Book Review: Villain by Samantha Young (2017)

Synopsis:

Nadia Ray is a Meteorologist broadcaster. One day, his boss Dick blackmail her to reveal Caine Carraway' dirty secrets or she would be fired. That scene had brought Henry Lexington to save her from Dick' blackmail. Both Nadia and Henry share same strong attraction. But Nadia has dark old secrets that made her run, Henry would accept her dark secrets or they love could not last.


Review:

As all my reviews of Samantha Young' books. I love her. Everything she wrote always entertain me and I like it. This book is 1.5 version of series hero and honestly I like this book better than the "Hero" book. I think it is because I like Henry Lexington rather than Caine Carraway, for me Caine is too ruthless, while Henry is more smooth and sweet.

I have bad habits when I read romance book that I liked the hero, I tend to keep reading until I passed my sleep time and made me insomania, I know it is not really good habit. This begin if I really get caught in the story, especially if I liked the hero pretty much. Well, this book pretty much done that to me. I keep reading because I really want to know what Henry would do next to Nadia. I like the love game they're playing at. I believe you will love them too. Henry is one of the sweetest man that will sweep over someone' feet.

While I liked this book as much as I liked other Samantha Young' books. There are some things that I hoped this book could add. Like, I want to know what happens between Henry' mother and Nadia' relationship. As we know Henry' mother detest Nadia pretty much and I think until Henry proposed Nadia, there are not enough scenes that draw Nadia closed to Henry' mother. Besides, I think Nadia' old past secrets are not bad enough to make their love falling. I expect some more drama like If Henry dissapeared from Nadia and both of them tried to hide the hurt feelings and start date anothers but finally they made together again maybe will make this novel more fantastic I think.

This is more like happy story and happy ending to me. Not much drama here. They always been inseparable. I recommend you to read this novel, you will like Henry as much as I do.

Rating: 4/5

Best regards,


Selene.

TV Series: The lost (2004-1010)

Synopsis:

Plane Oceanic 815 had crashed and some of the passengers are survive on the island. Later they figured out that they are not the only ones on the island, there are "the others" which local citizen on the island before them. But before them, there is organization called Dharma Initiative who conduct electromagnetic research on this island. On 1970, this organization conduct research because they found the special properties of the island such as electromagetic fluctuations. Later Desmond, who accidentaly sailed nowhere and being saved enter the code every 108 minutes to keep the amount of electromagnetic at bay. One day, Desmond accidentaly did not enter the code and there is big turbulance in the hatch and that caused the Oceanic 815 crashed accident.

There is strained relationship between the others and the survivor of Oceanic 815. There is a British researcher named Daniel Faraday, Daniel is a physician, He conduct research about time travel and he conducts time travel research which will change the variable and the constant (desmond himself). Variable meaning the others beside Desmond. Desmond himself can move toward and backward between time. Jack Shepard found Faraday' notes and determined to save the island and prevent the Oceanic 815 accident.

Review:

I know this is a famous tv series back then, I was late to just finish watch it few months ago. Back then, I was not really interest to this drama, because I am not a sci-fi fan. At first I was doubt to review this because I was thinking some of you or most of you who watched it back then, but this tv series just too good to not to be reviewed, because it stucks in my head for weeks and months and it is not something that I can easily forget. I just want to share my thought and my feeling of this drama. Also, if you are new generations who just heard about this drama, I recommend you to watch the whole drama, either through DVD or online. This drama really worthed for your time and your senses.

One word to describe this drama, complicated. This is the most complicated drama I ever watched so far. Each episode and each season will bring you to something you don't know or something you won't be guessed. Each episode is a surprised. Each episode told each individual, so at the end you will know well every survivor. I really appreciate the effort of the writer and director of this series, I can imagine how hard for them to make this story work. This series also tells a whole lot scientific knowledge that you heard before or never believed before, some of them can be rumor or just a merely stories. Here just a bit example unique scientific experience: Hugo believe that after he won USD150 milllion by entering the number sequence which he believed bring bad luck to him or Claire who went to paranormal to find out that she need to protect her own son and can't let her son being adopted by someone else, later she is being told that she need to get on the flight Oceanic 815 to save her own son which lead her to the plane accident or Rose and John Locke who find their health back in the island or Dr Jack Shepard who is between believe anything rational as a doctor or believe some mythical stories of the island. They are really interesting to be watched. 

I personally a team Jack. I think Jack Shepard is a unique character in this series. At the beginning, he as a doctor tried to save other survivor of the plane and later he who has bad bed manner which means he is never give false hope to the patient. He tried to calm the survivors after some incidents caused by the others. He is a spinal surgeon who operated Ben also, barter it with Kate and Sawyer' freedom from Hydra island. He had bad obsessed behaviour which caused strained in his marriage with Sarah, which caused Sarah's leaving him to other man and had baby with other man. Jack himself is a good doctor. He is kind individual, but he is stubborn and doubtful, he scared to make wrong decision which cause other people distrusted him. 

