Photography: You Are Your Own Worst Critic

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Photography: You Are Your Own Worst Critic

Being shocked at the results of a photo contest.

   It seems like it has been forever since I have sat down and written a blog!  Well I guess since the last blog I wrote was around Oct of 2021 it really has been forever.  Hopefully I can find the spark and the energy to create new content, and start blogging more often, after all the content here is really for you my viewers.

  The inspiration behind this blog comes from a couple of events.  One was a photography milestone I achieved almost a year ago.  I finally “officially” won a contest on Pixoto, a free online photography contest site that I have blogged in the past (See: Web Site Review – Pixoto).  I say officially, because I entered the picture below, in a sunset themed contest, but was not happy about the HDR halo’s in the image, I then had the photo color corrected and replaced it on the website, unaware that the original photo had won the contest and by deleting it, removed the award.  OOOPS.

  Last year, I finally officially won a Summer Outdoor Activity picture, with the below picture from Yongwel

 

  Imagine my surprise when I received notification that I have won another contest on Pixoto, that I do not even remember entering.  For some reason I submitted the photos a year ago, and the contest suddenly came up to be voted on.  Not only did it shock me, that I had won  a contest that I do not even remember entering, but which photo won, as I had submitted two similar photos.  Both taken many years ago from my apartment in Seoul, during the international fireworks festival on the Han River.

  The first one is the photo that won the contest, the second photo was also submitted, and which I actually like better.  In fact, besides the fact that I think it is neat that I clearly captured the nucleus of 3 fireworks,  I do not really think much of the picture AT ALL.

  Why?!  Why am I so harsh?  Why do I want to discard a picture, that was chosen the best out of 300+ images.

  I find the image cluttered, there is no clear identification of a foreground and a background.  Due to telephoto compression, there is no depth separating the fireworks taking place in the foreground, and the Seoul skyline behind the fireworks.   The fireworks obviously is the main focus, but the skyline is a contributor to the overall scene, and the middle firework happens to be blocking it.  It would be like a tree branch obscuring the face of the subject to a portrait.   Yes, it looks “COOL”, but if I was judging this as a photograph, I would cast it aside as a snapshot.

  Now let’s take a look at the similar image submitted in the contest, contrast the criticisms of the first picture, and why I laud this one.

  The main thing, is that the buildings of the skyline are not being blocked by the fireworks, and are being virtually framed.  The skyline is a part of photo.

  The only slightly detracting bit, is the minor buildings in the closer foreground are obviously cut off.  I would have liked to have them cropped out, but I felt b doing so it made the image feel visually awkward.

  I have always looked back in an awkward amazement how hard I can be when judging my own photos, and in turn other people’s work.  It is definitely a tool used to improve one selves over time.  Though it is awkward enough that I do have to tell friends to please never ask me for an opinion of a photo they have taken.  Though I find it equally amusing that my harsh standards may be misplaced or incorrect in this case. 

  It does go to show, that letting other’s judge your work, and photo contests can make you see things in your work that you may have missed, or misjudged.  Sometimes we do take ourselves too seriously.

  What do you think?  Feel free to comment, or head on over to the forums, and share your opinion.  www.catracing.org/hendrb/forum

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Recipe – Texas Roadhouse Copycat Steak

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Recipe – Texas Roadhouse Copycat Steak

  Looking for a great steak recipe to use while on a camping or pension stay trip?  Look no further than this Texas Roadhouse copycat recipe!  An easy rub that can be used for grilling, or at home on a baked or pan fried steak!

 * Taken from The Cozy Cook

   I mix the seasoning prior to departure, and keep it in a small ZipLoc container.

Ingredients:

2 tsp brown sugar
¼ tsp cornstarch
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp turmeric
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp chili powder
1 tsp black pepper

Instructions:

 

 

 

 

 

Combine all ingredients in a small sized Ziploc bag (As mentioned above I use a Ziploc hard plastic container.). Shake well until mixed.

40 min before grilling ( I used this time place our baked potatoes on the grill.  ).  Generously rub the prepared seasoning on both sides of the steak and let the steak rest.

Place the steak on a prepared grill and cook to your liking.

