『M』uddy 『C』ult: September 2021

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

BM5's August 2021 Favorites

Favorite Music Discovery

Falling - Lim Kim

Apparently, Lim Kim has been around for quite some time, but she has been a great new discovery for me. It all started with this song with Sera Ryu reacting to it. I truly was pleased by the really great production mixed with her angelic vocals. I, then, knew I had to look up more about her and found she was on Arirang Radio to promote the new comeback. The full dive is on the way, but I certainly am intrigued by this creative mind. How about you?

Favorite Music Breakdown

How to Make an SM 2021 Song - ZSunder

ZSunder has been a producer that I have long admired since discovering Loona in their early days. Over the years, he has impressed me with the skill and efficiency of the compositions and understanding of the kpop sound. Before there was a breakdown of a Teddy/Blackpink song and now here's the presentation of a SM track. It's done to perfection, from the analysis to the execution. Get a load of this!!

Favorite Interview

Wayne Brady Ruined My Wedding... - No Chaser Podcast

Sorry, ya'll, I've got another podcast to drop on you all. This was a hilarious conversation between Tim Chantarangsu, Ricky Shucks, Nikki Blades, and guest, Wayne Brady. That's all you need to know. Haha! They go into how they know each other, how Wayne was supposed to officiate Tim's wedding, and so much more. My gut was busted for a whole hour through. Maybe it'll be the same for you!

Favorite Music Video

Family Ties - Baby Keem feat. Kendrick Lamar

A grand return that only slightly overshadows the tracks foremost owner. Baby Keem and Kendrick collaborate over 3 different beats as they trade flows from cousin to cousin. Baby Keem starts off with that wild energy for the streets as some svenes overlay displaying the environment and lifestyle appropriate to the lyrics and delivery. Then by the third beat switch, Kendrick enters with a strong statement towards the top 5 in the industry, then maneuvering through dizzying flows and rhyme patterns that boggle the mind. The visuals also matches the intensity of Lamar's presentation of why he's still one of biggest threats in the rap game. Elite is the only judgment you can make after a first listen leaves us anticipating which artist tickles your fancy the most.

Full Aug. 2021 Favorites: click here

Sunday, September 26, 2021

Quick Movie Review

Relic (2020, USA) | Rating: 3/5
I've heard a lot of good things about this hidden horror gem and the premise sounded pretty interesting. Obviously, I checked it out and...I did enjoy it, but I don't think I enjoyed it as much as those who sung high praises. I really enjoyed the dark atmosphere and the characters were interesting, but, for me, there was something missing to keep me hooked. I'm sure I was doing something else while this was playing and when that happens, if I miss something and don't bother going back to understand what was playing in the background, that's not a good sign. Now I'm not saying that this movie doesn't deserve the praise that it deserves, but it just didn't hit the same notes for me personally. At the same time, I can understand why people enjoyed it so much as it takes a typical life grievance that comes with multi-generational households dealing with aging ailments and gives a more grimy and dark coat of paint with a sprinkle of the supernatural.

The Reason (2020, USA) | Rating: 3/5
It's unfortunate that religious movies tend to follow a familiar beaten path. This can be for better or for worse, but when the movie is the former, it's usually nothing groundbreaking. That's how I feel about this movie. It's very predictable, but it wasn't boring. You have a character that achieves the impossible, a skeptic, a pastor, and a sick child. There's lots of moments that you can figure out throughout the movie, but the characters make the movie (read: story) bearable. A couple of the "reveals" either fall in the "I totally knew that" and "Oh, I thought it would go a different direction". I think the most important part when I review religious/spiritual movies is gauging whether the message is efficiently delivered and not being shoved down your throat. Fortunately, I can say, that it does give a comfortable atmosphere and encouraging believing in God etc. etc. and I appreciate that!

Heavy Metal (1981, Canada) | Rating: 2.5/5
This was a request from one of my lovely Muddy Cult Patrons Norma for Animation April. ~~Clearly, I'm very timely with this review.~~ I have heard of this movie, but I had no idea what it was about, that it was animated, or an anthology. So, plenty of surprises. This is a very adult feature and apparently, it's based on some comics in an old magazine...which makes a lot of sense. Like most anthologies, I liked some stories more than others. There's a lot of weird fantasy elements in it that kinda remind me of Aeon Flux to some extent. I did enjoy it for the most part, but there were times I was disinterested or confused. There is a sequel...but I don't think I'll be checking that out soon.

The Wailing (2016, South Korea) | Rating: 3/5
It's been a while since I've watched some good ol' South Korean horror, especially featuring some spooks! I didn't hear praises for this movie until after I watched it. It has some pretty good ratings from what I can tell. As I dig through my memory, I remember enjoying it overall, but oh boy, was it long! I admit I did become a little restless in places, but it was an interesting story. It was definitely different than most Korean ghost stories I've seen as it wasn't set in modern day. The visuals were quite impressive and if you have the time, it's worth checking out, especially if you want something a little different.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017, USA) | Rating: 4/5
Like most 90's kids, I was worried about what they were planning on doing with Jumanji. People didn't know whether it was a remake, reboot, or continuation. I guess you can say it's a little bit of a reboot and sequel as there's a few little Easter eggs throughout the movie that pays tribute to Robin Williams's character, Alan Parrish. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this movie. It made a seemless modern update by changing the board game to a video game and applying those elements to the story while still keeping the original spirit of the 90's flick. The comedy was spot on (read as: Miko wasn't annoyed by Kevin Hart), the actors did a great job incapsulating each other (the teens and the game avatars), and the action was well balanced. I really had a fun time with this one!

If there's something you want me to review, check out Muddy Cult's Patreon on how to submit requests.