Life as I know it: Kiwon has the flu.

Folks,

I'm trying out something new here. People has been asking if I could start a blog where if questions come up while living in this crazy thing called "life", I would simply write about it, the way I see it. Then I remembered that I already had a blog with my lovely bride-to-be, and decided that I would use this blog (whether people read this thing or not), to rant or vent, but mostly educate the world about how things work up in Kiwon's crazy head. Hence, "Life as I know it" is born.

The first victim of the series is the flu. And no, I'm not talking about the flu in the philosophical sense or even in metaphorical sense. I won't be talking about how this creature named Honey BooBoo (I think that's her name) is getting higher ratings then the political national conventions and how absolutely backwards that is for a country that built the greatest economy and fostered the world's greatest artists of many generations. No. I won't be ranting about that today (but it's coming). Today, I want to talk about one thing. Me being sick with the flu and how I'm sick of being sick with the flu.

 

Yeah. Know that shit. 

Yeah. I hate being sick. You basically have to take a day off, since you don't want to walk the office of your employment with death written all over your sorry face. Never mind the fact that you got this virus from someone in your office that walked up to you with death when HE should have stayed home, and never you mind that you should have taken copious amounts of vitamin-c to give your body a fighting chance. Never mind all that. I just hate being sick. You stay home, but your body cannot do anything fun. You basically curl up with all your germs and eat some soup and watch some jesus-awful tv until you can't take it anymore and you watch Scrubs methodically season by season, because you are convinced that watching someone worse off than you are (they have a lot of sick people dying in Scrubs), helps with your healing process somehow (note that this is both sick and delirious since it's just a tv show that has little to do with the patients themselves but the doctors' lives and how the hospital plays a big part in that). 

Side note: Scrubs, I find, and so does a lot of people in the medical field (by my research, at least one), is the best portrayal of the life of those who want to keep us alive. Grey's weird anatomy just copied the format of Scrubs and any other psychological medical dramas are just there because you have nothing better to do during Mondays (yeah... me, too). Moving on...

It's the worst if the weather is actually nice outside, like yesterday. A beautiful Monday by my standards and the birds were chirping and the kids were frolicking as usual. God I hated those healthy children. Damn kids with their smiles and laughs. Aren't they supposed to be in school? Stupid parents. I can't shut the windows because I am again convinced that I need fresh air for my sickness to go away, but can't bear those care-free creatures having the time of their lives. So, I tried sleeping. Turns out, my body is so tuned to the work life, that it's impossible to take a real nap. I woke up every 10 minutes on the dot. And on all those times, I was sweating for some reason. Drink some water, rinse, repeat.

I will say one thing for me. I am awesome at taking medicine on time. Ask my better half. I take it on the dot every four hours. I make taking medicine my bitch. I am so doped up by end of the day that I figure I'm okay to function as a contributing person of the society. This, sadly, comes crashing down when I start to get out of bed and you start sweating. Anyone that knows me or has seen me will say that I'm a skinny person (I say slim). The flu always makes me feel like one of those people from The biggest loser.

The meals are fine unless you eat the wrong thing (always a gamble, since you never really know when your body is ready to eat beyond the age of 2), and having to sit or hunch over the toilet hating life again. When that passes and it's inevitably bed time, for some reason, is the hardest for me. Falling asleep is a chore and everything decides to clog up for me when I need to sleep the most. So, the result is me waking up every two hours and having to shuffle my weary body from bed to the bathroom to sigh and let out a tiny curse, "faaaccccc...." 

All I am saying is that we can all agree to hate za flu. It does no one any good (except if Hitler had the flu while he was still alive, I would praise the flu for making that dick feel bad), and worst of all, it made me feel like absolute crap for four days. Seriously flu... go fak yourself.

K.

New York Time says...

My sister has been house hunting for a home, out in the boonies.  Really, more like the ghetto, but I'll call it the boonies.  


I have been telling her and explaining profusely that it's a bad idea, stay NORTH of Seattle.  She likes the SOUTH.  Having been in the real estate business for two years, I realize I can be a little desensitized and may be a little more snobby when it comes to areas - but I have my reasons.


Anyway, I read a part of an article that says, 

"According to the New York Times, living in the suburbs costs a family 18 percent more than living in the city."

And here I am thinking, that's pretty good stat, just wanted to share with her a valid source's stat, she says...

