'Onward' (2020)

  When I first saw the previews for 'Onward', I had my doubts. It looked very confusing and I wasn't sure what was going on. Since I had some free time at home due to everything going on with the corona virus, I decided to give it a try (I mean I am paying my monthly fee for Disney plus, might as well use it). I should've known not to doubt the magic of Pixar.
  'Onward' introduces us to a magical world that has lost its magic as society has learned to depend on technology and predicability over imagination and adventure. We meet Ian and Barley (voiced by Chris Pratt and Tom Holland), who are brothers with very different personalities and hobbies. On Ian's 16th birthday, he receives an unexpected gift from his deceased father. It turns out that the gift is a magical spell that could grant the two brothers one more precious day to spend with their father. However, in order to make that a possibility, the two must embark on an adventure of a lifetime.
  Pixar delivers on its magic again, and I would highly recommend 'Onward' for everyone to watch during this time of social distancing.

Yong's rating- 4/5
IMDB-7.5/10
Rotten tomatoes- Audience-95% Critics- 87%

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.

Joker (2019)

  The 'Joker' is a brutally raw and gritty look into the origin story of one of the most infamous villains in popular culture. Joaquin Phoenix gives an unbelievable performance as the joker. Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a man abandoned by society and his family. The Joker is a character study into how much mental and physical suffering a man can take before he just simply can't anymore. The film highlights issues of social inequality and lack of mental illness awareness and the madness that it can bring when things boil over.
  This film is very dark and at time uncomfortable to watch, and doesn't try to hide any of its ugliness. The struggles and insecurities that the Joker faces are things we can all relate to at some level. Even with its downfalls, Joker is worth a look and it should get a lot of buzz during awards season.

IMDB- 9.1/10
Metascore-58/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-69% Audience- 91%
Yong's rating- 4/5

'Always Be My Maybe' (2019)

   'Always Be My Maybe' is the new Ali Wong romantic comedy featuring an all Asian cast. It tells a love story between two childhood sweethearts. Marcus (Randall Park) and Sasha (Ali Wong) are next door neighbors who become very close friends. As it often does in life, Marcus and Sasha lose contact once they graduate from high school. After more than 10 years apart, the two meet when Sasha comes back home on business. The chance meeting allows the two to reflect on their past. And more importantly, it gives them a chance to re examine their current situations. They must decide what values and priorities are important to them in their lives. It is difficult to find someone you can depend on to go through all of the messy obstacles life has to offer. Marcus and Sasha must determine if they really are meant for each other.
  It was very refreshing to see so many Asians playing major roles in a movie that wasn't specifically made for an Asian audience. The writing and the acting wasn't the greatest (let's just say it won't get any Oscar nominations), but the core of the story is something most people can relate to. And it's just a very cute, enjoyable movie. So if you like romantic comedies and have some free time, go check out this movie on your friend's netflix account.

IMDB- 7/10
Metascore-67/100
Rotten tomatoes- Critics-90% Audience-not yet available
Yong's score-3.5/5

'Christopher Robin' (2018)

  'Christopher Robin' tells the story of what happens when you grow up and forget everything you once held dear. The film introduces us to a grown up Christopher Robin played by Ewan McGregor. We watch the young Christopher Robin transform into an adult in the first few moments of the film. We watch him playing with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and the gang as a child to see him grown up and too busy with work to play with his own daughter. The grown up Christopher Robin is consumed with responsibilities of work and providing financially for his family that he has forgotten what is really important in life. With his marriage falling apart and his relationship with his daughter in jeopardy, Christopher is too blinded by his job to see how much of a mess he is in. Just when you think poor Christopher Robin is going to lose everything, his childhood buddy, Pooh shows up to help him find the way. A trip back to Hundred Acre Woods leads to a great adventure just like back in the old days.
  Marc Forster does a wonderful job of telling this new version of Christopher Robin story. It reminded me of how much of innocence, imagination and capacity to love we lose as we get older without even realizing it. Often times, many of us find ourselves throwing all of our energy and time into our jobs and work to the point that we forget what is really important. Pooh bear and his gang of friends reminded me that family, friendship, and sense for adventure should always come first, and we should always laugh a little everyday to be constantly reminded to never grow up.

IMDB-7.3/10
Metascore- 60/100
Rotten Tomatoes- critics- 72% Audience- 84%
Yong's score- 4.5/5

'Andre the Giant' (2018)

  The HBO documentary, 'Andre the Giant' takes a look into the life and career of the wrestling legend Andre Roussimoff, known to the world as Andre the Giant. Using old footages and interviews with people who knew him and those who were closest to him, the documentary grants us a look into Andre's private and public life. You get to see what made him such a charismatic force on and off the wrestling ring. Andre was a truly gentle giant with a kind and loving heart. Yet, behind the big smile, life was not always so kind to Andre. He was constantly in pain and never felt like he belonged in a world too small for him. Whether or not you're a fan of wrestling, 'Andre the Giant' is an excellent documentary that tells the story of a remarkable man.  

'Aquaman' (2018)

  Jason Momoa finally gets his solo movie as the Aquaman. If your sole goal is to not think and be entertained by mindless action for a few hours, then I'm sure 'Aquaman' is the movie for you. Jason Momoa is very charismatic and has a strong on screen presence. But, there is only so much he can do with such poor screenplay and poor acting around him, I mean he's not Superman (boom).  
  'Aquaman' tells the origin story of how Aquaman came to be the hero he is. It introduces us to the magical world of Atlantis and their long and complicated history with the human world. When a radical fraction of Atlantians want to wage war against the humans and proclaim Atlantis as the rightful rulers of earth, it is up to Aquaman to be the link to peace between the two worlds.
  I feel there was so much potential to do a better job of telling this story, but instead we get a poorly written mess of a movie unsure whether it wants to be taken seriously or not. However, the box office numbers show the human world didn't mind the predictable mess of a movie.

Yong's Score- 2/5
IMDB- 7.5/10
Metascore- 55/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 64% Audience- 79%