My thoughts on Sports during the pandemic

      "I'd never witnessed anything quite like that race. And yet I didn't just witness it. I took part in it. Days later I felt sore in my hams and quads. This, I decided, this is what sports are, what they can do. Like books, sports give people a sense of having lived other lives, of taking part in other people's victories. And defeats. When sports are at their best, the spirit of the fan merges with the spirit of the athlete, and in that convergence, in that transference, is the oneness that the mystics talk about."
- This excerpt is from Shoe Dog, a memoir written by the founder of Nike, Phil Knight. Here, Knight is giving an account of witnessing Steve Prefontaine running an Olympic track and fields trials event firsthand. Pre thrills the crowd in a way only he can and also sets the American record for the event. Many running fans would know this as the race where Pre snatches a STOP PRE T-shirt from one the fans in the stands after his victory. Knight credits the experiences from being a spectator at this race as one of his motivations to keep on fighting for his deteriorating company.
      "Walking back down Agate Street I knew that race was part of me, would forever be part of me, and I vowed it would also be part of Blue Ribbon. In our coming battles, with Onitsuka, with whomever, we'd be like Pre. We'd compete as if our lives depended on it. Because they did."
   At the most fundamental level, sports is nothing more than a silly game. It is inconsequential. Yet, how many of you have felt what Phil Knight describes above? Have you ever felt inspiration, pure exhilaration, pain, frustration, agony, heart break, and even moments of pure bliss at a sporting event? At home or at a bar or a restaurant watching a bunch of grown men playing a game made for kids? I know I have felt all of those emotions in my three and a half decades on earth while watching a sporting events.
  I've always loved sports and competing ever since I was a little kid. I dreamed of David Stern calling my name at the NBA draft and coming up the steps to shake his hands while wearing a Bulls cap. As I got older, I quickly realized I didn't have the size and athleticism to compete at the highest level. Yet, one of my fondest memories of high school is at basketball practices. Running drills and learning about the game of basketball, and just hanging out with my friends. Some of the biggest lessons about life I learned in high school didn't come from the classrooms but on the basketball courts and all the miles running cross country and track. Things like work ethic, sportsmanship, hard work, dedication and teamwork are all skills I still carry with me today.
   When I read this part in Shoe Dogs, it made me recall some of the most memorable sporting events I got to experience in person as a spectator. And since I can't seem to fall asleep tonight, I wanted to share them with you.  

9. The Chicago Marathon 

  I have been both a spectator and a participant for the Chicago Marathon. Whether you are running the marathon or cheering on your friends and fellow runners, you can't help feel inspired by the entire event. All the volunteers, thousands of spectators, and 40,000 plus runners makes this marathon a world class event. The part that I am drawn to the most is that all the runners have a story to tell. From the fastest one to the slowest runner, it is a journey shared and respected by everyone involved. It is very inspiring to see so many people come together to share the experience of running 26.2 grueling miles together. And getting to run through the best city in the world helps to ease some of the pain from running.


8. 10/16/2006 Chicago Bears v. Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium 

   Bears defeat the Cardinals 24-23 at University of Phoenix stadium at Glendale Arizona on an epic Monday Night. This was my first and only Bears game I got watch live. Most likely the second most exciting bears game in my lifetime, just below the Super Bowl against the Colts. I got to experience this game with my college roommate who is a Cardinals fan. I don't know what I enjoyed more, seeing the Bears make that miraculous come back or seeing how quiet Jonathan got as the game progressed. This game also provided one of the most iconic rants of all time delivered by the Cardinals head coach Dennis Green. "They are who we thought they were!" 

7. 10/10/2015 Chicago Cubs v. St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium NLDS Game 2

   This was my first Cubs playoffs game. I was living in Iowa at the time and I drove 15 hours roundtrip to watch this game in St. Louis. It was worth the weekend roadtrip. Cubs won 6-3 and ended up winning the series. It was sweet to see the Cubs beat the Cardinals at their stadium. Even though Cubs didn't make it to World Series in 2015, it was a great year for the Cubs and a great game to experience live with fellow cubs fans.

6. My first game at Wrigley Field 

  I don't remember the exact date, but I still remember walking up the concourse and seeing the majesty of Wrigley Field in person for the very first time. I didn't know a baseball field could be so beautiful. I was still in high school and my dad took me to my first game. It was a day game and we came to see the Cubs and also cheer on Big Hee Seop Choi, the first Korean position player to play in the majors. I guess baseball is one bond I will always share with my dad. I can't remember who the cubs played that day or whether the cubs won or lost. It was a time before iPhones so I don't have any pictures from that day. What I do have is my memory of seeing the grass, the ivy, and the iconic scoreboard for the first time and knowing I will be a Cubs fan for the rest of my life.

