Silver Skates

tags: fairy tale, Netflix streaming, romance, Russian

⭐⭐⭐⭐

from Netflix

On the frozen rivers and canals of St. Petersburg, a petty thief on skates warms the heart of an aristocrat's daughter as forces try to keep them apart.

The description from Netflix is a bit lacking and inaccurate. This Russian movie is a fairy tale with a twist - it is a rich girl, poor boy romance instead of the usual beautiful princess rescued by a handsome prince. Matvey, the poor boy, works delivering pastry using his antique pair of skates but gets fired through no fault of his. His father is a lamplighter who is sick with consumption.

The setting is at the turn of the 19th century and the frozen St. Petersburg is transformed into a pretty Winter Wonderland where people go to walk about and shop. A group of pickpockets skates around and deftly dispossesses the unsuspecting people of their treasures including pocket watches and billfolds. The leader, who reminds me of The Artful Dodger, drops a watch while being pursued by a gendarme. . Matvey tries to return it to him not knowing he stole it. He gets recruited to the group to earn money for his father's hospital treatment. 

He meets the aristocrat's daughter, Alice, on a dare from his new friends. They meet again at St. Petersburg while he was busy "working". Alice befriends him for her own reasons. As the story progresses, one needs to suspend disbelief but it is a fairy tale after all. Besides, I'm sure you'll love the superb cinematography and lush costumes, and the scenes of the skating thieves are beautiful to watch. 

Language is mostly in Russian, some English, and French. Russian and French dialog have English subtitles, English has none. There are subtitles in CC English.

 

The Beast Must Die

tags: British movie, horror, mystery, werewolf

⭐⭐⭐⭐

A millionaire big game hunter gathers six people at his remote English mansion, announcing that he suspects one of them is a werewolf.

I have the DVD of this 1974 British movie but I can't find it. It is streaming on Amazon. IMHO it is cheesy because of its 70s soundtrack, leatherette outfit of the main lead, his stiff acting, and the goofy looking werewolf, but is good enough to grant a 4 star since I enjoyed it very much. Two familiar faces among the guests are Peter Cushing and Michael Gambon.

The story is a mystery but instead of whodunnit, the question is, who is the werewolf among the 5 guests and the hosts, 7 people in all. Tom is a big game hunter and millionaire who wants the biggest of them all - bagging a werewolf. He invites 4 people whom he suspects of being a werewolf, to his mansion in England where he and his wife live. The 5th guest is the wife of one of the guests, a concert pianist played by Michael Gambon. The wives are friends and so she is included in the party. The set up feels like an Agatha Christie mystery mixed with cabin in the woods slasher horror movie where you are waiting who gets killed first. Only 2 people survived.

At the start of the movie viewers are invited to guess who the werewolf is and there is a 30-second break just a few minutes before the end of the movie for the viewers to do exactly that. It is not easy to pinpoint the werewolf although I guessed correctly after the silver bullet test.

Watch it on Amazon streaming.

Katla

Katla streaming on Netflix

8 episodes, 40 - 50 minutes

In Icelandic with English subtitles 

tags: drama, fantasy, Iceland, mystery, science fiction, supernatural

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

from Netflix

A year after Katla's eruption, the shattered survivors are still grappling with the aftermath. Suddenly, an ash-caked woman appears on the glacier.

The drama mystery series from Iceland, although not a crime mystery, reminds me of the Welsh crime drama series Hinterland and the Russian movie How I Ended This Summer for its beautiful but bleak scenery. The mystery of the naked woman covered in ashes emerging on the glacier is captivating right from episode 1. More ash-caked people emerge. Fascinating watch.

Highly recommended.

On Episode 5, the little boy who died 3 years earlier appears as one of the ash-caked creatures but his father knows he is not his real son. The mother runs away with him and on the road realizes he is not who he is so she abandons him in the middle of the road. On Episode 6, he is shown looking at a downed small airplane. With his outfit -blue coat over light colored sweater and pajama pants, and his boots - he looks like the Little Prince. Then he starts talking to the dying sheep. Definitely an allusion to The Little Prince novel and maybe a clue as to his origin. 

