Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Reviewed by Danny the Demented
Updated Jan 12 2015

Since the glory days dated way back between 1977~1983 with the much revered original trilogy (A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi) , the Star Wars franchise got hauled over the coals, fairly or unfairly, after the release of the notorious prequel trilogy between 1999~2005 (Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith). Now, 30+ years later, George Lucas’ space opera is re-introduced by J.J. Abrams of the Lost/Star Trek-reboot fame. Finally it is here, the 7th film in the Star Wars saga: The Force Awakens (2015).

To avoid spoiling anything for you, my royal reader of none, I will refrain from writing about the synopsis like I always do. But this review WILL contain spoilers, so proceed with caution. Basically tread forward like the Night-fox did when he stole the egg in Ocean’s 12. Remember the laser-field? Ahh forget it you youngsters, remember nothing.  

To review this movie turned out to be much more complex than I originally thought it’d be. We must separate Star Wars the cultural phenomenon and Star Wars the 7th movie to properly evaluate each’s significance. Unnecessary to do so you say? This is why I am the pretentious self-proclaimed movie critic and you are not.

Mars Iwai Tradition Blended Whisky

Written by Ruey of The Ruey Review
Updated 05 Jan 2016

Mars Iwai Tradition Blended Whisky 720ml 40% is a Japanese blended Whiskey. The blend comes from both malt and grain, and it is distilled at Japan’s highest distillery, located in a mountain range of Nagano, at 798 meters.The Mars distillery was originally founded in Kagoshima before it moved to Nagano.

This blend is named after Kiichiro Iwai. He is a mentor of Masataka Taketsuru. As a 14 year senior graduated from the same technical school, Iwai brought Taketsuru into the same brewery, then became his mentor in the company. Along with others in management, Iwai sent Taketsuru to Scotland to learn the art of whisky-making. As the first Japanese to learn the art, Taketsuru returned to Japan and presented a whisky-making report- the Taketsuru Notes- to Iwai. Taketsuru later went on to found Nikka Whisky, and then created Suntory Whisky. Years after that Iwai founded Mars Shinshu distillery with Taketsuru’s notes. As the mentor of The Father of Japanese Whisky, Iwai is referred to by some as The Silent Pioneer of Japanese Whisky.

KAVALAN Whisky Distillery

Written by Ruey of The Ruey Review
Updated 01 Jan 2016



How appropriate it is for us to begin a new section here for the Ruey Review on the first day of a brand new year. While Ruey is no expert in Spirits, and is alcohol intolerant, he is nevertheless fascinated by the history, the making, and the tastes of whiskies. We wish to share with you our joy in exploring this popular subject and will start this journey with a visit to the most well-known whisky distillery in Taiwan, which produces the famous Kavalan whisky. 

Kavalan, meaning “flatland”, is the old name for the great plain of Yilan county, northeastern Taiwan. This name not only belongs to the land, but also the aborigines who inhabited in the area, the Kavalan people. Today, the Kavalan name also belongs to the prestigious single malt whisky.

The King Car Distillery that produces Kavalan whisky was named at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition the 2015 distillery of the year.

Rare Exports (2010)

Reviewed by Danny the Demented
Updated Dec 29 2015

Holiday season is yet again upon us. Rather than the mainstream Ho-Ho-Ho Santa with a belly full of jelly story, I urge children and adults of all ages to treat themselves to a different look at the man on the sleigh. An unique take on the man behind all the elf-laboured toys, and interestingly, a very applicable example of finding re-employment after involuntary termination (what? yeah what is right). Suffice to say , this is not going to be your ordinary Christmas tale. I, the expert of nothing, present to you: Rare Exports (2010).

Rare Exports is a Finnish film by writer/director Jalmari Helander. A re-telling of an age-old tale: a drilling team funded by a mysterious American scientist/anthropologist (?) started digging at a nearby mountain next to the homes of a group of reindeer herders. After using considerable means to get the “sample” that they wanted, strange events started to happen in the village and caused the herders to suffer significant financial damage. While the herders are convinced that it is the American who is responsible for their financial woes, the son of one of the locals, Pietari, (Onni Tommila ) knew better. A precocious child, Pietari investigates and realizes that their enemy isn’t the American, but a force much more ancient and far more sinister than the world knows it to be.

The Best Offer

Reviewed by Danny the Demented
Updated Dec 04 2013

A masterful job of storytelling through the cinematic lens. Unfortunately, the story told really just isn't worthy of such delicate care. Beautiful plate serving a mundane entree, wasted opportunity. 

The Best Offer is the latest work by the Academy Award winning director Giuseppe Tornatore. It tells the story of a well-respected but lonely connoisseur named Virgil Oldman (Geoffrey Rush) who runs an auction house. Though Oldmand is Greatly revered in his field, it is not beneath him to use unethical means to procure master paintings with his partner in crime Billy Whistler (Donald Sutherland). One day he is contacted by a mysterious woman named Claire Ibbetson (Sylvia Hoeks) who wishes to sell her inherited collection of antiques & art works but can't meet Oldman because of her agoraphobia. With the help of a young mechanic (Jim Sturgess), Oldman begins to form a relationship with Claire and his world is subsequently and ruthlessly turned upside-down. 

Iron Man 3

Reviewed by Danny the Demented
Updated May 27 2013

I suppose the streak had to end at some point, and 3 is as good a number to end it as any. Just one more evidence to support the old saying: Two is company and three's a crowd. John Ritter, damn your funny and classic lie! Oh yeah, suffice it to say, the movie was forgettable. But I got to use a three's company reference. Salvation at last.

Iron Man 3 is the third and probably not the last installment of the Marvel superhero cash-cow. Barely surviving the mass alien invasion in New York, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) now suffers from post-traumatic-stress-disorder. Even with the presence of girlfriend/one true love Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), Stark cannot find peace and does nothing all day other than building iron man suits. With new threats looming in: The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and erratic scientist Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), Stark must find strength and more importantly, himself, to even have a shot at defeating his arch-nemesis. And he better do it fast, because, after all, Winter is Coming! Oh wait sorry, wrong Stark.

Oh yeah in case you've been living in a cave and have not yet seen Iron Man 3, spoiler alert, because I am going to spill the beans.

Silver Linings Playbook

Reviewed by Danny the Demented
Updated Feb 24 2013

In a world filled with junks and crap and collections of gibberish calling themselves movies, the real silver-lining is that works like Silver Linings Playbook still exist, rare though they are. A true gem, this is a movie that inspires with courage, with love, with laughter and with tears. In both the most quirky and yet conventional way, the film gives you hope, which is of course the only silver lining we need in life. 

Silver Linings Playbook is an eccentric love story between Pat (Bradly Cooper), a person with bipolar disorder who was just released from a mental institution for almost beating his wife's lover to death, and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a young widow who lost not only her husband but also her job for dealing with her loss in the most inappropriate possible at the workplace. With their emotional baggage, both Pat and Tiffany are constant worries for their families and friends.  How they help each other through every hardship, every turmoil, every breaking point, is the backbone of this amazing tale. A journey filled with unexpected turns, the pot at the end of this rainbow is a treasure of immeasurable joy.