My picks for entertainment ~ suggested movies, TV shows, music, and books ~ so you can enjoy some quality ME time! (ATTN Korean drama addicts! This blog has lots of K-drama love.)
A friend of mine raved about this movie. But when I finally got around to watching the movie “NOAH” (2014) starring Russell Crowe, it was disappointing. I'll be gentle to start this review. Let's just say it was NOT Mr. Crowe’s finest hour. Having watched "Gladiator (2000)," I had very high expectations.
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The IMDb rating is 5.8 out of 10 stars. I often check IMDb ratings for contrast and comparison. For the record, I rarely agree with the IMDb ratings. I disagree with this rating. I would have gone much lower. I gave it an "X" rating. (See below.)
One would think that after the remarkably spectacular film “Gladiator” (2000), Mr. Crowe would be able to pull off anything by way of acting. I was very curious about the film because a fellow freelance writer had published a review that piqued my interest.
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So! As is my habit when Mr. Sandman refuses to pay me a visit and put me to sleep, I decided to watch a 2 or 3-hour movie to see if that would work. It worked!! That ludicrous production of the well-known Bible story of Noah and his family, the building of the ark, and the Great Deluge wore me out!!
Fifteen minutes into this talkie and the little voice in my head whispered a prediction: ‘Psst. It’s not going to get any better than this.’
It didn’t!
Even though there was a beautiful rainbow at the end, this movie totally sucked! In fact, the rainbow was the only scene that redeemed this cinematic calamity. It symbolized that this disastrous movie had ended and, hopefully, that the producers, the director, and everybody else who contributed to its release will never do it again!
Watched it on Netflix. Gave it 1 star. Hated it!
Netflix didn’t have MY rating system; otherwise, I would have given it 5X.
1X = Bad
2X = Really bad
3X = Ridiculously awful
4X = That wasn’t even entertainment
5X = Dig a hole and bury it!!
Rarely do I ever feel compelled to give a movie a rating, on record, to warn others! But for the first time, the thought of actually creating a brand new rating system came to my mind. This movie was absolutely, without a doubt, thee worst Bible movie ever made!
It was not added to my list of "old but gold" movie gems.
“Feng Shui” (2018) is a political period drama that blends royal intrigue with the Korean geomantic tradition known as pungsu‑jiri. Set in the late Joseon era, the film follows Park Jae‑Sang, a gifted geomancer whose life is scarred by the Kim clan’s ruthless pursuit of power. When he joins forces with Heungseon Daewongun, a sharp and ambitious nobleman from a fallen family, the two challenge a political order built on corruption, superstition, and the belief that an auspicious burial site can shape the destiny of future kings. Their struggle pits them against the formidable Kim Jwa‑Geun, whose influence reaches deep into the royal court.
The film uses its historical backdrop to explore how geomancy—far more than folklore—was once a cultural force capable of influencing governance, family legacy, and national fate. As Park Jae‑Sang and Heungseon Daewongun navigate conspiracies, alliances, and betrayals, “Feng Shui” becomes a story about justice, destiny, and the lengths people will go to secure power. It’s both an entertaining political thriller and an accessible introduction to Korean traditions surrounding land, energy, and ancestral honor.
“Feng Shui” is the third entry in Jupiter Film’s trilogy on Korean fortune‑telling arts, following The Face Reader and The Princess and the Matchmaker. If you’re curious about how geomancy shaped Korean history—or simply want a tense, atmospheric drama—this film is a compelling watch.
πΏπΏAdd to Your Movie List? YES! πΏπΏ
“Feng Shui” (2018)
delivers a tense, atmospheric look at the Joseon court where land
could make—or break—a dynasty. In this political thriller, the
fight for an auspicious burial plot becomes a battle for the throne,
revealing a world where ambition, fate, and belief collide with
deadly consequences.
The
Hwaseong Serial Murders were a series of brutal crimes committed in
rural South Korea between 1986 and 1991, in which at least 10 women
were assaulted and murdered in the area around Hwaseong.
The case
became one of the country’s most infamous unsolved mysteries for
decades, marked by investigative missteps and public fear. It was
finally linked in 2019 to Lee Choon-Jae through DNA evidence,
bringing long-awaited answers to a case that had deeply shaped South
Korea’s criminal justice system and popular culture.
It's
unfortunate, but these murders might likely have been solved
faster were it not for the serious weaknesses in South Korea’s law
enforcement / investigative practices and procedures at the time.
