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.)
11
A.M. is a 2013 Korean film, categorized as Science Fiction (Sci-Fi),
Time Travel, Thriller, streaming
on Tubi TV and The Roku Channel. The film blends time-travel
mystery with psychological thriller elements.
Memorable
Quote:
“Time travel is possible.” … “Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.” (Proverbs 27: 1)
11
A.M. blends sci-fi time travel with psychological thriller
intensity as a team of deep-sea researchers tests a prototype
capable of jumping exactly 24 hours ahead, only for Woo Seok and
Young Eun to arrive in a future where their lab is destroyed,
their colleagues have vanished, and a violent attack appears
imminent. Woo Seok returns alone, shaken and racing against the
clock to prevent the catastrophe he witnessed, unraveling corrupted
surveillance clues, rising paranoia, and the possibility of betrayal
within the team. As tensions escalate and the countdown to 11 A.M.
approaches, the scientists struggle to determine whether the future
is fixed or if they can still change the fate awaiting them—and
save Young Eun from a doomed timeline.
Another excellent Korean movie for sci-fi lovers. I really loved the quote from Proverbs, although at first I didn't get it. But when they went to the future, I totally got it!
“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.
If you are making a list of greatest war movies, The Dirty Dozen (1967) has to go on that list. All-star cast. All-star action! “The Dirty Dozen” is a war movie classic.
Traditionally, in the United States, around Independence Day (4th of July), Memorial Day (celebrated the last Monday in May), Veterans Day (November 11), etc. television stations air military movies that are supposed to foster American patriotism. At one time FoxNews.com published a list of “The 30 Greatest War Movies of All Time”. Some of the movies I picked were on their list. Some were not. But they're still on my list for great war movies.
The Dirty Dozen (1967) is one of them.
This is a great movie about 12 convicts being given a second chance to start life over if they serve their country on a military mission and of course if they survive. I still enjoy it every time I watch it. These two lines are the ones I still remember.
*** (Background for the scene: There was an obvious commotion coming from the room; the definite sound of men fighting, or rather … settling their differences in the only way men know how.)
- Sergeant Clyde Bowren: [as Major Reisman exits the room ] : Whats going on, sir?
- Major John Reisman: Oh, the gentleman from the South had a question about the dining arrangements. He and his comrades are discussing place settings now.
*** Cracked up (laughed) when the major said that. Some say the movie Inglorious Basterds was inspired by this movie. Well it may have been inspired but it was nowhere near as good as this classic starring some of my favorite actors: Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas and Jim Brown, to name a few. They tried to do sequels but they are not as good as the original.
No argument that it's a classic. But some say the movie “Inglourious Basterds” was inspired by this movie. Inspired? Perhaps. Better than? Not even close!! Have no doubt Quentin Tarantino, the Director of "Inglorious Basterds", would say "Amen!" to my comparison. This classic film starred some of my favorite actors: Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas and Jim Brown, to name a few.
"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.
If you like crime thrillers, you'll like the movie called "Georgetown" (2019). The name caught my attention because there is Georgetown, Texas, a city near where I live, and then there is Georgetown near Washington, D.C. I used to work in D.C., and it's a lively place. This movie was set in the historic Georgetown neighborhood in the District of Columbia (D.C.).
The reviewers at RogerEbert.com gave the film 2 stars, and Rotten Tomatoes gave it 3 stars. IMDb rating is 6.2 out of 10 stars. Not sure why the ratings were so low. High-caliber actors were in this film: Vanessa Redgrave, Annette Bening, and Christoph Waltz. I would give 1 star for each actor (3 stars) and another star for the film. That's 4 stars!
I did not realize until The End that it was based on a true story. Yeah. That creep was an idiot, and he really did kill his wife.
The real guy's name is Albrecht Muth.
The character's name in the movie was Ulrich Mott (played by Christoph Waltz).
In April 2014, Albrecht Muth, 49 years old, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the first-degree murder of his wife.
Even though it would not make my top 10 list, it's a good movie for a Friday night if you're into true story/crime thrillers.
Interesting behind-the-scenes movie trivia:
Christoph Waltz made his feature directorial debut with Georgetown, even though he had directed a TV movie decades earlier.