 

APROX Cooking time:

  5 minutes: Medium Rare
  7 minutes: Medium
10 minutes: Well Done

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If you use this recipe, please return to the block and comment.

Technical Book Review: Back into the Storm: A Design Engineer’s Story of Commodore Computers in the 1980’s

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Technical Book Review:   Back into the Storm: A Design Engineer’s Story of Commodore Computers in the 1980s – A book by Bil Herd ex Commodore Hardware Engineer.

They say the victors write the history, this is nowhere more true than the cutthroat world of home er…. personal computers.  Commodore Business Machines or CBM was one of, if not the largest makers of home computers in the 80s and early 90s.  Designing and manufacturing several of the top selling computers at the some such as the Commodore PET and Commodore 64, but also developing the CPU and chips that gave them some of the best graphics and sound and kept them affordable. 

  It has always pained me that most documentaries of the Home Computer war focus only on Apple, IBM, and Microsoft (Pirates Of Silicone Valley), (jobs), ETC.  With little or no mention about Commodore, and it’s role and impact in the market at the time.  There are some good books out there that detail the rise, and spectacular fall into Bankruptcy of Commodore Business Machines, such as Brian Bagnall’s On The Edge, The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore.” Which documents the very beginnings of MOSTek and Commodore through their bankruptcy in 1994.  It is a great read for anyone interested in the complete history of Commodore.

  Back Into The Storm, is a more personal story, written by none other than Bil Herd, the young and driven hardware engineer that brought the world the TED machines (Commodore 16, and Plus/4) but the successful Commodore 128 as well. 

  The Commodore 128 hold a special place in my heart as I owned not only the coveted 128DCR (With built in 1571 mechanism), but the flat 128 as well.  The flat 128 ran the original iteration of The Rat’s Den BBS with a 20MB Lt. Kernel Hard Drive.  It was a great computer and the things I learned from running the BBS, and supporting my users was invaluable to my eventual career in IT.

  While other texts document the story of the design of the 128 with all of the issues one might expect of developing a multiprocessor, multi OS computer such as the 128 (the computer contained the Commodore 8502 CPU and the ZIlog “Z80” CPU for CP/M compatibility”, but also boasted full C=64 compatibility.  Many of these challenges in and of themselves would be reason enough for most mortals to run to the hills screaming in fear, but the Bill and his team also had to do battle with Commodore’s notoriously hostile, and at sometimes utterly inept management.   Through trial and error, brutal week-long work marathons, and battle with friend and foe alike.  Succeed they did, producing what was probably to be one of the last 8 bit machines on the market, and selling 6 – 8 million units.  The Commodore 128!

  The material being covered in Back Into The Storm has been covered in other texts and you can see Bil Herd tell the story from numerous videos of lectures he has done.  Should this deter you from buying this book?  Absolutely NOT!  While it is certainly an experience listening to Bil talk, Back into the Storm will put you inside the actual halls of Commodore! Something no lecture can do!  You will feel like you are right there in hardware lab with the 128 Animals racing to make the impossible deadline of getting your product to the 1985 CES in Las Vegas.

  I highly recommend this book.  Once I started reading it, I was unable to put it down.  It brought back a lot of good memories about using Commodore products from my very first computer, the Commodore Vic-20, 64, and the Commodore 128.  If you think listening to someone reminiscing about their days as a hardware engineer for a long lost company would be tedious or boring.  Think again!  You will be surprised how fast the pages turn, and wish there was more!

  Back into the Storm: A Design Engineer’s Story of Commodore Computers in the 1980s, can be purchased in both Kindle and Paperback form on Amazon. 

https://www.amazon.com/Back-into-Storm-Engineers-Commodore-ebook/dp/B09BDF92F4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Back+into+the+Storm%3A+A+Design+Engineer%27s+Story+of+Commodore+Computers+in+the+1980s&qid=1627795360&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

NOTE: Brent’s World is NOT monetized in any way, I do not make money on the use of links from this site.

  Thank you for visiting Brent’s World, pleas be sure to stop by next week for more great content.  If you wish to be notified by e-mail when a new blog is posted.  Click HERE!

Korean Movie Review – Memories of Murder

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Korean Movie Review – Memories of Murder.

