Eastfist

Hollywood has struggled to pump out their movies for profit during these pandemic times. Sure, blame it on the pandemic and not the shitty movies no one wants to pay to watch. LOL. Even powerhouse movie franchise like these Spider-Man movies had to do a bunch of reshoots and re-releases in an attempt to recoup losses. So here’s Sony’s final (hopefully) attempt to re-release yet another cut of Spider-Man No Way Home, the third film in the third modern Spider-Man movie series in the past 20 years.

Ticket pre-sales for No Way Home seem to prove loyal fans want to see it. Most of the online ticket websites had crashed because of the overwhelming rush of buyers. Well, now you can look up pre-sold seats at your local movie theater’s website, if they have it, and it does seem to be mostly packed or sold-out screenings come premiere weekend. So if you want to experience the excitement and promise of an amazing Spider-Man movie, now is the time to jump on the hype train. (more…)

Yojimbo (1961) Review

By Chongchen Saelee

“Yojimbo” is my second favorite Akira Kurosawa film after “Seven Samurai”. Yojimbo means bodyguard in Japanese. It may seem like star Toshiro Mifune is playing the same nameless archetype, but they are indeed two different characters. In “Yojimbo”, Mifune plays a nameless wandering ronin (a masterless samurai) who is pushing 40 years old and stone broke looking for odd jobs or killing men for rice and sake. He wanders into a small village where two rivals gangs are fighting for control over the silk and sake productions.

The movie opens with the nameless ronin wandering aimlessly, he even picks up a branch and tosses it and whichever direction it points to is where he’s going. Along the way, he spots a young man arguing with his father about wanting to become a “gambler” because they make money, drink sake and dress in nice silk. He wants to live it up and die young, not live at home and work on a farm eating porridge, against his father’s wishes. In movie storytelling, it’s a small useless scene… or is it?

After a sniveling crooked constable (the equivalent of the town sheriff) alerts him how to make some quick ryo (money in ancient Japan), he goes to meet up with a local big shot. When asked what his name is, being nameless, he peers out into an open field of mulberry grass and names himself after it as “Kuwabatake Sanjuro” or Sanjuro for short. (more…)

And the last one of my Asian snacks and drinks review series: Pock Strawberry Cream flavor biscuit sticks review. Check it out!

Check out another flavor of Vita. It’s Vita Guava Juice flavor. Find out what I think about it.

Another Pretz flavor review! This time I review their tomato flavor baked bread stick snack. Find out what I think about it.

Here is my review of Vita, same company known for their popular Vitasoy line of soybean drinks, but their juice and tea line. This review is for their lychee flavor drink. Check it out!

Neuromancer
Author: William Gibson
Published in 1984

Review By Chongchen Saelee

“Neuromancer” is the chosen template for modern sci-fi stories since it’s publication. It seems every modern sci-fi story from The Matrix, Ghost in the Shell, Akira, etc, all borrow heavily from Neuromancer. If not the exact storyline, they borrow the speculative Asian culture imagery. But masquerading around as a futuristic caper story, Neuromancer is actually more like a crime noir story, since main plot device involves protagonist Henry Dorsett Case’s lost love Linda Lee. It bookends the whole story, although executed kinda sloppily.

Overall plot revolves around “cowboy” or what we call these days “hacker” Henry Dorsett Case, a 24-year-old thin druggy white guy. He lives a dangerous lifestyle in a dangerous futuristic world that resembles modern Tokyo. Case makes a living hacking into computer systems and otherwise cyber espionage. He spends that money on drugs and prostitutes. Of course future drugs don’t just come in the form of chemical substances, for those with man-machine interface built into their heads, they can get high off of “microsoft” which is essentially programs that scramble their brains temporarily. Mind-blowing, right? (more…)

Very special review for ya, folks! It’s Maine Root Ginger Spicy Brew handcrafted beverage/soda, a non-alcohol drink. It’s one of the most unique drinks I’ve ever had. Find out what I think about it!

Check out this grape flavor of OKF Aloe Vera King juice drink. It’s a Korean brand of aloe vera juices. Find out what it tastes like.

Another Pretz flavor baked snack sticks reviewed. This time it’s for their Hot Chili Salad flavor. Find out what I think about it!