cute and sad scenes that plays with your feelings and also great acting, W - Two Worlds is worth the watch if you are looking for a K-Drama to watch. Forget about Scarlet Heart and other most popular talked about shows among your friends, go for W - Two Worlds. Not to forget, the romantic interactions between Kang Chul and Yeon Joo are daebak (awesome in Korean) and very sweeeeeeet. :P

Ratings: 9/10

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Movie Review: Suicide Squad

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS.

Hello readers,
This afternoon (5 August) I went to watched Suicide Squad, the latest DC Comics release after Batman VS Superman: Dawn of Justice. The film starred Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis and the rest of the cast in a story where the 'bad guys' are supposedly grouped together to finished a task that could be dangerous and even be a 'life or death'.

I have been waiting for Suicide Squad since 2014 and it was the same year when the list of cast was announced including Robbie (who would play Harley Quinn, the first live-action film appearance of the character). During last year, I even followed up with the news of the filming and even watched the supposedly leaked first trailer which built the excitement I had until today. However, Suicide Squad offered things which I may either disturbed or surprised about.

At the beginning of the film, I felt the scene of showing Deadshot (played by Will Smith) was somehow sudden and it did not have the flow from the logos sequence. The song choice, House of the Rising Sun by The Animals has to be the weirdest choice for this introduction of the villain because it seemed to not match up with the character's personality. Followed by Deadshot, the film somehow jumped from one mood to another. Harley Quinn was then introduced as she played in her cell by being flexible while You Don't Own Me by Lesley Gore was played. From House of the Rising Sun to You Don't Own Me, I felt these songs have different mood and totally does not sync well. If the film editor tried to find a way to fit these two songs together, then I am alright. If not, I suggest not to play a song in Deadshot's scene and maybe leave it as a suspense like for example, the opening of Captain America: Civil War (in terms of mood and chillness if you have watched the film).

Throughout Suicide Squad, I felt the story plot was very thin and vague. The flow at the beginning was kind of slow and it kind of reminded me of the similar problem Batman VS Superman: Dawn of Justice faced. However, the middle to the end of the story was alright as though director David Ayer suddenly woke up and remembered his ideal vision for the film. One thing that got me little disappointed was how I wished I could see more of Jared Leto's performance as The Joker. Despite his name being second after Will Smith, Jared's performance does not exceed 20 minutes. His performance may not be like Jack Nicholson or the late Heath Ledger, but he still managed to stole the show with his timely performed sinister laughter and the style of talking reassembled the animated series' The Clown Prince of Crime.

Speaking of The Joker, I was very much impressed of the interaction between he and Harley Quinn. Both actor and actress managed to capture what I would picture in a live-action film. My childhood revolved watching the animated series either at night or afternoon, thus this Joker and Harley Quinn's relationship gave me some nostalgic memories of this couple shipping and their craziness (honestly, this Joker seemed romantic). If there is a sequel, I would like to see more of both The Joker and Harley Quinn (not flashbacks).

In conclusion, Suicide Squad could have done better if the film flowed smoothly and edited properly. Having Jared Leto as the second name after Will Smith is totally misleading to the members of the public, especially to those who were looking forward to The Clown Prince of Crime. Overall, I totally enjoyed the film for the villains' straight-forwardness and the awesome portrayal of both The Joker and Harley Quinn's relationship.

Ratings: 6/10

P.S. If only the Enchantress is actually part of the 'good' team...
There are some cameos who are related to the upcoming Justice League and also a post-credits scene after the end of the film.

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Movie Review: Cold War 2 寒戰 II

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I'm back with another review and this time is the sequel to the 2012's Cold War. Three years ago, I wrote a short review on the part one and if you happened to be interested, you can click here. Back to the review, Cold War 2 is all about power and control. We have Aaron Kwok who reprised his role as Commissioner Lau and some other co-stars from the previous film.

Now I shall get started with the review on different aspects of Cold War 2. The film like its previous one, suffered a difficulty of gasping of storyline and how it is somehow inconsistent. I have to admit that the opening sequence was very cool and after that, everything was somehow like "what's going on??!!" Simply put, Cold War 2 is a film about how the big guys are so hard to be removed and all those typical law enforcement's dirty tricks.

The flashbacks used in the film were very limited and it can be quite hard for audience members who likely forgotten about the previous film. Some people mentioned it was not sympathetic enough to actually understand the characters. The plot was kind of silly than being smart. What kind of fellow is this who thought that Comissioner Lau is responsible for causing his son's death?? (LOL, you will get what I mean when you watch till the end.) The only thing I totally know for sure is that all the actors in the film were strong in their acting game here and I applaud that.