 

Wow!  It has been almost 7 months since I have watched or reviewed a Korean movie!  Our last review was back in December when I watched Peninsula: Train To Busan II.  I just have not watched that many movies lately, something I should probably change!  This month we will be reviewing an older film called Memories of Murder, which was based on South Korea’s first serial killings which took place between in Hwaesong 1986 and 1991.  We will not go into the details of the real case in this blog,  If you are interested there is plenty of material to dig up an dissect on the internet.  So let’s get started.

  Memories of Murder was co-written and directed by Bong Joon-ho (Parasite), his second after Barking Dogs Never Bite.  It stars Kang Sang-Ho (Joint Security Area, parasite) and Kim, Sang-kyung.  As detectives with the Korean National Police investigating a string of murders in the rural farming community.  The victims are all found to have been raped and murdered after being bound, gagged, and then strangled with an item of their own clothing.  No evidence is left by the suspect and it soon apparent the detectives are faced with something never before seen in Korea.

  It is apparent during the opening scene that the rural police are so far over their heads that there is little chance the police will be able to catch the perpetrator.  Dong Ik (Kim, Sang-kyung), from the Seoul Metrpolitcan branch volunteers to assist the local detectives solve the case.  Detective Ki Tek mistakes the new arrival as a local villager or a possible suspect contaminating the crime scene, and a swift drop kick immediately sets up a power struggle between the two. 

  As the two detectives use diametrically opposite investigative methods. Detective Kang using a more fly by the seat of your pants, style often so caught up in his own ego, that he boasts he can tell if a suspect is guilty just by looking in their eyes, to more paranormal methods, such as utilizing a fortune teller.  When all else fails the country cops can just coerce or beat a confession out of their suspects, thus closing the case.  Seoul detective Dong Ik uses a more methodical and scientific approach to his detective work, quickly eliminating all of the suspects the local police bring in and get confessions from. 

  The film does a good job of creating a perfect environment for the killer to literally get away with murder, from the brutally inefficient functioning of government under an autocratic rule, pulling valuable resources away from the investigation to deal with anti-government protests.  To the blackout and lockdowns during civil defense drills.  Added to the chaotic environment the natural disgust and distrust of the population to the Korean Police force, It wasn’t so much the killer possessed supernatural intelligence to get away with his crimes, but the government and police force itself was working against the very people trying to establish law and order.

  If you are looking for a good thriller based on a real-life event, I highly recommend Memories of Murder, it is fast paced, with enough twists to keep you on the edge or your seat.  Though there are some scenes that will make your skin crawl this just adds to the enjoyment.   

  I would suggest not reading anything about the real Hwaseon murders until you have watched the film, at the time of the release of the film the case was still in an open but cold status which adds a certain emotional punch to the ending of the film

http:/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n_HQwQU8ls

 

Memories Of Murder can be purchased on Blu-Ray or DVD from Amazon.com, Please see the links below.

Memories Of Murder – DVD
Memories Of Murder – Blu-Ray

  If you watch Memories of Murder, or have seen the film.  Please stop by our forums and share your thoughts on the film.  Click here to go directly to the post.

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Technical – Apple Will No Longer Ship To APO Forwarders.

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Apple Will No Longer Ship To APO Forwarders.

  I am about to opening complain about Apple.. Does this mean I am no longer a member of the Fanboy club?!  I have ordered several Apple products over the years while working in Korea.  From iPads, to Mac Mini’s, to a 2016 Mac Pro.  In fact, I had just ordered and received an iPhone 12 mini that was forwarded through one of the two major APO forwarders.

  So Imagine my surprise when my next order through them was canceled, with the following reason. “ The order you recently placed online cannot be processed because Apple does not ship to freight forwarder addresses. Therefore, your order has been canceled.

If you’d like to place a new order on apple.com, please ensure that the delivery location is a domestic address and not a freight forwarder.

Apple”

Strangely enough Apple still has instructions for using APO forwarders on their Apple Store website.

 

  A call to 1-800-Call-Apple confirmed they will not ship to freight forwarding.  So this leaves members of the military, GS, and contractors who work overseas out in the cold.  While on one hand I understand why Apple might have done this, as I have had an item shipped through one of the forwarders stolen (See here.),  however if this is the reason it was done simply inform the customer that they are using the forwarder at their own risk, and to make sure the package is fully insured by your forwarder.

