Showing posts with label japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label japan. Show all posts

Sunday, December 5

Movie Review: Kate (2021)




Film Title:
Kate
Length:   1h 46m
Released: 2021
Genre:  Action/Adventure
Rating: R
Where I Got It: Netflix

SUMMARY:
A female assassin has 24 hours to get vengeance on her poisoner before she dies.



REVIEW:
Our friend recommended this movie for us to watch, so during date night Future Hubby and I decided to watch it. 

We follow Kate who has been trained to be an assassin since she was a little girl. After she was forced to break a rule she has always followed....she decides to retire. She soon realizes someone has poisoned her and she has 24 hours to get vengeance and kill the person who did this to her.

This was a lot of fun! Super sad, of course, but still fun. Kate is a badass even though her body is slowly shutting down and she is not at the top of her game. Which, I feel, makes her more of a badass!

I loved how this was set in Japan. So many of these movies are set in the US or some big European city like Paris. The setting was awesome and it added a lot to the story...especially near the end. 

The ending was what made this movie. Things got super complicated and there was for sure a huge twist that I didn't see coming. 

Yes, this is a great movie if you like a badass chick getting revenge. Lots of fighting. Lots of blood. A few laughs. A few tears. I hope we get a sequel with the girl. 

5 stars from me. Totally recommend. I want to watch this one again!!








 


Tuesday, November 9

Audiobook Review: The Travelling Cat Chronicles




Author: Hiro Arikawa, Philip Gabriel (Translator)
Narrator: George Blagden
Title: The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Animal
Format: Audiobook
Published:  November 2012
Where I got It: Borrowed from Library

Summary: 
Sometimes you have to leave behind everything you know to find the place you truly belong...

Nana the cat is on a road trip. He is not sure where he's going or why, but it means that he gets to sit in the front seat of a silver van with his beloved owner, Satoru. Side by side, they cruise around Japan through the changing seasons, visiting Satoru's old friends. He meets Yoshimine, the brusque and unsentimental farmer for whom cats are just ratters; Sugi and Chikako, the warm-hearted couple who run a pet-friendly B&B; and Kosuke, the mournful husband whose cat-loving wife has just left him. There's even a very special dog who forces Nana to reassess his disdain for the canine species.

But what is the purpose of this road trip? And why is everyone so interested in Nana? Nana does not know and Satoru won't say. But when Nana finally works it out, his small heart will break...





Review:
I had to pick this for book club. I read this a while back and I loved it. I decided to shake it up and listen to the audio. 

We follow Nana the cat and his owner Satoru. The two pack up and head out on an adventure. Nana really doesn't know why, but he doesn't car. He gets to see Japan and meet a lot of different people and animals along the way. Satoru won't say, but there is something up and it sounds like life is going to change. 

Ohhh my heart. 

I didn't sob like I did last time. I had a couple of tears still, but since I know the ending I was ready for it. Still broke my little heart. Oooooo Nana and Satoru. I love them. I would love a prequel one day. That would be fun. See them become best friends. 

This will make you laugh. This will make you cry. Def a great book for animal lovers. 

This time I did the audio and I enjoyed it still. The narrator did a good job. The girl voices were...okay....it did the job.

All-in-all, I enjoyed this. I think I like paper version a hair more, but this was still a great read. I highly recommend it. You will feel all the feels by the end. 5 stars. 












Challenge(s):
- #76 for Audiobook challenge


Sunday, February 7

Book Review: Fourth Sister by M.L. Farb




Author: 
M.L. Farb 
Title: Fourth Sister (Hearth and Bard Book 2)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal
Format: ebook
Expected publication: February 10th 2021
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)


Summary: 
Shi, shi, fourth and death.
Fourth sister and twin to death.
Brother born silent.

Blamed for her twin brother’s death, Shisei, the outcast fourth of seven sisters, apprentices herself to a mask maker; but when the local Kazoku accuses the youngest sister of killing his son, Shisei must lead her sisters in a deception that will either save the youngest or condemn them all.

Fourth Sister is a Japanese fairy tale retelling with sparse poetry and gold-mended brokenness. A Studio Ghibli type story which invokes reflection.

Review:
I've enjoyed previous novels by this author so I was excited to check this one out!

The story follows Shisei who is the fourth of seven sisters. She blames herself for all the bad things that have happened to her and her family. She leaves and becomes an apprentice to a mask maker. When the local Kazoku accuses Shisei's youngest sister of killing is son, Shisei must take the lead and save her sisters.