5. Lincoln Park Lions v. Whitney Young Dolphins at UIC Pavilion 2003

  This was the final high school basketball game I went to live. I was on the basketball team for freshmen and sophomore year, but I decided to focus on cross country and track for my junior and senior year. Even though I wasn't part of the team, I was still friends with many of the guys on the varsity. I tried to go to every game that I could. Our senior year, I believe was the farthest we made in the Chicago Public league playoffs during my high school years. I tried to find the final box score for this game, but I just couldn't find it. I just remember we lost to our rival Whitney Young. But, I was proud of all my friends on the team. Many of whom, went on to continue playing basketball in college and some even professionally.

4. 1/28/2006 Creighton Bluejays v. Wichita State Shockers at the Qwest Center 

My love for basketball continued in college as well. Even though I missed seeing Kyle Korver play at Creighton. I was there for Nate Funk and Anthony Tolliver years. This game against Wichita State was the most exciting game I got to see in person to that point in my life. Both teams were battling for the MVC title that year. We got down as much as 19 points, but you don't just walk into the Qwest Center and get a win easily. I was also with my college roommate Jonathan at this game. We were both happy with the ending for this game. On a side note, this game at the time was the largest basketball game with a crowd of 15,678. Jonathan and I went to every single home game during our undergraduate year at Creighton.

3. 10/15/2016 Chicago Cubs v. Los Angles Dodgers Game 1 NLCS at Wrigley Field 

By now, I'm guessing you're seeing a theme with the Cubs and Wrigley Field. This was the very first playoffs game I went to in Chicago. You haven't felt electricity at a ballgame until you've been to a playoffs game at Wrigley. And what a way to win a ball game. A go ahead Grand Slam delivered by a pinch hitter, Miguel Montero. The place was literally shaking. Unbelievable game.

2. 10/26/2016 Chicago Cubs v. Cleveland Indians World Series Game 2  at Progressive Field

This was my first World Series game. I made the road trip to Cleveland with my friend Steven. Cubs haven't won the World series in 108 years and who knew when they would make to the World Series again. Being at a World Series game was surreal. The atmosphere and the drama that comes with every single pitch was very stressful. Thankfully Cubs won the game to tie up the series at 1-1 led by Arrieta and Schwarber. It was cool to see how many Cubs fans made the trek to Cleveland for this game.

1. 10/30/2016 Chicago Cubs v. Cleveland Indians World Series Game 5 at Wrigley Field 

Yes, another Cubs game makes my list to round out the list at number one. My friend Steven and I made the trek to Wrigley Field for Game 5 this time. While we had hoped this may be the close out game and Cubs could possibly win the World series in Chicago. That was very far from reality. The Cubs were down 3-1 in the series and on the verge of elimination. Not good. Even with the grim situation, Chicago was crazy for the Cubs. If you were in the city during the playoffs run in 2016, you probably remember how the whole city shut down for cubs games that year.
 Things were not looking good for the Cubs and I wasn't sure how the city would take the loss. 108 years of history was bearing down on the city. Game 5 was the most nerve wrecking game I experienced. The entire ballpark was on the edge of their seats for every pitch of the game. The Cubs were able to take the 3-2 win led by a 8 out save performance by our closer Chapman.
With the series now at 3-2, there was still a slim glimmer of hope for the Cubs. And we all know how it turned out with one of the greatest game 7 in the history of baseball. Go Cubs go! Even if Cubs never win another World series again in my lifetime, I can always say I was able to see the Cubs in back in 2016.

 Back to the present. With the world faced with this current pandemic, I don't know when and if the world can ever go back to how things were. I do believe that we will get through this together and sooner of later, things like watching a live ball game can be the normal again. In the end, sports is insignificant in the large scope of things. Seeing all the deaths and pain the world is going through proves how insignificant it is. However, what sports does provide is relief and an escape from the troubles of the world.
 When you are watching a sporting event, you can't help but feel connected to that experience, connected to that player, connected to whatever city you're cheering for. And for that brief moment, you forget about all the troubles you may be going through and just let the experience take you where it may. And as Phil Knight and many of us have experienced at a sporting event, sports is at its best when the spirits of the fans merges with the spirit of the athlete. Whether it leads to a heart breaking loss or a blissful victory,  it's an experience you will always have with you. Stay safe everyone.