  Those of you who use Apple products, and are working overseas and whom this will affect, I urge you to send a complaint to Apple.

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Technical – Converting CentOS 8 web server to Oracle Linux

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Technical – Oracle Linux “OL”) Drop In Replacement For CentOS 8.

Last month we blogged the news that RHEL has decided to prematurely end support for CentOS 8 on 31 Dec 2021.  This has left IT departments scrambling to find a replacement before the end of the year.  There are several options, and most of them including switching to a Red Hat support license require a complete reinstall of your server, applications, and the migration of data.  Compounded with the  time testing and fixing any issues that may arrive stress levels are on the rise as the clock is ticking.  

  There is one option that does not require you to reinstall everything, and that is to convert to Oracle Linux 8, which is also a rebranded RHEL 8, and offers an easy script to convert your system from RHEL / CentOS 8 to OL 8.  The script will automatically reconfigure the system to download and install the needed kernel and other files.  Simply reboot after the conversion is complete.  The conversion installs the Oracle Unbreakable Kernel by default but If you need 100% code compatibility with RHEL 8, you can switch to use the RHEL Kernel.

  So how does this work?  Is it really as easy as advertised?  I converted Brent’s World To Oracle Enterprise Linux on Jan 01 2021, and I can honestly say for me it was! The entire process took about 4 hours, with the complete backup of the VM and its associated disks taking up the majority of that time.

 
Here are the steps I took.

  I made of copy of the VMWARE folder, and placed it on a separate drive, This was mostly done in the event the conversion was not successful, not of losing a drive in the process.

I downloaded the centos2ol.sh script from GitHub

  I copied the test from GitHub, put it in a text editor on the server and gave it executable permissions.

  The easiest way however is to download it using curl.

  From a shell prompt $ curl -O sudo https://raw.githubusercontent.com/oracle/centos2ol/main/centos2ol.sh

  Grant execution privileges to the script using chmod.
# chmod 776 centos2ol.sh

  Verify the script is now executable by listing the directory with the -l option or use the ll alias.

 We are now ready to execute the script

  I would recommend stopping any web or database services before the install. I did on my production box, but not before starting the install on the demo box for this blog.  At the very least this will keep users from connecting to your web applications and database during the install and reboot.

  Unless the script was downloaded into a location that is in your system path, execute the script by typing sudo ./centos2ol.sh

The script will now run.  Note the kernel version BEFORE the script is run.

 

 

 

What the script will do is redirect YUM to the Oracle repositories and replace the Kernel and necessary files.

  When the script is complete go ahead and reboot your Linux server, note the different Kernel information after the reboot.

We are done!!  How easy was that?

 

  The script installed Oracles Unbreakable Kernel, if you or your application or organization require a 100% RHEL compliant Kernel.  Follow the steps below to switch to using the RHEL kernel.

Let is take a look at the kernels available to us on our newly installed Oracle Linux.
At the command prompt, enter the following command.
# sudo grubby -–info=ALL | grep ^kernel

This will list all of the Linux kernels currently present on your workstation/server.

You can verify which kernel is currently the default kernel by issuing the following command.
# sudo grubby -–default-kernel

 

 

It should show what we already know, that we are using Oracles UEK kernel.
It does, so let us now switch to the RHEL kernel.  We need to first find the absolute path to the kernel.  We do that by first copying information between the quotes of the kernel directive of the second item on the list of installed kernels. Then enter the following command.

# sudo grubby –set-default <paste>

 

 

If the command is successful, you should see the following output.

 

 

 

Now reboot the system to load the newly selected RHEL kernel.
# reboot

When the system is back up, login and check the kernel version with the uname command.  
# sudo uname -r

 

 

 

We should now see that we are using the RHEL kernel.

That is all there is to converting a CentOS 8 system to Oracle Enterprise Linux!  I hope you found this blog informative, and that you will come back for next month’s technical blog.

Some notes on this blog.

  It is considered poor practice to use the root account to perform maintenance on a NIX server.  The best practice is to use a user account with granular privileges granted in the SUDOERS file, and perform the commands using sudo (Super User do).  I configured a demo VM for the purpose of getting screenshots and used root for expedience only!

DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible for loss of data, or downtime incurred by using the steps and procedures in this blog!  Follow best practices and your employer’s policies if attempting this upgrade. 

  I am not affiliated with Oracle in any way, the steps outlined here should in no way substitute for official Oracle installation best practices or support.

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Korean Movie Review – Peninsula. Train To Busan 2

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Korean Movie Review – Peninsula. Train To Busan 2.

  Wrapping up 2020 with a Korean film review, it has been since back in August when I blogged Ode To My Father that I have reviewed a film here on Brent’s World, and given what a year 2020 was I thought it was only fitting that we reviewed Korea’s latest zombie apocalypse film.  Pendula is a stand alone sequel to the immensely popular Train To Busan which was released in 2016.  With an all new cast, and set immediately following the events in the original film. Peninsula takes you on a 2 hour zombie filled thrill ride that should keep you on the edge of your seat.

  Jung-Seok (played by Gang Dong-won) a Captain in the Korean Marines is trying get his elder sister, nephew and brother to an evacuation ship in the southern port of Busan.  Along the way they encounter a stranded family who begs them to at least take their daughter.  They ignore the family and make it to the ship.  However en-route to their destination it is discovered that an infected person has made it onboard and quickly infects several other passengers, including Jung-Seok’s nephew.  His sister refuses to leave her son, and Jung Seok has no choice but to seal the cabin and leave the refugees to their fate.

  Several years later, struggling to survive in Hong Kong Jung-Seok, his best friend Chul-min are recruited by the criminal underworld to return to South Korea to retrieve a delivery van with 20 million in US dollars locked in the back.  If successful, each will get a split of half the money.

The two decide to join a team of 2 other people who successfully make it into the port.  Will they be able to locate the missing truck?  Will they be able to avoid the zombie hoards who control the streets during the day? As they cannot see in the dark?  To make matters worse, with the absence of law in order, even the militias assigned to protect the people from the zombies and other outlaws have turned rouge and become bandits themselves.

  If the teams make it back alive, will their underworld bosses keep their part of the deal?

  I enjoyed Peninsula, it had good action, special effects, and a pretty good plot.  Though at some parts it did become formalistic.  As a standalone sequel it is worth the watch.  As it does not rely at all on the original you can watch the film without having seen the original.

  Go to your favorite source of online movies, and find out!

Peninsula is available at the AppleTV Store, and Amazon Prime.
It is also available on Blu-Ray and DVD at www.amazon.com

Blu Ray – $14.99
DVD – $11.00

After watching Peninsula, please tell us what you thought of the film.  Do you agree with our review? Post your response below in our comments.

Thank you for visiting Brent’s World.  If you enjoyed this blog and wish to be notified when new content is posted. Please consider registering by clicking HERE.

Technical – RHEL/IBM Screw CentOS 8 users by early End Of Life!

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RHEL/IBM Screw CentOS 8 users by early end of life!

CentOS project shifts focus to CentOS Stream

  We interrupt our normal blog schedule (I had planned on releasing the 3rd and final blog in the Muju travel series, but I was informed this week of late breaking news that Red Hat, which was acquired by IBM in July of 2019 has  decided to EOL CentOS 8 at the end of 2021 and push the project to  CentOS Stream.  Read the press release by clicking HERE.  

  CentOS was originally a community driven and supported fork of RHEL and was first release in 2004.  It has been an extremely stable Enterprise version of Linux frequently used by IT departments and developers as a stable development / test platform for their RHEL production environment because it is almost 100% code compatible with the upstream version of its subscription based Red Hat Enterprise Linux.  Vs. Red Hat’s own Fedora project which is more of a bleeding edge development / test platform which is not as stable as CentOS or RHEL.  Red Hat officially joined the CentOS community in 2014 greatly speeding up the process of compiling, testing, and release of CentOS 7 and CentOS 8.

  It may sound like CentOS 8 is mealy being rebranded or replaced by a new product called CentOS Stream, so why are users up on arms?  After all they have been getting a free stable product for years?! 

The issue most users are taking is multi-faceted.

The planned lifecycle of CentOS 8 (the period of time where maintenance and security updates where provided.) was supposed to be 10 years. A lot of users now feel abandoned by Red Hat and feel that they have broken a promise of commitment to userbase.

