StarShapedGummy

This is where I share some amazing pictures where you can only find HERE!

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My favorite movies out of the Nominees for Best Picture for the Oscars

Little Women

Ford V Ferrari

Jojo Rabbit

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

1917

The Irishman

Didn’t Watch

Parasite

Marriage Story

Joker

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Top 10 Favorite Movies of the 2010s

1. La La Land (2016)

It was around the summer of 2016 when I first remember that this movie was being released later on in the year. I was really excited to know that Damien Chazelle was directing this movie because I loved “Whiplash” and couldn’t wait to see what he can do next. And then I saw the leads: Emma Stone! And Ryan Gosling! I had just seen Emma Stone on Broadway so there was that too! The premise of the movie didn’t give us much except that it was about aspiring actors in Hollywood. I didn’t know what to expect, really. It premiered at the “Venice Film Festival'' and it got rave reviews. This only got me more excited! And then the trailer was released in November. I fell in love the moment I heard the sounds from the keyboard. It turns out the trailer used several motifs from a few of the songs that were going to appear in the film. The trailer ended with the ending to “Somewhere in the Crowd.” I was sold. I rewatched it a few more times before I grew in love with the trailer and started telling everyone about how this was going to be amazing. And boy did it live to those expectations!

Let’s talk about the opening sequence! I didn’t expect the movie to begin with a song right away but it was such a perfect one. “Another Day of Sun” takes you from a bad day stuck in Cali traffic to people hopping around, dancing on top of cars, and feeling good in the sunny streets of LA. The long tracking shot is incredible because you needed so many people to know each and every cue to move around. And it is such a good song!; every single song in the movie is, let’s be honest. “Someone in the Crowd” was the next big musical number. I just love the use of the orchestra in this piece. They really wanted this movie to be a homage to the earlier days of Cinema and they got it so, so right! I just remember each of the girls in different colored dresses and thought how well it fit in with the scene. The next important number was “Mia & Sebastian's Theme.” It is so haunting and sad how this tune is used in the movie. It is the first time our 2 lovers meet and go from a loud restaurant crowd to an intimate tracking shot of Sebastian playing a jazz song on the piano. Damien is just getting started wowing us with his art. 

“City of Stars” is used twice. One is a beautiful shot of Sebastian walking down a dock at dusk and another is with both Sebastian and Mia as we see how different their career paths were shaping up to be. Before the 2nd time this song is used, we get to see the couple enter a beautiful Planetarium in LA to the tune of rearranged version of “Mia & Sebastian’s Theme” with a full orchestra. It is just magical to see them dancing among the stars. Soon,  we arrive at “Audition” which is a long tracking shot of Mia singing her heart out, trying to win a part in a film. Another scene where Damien’s artistry just shines as we see a very personal performance and the pain Mia went through to get to this point in time. This is probably the performance that gave Emma her Oscar. 

Honestly, most of the songs in the movie give me chills when I relisten or rewatch parts of the movie on youtube. But none of them elicit the most emotion from me, or probably anyone else who has seen the movie, more the “Epilogue.” Once we find out shortly after the Audition how differently this love story panned out, we find out what could have been. What if some things did not go the way they did? How would life be like if Mia and Sebastian got a chance to be together. The entire almost 10 minutes of this sequence is like a huge roller coaster ride of emotions. How amazing that it incorporated the motifs, songs, and scenes from earlier in the film was absolutely brilliant. Credit to Justin Hurwitz for the phenomenal score and music! It was such a sad ending, but also felt real. Sometimes, when you follow your dreams, you have to make sacrifices, and things don’t pan out the way they were meant to be. You spend the entire movie falling in love with this couple just to be heartbroken that they end up being successful in their lives, just not together; but we see what could have been! It’s really bittersweet. 

I saw this movie 5 or 6 times in theaters and I could see it many more times. If you haven’t already noticed with my list, there are a lot of movies that deal with music in them. It’s because movies that incorporate music into their story or musicals like “La La Land” are very rewatchable. It’s like rewatching a very long music video with a more complex story. “La La Land” is just a masterpiece. A movie that has all the makings of yesteryear Hollywood that takes place in today’s Hollywood. Not only is this my favorite movie of the decade, this is also my favorite movie of all time. I can’t wait to see what else Damien Chazzelle directs in the next decade because I will be in a theater on opening night, waiting for another masterpiece to unfold!