What a beautifully written book. This was so enchanting and intriguing! This author really knows how to weave an enchanting story for the readers. I couldn't put this down. I honestly finished this in just a couple of sittings because I had to find out how all this was going to end. 

I really enjoyed the mixture of Japanese lore, culture, mystery, and fantasy elements. It all came together perfectly in the end. 

I felt so bad for Shisei. She feels like a curse. I just wanted her to find her happiness!

**2/8 EDIT
You can for sure read this as a standalone! I read book 1 and that was good. I didn't realize Vasilisa was technically "book 1". That one was really good too. :) 

Overall, I loved this book. It was so good. It was enchanting and intriguing. I couldn't put it down. I for sure recommend this. 5 stars. 





Saturday, March 21

Movie Review: The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)




The Spy Who Dumped Me PosterFilm Title: The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)
Length:    1h 57min
Released:    3 August 2018 (USA)
Genre:  Action, Adventure, Comedy
Rating: R
Where I Got It: HULU

SUMMARY:

Audrey and Morgan are best friends who unwittingly become entangled in an international conspiracy when one of the women discovers the boyfriend who dumped her was actually a spy.










TRAILER:




REVIEW:

I've had this on my "to-watch" list for a while now. Finally, I decided to clean house and watch it. 

The story follows Audrey and Morgan who are best friends. They unwittingly become entangled in an international conspiracy when Audrey discovers the boyfriend who dumped her was actually a spy.

What a hoot. I felt bad for Audrey and Morgan who just want normal lives. Dang, that boyfriend! I would be so p-oed. If you are a spy you need to tell the person you are with or...say you work for the government. Or something. GAH. Communication is vital. 

This was funny. But realistic funny. Sure, some silly scenes of course, but I liked it. Morgan was a hoot. She was over-the-top, but I would love for her to be my friend!! 

I was meh about the little romance there. He was hot, but meh. 

I did not like the twist at the end. I don't fully even understand it or how it was possible...or even necessary to the plot. Meh. 

Overall, this was a nice and funny film that I recommend to forget about all the problems the world is going through. A couple things I was meh about, but overall I enjoyed it. I want to make BF watch it. It is action-packed and humor-packed. I'll give this 3 stars. 












Sunday, June 30

Joint Review: The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns






Hello all! Blodeuedd and I will be discussing "The Woman in the White Kimono" by Ana Johns. We had a little fun with this one. I read the ebook version and Blodeuedd did the audio version. Fun! Blodeuedd is in red and I am in blue. 






The Woman in the White KimonoAuthor: Ana Johns
Narrator: Emily Woo Zeller, Lauren Ezzo
Title: The Woman in the White Kimono
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Published: May 28th 2019
Pages: ebook & audiobook (Blodeuedd listened to the audio)
Narrator of audio:  Emily Woo Zeller, Lauren Ezzo


Japan, 1957. Seventeen-year-old Naoko Nakamura’s prearranged marriage to the son of her father’s business associate would secure her family’s status in their traditional Japanese community, but Naoko has fallen for another man—an American sailor, a gaijin—and to marry him would bring great shame upon her entire family. When it’s learned Naoko carries the sailor’s child, she’s cast out in disgrace and forced to make unimaginable choices with consequences that will ripple across generations.

America, present day. Tori Kovac, caring for her dying father, finds a letter containing a shocking revelation—one that calls into question everything she understood about him, her family and herself. Setting out to learn the truth behind the letter, Tori’s journey leads her halfway around the world to a remote seaside village in Japan, where she must confront the demons of the past to pave a way for redemption.


Hello! I’m loving these last minute random picks! They seem to be doing pretty decent for us. :D


I would not really go that far. It was so freaking dull. It did pick up in like the last third, but still, the beginning. It was painful.

That is why I said decent ;) LOL Yes, the beginning was slowwwww but the last bit was amazing. I even had some tears. Just wish  the rest of the book followed suit. There was just a lot of filler or repeats of things that bogged the beginning down. Lots of reminders and extra backstory. 

 Lol, true. And even though I felt that it picked up, it was still slow somehow, I sped it up to 2.2x! It was the only way I could get through. My fav part was Naoko, the other pov, ugh, no thanks.

Yeaaa - I really didn’t care much about the present day POV of Tori. However, we had to know her too and her journey in order to really appreciate the ending there. But her POV coulda been smaller. She was the main issue of repeating stuff and etc. 