Thoughtout the Cold War 2, what I learned is all you need is the guts to stand up for yourself. No one is going to come and rescue you when at dark times. All humans seek the beauty of power and control. Most importantly, everyone wants money. Money = power.

With lack of action scenes (although a few kickass fighting choreography) and more 'John Le Carré'-inspired kind of work, Cold War 2 offers more of espionage thriller, leaving audience members feeling the tension and the suspense in the film. So if you are looking for a film to watch this week or before August, Cold War 2 is just for you. Whether do I prefer part one or two, I would say both are alright. No strong preference.

Ratings: 6/10

P.S. Chow Yun Fat has a guest appearance in Cold War 2. His little introduction to the film makes me wonder will he still come back to the film franchise. If so, I look forward to more screen time of him.

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Movie Review: Now You See Me 2

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I will be writing a review on Now You See Me 2. I wanted to write this review yesterday, however because of school projects and homework, I can only write the review right now. A sequel to the 2013 film (I wrote a review here), Now You See Me 2 focuses on the downfall of the Four Horsemen and their leader who faced a latest threat who seemed to know everything inside and out.

Following a year later after the first film, Now You See Me 2 offers the audience what they loved from the previous film, especially the Four Horsemen. Unlike the previous film, this time their magic and illusion aren't prepared in advance. They have to raced against time to stop the main antagonist, Watter (played by Daniel Radcliffe) who somehow so desperate to get back his micro-like chip size card for some purposes.

Daniel Radcliffe as the main antagonist was something new and probably the first time I saw him acting as a spoilt child villain. Lizzy Caplan as Lula, taking over Isla Fisher's position in the film was a great joy to watched, probably the funniest in the gang and making the film less miserable. I was kind of disappointed that the magic and illusion in this film wasn't as special as Now You See Me. Throughout the film, I actually got 'lost' in the magic explanations. However, what I like about Now You See Me 2 is the robbery heist where everyone somehow were on point (lol) and the villains were exposed and arrested.

In conclusion, if you are expecting something special like the previous film, don't expect Now You See Me 2 to keep up the 'wow-ness'. Hopefully, the next sequel could do better.

Ratings: 5/10

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Movie Review: Finding Dory

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I am going to write a review on Finding Dory. Acting as a sequel to the first film, Finding Nemo (which came out long, long time ago), Finding Dory brings us back the familiar cast including Marlin and Nemo (who has since been quite mature and smarter).

The film is about Dory, a short-term memory loss, lovable blue fish, who suddenly remembered the most important thing in her life which she always forget: family. Coming from somewhere far from the place she and the others are at, the adventure started when Dory finds herself being captured and sent to the Marine Life Institute. Like Finding Nemo, Marlin and Nemo have to work out a plan to rescue their blur friend before it is too late.

Finding Dory is a film for everyone, especially those who remember the lovable blue "keep swimming" fish. Anyone is able to understand how Dory felt and you could simply just pity her not only because of her short-term memory loss, but also how she just kept wandering in the ocean, figuring out who or what is so important to her (an impression). From the beginning of the film, we learnt that Dory has a good childhood with caring parents who despite their daughter having such disability, they are able to provide her with so much love and even taught her, so she could remember certain things like finding her way home.

Throughout Finding Dory, I can't help to think but to actually admit that Dory is somewhat brave enough to actually find her way out of a sticky situation. She still remained positive, despite knowing she could not remember certain details or happenings. Her being in the Life Marine Institute was the best part of the film, where lots of hilarious moments happened. We met Hank the "sevtopus", Destiny the somewhat short-sighted whale and the rest of the aquatic animals who are willing to help Dory in the purpose of getting to her parents.

In conclusion, I had good laughs over Finding Dory and maybe even more enthusiastic than any parents of children in the cinema (lol). If you haven't catch this Pixar animated favourite, then you surely missed out the fun that I actually had. Also, if you are bringing your children to watch Finding Dory, I suggest you to let he or she watch Finding Nemo before buying the tickets. I could swear some children in the cinema have no idea of what was happening in the film.

Ratings: 10/10 (This rating isn't doing any justice to this wonderful film. It is not enough actually.)

P.S. Totally out missed this portion: There is a post-credits scene. Unfortunately, I missed it because I have no idea. Don't make this mistake!

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3 Classic Films To Actually Watch Alone

Hello readers,

I have enjoyed my three weeks school holidays including spending my time writing on Wattpad, trying out Netflix on my laptop and taking part in friendly Table Tennis match (I'm still a beginner lol). While I can't really summarise my own holidays here and I don't have any films to review, I decided to share with you three classic films which you can try watching.