Vanessa Redgrave and
Annette Bening had already played mother and daughter once before,
in Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (2017).
The cast includes two
Oscar winners (Waltz, Redgrave) and one Oscar nominee (Bening) — a stacked ensemble for such an intimate crime drama.
Although the story is set in
Washington, D.C., the film was shot in Toronto, so none of the real Georgetown locations appear on screen.
The real case that inspired the film involved an elaborate web of lies, including the husband posing as an
Iraqi general with a store-bought certificate — a detail so bizarre it feels written for a movie.
I recently read an article about female philosophers who were contemporaries with the male philosophers in the ancient world, like Aristotle, Epicurus, Socrates, etc. ("Wise Women: 6 Ancient Female Philosophers You Should Know About"). I did know one of the women philosophers named in the article: Hypatia. I knew of her because I saw a movie about her. Rachel Weisz played the part.
I love Rachel Weisz. She is a fantastic actress. Of course, Ms. Weisz did a fantastic job of playing the role of Hypatia. But I did not like this movie.
Why This Movie Was Hard for Me to Watch
Agora is a historical drama set in 4th-century
Alexandria, following Hypatia’s life as a philosopher, astronomer,
and teacher during a time of intense political and religious
conflict. The movie depicts Hypatia’s death, and the Hollywood
version is horrific.
But when I dug deeper into the real history? The truth was far
worse.
I won’t go into the details here—they’re too graphic—but
learning what actually happened to the real Hypatia made the film
even more heartbreaking. Hypatia was a scholar, a teacher, and by all
accounts a peaceful person. She didn’t deserve the fate she met,
either in the movie or in real life.
Despite my emotional reaction to the ending, I give Agora4.5 out of 5 stars. It’s beautifully acted,
visually striking, and thought-provoking—just be prepared for a
difficult final act.
This post, in fact, this entire blog is too wonderful to not reblog and call attention to. I love Asian cinema and this classic Taiwanese drama film has been aptly described by the blog publisher with these words:
"Composed in a languorous procession of entrancing long takes, Flowers of Shanghai evokes a vanished world of decadence and cruelty, an insular universe where much of the dramatic action remains tantalizingly offscreen—even as its emotional fallout registers with quiet devastation."
Unfolds
during the horrific 1937
Nanjing Massacre,
where Japanese forces overrun the city, leaving civilians desperate
for sanctuary. An American mortician, John
Miller
(Christian Bale), arrives at a cathedral expecting to prepare a
priest’s body, only to find himself the only adult male among a
group of terrified schoolgirls. Soon after, a group of courtesans
also seeks refuge in the church, creating tension between innocence
and worldliness.
As
the Japanese army closes in, Miller reluctantly assumes the role of
protector, disguising himself as a priest to shield the women. What
begins as an act of survival evolves into a profound story of
sacrifice, as each character confronts the brutality around them and
discovers unexpected depths of courage. The film blends harrowing
wartime realism with deeply human moments, highlighting compassion in
the face of overwhelming violence.
“Search Out” is a 2020 Korean movie, categorized as Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological, Thriller, and Police Procedural; and streaming on KOCOWA+.
SUMMARY: Two friends unite with a hacker to find the person responsible for encouraging people to commit suicide. That person is a murderer. It could be more than one.
♦ That's Too Many Suicides. Aren't the Police Suspicious?
In “Search Out”, Joon-Hyeok has been diligently searching for a job with no success. Meanwhile, he created a profile for himself on social media and named himself “WishGiver”. Basically, if he can, he will grant your wish. One guy had an easy wish. 'Can you help me move my stuff?' He just needed some help moving out of his apartment. If only everyone's wishes were that easy.
Sung-Min is Joon-Hyeok's close friend. He is also jobless. Unlike Joon-Hyeok, who is open to job opportunities, Sung-Min just wants one particular job: to become a policeman. But he never passes the civil service exam. He even went to a shaman, and the shaman told him to give up because he'll never pass. That did not discourage him. This is a dream he won't give up. ...
“Rommel.” Hitler smiled a ghastly smile that was almost one of triumph.
“So, the Desert Fox wishes to play games.”