"Well according to new york times u have a higher chance dying from heart attacks living in the city."

Dang, she's good. 

Season Finale of a Guilty Pleasure

As the dreaded Seattle weather from the fall, winter and spring come to an end so do the seasons of the television shows we all attach ourselves to throughout these past nine months.  You know as well as I do that there are winners and losers out there and worst of all the ones that make your guilty pleasure list - the ones that you have to watch when your significant other is out of town, and you can't bear to "like" the fanpage on Facebook because it's just that guilty of a pleasure.

I don't know who actually follows this page, but after watching the one show I can claim as my absolute shameful habit I am willing to admit... I may be the only person after missing the first seasons, to jump into the show during its second season to watch every episode since, at the age of 27 to love Gossip Girl. This is where you jaw drops, and probably lose a little respect for me, but what isn't there to love about scandal, lots of monies, high street fashion, the New York backdrop, and the ridiculousness of family business.  

This is where you wonder what it took for me to come out of the Chanel and Gucci filled closet... well I just watched Season Five's season finale.  The last 5 minutes is what brought me to where I am now - sharing with you what is heartwarming to me.

If you're still reading this, you 1) find Gossip Girl to be your guilty pleasure as well, 2) find this more interesting than being productive, or 3) enjoy my writing style, no matter what the reason I will tell you what the last five minutes did for me.  My favorite couple on Gossip Girl, Chuck + Blair, have gone through trials and tribulations and boy do I mean trials and tribulations, are finally coming to the millionth time where they can finally be together, and of course the tables have turned where Blair will come in to save Chuck after all the times he has saved her.

As the last five minutes air, coinciding this ending scene starts to fade in is the hottest graduation season song, We Are Young by Fun (52.6M views on YouTube)  So what if I get sappy when it comes to graduation time, it's all these songs of grandeur (you know exactly what I mean) start airing and it always gets me... and so what if Blair says to Chuck "You have been saving me all year long, it's my turn to save you... you said I've been betting against you, now I'm betting on you. I'm all in," as she slides her shiny million dollar casino chips onto the Blackjack table the melody of We Are Young is playing the chorus... the chorus!  The best part of any song.

I know I'm not convincing you at all that this is a show worthy of your time, and trust me, it isn't, but it is... at the same time.  As I wait 6 long months to find out what happens next I hear this over and over... "It's a dumb show about drama that comes out of no where...." says Kiwon with judging eyes.

Well, that's probably more than you needed to know, and will probably hit "unsubscribe" from our blog, and if Kiwon knew this is what I was going to post as my comeback piece, he'd probably have a heart attack.  Well, hopefully you don't, because you are reading a blog titled "Bad Micky Ficky" you knew you weren't getting political news here.

Now that I've shared my television guilty pleasure, what is yours?  

Don't leave me hanging here... ...jerks.

p.s. Gossip Girl is the American version of any Korean Drama

xoxo, 

Sorry, I had to... 

Folks, I have an announcement

Folks,

I have decided that I will indeed return to this blog. Work has been crazy and a lot has happened since the last post of very early 2011, but I am gearing back to come back.

Tina will, too. She doesn't know about it yet though.

K.

Movies that I Should See in 2011 and Why

MOVIES THAT I SHOULD SEE IN 2011 AND WHY!

1. True Grit

- I know I still haven’t seen it. Will it live up to the Wayne epic-ness? I will soon find out.

2. The Tree of Life
- Terrence Malick doesn’t make too many movies. You may have heard of such movies as “Badlands” and “The Thin Red Line” which were all Terrence’s efforts. This one seems like a good addition to his body of works.

3. Your Highness
- Danny McBride (Tropic Thunder, East Bound and Down) and James Franco (127 Hours) are teaming up with director David Gordon Green once more (Pineapple Express). It will undoubtedly be one hilarious ride. But what’s that you say? They’re accompanied by Zooey Deschanel and Natalie Portman? Sign me up.

4. The Grandmasters
- I don’t know if any of you have seen “Ip Man” with Donnie Yen (there are two parts out already), but those two movies kicked ass. For those who don’t know, Ip Man is the one and only that trained the great Bruce Lee his tricks. This movie is another adaptation of the grandmaster (hence the title), but this time is directed by another legend, Wong Kar Wei. All you martial arts movie fans should be excited about that fact. Side note, Donnie Yen is doing a remake of “One armed warrior”. Should be interesting.