While this list does not cover most films from the classic, these films are the films which I have taken my time to watch them. Without further ado, I shall introduce the three films (in no particular order).

1. Sunrise: The Song of Two Humans (1927)

I found this beautiful silent romantic film through a book about movies. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans is a 1927 silent era film starring Janet Gaynor and George O' Brien as a married couple. Janet later won the Academy Award for three films including this film in 1929, making her the first female winner in the Best Actress category. The film is about a man who conducts an affair with a flirtatious city girl after being bored of his wife. The city girl tried to convince the man to leave his wife and escape together, but he was reluctant to do so. Sooner or later, the man's wife knew about the plan and decided to leave for the city. He then joined her and their journey of rediscovering their love began.

While most silent films does not featured sound, Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans made an exception. If I remembered correctly, most of the sound in the film actually came from the background noises in the city, especially when the loving couple arrived at a fun fair. The film was remarkable and a fun to watched because of the chemistry between the actors and how they interacted and reacted to the life in the city. While most of the fun happened in the city, one would find themselves caught up with the story of love, a genuine love.

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans is a definitely worthwhile romantic silent film to watch.

2. Chinatown (1974)

Regarded as one of the best films in cinema and its screenplay and everything being analysed in most film studies, Chinatown is a 1974 mystery film inspired by California Water Wars. Starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, Chinatown is a film about a private investigator, Jack who initially was hired to spy on Mr. Mulwray, a chief engineer for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. However, things turned when Jack later met the real Mrs. Mulwray and Mr. Mulwray was found dead.

Chinatown might actually be a simple, mystery story in our today's context but if you lost your attention/focus, you might missed out certain clues. The twist at the almost ending of the film in fact surprised me and I was eventually upset about the injustice ending where the antagonist (and eventual murderer) was let off. As what Jack's associate said, "Forget it, [Jake,] it's Chinatown".

Chinatown is a film you won't want to leave out for its suspending and surprising screenplay and its noir cinematography.

3. Roman Holiday (1953)

If you want something cheesy, Roman Holiday is a comedy romance film for you. Starring Audrey Hepburn (who later won an Academy Award for this) and Gregory Peck, Roman Holiday is about Princess Anne who decided to run away from her royal duties for a day to explore the city as an ordinary person. Along with Joe, the reporter, this film takes you on a trip to all romance and comedy adventure. You either laugh or cry about this film.

I am honestly a sucker for this type of genre films. Obviously, I shipped this pairing and was eventually bitter and sad about their separation after a whole day trip. Nevertheless, Roman Holiday is a fantastic film about love and fun at the same time.

I hope you enjoyed what I have shared so far. Although I didn't cover all classic films, I do absolutely want to find more classic films to watch and even share with you guys. If you have any films to recommend, feel free to leave your comment or even tweet me @crushedtiggy. I welcome everyone to share and learn more about films, especially those rare ones. :)

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Movie Review: X-Men: Apocalypse

THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I finally got my ticket and just came back from watching X-Men: Apocalypse. Acting as the sequel and third film of the rebooted X-Men, the film follows the main antagonist, Apocalypse who wants to reclaim the world and make it great again.

X-Men: Apocalypse starred James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence and other familiar cast members from X-Men: Days of Future Past including the cute, funny Quicksliver (played by Evan Peters). This film also introduced new young mutants who have yet to explore their abilities and work with its capabilities. According to some critics, they mentioned the film had overabundance of mutants that could distract the story. However, I disagree because the cast was just right and it is nothing compared to X-Men: The Last Stand.

To me, I felt this story kind of lack the same feel I got from the previous sequel. The distribution of screen time usually goes to the newer mutants and some other cast members have been shoved aside. On the other hand, at least Professor X had a huge battle with the villain in his head or something. Quicksliver was as funny as usual, especially the evacuating students and everyone out of the building while Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams played in the background. Magneto, had the saddest among everyone, losing his family to human's xenophobia over mutants and his previous activity (if you watched the last film). Since X-Men: First Class, humans are not accepting mutants and that never changed... Another impressive point in the film was the surprise cameo appearance of Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman. :)

Overall, I still enjoyed X-Men: Apocalypse. There is nothing much to say for this film, except the villains and all that. Right now, I am more curious about Essex Corps in the post credits scene and how it plays an important role in future X-Men related films...

Ratings: 6/10

P.S. I have already warned you that there is a post-credits scene, related to future X-Men films including next year's Wolverine sequel. It is also better that you watched X-Men: First Class onwards, to understand the characters' history and what happened.