    1. Users or companies will now have to migrate their servers over to another Linux  platform, even if they opt to migrate to Red Hat Enterprise Linux subscription, this will require them to rebuild the server from the ground up.  The caveat here is that Oracles Open Linux allows seamless transition from CentOS/RHEL, with a paid subscription to the OEL platform.
    2. With CentOS Steam being put in the middle of the Fedora -> RHEL development pipeline members of the community feel like they will be used as guinea pigs for Red Hats paid customers. Completely negating the reason, they settled on CentOS in the first place.
    3. Those that came to Linux from OpenSolaris after Oracle acquired Sun Microsystem and promised to support the down steam community are seeing déjà vu and see it as a breach of trust. 

 

  The discontinuation of CentOS 8 on 31 Dec 2021 will affect Brent’s World, as it runs the web server that hosts the blog and the forums.  Most likely we will be migrating to Oracle Linux, but am open to other flavors of Linux.  The main reason I chose CentOS, was due to the majority of production web servers are RHEL based, it would be a natural progression of what I do at home carrying over into my career.

  As M*A*S*H’s Frank Burns would say, “NERTS!”, but at least I have a year to develop and carry out a migration plan.

  What are your thoughts on this surprising news from Red Hat?  Feel free to post a comment, or head on over to the Forums for more in-depth discussion! (Click HERE to go to the topic in the forum.)

  Thank you for visiting Brent’s World!  If you enjoyed this week’s blog and wish to be notified when new content is posted, please register by clicking HERE.

Old Tech Vs New Tech – Image BBS Golf Solitaire Vs Glowing Eye Games Golf Solitaire for the iPad.

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Old Tech Vs New Tech – Image BBS Golf Solitaire Vs Glowing Eye Games Golf Solitaire for the iPad.

 

  For this long overdue technical blog I thought I would so something a bit…. Ok, very different.  As you know I have a fondness for connecting to old BBS (Bulletin Board Systems) via telnet.  In fact I run a Commodore 64 BBS myself called The Rat’s Den.  One of my technical blogs in 2014 interviewed several SysOps who also run Commodore BBSs running Image BBS.  You can read the blog by clicking HERE.

  One of my favorite activities on a BBS, besides posting, reading, and responding to messages around the world via the NISSA (New Image SysOps Support Association) network is playing some of the games Image BBS is famous for, and one of my favorites is Golf Solitaire!

  The object of Golf Solitaire is to remove all of the cards in each of the 7 rows.  Each row contains 5 cards.  You remove the cards by playing them against a stack of 16 cards.  If you can “match” them with the current card in the stack, you remove it from the board.  You receive a bonus $1000 for clearing an entire row.  To make the game play more difficult on the IMAGE BBS! Version, You can only run the count up from Ace to King, you cannot “place” a Queen on top of King, nor can you restart the run by placing an Ace on the King.  There are no wilds. 

  The Image BBS! Version, allows you to play against other users on the BBS, by competing for the highest score earned during the day, and the highest score earned during the month.

  The graphics are pretty good for a BBS game of the 90’s, and if played by several other users each month the competition can be pretty fierce.  The card shuffles are calculated for each day at the beginning of the month, so all users on the BBS play with the same deal each game, so it really is fair competition.

  Let’s compare this to a modern day version available on the iPad.  Besides the cool graphics and sound, we have the same 7 by 5 card layout, and almost the same game play.  In this iPad version you are able to run the suites past the King both directions, IE I can place an Ace over a King, and I can place a King over an Ace.  Some people prefer the Image BBS! Rules, as it makes the game harder, I do not think it matters. 

  You receive a time bonus in the iPad version, where you do not in the IMAGE version.  The bonuses for clearing a row in the IMAGE version is substitutionally higher than the iPad version $1000 vs. 300.

  While the iPad version does keep “High Scores.”  There is no daily high score in the iPad version.

  Both Image BBS and the iPad Golf Solitaire is fun, and pretty addiction.  If you connect to BBSs, give The Rat’s Den a “Call”.  You can download the necessary PETSCII “CG” Terminal on our forums in the Image BBS support group.  (Click HERE).

