2008 Movie-watching, Part 1
Hwaryeohan Hyuga / A Magnificent Holiday (2007)
It’s been years since I last saw a Korean flick, and I only learned about Hwaryeohan Hyuga because the Korean Students’ Org at the U of M for the Asian Movie Festival 2008. The movie is a historical one, as it depicts events from the Gwangju Democratization Movement in 1980.
One thing about this movie though is that it’s very thought-provoking. For me it’s not about extracting sad emotions from the viewers (which what I usually find in Korean films, but maybe it’s because I only have access to the romantic flicks, which I am not really fond of), but it’s more of making them think. In my case, it made me appreciate more what I currently have. I am lucky that my parents don’t have to die for me to experience a quiet and safe life. For me it’s sad to see the people on the film suffer so much in the name of freedom and democracy. And it pains me the most that there are actual jerks in this world who has the power to inflict pain to other people. May they all burn in hell.
Atonement (2007)
Am I stupid for not liking this film? Or was it because it’s not meant to be watch with my barkada? I went to watch this last Friday with some of my friends, and it wasn’t the movie that I was planning to watch in the first place, but well, we ended up watching it anyway.
I didn’t realize that Romola Garai played the older Briony. I love her at Dirty Dancing Havana Nights. But I liked her there. I guess Briony’s character affected me the most because I find her irritating. If I was Cecilia, I won’t even forgive her, but maybe that’s just me.
Still, I didn’t enjoy it, got bored in the earlier parts of the film. I should’ve watched Cloverfield or Sweeny Todd instead with my friends. But yeah, maybe I could’ve appreciate this more if I watched it alone or something. 
Angela Solis grew up in the Philippines before moving in to Canada in 2003. She became a Canadian in 2006. Angela is 22 years old and an alumna of University of Manitoba with a degree in Psychology. She has been blogging since 2002. She maintains a 