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TV Series Review: Preacher

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

I apologise for not updating Devil In The Skull for almost a month now. I have been focusing on my studies and CCA since things have changed after polytechnic started back in April. I even made a drastic change of CCA. Instead of going back to performing arts, I decided to join Table Tennis as my CCA. So that is what I have to say for now if you are wondering what I have been doing.

Back to the actual point, I just finished watching the pilot episode of this AMC's latest supernatural series, Preacher. Based on the comics published by Vertigo (which also gives you Constantine and Lucifer), Preacher follows a man named Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper), who just happened to return back to a town in Texas to fulfil his father's promise. He somehow later gained this ability to actually have the Word of God and thus from there, he begins his journey to actually find God. Along with Jesse on the journey are Irish vampire, Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun) and his ex-girlfriend, Tulip (Ruth Negga).

I remembered waiting for Preacher since late 2015, especially after watching the trailer of the series. I have always been keen on this kind of supernatural series and being no stranger to this religious faith and beliefs that are sometimes discussed or mentioned (if you know what series I have been catching). With shows like Penny Dreadful are currently airing on television, Preacher was not a disappointment.

What makes Preacher worth the watching because of the story. The beginning of the show got me hooked the moment when the African priest exploded and slowly more and more exploded. I also liked the supporting characters, especially Ruth Negga's Tulip who really looked badass. For a series like Preacher coming out in such season or the month, I applaud the flow of the pilot episode and how it did a great job in introducing the main characters equally.

So if you happened to like supernatural series, longtime comics fan or something to watch, Preacher is one of those television series that you should give a try. The series appeals to both comics lover and even newcomers like myself. Looking forward to the next episode and seeing how Jesse Custer explore his own sudden ability.

Ratings: 7/10

P.S. There will be a blog post on life soon, to make up for my sudden disappearance after last posted on Captain America: Civil War.

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Movie Review: Captain America: Civil War

THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Hello readers,

It was 7.03pm when I started typing out this post and I just got back from JEM. As you can tell, I just watched Captain America: Civil War and honestly it is one of the Marvel's best films out there. The film assembled with Chris Evans as the titular character and some familiar faces including Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier.

Captain America: Civil War is a thought-provoking film on the good and bad side of being a hero. If you could recall the moments in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers and Captain America: Winter Soldier, then it wouldn't be a problem when references were made in this film. Because of the recent events, the government and the United Nations decided that there must be guidelines and law needed to contain The Avengers. Thus, Sokovia Accords was born.

The story begins from here when the audience were shown the breakdown of The Avengers, especially between Captain America and Iron Man. As righteous as we know Captain America, his refusal to sign the bill caused a riff in the Avengers since everyone listened to his orders most of the time. On the other hand, Iron Man is one of those superheroes whom the public knows in and out and was filled with guilts, especially the recent Avengers event.

Besides the different sides of Captain America and Iron Man, this film also introduced two new superheroes including Black Panther and the long awaited Spider-Man. Black Panther was different from the rest of the cast members. He does not stand on any side and all he wanted to seek revenge for his father after allegedly killed by The Winter Soldier.

In my opinion, there was no good or bad. Both Captain America and Iron Man saw each other as wrong. Iron Man did what he could because he wanted to protect his people and was feeling remorse for his actions. His arrogance was the factor that led him to be a hot-headed person and it was evident when he refused to listen out that The Winter Soldier was innocent and harmed anyone who was in his way. Captain America has his fault too because of his friendship with Bucky Barnes. He spent almost the whole time in the film, trying to reach out for Bucky, despite what he had done as the Winter Soldier. The rest of the cast members were just standing with different side because of either benefits or ideologies.

Throughout Captain America: Civil War, the film was brilliantly written in bringing out the 'VS' kind of stuff and was on another level than Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. The villain was a jerk and it reminded us, people, that not all villains are people with abilities or anything. He was just a normal guy whose sadness and anger consumed him to the point he decided to mess up the Avengers for his agenda: vengeance. Like what I said, this film is a thought-provoking film and it really does reflect on real life. I totally liked the idea of bringing Ant Man and Spider-Man into the equation. They made the film more lively and vibrant (check out Ant Man's new ability!).

In conclusion, if you haven't watch Captain America: Civil War, I recommend you should. This film is one of best (emotional thought-provoking) by Marvel Studios and I look forward to seeing how the Russo Brothers proceed from here.

Ratings: 10/10

P.S. There are two ending credits scenes in this film. Also, any Steve and Bucky shippers out there, what's with the helicopter scene? I swear Bucky was smirking at Steve.

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