[MOVIE] The Batman (2022)

So, what's going on with The Batman 2022.

In short - I enjoyed it. My expectations were on the level floor, I must say I had none at all. I really thought I might not like this one at all.

Instead I got hooked by the atmosphere.

Biggest pros to me:

• Operator's work and director's vision. I liked how the movie looked, now I understand why so many people called this movie "dark". Not only it has so many night scenes, but also just uses darkness. The way it was shot was really nice, it really looked familiar yet new.
• Atmosphere. It is a Gotham city that can stand on its own. Rugged and messy city, full of crime and filth has spontaneous sparks of gothic architecture. Everything looks messy, dark and dusty.
• Design. The way characters looked made you feel more down-to-earth instead of classic spandex costumes or latex and leather. Batman had all his gear mostly visible, there is no taking out out of invisible pocket (I'm looking at you Tim Burton). I liked that "Cat woman" is just a random girl with a cat suit basically. Riddler looked as if he ordered his gear on Amazon. No one wore something that will remind you of comics and would stick out like a sore thumb. Even the Penguin, gosh, if you don't know you can't tell what actor plays him, that overall make-up is something else.

In the list of cons would be just some places that were too unrealistic or felt like misses, used for the sake of performative effect. My biggest example would be how his parachute got stuck and he hit the metal frame with his entire body, was thrown meters away but managed to stand up and move right after. This type of unrealistic shit, when Bruce Wayne should be some random human dude.

But it's better not to dig too deep into any hero movies etc. Not a single one will handle the criticism (and you can think there is an explanation for everything, but does it work)

I bet there is always an explanation, but to me what Bruce does is basically illegal too, browling and violence when he tries to fight the evil. Also he's just one dude. And there are some nitpicking about the details, but it's easy to skip them.

Like he says - don't cross the line or you'll be like them (criminals) - but do we forget how much damage their chase caused? Of course we forget, it was so spectacular. Stuff like that.

But overall, it was fine.

RATE: 8/10.

[SHORT REVIEWS] #31

Well, time for another short reviews. Though I don't know how to rename this section since it started resemble short reviews + what I want to read / watch. But I do update previous posts when I feel like it or remember something.

BOOKS

CHN

Status update from previous short reviews, some web novels I still wait to be completed:

- 权臣穿进豪门养子文学 by 二月竹. (BL) The story about powerful minister transmigrating to a modern world. Very melodramatic plot, which I like. Previously I described the plot in other short reviews, but shortly MC becomes an "illegitimate" son, but actually it's not true, his own father changed his identity because he secretly took back the child of his lover as his own and made everyone hate MC in this family, so they won't see anything strange. This MC was not only a powerful minister but helped unpopular prince reach the throne, had many misunderstandings about Emperor he chose tbh. Emperor transmigrated with him too (he also has a melodramatic backstory, because of his outburst he was institutionalized). Also this is the author of Backtracking and Infernal, I love their style tbh with this cat playing with mice type of story, a story of revenge for sure, since MC will avenge the original body. It is still on-going and I can't wait to read it in full.

- 漂亮替身玩转豪门修罗场 by 惗肆. (BL) A story about a bleck-bellied MC who navigates the world of wealthy. I read this author and consistently follow their works, usually I adore their more melodramatic plots and can't wait for this one. MC is really playful and has a lot of tricks. ML of this story is the only person who noticed hs true face, but does not obstruct. Also the main story is over and author arranges to write extras.

- 豪门前妻（重生）by 橘子舟 (Tangerine Boat). (BL) I was surprised to see this author writing something. But honestly their story is nothing new from their previous works, really such an old-school vibe. A bit whiney but talented MC who is reborn (really doesn't matter if he's reborn or not). And a domineering ML who pampers his wife. Some very cliche but shallow long misunderstanding, but also has a lot of questionable parts. At the moment of me typing it the story is fully available and also completely free on JJ. I completed this one. But it's not something I Would recommend to avid BL readers. Oh, forgot to mention, Tangerine Boat loves mpreg, so this one has it too. 

