Jo Jo Rabbit (2019)

     In the backdrop of World War 2, we get to see the war through the eyes of a ten year old German boy. Jojo is a imaginative young boy and a self proclaimed Nazi. He longs to find a place to belong to in his community. With encouragements from his imaginary friend Hitler, he longs to be the best little Nazi soldier he can be for his country. However, his world is turned upside down when he finds a secret hiding upstairs in his house.
     'Jo Jo Rabbit' is a prefect mixture of  comedy and drama. Even in the most darkness of times like war, you can always find kindness, goodness, and most importantly love. I really didn't know what 'Jo Jo Rabbit' was about prior to watching the movie. It captured my attention from the start and I really enjoyed everything about this film. I can see why it was nominated for best picture. Go watch 'Jo Jo Rabbit', it'll make you smile, laugh, and cry. What more can you ask for in a movie?

Yong's rating- 5/5
IMDb-8/10
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 80% Audience- 94%

Train to Busan (2016)

  'Train to Busan' has already cemented its place in zombie apocalypse movie genre hall of fame. When the zombie outbreak starts, we find the main characters of the film on a train headed to Busan. We have a father and young daughter, a gangster and his pregnant wife, a high school baseball team, and cast of other minor characters. 'Train to Busan' does  a great job of character development and makes you really get attached to the characters. This thriller will have you on the edge of your seats as you watch the train make its way to Busan. If you love zombie movies, you already probably saw this. But, for some reason you haven't, go and check it out.

Yong's rating- 4/5
IMDB-7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 93% Audience- 88%

Movies to watch during the quarantine

      As the threat of corona virus hits close to home and creates dark cloud and uncertainty in our lives, many of us are practicing self quarantine and social distancing, I'd thought I would recommend some movies you can enjoy during some free time you may have.


Contagion (2011) 

       Perhaps one of the most relevant movie for our current climate is 'Contagion'. It captures how easily and quickly a novel virus can spread worldwide in today's mobile community. The film follows how the disease begins and the chaotic race to find the cure and contain the disease worldwide before it is too late. It was eerie to see how close some of the themes from the movie hit close to what is going on right now. Except the movie didn't warn us about the toilet paper shortages our world would face.


Children of Men (2006) 

         In 'Children of Men', we are introduced a different type of end of the world scenario. No, people are not dying from a flu pandemic or some other novel disease. Here, the entire world is faced with a different type of crises, a world wide infertility. For 18 years, for some mysterious reason, there has not been any recorded births. The world is in brink of a complete breakdown and anarchy. When a miraculous pregnant woman is found, Clive Owen is charged with a mission to deliver her to a sanctuary which may or not exist.

Gattaca (1997)

      'Gattaca' is one of my favorite sci-fi movie. Just as 'Contagion' hit close to home with many of similarities to our society, I believe what's portrayed in 'Gattaca' may become true in the future. In this world, scientists have perfected a way to genetically engineer an embryo. You can essentially create a perfect baby with science. What parents wouldn't want that for their child. Only problem is that this privilege is only reserved for the wealthy. The ones born the old fashioned way would have no way to advance in this society. This is a very interesting and thoughtful film I would highly recommend to anyone.


Groundhog Day (1993) 

             If you find yourself quarantined at your house with nothing to do, and pretty soon everyday starts to feel the same, then you would relate to Phil from 'Groundhog Day'. Bill Murray plays a narcissistic weatherman on an assignment to cover Punxsutawney Phil. When a snowstorm shuts down the roads, Phil finds himself waking up to the same day over and over again. This is a classic film you need to watch.

Space Jam (1996) 

          If aliens were to invade earth right now and challenged us to a basketball game for control of earth and you can have any player in their prime to build a team around to lead humanity, you'd be crazy not to pick Michael Jordan. With the NBA and march madness shutting down, why not watch some 'Space Jam' to get your basketball fix. LeBron may be making a sequel to Space Jam, but we all know we can't trust a man who got outplayed by JJ Barea during the NBA finals to save us from the aliens. In Jordan we trust.

Princess Bride (1987)

         If you are feeling under the weather and stuck at home and your grandpa was going to read you a book, what could be better than 'The Princess Bride'? It has adventure, comedy, action, friendship, and quest for true love. A classic movie that I could watch over and over again if I was home sick.

'The Pharmacist' (2020)

 

   'The Pharmacist' chronicles one man's fight to make sense of his son's sudden and tragic death. Dan Schneider is a small town pharmacist living an ordinary middle class life. His entire world is rocked upside down by the brutal death of his son. When he learns that his son was killed in New Orleans during a drug deal gone bad, Dan can't comprehend how his son was shot to death over drugs. He never suspected that his own son had any problems. Grieving over the loss of his son, Dan makes a promise to find the killer. What starts out as an obsessive murder investigation turns into something that Dan never would've imagined.
   The 4 part Netflix documentary takes us through Dan's journey. Following his son's death, Dan can't help but notice many young men and women dying from prescription OxyContin overdoses. As a pharmacist, Dan can't just stand by and watch people harm themselves from the drugs that he personally gives to his patients. His personal investigation turns the attention to a single doctor in New Orleans who is responsible for 90% of all the OxyContin prescriptions. Dan sees this as a chance to help save the lives of other young adults with addiction problems in honor of his son.
   The documentary takes the audience on a roller coaster ride as Dan uses all of his resources to fight unethical doctors and eventually Big Pharma. It was heartbreaking to see the effects drugs (legal or illegal) have on people who become addicted and their family. I would recommend this to everyone and I think those of you in healthcare would especially find this interesting. It really puts the spotlight on the vastness of the opioid crises all over the country, and how critical drug monitoring system is in aiding to help slow down the abuse.