  If you are interested in the iPad version, click HERE.  It is available free with Ads, and $xxx for the version with ads removed.

  Thank you for visiting Brent’s World.  I hope you enjoyed this comparison of BBS online game vs iPad app.  Come back next week for a carry out review of Kitchen Hygge, our latest “Best Burger In Korea!”  If you wish to be notified when new content is created, click HERE!

  DISCLAIMER: This site is NOT monetized in any way!  I make no money off our reviews, or links that are provided.

Korean Movie Review – Ode To My Father 국제시장

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Korean Movie Review – Ode To My Father 국제시장

 It has been several months since I have reviewed a Korean film, for those that frequent Brent’s World we reviewed Cheer up Mr. Lee in May.  I am always on the lookout for good Koreans cinema, especially those films that give glimpse into Korean history or culture.  Such as the aforementioned title in reference to the Daegu subway fire in 2003, or when we find out that Oh Mal-soon’s husband died in a mining accident while working overseas in Germany in Miss Granny.  Which also plays a role in the film I am about to review

 While searching for more potential Korean films to review I stumbled upon  Ode To My Father which was billed as The Korean Forrest Gump.  As I really liked Gump for its delving into topics in American history that are often glossed over by most young Americans, I was curious enough to make it a must watch.

  Ode To My Father, released in 2014 was the 7th film directed by Yoon Je-kyoon and stars Hwang Jung-min as Yoon Deok Soo who is an old cantankerous store owner in Busan (Pronounced Pu-San), who doesn’t seem to get along with anyone, including his family.  He is being pressured by unknown business men, and the rest of the store owners on the street to sell KKotbun, a money losing import store he bought from his uncle when his aunt who ran it for decades passes away.  His niece asks Deok Soo why he gets so angry as it scares her, and asks him if he has any memories.

  We are then shown younger memories of Yoon Deok experiencing pivotal times in South Korean history, beginning with him being putting in charge of the safety of his youngest sister Maksoon during the Chinese invasion of the port city of Hungnam, which later became part of North Korea.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungnam_evacuation.  While boarding the SS Meredith Victory, Yoon Deok loses his sister and his father goes back to find her, but not before telling young Yoon Deok that he is not the man of the family and must work and study hard to support them until he returns.

  The movie takes us through Yoon Duk-soo’s life trying to make sure he fulfills his fathers wishes, by going to Germany in 1963 as a Gasterbeiter to work in the coal mines, where he meets his future wife Youngja (Played by Yunjin Kim), and earns enough money to buy his family a house, and pay for his brothers education.

  Yoon Duk Soo then goes to Viet Nam in 1973 as a technician to pay for his older sister’s wedding, and after the fall of Saigon in 1975 saves a young Vietnamese girl who is almost left behind after the Viet Cong attack a village, they are saving refugees from.  He returns to Korea with enough money for his sister’s wedding and a wounded leg.

  In 1983 KBS began special broadcasts of family members in Korea trying to find lost family members,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KBS_Finding_Dispersed_Families Yoon Duk Soo travels to Seoul in an attempt to find his father, but ends up locating his lost younger sister who was adopted by an American family and now lives in Los Angeles.

  At a large gathering with the family, which I assume is Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), Yoon Duk once again gets upset and retreats to his room, where he is seeing crying and prays to his father.  Letting him know that he has fulfilled his wishes and scarified so his large family can be successful and that he finally found Maksoon, and that it was very hard to do so.  His father responds that he has in fact fulfilled al his wishes and that he is very grateful.  We are shown Yoon Duk and Youngja on the roof of an apartment, and Yoon duk finally decides to sell the store because he has realized his father is most likely dead, or would be too old to visit anyway, and we are finally given the reason asked so often by others throughout the film, “Why do you have to be so obstinate and hold on to this money losing store?”

  If you are looking for a movie with insight into a few pivotal moments in South Korean history, I highly recommend Ode To My Father.  It does a really good job of delving into life after the Korean War, the sacrifices made during Koreas rapid industrialization under the rule of President Park and how important family is to Korean society without being heavy handed.  While I do not agree with the comparison to Forrest Gump, that discussion would go beyond the scope of this already long review.

  Ode To My Father can be purchased on DVD at Amazon.com

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