[BL] 穿为换亲寡夫郎后 by 且拂 *JJ

(mtl: Transmigrated into a widowed man of exchanged marriage)

Status: Ongoing

Progress: 16

It is freshly released story about a medical student (Chinese medicine) Li Fenglan who transmigrates into a book, where he has a reborn cousin who steals his husband. The original book is about a person who is an only child of a former Crown Prince, living incognito in seclusion in a small village. He was supposed to marry OG Li Fenglan because he found him pretty and also easy to manipulate. It's a basic story of a person who achieves success, but also has a lot of romantic followers before becoming the Emperor. Li Baocheng is reborn and remembers how his cousin (Li Fenglan) achieved success and became Empress (oh, forgot to mention, supposedly this is a novel with men who are like ger, can have children and fertility is indicated by red birthmarks, but there is no emphasis on this aspect so far, so I tend to forget it even exists), so when Li Baocheng was reborn he thought he struck gold and it was not too late to exchange husbands. Li Fenglan who had the plot knew much more and it didn't matter to him to lose this unfaithful and trashy husband, but what we know at the beginning is that one husband is destined to become an Emperor, while the other is destined to die (which of course is not completely true when it comes to the story that follows). Fenglan didn't find it a bad thing, he actually welcomed it instead, he didn't have to have a relationship with an unknown man. But to survive he has to navigate the ancient world. To help him further he bound Medical System.

Fenglan is a pretty smart person I must say, he analizes a lot of what is happening with the plot and the changes surrounding him. Like the Ji family, family of his husband, did not appear much in the story and he had no idea what happened to them, but he still wanted to help them survive. He deducted on their escape that Ji family most likely met with an accident even back in the village (the second child was pushed and almost hit his head, which Fenglan prevented), he also deducted from Baocheng's reaction that he was surprised to see the second child alive and conscious. Another secret comes from the jade pendant and ring. Fenglan realized that his mother-in-law must have a connection to a minister and her heirlooms were either stolen or taken on her way. I just like when characters can deduct things from reactions and events, although many may not be cunning, but he is observant and uses the plot knowledge and what he witnesses to his advantage.

The plot starts from the famine and escape, along the way Fenglan reveals more and more secrets, which promises lot of fun.

[BG] 绑定神豪系统后我成了豪门真千金 by 墨洙洙 *Qidian

(mtl: After binding the Rich system, she became a true rich heiress)

Status: Completed

Progress: DNF

Well, this is really such a shallow and unsatisfying story. Basic idea is of FMC Yun Zijing binding a rich system. All she needs to do is - spend money and get rewarded with unimaginable riches. Although it feels like a great dream come true, but such stories have one particular downside. This one followed the same path too. The main problem is when FMC herself doesn't have any substance ad then gets something for nothing it just ends there. Although the story tries to placate and say that this never marred her character, but I do not agree and she sometimes flaunts - oh, money not a problem - well, of course, since you never felt what really means to get it through your own efforts. She sometimes acts really weirdly, treating money as dirt, not knowing where these money came from, not really caring if one day they will run out etc. It took her some time to finally do something good with it too.

The other really shallow part is being favored by people. It's very easy to pinpoint the MMC of this story, just follow the person who "never treated well or paid attention to women before but with Yun Zijing he is different". Such pathetic reasoning. Although she gets skills and not only property and stuff like that, but she herself does nothing substantial to say - wow. She goes around and everyone marvels how she throws money around as if it's nothing big, her management skills are zero. Within very short time she gets people who do things for her (because system provides it). And I didn't want to read more, because it got really boring really quick and looking at the number of chapters this story has - 776 - it provides nothing.

Oh, and also the story of her being a true heiress, it's such a cliche and brainless plot that you may die from cringe.

Update: Recently, I found novel that also has a "rich system" in it, but it's written in a much better way, so this type of story can work if author cares to do so. I'm currently enjoying it and will make a separate post whenever I'm done, but let me introduce you to 豪门认亲？可我已经是千亿富婆了, in this story FMC Xu Youyou binds a system, which does allow her to scavange and bargain, but get some awesome rewards. I like the fact that system does not provide things out of nowhere. For example she took a lottery ticket first from a trash can okay. Her rewards are good but not super excessive in comparison to this novel I described above. FMC herself does not act as if she's some shit, even if she was reborn and this is the reason for her system binding. You can see that she still learns along the way.

[BG] 黑月光泄露心声后，所有人都慌了 by 以介景福 *Qidian

(mtl: After hearing true thoughts of a dark moonlight everyone panicked)

Status: Completed

Progress: Completed

Lu Sijian transmigrates into a book and binds villain supporting system, her task is to get as many negative points as possible, so she can return and get a money reward. But she had no idea that everyone from the main cast could hear her thoughts.