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20 of my Favorite Songs of the Decade (2010s)

20. August 16, 2019 Taylor Swift - Lover

Honorable Mentions: 22, Blank Space, Style, Me, I Knew You Were Trouble, I Don’t Want To Live Forever

I first fell in love with Taylor Swift’s music back in 2009 when the airwaves played “Love Story” all the time. When I went to research what she had released prior to this hit, I discovered “Tim McGraw” and “Teardrops on my Guitar.” I absolutely loved her pop-country crossover style. However, slowly, with each subsequent record, her sound became more mainstream and more pop and she eventually became just a pop artist. I liked this move as it would allow her to be more creative and continue expanding her song genres. What I do miss is the country sound though. With “Lover,” she returns to that pop-country style. I was hit with so much nostalgia. It felt like an eternity since she released something like this as a single. This song represents Taylor at her best: just a guitar, drums and her perfect voice. I love how there’s so reverb in her voice. It’s as if she’s singing in a closed room. It feels most intimate and personal this way. I hope she continues to add 1-2 of these country tunes in her future releases because they are gems.

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20 of my Favorite KPOP Songs of the decade (2010s)

20. 2019-02-26 (G)I-DLE - Senorita 

I didn’t anticipate nor was I was excited about a new group from Cube. I liked not loved 4Minute, and they were at the end of their life. I didn’t really like CLC from the beginning even though I’ve come to like one or two of their songs. So when I listened to “LATATA,” I didn’t think much of it at first. It was catchy and fresh because of its middle-eastern feel to it. I didn’t want to commit to another group at the time and thought I would appreciate awesome songs the group would release and be a casual fan. When it was announced that they were coming to New York to perform, I went out on a limb and decided to watch them perform. I started exploring other tracks on the album and thought it was a pretty good one. I was glad I took the chance because they put on a really good show for a group with just 1 mini out. I was next hooked onto “HANN” and started really rooting for and appreciating the group. When I watched Produce 101, I followed a different Soyeon so I didn’t pay attention to “this” Soyeon. I was amazed that she produced the songs they were promoting; something that was rare in this industry. Then came “Senorita” the following year. I was in love with this new song from them! I loved the latin vibes! I loved the heavy brass!! And it had a chorus! My love for the group couldn’t have been higher at this point. I was super happy that they came back to New York in 2019 and I’m even more excited to see them at their own concert in 2020! Currently at the top of my favorite group’s list, I can’t wait to see what (G)I-DLE does in the next decade!

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Top 10 Favorite Movies of the 2010s

2. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

While this didn’t top my list of 2019, “Avengers: Endgame” is one of the most epic conclusions to a franchise (well, to the decade-long chapter of the MCU) ever. It is the pinnacle of what you can get when you have the amazing plan Kevin Feige had when starting this crazy universe. It is like receiving a reward for making it through all of the films thus far. With characters that span over 20 films, “Endgame” took a monumental task to complete you could not act for a better ending. After watching “Infinity War” I thought there was no way in the world that that movie could be topped. There were so many dramatic losses in that film with Thanos getting closer and closer to achieving his goal of acquiring all the infinity stones. You finally had a formidable villain who seemed way too strong and bent on destroying anything in his path to see his dream fulfilled. You really sensed that the heroes were in peril and that the danger was real and the stakes were at an all time high. There was also that epic fight scene in Wakanda to satiate your appetite for action. So how could a movie top this?

I must commend studio for keeping a tight seal on the plot of the film. The trailers were designed so well in not giving anything away because I was definitely shocked when their plan to bring back all who were lost meant going back in time. They were going to revisit previous movies and it was the ultimate fan-pleaser, the ultimate fanservice. Even after going through all the hoopla to reacquire the stones, you’d think that it would be over with a happy ending. But you knew there had to be more and there definitely was. In one of the most epic battles in cinema history, we get to see almost everyone who ever put on a cape or wore spandex enter into the fray to try and keep the infinity gauntlet away from Thanos. It was such an amazing thrill to be in the theaters during those opening nights. The crowd roared when Captain America picked up Moljner and used it in battle. I know I was cheering and clapping and nodding and smiling for a lot of those memorable moments. Then came the snap. The sad moment that we knew was coming, but didn’t want it to happen. The “I Love you 3000” line that flooded eyelids throughout the room with tears. But it felt right. It felt like the right way to conclude the arc of Tony Stark and the first 3 phases of the MCU.

It was the first film I watched each day on opening weekend and I will never forget it.

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20 of my Favorite Songs of the Decade (2010s)

19. November 3, 2018 Ariana Grande - Thank U, Next

Honorable Mentions: The Way, Almost is Never Enough, Break Free, Love Me Harder, Dangerous Woman, Side to Side, No Tears Left to Cry, Into You, God is a Woman, 7 Rings

That honorable mentions list is long. Ariana Grande has definitely established herself as a superstar ever since her debut in 2013. Other than the memorable hook to the song that is certainly meme-able, “Thank U, Next” is a very personal song to ArIana that talks about her past relationships. The fact that she can tell her tales about her exes so openly makes it special; so much so, it has become an anthem to those who were or are currently in her shoes. The tone of the song amazes me so much. She is elegant and positive in her speech. Throw everything I just said into a bowl, and you get a very unique song that is a “smash.”

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20 of my Favorite KPOP Songs of the decade (2010s)

19. 2018-10-29 IZ*ONE - La Vie En Rose

Quite possibly my favorite song from 2018, “La Vie En Rose” gives the young IZ*ONE a mature and sultry sound right from the start. Their choices in outfit and styling also give off a posh ensemble. The prechorus buildup is where the song reaches its apex. This is where the synths become louder and the vocals reaches its peak before the drop. The rapping and adlibs throughout the song add a little chutzpah to the song too. I paid attention to the survival show, Produce 48 halfway through before it started to remind me of the same formula used in its predecessors. I didn’t expect them to release a song this good, this soon after their formation so I was pleasantly surprised.

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Top 10 Favorite Movies of the 2010s

3. Whiplash (2014)

My thoughts posted in 2014:

There were no better dual in a film this year than Miles Teller and soon to be Oscar-winner, J.K. Simmons. 

J.K. Simmons (Fletcher) plays a jazz instructor who pushes and pushes his players to the brink of perfection. He is strict and doesn’t tolerate incompetence in any slight way. His methodology in his teaching has no boundaries and he constantly steps over his line as instructor to achieve his idea of a well performed song. Equally as great was Miles Teller (Andrew) who plays a first year drummer in Fletcher’s jazz band. Miles teller didn’t really wow me when I saw him for the first time in Divergent. He played a typical, middle of the road bully and I couldn’t really see his acting chops. To completely win me over in one film is no extraordinary task. 

The whole movie talks about whether it’s ever okay to cross that line when trying to achieve your goals. In Fletcher’s case, is it okay to push your students to the edge of insanity in order for them to fully achieve their fullest potential. In Andrew’s case, is it okay to do whatever it takes to reach that potential, even if it means sacrificing everything else. 

The psychological battle between the two was amazing to see in this movie. Most of the outward and physical confrontation was made by J.K. Simmons but Miles Teller held up his own as we moved along deeper into the film. 

The movie was intense and it was really interesting to see the dynamic between the two actors. In the end, we are left with the best “Last 10 minutes of any movie” in 2014. It leaves you with watery eyes but a big smile on your face. Andrew showed up Fletcher, but that might have been Fletcher’s goal all along…

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20 of my Favorite Songs of the Decade (2010s)

18. December 7, 2017 Camila Cabello - Never Be The Same

Honorable Mentions:  Havana, Senorita, Bad Things, Liar

The slow and low sounding chords transitioning to Camila’s high notes during the verses is euphoria. Her seductive voice that echoes throughout the song accompanying the loud sounding booming synthes are a thing of beauty. I didn’t expect to like Camila’s solo songs as much as I loved Fifth Harmony’s singles. I can go with any of the 4 other honorable mentions and but I choose to pick this one because this one showcases her range and the slower tempo lets you appreciate her voice more.

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20 of my Favorite KPOP Songs of the decade (2010s)

18. 2018-01-09 OH MY GIRL - Secret Garden

Oh My Girl has some of the most creative concepts, most creative choreographies, and most creative songs in KPOP. So it’s a little strange for me to go with a more conservative song. But I absolutely love it. It is right up my alley: ballad-like song with dramatic parts. They stick with the same dreamy sound that got them a lot of attention for “Closer” but this time, they take it even further. Electric guitar intro to epic bridge. The synths in the song makes it feel nostalgic, a song about reminiscing about an event involving love in the past. The only thing wrong with the song is that it ended too soon. It is also memorable because the song won the group it’s first win at a weekly music show. I was so happy for them. They totally deserve more recognition at that point in their careers and still deserve more today. It is also bittersweet because it was the first comeback since the official departure of JinE. I can’t wait to see what the 2020 decade brings for them. Hopefully they’ll keep releasing fresh and novel music!

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Top 10 Favorite Movies of the 2010s

4. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

From the moment I watched the trailer and heard Blue Suede”s “Hooked on a Feeling,” there was no doubt in my mind that a movie starring a talking racoon and a giant tree trunk would go on to have acclaim and as much success that it did, both financially and in pop culture lexicon. This movie is all about the oldies tracks from the 60s and 70s and how perfectly they are used in the background. It made me learn about songs I have listened to on a passing basis and introduced me to new old songs that I’ve played over and over again. Every main cast member is so likeable. There’s Star-lord, the charismatic human, Gamora, the serious and deadly assassin, Drax, the vengeful brute, Rocket Raccoon, the smartass tactician, and Groot, the innocent and loveable muscle. This gang of misfits never fell short of giving you a chuckle at least 1 time during every scene in the movie. My favorite of the bunch has to be Rocket Racoon. He is an expert technician with no filter. The wise-cracking rabbit, while often blunt in his speeches, still has a good heart and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his friends. The film is really showed that a Marvel movie can be so funny and earnest at the same time. I will always remember the movie giving me the best OST to listen to that one summer it came out in.

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20 of my Favorite Songs of the Decade (2010s)

17. September 26, 2017 Ed Sheeran - Perfect

Honorable Mentions: Castle on the Hill, I Don’t Care, The A Team

When I first heard Ed Sheeran’s “The A Team,” I never thought in a million years the amount of success he would achieve as an artist. I never pictured him as a truly mainstream artist, but kudos to him for being revered by so many people. I like all of Sheeran’s songs to some degree, but “Perfect” is one of my favorites of his. It such a lovely song and reminded me of his earlier works were the song is predominantly his voice and the strum of his guitar, with violin in the backdrop. The ballad with its heartfelt lyrics is a rarer positive song about love. Everytime I try to sing this song, I try to emulate his English accent at the end of his lines. It’s a fun thing to do when you try to match his falsetto. ^^.

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20 of my Favorite KPOP Songs of the decade (2010s)

17. 2016-08-08 Blackpink - Whistle

If you know anything about me, you know that I love rooting for the underdog or against the big favorite (with the exception of New York Teams). This has been most of the case when it came to KPOP. This song and the songs that followed make me break that rule. “Whistle” is an addictively catchy song that uses whistling sounds as a motif throughout the entirety of the track. Jennie and Lisa’s rap carry the hip hop soul of the song. Rose’s husky voice guides you all the way to the start of the drop…and Jisoo is somewhere in between. “Whistle” is the song that opened my doors up to this group from YG. It really helps when every subsequent release and album they release is just as impressive, if not more so. I have been to their concert and loved every minute of it; easily one of my best experiences at a KPOP event.

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Top 10 Favorite Movies of the 2010s

5. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

I remember how incredibly excited I was when watching the trailer for this movie for the first, second, third, and so many more times. I had just gotten into the YA book craze and read the books by Suzanne Collins. This was going to be the most epic of the 3 books. It was the contest of champions; the best of the best competing in the Quarter Quell. Katniss and Peeta, fresh off of winning the Hunger Games find themselves thrown into the ring again because of this special edition of the games. You get introduced to past victors from different districts and realize nobody’s ever safe from death, even if you had won before. There’s Finnick, Johanna, and Beetee who all play a role in helping Katniss escape. I remember how much the movie stayed true to the book. The way the game arena incorporated the hazardous zones based on the hour was very vivid to me. When Katniss was ultimately saved and realizes that there is an uprising in the districts, you get this excitement about how they plan to bring down the Capitol. What a cliffhanger! I remember seeing it like 6 times in theaters and it never got old, not one bit.

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20 of my Favorite Songs of the Decade (2010s)

16. September 8, 2017 Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes

Honorable Mentions: Dancing with a Stranger, How do you Sleep?, Stay with Me, I’m not the Only One

All of Sam Smith’s songs are at the very least, very good. He’s just such a gifted vocalist and you can hear his emotions with every word. Like a lot of his songs, “Too Good At Goodbyes” doesn’t really require a lot of instrumentals in the background to convey the pain in his story. I'm such a fan of his falsetto in his songs and the way he uses his voice in this one in particular is incredibly incredible. All that was really needed to the song was the keys to the piano, some strings, and a nice choir. It’s incredible what he can do with his pipes, and you can see it all showcased in this ballad.

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20 of my Favorite KPOP Songs of the decade (2010s)

16. 2016-01-25 GFRIEND - Rough

My relationship with GFRIEND is a bit different than most fans. For one thing, I did not like their debut song, “Glass Bead.” It sounded too much like “Into the New World” to me and I made quick generalizations about where the group was headed. During their first comeback, I gave them a second chance, and I’m glad I did. “Me Gustas Tu” was amazingly catchy and their choreography looked fun. I started respecting how complex it was too. It wasn’t too successful on the charts, but they were still doing well for rookie standards. Then their fortunes changed in an instant when they slipped on stage during one of their performances of the song. Their song became viral and now they gained the boost in attention that they needed to elevate them to the next level. With all this said, I didn’t see myself being a fan with just 1 song so I was still sceptical about their future. I was not really anticipating their next song when it first came out. At that time, I just wanted to help some friends get GFRIEND their first win on The Show so I helped them stream the video. I don’t know the exact moment when it happened, but the song started growing on me. The opening instrumentals has this nostalgic quality to it that really hits you deeply. It sounded like a ballad, but wasn’t quite a ballad. There were violin and electric guitar sounds to dramatize certain points of the song. I just fell in love with the song! What was all the more rewarding was taking a trip up North and watching them perform the song live, and meeting them afterwards. They really made a believer out of me. Ever since then, I have loved every release from them and purchased almost all of their albums. To this day, “Rough” is the only song I learned to sing and eventually sang at karaoke.

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Top 10 Favorite Movies of the 2010s

6. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

The trilogy is finished and I did not like how it ended. But there was a period of time in late 2015 and early 2016 when I finally became excited about Star Wars. Prior to watching this movie like 5 or 6 times in theaters, and in IMAX for most of those viewings, I had only watched the prequels and “A New Hope.” I was always fascinated about good versus evil concept; light versus dark, and the grey in between, but I was never a big fan of the franchise. John Williams’ score gave experiencing the movie a nostalgic feel.  Rey and Finn made me a fan. While a lot of reviewers saw a lot of parallels between the story of Episode 4 and Episode 7, I did not see it that way or wasn’t cognizant of it while I was watching the movie. I found the mystery behind Rey’s past fascinating and Finn’s revelation intriguing. Even though I questioned Rey’s adept ability to wield a lightsaber, the duels between her and Kylo Ren were fantastic on the screen, much better than the quick back and forth jabbing in the 3rd film of the trilogy. It’s nice to remember back in a time when there was so much hope of what was to come. Sometimes, things just don't pan out the way you want them to. But at least this film was good on its own merit, for setting up a potential grand saga.