I get that we had to have that story to see the rest, but at the same time, we did not. We could just have followed Naoko, I feel then I would have been sad. Now I was all, that was cruel, the author tried to be smart and hide things, but it felt like a slap in the face to me. I was not sad. I was angry at the author instead.


I get the WHYS the author did it the way she did. It was the only way for Tori to truly let go. BUT I was so shocked! I was annoyed with the author, but I did give the author the reaction she wanted. I did cry. Mainly because I was shocked I think. But the ending was so good I felt. I do wish there had been a noticeable foreshadow or something. 

I also did not like that the prologue showed me what would happen to the lovestory. I have hope, even when I know that everyone will die. Here I had no hope for them. I did not know about her, but I knew he would leave and find the love of his life. This from page 1! Ugh, I was just so, why even read about their romance. SHe was not even the one! :/

I skipped the prologue so I was stunned by everything. I knew they didn’t end up together, but I didn’t know the whys and etc. And yes - I have a hard time marking this as a romance even though it is listed as one. The love was doomed from the start. Super obviously. I think I would’ve liked the format different. Tori’s journey all at the end. The jumping back and forth ruined surprises for me. 

Yeah, not a romance. I would have liked to see it as a historical fiction instead. No Tori. I felt the emotional impact for me would have been bigger. Shed a few tears and then see the light in the distance. I do not know how she would have done that, but it happened. Maybe she just could not see a way to fix it so she had to jump in time. It worked out but we do not know. Hmmm. I know you worried about X ;) I was at the point where I could no longer trust X either. Not until the end.

I liked him from the moment I met him. IDK why, but I liked him. I wanted her to get with him and love him. There was something about him. I wish the story was about him and her and fixing this together. He was so sweet. Sorry - I can ramble on and on. 


I liked him too. That is why I wanted to see how it came about. I also hope she never spoke an effing word to her family again. Gods, I hate them, UGH, her gran needs to die now!

YESSS! I hated them too. I am so glad she stood her ground. They kept calling her selfish and etc. No screw you guys! I am glad the mom gave in a little, but I wish she fought more. 

It just broke me inside when we got to that point when she was there. I wanted her to fight more, but how could she. I wanted her to like kick and scream. I hate that the best part of the book was this sad horrible truth.

But the mom was a product of her time and she had to be the dutiful wife and etc. Bleh. OooooOOOOO I agree, but I loved the ending so much. It was worth it the rest of the terrible journey for me. Maybe the audio was a different beast ;) but I really enjoyed reading it. How was the narrator(s)? 

I think not even the exciting sad part would have worked for me in print. In audio I finally felt things when we got to that part. There were 2 narrators, I have listened to one before, and yes that was Naoko. Tori’s narrator was new to me, and good? Nah, those parts were so boring, and a good narrator might lift them up, but this person could not do that, While Emily Zoo Weller as Naoko managed it.
And yes I listened to 2.2x. And that did not even feel fast! So either they talked really slow, or the story was slugged down, which it was. I did feel like whatever lacked was in the story itself

Mmmm. I’m glad I didn’t listen and I read. I feel there was more emotional impact at the end, especially since I skipped the prologue. 

This book did not need that prologue. It gave us nothing. And I would still rewrite this book ;) I just read GR reviews, it has such a high rating?!

Yess some major edits needed, but it was worth the read I felt. 

Not worth the read for me. It took too long to get good.

I think the ebook sounded a touch better. Which is a rarity for sure! 

And I say the audio was better, lol

BATTLE!! LOL. I may have to listen to clips of the audio to see ;)

Battle on!

LOLL. But I do like the whole theme about letting go and making peace with the sorrow and joy. That is why I can’t call this romance to me. Everything was doomed from page 1. 

Yes, nobody think of this as a romance. It was doomed. I did like how it should what happened with liaisons between American and Japanese women. Of course you had a freaking afterword! I did not have that so I did not realise the scope of things

I rarely read the afterwords and etc, but you must after this story. Soooo important. It really opened my eyes. I KNEW but I didn’t really KNOW and fully grasp the fact. So sad, so sad. 

And that is why I wanted more Naoko and not Tori. We should learn more about these things and here it did not come through as much as it could have. I mean not thinking of all those…..sadness

Yess, I feel like we should’ve meet Tori at the end and Naoko tells her all and then Tori has the reaction and etc. I feel like that would’ve made it more impactful. 