Lu Sijian transmigrated into a body of a person who recently woke up from a coma, while she was unware of what was going on, Mu Liangyue or the protagonist of this word has been harassed for years as she tried to do things, since Sijian was her benefactor. Later everyone around Sijian will see her true face and switch sides.

It could have been better if the story did not start to involve some really brainless plots, so the system comes from higher realm and Liangyue was chosen as protag for her kindness, as if she was somehing light and spotless. But things were pretty basic, Liangyue just brainwashed herself and tried to pay back for any good that came her way, she did so many things in return that it would make anyone look bad, as if return of gratitude became a sin for those who helped her. How can you treat her so harshly, she did so much for you to pay gratitude. Similar case waited for Sijian, even if she said that Liangyue did not need to do anything, it did not stop Liangyue and she did many presumptious things basically making Sijian look worse and worse.

Others who were won over by Liangyue dedication slowly realized what was going on.

Bt even if the main cast could hear her thoughts not everyone thought of her as innocent, on the contrary. I think this part could have been interesting, but the story really is nothing to rave over.

Even after finishing I ad to read synopsis to remind myself what happened in this story, this is how forgettable and disappointing it is with some priests from above who assigned Liangyue as protagonist, when actually Sijian was the original one. It actually is connected to the luck of this world they collect through this method. Honestly.. pointless.

Just MEH.

[BG] 协议结婚后，我上恋爱综艺爆火了 *Qidian

(mtl: After contractual marriage I became a sensation on a dating show)

Status: Completed

Progress: 43

Pretty okay story so far.

Pei Shi returned to Pei family for a while and already entered a contract marriage. Everyone thinks they're a plastic couple and they're not far from the truth. Getting into trouble the couple ends up on a dating show where everyone finds out who the real Pei Shi is and what is the truth of their relationship.

Pei Shi got into a huge accident, after which she binds an animal close to her husband every month. She can act wantonly howere she wants. What she doesn't know is that her husband can hear her thoughts.

So yeah #sweet romance, dating variety show, hearing thoughts.

Actually I didn't read much, but so far it's not bad at all. You know when you can clock melodramatic trashy plots right away, the same goes for authors that want to write relatively normal stories, so this is the exmple of one.

US

What's A Little Blackmail Between Friends by Lynn Morrison

Found on one of the searches, really was attracted by that title ahaha

These are more for the TBR list instead of having any thoughts about it at the moment.

Another Victorian period mystery. Love mysteries~ Always on a watch out for new books, will see how this one goes if it's any good or not.

The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren

I remember I read one of their books, so want to see another one. The last was a pretty okay book to me. Also I love these lush flowers on the cover.

It has some interesting idea of a lover revival? What? Will see. This is a July release.

Darkest at Dusk by Eve Silver

First in the series of Revenant Roses.

Is it too obvious I was attracted by the cover? It promises romance, gothic, horror and paranormal. I'm in.

ANIMATION

Only 2 episodes left for Witch hat atelier to be completed, so I can watch it in bulk, meanwhile I'm happy to see season 2 of Seihantai na kimi to boku coming so soon. Yay. 

Nothing else from the anime season summer 2026 catching my attention. Either all posters look the same tbh or it's just not it. Also I set too many goals to watch.

But I do want to finally see Kubo and the two strings. 

MOVIES

The Batman (2022)

Really had this on my list since forever ahaha I wrote a separate post for it.

But shortly, it was a good watch. I expected to be super disappointed and my expectations were on the floor. Instead I got hooked by the atmosphere and how it was shot. I got to say, most of it is thanks to camera work and director's vision, otherwiese it wouldn't have worked the same. So I won't lie, I indeed enjoyed it. Ref. review.

Mr. K (2024)

I watched it on 16th, I actually put it back again and again because when I searched for it I saw that ratings are quite low. So I decided to watch in spite of it and actually I agree with the low ratings. I assumed there would be more, but who knew this would end in such a bizarre way.

Mr K is an Illusionist who registers at a hotel where he plans to have a performance, but later he gets lost in corridors and can't find the exit. The hotel with one entrance and no exit concept.

Artistic and bizarre.

Inhabitat by other people who never left the hotel actually, before Mr K finds the hotel slowly shrinking and tries to warn others.

At first people agree, then they seat and wait for him to do all the job and then they get angry for creating the problem.