5. Sucker Punch
- Zack Snyder will direct Superman soon, but before that, he’s coming out with this all-girl cast movie. Having seen his past movies, I just want crazy slow-mo action with all of these girls.

6. A Dangerous Method
- The ever-so-crazy David Cronenberg (History of Violence, Eastern Promises, The Fly) is teaming up with Viggo Mortensen again for this story of Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud. Of course, Jung and Freud gave birth to psychoanalysis, and because of that reason, this movie is going to be trippy. You all should do some background check on these characters before watching as a caution. Not to mention Cronenberg’s past movies.

7. Captain America: The First Avenger
- I don’t care too much about Thor, which is also coming out during 2011, but man, I am ready for some Captain America kicking ass during WW2. Hugo Weaving (look him up if you really don’t know him) plays The Red Skull. Perfection. Can’t wait.

8. X-Men: First Class
- Revamp the franchise… again! When in doubt, Hollywood just goes backwards and makes the older material darker and grittier. Not so much in this case, but I think this movie has legs to really keep the X-Men franchise going for quite some time. Am I excited? Yes. It’ll be good to see Dr. X doing more than rolling around in a wheel chair.

9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- The end is finally here. I would love to see Harry die and then come back to life. Oh wait, I forgot to say Spoiler Alert. Oops.

10. Moneyball
- A sports movie in the mix of high budget remakes and super hero movies. This depicts the story of Oakland A’s general Manager successfully attempting to put together a baseball club on a budget, by employing computer-generated analysis to draft players. This is a true story. Yay, Robin Wright (The Mermaid).

K.

Voldemort really should win

"No! You don't know how it feels! Your parents are dead! You have no family!"

Whoa! Since when does Ron ever say shit like that? Crazy, crazy hormones...

Yes, I watched the latest Harry Potter adventure turned into a movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part: 1. This two-parter of the last of the boy-who-lived series is finally coming to a bitter-sweet end. All of you must know by now that Snape killed Dumbledore and Potter, Granger, and Weasley must set out to collect the Hocruxes and hope to destroy the most evil and powerful wizard of all, Voldemort.

I must admit, I rather enjoy the Potter series for few reasons, but one above all. The story has no religion. Unlike the Narnia series, Harry Potter's world has politics and bureaucracy but no religion. There isn't some Christian values jammed into the viewers/readers from every angle. Not that the Christian morals are bad, just that I don't think it has a real place in a fantasy world full of wizards and witches and muggles. By doing away with religion, author JK Rowling truly broke barriers and created a story that is appealing to everyone that don't think magic is stupid.

Side note: Thanks to this decision to do the last book in two parts, not only did Warner Brothers managed to get every bit of money out of movie-goers with the Potter series, it gave way for every stupid finales to have a two parter. Most notably, that giant waste of time, Twilight. Yes, that got a f*cking two parter finale. Seriously, WHO GIVES A RAT'S ASS!?

Now then... on to the movie review...

Synopsis... Pardon me, but I didn't read the books after the first one. Mainly because I thought the books for more for kids, but mostly because I heard they were making movies for them. As soon as I heard that, the books were a history. Why would I really read something when I can just watch the damn thing? Imagination aside, I'd rather spend 120 minutes watching something than read something for 2 weeks.

The story follows our heros, Harry, Hermione, and Ron through their journey to destroy Voldemort and save humanity. Why humanity you ask? Voldemort apparently has a thing against the muggles. Why? Well, the movie never really reveals the real reason, but he thinks muggles and wizards/witches breeding with each other is... really really disgusting and bad. Voldemort was able to come back to life, because he created Hocruxes to sustain his soul in portions in objects hidden away with heavy protections for all of them. Only he knows where they are, so that makes it really hard for Potter and the gang to find them, since Voldemort and his deatheaters are after them like US is after Osama.

Side note: Osama is 6'6" and Diabetic. Exactly why can't we find him?!!

They experience all the emotions of going with the seemingly impossible mission by themselves: loneliness, depression, exhaustion, and anger and frustration. Sounds bad? It is. Remember what Yoda said about anger and hate. It leads to suffering. Tensions build so much that Ron leaves. What a 'tard. Honestly, is it me or does Ron remind you of a certain character from The Lord of the Rings ? Like.. Sam perhaps? Overweight, potentially useless, but has a good heart and bravery when it counts? Yeah, nice try Rowling, but Harry is Frodo with a scar and no parents. Terrible.

