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Janice: Go for it. Camala: And you are... Lana: No longer my friend.

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Movie Talk: Mother of the Bride

Source: Google Images

A doting mom jets off to a tropical island resort for her daughter's wedding — only to discover the groom's father is the ex she hasn't seen in decades.

Source: Netflix (2024)

Don't Waste Your Time

I have so many bones to pick with this movie. First things first, why this title? Mother of the Bride? I get that the main protagonist is the mother of the bride in this movie but that's really it? "The bride" was not important enough to be involved in the title. When I saw that title, I do not know what I was expecting but I was definitely not expecting what went down in the film.

Secondly, there was no need for Lucas here at all. This role brought nothing to the plate. Additionally, Chad Michael Murray's hair brought me back to his Freaky Friday days, and those moments weren't delightful ones.

Moving on, Lana Winslow is a successful doctor. Her name is well-known among other doctors as seen from Lucas's reaction to finding out her name. Why on earth would the writers make her a clumsy bumbling idiot in front of the love of her love? Sometimes, I don't hate that but in this movie, I absolutely abhorred it.

Last but definitely not least, Miranda Cosgrove needs serious practice in acting. Anytime Emma comes onto screen, I cringe. There's something unnatural about her acting, it was awkward to watch. Her acting was one of the bigger reasons I did not exactly enjoy this film.

In terms of romantic comedies, Mother of the Bride is one of the lousier ones, especially since it wasn't even trying to be a stereotypically cringy romantic comedy. It tried to be an actual film but it was disappointing.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

More romantic comedies here: Irish Wish | The Thing About Harry

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Because he already knew that he belonged to her.

Colin Bridgerton

Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Chapter 18) by Julia Quinn

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When did I start needing you so much?

Colin Bridgerton

Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Chapter 18) by Julia Quinn

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But contentment wasn't the same thing as happiness.

Penelope Featherington

Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Chapter 10) by Julia Quinn

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A kiss, is for two people.

Colin Bridgerton

Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Chapter 9) by Julia Quinn

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Biscuits. Are. Good. Noun. Verb. Adjective.

Hyacinth Bridgerton

Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Chapter 4) by Julia Quinn

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Lady Danbury: How much did he pay you not to leave him alone with me? Penelope: I beg your pardon. Colin: Oh no, go right ahead. You've been such a help already. Penelope: You don't have to give me the twenty pounds. Colin: I wasn't planning to. Lady Danbury: Only twenty pounds? Hmmph. I would have thought I'd be worth at least twenty-five. Colin: I'm a third son. Perpetually short of funds, I'm afraid.

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Book Chat: Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Bridgertons (Book 4) by Julia Quinn

Source: Google Images

Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend’s brother for… well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret… and fears she doesn’t know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of the neverending sameness of his life, and, most of all, tired of everyone’s preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can’t seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad, he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same—especially Penelope Featherington! The girl who was always simply… there is suddenly the girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide… is she his biggest threat—or his promise of a happy ending?

Source: Goodreads (2002)

I Think I Don't Feel Anything

Yes, I read this book because of Nicola. Oh? You thought I was going to say for the TV show? You see, neither the books nor the show interested me. I am not one for stories set during the regency era and because I know I dislike stories in that time period, I just usually avoid them. However, I was so gobsmacked by Nicola in that red outfit, I started watching so many of her interviews and eventually ended with checking out Penelope Featherington's story.

As said before, I avoid historical fiction if it's not medieval enough because I dislike those in-between time periods. I fully expected to dislike my reading experience just for the regency era but honestly speaking, other than the standard sexist lines thrown in once in a while, I was completely fine with when this book was in. I do appreciate that Quinn did not "fancify" her writing style because the casualness of it was one reason I was pulled into the book as quickly as I was.

Sadly, my fascination with Romancing Mister Bridgerton was a boring roller coaster ride. It's as if this book did not have a proper introduction, a climax that came too late and did not reach its peak and an unsatisfying happy ending.

Even though I like Penelope and Colin, both individually and as a couple, they really were infuriating many a time. I may have a love-hate relationship with this couple.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

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TV Series Discussion: Locke & Key

Season 2 (2021)

Source: Google Images

After their dad's murder, three siblings move with their mom to his ancestral estate, where they discover magical keys that unlock powers — and secrets.

Source: Netflix (2020)

So Very Lacking

Sometimes you seat down for a show, the plot's there, the acting's good. It's just going to be an entertaining time with the show. Yet, somehow, you're bored. That show is this season of Locke & Key for me.

I spent months on these ten episodes, ten episodes that I could put on 1.5x speed and play in the background. But I did not because even doing that was not worth my time. I did ultimately finish the show and it was upon finishing that I realised what was the problem with this season.