Before he finds this fleshy tunnel in his own room.

I actually thought the way hotel transformed looked cool, but the rest of it, like the story, were quite basic, but the fleshy an** at the very end just made me laugh. I'm sorry, but what else does it look like, even the very last part where he pushes the unknown creature in its' sphere out, it all looked... very specific.

[Chinese BG novel] 反穿后我和死对头隐婚了 by 微姑娘 / After I trasmigrated I was secretly married to my nemesis

*Qidian

Synopsis: After Cheng Mi fought tooth and nail for the throne she was betrayed and killed by the man whom she tried to put on the throne. But instead of perishing she found herself in a future, she transmigrated into the body of "illegitimate" daughter of a Cheng family, her mother died in fire while she lived worse than a servant in this family. Not to mention she found she was married to someone who actually was a Crown Prince, her biggest nemesis and someone she did the dirtiest in her past life.

Later she found that not only Crown Prince regained his memories but other princes whom she wronged in the palace fight regained their memories too.

So it's a trashy melodramatic story, which was partially quite entertaining. If some work was done editing it, you know the usual snipping here, expanding there and the story would be even better. But so far it's a path of transmigrated Cheng Mi who navigates the new world and deals with her husband, those who regained memories and many melodramatic plots of wealthy families.

There's a lot to unpack, so I made a relationship diagram.

It's not complete (also I'm sure I effed up someone's name), but it has the majority of main characters / supporting characters.

SPOILERS

Cheng Mi (FMC) daughter of He Chuping and was believed to be an illegitimate child of Cheng ZX (forgot his full name lol), but it was all a cover of her mother and Grandpa Mu to protect her from being found, especially by her biological father Shen Lianghao.

She bankrupted the Cheng family, Cheng ZX jumped after she dug his involvement with Chuping's death. 

Cheng ZX has a wife, legitimate daughter Zhaoying and another illegitimate child either XiangXiang or XiaoXiao, I forgot because she appeared just a bunch of times, very forgettable character.

Cheng Mi later moved to capital and found that her family is a He family and her mother has a past with a man named Shen Lianghao. He family was once wealthy but now faced a fast decline because of the conflict with the Huo family that lasted for two decades.

It's the goal of the story for her to take revenge on behalf of Chuping and OG Cheng Mi and deal with a Zhu family (not in the diagram) who acted on behalf of the Huo family and ordered Chuping to be murdered. And of course pay back Huo family, though this one was not realized and rushed through at the very end (unsatisfying).

Mu Zhihan (MMC) comes from a prominent Murong family. He has another grandfather Murong Zhang, his mother Murong Feng and sister Murong Nuan.

He was a Crown Prince in last life. Actually was Cheng Mi's master with a secret identity, he loved her then and now, but they had conflicts they solved in this life eventually (actually the dragged out misunderstanding part at the beginning).

Wu Zhichen. Someone Cheng Mi promoted in last life for the throne, who betrayed her for Zhaoying, even in this life he did the same. Cheng Mi ruined his career, but others even got rid of his family, he should be a final boss, but it was underwhelming and author rushed to finish the story.

Was not favored in past life and used Cheng Mi to ascend (was actually shortly after the death of Cheng Mi killed by Mu Zhihan).

Deng, Xie, Nangong - transmigrated princes who were in conflict with Cheng Mi. I don't think their arcs were utilized well. Eventually they realized they actually liked Cheng Mi and pursued he, but she was married already, though they had no idea for a long time. Honestly, have no idea why they fell for her when she caused their death.

He family. Grandpa He Yong is Chuping's father. He Yongqi is her brother, with Zhou / Zhao as sister-in-law (honestly this character appeared once or twice and had common last name but of course I forgot). They have three kids. Their family declined because of the Huo family.The origina of the conflicts tems from the fact that Chuping fell for Lianghao and while they were away He family was approached by Huo family, who actually caused their business to suffer behind the scenes, but for help they wanted a marriage alliance, they also lied that Chuping was on board. He family agreed, but later Chuping returned with her lover. Huo family escalated the conflict and persecuted He family for years afterwards.

The secret of why Chuping left was pretty standard. Surprisingly was created by her own mother (unexplained why, Yang Fenlang, Chuping's mother, has been dead for years now) who sent Yao Cui to Lianghao's bed, but even if they failed to make Lianghao have sex, he was still caught in bed. Also while Lianghao was kept captive, Yao Cui came to Chuping with pregnancy report.