If you are doubtful about this series like me before or you are not interest in science fiction drama, but you are really looking into one good drama to be watched in your empty time, try this series. This series is really worth your single seconds, in my opinion. Until now, I still watched back some of my favorite episodes of this drama. This drama just one of the best drama I ever watched so far.

Rating: 9/10

Best regards,

Selene.

Film Review: Brad' status (2017)

Synopsis:

Brad work in non-profit organization. One day, he was accompanied his son, Troy to Boston for Harvard' interview. Then He met his old friend, Craig Fisher. Brad start to question himself, what He really wanted in life.

Review: 

This story focus on Brad' point of view. Brad start to have insomnia thinking about his life. He likes to see social media and start to compare his life with his old friends.

One day he accompanied his son, Troy for Harvard' interview. His son apparently forgot his interview
the wrong day. Brad tried to call his old friend who is professor at Harvard and finally his son can get second chance to be interview with his favorite lecturer there.

During the whole process, Brad learnt that not all looks good seems to be perfect life. This film has good idea but it is quite not sure what message of this film. Beside, Brad' kid appeared too quiet in this film, I don't know if he tried to be funny but it is not funny either. Seems the ending of this film is not really end for me.

Overall quite entertaining film to fill your weekend movie day.

Rating: 6.5/10


Best regards,

Selene.

Film Review: The mountain between us (2017)

Synopsis: 

Alex meet Ben when they hired a small boeing to go to New York. Their plane crashed and both of them need to survive at the mountain. No body help and both of them need to support each other until they find a way to back to city.

Review:

This is a good romance novel. I liked how strangers can be a couple. Ben is a surgeon and Alex is a jounalist. Both of them stranded in the mountain and both of them tried to survive with all they have.
They tried to get to know each other which is not easy at first because Ben is introvert about his personal life. Alex also had a fiancee and she was going to a dress fit session. She is going to marry Mark on the next day.

When both of them finally comeback to the city, they fall in love. Ben tried to avoid Alex because he thought Alex is already married to Mark. She actually called off the wedding. She find soulmate in Ben. Actually the story is pretty good. Kate Winslet is very good to play deep feeling romance. When she played "the reader" it stuck in my head for days. I like her acting.

What I expect is I want more romance session between them. more love emotional connection between them when they stuck in mountain and after they comeback to city.

Well it is still good romance drama, if you are looking into one.

Rating: 7/10


Best regards,


Selene.

Game Review : Ame No Marginal (Rain Marginal)

Dear All, 

Now, I would like to talk about short but beautiful and sad visual novel. It was called Ame no Marginal (Rain Marginal). Well, why Rain ? Well, basically Rain (water) is one of the biggest part of the game. This game was written by Tomo Kataoka, the same writer who write Narcissu. This game sort of prequel for his light novel Mizu no Marginal. But you don't have to read the novel to enjoy this game. The game is quite short so it was refreshing to play short game in a while. 

This game have two main characters. Man who doesn't want to live but also don't want to die. Another one is girl who have already lived for about 1000 years. Both of them live in different era and different place, but somehow their path conversed in white and vast world. I try to give as little spoiler as possible. Anyway, the story is simple. You just play it from man POV, then continue with the girl POV, and then back to man POV, and so on. At the end, both story combined into one and provide very sad ending and happy epilogue. 

For information, it was really short. I finished the game just around 3 hours. But there's also bonus game included, which is Narcissu 1 if you want to play it. But from what I know, Narcissu 1 and 2 is free in Steam. So that makes it quite moot. Back to the game, I like the premise. I mean it's rare to play the game in which the main character is adult and quite suicidal. And the story was quite mysterious too and it attract you from beginning. There's voice acting for the woman but not the man. Don't know why. The not good part is the graphic and music is quite simple. Well, you can say that this is low budget game. The story is the only one that stand out from this game. Unfortunately developers decide to make this game short instead of normal game. 

Anyway, this is good game but short. I recommend this game for visual novel lovers who have spare money. Get this game on sale unless you have lot of money to support developers. 

Rating : 6 of 10 stars

Regards, 

Angela

Film review: The Man from Earth: Holocene (2017)

Synopsis:

University students found out that their professor John Young is the same man as another John Oldman from their research that live for more than 14,000 years.

Review:

This film was uploaded to the pirate bay on 16th January 2018 for the creator themselves for legal download. You can download the film for free, of course you can donate through the website.

This film itself has unique plot as university professor who is very knowledgable is already lived for more than 14,000 years. The for university students aim to find the truth about their professor.
The ending itself is hanging and is open to many conclusion. I think this can open to be new series. The story is pretty interesting and good to watch.

I recommend this film if you like science fiction drama film. This film really entertaining.

Rating: 7/10


Kind regards,


Selene.

