The King and the Clown / Wang-ui Namja)/ 왕의 남자 (2005)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Foreign

Saw this in the Korea goes Pop book, on how it was the 2nd highest grossing film in South Korean movie history. When it first premiered on the big screen 5 years ago, wasn't really interested in it. But after reading how good it was, decided to go buy a DVD and watched it. Can certainly see why people would wanna watch it, the lush sceneries, the moving story, and the power and politics of Korean palace life. The ending is a tad weird; then again, after watching "the Host", "Blades of Blood", "The Housemaid" and other Korean films, maybe this isn't so bad an ending...

Official Site (Korean):
http://www.kingsmen.co.kr/

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0492835/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_and_the_Clown

The King's Speech (2010)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

Missed the first 5 minutes, but still enjoyed this movie greatly. Moving tale of unlikely friendship formed between two men of differing status; tension in the royal family; love of a man for his family, and devotion of a woman for her husband.

To be or nor to be...

Official Site:
http://kingsspeech.com/

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1504320/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King%27s_Speech

Black Swan (2010)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

Like I said, I never knew the world of ballet can be so vicious and destructive. This is really one mean psychological chick-flick, that's superbly shot (totally love the action scenes of the cameras going around the dancers as they're dancing) and with great story-plot. And totally loved the soundtrack - must ... get ... hands ... on ... OST!

Official Site:
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/blackswan/

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Swan_%28film%29

P.S. Even though this film has a M-18 rating, the censors still used their mighty snips and mangled some scenes quite horribly.

P.P.S. I think I was the only one who sniggered out aloud at "the homework" scene. :p

Barefoot Disciple: Walking the Way of Passionate Humility - The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book 2011 (2010)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Religion & Spirituality
Author:	Stephen Cherry

A great book, that talks about the oft-neglected virtue of humility. My heart was broken a few times as I progress through the various chapters. Go get your hands on a copy, and take time to meditate on the lessons.

Website:
http://www.continuumbooks.com/books/detail.aspx?BookId=136687&SubjectId=1046&Subject2Id=914

Brief description from the website:
"In our celebrity-obsessed culture, humility is unfashionable and too often dismissed or confused with the cringing, false humility of Uriah Heep. Here the author shows that, when genuine humility is energised by real passion, fresh and exciting light is shone on the challenge of following Jesus Christ today and humility is rediscovered as a healthy, life-giving and community-building virtue.

Stories and concrete examples as well as allusions to fiction, poetry and art engage the reader's imagination; and big theological ideas are articulated in a highly accessible way. The emphasis on learning from challenging experiences and on very practical application makes this a 'theology travel book', for Lent and well beyond. It powerfully synthesises values and practices which are often disconnected."

Pop Goes Korea: Behind the Revolution in Movies, Music and Internet Culture (2009)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Entertainment
Author:	Mark James Russell

Good read on history of Korean pop culture. Found a few tidbits of entertainment news, as well as an insight into K-pop. The author can be a bit ostentatious in some of the chapters and his comments; but after looking at his credentials, he does move around in the entertainment circles.

Website:
http://www.markjamesrussell.com/pop-goes-korea/

Mulan (1998)

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Animation

Another Disney classic that's I haven't watched. Can see the improvement in the animation technology, since this is released 7 years after "Beauty and the Beast". The West really have some weird perspectives about the Chinese culture though, so had a good laugh at some of the scenes.

Official Site:
http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/mulan-special-edition.html

IMDB ENtry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120762/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulan

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Animation

You wouldn't believe it, but I never did watched this film before, be it the big screen or on telly. Since they have it on the in-flight entertainment, decided to watch it. Graphics are dated, but it must be really amazing in its time. Ah, just loved it when Gaston gets pushed off the ledge... :p

Official Site:
http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/beauty/?cmp=dcom_VAN_WDSHE_BEA_van_batb__Extl

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101414/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_and_the_Beast_%281991_film%29