How To Train Your Dragon 2: A Review

How to Train Your Dragon is one of the best Dreamworks movies ever to grace the big screen. (Right up there with Megamind and Kung Fu Panda) It started as a book, evolved into a film, and is now a TV show. 

This film returns to Berk five years later, where the world of dragons and humans have coexisted in peace and harmony. But Hiccup has a much bigger challenge to face than dragons. Due to his bravery and perserverance, all of Berk expects him to become the new chief. With this new responsibility on his shoulders, Hiccup begins to wonder who he is, and who he is meant to be. While Hiccup endures this internal conflict, the dragons and humans have one of their own. A dangerous man, by the name of Drago Bludvist is building a dragon army under his control, threatening all who don't join him with destruction and imprisonment. As Hiccup and Toohthless venture further into the world and learn more about dragons, dark secrets await them, and Hiccup's greatest battle will unfold. 

This film was amazing! From the silly moments to the epic battles, How To Train Your Dragon 2 is one hell of a ride! As familar characters grow and change, the film balances serious lessons with fun loving moments. This is a short review, because I don't want to spoil anything. 

I will say that How To Train Your Dragon 2 was on amazing adventure that tugs at your heartstrings. 

I give it five out of five sheilds! 

A note on fear

My adventure in Japan taught me a very valuable lesson. It's really important to accept who you are. Not just in the "I love this tv show and I'm going to let the world know" kinda way or even the "I create my own fashion" way. But there's something to be said in accepting your own insecurities. One of my biggest insecurities was getting lost. I was afraid I wouldn't be smart enough, resourceful enough, and I wouldn't be able to adapt in order to go where I needed to. But I decided to go on this trip, despite my fear, and now I can honestly say that I'm proud of doing so. Maybe fear can be a good thing, if you acknowlegde it. But if you don't want to be afraid, you need to face the fear and learn that it doesn't hold power over you. 

So I have faced a fear, and now I know: I can go to places on my own. I can make friends and adapt to my surroundings. I can fend for myself and get to where I want to be. 

Facing one fear leads to the ability to conquer fear altogether, and to understand that sometimes fear exists to show us who we are. 

More details on my trip here: 

http://worldbooktravel.blogspot.kr/2014/07/and-back-again-tanabata-tale.html?spref=fb

It's okay to be human

It's okay to be human.

It's okay to make mistakes.

Just learn from them,

and don't dwell on them. 

Move forward.

Don't look back.

Do your best.

Don't put yourself down.

Remember that life goes on.

You'll get through this.

One day you will laugh it away. 

For now, it's a mountain you can climb.

It's a bridge you can cross.

It's a step toward learning who you are. 

It's a challenge.

It's a single moment in time. 

Just don't give up

and soon

you'll bloom. 

Petite France!

I went to Petite France! Finally, after many days wishing I was there in the Korean Dramas :) 

More details on my travel blog here: http://worldbooktravel.blogspot.kr/2014/06/little-town.html?spref=fb

I am a princess - long may I reign

This is beautiful!

La Belle et la Bete: A movie review

Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale, and though I adore the Disney version, there are few adaptions that honor the orginal story. Before I go into too much detail about the movie, I want to introduce a little history. 

Beauty and the Beast began as a short story wriiten by Madame Gabrielle Suzanne de Villeneuve in a magazine for women in 1740. It was inspired by folklore and mythology. In fact, one of the earliest versions of this fairy tale is the myth Cupid and Psyche. Many cultures all over the world have some derivative of this tale, but Beauty and the Beast is among the most popular and well known stories. 

Villeneuve's story was later adapted into a short story written by Madame Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumount who is better known as the tale's creator and had it abridged and published in a book for children in 1756 . 

Beauty and the Beast has evolved over the years from fairy tale to novel to Television show to film. But in France, the most well known adaption, besides the Disney version, is a black and white film under the name of La Belle et la Bete made in 1946. In fact, this version was the adaption that Disney used as an outline to create the animated classic Beauty and the Beast. 

I recommend watching the 1946 film and reading the original tale before watching the new 2014 film, because you may be confused, and so many people criticize this film based on the Disney version, which is very different from the actual fairytale.

While this movie is true to the original tale, it has it's own mythology and a new story behind why the Beast was cursed, but it echoes some of the genius of Hayao Miazaki's film Howl's Moving Castle, while creating a story of its own.

This film is beautiful. Not only are the special effects like stepping into a painting, the costumes are elaborately detailed, the cinematography is well done, and the acting is wonderful. 

Lea Seydoux is a clever, kind and beautiful Belle, and Vincent Cassel is a mysterious, intriguing and layered Beast. Both stars shine in their roles, and make the characters their own. 

I give it four out of five roses. A beautiful movie, timeless tale and wonderful adaption. 

Palace of Wonder and Garden of Dreams

The Changdeokgung Palace is a step back in time. From the imperial gate to the secret garden, it has been the movie set for many historical Korean dramas. The picturesque view and the artistic atmosphere draws in tourist after tourist. But for me, it's more than that. Once I arrived, it was like walking in a Korean fairytale. I could see the crown prince running along the game field. I saw the servants walking through the gate quickly with laundry to the great well next to the public garden. And of course, the minute I walked over the Geumcheongyo (stone bridge) I could see the crown princess with her ladies in waiting, and the procession that followed. 

This palace also has a forbidden garden, that we were lucky enough to grab tickets for, right before it sold out. (I reccomend geting them as soon as possible- they sell out fast) The great pavillion was a private resort for the royal family and a few selected noblility. The garden itself was a quiet retreat for tea, and it even has it's own area for the rice only eaten by the royal family. 

The area was beautiful, and reminded me of many Korean myths and legends. 

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find books about Korean folklore, but their history begins with a myth, and slowly turns into facts. The Kingdom of the Four Winds begins Korea's tale, and from then on, the history unfolds. But actually walking around the regal and beautiful buildings gives you a taste of what life was like whne men feared Gumihos, women were chosen to be the crown princess, and the great school of Sungkyunkwan was the most promising school in the country. 

This area of Korea, preserved in the Joseon period is inspirational and its own work of art. 

Some of the Korean Dramas filmed here include The Moon that Embraces the Sun, Sungkyunkwan Scandal, Gu Family Book, Goong, Goong S and of course Queen Inhyeon's Man.