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.

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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)

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

Oxygen

tags: mystery, Netflix streaming, science fiction

from Netflix

A young woman wakes up in a medical cryo unit. She doesn’t remember who she is or how she ended up sequestered in a box no larger than a coffin. As she’s running out of oxygen, she must rebuild her memory to find a way out of her nightmare.

I was bored to death watching this French science fiction dreck but I finished it hoping the ending will be mind blowing like Oblivion and Vanilla Sky. Unfortunately, it isn't. I had to friggin' endure 91 minutes of mediocre script, acting, and movie set. The actress constantly licking and biting her lips is so irritating. 😒

The reason why she is in a small box with oxygen running out doesn't become clear until almost at the very end. This has been done before but with better story, writing, deeper meaning, more suspense, and obviously better actress. Is there any point to this movie? None that I can think of. It is pure garbage IMHO. Goose egg.

Avoid. It's Ugly.

The Way Of The Househusband

Streaming on "Netro-fricks" (Netflix) - 5 16-minute episodes Japanese anime comedy. 

A yakuza quit his job, got married, and became an earnest househusband. Very funny and great animation.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

There's also a live action series based on the anime, search Gokushufudo if you can't find the English title.

South Korean Series Coming To Netflix Streaming

Hello, Me!

February 17, 2021

Wednesday and Thursday

comedy, drama, fantasy

Ban Ha-Ni (Choi Gang-Hee) is 37-years-old and a single woman. She holds a temporary position at work, which makes her nervous that she might get fired. She is generally servile and timid. Considering her current state, she does not want to be single. One day, 17-year-old Ban Ha-Ni (Lee Re) from the past comes to 37-year-old Ban Ha-Ni. 17-year-old Ban Ha-Ni is totally different from her older self. The younger Ban Ha-Ni is bright and optimistic.

This is going to be hilarious. The talented Eum Moon-Suk, who appeared in The Fiery Priest and Backstreet Rookie, is a great addition to the cast. First episode is already knee slapper funny. 

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Sisyphus

February 17, 2021 

Wednesday and Thursday

action, drama, sci-fi, time travel

A time travel story between a genius engineer Han Tae-Sool (Cho Seung-Woo) and his savior from the future Kang Seo-Hae (Park Shin-Hye).

Han Tae-Sool is a genius engineer and the co-founder of Quantum and Time Company. He is handsome and he produces innovative results. Thanks to his efforts, Quantum and Time has become a world-class enterprise. He is known as a miracle worker and a hero in Korea, but reality is a little different. After his older brother's death 10 years ago, he has exhibited eccentric behavior. The company's stock price has fluctuated accordingly. One day, Han Tae-Sool learns of an unreliable truth behind his brother's death. His dangerous journey begins.

Kang Seo-Hae is an elite warrior. She can take down the biggest men with just her bare hands. She is also a sharpshooter and able to make bombs. She learned these skills to survive in a world that is dominated by gangsters and military cliques. One day, after a long and dangerous journey, she comes to Han Tae-Sool to save him.

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Vincenzo

February 20, 2021

Saturday and Sunday 

dark comedy, drama, romance

At the age of 8, Park Joo-Hyeong went to Italy after he was adopted. He is now an adult and has the name of Vincenzo Casano (Song Joong-Ki). He is a lawyer, who works for the Mafia as a consigliere. Because of a war between mafia groups, he flees to South Korea. In South Korea, he gets involved with Lawyer Hong Cha-Young (Jeon Yeo-Bin). She is the type of attorney who will do anything to win a case. Vincenzo Casano falls in love with her. He also achieves social justice by his own way.

 

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One of the writers of Vincenzo, Park Jae-Bum, wrote in 2019 one of the funniest Korean comedy action drama series, The Fiery Priest. I hope Vincenzo will be as funny as Kim Nam-gil, Honey, and the cast of The Fiery Priest.

Space Sweepers

Coming to Netflix streaming February 5, 2021. Sci-fi movie from South Korea. 2 hours 16 minutes.

Chasing after space debris and faraway dreams in year 2092, four misfits unearth explosive secrets during the attempted trade of a wide-eyed humanoid.