Spoilers

Patricia Wentworth's Miss Silver Mystery Series

from GoodReads

Patricia Wentworth--born Dora Amy Elles--was a British crime fiction writer. She wrote a series of 32 classic-style whodunnits featuring Miss Silver, the first of which was published in 1928, and the last in 1961, the year of her death.

Miss Silver, a retired governess-turned private detective, is sometimes compared to Jane Marple, the elderly detective created by Agatha Christie. She works closely with Scotland Yard, especially Inspector Frank Abbott and is fond of quoting the poet Tennyson.

I've read a few Miss Silver mystery novels many years ago. Recently, all the 32 Miss Silver book series became available to borrow, eBook or Kindle, from the library. I started reading them from the beginning and have so far finished 10 books. I have given them 3 up to 5 stars.

Miss Silver doesn't always "solve" the mystery. She doesn't even appear until over halfway into the novel unlike Agatha Christie's Poirot or Ellis Peters's Brother Cadfael or Dorothy L. Sayer's Lord Peter Wimsey. Readers might not like Wentworth's Miss Silver but I do like her quiet character over Miss Marple, and the stories that are more focused on the protagonists and antagonists are always interesting.

I read these in order the past few months. They are short novels, between 300 to 400 pages. Look for them in Hoopla if your local library has the service. These novels are a better reads than the latest books Amazon is giving for free. The Amazon First Reads for 2020 and up to the present are all dull and not worth a second of your time.

1. Grey Mask

2. The Case Is Closed 

3. Lonesome Road 

4. In The Balance 

5. The Chinese Shawl 

6. Miss Silver Deals With Death 

7. The Clock Strikes Twelve 

8. The Key 

9. She Came Back 

10. Pilgrim's Rest

The Prevention Is Worse Than The Disease

I wrote about my aversion to the C19 jab because it is experimental and might harm more than prevent the virus. More and more deaths have been reported after taking the jab. According to VAERS reporting system, 5,888 deaths out of 5,997 vaccination deaths are solely attributed to C19 jab. The latest is this guy who designed the app for tracking C19 jab. He proudly announced he took it on March 26, 2021; died 2 months later of CoVid19. 😵😵😵

We're heartbroken to share that Joel Kallman has passed away from Covid-19 on May 25th. He was 54.

Joel's warmth and enthusiasm touched countless across the globe. We miss him dearly.

We invite you to share your memories: https://t.co/xTKGi7AAXo#orclapex @joelkallman pic.twitter.com/3kzF4nQxoA

— Oracle APEX (@OracleAPEX) May 27, 2021

He died of C19 just 2 months after getting the jab. And he is just one of increasing number of deaths due to the same virus that is supposed to fight it. 2 months! Don't be a victim like this guy. 

Experts and scientists and ordinary citizens like myself who warned people of the dangers of the "vaccine" have been ridiculed and shouted at by those who think they know better.  Take it if you are suicidal. Oops, millions of American have subscribed to the fear of dying from the virus but they should have been more cautious of the jab than the virus which can be cured by the dirt cheap Hydroxychloroquine combined with zinc which increased the survival rate of severely ill victims of the Chinese flu. Doctors around the world promoted the drug cocktail early last year, but the left and democrats shut it down because it was mentioned by President Trump. The hateful ignorant left and democrats successfully stopped its use because of their severe TDS. Now that millions have been experimented with around the world, doctors are now admitting the efficacy of the Hydroxychloroquine cocktail. The left is still trying to fool the people by suppressing this latest admission by doctors and experts. Anyone who mentions the new findings by the doctors on social networks are suspended immediately. This new admission by these doctors are never mentioned in the alphabet media either. This is how they prevent ignorant people from learning the truth that will save them from potential illness or death.  

Need I explain further why I am not willing to take it?

Trese

Anime streaming on Netflix

Based on Filipino mythology and folklore

6 less than 30 minute episodes

In original English or Filipino dubbed

Trese which means the number 13, Tagalog spelling of trece in Spanish is the surname of the female monster slayer. The anime is based on a popular comics series in the Philippines and Asia which I have never heard of. Some of the Aswang (generic term for various evil spirits but mostly vampires and shape shifters) in the series are unfamiliar and the nuno doesn't look like the Nuno Sa Punso (old man on the mound) that I remember as a child. The Filipino Nuno is similar to the Swedish Tomte. Nuno and Tomte have the same historical background and look almost the same in appearance and clothing. They both sit on a mound and can be good or vindictive. They do not live in the sewer as shown in the anime. 