Shen family. Shen Lianghao became a wealthy person afterwards and was searching for Chuping for years. While he was mostly away and as a straight man was oblivious to rumors, Yao Cui being ambitious created an image and everyone thought she was Mrs Shen, but they were not married, they did not have any relationship, Lianghao just let her stay at their house as a favor. Even if she was the one who caused the conflict. Illogical I know.

Shen Mi is her daughter from who knows where, but for her daughter she created an image of only Shen family princess, which eventually drove Shen Mi mad when Cheng Mi finally appeared. Shen Mi is not Lianghao's biological child, but other had no idea, she was also not an adopted one. She is a very vain person who had no subtsance but used her brothers for her own popularity.

Shen family has 6 adopted sons, they all achieved success in their own fields, but they're the only ones who are officially adopted. Lianghao actually adopted them in good faith they will protect his and Chuping's daughter / child they planned to have. 

Also only Yangyao was a married son from the Shen family, his wife Cui Penshan is such a delightful person who never gave anyone face.

So these are the main relationships and conflicts.

It feels a lot but when you break it down it's not much.

I think a lot of characters were not utilized to their fullest potential. Such as Xin'er and one of the Huo family sons, the two had such a cool forbidden love / R&J vibe to them.

I didn't like how the conflict / misunderstanding between CM and MZH dragged for so long, two adults who can't communicate.

Also the past is a bit flat. At first when they discuss things which were horrible and gory, but it almost felt like author makes it sound goofy. Emotions of guilt and grief for her actions actually were okay when it came to CM.

This had 746 chapters and I must add they were short and easy to read, but editing was really needed. Not lacking water and brainless parts though.

But in general I had my fun.

RATE: 2,75/5.

[Chinese BG novel] 豪门大小姐她撕了白月光剧本章节列表 by 以介景福 / Rich heiress tears the white moonlight script

*Qidian

Summary: Yan Xi was dreaming for a week about how her life is nothing but a script to a book about a true heroine - Chen XiangXiang, she was given a role of a villainous cannon fodder. Although she is a Xi family daughter, a wealthy heiress and was always called a number one soiclite of their city, after Chen XiangXiang arrived at her house as prospect adopted daughter all her life was nothing more but a foil and means to be compared to CXX, who healed the wounded heart of Xi father and also the young master of the Xi family, Xi Yan, who were so devastated by the emotional blow after the Mrs Xi, Yan Qincheng, passing away and now the daughter of the Xi family, Yan Xi, fighting the cancer for years. Yan Xi was deemed vicious and unworthy, while CXX was the epitome of kindness and a holy heart.

Yan Xi: You got to be kidding.

Note: Yan Xi is called Yan because of her mother and the agreement between two families, her brother is called Xi Yan, since Xi family insisted on him having Xi family, although they at first agreed for kids to have Yan family name. They are twins.

I remember reading this, but then I checked to see I never posted about it? Maybe because it was Qidian and at first I didn't treat it as anything.

Yan Xi couldn't believe the plot at first, since it wasn't in her character to act like that, but then she had to face reality, something about CXX was truly off, but CXX's idea of targeting Yan Xi and create a conflict to discredit her was real.

The plan would have been good if Yan Xi wasn't as intelligent. She dealt with the conflicts among the family and at school, while no one actually knew that she was not only the future heir of her maternal grandfather family, but also she had thriving business herself. She was part of a special class for genius children when she was a kid, now she returned to school just to experience it and go through College Entrance Exam, since her previous quota for university expired when she got sick.

CXX is someone who heavily relied on her Charming Persona system while she captured hearts of men and relied on reputation points she could change visually and give people a desired impression, but all came at a price she eventually had to pay by the end.

She planned well, but had no idea she was always on a watch list from Yan Xi for her weird behavior and other skills that came out of nowhere.

Yan Xi noticed the discrepancy between the skill CXX presented and actual fatcs. Like the Glass Heart grass that appeared out of nowhere but she managed to plant it in their glass house. Then her skills with pills, she had no education in the field and came from a countryside, where could she learn the skill? She only had finished product but had no idea how to make it. And the list goes on.