I really like that idea!

I think it would’ve helped a bit. I still think the story was impactful BUT it could’ve been more so with different formatting. Overall...I still cried at the end there. It struck my feelings. LOL

More anger for me ;)

Funny how that happens! 

Still, yes I am glad to have learned more! That place still strikes a chord in me, I feel so sad thinking about it.

Me too! SOOOO sad!!!
The end?


The end! 



About the Authors
Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging a long while now. The last couple of years the epic duo have been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.





Saturday, May 25

Movie Review: Shin Godzilla (2016)



Shin Godzilla PosterFilm Title: Shin Godzilla
Length:  2 hr and 4 min
Released:  29 July 2016 
Genre:   Action, Adventure, Drama 
Rating: Unrated (I would say PG-13 minimum)
Where I Got It: Watched friend's copy

SUMMARY:

Japan is plunged into chaos upon the appearance of a giant monster.











TRAILER:



REVIEW:
I have been so lazy to watch any new movies or TV shows. Good thing I have good friends who force me to watch things especially if they know I'll like it. 

I like Godzilla movies. They are always fun to watch. I've watched my fair share over the years. I never got a chance to watch this one yet. 

The story is set in Japan in modern day. A weird "accident" happens at the bay which causes the Japanese "emergency" cabinet to assemble. They bicker and go to meetings to figure out what to do. During one of their meeting, a huge monster begins to attack the town. 

Now, I am a little salty with these humans. Normally I don't really care much about the people stories, but this one actually was interesting because they drove me insane. THERE ARE PEOPLE BEING KILLED DO SOMETHING!!!! SOMEONE MAKE A DECISION HERE! The movie creators did this on purpose to throw some big salt at the Japanese government from their lack of "emergency response" when the huge earthquake and tsunami hit Japan killing so many people. Honestly...the salt should be felt by the US and others. You need to react and make a decision. Due to them taking their sweet time the best moment to rid of Godzilla was gone and over. Sorry...try again folks. Now you have to deal with Godzilla in his final form. 

Now I LOVED, LOVED the fact that Godzilla had multiple forms. It was so unique and different. No spoilers here, but they were fun. The first one made me laugh SO hard, but it was my favorite form. HAHAHAHA. 

The action was awesome and I was worried about a couple of the humans. I liked them! It is rare when I like a human in these movies. They have to be special. The main guy character (Hiroki?) was fun. I loved how he just took matters into his own hands. Good on you man!

That Godzilla was scary and kicked ass. I hope they make a sequel. But who knows? 

Overall, this was fun. I loved it! Godzilla kicked ass. The main guy was a worthy adversary to Godzilla. I loved all the salt being thrown around. Darn governments taking their sweet time *grumbles* I'll give this 5 stars. 











Tuesday, October 23

Time for TV Tuesday: Death Note (2006)





Recently Finished:




This show was never really on my radar. It never seemed like something I would like. Yes, I do like Anime, but I was never really drawn in. I have heard countless good things about this show. My friend decided to watch it and I watched the first few episodes with him and I got attached. I had to watch the rest. 

The story seems simple enough. A guy named Light finds a book that if you write a name it and visualize their face then that person will die. However, it is much more complex. The world begins to freak out because all these criminals are dying suddenly and without reason. Some people are okay with this because bad people need to be removed. Others are not okay because murder is murder. Let the justice system take care of the baddies. Things get a little bit more twisted when L, a super genius, figures out there is someone behind these murders and will do whatever he can to find this killer and bring them to justice. Light, of course, does not want to be found since he is building a new world of Justice. He kills an innocent person thinking it is this mysterious L. This sets off the most epic cat-mouse game the world has ever seen. 

Such a good story with complex and interesting characters. There is no black and white in this world. Everything is grey. My opinions changed continuously throughout the story. At first I was on Light/Kira’s side because there is no fear in this world for committing crime. Bad and evil people need to be punished. BUT Light showed that he really was no better. Sure, he wanted a better world, but who made him God? He was just as power-hunger and dark as those he claimed were bad. This show can really bring a debate to your household! Such a good conversation and show to talk about even when the END happens. 
It is long, but it does tend to fly by. So much going on. I was dreading the end simply for the fact I knew (a tiny bit) what was going to happen (the show came out 10+ years ago – I was bound to hear some spoilers). I would’ve written the ending differently if it had been me. It wasn’t BAD, but it wasn’t what I wanted to happen. I feel like it didn’t fit. Others disagree and say it was the perfect way to end this show, but I disagree for sure.