Police relied heavily on coerced confessions, lacked modern forensic
tools, and struggled with coordination. This led to wrongful arrests
and missed evidence.
Because
of these murders, authorities modernized their approach to solving
crimes. The use of DNA analysis was expanded, procedures for
preserving evidence were improved, and standardized
investigative procedures were introduced. In addition, reforms were
aimed at protecting suspects’ rights and reducing reliance on
forced confessions.
But
the most significant change was that the serial murders played a key
role in pushing South Korea to adopt criminal profiling as a formal
investigative tool. Together, all of these changes transformed South
Korea’s policing. Investigating, particularly investigations of
major crimes, became a more scientifically grounded and accountable
system.
Several
K-drama series and films have been directly based on or inspired by
the real-life Hwaseong serial murders. There is also a documentary.
"SUPERGIRL" (2026) is an American film, categorized as Action, Adventure, Science Fiction (Sci Fi), and Superhero. The theatrical release is scheduled for June 26, 2026. It is based on “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2021–22)” by Tom King and Bilquis Evely.
Where to Watch: It will debut in theaters on June 26, 2026, and is expected to stream on HBO Max (within Paramount+ after the merger).
♦ STORYLINE: A Darker DCU Journey Begins With Kara Zor El.
Supergirl (2026) reimagines Kara Zor El as a hardened survivor shaped by the trauma of witnessing Krypton’s destruction. Unlike her cousin Superman, who was raised with compassion by loving human parents on Earth, Kara grew up surrounded by loss, forging a more jaded worldview. On her 23rd birthday, she travels across the galaxy with her loyal companion Krypto, seeking escape on distant worlds with red suns. These are places in the universe where Kryptonians can temporarily lose their powers and indulge in reckless abandon. In other words, she can relieve herself of the burden of being “super”.
Her journey takes a sharp turn when she encounters Ruthye Marye Knoll, a young girl seeking vengeance for her father’s murder. The killer, Krem of the Yellow Hills, soon makes the conflict personal for Kara, igniting a relentless interstellar pursuit.Together, Kara and Ruthye embark on a cosmic adventure, an interstellar quest for vengeance. They navigate alien landscapes, warlords, and bounty hunters.
This time Supergirl is a dark, complex antiheroine (instead of being a sweet little dork).
♦ BIO & CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Milly Alcock stars as Kara Zor El / Supergirl. She is best known internationally for her breakout role as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon, which earned her global recognition and critical acclaim. Alcock was cast as Supergirl in January 2024 as part of James Gunn’s new DC Universe rollout. Her performance style is often praised for emotional intensity and grounded realism—qualities that align with this film’s darker interpretation of Kara. Supergirl (2026) marks her first major superhero lead role and her introduction into a long-term DCU narrative.
Eve Ridley plays Ruthye Marye Knoll. She is a young British actress whose career spans voice acting, television, stage, and, now a major DC Universe feature. Ridley is the first actress to portray Ruthye Marye Knoll in live action. Her breakout film role was her big screen debut in Craig Gillespie’s adaptation of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Her television roles include: 3 Body Problem (2024) — Follower; The Witcher, Season 4 (2025) — Young Nimue; and Casualty (2022) — Saffy Blackmore.
The
list below is 5 Korean movies I have already watched or are on my
watchlist. The “H” means the film is historical.
Castaway on the Moon (2009)
I Saw the Devil (2010)
Swordbrothers: The Showdown (2011)-H
Nameless Gangster (2012)
Perfect Number (2012)
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1)
Castaway on the Moon (2009)
Kim
Seung-Keun (played by Jung Jae-Young) goes to a bridge over the
Han River because he is contemplating suicide. He jumps but instead
of dying he ends up stranded on a deserted island in the middle of
Seoul. Looks like it just wasn't his day to die. Once he gets
adjusted to his new life, he decides living a solitary life is not so
bad, even though he still wrote out a message in the sand “HELP”,
just in case.
Kim
Jung-Yeon (played by Jung Ryeo-Won) also lives a solitary life
and never leaves her apartment. Her hobby is taking photos of the
moon. But one night she happened to see “HELP” written in the
sand and a figure of a man walking on the shore of the deserted
island.
It's
a very unusual way for two solitary people to connect.
This
is a Korean historical period drama, and the setting is Manchuria,
China, 1619. Heon-myung (played by Park Hee-soon, “The
Bequeathed”), Do-young (played by Jin Goo, “Shadow
Detective”), and
Du-soo (played by Ko Chang-seok) are
three swordsmen from Joseon who are forced to come to China by the
Ming Dynasty. They
tried to take refuge in a tavern but found themselves cornered by
Manchu forces.
Do
you love intense sword-fighting scenes in historical K-dramas? Then
you'll love this movie.
♦
4)
Nameless Gangster: Rules of the
Time (2012)
Set
in the 1980s, this gritty crime drama follows a corrupt customs
officer who rises to power in the criminal underworld. Choi
Ik-Hyun (played by Choi Min-Sik, “In
Our Prime”) is caught accepting bribes. He
wasn't the only dirty officer, but he is the one who took the blame.
One night, while still being employed as a customs officer, he discovers
a stash of illegal drugs in a warehouse. Since he had to leave his
honest job where he was dishonest, he made up his mind to become
completely dishonest. It turns out he's related to a crime boss,
Choi Hyung-Bae (played by Ha Jung-Woo, “Narco
Saints”), so they become partners in crime and
take over the Busan underworld.
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5)
Perfect Number (2012)This film is a mystery thriller. Suk-Go (played by Ryoo Seung-Bum, “The Berlin File”) is a math genius. That's the highlight of his life. He's good with numbers, but not much else, and lives as a recluse. Hwa-Sun (played by Lee Yo-Won, “The Great Queen Seondeok”) is his neighbor. He makes no effort to establish any kind of neighborly bond. She moved there because she was trying to escape her abusive, violent boyfriend, only he found her.
Suk-Go hears sounds coming from his neighbor's house, which are obviously the noises made when people are having a violent fight. Hwa-Sun manages to kill her ex-boyfriend. Suk-Go knocked on the door to ask if there was a problem, and when he entered the house, he saw the dead body.
Hwa-Sun does not try to stop him from calling the police, but she asks him if he would listen to her side of the story before making the call. Suk-Go decides to help her cover up what happened.
Hwa-Sun accepts his help, but later she starts wondering, “What's his angle”? She starts adding things up in her mind. Why did he help her? Does he have dark secrets? Is he a psycho who is worse than her ex-boyfriend? I mean … she didn't even know him, and he volunteered to. Things don't seem to quite add up. It's not just math!
This movie is based on the 2005 novel "Yogisha X no Kenshin" ("The Devotion of Suspect X").
The criminal underworld believes in equal opportunity. If anyone wants to participate in organized criminal activity, the door is open.
In the case of The Berlin File, the door that opened is now closed because of secrecy needed to conduct an illegal arms exchange taking place between a North
Korean, a Russian, and an Arab, in a hotel room in Berlin, Germany.
Before the transaction can be completed, agents from the Mossad
(Israeli intelligence) burst into the room. They tell the North
Korean he can leave; they only want the Arab and the Russian guys.
The North Korean spy tries to leave the scene but a South Korean NIS
agent chases after him. He manages to escape but the NIS
agent still plans to pursue him. South Korea needs to find a bank
account that belonged to the late Korean leader Kim Jung-il. The
funds will be used by other countries that aid North Korea. NIS
believes the North Korean spy has information about the money.
Unfortunately, the spy is being betrayed by his own countrymen. They
also want to gain access to Kim Jung-il's bank account for their own
political agenda and plan to frame him as a traitor. He needs to try
to escape from his North Korean comrades. the South Korean
NIS, and the other international spy agencies like the Israeli Mossad
and the American CIA who are thrown into the “mix”.
He wants to escape with the woman he loves.
Can
he escape? Where will he go?
Main
Characters:
North
Korean spy Pyo Jong-Sung (played by Ha Jung-Woo, “Narco
Saints”)
South
Korean NIS agent Jung Jin-Soo (played by Han Suk-Kyu, “Tree
With Deep Roots”).
Treathyl Fox aka Cmoneyspinner – Home Business Entrepreneur. Think. Dream. Focus. Believe in yourself? Hire yourself! Be your own boss! Do it! Self-employed and loving it! ♦ DISCLOSURE: In compliance with FTC rules and guidelines, be advised that some links shared via this websites might contain affiliate referral links which means commissions might be earned if product sales resulted from your click-through to the vendor’s website.
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