The movie is slow and there are some close calls, but they always seem to find small individuals and windows to crawl out of the situation. The movie itself ends on a rather solemn note, which makes the part 2, that much more exciting to wait for, since that movie better have some one-two punch scenes.

Daniel Radcliff has mentioned in the recent interviews that the build-up is totally necessary for the finale of the franchise. He told the interviewer that the part 2 will be all out bombardment of magic and shit blowing up and people dying. He said it. Not me. I can't fackin wait.

Cast... Everyone's back. Down to littlest characters. They all have a line or two. Not really worth mentioning anyone really except for Bill Nighy. Why was he necessary to be in the movie? He's in the movie all of 5 minutes and then he gets replaced by one of Voldemort's goons. Why join now? Oh well. I liked him as Davy Jones. Carved your own heart out because one woman wouldn't love you back? Pirates ARE crazy!! Hahaha. What a weirdo.

Daniel Radcliff can't act. He pretty much just got the role in the first place because he looked so much like Harry Potter. In the end though... he can't act for shit and he must accept that. Watching him get mad is like watching Nicholas Cage acting sad. It's that painful. Rupert Grint is good for Ron but I wonder what he can do after the Potter series. That kind of goes for all of the main characters that were involved with the series. What will they do after this? I don't know if anyone can take them seriously as an actor after the magic and wizardry... except for Emma Watson.

Why you ask? Simple. She played her game aside from the movies. She models for Burberry and goes to fashion shows all the time. She gets front page shots on magazines. Oh yeah, I forgot one little thing: she's pretty. She keeps getting prettier and who doesn't love a child actor growing up to be a man/woman of their own? A perfect example is Natalie Portman. She grew up fine, and is a good actress, AND she doesn't have drug problems. Unheard of? It is.

In a world of Lindsay Lohans... someone like Emma Watson comes in handy. Hollywood needs more role models like Emma to step up and show that not every child actor or actress needs to resort to drugs. Good shit.

Director... So the same director has directed three films of the Potter series, including this one I'm reviewing. I don't have much to say, since I want to see what he does for the Part 2. Until then, I liked what he's done with Potter so far. Way to make it less bright and much more darker and relatable for people like me. I guess what drew me into the movies more was the introduction of Gary Oldman. I love him. I really do.

Conclusion... Since this is a two-parter movie, and the movie reviewed is the part 1 of the series, I cannot put a conclusion to it, since it hasn't happened yet. I honestly don't even know how the story will end. I have effectively stopped myself from using the internet to find out the story's finale. No doubt the Good will win out, but the important thing for is HOW that exactly happens. I shall wait for it. I am waiting for it already. Better be good.

But wouldn't it be nice if Voldemort won and we have to have another movie that's outside of the book series?

Don't joke about that. Hollywood could do it. They have all the keys to all the doors.

K.

Status Update: Kiwon watched The Social Network

"I'm six-five, 220-pounds, and there are two of me."

Sorry for the tardiness of this post. Let's just say that I had a long month.

Let me start out by saying this. If you haven't seen the movie, listen to the soundtrack first. It is absolutely fitting and it is absolutely great. Remember John Williams and the little movie called Star Wars? Yeah. That great. If you don't agree to that statement because you're much of a Star Wars geek as I am, then remember John Powell and the little movies called The Bourne series? Yeah. That great. Listen to the soundtrack. It is worth it.

The ever-so-finicky and totally random waters of internet and its intellectual property and idea laws baffle me to this day. I have said this a thousand times and I will gladly say it again; it's not about the idea that counts, it is the execution.

Granted, the movie does make you want to block the characters. All of them. From a super genius geek opportunist with self-esteem issues (Mark Zuckerberg), to ridiculously jealous and absolutely crazy Asian girl with more issues than I can name (Christy); the whole movie is about bunch of people that are just out to get each other and shows that MONEY is more important to my generation than friendship and loyalty.

Basically sue his ass if he broke your trust.

Written by Aaron Sorkin (West Wing) and directed by cult-loved David Fincher (Fight Club, Panic Room, Se7en, etc.), the movie was almost destined to be good, if not great. David Fincher knows how to create a setting and totally immerse viewers within it, and keep you there till the end of the movie. He is, after all, notoriously known to Hollywood actors and actresses as "that director that makes you do 60 to 80 takes per scene". Which of course... is crazy.

