Musicboard Review: Gateway (EP)
Astro’s Gateway (EP) (2020) — 4/18/2025
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
If I could give this 6 stars, I would do it 100 times and more. This album, the title track 'Knock', everything about the promotions leading up to the release, will always have me welling at the eyes because of how excited I was for it. It’s an even heavier, emotional weight to listen to this close to Moonbin's death anniversary with him being my first favorite in Astro, as well as being such a standout individual in the group, an incredibly huge loss of life for a promising career, Moonbin, had ahead of him.
It makes me so sad to think about the impact he had on me first getting into K-Pop. I remember so well being at a boba shop with my two college best friends and looking over and seeing the 'All Night' music video playing and spotting Moonbin and wanting to know exactly who he was. I made it my mission to know everything about Astro after that day. I reached out to so many people on twitter that knew of them. Since that day, I’ve followed all of their releases as an active group and even now with 4 members, I will do so for all of them, for Moonbin.
As devastating as it is to look back on the day Moonbin passed, I’m so comforted knowing how much he is still loved by my friends, the public, his group members, and it feels like the world purely based on how vast the love feels, combined across so many KPOP fans I know. I hope everyone that comes across Moonbin’s projects and involvement in the group, including this EP, sees just how much of a star he was and still is. The lyrics to ‘Knock’ stick out to me the most and I cried so hard the first time I listened to it bravely, the day the news broke. Now it brings me so much comfort since it's among my favorite Astro songs, and favorite K-Pop songs of all time.
Letterboxd Review: Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke (1997), remastered in IMAX
the forest, this earth will always be abundant. it will always grow back. miyazaki is THE creator that generations that have come and ones that will outlive me will continue to converse over. princess mononoke is outstanding work and every stroke on screen has a story to tell. im constantly in awe of every watch of this masterpiece. i hope everyone involved in the making of this perfect film has a legacy that proceeds them for centuries to come, including joe hisasishi for the flawless score, because there isn’t a day that goes by that i don’t reference a ghibli movie to someone because of how topical it is in this climate and even just its relevancy of art and storytelling. there’s always a situation where i can dote on and find commonalities with people for our shared love for this gigantic franchise. i want everyone to see this movie for its beauty, its justice, its WONDER. i love you, princess mononoke forever and ever and ever. you will always be one of the greats to me and the world. what a BLESSING it was to watch this remastered to imax, i would’ve paid millions to rent out the theater for just me and my friends but since i don’t have that money, watching it with a room full of people who share the same thoughts or don’t, was a privilege in itself. i hope that princess mononoke will touch every individual in their own unique way upon a first watch, a rewatch. i love this movie with every part of me that breathes and lives, just like the earth itself lives. (3/28/2025)
Princess Mononoke (1997), remastered in IMAX
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The forest, this earth will always be abundant. It will always grow back. Miyazaki is THE creator that generations that have come and ones that will outlive me will continue to converse over. ‘Princess Mononoke’ is outstanding work and every stroke on screen has a story to tell. I’m constantly in awe of every watch of this masterpiece. I hope everyone involved in the making of this perfect film has a legacy that proceeds them for centuries to come, including Joe Hisasishi for the flawless score, because there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t reference a Ghibli movie to someone because of how topical it is in this climate, and even just its relevancy of art and storytelling. There’s always a situation where I can dote on and find commonalities with people for our shared love for this gigantic franchise. I want everyone to see this movie for its beauty, its justice, its WONDER. I love you, ‘Princess Mononoke’ forever and ever and ever. You will always be one of the greats to me and the world. What a BLESSING it was to watch this remastered to IMAX, I would’ve paid millions to rent out the theater for just me and my friends but since I don’t have that money, watching it with a room full of people who share the same thoughts or don’t, was a privilege in itself. I hope that this film will touch every individual in their own unique way upon a first watch, a rewatch. I love this movie with every part of me that breathes and lives, just like the earth itself lives. (3/28/2025)
Letterboxd Review: Mickey 17
Mickey 17 (2025)
“no matter how many times I go through it, it’s scary every time.”
