Daniel Blackworth

"People will do things they never thought they were capable of when push comes to shove. This could be acts of bravery or great acts of cowardice." - A life lesson from Train to Busan

Train to Busan is a great apocalyptic Korean movie. This movie is not a simple we're gonna survive in a city of zombies since its main setting was on a train (although there were stop overs all the way). The main character here, Seok-woo, was just gonna bring his daughter, Soo-an, to visit the mother of the child, but a zombie outbreak occurs in their travel. I like how they try their best to survive despite the many zombies in the movie. The cast was also fascinating because it showed realistic ways on how people would react to zombie outbreaks. Some were disbelieving and died for it; there were a few who were selfish and sacrificed others for their own sake, and suffered for it; two teenagers/lovers try to look out for each other; some were inherently good and were courageous; while others just ran without looking back. I really liked the movie despite the seemingly flawed characterization of zombies (it had room for improvement in that regard) and I liked how the father and daughter's relationship improved over the plot. By the way, the ending is kind of bitter sweet (spoiled you a bit now didn't I? )

"There are things you can only achieve together. So that someday when you look back, the people you experienced it with will see it as a happy memory with the same warmth that you do." - Kou Mabuchi from Ao Haru Ride

Ao Haru Ride was a manga that I really liked the concept of. It begins with the main, Yoshioka Futaba, changing her image, so that she wouldn't be ostracized for being cute. She later sees, Kou Mabuchi, a guy with whom she had mutual love after three years, but it seems that he is a different guy that who she knew long ago. Along the manga, their distance becomes closer, but grows further, grows closer, and grows further again. A lot of events pass by that challenges their love for each other, and while Futaba tries to forget Kou and love another guy, she ultimately realizes that she can't forget him. They later find each other in the end, and confess their love for each other. I like how this manga waa all about how the main characters changed after three years, yet they still had the qualities that make them like each other. This was quite fun and comedic, although I find that it was sad for the second main guy, whom Futaba was not able to return his feelings to.
[4/26/17]

"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" - Juliet from Romeo and Juliet

"O true apothecary, 
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die." Romeo from the same play

I find Romeo and Juliet to be a play with a really sad story. To give a general gist, there are two families, the Montague and Capulet Families, who have been in a feud for generations. Their offspring, Romeo and Juliet respectively, *somehow* fall in love with each other. Of course, their love would be disapproved of by their families, but they try to stick together despite the challenges. They devise a plan to escape by faking Juliet's death. But unfortunate stuff happen, and ultimately, both of them commit suicide; this leads to the families to reconcile with each other. I find the story to be quite sad since the lovers die tragically, and it's more sad knowing that their suicides were caused by messages undelivered and assumptions about things. Although I find some questionable things such as Romeo's falling in love with Juliet so easily, how they decide to marry real quick, why they decided to do such a dangerous plan which involves faking death, and other questionable events, I still find it to be a good play since its plot was quite unique for a romantic play due to its tragic ending. It's ending was also quite touching despite it as it set off the message that they'd rather give up their life rather than live in a world without their partner.
[4/25/17]

My favorite screen from Tantei Gakuen Q: