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As of now, I have done reading 'Trade Policy' part and first half of 'Macroeconomics in open economy'. Before reading 'Trade Policy' part, I cannot feel that I can use the tools of intermediate Microeconomics and intermediate Macroeconomics to understand the behaviour of my country. That is, government decision to structure the landscape of my country's Economy over 44 years. There are some questions I came up that tools of intermediate Micro and Macro are unable to answer. The tools in 'Trade Policy' part greatly answer all of that questions although the idea is somewhat similar to what I have learnt in Intermediate Micro. It is just the depth of the tools that explain certain country's economy development. I think it is Krugman writing this piece of work because I am somewhat familiar with his style of writing.
'International Trade' and 'Trade Policy' topics are excellent one. As usual, I strongly feel that everybody in Business school should learn these. Such knowledge of these topics will enable one to consider their own thinking and construct proper ideas. It is absolutely dangerous to come up fallacy when one is thinking that this must be correct. That is why there is a need to plan the structure of economy development for a country.
There is additional surprises in 'Macroeconomics in open economy' part. It seems that it is Maurice Obstfeld writing this part on the basis of the style of writing. Interestingly, you can come up with diagram with interest rate and exchange rate representing on X-axis and Y-axis respectively. Subsequently, this diagram can be added together on the top of money supply-money demand diagram. It is like doing short cut opposed to thinking in terms of IS-LM-BP -> exchange rate demand-supply diagram. The former offers stronger and convicing explantion. The latter is cumbersome and requires careful thinking, that is, if one do not make any mistake.
In fact, I wanted to read 'Foundations of International Macroeconomics' textbook by Maurice Obstfeld and Kenneth S. Rogoff but no library in my country has this book. I am comtemplating whether to buy this text. I am quite curious what is written in that textbookI have seen International Macroeconomics textbook written by other author. It is not good enough and offer similar topics as what we have seen in Intermediate Macroeconomics.
Reply to 'Some Tips' from the tag board
From my personal experience, it is not possible to come up such questions based on past year paper. There are plenty of examples why it is so. I have looked some questions from local schools as well as top economics schools. The questions from local schools are fairly fundamental, which means that everybody can answer with proper learning. Apart that, questions from top economics schools are bloody dynamics in some sense that you have to analyse and come up answer for best fit. Consider Macroeconomics past year papers of my course I went through. Everybody will be stumped with the 5 marks question and sub question of 20 marks question of Solow Growth Model in 2008 paper and 5 marks question of Solow Growth Model in 2009 paper. The former question is very interesting because this nature of the topic is not written in heavy detail in Dornbusch text. But I think that the textbook written by Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok describe it clearly based on what I see the preview of their textbook in pdf format. This textbook is relatively new (published in July 2009 or later). However this textbook aim for introductory economics students in my opinion. The latter question is out of blue kind which nobody think that way. It is extremely challenging to think what the answer should be.
After my careful and serious thought of your messages in tag board, I came up with appropriate hypothesis that is consistent with personal experience of myself and my friends. Suppose that you are learning a model. You want to understand the entire meaning of the model in terms of application and understanding. In doing that, you have to go through numerous round of learning. Consider the path of learning in my view. In round 1, you will learn the surface of the model. In round 2, you deepen your understanding of the model by reading a particular textbook. In round 3, you look for other textbook that offers detail explanation. The first textbook you attempt to understand that model is insufficient. In round 4, you somehow understand and you start doing the questions to test your level of understanding. In round 5, you research a certain problem you stumble upon when doing questions. This probably tells you that you have only reached 10% of your understanding of that model. The process of round 3,4, and 5 needs to be repeated over and over again until you are entirely familiar starting from top to end of that model. Unfortunately, with time and resource constraints and in the world of asymmetric information, you can at best obtain 70-80% of the understanding of that model.
As for me, I studied Macroeconomics for 10 months from July 2008 to May 2009. I recalled that I started reading Phillips curve from all 3 textbooks - Mankiw, Blanchard, and Dornbusch. That was in late July 2008. Initially, upon seeing the steps of one point to the final point (Philips Curve), I remarked that it was very confusing part. I was not dishearted and I move on to next topic. The reason why I move on to next topic is that the next topic can actually add my knowledge and that addition will clarify my thinking about Phillips curve. It did work that way. I came back to learning Phillips curve again somewhere in Nov 2008. At that time, I understood the purpose of derivation of aggregate supply equation to Phillips curve and the meaning of Phillips Curve. However, at public policy part, I was again stumped with the variable associated with the deviation of unemployment from full employment. I did a careful re-reading of that topic in Blanchard text. Finally, I understood the purpose of that variable in the Phillips curve equation. It seemed to be smooth sailing until I saw new topic associated with the application of Phillips curve(Dec 2008). This new topic was developed by Milton Friedman. It was not found in any of 3 mentioned textbook. Therefore, I managed to find one in a textbook written by Froyen. It offered excellent coverage of that topic. Again, a careful reading of that topic with Froyen text enables me to think clearly. It also enabled me to understand the meaning of inertia in economics term concerning the Phillips curve. That was at Feb 2009. In March 2009, I discovered another problem I faced when I started doing 2008 paper (before doing 2008 paper, I only did papers from 2005-2007). The examiner sets an extremely interesting 3 or 4 sub questions about Phillips curve. Again, two or three of these questions are not found in any of 4 mentioned textbooks. Eventually, I found the resource from DeLong text. Eventually, I understood another meaning of Phillips curve associated with that questions. Meanwhile, I was able to use Phillips curve equation for many kinds of applications especially 'policy ineffectiveness proposition' and 'inflation targeting' from Jan 2009 to Feb 2009. It is the end of 'Phillips curve' journey.
That is how I went through. But, I did not managed to learn the whole 'story' of Phillips curve. First, I only learnt modern verison of Phillips curve. Therefore, I did not learn older verison of Phillips curve, that is completely ignored today. That is because this older equation is useless. Second, I only learn one verison of the application of Phillips curve developed by Friedman. This verison starts from the viewpoint of monetary perspective. As a result, I did not learn the other one developed by Edmund Phelps. Edmund Phelps verison starts from the viewpoint of labour market perspective. Although both verisons will arrive the same conclusion, I always want to see what Edmund Phelps verison is like.
That is one side. Consider the other side coming from my friend. He was putting a lot of work by studying for exam late from Jan to May 2009. In Feb 2009, he consulted me about his answer verison of that 5 marks of Solow Growth Model question in 2008 paper. So far, he prefered to use 1st and 2nd derivation of production function with short essay for this answer. It is quite good though but it is nowhere same as the one in examiner report. In the same month, he also consulted me about time path of Solow Growth Model in 25 marks question in 2008 paper. After the discussion, with my suggestion, he thought he has the answer for this. On top of that, I have not yet done that questions in that month. Because of that, I decided to check 'Advanced Macroeconomics' text by Romer to better understand the time path of Solow Growth Model. Finally, I understood why we draw such time path diagram like that.
In May 2009, when I was entering the revision class taught by Novald Instefjord, he texted me so many questions about Solow Growth Model. He was attempting to understand the time path and growth rate of Solow Growth Model in different perspectives. Finally, he texted me his concern that he never understood Solow Growth Model. All the time from Jan 2009 to May 2009, his initial understanding of Solow Growth Model broke down. He summed up his experience with his sentence: 'He thought that he understood Solow Growth Model.' Unfortunately, he was not taught by Daniel Sheedy but I was (This concerned the time path of Solow Growth Model). Therefore, I texted him that I would help him to resolve his problem after my class. Finally on the same day, with my advice (about what he need to adhere) via texts, he resolve the problems at 12am. By now, I believe that he is able to manipulate the time path shape of Solow Growth Model and mathematical explanation of growth rate. These are not easily understood if one read Romer text for time path shape explanation in terms of essay and Blanchard text for the mathematical explanation of growth rate. The latter is much safer and involves no risk compared to pure memory work of numbers/algebras from the 'growth rate' table chart in Mankiw text.
The experience of my friend clearly explains why you need to go through many rounds. Going through many rounds of understanding will strength your thinking and creativity. I strongly believe that if you have gone through this, you will develop certain skills which people who have not gone that path do not have. I am sure that you don't want to be the person who ask too many questions in your workplace about what these things are about. Consider that you are working in the commerical bank. You see a 'Interest Rate' chart and commentary about this chart. With poor foundation of Finance and Macro, you don't understand why the commentary is written like that. Attempting to understand, you will need someone who understand this very well. This will lead to asking too many questions. However, in different persective, if you have good or strong foundation of FInance and Macro, you will not be able to understand too. But, if you have gone through rounds of understanding in your student days, you can do that in attempt to understand interest rate path and that commentary. In conclusion, it is a kind of discpline you need to develop on your own. Some analysts and professionals do that way! I have better real-life example of this. Consider a scenario between Brad DeLong and Greg Mankiw.
In this month, Greg Mankiw wrote a column in New York Times paper. Brad DeLong read his column and he did not understand. Mankiw explained his column in more mathematical forms. Finally, DeLong figured out. It is a probably a good example of going through rounds of understanding.
The closure comments from me is as follows. My belief is that the easy ones should be understood on your own while difficult ones should be discussed with lectuers and reliable friends who understand economics very clearly. At the same time, difficult ones can be usually solved by further reading on other textbooks. Upon asked by my friends, I always discuss with them rather than giving the answers straight away. I have another friend who took online exam for his MSc in Finance course. He discussed with me about certain theories in Corporate Finance. I offered some suggestions and nothing else. He finally came up his own essay by combining two or three theories (usually from journals or textbooks) into one answer. He showed me the answer and it was impressive one.
Security Analysis
In my book 'Security Analysis, I have already read part 1 and halfway in part 2. I am very impressed with the thoughts of Graham and Dodd in part 1 which involve ideas of probability, luck, and psychology. That is what financial economics ignored until behavioural finance came in the picture with theories that are related to psychology. Unfortunately, there are some areas in part 2 that I do not understand. It is probably due to lack of my knowledge about the finance in America in older days. I am looking forward for part 4 which I am extremely interested in.
My Current Thoughts
As of now, I was thinking of reading International Economics and then Public Economics in order to understand the behaviour of my country's economy from 1940s to 2000s. From that point, I am hopeful that I can connect one sector to another sector in my country easily in the future. Right now, I am seriously focusing on finance. I am extremely inclined towards traditional finance than modern finance.
I fancy myself to develop a small team consisting of two or three people doing researching on equity. In that small team, each person will do different tasks individually before we can conclude. I think I am quite comfortable in researching equity and making decision of what equity to bid. I have plan to utilise Security Analysis and then modify it for the best fit to modern equity market. Therefore, I do not plan to use financial economics that involve a lot of mathematical and statistical works. Moreover, it require large team and a lot of resources to achieve one. Large team means that everybody will measure each variable, come up with new formula or theory, and do econometric works. After all, I am no fan of econometrics and mathematical economics even though i see some uses in them. It came from my belief that they are inflexible and use unrealistic assumptions.
Books
Title: One Up on Wall Street
Author: Peter Lynch and John Rothchild
My Comments:
This book is surprisingly read-friendly for anyone. There is nothing difficult enough to boggle you down. All the things Peter Lynch want to introduce seems too simple. I must point out that these simple things are not properly understood and used by common people. Normally, common people tend to think that investing cannot be that simple. It is probably because they did not observe at all. There is enough details how to recognise and heed the warnings that are already mentioned in that book. However, it does not say much about how you should analyse. For that part, one should gain experience by doing. This experience coupled with this book will be enough to have good idea how you should be doing with stock market.
Rating:9/10
Movies
12 Rounds (Hollywood Movie 2009)
Synopsis extracted from imdb.com:
Detective Danny Fisher discovers his girlfriend has been kidnapped by a ex-con tied to Fisher's past, and he'll have to successfully complete 12 challenges in order to secure her safe release.
Rating:7/10
Bonuses:1)It is good '12 Rounds' game: Fisher wins or ex-con win 2)a pack of explosive actions.
Lakeview Terrance (Hollywood Movie 2008)
Synopsis extracted from imdb.com:
In California, the Caucasian Chris Mattson and his Afro-American wife Lisa Mattson move to a house in a safe compound. The racist and dysfunctional next door neighbor is the abusive LAPD Officer Abel Turner that feels uncomfortable with the relationship of the newcomers and transforms their lives in Hell on Earth.
Rating:5/10
Majo Saiban (Japanese Drama 2009)
Synopsis extracted from dramawiki:
Toru is a young part-timer who has no interest in social issues. He gets called in as a juror in the trial of a woman labeled as a "witch", charged with a murder over an enormous inheritance. Though it appears that she is definitely guilty, one by one the jurors begin casting their votes for "not guilty." From the shadows, there is a mysterious organization buying control of the jury. At the same time, strange events start happening around Toru. When another juror is threatened, Toru is determined to save her. However, Toru's girlfriend, a newspaper reporter, seems suspicious of their relationship. And so, Toru begins his lonely fight for the truth
Rating:9/10
Bonuses:1)Clever and well-timed twist in every episode 2)It is so painful that you feel emotional for each character 3)It clearly show how fragile humans are. 4)I think it is an intellectual swipe against new jury rule that is already started in Japan few months ago.
Crank: High Voltage (Hollywood Movie 2009)
Synopsis extracted from imdb.com:
Chelios faces a Chinese mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart and replaced it with a battery-powered ticker that requires regular jolts of electricity to keep working
Rating:5/10
Mr Brain (Japanese Drama 2009)
Synopsis extracted from wiki.d-addicts.com:
Tsukumo Ryusuke is a quirky, yet brilliant neuroscientist working for the National Research Institute of Police Science. Wielding a unique perspective and psychology, Tsukumo tackles the nation's most baffling crimes and scandals, going head-to-head with the most brilliant and twisted criminal minds. But his eccentricities and poor social timing can also aggravate people and circumstances, further complicating matters
Rating:10/10
Bonuses:1)Takuya Kimura's acting is still great. It seems that he always act in so many interesting dramas. 2)Interesting stories how brain scientist can aide cops to nap intelligent criminals. 3)This drama is using interesting medical lingo that we really want to know. 4)A lot of interesting technologies scientists can use to aide cops in tracking criminals. 5)It is just eight episodes: It is enough to complete watching this show within one day.
Fired Up (Hollywood Movie 2009)
Synopsis extracted from imdb.com:
The two most popular guys in high school decide to ditch football camp for cheerleader camp. For the girls and for the glory.
Rating:7/10
Bonuses:1)There is interesting scripts between two popular guys in this movie. 2)It is quite amazing to see how two guys perform in cheerleading competition together with girls.
Midnight Eagle (Japanese Movie 2007)
Synopsis:
Former war photographer Yuji Nishizaki was at the snowy mountain. Over there, he discover something moving on the sky. The moment he returned from the mountain, he made a call to his friend, Shinichiro Ochiai, who is journalist. Ochiai smell something fishy. They are on the quest. The secret is something shocking for them as well as for Japanese government....
Rating:5/10
Celeb to Binbo Taro (Japanese Drama 2008)
Synopsis extracted from wiki.d-addicts.com:
Wealthy daughter of a hotel chain mogul meets poor widowed father of three. Despite their vastly different values and beliefs, will their chanced encounter blossom into something more?
Rating:6/10
Bonus:It is unique love story.
My Boss My Hero (Japanese Drama 2006)
Synopsis extracted from wiki.d-addicts.com:
Sakaki Makio, also known as "Tornado" is a tough 27-year-old high school drop-out. By academic standards, he's pretty dumb. His father decides to force Makio to return to high school to receive his diploma and he asks an old friend who happens to be the principal of a nearby school to admit Makio. If Makio doesn't graduate, the position of boss will be given to his younger brother, Mikio.
Furthermore, he must pose as a 17-year-old during school hours and in the presence of any classmates or teachers outside of school. If his cover is blown, it would be the end of his high school career as well as his hopes to become boss. Things start out rough and tough as Makio's violent temper is tested. As the lessons and days go by he learns there is much more to school than just tests and studying.
Rating:6/10
Bonus: A lesson why high school students should enjoy their school life.
One Pound Gospel (Japanese Drama 2008)
Synopsis extracted from wiki.d-addicts.com:
Hatanaka Kosaku is a talented boxer who turned pro at the age of 19, winning his debut match with a first round KO. He is talented, but he has no guts. His uncontrollable appetite is an even bigger problem. He can’t put himself in the right weight class, he runs out of energy because of hunger, and he gets knocked out while his eyes are set on food at the ringside. However, Kosaku’s life changed when he met Sister Angela, a novice nun in the convent near his boxing gym. She became the source of his power, and Kosaku fights only to win her heart.
Rating:5/10
Bloody Monday [ブラッディ・マンデイ](Japanese Drama 2008)
Synopsis extracted from wiki.d-addicts.com:
After a biological terrorist attack kills off the population of a Russian town; Japan's Public Safety Special Third unit, code name THIRD-i, believes that the terrorist organization responsible plans to unleash the same virus known as Bloody X into Tokyo. Subsequently, THIRD-i recruits the help of genius hacker Takagi Fujimaru to find out what happened in the Russia. However, as Fujimaru becomes involved, he soon finds out that he is in over his head and that the terrorist groups influence reaches not only his school but even the police. Fujimaru must now rely on his skill as a hacker to unravel the organizations sinister plot and find out the truth behind "Bloody Monday."
Rating:8/10
Bonuses:1)Good twist about the whereabouts of leader of terrorist organisation 2)The pace of Story flow is good enough to tempt you watching whole eleven episodes. 3)You will like the mystery.
Kami No Shizuku [神の雫] Japanese Drama 2009)
Synopsis extracted from wiki.d-addicts.com:
The story revolves around Kanzuki Shizuku, a young man who was estranged from his father, a world-famous wine critic. When his father passed away, he left behind a wine collection worth a fortune, but in order to inherit it, Shizuku must solve a series of puzzles left by his father to identify 6 wines. His competitor was Tomine Issei, a prominent wine critic, whom his father adopted before his death.
Rating:7/10
Bonuses:1)Interesting lessons about wines for us. 2)Lead female actress has interesting face when making such faces with lead male actor.
Shoni Kyumei [小児救命](Japanese Drama 2008)
Synopsis extracted from wiki.d-addicts.com:
With recent shrinkage of pediatric care, pediatrician Aoyama Sora decides to stand up to the hospital management and reestablish the specialty.
Rating:7/10
Bonuses:1)What a ideal dream that is about to be real. 2)Touching story about why there is a need to save children.
City Hall [시티홀](Korean Drama 2009)
Synopsis extracted from koreanmovie.com:
City Hall is a drama that will deal with politics in a romantic comedy genre. It’s about the happenings between a young woman mayor and an elite bureaucrat. Jo Gook is an exceedingly smart government official. He passed the Higher Civil Service quickly, and basically is the perfect guy. But being a deputy mayor is not enough for him. He lives with the dream of becoming South Korea’s President. He should have easily gone straight to the top, but due to an unexpected incident, he gets dispatched as a deputy mayor for a provincial small town, Inju City, where Shin Mi Rae was working. Shin Mi Rae is a low-ranking secretary in Inju, but she works her way up in becoming the youngest City Mayor. As their paths met, they have to deal with each other’s personal and social differences. But despite their constant bickerings, would they end up in each other’s arms?
Rating:7/10
Bonuses:1)Kim Sun Ah score very well in her acting as lead female actress with all kind of funny faces. 2)The story is quite good. It probably open many people's eye about politics.
BOSS (Japanese Drama 2009)
Synopsis extracted from tokyograph.com:
This series revolves around a group of peculiar detectives in a new division created to fight against an increase in atrocious crimes. Osawa Eriko is a beautiful career woman who has just returned from training in the U.S. and is appointed as the "boss" of this division. But despite her intelligence and capabilities, she can never understand a man's heart, so she remains unable to find a husband. In fact, her assignment in the U.S. was really a demotion after she ruined her career track over a man. So why was she chosen as the boss of the new division? Even though the detectives are talented, they all have some kind of issue or flaw, and they are considered to be the "problem children" of the police force. In the end, the division's true purpose is just to isolate these problematic detectives.
Rating:8/10
Bonuses:1)Interesting cases 2)Refined, beautiful lady,Amami Yuki, aged 40s score well in acting skills 3)The story flow is good.
Shibatora [シバトラ] (Japanese Drama 2008)
Synopsis extracted from wiki.d-addicts.com:
No matter how you look at him, Shibata Taketora is just a quiet, ordinary junior high student. He looks so vulnerable that bullies try to rip him off on the streets, but he is actually a police detective and an expert swordsman in kendo. Taketora has a special ability to see the "hands of death" around people whose life is nearing the end. One day, Taketora is assigned on undercover operations. He sneaks into a high school, a maid cafe and a juvenile detention center... With the cooperation from his various friends, he gets to the bottom of the matters.
Rating:7/10
Bonuses:1)A belief to trust youth people in hope that they turn into new leaf. 2)Unexpected twist from one end to the final end concerning the real suspect of 'Onigami'.
Hotaru no Hikari [ホタルノヒカリ ](Japanese Drama 2008)
Synopsis extracted from wiki.d-addicts.com:
Hotaru works for a famous interior design company. It's a glamorous job but Hotaru's private life is totally the opposite of glamorous. She lives alone, and when she isn't working she's mostly lazing about her rented house in training wear. She's not interested in men. In fact, she isn't interested in anything. "I'd rather lay around than fool around," is her motto.
Her landlord is a bar owner, and one day his son, who has just separated from his wife, comes to inspect the rental property, not knowing that someone is living there. He is shocked at the mess, but not as shocked as Hotaru. He turns out to be her boss, Takano.
Rating:6/10
Bonuses: 1)Best quote from this drama i ever heard: There is no perfect answer to love. The answer you come up with is the correct answer.
That Fool [그바보] (Korean Drama 2009)
Synopsis extracted from wiki.d-addicts.com:
Goo Dong Baek is an honest and good-hearted postman. One day he encounters with Han Ji Soo, a top celebrity. However, an ordinary man gets no chance to show his feeling to this top actress who everyone loves. Six months period of time with her elapses like a midsummer night's dream. But he cannot just end up his love like a “dream”. Shouting out love! His love has just begun
Rating:6/10
Bonus:Unique love - Two strangers began to love each other since they start living in the same house.
Oh My God 2 [구세주 2](Korean Movie 2009)
Synopsis:
A love story revolves around a lazy guy and a girl who is going to die. This guy was not in love until he fall in love with her when she took his taxi. Tear-jerking moments are just around the corner at the end of the show.
Rating:5/10
State of Play (Hollywood Movie 2009)
Synopsis extracted from imdb.com:
A petty thief is gunned down in an alley and a Congressman's assistant falls in front of a subway - two seemingly unrelated deaths. But not to wisecracking, brash newspaper reporter Cal McAffrey who spies a conspiracy waiting to be uncovered. With a turbulent past connected to the Congressman and the aid of ambitious young rookie writer Della Frye, Cal begins uprooting clues that lead him to a corporate cover-up full of insiders, informants, and assassins. But as he draws closer to the truth, the relentless journalist must decide if it's worth risking his life and selling his soul to get the ultimate story.
Rating:8/10
Bonuses:1)Excellent plot that link two different incidents into one whole story together 2)You can't help it yourself as you grasp at the moment the murderer is trying to clear humans who saw him. 3)Now you have good idea how newspaper was printed at the end of the movie.
I Love You Man (Hollywood Movie 2009)
Synopsis extracted from imdb.com:
Peter Klaven's world revolves around his real estate work and Zooey, his soon-to-be fiancée. After he pops the question, she calls her best friends and they go into wedding planning mode. Peter has no male friends and that poses problems: will he turn out to be a clingy guy, and who will be his best man? Zooey, her friends, and Peter's brother Robbie offer help that results in awkward moments. Then, at an open house Peter's hosting, he meets Sydney, an amiable, low-key guy. They trade business cards, and Peter calls him to meet for drinks. A friendship develops that's great at first but then threatens Peter's engagement and career. Can guys be friends and couples be in love?
Rating:6/10
Bonus: Interesting way to make a male friend for a man.
Banlieue 13 Ultimatum (French Movie 2009)
Synopsis extracted from imdb.com:
Damien and Leito return to District 13 on a mission to bring peace to the troubled sector that is controlled by five different gang bosses, before the city's secret services take drastic measures to solve the problem.
Rating:8/10
Bonuses: 1)Superb fighting coordination: probably better than any Jackie Chan movie. 2)The plot is quite good. 3) Damien and Leito are good combination in this show.
The Soloist (Hollywood Movie 2009)
Synopsis extracted from imdb.com:
In 2005, the only thing hurting Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez more than his face from a recent bike accident was his pressing need for story ideas. That is when he discovers Nathaniel Ayers, a mentally ill, homeless street musician who possesses extraordinary talent, even through his half-broken instruments. Inspired by his story, Lopez writes an acclaimed series of articles about Ayers and attempts to do more to help both him and the rest of the underclass of LA have a better life. However, Lopez's good intentions run headlong in the hard realities of the strength of Ayers' personal demons and the larger social injustices facing the homeless. Regardless, Lopez and Ayers must find a way to conquer their deepest anxieties and frustrations to hope for a brighter future for both of them.
Rating: 7/10
Bonuses:1)This movie portray the homeless life of Los Angeles in America. In addition, it is based on true life story of Nathaniel Ayers. 2)The story of writer helping soulless and confused man is meaningful to learn. Things, such as psychological literature, can never explain this kind of behaviour. Only being loyal as means of friendship settle one person’s mind peacefully.
Banlieue 13 (French Movie 2004)
Synopsis extracted from imdb.com:
In the near future, the worst ghettos of Paris, France are literally walled off and among the worst is District B13. Controlled by the ruthless crime lord, Taha, a young righteous punk named Leïto is determined to bring him down. When the boss retaliates by kidnapping his sister, Lola, a rescue attempt by Leïto is destroyed by betrayal that gets him arrested and Lola kept in the clutches in Taha. Six months later, a crackerjack undercover cop named Damien is given a urgent mission: a neutron bomb has been stolen by Taha in District B13 which has an automatic timer function engaged and set to detonate in less than 24 hours. Now with time running out, Damien and Leïto must work together to find and stop the bomb, but there is far more to this crisis than any of the field players realize.
Rating:7/10
Bonuses:1) The plot in this movie seems far too simple but entertaining. 2) The fight chronology is quite good. Probably better than any Chinese fighting shows.
Terminator Salvation (Hollywood Movie 2009)
Synopsis extracted from imdb.com:
Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor is the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright, a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.
Rating: 6/10
Bonus: A decent story
Night at Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (Hollywood Movie 2009)
Synopsis extracted from imdb.com:
Security guard Larry Daley infiltrates the Smithsonian Institute in order to rescue Jedediah and Octavius, who have been shipped to the museum by mistake.
Rating:6/10
Bonus: A little explosive action movie.
Hokaben (Japanese Drama 2008)
Synopsis extracted from wiki.d-addicts.com:
Domoto Akari is a rookie attorney, so-called “Hokaben,” a hot lawyer just out of the oven. Sugisaki Tadashi is her boss at the big law firm, but he has lost his passion for work, and is as cool as ice. These two meet as the only two attorneys at the Pro Bono (For Public Good) section, which the firm created to fulfill their social service obligation. The law will protect the weak -rookie attorney Akari still believes in the idealistic dream. The law will not protect the weak, and it can even be a weapon to kill people-experienced Sugisaki has seen the limit of the law. Clients after clients looking for saviors come to them for help, but the realities in front of them are too harsh to face. Will they give up or will they face the reality and fight?
Rating:8/10
Bonuses: 1) I like how veteran lawyer teaches newbie lawyer, showing the realities of law. 2) This drama shows that one cannot have the results that easily. 3)The plots of each law case are good.
The Damned United (UK Movie 2009)
Synopsis extracted from imdb.com:
Taking over England's top football club Leeds United, previously successful manager Brian Clough's abrasive approach and his clear dislike of the players' dirty style of play make it certain there is going to be friction. Glimpses of his earlier career help explain both his hostility to previous manager Don Revie and how much he is missing right-hand man Peter Taylor who has loyally stayed with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Rating:8/10
Bonuses:1) Superb story about Brian Clough 2)The film portray the colourful and exciting life of Brian Clough 3)Soccer frantic will love this film.
The Informers (Hollywood Movie 2009)
Synopsis extracted from imdb.com:
Published in 1995, the collection of loosely connected short stories captures a week in L.A. in 1983, featuring movie executives, rock stars, a vampire and other morally challenged characters in adventures laced with sex, drugs and violence.
Rating:5/10
Iryu Team Medical Dragon (Japanese Drama 2006)
Synopsis extracted from wiki.d-addicts.com:
Ryutaro Asada, a renegade but brilliant surgeon, was being framed for a misdiagnosis and let go by the North Japanese Hospital. He went into exile and lived in a seaside shack when he was visited by Akira Kato, assistant professor of the Faculty of Cardiac Surgery at Meishin University Medical Hospital.
Despite being a female doctor, Akira managed to become an assistant professor. She was ambitious and set her goal to be promoted to full professor by succeeding in a surgery using the Batista technique — an extremely difficult type of heart surgery — and to write a paper on it. A year ago, Akira witnessed Ryutaro's skills when he was an NGO doctor and was impressed enough to seek his assistance in the Batista technique.
This drama exposed the difficulties encountered in the rigid Japanese medical professions in treating patients whereby decisions made were based more on protecting the hospitals than the patients.
Rating:9/10
Bonuses:1)Although there is slight modification of this movie compared to manga, the whole story from episode 1 to 11 is great. 2)That is what teamwork means. 3) I like the meaning of genius in this movie. Genius person means one can rewrite the existing thing with better and improved one or create new thing to replace that existing thing. 4) The ending is something you like very much.
Tony Del Piero wrote and posted at at 7:06 pm
