My Favorite Things: April
My Favorite Things” is a monthly segment where I share my personal and current favorites in seasonal products, health & beauty, food, decor, movies, TV, and more. Hope you enjoy these personal picks!
Movies
Luca
Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, the original animated feature is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the water’s surface.
Another month, another Pixar film! For which I also bawled my eyes out in the end. Like most Pixar films, Luca is a well-written and beautifully animated feature film that transports readers to a world different from our own. It makes a great summer film as it is set in a small ocean town in Italy with a tight-knight community. This movie was so incredibly heartfelt and emotional. It discusses themes of self-discovery, grief, acceptance, and most of all friendship. The trio of friends (Giulia, Alberto, Luca) has me smiling throughout the entire film. I think the immersive setting and overall concept is the film’s true charm.
TV
Earl And The Fairy
The story, set in Victorian Britain, follows the adventures of 17-year-old Lydia Carlton, nicknamed the “Fairy Doctor” due to her interest and understanding of fairies. Her life takes a 180-degree turn when she meets Edgar J.C Ashenbert, the “Legendary Blue Knight Earl” and his crew on a sea voyage to London. Edgar hires her as an advisor during his quest to obtain a treasured sword that was supposed to be handed down to him by his family.
I haven’t had much time to dive into a larger/longer anime series, so I settled on Earl And The Fairy which runs for 12 episodes. I have yet to finish the show, but so far, so good. I love fantasy anime and the historical setting is very detailed. I love the Victorian-esque setting and the attention to detail in the background and clothing. The viewer feels transported to another time and place. The magical elements are also entertaining as there are otherworldly battles and lots of fairies. It’s also a shojo anime so there is a bit of romance in the storyline. I’m curious to see how the story will end.
Begin Again
Lu Fangning is the CEO of Luming Organization, a large corporation in the business of home furniture. She is rich, capable and beautiful, and firmly believes that money and earning money is the most important thing in life. Thus despite nearing thirty, she is still single. Her plans of expanding her business locally is disrupted by her family, who pressurizes her to find a husband and have a child. At this time, surgeon Ling Rui appears infront of her. Ling Rui is handsome, intelligent and gentle; and is seen as a perfect husband candidate for Lu Fangning. Thus, Lu Fangning tries all kinds of ways to pursue Ling Rui, including seducing him. Ling Rui appears uninterested, but is actually looking for an opportunity to “retaliate”.
Eventually, the couple manage to walk down the aisle. After marriage, Lu Fangning tries changing her stubborn ways and slowly, begins a sincere relationship with Ling Rui. However with the onslaught of problems from their families and career, the couple begin to drift apart. Thoughts of divorce begin to sprout from Lu Fangning, but Ling Rui is persistent in holding onto the marriage. Slowly, Lu Fangning begins to realize the true meaning of love and marriage, and decides to work with Ling Rui to create a better future.
This is probably the third Chinese drama I’ve delved into. I’ve seen lots of positive reviews for Begin Again online, so I chose this show. This romantic comedy follows the contract marriage trope, but I like that the main leads have swapped personalities from the dramas that I typically watch. The female lead Lu Fangning is a sassy, sharp, and sophisticated boss and Ling Rui is the sweetheart doctor. Some of the comedy aspects are over-the-top which makes it entertaining to watch and it’s got the right amount of drama in the plot to keep the viewer interested.
Welcome To Waikiki
Three very different young men – Dong Goo, who dreams of becoming a film director, Joon Ki, an eccentric actor who performs to make a living, and Doo Shik, a freelance writer who fiddles around doing nothing most of the time – open a guest house named “Waikiki” in Itaewon, where many foreigners come to stay. Although they have no clue how to run it, they’re eager to earn money to pay for the production of their upcoming film. They are joined by Dong Goo’s younger sister, Seo Jin, who actually manages the household in Waikiki, single mother Yoon Ah, who has made an unexpected entrance at the guest house with her baby, and Dong Goo’s ex-girlfriend Soo Ah.
This K-drama comes highly recommended by several of my friends. I enjoy the concept of three friends running a guesthouse and all their day-to-day wacky encounters. It’s a laugh-out-loud show with an episodic structure (similar to The Sound of Your Heart) and viewers never know what adventures will await this trio yet. Even from only watching a few episodes, I see why this show is such a fan favorite among viewers. I love a good sitcom and this show is pure joy to watch.
YouTube
Why The New Girls Can’t Sing
This is a really great video essay that touches upon many articles I’ve also read about the evolution of singers in music. I like how goes in-depth into arts and music training in school and its decline (of these programs) has had an overall domino effect on today’s musical sound.
The Iron Giant: A Study in Heartfelt Filmmaking
The iron giant is an animated feature near and dear to my heart since I first watched it in my childhood. Its top-notch animation and its great voice acting make it such a cult classic. I like how the movie talks about how the world can be scary and believes that a sense of safety is a fantasy, among other themes. A great commentary on this amazing film.
Music
About Damn Time by Lizzo
I think this new Lizzo song will be one of the new summer anthems for 2022. I love how her songs are about body positivity and feeling good. I love the funky groove of the melody (and retro sound) and the confidence-boosting lyrics. It’s a song that makes you get up and dance.
Cardboard Box by FLO
It’s sad to see a lack of girl groups in today’s music, but one new contender is a group I’m keeping my eye on is FLO. The music video invokes all the styles of a 2000’s song and it’s also reflected in the music as well. Props to the producer for being able to mix modern music with an older sound. This song is so much fun!
Amusement Park by Baekhyun
One of my favorite K-pop soloists from a group! Baekhyun has an R&B sound for his solo projects that I love, and this song is so smooth. It evokes all the feelings of falling in love and the joys of an amusement park, leaving the listener with a feeling of whimsy. A great ballad track.
What are some of your favorite things from April? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