What I overall liked about this story that it does not defy logic, a lot of places are actually good, people do have logic, except characters who were captured, so it eventually showed the power of the system. Or that people did not lose their moral compass when it came to CXX who did not reach the age of 18 dating one of her suitors Huo Zi'ang (meaning they slept together). It had a huge melodramatic plot that was going for a while that included the dealings between the wealthy families and the overall drama that CXX created with her green tea persona.

The bad side effect is that some parts were really cringe, like the created a helmet that would help catch the system inside, which felt like a total dream, but my main cringe will always be when FMC has too many skills that are so versatile, since she is academically gifted, then she also knows how to do all other noble stuff, can singe and compose, let's not forget hacking, inevitable. Like so cringe it was too much (like a competition two boys created for themselves since Xie Changze who is the ML of the story will win to make other boy back away) ahaha Some of it was unbelievable, like Yan Xi subduing someone with her force, while she is also describing her weak condition after just returning and getting better. The other side effect is that it dragged. Although the chapters are pretty short, but the overall number of chapters is 550+ so it felt like this story should go somewhere quicker. Even if a lot happened, but a lot of it stemmed from CXX doing the same thing like sowing discord etc.

Even when CXX was out of the picture she wa replaced by a similar type of character named He Shi who acted like a total psycho.

So yeah it's a true rollecoaster ride with a lot of resounding face slaps and a lot of secrets and drama of wealthy families that will eventually be uncovered.

Yan Xi is truly charismatic but also has a soft heart, which unfortunately others will explain to you. Since Yan Xi in other's eyes is always a strong individual, but she leaves a lot of ways out for people or helps people, but she doesn't advertise it like CXX.

On the contrary with her constant encouragement but no actual actions CXX is treated as a true kind heart, while she encouraged Xi Yan to not study, since he has no talent for it, which is false, but also did not stop anyone from spreading rumors or misunderstanding the Xi family siblings whever it benefitted her. While whenever someone from her clique faced consequences she always had a different stance of disappointment, crying and saying they misunderstood her and how could they do this to her.

Anyway very basic weak woman, who plays on her victimhood all the time and cries at the drop of the hat and evokes the desire to protect her.

No one knows how satisfying it was to read when she first lost a chunk of her hair as her points dwindled and she faced more and more backlash. She also never gave up her beauty points thinking of making a comeback, even if it was impossible.

CXX is the basic type of character who thinks they're smart, but without the system she is basically nothing. She has no beauty or talent she actually worked hard to achieve on her own. She also thinks she is smart, while anyone who is older and smarter can see her tricks right away. It's only thanks to her buffs that she was able to play so well so far. Also with or without intelligent system her choices are not smart at all, so she got the consequences.

I won't go into spoilers / details of what the plot was and what happened, because a lot of things happened with a lot of face slaps and such. It's the same scheme of - we cause troubles and troubles are solved. Lots of melodrama. It's a pity that it had some really cingy moment, otherwise I'd gladly rate it higher.

RATE: 3,75 / 5. For the rollercoaster.

EDIT:

The same author wrote "全能大佬拒绝做冤种反派章节列表" (I don't want to create a separate post for it), which I found I read as well and I'd say to me it's worse. Although shorter in chapters (500+) it felt like it dragged too much and repeated the same thing over and over again. Some people used to act brainless even without any system influencing them, which to me was a bit off.

Anyway what the story is about. He Xinyan has a villain transformation system that stuck with her. The gist is she lived as system advised, basically becoming more and more hated. Then died, traversed and returned and now she has a payback moment. The one against her is He Yuye, "real heiress" of the He family.

It's a very melodramatic plot that is revealed later on that she was actually taken in with a motive, not simply adopted. They used her as bloodbag and stiffled her learning process, although it all fell through. When the real heiress returned the He family used rumors to tarnish Xinyan's reputation. Even though what she did for the He family benefitted them throughout the years.

But what I don't like is the constant repetition of He Yuye acting up and consequently framing Xinyan, but always get a slapback, more like Yuye often instigates others.

But what makes this different is that He Yuye is a completely delusional person, she lives in her own selfish bubble and rationalizes all of her actions, so anyone who doesn't act as she dictates must do it as a malicious attempt against her. People often believe her since she looks like a poor and white flower needing protection, but others with brains don't buy her story. Yuye really is that delulu, so she thinks Xinyan is a villain,although Xinyan doesn't even touch her, but on the contrary Yuye is the one who sticks to her like a plaster.

Anyway, a lot of family drama going on.