Can't wait to see Song Joong-ki, nae sarang. 💘 

Alice In Borderland

Coming to Netflix streaming on December 10, 2020 - Alice In Borderland, starring the busiest young actor in Japan, Yamazaki Kento. The TV series is based on Manga. An aimless gamer and his two friends find themselves in a parallel Tokyo, where they're forced to compete in a series of sadistic games to survive. 

Derry Girls On The Great British Bake Off

Must watch: Derry Girls (and Boy) on The Great British Baking Show Holidays, Episode 2, now streaming on Netflix. It was so much fun watching actors with zero or limited baking experience do their very best to bake cakes. They are as funny and genuine as their characters on the show, Derry Girls.  

Watch seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix streaming (warning: salty language). I can't wait for the new season to stream.

The Call

tags, fantasy, horror, Korean movie, Netflix streaming, thriller

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

form AsianWiki

Two women live in different times. Seo-yeon (Park Shin-hye) lives in the present day and Young-sook (Jun Jong-seo) lives in the past. They connect with one phone call.

I've been waiting for this movie since the start of the year and was surprised to see it on Netflix this morning available for streaming. It's another satisfying thriller from South Korea and starring one of my favorite actresses, Park Shin-hye. 

2 women from different time lines connect via a land line phone call. The woman from 1999, Young-sook pleaded to Seo-yeon, the woman from 2020, to save her from her stepmother who tries to exorcise her by flogging. The 2 women became friends over the phone and Young-sook changed the past by saving Seo-yeon's father from dying by a fire accident in their house. Changing the past is never a good idea because it unleashed a serial killer, and the evil past of one of the women.

The almost 2 hour movie never lets you relax for even more than 2 minutes as you don't know who's going to die a bloody death next. Park Shin-hye and Jun Jong-seo (Burning) are both very good in the movie.

Highly recommended for Korean movie fans 

Christmas With A Prince

tags: Christmas movie, Netflix streaming, romance

⭐

from imdb

Pediatric specialist Tasha Mason is focused on keeping the kids in her ward as healthy as possible. But when the handsome Prince Alexander Cavalieri breaks his leg on a nearby ski-slope, Tasha is forced to allow him to secretly get well on her floor, and she's furious that a spoiled Royal is interrupting the precious healing time her kids need. Soon, however, Tasha learns that some tough love and a lot of Christmas spirit could turn this royal pain into a knight in shining armor.

Netflix and Amazon have started streaming Christmas themed romance movies in November which I think is waaay too early. 

I watched maybe less than half an hour of this movie that should carry a warning: CONTRIVED SCENARIOS AHEAD. The acting and dialog are awful, too clichéd, and cringe-inducing. Both leads are far from the usual beautiful people inhabiting fantasy romances involving princes and princesses. The actor playing the prince has no charisma; he's tall, dark, and retarded. Prince Humperdinck is more charming and princely IMHO. 😉

Do not watch. You'll thank me.

The School Nurse Files

tags: action, comedy, fantasy, ghosts, mystery, Netflix streaming, Kdrama

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

from Netflix

Eun-young is an ordinary school nurse with an extraordinary secret: she sees strange and beautiful jelly creatures that no one else can see. She’s not particularly fond of this gift, but when the school comes under attack, it’s up to her and fellow teacher In-pyo to save the day. Question is, does she feel like saving the world today?

After watching this new Netflix 6-part series from South Korea, I felt as though I have just walked into Haruki Murakami/David Mitchell/Takashi Miike universe. It is fantastically weird full of weird people competing for the most weird one. Eun-Young, the school nurse has a gift of seeing jellyfish-like creatures which are visible to her only. She uses her plastic toys, a retractable sword and a gun to kill the jellies. She is a ghostbuster protecting the school kids from evil spirits roaming the school. When a swarm of bugs appeared, again only visible to the nurse, a female high school student appears out of nowhere. She was never born to human parents and has lived many lives as a male and for the first time is living as a female enrolled as a new student in the school. She is a bug eater which is beneficial to humans much like green lacewings and ladybugs eating harmful insects to protect plants. This character dies every 20 years and is reborn as a high school teen so she or he never ages. The series is absolutely entertaining.

