Abnormal Summit— A Good Korean Non-Drama

I'll admit, the title is a bit misleading. This show isn't just "good," it's up there in my Top 5 Favourite Shows—a list reserved for truly great shows. And here, I'll explain why.

Many people hype about Korean dramas and music, but most forget that regular Korean TV shows can be just as great. They're a solid, practical way to understand and learn about Korean culture. Especially when these shows are relatable, fun to watch, and culturally accessible to (almost) everyone.

Abnormal Summit's Official Logo by JTBC

And Abnormal Summit (비정상회담) is all three.

The show is hosted by three Koreans who invite around eleven international, yet fluent Korean speakers, to a mock UN table where they discuss social matters and news. It may sound a bit dull, but it really isn't. Multi-ethnic perspectives and a lot of (good-natured) laughs are constantly exchanged.

The current season is so diverse, with representative speakers from: Mexico, United States, India, France, Pakistan, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, Italy, China, and Japan. The show opens up with a discussion of some current global news before introducing the main topic through the guest speaker. Each episode is packed with interesting topics and gripping conversation—with guests being musicians, actors, and even psychologists (among so many other careers). 

You get all their insights—as well as comparisons to different cultures—in a convenient package that is highly-entertaining, highly-educating, and well-edited. 

And if it's your first time watching Korean TV, then here's a heads-up: there's a lot of post-production editing. 

The screen easily fills up with superimposed text and images. Though it may be distracting at first, you quickly get used to it. And eventually, you'll start looking for them, expecting them, and maybe even missing them in other shows. Korean-style TV editing is by far more engaging than others I've encountered—and definitely more "language learner"-friendly.

By reading the text on-screen, you can pick up on dialogue faster than you would in dramas. The conversation, in a way, would be more realistic and genuine as people speak their minds—people who are actual non-native speakers. It's pretty inspiring to see a panel of foreigners speaking a foreign language, too.

It may not turn out to be your thing, but it's certainly worth a try. In 129 episodes (thus far), it has everything good going for it: comedy, culture, language, news, and the surprise element of a refreshing guest.

Dangal—Review

Dangal ("wrestler") is one of those films that you can watch with just about anyone—making you smile, laugh, and even cry while loving every bit of the experience. I went in without even knowing what the film was about, having no expectations, and came out with a huge smile and some happy tears. And honestly... I can't help but feel that it has been a wonderful refresher from all the recycled films made by Hollywood.

Movie Poster (Bollywood Hungama)

It's a family movie that, although long, is consistently gripping. Thus far, Dangal (starring Aamir Khan) has many positive reviews, earning raving comments and lots of buzz. And personally, I feel that this response is well-earned. The movie is by far one of my favourite bollywood films. It made me enjoy a biography about wrestling—something I didn't even think I'd like, let alone admire.

And admire, I did.

The story is about a Mahavir Singh Phogat, a father and wrestling nationalist, who raises his two daughters to be international gold medal-winning champions. Throughout the film, you get to witness how these daughters grow—under strict training in a culturally-rich environment—until you feel like you're practically part of the family, too.

The film doesn't waste time on cringy Bollywood dance numbers, love stories, or objectified forms of "beauty." Instead, it focuses on the raw potential of dreams and family. On the power, strength, and capability that these women have been born with and continue to maintain. It's a long, hard journey—but definitely one worth watching all the way through.

The payoff is so worth it.

All components of the film work nicely together. The writers did a skilful job with the script, with the lines being realistic and well-timed. Nothing felt out of place since it was such a perfect balance of serious, sad, and funny. The actors executed the script just as well. Everyone, from the child actors who are now amongst my favourite young stars to the adults who managed to build upon the characters' growth, did a great job. And then there's the director, Nitesh Tiwari, who shows the audience exactly what needs to be seen—nothing more, nothing less.

Although I loved the movie, not everybody feels the same way. Some negative reviews claim that Bollywood is sexist, and that this movie is no different. Instead of focusing on girl power, it focused on one man's "ego."

But I disagree.