“I’m almost certain of it.”
“The people’s hero,” Hitler said. “We must handle him carefully, wouldn’t you say?”
“Or outfox him, my Fuhrer,” Himmler said softly.
“Outfox him. Outfox the Desert Fox.” Hitler smiled delightfully.“Yes, I like that, Reichsfuhrer. I like that very much indeed.”
♦ The dialogue above is extracted from “Night of the Fox”, a novel by Jack Higgins.
Almost everybody knows Harry Patterson, better known as Jack Higgins. He is an international bestselling suspense thriller author who is among the world’s most popular writers. He is remembered by many for his novel, “The Eagle Has Landed” (1975), but his book “Night of the Fox” (1986) is equally impressive. Though his books are works of fiction, the writer’s efforts to research the historical events on which the plots are based were painstakingly real. For example, part of his research involved actually meeting with and reviewing the diaries of a woman who was trapped in Jersey during World War II.
“Night of the Fox”, was also made into a movie (1990), which starred two of my favorite actors, George Peppard (as American officer, Col. Harry Martineau) and Michael York (as high-ranking German officer, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the “Desert Fox”).
The book “The Eagle Has Flown” is a sequel to “The Eagle Has Landed”. Fans of novels by Higgins consider it worthy as a classic thriller; however, it was not adapted to film.
Nevertheless, if you are compiling a private library of WWII suspense thrillers, this 3-in-1 would be a great addition!
Image credits: Photos found at Wikipedia. General Field Marshall Erwin Rommel in December 1943; and Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1977-119-08, Erwin Rommel with Adolf Hitler. Book cover at Amazon.
“There Will Be Blood” (2007) is a movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis. He won an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
If you are a fan, then you will love the actor, but you will hate the character he played. Oh my! What a horrible, awful, awful man!! You never want to meet someone like that in real life! If you know someone like that, then surely you must go in the opposite direction every time it looks like you're going cross paths. If I were keeping a list of movies I hate, this film would be at the top of the list. I HATED THIS MOVIE!!!
If you are a loyal fan of Daniel Day-Lewis (Sir Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis) then you have probably seen this movie. It’s not a recent film. It was released 10+ years ago. The movie is “There Will Be Blood”.
I don’t care for all of the movies where Daniel Day-Lewis is the star, even if he is a “Sir”. But I do know that he always gives 200% whenever he gives a performance.
This film won 2 Oscars. One award was for Best Achievement in Cinematography: Robert Elswit. The other was given to Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
He was good! He played his part well. He was so good that I HATED HIM!!
I HATED THIS MOVIE!!!
If I met any of those people in real life, I would run away from them!
I only liked 2 characters: the adopted son (of Daniel Day-Lewis) and the girl he fell in love with.
As for the character played by Daniel Day-Lewis and that preacher he was always butting heads with?
I HATED BOTH OF THEM! I HATED THEIR GUTS!!
So was there blood? If you have not seen the movie, I don’t want to spoil it for you, but … yeah! Blood was definitely shed.
Sean Fennessey, a writer for The Ringer, a publication that covers sports, pop culture, and tech, provided a succinct description of this film in his movie review:
Never crawl out? Never??
What a relief to know that it was just a movie and not a historical account of real events.
So relax. If you are pursuing the American dream … dream on!
♦ "There Will Be Blood" has some excellent behind-the-scenes trivia.
Paul Dano was originally cast only in a small part as Paul Sunday, but a few weeks into filming, he was asked by director Paul Thomas Anderson to also play Eli Sunday, effectively giving him two roles in the movie.
The film’s iconic metaphor, “I drink your milkshake,” was adapted from a real historical analogy used by U.S. Senator Albert Fall during testimony about oil drainage and the Teapot Dome scandal.
The celebrated score by Jonny Greenwood was ineligible for an Academy Award because it incorporated material from his existing compositions, yet it still won awards and became highly influential.
The opening of the film has very little spoken dialogue, emphasizing atmosphere and character through visuals and sound rather than words.
Daniel Day-Lewis appears in nearly every scene of the film, and his immersive take on the role has been noted as a key element in the movie’s haunting impact.