'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%

Great Movies Part 2

'Groundhog Day' (1993)

 Bill Murray stars as a weatherman stuck reliving the same day over and over again. Phil (Murray) is sent to Punxatawney on assignment for the fourth consecutive year to cover Punxatawaney Phil the groundhog on Groundhog day. Just when Phil couldn't think the day couldn't get any longer, he finds himself awake the next day to relive the same day all over again. And over and over and over again...
 Bill Murray perfectly captures the role of Phil as you see him mature from a narcissistic jerk to a genuinely good person. If you haven't seen this movie yet, go watch it over and over and over again.



'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' (2004)

  I used to say this was the best movie made in the past decade. Then I realized it's 2019 now, so I'll have to think of a new best movie of the past decade. Until then, I'll just keep referring to 'Eternal Sunshine' as the best movie of the past decade. This was one of the few movies I had to rewatch right afterwards to see what I missed during the first viewing. The screen play, the cast, art direction and the visuals all blew me away. I was in college when I first saw this movie and it made me think, "so this is what a good film is". 'Eternal Sunshine' deals with painful experiences and how one can chose to deal with them. Are certain experiences worth eliminating from your memories forever? Or do you lose a part of yourself by choosing to erase those bad experiences and everything and everyone associated with them, no matter how much they hurt you?

'The Shawshank Redemption' (1994)

  I've never met anyone who has seen 'Shawshank Redemption' and said they hated it. I mean how could you hate this movie? Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman star as two prisoners who develop a life long friendship while at Shawshank penitentiary. Based on a Stephen King novel, it has great story telling and amazing character development which is a staple of any King novel. There's so many iconic scenes that you just have to watch it for yourself. If you've seen this movie, you know why it's so hard not to like this movie. If you haven't seen this movie, I dare you to go watch it and tell me how much you hated it.

'8 1/2' (1963)

'8 1/2' is one of my favorite Fellini films so I wanted to add it here on part 2 of my great movies list. It is regarded as one of cinematic masterpieces and rightfully so. The film tells the story of a director having a case of what you would call writer's block for a film maker. As he tries to find ways to get his creative juices flowing again, he recalls his past for inspiration. Fellini perfectly blends the director's memories with his current situation to create a fantasy world that is mesmerizing to view. If you have deep appreciation for cinema, I would highly recommend '8 1/2'.

Great Movies Series

   The reason I started this blog was to give movie recommendations of films that I've enjoyed with others. I will admit that I haven't been good with keeping up with the blog in recent years. I'm going to try to be more active and in that spirit, I am going to start a series I will call Yong's Great Movies. I will share 3-5 films in each series that I've enjoyed greatly and would recommend to everyone. My hope is that I can help you discover even one movie you've never heard of and get the experience the joy of watching a well made film. I know you are reading with great anticipation to see which films I included in the first of the series. So, I will let you get to it. Happy movie watching.

'Spirited Away' (2002)

    'Spirited Away' holds a special place in my heart. It is one of my favorite movies, so it's only fitting that I start this series with Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece. Every time I view this film, I am struck by its simplicity and beauty. Miyazaki's ability to portray so much through the transformation of the young heroine is what makes this movie an one of a kind. The film draws you into its fantasy world and its vast array of memorable characters and makes you never want to leave. Go watch this if you haven't already.

'Amelie' (2001) 

    When I first watched 'Amelie', I thought to myself that I've never seen a movie quite like this before, and I can still say it's one of the most unique films I've had pleasure of watching. It also features one of my favorite soundtrack. Audrey Tautou plays the quirky heroine who longs to bring joy to those around her. This is a film you can't help but smile watching. Roger Ebert wrote of 'Amelie' in his review,
   "Amelie" is a delicious pastry of a movie, a lighthearted fantasy in which a winsome heroine overcomes a sad childhood and grows up to bring cheer to the needful and joy to herself. You see it, and later when you think about it, you smile." 
  

'Inception' (2010)

Christopher Nolan is one of my favorite directors, and you'll see several of his films in this series to come. For the first installation, I have included 'Inception'. The cast and screenplay is amazing as with any Nolan movie. This film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Cobb, who specializes in stealing secrets from powerful men through infiltrating their dreams. Nolan creates a world full of infinite possibilities. 'Inception' takes you through an action packed journey through reality and the dream world. I encourage you to take the trip if you haven't yet. 