I just wished the male lead is older. Nam Joo-Hyuk is 26 years old, 12 years younger than the female lead actress. I like both of them, just don't do a romance story line later if there is a second season. I wish McKenzie has more screen time because he's a very interesting character. Or maybe it's just me because the actor playing him, Yoo Teo, is good in all the shows I've seen him in specially as Ragaseu in Arthdal Chronicle and as Kwon Min-Seong in Chocolate, both streaming on Netflix. All 6 episodes are streaming on Netflix and now I can't wait for the second season. I have to re-watch.

Enola Holmes

tags: historical fiction, mystery, Netflix streaming, Sherlock Holmes's sister, Victorian era

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

from Netflix

England, 1884 - a world on the brink of change. On the morning of her 16th birthday, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) wakes to find that her mother (Helena Bonham Carter) has disappeared, leaving behind an odd assortment of gifts but no apparent clue as to where she's gone or why. After a free-spirited childhood, Enola suddenly finds herself under the care of her brothers Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft (Sam Claflin), both set on sending her away to a finishing school for "proper" young ladies. Refusing to follow their wishes, Enola escapes to search for her mother in London. But when her journey finds her entangled in a mystery surrounding a young runaway Lord (Louis Partridge), Enola becomes a super-sleuth in her own right, outwitting her famous brother as she unravels a conspiracy that threatens to set back the course of history. 

I didn't expect to love this movie but I did. It's full of action, mystery, and maybe a hint of romance at the ending between 16 year old Enola and the very young Viscount Tewskebury, Marquess of Basilwether. Millie Bobby Brown is wonderful as smart-as-Sherlock and feisty Enola. She is all grown up and so pretty in Victorian clothes. Henry Cavill as Sherlock is actually good and Helena Bonham Carter as their mother looks lovely and ageless. I didn't even notice the 2 hours running time. I was totally engaged and entertained the whole time, laughing at the comedic scenes. I hope there's a sequel.

I didn't know the story is based on a novel written by American author Nancy Springer. There are 6 books in all and the movie is based on the first one, The Case of the Missing Marquess, published in 2006. I might check them out to see if they are worth reading.

Highly recommended. 

#Alive

tags: action, horror, South Korean movie, Netflix streaming, zombies

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

from AsianWiki

A city is infected by a mysterious virus, which causes the city to spiral out of control. Joon-Woo (Yoo Ah-In) and Yoo-Bin (Park Shin-Hye) struggle to survive in an isolated apartment complex from those infected with the virus. Everything including internet, phone, and electricity has been disconnected around the apartment.

Yes, a new zombies movie from South Korea. How can I not love it. It stars 2 of my favorite actors, Yoo Ah-In and Park Shin-Hye. They are the only 2 people, aside from the zombies, in almost 85% of the entire movie. It wasn't boring with just the 2 of them really. There's a subtle comedy here and there that reminds me of another South Korean survival movie, Exit, only with hungry ugly zombies. Park Shin-Hye's character is the smarter of the two and sometimes rolls her eyes at her co-survivor not knowing what to do. She's very creative and skillful using contraptions and an axe to kill or chop off limbs of the monsters. There are some impossible to believe scenarios but this is just a movie. You have to suspend disbelief with any zombie movies. 

Recommended for Korean, zombies, survival, action, and horror movie fans.

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Currently streaming on Netflix:

Yoo Ah-In movie Burning and drama Chicago Typewriter 

Park Shin-Hye dramas Inheritors and Memories of the Alhambra 

Unknown Origins

tags: action, comedy, Netflix streaming, parody, Spanish movie, superheroes

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

from IMDB

Heroes do not exist. David, a young policeman who has recently moved to Madrid, is forced to collaborate with Jorge Elías - an endearing freak and owner of a comic book shop - in order to solve a series of atrocious murders that recreate the secret origins of the classic superheroes. Each grotesque murder is a piece of a jigsaw puzzle that has the streets of Madrid as a backdrop, but whose complete image they are unable to distinguish. Jorge's encyclopedic knowledge about the comic world and the unexpected discovery of David's dark past will be fundamental in helping them solve the enigma hidden behind the awful crimes. The clues will guide them through the Spanish capital, along a labyrinth designed by a disturbed criminal mind and the only person who knows how to find the exit. Will they be able to unravel the tangled mess of clues and win the game against the troubled criminal that tries to manipulate them? They say that, sometimes, it is necessary to put on a suit and get out ...