At one time, Cary Grant (1904 - 1986) was one of Hollywood's main leading men. He was certainly one of my favorite actors. He has been acting since the 1930s, but most of the movies I remember watching when I was growing up were released in the late 1940s and the 1950s.
Watching old movies is one of my favorite things, especially during the holiday season. Christmas is not until December, but I hope no qualms about starting the celebrations as soon as the autumn season is officially declared. The last week of September is usually the first week of the fall season. Here are my 2 picks for Cary Grant movies to watch for the Christmas season. It's best to watch in December.
Movie #1: The Bishop's Wife (1947), leading lady, Loretta Young Cary Grant is an angel from heaven named Dudley. He came down to earth in response to the Bishop's prayer for guidance, and in the process of performing his ministerial angel duties, he ends up spending most of his time with the bishop's unhappy wife. The answer to the bishop's prayer lies in his realizing that in the performance of his duties as bishop and a husband, he had somehow misplaced his priorities. All he needed was to get back on the right path. It's a warm and fuzzy feel-good kind of movie that is best watched during the Christmas holiday season.
Movie #2: An Affair to Remember (1957), leading lady, Deborah Kerr
What happens when two (2) lovers make an arrangement to meet at a certain place, on a certain date, at a certain time, with the intention to get married and living happily ever after … only one of the lovers does not show up at that certain place and time, as per the arrangement? Another love story and a real tear-jerker! My favorite part of the movie was where Deborah Kerr started crying, but she took her handkerchief and started wiping the tears from Cary Grant's face. He gently took the handkerchief away from her and started wiping her tears. She was the one crying. Not him! It was a love affair to remember. I remembered it and have rewatched the movie more than once. It wasn't a Christmas movie, but that touching love scene happened during a Christmas holiday.
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)
♦
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.
♦
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").
If you were to ask any Brando fan to name their favorite Brando movies, I seriously doubt that "The Ugly American" would be on anybody's list. Nevertheless, I'm recommending this movie. Why? Because ...
The novel “The Ugly American” was published in 1958 and in 1963, the book was adapted to film by Universal Pictures. Marlon Brando (1924 – 2004) played the part of Ambassador Harrison Carter MacWhite. Many critics gave Brando great reviews for his acting; however other critics did not have praise for either the movie or Brando. If you're a fan, you can watch this movie on YouTube, in English, with Spanish subtitles and decide for yourself.
I discovered the art of Monica Stewart while searching for work by African-American artists similar to that of Lavarne Ross. Mr. Ross knows how to capture motion, and his most famous work is called "Tribute", which features African ballerinas. Ms. Stewart's art radiates grace, movement, and emotional depth.
Admirers have nothing but good things to say about this gifted female artist. Monica Stewart’s art has been described as “a contemporary expression of culture and sisterhood” because she captures “women of color celebrating life”. She gives her work “an authentic, ethnic flavor”.
The next time you watch the movies “Waiting to Exhale” or “Romeo Must Die”, watch them very carefully. Her artwork has been showcased via these films. Cool huh? :)
Stewart is best known for her pastel paintings, which she loves for their brilliance and flexibility.
Her work often centers on Black women, capturing moments of joy, reflection, and sisterhood. She once said, “I have a good understanding of myself as a woman, so I do tend to paint a lot of women”.
Her art explores universal human experiences, aiming to evoke personal meaning for each viewer.
πΌ️ Famous Works
Some of her most popular pieces include:
“Unity” – a vibrant portrayal of African-American women dancing in harmony.
“Graceful Motion”, “Dance of Joy”, and “Rejoice!” – all celebrate movement, rhythm, and spiritual uplift.
Her prints have appeared in films like Waiting to Exhale, Romeo Must Die, and the sitcom Living Single.
π Recognition & Impact
Stewart’s art has been featured on California State Lottery and Bank of America calendars, as well as family record books, journals, and photo albums.
She’s a nationally recognized artist, with her work displayed in galleries and stores across the U.S.
Though she didn’t complete her formal art degree, her talent was nurtured early on and reignited in the 1990s, thanks in part to encouragement from novelist Terry McMillan, who was one of her first collectors.
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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No argument that it's a classic. But some say the movie “