But I digress. I watched a few episodes in original English but there are some lines in Tagalog that are not subtitled. It will be hard for non Tagalog speakers to understand those terms such as Lakan which means a Filipino nobleman, example - a princess or prince.

Xtremo

Spanish movie Xtremo streaming on Netflix

118 minutes

European Spanish with English subtitles 

tags: action, crime family, revenge

⭐⭐⭐

Maximo and Maria are the adopted children and Lucero is the real son of a crime family head. The father favors Max to lead his crime family and naturally Lucero is jealous just like in the movie Gladiator. Maximo and Maximus. Probably an homage to the movie. Max’s brother Lucero betrayed their family, killing their father and Max's son and leaving Max for dead. Two years later Max is retired but itching for revenge and is teaming up with his sister Maria to take down Lucero and his operation. 

Max trains in martial arts in a car shop garage, he even has a Wushu wooden dummy. One day he helped teenager Leo, a small time drug seller in his school. Leo is being used by one of Lucero's men to lure the rival criminal Russians. After Lucero's men brutally killed Leo's family, Max begins a killing spree of Lucero's men.

The bloody mash-up of Asian and European crime family action movie is IMHO better than John Wick although the story, dialog, and acting are on par with John Wick - mediocre. 

Watch it for the action alone. And clever use of garage tools.

Recommended: Korean revenge drama with similar theme also streaming on Netflix - Night In Paradise - has the best bloody ending and a little better than Xtremo.

. 

The Princess Bride

tags: adventure, book within a book, fantasy, romance, satire
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

from GoodReads

Once upon a time came a story so full of high adventure and true love that it became an instant classic and won the hearts of millions. Now in hardcover in America for the first time since 1973 (in its native Florin, it has been on the Florinise Times bestseller list continuously since the week it was published), this special edition of The Princess Bride is a true keepsake for devoted fans as well as those lucky enough to discover it for the first time. What reader can forget or resist such colorful characters as Westley- handsome farm boy who risks death and much, much worse for the woman he loves; Inigo- the Spanish swordsman who lives only to avenge his father's death; Fezzik- the Turk, the gentlest giant ever to have uprooted a tree with his bare hands; Vizzini-the evil Sicilian, with a mind so keen he's foiled by his own perfect logic; Prince Humperdinck- the eviler ruler of Florin, who has an equally insatiable thirst for war and the beauteous Buttercup; Count Rugen- the evilest man of all, who thrives on the excruciating pain of others; Miracle Max- the King's ex-Miracle Man, who can raise the dead (kind of); The Dread Pirate Roberts- supreme looter and plunderer of the high seas; and, of course, Buttercup- the princess bride, the most perfect, beautiful woman in the history of the world.

S. Morgenstern's timeless tale--discovered and wonderfully abridged by William Goldman--pits country against country, good against evil, love against hate. From the Cliffs of Insanity through the Fire Swamp and down into the Zoo of Death, this incredible journey and brilliant tale is peppered with strange beasties both monstrous and gentle, and memorable surprises both terrible and sublime.

Fictional William Goldman is given the job of abridging the original book which he deems the best book he has never read. His fictional father read it to him when he was a little boy. In shortening the novel, he decides to leave only the best parts. According to him, this book has everything you could possibly want in a novel

Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles.

I love the movie and I equally love the book. The story of Inigo Montoya becoming a mercenary and out for revenge on Count Rugen is explained better in the book and will make you love his character even more. I like how Goldman created fictional characters of himself, wife, son, and grandson. 