Game Review : G-Senjou No Maou (The Devil on G-String)

Opening

Song

Song

Dear All, 

Now I would like to review one if not the best visual novel that I ever played until now. The game was called G-Senjou No Maou (The Devil on G-String). Well, here we goes

The story is about cat and mouse fight between "Maou" (terrorist that plot to destroy Sannou corporation) and Usami Haru (girl that want to catch Maou). Between them, there's Azai Kyousuke (Yakuza's foster son that was adopted to pay his family debt). What kind of relationship that will be made between Maou, Haru, and Kyousuke ?! That's the premise of this game.  

Some people say that G-Senjou No Maou was death note for visual novel. Well, I can say that it was quite right. I mean mind battle between Haru and Maou certainly remind us about Yagami Raito and L. It certainly make us tense about who's gonna win at the end. But somehow, we know that the good guy will triumph the bad guy. Anyway, it was good except for the last ending (before the epilogue). I mean I prefer Code Geass ending instead of Death Note ending. But of course, it was much more satisfying than Death Note. Personally I feel it was a little too rushed but the epilogue made up for it. Anyway, the epilogue is very nice. It was sad and beautiful, unfair and also "fair" at the same time. I find that I am crying at the end especially when the song is very sad. 

Anyway, the music is very good. and The graphic is outstanding. The characters are amazing. They have their own problem and psyche. Unfortunately I only play the voiceless version. But if you were gonna play it, I suggest play with the voice version, especially since the voice actor is none other than the famous Jun Fukuyama. Still personally I prefer if they use Kousuke Toriumi because I think his voice is more suitable for calm and collected "Maou" than Jun Fukuyama deep voice. I don't know why but at the end, his voice is quite deep. 

There are 4 heroines that you can choose in this game. But only 1 that will led to true ending. And you will know who. Personally, I haven't play the other routes besides our main couple because I want to know true ending. I can say that the writer know human psychology quite well to make twisted story like this. I am glad that Sekai Project decide to translate this game into English. I mean it was quite shame for great game not to be known and appreciated worldwide. 

I really recommend this game for people who like Death Note. Hope the game writer make another great game like this. From what I know, Sekai is already in the process of translating the other game from the same writer and company which is "Sharin No Kuni". I am really looking forward to the game. I know that I am not alone. 

Rating : 10 of 10 stars

Regards, 

Angela

Film Review: The Battle of Sexes (2017)

Synopsis:

Billy Jean King is not number 1 woman tennis player after Margaret Court beat her. Yet, she struggles for the equality of man and woman rights in tennis world. She felt insult when Bobby Riggs beat Margaret Court and proclaim that man is above woman and that woman should be in kitchen. She challenges Bobby and both of them have Battle of the sexes to thave equal rights between man and female tennis players.

Review:

I have to admit that it is hard to find good movies these days, yet this film is stealing my heart. Beside Emma Stone' outstanding acting in this film too. This film tells about Billy Jean King' love life and her career. This film exposed Billy Jean' lesbian with her hairdresser too. She challenges Bobby Riggs and She wins all the three sets.

She proved that all Bobby Riggs' said all was wrong. Women should have same chance in tennis career and that man and woman are equal. I liked the idea that she raised. The message of this film is well delivered and the struggling feeling you could sense from Billy Jean.

I really recommend this film if you are looking for good movie.

Rating: 7/10


Best Regards,


Selene.

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2018

Dear all,

It's have been a long time since I last read my books. Then no wonder, I fail to meet 2017 reading challenge in Goodreads. I am affraid that I forget how many books I read in 2017 and my goals. Such a shame. I have no excuses. Many things have happened and I think I just lost a little passion to read a book. Instead I gained passion for playing visual novel games. But if you see it from another point of view, actually I am still reading. Still I hope that in 2018, I will read some books again. Hopefully more than 2017. 

Anyway, for Goodreads reading challenge 2018, my goal is 24 books. I know it was half from 2017 reading goal. But I think it was realistic for me right now. Of course, I can always adjust it later. Anyway, reading is good. So, for you book lovers, please keep up your reading, okay ?!

Best Regards, 

Angela

Film Review: Kingsman The Golden Circle (2017)

First I want to say Happy New Year 2018. Sorry for late post. I wish you had a good year this year and everything will going well with you.

Synopsis: 

The whole country was threatened by the deadly virus that caused symptomps such as blue rash and later losing mind by doing something like dancing out of control and later dead. The Kingsman want to find the antidote for this crazy virus.

Review:

Honestly, I don't enjoy the madness of this movie. It was weirdly funny, a lot crazy deadness. I don't enjoy it. The story itself is pretty interesting which peoples who use drugs get the virus such as blue rash and dancing out of control and terrific dead. The acting for the actors are pretty good, especially psychopath Poppy and her weird jokes. But really, It is just not fit in my cup of tea.

If you like weird jokes or psycho jokes, this film is for you.

Rating: 6/10

Regards,

Selene.

Happy New Year 2018

Dear All,

I would like to say Happy New Year 2018. May the year of earth dog bring all of us happiness and joy. Love you all ^^


Best Regards,
Angela