The story isn't about a man's "ego," but about his dream—which he says repetitively in the movie. "Girl power" isn't the main focus here, because (let's face it) the women aren't the main characters. They're father is. Geeta, one of Mahavir's daughters, becomes a wrestler not only to fulfil her father's dream, but to earn his pride. Meaning: it's not a male-female dynamic, but a father-daughter relationship. And though the father is stoic, you see some of his defences crumbling when he interacts with his daughters. Especially since his inner turmoil (as a character) is deciding between being a father and being a coach.

In sum, the soundtrack is charming, the characters feel real (and in this case, they actually are), and the setting is well-established. But don't just take my word for it, watch the trailer and decide for yourself:

My Name is Khan- Review

My Name is Khan is a movie that reminded me what movies should be about: not just entertainment, not just art--but messages. And boy, did this movie deliver them.

If--when watching this--you don't shed a tear, or if you don't at least feel the back of your throat closing up with the promise of oncoming tears ... well.


PREMISE:
Rizwan Khan is an autistic (Asperger's Syndrome) muslim living in India. When his mother--the only one who loves him for who he is without any reservation--dies, he goes to America to live with his brother. There, he meets and falls in love with single-mom Mandira, and makes a new friend out of her son, Sam. Then 9/11 happens. And then a consequential incident of discrimination follows that leaves Mandira distraught enough to set Khan on a wild-goose chase. She tells Khan that if he ever wants to come back to her side, he would have to find the President of the United States and tell him personally that he is not a threat to the country. And because Khan takes things literally, he actually does. The movie is basically his journey to accomplish this mission... an odyssey, if you will. Though obviously one with less nymphs and sirens.


WHO HE IS:
As Khan himself says in the movie...

[His] name is Khan (from the epiglottis). And [he] is not a terrorist. 

Khan is an awkward character to watch, but he's also endearing. He takes things literally, and he doesn't give up. He has Asperger's, so he's also special. He grew up with very few people understanding him, and accepting him, especially with the religious conflicts in his region. He hates the color yellow. He's not big on hugs. He is also a horrible salesman. But above all, he is a good man. And I started cheering for him the minute I realised that. The minute his mother, Razia, told him:

There are only two kinds of people in this world. Good people who do good deeds. And bad people who do bad. That's the only difference in human beings. There's no other difference. 

And he "understood."


HOW HE CHANGES THINGS:

• Love vs. Hate: Because of who he is, Khan does something that a normal person wouldn't. A normal person would give up long before he even started. His tenacity is admirable ... but it's also important to understand that his tenacity is spurred from love (for Mandira). He was raised to judge people based on their actions, and not let anything else cloud his judgement. And despite him being the minority in almost every way, Khan is proactive. He is an example of what is currently happening and what could be. He becomes the small percentage that causes the biggest change. He becomes someone who speaks up for countless others (without even knowing it). And he does all of this because he loves instead of hate. As cliche as this phrase is, it holds some merit: love conquers all. 
• Discrimination vs. Tolerance: There are lots of religious conflicts here, which means things can get messy. But the movie handles it so skilfully that they are able to show an important truth. People can live together even if they are very different--so long as there's tolerance, if nothing more. The movie showcases Islam in a positive way that is very rarely done in films. What makes it so special is that there is true acceptance and love from two different sides. Khan, a muslim, loves and accepts Mandira, a Hindu. And she, vice versa. Because of their simple tolerance and understanding of one another's religious beliefs, there is real peace. Tangible and achievable peace. Peace that the movie tries so hard to prove is possible. And it really is. 
• Autism on the Big Screen: Unfortunately, not a lot of people know about Autism. Or that it can be different in many ways. Khan is autistic. More specifically, Khan has Asperger's Syndrome. His actions in the movie properly align with actions real autistic kids display. This movie is a huge step in promoting international awareness. But more importantly, it's a good way to witness the hardships and mistreatments that autistic and special needs kids would typically go through. Khan is very different from those around him. Some people can't handle that. They don't know how to treat him, or how to love him. Others make fun of him and scold him. But there are few who take him in as he is, nurturing his growth. Khan's mother, Razia, is a great example of this. An example that should be mimicked and applied in real life.