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal: The Movie 2021

For fans of Sailor Moon - Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal: The Movie 2021

Netflix streaming

2 parts, 81 minutes each

In Japanese with English subtitles 

or English dubbed (not recommended)

Vaccine For Severe TDS

I've always been averse to taking any form of vaccines and medications. In fact, I didn't take Tylenol for over 25 years, okay maybe one pill every 5 years, because I don't believe in medication including herbal and home remedies. I never had the flu vaccine either. When my daughter got pregnant with my first granddaughter, she announced that all visitors are required to get DPT booster and some other shots, I told her I wouldn't take them and will forego visiting when the baby comes. Yes, I have vaccine and medicine phobia. Of course I had all the required vaccinations when I was a baby and up to a certain age, but I am not willing to get jabs today or ever. Borrowing from the left's mantra on abortion at will: MY BODY, MY CHOICE. My refusal to take the Covid-19 vaccine has nothing at all to do with politics.

Now, why TDS on the title of this post. When I refused to have the experimental and unapproved by FDA Covid-19 vaccine, a person with severe Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) quickly accused me of being a Trumpist and started ranting and cursing Trump. Obviously, he is ill informed because President Trump has never been against the vaccine. In fact, a few month ago, President Trump advised all Americans to take the vaccine when it became available to the public. Take note that Trump never said people will be punished or pilloried if they refuse to take it. It was an ADVICE, NOT A COMMAND. Leftists and democrats obviously are not aware of this fact because mainstream media didn't discuss it long enough and so they remain uninformed about Trump, as always. Getting vaccinated for the Chinese flu is one thing that President Trump's voters are not happy with but we don't begrudge him for it. He has the freedom to give advice and we have the freedom to heed or ignore the advice. It is as simple as that. And so what if I am a "Trumpist"? I am proud to be one but unlike the left, we conservative do not BLINDLY OBEY and do what politicians tell us. We have our own free will. The left and democrats on the other hand do what they are told without question. That's the difference between conservatives and democrats. They are told to get the vaccine, and they are more than happy to be lab rats without giving any thoughts that it might harm them in the long run. And they want to impose their belief on us conservatives. Not going to happen. 

My refusal to wear a mask, because I have a hard time breathing with a face gag and nearly fainted at the store, and my refusal getting the vaccine are my choice and as far as I know we Americans still have the freedom to refuse something that we do not believe in. I don't care if people wear a hundred masks forever and get vaccinated, just don't force them on me AND STOP MAKING IT POLITICAL BECAUSE IT IS NOT!!!

In my opinion a vaccine is needed for people with Stage 5 and severe TDS because these afflicted people think everything they see and hear 24/7/365 that don't agree with them is because of President Trump and right leaning American citizens who voted for him. They are perpetually angry and it is not good for their physical and mental health.

Here is a voice recording of an Internist, Cardiologist, and Epidemiologist Dr. McCullough warning on the danger of the Covid-19 vaccine. He testified to Senate Committee in November 2020. 20 deaths per month from the vaccine is disturbing. Is anybody willing to be part of statistics? Not me.

DOCTOR SOUNDS THE ALARM ON COVID JABS https://t.co/75fp5szJW6

— roseunplugged (@roseunplugged2) June 2, 2021

Racket Boys

Racket Boys - Korean comedy drama sports streaming on Netflix

16 episodes, 85 - 90 minutes, Monday and Tuesday

from AsianWiki

A story of a boys' badminton team at a middle school in Haenam as they compete in a junior athletic competition. The 16 year old boys and girls in Haenam grow as people during this time.

Yoon Hyeon-Jong was once the best badminton player and he now takes the coach job of a boys' badminton team at a middle school in Haenam. The badminton team is on the verge of being disbanded. The players on the team are Yoon Hae-Kang, Bang Yoon-Dam, Na Woo-Chan and Lee Yong-Tae. The players are not very good yet.

Meanwhile, Ra Yeong-Ja is the coach of the girls’ badminton team at a different middle school in Haenam. Her badminton team ranks #1 among their peers.

The drama comedy started airing May 31 and June 1, 2021 and I'm already hooked. The drama has lots of laughs, has quirky characters, and witty dialog. I'm not a sports fan and it's surprising that I enjoyed the competition at the end of the second episode. 

The main story is about middle school boys training and competing in badminton tournaments to be able to continue the school's badminton program. Their coming together as a team is well told and the minor characters also have interesting stories to them. It's a heart warming series and it has a potential to become my 2021 favorite. 

Episode 3 - the boys enjoy jjajangmyeon