what a privilege it is to be loved! true yearning here! also, everyone’s performances here. mattered. so brilliant. watching this back to back with the monkey, i haven’t laughed this hard in a theater in so long. just pure genius. at one point i was ACTUALLY twirling my hair during this movie, i was hooting and hollering. rpatts. you are the man. this is god-tier science fiction, robert at his FINEST. oh bong joon ho you are a genius, this feels like one of the best movies i’ll ever see in my lifetime and that’s with parasite on that list! please. give rpatts the oscar for babygirlism, please.(3/22/2025)
Mickey 17 (2025) — 3/22/2025
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“No matter how many times I go through it, it’s scary every time.”
What a privilege it is to be loved! True yearning here! Also, everyone’s performances here. Mattered. So brilliant. Watching this back to back with ‘The Monkey’, I haven’t laughed this hard in a theater in so long. Just pure genius. At one point I was ACTUALLY twirling my hair during this movie, I was hooting and hollering. RPATTS. You are the man. This is god-tier science fiction, Robert at his FINEST. Oh Bong Joon Ho, you are a genius, this feels like one of the best movies I’ll ever see in my lifetime and that’s with parasite on that list! Please. Give RPATTS the oscar for babygirlism, please.
Letterboxd Review: Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
why is everyone so kind to me?
it’s because we like you.
there is such a stark and striking difference between the rebuilds and the original show, it’s evident in the finale. shinji is so, so tragic. but, in a better way here. i feel the exact same way as i did with the aot finale, where you get to the epic ending and realize that life is worth living and everything will be okay, as corny as it is to write. the themes are much more hopeful here and i think it aligns well with the original show and end of evangelion. even if hope is relative. even with hope being described as a disease. hope to live a life of harmony. finding hope in someone. knowing someone. only for them to be taken away. everything about this story is so incredible. depending on your mood, i’d suggest one over the other, original show or the rebuilds, but that doesn’t mean either are short of perfection. watch them all, please. this franchise means everything to me and i will recognize the flaws and where it lacks, because that’s what it makes it perfect. the impact neon gen has made on me will stay with me forever. (2/28/2025)
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) — 2/28/2025
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
why is everyone so kind to me?
it’s because we like you.
There is such a stark and striking difference between the rebuilds and the original show, it’s evident in the finale. Shinji is so, so tragic. But, in a better way here. I feel the exact same way as I did with the ‘Attack on Titan’ finale, where you get to the epic ending and realize that life is worth living and everything will be okay, as corny as it is to write. The themes are much more hopeful here and I think it aligns well with the original show and ‘End of Evangelion’. Even if hope is relative, even with hope being described as a disease. Hope to live a life of harmony. Finding hope in someone. Knowing someone. Only for them to be taken away. Everything about this story is so incredible. Depending on your mood, I’d suggest one over the other, original show or the rebuilds, but that doesn’t mean either are short of perfection. Watch them all, please. This franchise means everything to me and I will recognize the flaws and where it lacks, because that’s what it makes it perfect. The impact ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ has made on me will stay with me forever.
Musicboard Review: The Firstfruit - The 1st Album
MARK’s The Firstfruit - The 1st Album (2025) — 4/8/2025
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
After ten, yes 10, full listens now, I’m so happy this project is from Mark Lee. It’s like he packaged it with a bow on top and said “Here, this is me.”
I couldn’t even form thoughts after the first listen. This exceeded my expectations and it took me so long to figure out what I really want to properly say and process my thoughts for myself until I could SPIT IT OUT. And even then, I feel this album will grow roots in me and the vines will tangle and twist into something that will continue to sprout. I’m so excited to have this leave the lasting impression on everyone that listens to it.
This was such a personal piece, a little TOO personal but I’m so thankful Mark is so brave and wants to share so much of himself with his fans. His writing ability is something that feels so far away yet so close and I’m in awe of his capability of bringing people into a sanctuary, for us and him. This was a beautiful album and I’m proud everyday to be on the same planet as Mark at the same time, to hear music like this and have it come from him!