Locke & Key Season 2 picked up where the previous season left off. There was no time jump but it still felt like a period of time had passed. The villain of season 2 remained the same as season 1. Unfortunately, that's really where season 2 fell off. Dodge in this season seemingly had an evil plan: To create the demon key. And that was it.

We spent episode after episode for nothing much to develop. It was fun watching the Lockes do everything to regain Duncan's memories. However, it stopped being fun after Erin was killed. It became so boring afterwards. There was no strong main plot at all.

Everything felt absolutely below mediocre this season. The only thing I really enjoyed was watching the kids have an adult guidance once Duncan's memories were restored.

Personally, Locke & Key Season 2 was a filler season. An entire season was utterly unnecessary. Everything here could have been compressed into the first few episodes to build the storyline for the next villain.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5)

More on Locke & Key here: Season 1

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Drama Gossip: Jazz for Two

Source: Google Images

Han Tae Yi lost his will to live after the death of his older brother, who was a genius jazz pianist. To Tae Yi, transfer student Yoon Se Heon is truly an uninvited guest. Se Heon has been playing jazz that reminds Tae Yi of his brother since the first day he transferred to school and gets on Tae Yi’s nerves.

Se Heon also suspects that Tae Yi has a suspicious relationship with his friend Seo Do Yoon. Se Heon, who longs to play jazz freely and escape the eyes of his strict classical music professor father and Tae Yi, who wants to give up everything, was assigned to the same group for joint performance evaluation.

As they practice together, they find themselves developing complex emotions for one another. However, just as their relationship begins to deepen, Song Joo Ha, a senior student who was suspended from school, returns to school, and his presence begins to stir up things between Tae Yi and Se Heon.

Source: MyDramaList (2024)

Takes the Throne for Glossing Over Everything

Tell me why this show couldn't have done an hour per episode or give Jazz for Two more episodes? Is it due to budgeting? Because boy did this drama fall short thanks to how rushed it feels.

I actually enjoyed this drama. I really did. Unfortunately, I needed more.

For example, we really glossed over Doyoon and Juha's relationship. Juha saved Doyoon from some bullies. Okay, but why? Especially if dude's a bully himself too? Juha started bullying Doyoon. Okay, but why? Was it internalised homophobia? Something he was not aware he had until Doyoon made his move? That whole part where Juha practically called Doyoon disgusting was self-explanatory. However, Juha started feeling lost because Doyoon ignored his existence and he just do a 180 flip? The locker scene touched parts of my heart but Juha rationalising his previous actions was hella weak. And for Doyoon to immediately fall back into Juha's arms? Don't get me wrong, I freaking love the both of them. I just couldn't take how half-assed their story felt.

Unfortunately, the main couple's story felt glossed over at times too. Seheon's relationship with his father? The fact that his father was so strict with him yet when Seheon blew up and let it be known that he liked jazz over classical music, the father though strict, let Seheon do what he wanted. And then his father was never talked about again.

Also, Taeyi and his trauma? Or the final episode, that whole festival subplot.

Jazz for Two could have been a five-star watch if glossing over shit was not a strategy used constantly in the show...

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)

More BL productions from South Korea here: Love for Love's Sake | Love Tractor

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Movie Talk: Exhuma

Source: Google Images

The process of excavating an ominous grave unleashes dreadful consequences buried underneath.

Source: IMDb (2024)

No Specific Thoughts, Really

Well, well, well. Lets get this over first. Kim Go Eun looked magnificent in this film! Honestly, our exhumation team looked good, especially for a team of people doing what they do.

Moving on, the first part of Exhuma was the creepy paranormal part. There were several minutes when my heart picked up its pace. However, was this truly a horror movie? Not really. It's more mystery thriller with pinches of horror. So, I really am confused when I see people claiming this was some of the scariest films they've watched this year. I don't see it.

Next up, the storyline was very confusing and severely lacking. The good thing was my geomancer Kim did not die and that was all I was hoping for throughout the entire movie. In terms of the lacking storyline, they really could have made Exhuma more horrific. Yet, the second part felt so amateur, something was lacking and I cannot pinpoint what. As for the confusion, I had to read reddit threads to fully understand the movie. Cinematography was beautiful to look at, acting was wonderful to watch but storytelling was weak. The script should not have focused so much on both storylines individually. Honestly, the second part of this film should have had foreshadowing and some information being thrown out without us knowing from the beginning.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

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Book Chat: Minor Detail

by Adania Shibli and Elisabeth Jaquette (translator)

Source: Google Images

Minor Detail begins during the summer of 1949, one year after the war that the Palestinians mourn as the Nakba—the catastrophe that led to the displacement and exile of some 700,000 people—and the Israelis celebrate as the War of Independence. Israeli soldiers murder an encampment of Bedouin in the Negev desert, and among their victims they capture a Palestinian teenager and they rape her, kill her, and bury her in the sand.