Synopsis... Based on a book called Accidental Billionaires, this film is about the creation of Facebook; a social networking website that half billions of people enjoy today. I remember Facebook when it was first introduced to University of Wahington. The exclusivity movie talks about so much was apparent and you actually felt superior to those who did not have it.

This dramatic version of Facebook's many lawsuits and the fantasy of how it all came about is, in itself, facinating to a lot of people. But I think the real interesting thing for me about this movie is that, this movie is a portrayal of the web 2.0 generation, also known as MY GENERATION.

This brings up a lot of questions. Almost every character in this movie is out for him/herself and will do whatever is necessary to get what they want. Also, they are way too sure of themselves and is willing to step on anyone to get to the next step. Oh and the worst part? They can't seem to shut up about themselves. I gotta be honest. In real life, I wouldn't be friends with any of these people. All of them think so highly of themselves, and do no realize the possibility of co-existing in any way that involves the obvious meaning of right and wrong.

The plot is simple in its core, which is a theme in all of the movies: human emotion + the concept of right vs. wrong. This movie shows the superficiality that is the internet. Without feeling and without a soul, the movie shows the viewers that when pushed to the brink, everyone is out for themselves. A sad truth about human beings, and apparently that is very much true to my generation.

Cheap thrills and fast success in this movie cannot possibly account for the personal hurt and the damages that the lawsuits does to these egotistic people. Their whole world is upside down because not everything went the way they thought it did, and quiet frankly, the only character that admitted defeat was Mark Zuckerberg, and why not... he had the money to settle.

Cast... Whooray for Jesse Eisenberg. He was haunted by people because he looked too much like Michael Cera for all these years. No More! Eisenberg stands on his two feet and exceeded my expectations. He definitely knows how to play the socially-awkward-guy-that-wants-a-girl thing. The fact that he creates the facemash because he was dumped by a girl was understandable, but keep going with facebook in order to impress her back was kind of a stretch. With all the character flaws aside, Eisenberg definitely is an acting force to be reckoned with, and I just hope he doesn't take himself too seriously... and do more movies like Zombieland, which I love.

Justin Timberlake, everyone. He is doing it all. More platinum records than I can remember, and now a mega-hit movie playing one hell of a creep? Good going, JT. He plays Sean Parker, the business mind behind Napster and served as president of facebook for a little bit until he was caught with heroin and was fired. I hear he still has ownership of some percentage of the company though... which means that he's still rich.

Other characters worth mentioning for me are the Winklevoss twins. They were hilarious. I sorta enjoyed the fact that these gigantic rowers got totally punked by a computer geek and couldn't really do anything about it. Played by Armie Hammer, they had another body-double play his twin brother, and digitally put Hammer's face onto the body. That poor bastard.

Lastly, WTF Brenda Song. Stop that shit and get back to Disney. Playing a crazy jealous bitch doesn't help anyone's career. Ew.

Director... Have to talk about David Fincher. I admire anyone willing to put Gwyneth Paltrow's head in a box for Brad Pitt to see. He has done so many cult favorites, as well as big studio hits and flops. I like him because he knows how to paint a picture and knows how to tell a story. This may seem like an easy thing to do, but search around your group of friends for a second or two. You know the people that absolutely suck at telling stories. It's a gift.

The movie is very dialogue-heavy, thanks to Aaron Sorkin. In his defense, Sorkin doesn't know how to write any other way and he is brilliant at it. What is amazing, however, is that Fincher took the scenes that Sorkin had written up and made it seem exciting and dramatic, through music and editing. Watch the process of Zuckerberg making facemesh. He has to hack into servers in order to get all the pictures and names of all the Harvard students. I was amazed, since Fincher made that whole scene look like someone was breaking into a bank.

Awesome.

Conclusion... This movie made me hate facebook for a little bit. Don't know why. If this movie is at all a portrayal of my generation, then the future is a bit more gloomy. Also this movie taught me one really important thing. When going into business with your friends, know the downfall... possible lawsuit.

In the end, there was no good guy, bad guy in this movie. They were all kind of bad and you just felt pity on them. That's life, I guess...

I will watch again on DVD.

K.