GOOD VS. BAD:
The characters are solid, as is the plot. Though the film isn't chronologically structured, it is easy to follow. The narration, given by the main character from the future point, helps frame the setting instead of getting in the way of the action. It was easy to lose myself in the storyline, and it was particularly so because the actors' performances were that good. The director, Karan Johar, did an equally impressive job with showcasing his own vision of the story. You can feel everyone's efforts holding the movie together, but with all this effort ... comes time. And a lot of it. Like all other Indian movies, My Name is Khan is long. There is no exception here, since it's almost three hours long... which is the average length of an Indian movie. Keep that in mind when watching the film. It may seem like the story pace is slow--and at times it is--but it's still worth watching all the way through. The only issue that confused me was minor enough to be ignored, but still disorienting. In the beginning, the President appeared to be someone like George W. Bush. Then, later in the film, they portrayed someone who appeared more like Obama. It's a small goof, but it was enough to make me feel a jump in time. Especially since that is a big role in the story.


OVERALL:
I'm still new to Bollywood, and I haven't watched many Indian movies. But I've seen enough to know that this one is unlike its predecessors. This movie isn't big on dancing and singing. That would ruin the serious atmosphere. This movie isn't really there to entertain you for three hours of your life. No, this movie is using those three hours to convey a message with a stronger impression than you would expect. Some things you just have to see for yourself. For someone who isn't really accustomed to watching Indian movies, this is a good transition and is simple to digest. After watching, I realised--and in the context of the movie's own quote--that:

"There are two kinds of [films] in this world. Good [films that promote] good deeds. And bad [films that] do bad. That's the only difference in films."

And this one is definitely a good film.

Besides, Shah Rukh Khan (Bollywood's top actor) is in this. It's practically impossible to hate anything he stars in. Call me biased, or ... simply impressed.

HitRECord: What a True Collaboration Looks Like

HitRECord is one of those few things that I accidentally stumble upon, and then stare at stone-faced until a cheshire grin breaks out on my face and I think, "oh my God, I've hit gold."

Here's what it actually is: an "open collaborative production company" that produces music (vinyl records), publishes books (really tiny short stories), short films (that get screened at film festivals), and recently, TV episodes. It runs on a system where anyone can upload media—audio, video, photo, text—or remix what's already uploaded by other members on the site. Collaborative projects work as long as there is an internet connection, and grow to become episodes with greater themes under the show's director and creator, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. And if your contributions get chosen or featured in a production, then you get paid for it. Literally anyone can join, from all over the world, all that has to be done is hit record.

Front Page of the hitRECord website

And to me, that's the genius of it.

Some of these projects take months to develop, which is a given once you witness the production process. In the episode Re: The Other Side, HitRECord features a short music video titled Adieu. To be honest, that video is what first got me into this whole collaborative system. It's a song about death, something genuine and moving, juxtaposed by fast clips of all the different ways people die. It's a French song, and though the words may be difficult to understand, one thing stays constant. And that's "Adieu" (Goodbye).

So many different artists, musicians and a crazy amount of animators, were involved in the making of that video—you can tell. And when you stop to think about it, you realise that magic is being created and served to you in a TV show. In any single episode, you witness the collaborative efforts of people with different talents, coming from different parts of the world, to contribute different perspectives and somehow manage to work on the same project.

In that same episode, Joseph Gordon-Levitt sums up the reason for the whole show perfectly. "I think when we tell each other stories, and we sing each other songs, and we pass those things around from one person to the next--that's a basic part of what makes us human. And I think it's natural for everybody, not just a few people, but for everybody to be a part of that."

What he says actually comes alive in the behind-the-scenes stages of HitRECord. At the end of the day, the celebrity actor becomes just a regular person, a "RegularJOE" as he calls himself. There's transparency between the director and the content creators (as well as the audience). That's a move not many shows make, a move--I think--is the reason why this show should make it big.

Frankly, I already like Joseph Gordon Levitt. But now, I like him even more. Mainly because of his part in creating HitRECord. Unlike some of the people in Hollywood, he isn't focused on commercialised entertainment or money. Instead, he's focused on art and them feels.

Okay.

In all seriousness, he's giving people a way to connect, providing them with a medium to communicate through, and showing the world something magical. Now, I don't know about you, but I'm completely won over. Because when something screams "worldwide" and "artistic collaborations" at me, I can't help but scream "yes!" back.