Many years later, in the near-present day, a young woman in Ramallah tries to uncover some of the details surrounding this particular rape and murder, and becomes fascinated to the point of obsession, not only because of the nature of the crime, but because it was committed exactly twenty-five years to the day before she was born. Adania Shibli masterfully overlays these two translucent narratives of exactly the same length to evoke a present forever haunted by the past.

ISBN: 9780811229074 (2020) | Source: Goodreads

How Do I Even Do This?

I went into Minor Detail blind and I can't tell if it was a mistake because even after being confused and afterwards thinking I got some explanation off the synopsis, I was still confused. It was until I was somewhere in chapter 2 that I finally understood what was happening. Or at least, I finally linked the synopsis with the book I was reading.

I hate to say this but this book was not for me. I wanted to feel so much emotions, it became stifling to read Minor Detail. Unfortunately, because of the way it was written, it was not easy to feel. My experience was merely reading the words, comprehending the meaning and moving on. This experience was made worse because be it the writing style or the translation, it was very descriptive writing. Unfortunately, how does one connect with the story if the extremely descriptive writing just does not allow any connection to happen? Imagine reading a textbook of a subject you have interest in, it is not unnecessarily boring, but you're just reading texts and gaining extra/new knowledge. That connection a reader likes with a book was missing here.

I'm not exactly saying Minor Detail was a bad book, nor am I saying the writing style is bad. I do like the writing style. Sadly, this book just did not give me what I was truly looking for.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

More translated fiction here: Convenience Store Woman | Cursed Bunny | The Three-Body Problem

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If you're still confused, just remember this. He's the reason why I didn't want to lose my memory. And even if I did, he's the reason why I wanted to live. Baek Hyun Woo is the person I want to remember forever.

Hong Hae In

Queen of Tears Episode 15

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Haein: I have a will. I wrote it before we married. My mom refused to give us her blessings if I didn't write one. You won't inherit anything. That's what it says. But...I'm going to revise it. I didn't know this day would come so soon. I just wrote it so we could get married. What's wrong? Are you upset? Hyunwoo: No. I'm thankful that you'd do that. Please do that. But...not right now. I won't allow it. Haein: Then when? Hyunwoo: Later. Once you're fully recovered, you can do that.

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I don't think anyone would mourn. So, you should. You'll cry, right? Cry when there are many people. It's better if there are cameras around.

Hong Hae In

Queen of Tears Episode 6

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Drama Gossip: Queen of Tears

Source: Google Images

The queen of department stores and her small-town husband weather a marital crisis —until love miraculously begins to bloom again.

Source: Netflix (2024)

This Did Not Go As Plan

What I meant by that, every time I thought the show was going to go a certain way, it does not. This may sound like a complain but it cannot be further than that. Queen of Tears kept surprising me by proving me wrong and that made me like this drama even more than I initially thought I would. I haven't enjoyed a romantic k-drama in so long yet because of how different the romance aspect was in Queen of Tears, it is definitely one of the better romantic k-dramas I've watched in recent years.

I originally watched this drama because of that drunk scene. I wondered what kind of romance this show has to film a scene like that. Imagine my surprise when Queen of Tears began with a severely unhappy marriage. Although the first few episodes were nothing fantastic apart from those comedic scenes, courtesy of Baek Hyun Woo, it was different enough to keep me watching. The romance constantly broke my heart, the drama might have been unoriginal but the way it played out kept me on the edge of my seat all the time. Last but not least, needless to say, the acting was perfection. Honestly, the acting was probably one of the reasons I was captivated by this drama.

All that being said, I simply cannot end my thoughts without a brief discussion on Yoon Eun Sung. I may be in the minority here but I never hated this man. He was annoying most of the time, frustrating some of the time, but he never made me hate him. If I wasn't annoyed or frustrated, I was pitying him. This man is really collateral damage from his mother's schemes. If for once, his mother placed her wants and needs after his, Eunsung could have been in a better place mentally, even if it was for a short while. Unfortunately, he never had the chance with the way he was brought up. Comparing him to his mother, this poor man was not evil, he just...misconstrued his own intentions and act on them in some of the worst ways. I wasn't glad he was killed because he's the villain, I was glad because he finally gets to rest.

To end this off, during the earlier days of Queen of Tears's broadcast, I do believe the show deserves all that hype. Unfortunately, the storyline did fall off near the end. It became a rushed event that we've seen happened in multiple other Korean dramas. The only redeeming factor was the emotions portrayed by the cast. I've never cried so much throughout a 16-episode drama before.

Rating: ★★★★☆

P.S.: Lets be real, Grace was the actual MVP in Queen of Tears.

More production from South Korea here: The Good Bad Mother