'Hoop Dreams' (1994)

   I had to include my favorite documentary. 'Hoop Dreams' follows the high school lives of two promising basketball players from Chicago. William Gates and Arthur Agee are discovered at young age in the inner city and find themselves in a private school with scholarship to play basketball where NBA legend Isiah Thomas attended. Soon after their freshmen years, the two kids take a very different routes to finish their high school careers. The documentarians spent 6 years following the two kids and does a wonderful job of telling their story. 'Hoop Dreams' is not a sports documentary. Sports only serves as a backdrop to tell the story of living in the inner city where life often times seems hopeless. Roger Ebert wrote this about 'Hoop Dreams' which I agree with wholeheartedly, 

    Many filmgoers are reluctant to see documentaries, for reasons I've never understood; the good ones are frequently more absorbing and entertaining than fiction. "Hoop Dreams," however, is not only a documentary. It is also poetry and prose, muckraking and expose, journalism and polemic. It is one of the great moviegoing experiences of my lifetime.

'Jurassic Park' (1993) 

  My first memory of actually seeing a movie at a theater is with 'Jurassic Park'. Based on Michael Crichton's novel, 'Jurassic Park' a perfect blend of science fiction and action. It is one of Steven Spielberg's most well known movie and for good reasons. A great movie has the ability to capture the audience's attention and engage them in the story telling and keep them at the edge of their seats. I can honestly say, the young Yong was definitely at the edge of his seat watching this film. Maybe it was even at this young age, the seeds for my love for movies were planted.

'A Star is Born' (2018)

 Beautiful music and a well told love story, what a perfect combination. 'A Star is Born' stars Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. Cooper who also directed this remake plays Jackson Maine, a well known country super star, and Lady Gaga plays Ally, a talented singer who's down on her lucks. We can see immediately from the start of the movie, that Jackson has a drinking problem. And it is while he is at a bar following a late show to quench his thirst that he happens to discover the talented Ally. He is mesmerized by her voice and who can blame him. When Jackson encourages Ally to show and share her talents with the rest of the world, their love grows as she goes on tour with him. The film shows the ups and downs of the relationship between the two talented musicians.
  Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga share an amazing on screen chemistry and they fit their roles perfectly. Lady Gaga shines in her role as Ally. I got goosebumps when she first sang her rendition of La Vie en Rose on screen. Cooper also holds his own next to the talented Lady Gaga playing the part of a troubled musician with a haunted past. The film had a much darker tone than I expected. There were parts of the film that felt rushed and out of place, but the heart of the story is portrayed very well. Just to see the performances of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper makes 'A Star is Born' worth a watch.

IMDB-8.4/10
Metascore- 88/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 90% Audience- 85%
Yong's Rating- 3.5/5
 

'Venom' (2018)

  I was aware of the negative hype surrounding 'Venom'. However, I went into the film with an open mind as I always do (unless it's a horror movie, we all know horror movies are horrible). I didn't think it could be as bad as I heard it was. I mean how bad could they mess up a comic book movie these days. 'Venom' wasn't bad. It was much much worse than bad. The script/storyline and the overall flow of the movie was so poor I felt pity for Tom Hardy by the end. That man needs a hug.
Hardy plays Eddie Brock, a hard nosed reporter always digging for truth. Eddie tests his luck when he goes against Carlton Drake, a powerful billionaire scientist with a dark secret. While investigating Drake's corporation, Brock accidentally comes into contact with alien samples collected from a recent space mission in Drake's lab. And as fate would have it, venom infects Brock's body. What ensues is fusion of Brock and Venom trying to figure out who they are while the fate of earth hangs in the balance.
  There was a lot of potential with the character of Venom. Tom Hardy does his best to make this movie watchable. However, the script if so badly written and storyline so predictable that not even Hardy's charm could save this mess of a movie. Don't waste your time on Venom, go watch Infinity Wars again instead if you're in mood to watch a comic book/superhero movie.

