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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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

Project Hail Mary

tags: mystery, science fiction, thriller

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

from GoodReads

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission--and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that's been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, it's up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.

Part scientific mystery, part dazzling interstellar journey, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian--while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

I loved Andrew Weir's The Martian but his second novel Artemis failed to entertain me. Project Hail Mary has redeemed him in my eyes. He is back in this fascinating science fiction adventure with a lovable and admirable character who is enthusiastic, witty, and has a great sense of humor, to finish his job regardless of his current situation. 

Ryland Grace is forced chosen to go on a space trip mission to save the sun, earth, and humankind. The sun is losing power because of tiny organisms sucking up its energy. [Nope, not by crazy creepy Bill Gates who wants to shield the sun to stop bogus climate change.] Ryland is alone in a small spaceship with his memory gone but slowly regaining them. He becomes a friend/ally with a non-earthling during this desperate suicide Hail Mary mission and the two of them work together for the same goal - to save their planets. Ryland calls the space alien Rocky who is the very definition of adorable. Rocky reminds me of Baby Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy because he/it acts like a cute genius child. There are loads of math and science stuff going on but they are interesting instead of boring, just like The Martian. The ending is a little bittersweet because EE can't phone home.   

Highly recommended for science fiction fans.

**********************************************************************************

From Wiki

Hail Mary refers to the Hail Mary pass, a very long forward pass in American football, typically made in desperation, with great difficulty of achieving a completion. Due to the small chance of success, it makes reference to the Catholic Hail Mary prayer for help.

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.

Arsenic And Adobo

Filipino author, murder mystery, new series

⭐

from GoodReads

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She’s tasked with saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

With the cops treating her like she’s the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block.

I really really wanted to like this mystery novel by a Filipino author. Unfortunately, I hated it, really really hated it. *Sigh*

A lot of Filipino food are mentioned throughout the book and a few recipes at the end. It is understandable because the main character Lila works in her Aunt's Filipino restaurant. But the food got too distracting. 

What I didn't like

• The writing style and first person narration.
• The author tried too hard to make Lila witty and funny. I didn't find her witty nor funny. Lila comes out as character who lacks empathy by making light of someone's death that happened right in front of her. The scenario is utterly unnatural. She barely reacted to the second death and the head injury of her frenemy.
• Lila's lawyer and the detective investigating the murder are both incompetent and inconsistent. 
• Lila mentioned a few characters related to her and her current circumstances but they never showed up nor were explained further.
• The author tried to add romance into the murder mystery with boring people.
• The author's wokeness which is in-your-face obvious with the "diverse" characters, just like several  insufferable Hollywood movies that include all races in the universe for inclusiveness. The author probably had a checklist of all the necessary people aside from Filipinos that she believed should be in her first book: Japanese, Pakistani brother and his lesbian sister, lesbian Mexican, mixed Korean/White, Black, Greek. 🙄🙄🙄
• The baddies are pure white which she emphasized very early on. Yes, she said pure white. Sheesh! Two of her ex boyfriends are no-goodnik white people, one was the murder victim. Remember, white people are bad, bad, bad. Others are fine, noble, and if flawed, are redeemable.
• Story is not compelling; no real tension; amateurish. 

Do not read if you like murder mysteries. It is awful and will give you a headache due to excessive eyerolling. 

The Unkindness Of Ravens

tags: mystery, new series, M E Hilliard

⭐⭐⭐⭐

from GoodReads

Greer Hogan is a librarian and an avid reader of murder mysteries. She also has a habit of stumbling upon murdered bodies. The first was her husband's, and the tragic loss led Greer to leave New York behind for a new start in the Village of Raven Hill. But her new home becomes less idyllic when she discovers her best friend sprawled dead on the floor of the library.

Was her friend's demise related to two other deaths that the police deemed accidental? Do the residents of this insular village hold dark secrets about another murder, decades ago? Does a serial killer haunt Raven Hill?

Though Greer admires the masters of deduction she reads about in books, she never expected to have to solve a mystery herself. Fortunately, she possesses a quick wit and a librarian's natural resourcefulness. But will that be enough to protect her from a brilliant, diabolical murderer?

And even if Greer manages to catch the Raven Hill killer, will living with her conscience prove a fate worse than death?

I probably have found a new mystery fictional character to replace M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin. Greer Hogan, like Agatha has the unlucky habit of finding dead bodies. Her natural interest in solving the murder opens herself to becoming a victim also. There are other similarities between Agatha and Greer that are worth noting:

• have a police officer as a friend/ally - Agatha has Bill Wong and Greer has Jennie Webber 
• moved from city to a quiet village - Agatha to the Cotswolds, Greer to Village of Raven Hill, a small town in Connecticut 
• had high-paying jobs before quitting - Agatha was in public relations in London, Greer was a buyer for a cosmetics company in New York
• have a bit of sense of humor but Agatha is funnier, more biting and politically incorrect which I love, Greer is also funny but tamer, IMHO

I like this first of a series. It held my interest and I finished reading (336 pages) in one sitting. Although it reads like a cozy mystery, the murderer turned out to be a truly evil character. My only complaint, and the reason for the 4 stars, is there are too many red herrings, 2 of which are completely unnecessary.  I hope the succeeding books will be much tighter and have more humor.

Recommended for mystery readers.