Again FMC knows a lot of things, but at least explained by her traversing, so it's more logical.

But what I liked the most is the secret behind the villain transformation system.

Spoilers. The thing is it claims to be from the future where someone tries to destroy Xinyan of their time, it is illogical, but who knows, maybe they think it'll work. So villain system isn't a logical product either, with no logic at all and makes Xinyan do everything according to tasks, even if it means destroying her own reputation. Thanks to her own skills she slowly infiltrated the system and separated it from what was lurking beneath it - Yuye from the future. She was half-dormant, but also influenced the system.

It's an interesting idea tbh, to send something to past like that.

But in this life Xinyan actually discovered a lot of things, for example she was abducted by the Gu family members, while she is a true Gu family daughter and her father is the youngest but he is still the head of the Gu family, there are still two families who plotted against them. He real family was looking for her. He family took part in it, so they were well aware of the fact she was not biological.

There's a lot of family drama.

But tbh the fact that He Yuye appears so often with her teary-eyed look and plays the victim all the time which brings a lot of troubles to Xinyan is used too many times, thus it gets old.

I also have a lot of places that I was not a fan of when again it came to family drama. I felt like a lot of characters got this saintly aura. I could understand the desire to forgive, but honestly one of the examles was like a ragebait. It was about dicovering that sister-in-law of Xinyan's mother actually caused her mental illness to flaire up many times, she was mistreated and also for years she tortured her with many psychological suggestions. But because her husband, brother of Xinyan's mother, had lived for years with her and said she brought up her nephew and also took care of him etc. they eventually let it go. I mean...what? I can understand they did it for feelings, but at the same time.. this woman is a criminal, who the fuck cares if she has an illegitimate daughter she must care for or that she was with her husband for years, so many times people are swayed at these points, as if her mercy of nor really doing what she was told to is something great. She planned to abscond with their money and leave to live abroad and they forgot everything bad and remembered questionable good? Whatever...

I know there are better options when it comes to expressing compromises, but I think here it was a miss. I also was surprised they didn't guess sooner. So cloueless.

The same was for other things like in the end when He Linjun drove car and almost hit Xinyan with her classmates. People sympathized with Yeyu because of her tears, but did they really not know her brother intentionally drove a car towards the crowd? At other times any small detail is spread like wildfire, but nothing here?

So a lot of places that really kinda were not it for me.

[ANIMATION] Le grand méchant renard et autres contes... / The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales (2017)

This is cute and hysterical 😂

I can't even describe it properly, but in short it's three stories about farm animals that find themselves in different predicaments. Titular story about Big bad Fox is the second one. The other two are about how a trio on the left tried to deliever a baby instead of a stork and the third one was a Christmas story. But all three are hysterical. It's a combination of storytelling and animation that blends it into such a cute and humorous picture.

Truly enjoyed and laughed at it. All the animal characters are so different but all have something unique about their personalities. And I can understand why the fox became almost the central figure.

(little chick riding a toy car, isn't it just the cutest?)

RATE: 10/10.

[ANIMATION] April and the Extraordinary World / Avril et le monde truqué (2015)

It's 1941 but France is trapped in the nineteenth century, governed by steam and Napoleon V, where scientists vanish mysteriously. Avril, a teenage girl, goes in search of her missing scientist parents.

#sci-fi, steampunk, adventure

This was so INTERESTING!

French can do it. Also, the French dark humor is chef's kiss~.

And I'm being honest, despite some of the obvious conveniences, overall it's such a unique story and unique-looking style. Maybe for French viewers it won't be something out of ordinary, but I'm impressed. Because I love animation and it's always nice to see something that sticks out from the oridnary.

Avril lives in a world alternate to ours, where steam machines integrated and vastly influences Earth as a whole. Paris is a huge city full of concrete and iron pipes, it's all grey and desolate, since all the trees were wiped out. Literally. The heavy smog hovers in the sky, making people wear protective gear like gas masks. No one had made a grand scientific discovery in years, since all the scientists are kidnapped by unknown organization or they're made to work for the Empire and also disappear. 

I love it when the idea behind a story is simple. In this case even ironic. The disappearance of the living world of flora and fauna is directly connected to humanity's overconsumption, but at the same time it is the result of all the scientists being kidnapped and not making new discoveries. And there is of course a secret behind disappearance (in spoilers).

Avril had lived alone since her parents disappeared, her family are all prominent scientists and they worked on some absolute solution, a potion that will allow a living organism to regenerate and survive in the harshest environment.

Avril only has a talking cat Darwin that was with her for all these years and Avril continues to replicate the potion for the sake of Darwin's survival. Only to find herself involved in the disappearance of scientists and a big plan behind it.

The animation is amazing. When I saw the poster with two Eiffel towers I was like - heck yeah, I want to see it, also all that steampunk gear, so exciting. The style is disticnt thanks to the style of Tardi (also illustrated Adèle Blanc-Sec, which I reviewed a while ago), the colors are bold, as well as lines of artwork. The atmosphere is immersive thanks to many details that happen in the background. For example like pedestrian wear masks or how a black dust flies when Avril dusts her jacket, to showcase how heavy the smog is. Overall despite how desolate and bare the city of Paris looks like, it also looks quite cool with all the piping and steam.

I think even if technical part uses a lot of conveniences (like for example the world looks desolate, but what about food and crops, it is not mentioned) you can let it go while watching, because it just looks cool. Some are made outright funny, but I did laugh at them instead of being - well, this is ridiculous. Indeed, and this is why it made me smile.

Because why not?

SPOILERS:

It's not really hard to connect the dots when you see two intelligent (able of speaking and thinking) lizards escape from a scientist's lab (Avril's ancestor) and from then on scientists around the world started to disappear and the progress stopped. But this also triggered the ecological devastation. But when you think about the "big plan" by these two lizards you'd say - what?

Because indirectly their actions caused the world to be devastated and they claimed how people will kill each other one day, while they want to save the planet and spread the trees to make the earth almost into a jungle and because the jungle will be injected with the potion it will not be damaged or destroyed an dwill be regenerating, marking a new era. This is why I say it's ironic, you blame humanity, while these two lizards caused so much harm as well.

Ridiculous part is also about the very ending when all their children started fighting against each other.

Ironic, isn't it?

So overall I really enjoyed it 😄

RATE: 9/10.

[ANIMATION] Ernest & Celestine / Ernest et Célestine (2012)

This is so adorable!

The story is a bit bizarre to me, but overall it was heart-warming and great. The animation is amazing, care for details is fantastic. A lot of humorous moments to enjoy.

A story about unlikely friendship between Ernest, the bear, and a young mouse Celestine.

French can really do it. It's the third French animation movie I watch in the span of last two months and I liked them all.

I started watching not knowing a single thing about this story, so imagine my surprise seeing that it will involve teeth.

The short gist of it is bears live on the surface, they love sweets (obviously) and thus they loose teeth from time to time. Then we have mice who live underground, they built everything thanks to their teeth, but when a mouse looses their teeth it's basically game over, thus they need teeth and they take it - of course from bears. So bears have a legend of "mouse-fairy" although they don't welcome real mice.

Celestine is one of those who travels to the surface in search of teeth. Encountering a problem she is stuck in a garbage bin.

Then we have Ernest, he is living alone far from the city, waking up before spring he feels so hungry that he decided to go to the city and perform.

When nothing comes out of it he searches the garbage and finds Celestine.

In this case Celestine is a pretty smart mouse, really witty, while Ernest is more like a happy-go-lucky and loud.

She helps him open a window to sweets warehouse. She helps him again when he is arrested and makes him make a promise that he will help her in return.

In between first and second instance we see the way the mice live underground, it's pretty neet I'd say. But she as a collector of teeth is sent back to bring back at least 50 for her night failure (after all she was stuck in a garbage bin). She saw that across the sweets shop is a shop that offers teeth and they have lots of them. So she asks Ernest to rob it at night.

So you can guess these two are quite involved in criminal activities aahahha

Yet since Ernest helped her bring back the heavy load he slept underground and of course the mice noticed him (pretty cool animation moments) and a swarm of them chased after him. They came t the surface and while trying to escape they stole a van :'D I can't. The way the police bear chased them ahaha

The two managed to escape and came to Ernest's house where they spent time.

So the two through time developed this unlikely friendship through adversities. Both felt the same way, a bit lonely and feeling they don't belong among others.

All ends well, even too well and the two actually live together as two happy friends.

Want to note that although they are antropomorph animals, they still have a bit of their animal traits, especially Celestine. She won't just stand in front of the house, she can climb it. So they included a lot of such details throughout the story.

Also this has other movie and also a TV series released later.

RATE: 10/10.