Tag: Learning
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The Power of Connection and Support: Reflections on Final Fantasy IX
Read more: The Power of Connection and Support: Reflections on Final Fantasy IXFinal Fantasy IX, released by Square Enix in 2000, stands as the ninth opus of this beloved RPG series. This installment not only marked a nostalgic return to a “super-deformed” (SD) character design, reminiscent of earlier games, but also showcased the team’s refined experience on the PlayStation platform. The results were spectacular, delivering a captivating…
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Dreams in the Snow: A Reflection on Noi the Albino by Dagur Kári
Read more: Dreams in the Snow: A Reflection on Noi the Albino by Dagur KáriI watched Noi the Albino on ARTE, a unique French-German channel known for broadcasting lesser-known films and documentaries. This film, set in Iceland, tells the story of Noi, a 17-year-old teenager living in a small, remote fishing village. Noi’s appearance, marked by alopecia totalis (a complete absence of hair), sets him apart visually, but it’s…
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Uncovering Truth and Responsibility: Reflections on Spotlight and Societal Change
Read more: Uncovering Truth and Responsibility: Reflections on Spotlight and Societal ChangeThe 2015 film Spotlight, directed by Tom McCarthy, chronicles the Boston Globe’s “Spotlight” team, the longest-running investigative journalism unit in the U.S., as it exposes a decades-long cover-up of systemic child abuse by priests within the Boston Roman Catholic Archdiocese. I became interested in the movie after watching an interview with actor Mark Ruffalo, who…
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Life, Identity, and Euthanasia in Me Before You
Read more: Life, Identity, and Euthanasia in Me Before YouMe Before You, directed by Thea Sharrock, delves into the transformative relationship between Louisa “Lou” Clark (played by Emilia Clarke) and Will Traynor, a once-successful banker and adventurer who, after a tragic accident, is left as a tetraplegic. Though the film falls into the typical tropes of a romantic drama, it raises relevant issues of…
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Finding Enlightenment Through the Journey of Growth in Vagabond
Read more: Finding Enlightenment Through the Journey of Growth in VagabondVagabond, a masterpiece by Takehiko Inoue, offers a fictionalized portrayal of the life of Japanese swordsman Musashi Miyamoto, based on Eiji Yoshikawa’s novel Musashi. The story begins with two 17-year-old warriors, Takezō Shinmen and Matahachi Hon’iden, wounded on the battlefield after the Battle of Sekigahara. Determined to achieve greatness, they pledge to become “Invincible Under…
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Exploring Romance and Self-Growth Through City Hunter
Read more: Exploring Romance and Self-Growth Through City HunterCity Hunter, a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo, was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1985 to 1991. The story follows Ryo Saeba, a “sweeper” and flirtatious gunman, who runs the “City Hunter” business in Shinjuku, Tokyo. At first accompanied by his partner, Hideyuki Makimura, Ryo’s world changes dramatically when Hideyuki…
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Rediscovering Life’s Purpose: Reflections on Living by Oliver Hermanus
Read more: Rediscovering Life’s Purpose: Reflections on Living by Oliver HermanusIn Living, directed by Oliver Hermanus and adapted from Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru, Bill Nighy portrays a bureaucrat in a public works office who, upon learning of his terminal illness, confronts the monotony that has defined his life. Once called a “Zombie” by a former colleague—a woman he admires for her lively spirit—he realizes he’s lost…
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Embracing Passion and Authenticity in a Conformist Society
Read more: Embracing Passion and Authenticity in a Conformist SocietyIn Beck, a manga by Harold Sakuishi, we follow the journey of Yukio Tanaka, a 14-year-old whose ordinary life is upended when he meets Ryusuke Minami, a charismatic rock musician. A chance encounter with Ryusuke and his dog sets Yukio, or “Koyuki,” on a transformative path, drawing him into the world of rock music. Through…
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Haikyu!!: Lessons in Teamwork, Self-Improvement, and Resilience
Read more: Haikyu!!: Lessons in Teamwork, Self-Improvement, and ResilienceHaikyu!!, a manga by Haruichi Furudate, has made a remarkable impact on the popularity of volleyball, both in Japan and internationally. Much like Slam Dunk for basketball or Captain Tsubasa for soccer, Haikyu!! brings excitement to the sport it showcases, blending drama, humor, and a touch of reality. Through dynamic storytelling and character growth, the…
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Embracing Change and Time: Lessons from Groundhog Day
Read more: Embracing Change and Time: Lessons from Groundhog DayGroundhog Day is a film from my childhood that has always stood out to me. The story follows a self-centered weatherman, played by Bill Murray, who is sent to a small town to cover the annual Groundhog Day event. What he doesn’t expect is to become trapped in an infinite time loop, reliving the same…