I think what has a lot to do with it is with N and Mello. I liked them…but at the same time they are not L so I was not really happy with it or them. 

Now…this isn’t all doom and gloom. There is a humor there that does lighten things up. I found myself laughing. Thank goodness there was the comic relief because this can be pretty dark. Even the more serious characters like Light had their moments. At first I didn’t like Misha…she seemed like a blooming fool. YES, she was an idiot, but she is a lovable idiot that you can’t help but want to be friends with. I’ll never fully understand her obsession with Light and how blind she was to how cruel and manipulative he was to her. BUT there is that symbolism there. Even when Gods are cruel their loyal followers still love them no matter what. 

WHICH brings me to my favorite of the show. The symbolism around every single corner. It was great. I loved just pointing them out. If a student ever has to write a paper about symbolism and metaphors THIS is the show to write about. Darn Young Carole…I wish I had been a fan of this show back in my High School and College days. So much material in this show alone! 

This for sure is a show to rewatch. I do want to rewatch it someday but I binged so much of it that I cannot watch it for a bit.

What else to say that doesn’t give away spoilers?? Mmmm

In the end, even if you don’t like anime this is still a good show to watch. There is so much storyline and characters to enjoy. This will for sure make you question your morality and your philosophy on so many things. I’ll give this 4 stars. The ending lowered this a touch. 

I will end with the main question every fan of the show must ask themselves:

Would you write in the Death Note? 

So tough, so tough. I have gone back and forth on this. I would like to say that IF I did I would be pure and only write the names of evil people. However….would I be tempted by the power? This is a lot of power to give a single person and no matter how pure the intentions are they will be playing with fire. However, there is SO much evil in this world that it makes me sick to my stomach. I wish I could rid the world of evil and this is a source that could be used if it existed. 

However, IF I used the book even once my soul would be bound to purgatory…stuck between heaven and hell for eternity. Sighs. Choices, choices. 

In the end, I do not think I could I write in the Death Note. I would not be able to get myself to do it. I would have a list I would want and whenever I lifted the pen, I would hesitate and put the book back. Yes, I would keep the book but I don’t think I could write in it unless something terrible happens that changes my mind and heart. 



Thursday, August 23

Book Review: The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

Author: Hiro Arikawa
Title: The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Genre: Fiction 
Pages: ebook
Expected publication: October 23rd 2018
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Netgalley)

Nana the cat is on a road trip. He is not sure where he's going or why, but it means that he gets to sit in the front seat of a silver van with his beloved owner, Satoru. Side by side, they cruise around Japan through the changing seasons, visiting Satoru's old friends. He meets Yoshimine, the brusque and unsentimental farmer for whom cats are just ratters; Sugi and Chikako, the warm-hearted couple who run a pet-friendly B&B; and Kosuke, the mournful husband whose cat-loving wife has just left him. There's even a very special dog who forces Nana to reassess his disdain for the canine species. 

But what is the purpose of this road trip? And why is everyone so interested in Nana? Nana does not know and Satoru won't say. But when Nana finally works it out, his small heart will break... 


This drew me in right away from the moment I saw the cover. I was hooked from page one. 

The story follows Nana the cat and Satoru the human. We get to see the story in both of their POVs. They are on a road trip to find someone who can take in Nana. We don't get to know why until near the end. Nana is not aware either but is just along for the ride.

I really enjoyed this book. It took a little bit for me to like Satoru's POV, but by the end, I grew to adore him. Now Nana? Loved him. That sassy little cat made me smile. 

It was interesting to learn about our characters slowly. The more people we meet up with, the more we get to learn about Satoura and even Nana. We get to see why Satoura really loves his cat. Even though he trying to find a new home, he just cannot let him go. It was really sweet and I had my guesses on WHY he was trying to find a new home. 

There were some funny moments and then the ending had me in tears. 

Yes, I cried. Ugh! So sad, so sweet! OHHHHH the feels. It struck a real cord in my heart. Such a good story. My poor boyfriend was concerned. When I tried to explain the book, I started crying again. So beautiful. 

In the end, I highly encourage you to read this book. It is a good story about a man and his cat on an adventure. Lots of feels. Happy and sad. A great book. I'll stamp this with 5 stars.