If you see it with very low expectations like I did, you'll probably enjoy this 96 minute action comedy from Spain, Origenes Secretos. It won't win any awards but it made me laugh a little. I got maybe almost all of the comic book, movie, and TV characters mentioned including some Japanese anime like Gantz:O and Berserk. It's easy to guess who the villain is.

This movie is not serious at all although not slapstick either. Watch it in the original European Spanish language with English subtitles.  

Floor Is Lava

tags: floor is lava, Netflix, reality show, silly

10 less than 30 minutes episodes

I binge-watched the new reality show on Netflix streaming, Floor Is Lava which is an old game played by kids usually on their lawns, pretending the ground is made of lava. I've never heard of this game before. I noticed the reality game show is number 1 for more than a week already so I watched the first episode out of curiosity. It is silly and dumb yet I was entertained the whole time. The "lava floor" is actually a pool lit with red or orange lights to look like lava and maybe tinted with food dye. The lava looks a little bit slimy so it's not that easy to navigate getting to the exit without falling into the water. This game requires team strategy and coordination. 

Recommended for fans of mind-numbing game shows similar to the Japanese silly game show Takeshi's Castle.

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This show is a temporary cure for anxiety over the current negativity in the news - destruction of historical monuments and cancelling of cultural icons like Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben's which IMHO is pure insanity. 

2 Korean Drama Series

Two new Korean drama series came out this week June 19 and 20, 2020. 16 episodes

Backstreet Rookie

It's Okay To Not Be Okay streaming on Netflix

Wow! Cinematography, setting, actors, story are beautiful and mesmerizing. The animation parts and music remind me of 2 dark-themed animated movies Coraline and Jack And The Cuckoo-Clock Heart.

These 2 new series might become my favorites of 2020.

The Night Clerk

tags: drama, Netflix streaming, psychological thriller

I've seen a total of four Tye Sheridan's movies starting when he was a very young boy: Mud (with Matthew McConaughey, Joe (with Nicholas Cage), Dark Places, and Ready Player One. I liked him in all 4 movies. 

He is also very good in this movie playing Bart, a 23 year old with Asperger's. He works the night shift in a hotel where he installed cameras in one of the rooms, not to be a peeping Tom but to practice how to respond and speak to people, imitating what the guest says then practices answering them. He set up the camera to have a live feed to his bedroom. He is already home after his shift and sees the lady who just checked in starts fighting with a man. The guy hits the woman so Bart drives back to the hotel to help. Outside the door of the room, he hears a gun go off and he is frozen to the spot. The other hotel employee finds him calmly sitting on the bed saying the lady looks dead. He becomes the main suspect.

Spoilers

After Life

tags: British dramedy series, Netflix streaming, Ricky Gervais



The second season of After Life is now streaming on Netflix. I really like this dark comedy regardless of f and c bombs. Ricky Gervais as Tony who was suicidal after his wife died from cancer is simply brilliant. The story is very sad but somehow optimistic. The entire Carpenters' song Top Of The World playing when Tony is walking his dog belies what he feels but he is trying to be "zen", not to be a total ahole, and to look forward to a happier life without Lisa, his deceased wife. I hope there will be a season 3.

 Top Of The World - The Carpenters

Such a feelin's comin' over me
There is wonder in 'most every thing I see
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream

Everything I want the world to be
Is now comin' true especially for me
And the reason is clear, it's because you are here
You're the nearest thing to heaven that I've seen

I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
Your love's put me at the top of the world

Somethin' in the wind has learned my name
And it's tellin' me that things are not the same
In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze
There's a pleasin' sense of happiness for me

There is only one wish on my mind
When this day is through I hope that I will find
That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me
All I need will be mine if you are here

I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
Your love's put me at the top of the world

I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
Your love's put me at the top of the world

Highly recommended if you don't mind f and c bombs, and other cussing.