IMDB-7/10
Metascore- 35/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-30% Audience- 88%
Yong's Rating- 1/5
 

'La La Land' (2016)

  We are all dreamers at one point in our lives. It's just that some of us dream much longer than others. 'La La Land' is story about two special dreamers and their path to reaching their dreams. Set in Los Angles, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone star as a struggling jazz musician and an actress trying to make it big in the city of stars. The film is a homage to the great musicals of past Hollywood like 'Singin' in the Rain'. It is even shot in Cinemascope like the old Hollywood musicals. It does a great job of creating a nostalgic atmosphere.
   The nostalgia of old Hollywood blends perfectly with the contemporary storyline. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone share great on screen chemistry and are perfect for this movie. The music, singing, dancing and the backdrop of lovely landmarks of Los Angles all blend to create a magical film experience.

IMDB- 8.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 92% Audience- 89%
Yong's Rating- 4.5/5  

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Every once in awhile you are lucky enough to be treated to a film that reminds you why you fell in love with going to the movies. It completely emerges you in its fantastical world, and for a few brief hours you forget about all your troubles.
'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' follows the adventures of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), who embarks on a journey to the States with a magical briefcase full of wonderful creatures. Mr. Scamander's arrival seems to have awaken a disturbance between the wizarding and the non-magical world.
Taking place during 1926, author J.K. Rowling expands her magical vision of the Harry Potter universe. 'Fantastic Beast' is full of action, mystery, love and hope. Even though the film takes place in the Harry Potter universe, you do not need to be familiar with all the Harry Potter books/movies to appreciate this movie. I think wizards and muggles alike will agree that 'Fantastic Beasts' is well worth your time.


IMDB-8.1/10
Yong's Rating- 5/5 Stars

Inside Out (2015)

Pixar continues its streak of making really really good movies. Pixar is as dependable as Antonio Brown is in a PPR league when it comes to making feel good, memorable movies. (Sorry, I'm getting a bit excited for the upcoming fantasy draft.)
'Inside Out' takes an inside look into a young girl's mind as she moves from the small town life style in Minnesota to big city life of San Francisco. Joy, fear, anger, sadness, and disgust portray the emotions controlling the young heroine. The cast was wonderful overall, but I felt that sadness, voiced by Phyllis from 'The Office' just stole the whole show.
Maybe it was because I had a similar experience of moving to a whole new world as a young kid that I found myself relating to the young heroine and all the crazy mix of emotions she was going through. It really can be scary to move to a whole new environment as a young kid. I found myself really enjoying this film. No matter your age, 'Inside Out' is a sweet and enjoyable film that's sure to make you smile.


IMDB- 8.6/10
Metacritic- 94/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 98%, Audience- 91%
Yong's Rating- 4/5 stars

An Honest Liar (2015)

'An Honest Liar' is a fascinating look into the life of James Randi. I'll admit I had no idea who James Randi was before watching this documentary, but as soon as it started, I was drawn in right to the end. 'An Honest Lair' tells the story of James 'The Amazing' Randi, a famous stage magician and escape artist who devotes the second half of his life to expose paranormal healers, psychics, and con artists to the public. Randi devotes his life to open the public's eyes to truth behind the workings of the con artists. The behind the scene battles between Randi and the con artists is told in a way any great documentary does. It flows seamlessly and I was simply drawn to the screen. In the backdrop is the person, James Randi himself. If you enjoy watching well made documentaries, then I would highly recommend 'An Honest Lair'. You won't regret it. Trust me. 

IMDB- 7.7/10

Metascore- 76%

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 97% Audience- 93%

Draft Day (2014)

Simply put, 'Draft Day' is nothing more than a propaganda film for the National Football League. Along with the rise in popularity of NFL, the draft itself has taken on a life of its own. Even popular enough to have a mainstream movie made about it starring Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner.
In the film, Kevin Costner plays Sonny, the GM of struggling Cleveland Browns. He faces pressure from attention seeking owner and an angry fan base to turn the franchise around as quickly as possible. His best chance to save his job and his beloved Browns is to hit big in the upcoming draft. The movie focuses on the days surrounding the draft and the tough choices the GM is faced with.
'Draft Day' mocks the intelligence of any competent sports fan. You can say 'Draft Day' is loosely based on the NFL draft because the transactions that takes place in this movie just are not possible. This film is geared towards casual fans who have no idea how the NFL works, but the trouble is that no causal fan would want to see about movie about the NFL draft. Which confuses the hell out me, because 'Draft Day' manages to alienate both of its target audience at the same time. If you want to get a real look into how the NFL draft really works, I would recommend '30 for 30: Elway to Marino'.



IMDB- 6.8/10
Metascore- 54/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critic- 61%, Audience- 66%
Yong's rating- 1.5/5 stars