誰是被害者 - The Victims' Game

誰是被害者 (The Victims' Game) is an 2020 drama series out of Taiwan. The series stars Joseph Chang, Hsu Wei-ning (Tiffany Ann Hsu), and Hsu Hai-Yin. This was releases in the US via Netflix.

The story is about forensic scientist with Asperger's syndrome Fang Yi-jen, played by Joseph Chang. When a crime scene leaves clue for its victim, the police must find the clues to prevent the next one. When a investigative journalist Hsu Hai-yin, played by Ann Hsu gets wind of the serial killer, she digs her way into the investigation. Can the two of them solve the riddle and stop the killings?

I actually took almost two years to finish this series. Before the pandemic, when the trailers for this came out, I was super stoked to watch it. But at the time it came out, I was not in the mood for a super depressing series. I watched part of the first episode and picked up 9 months later. I went a couple of episodes and as it got really dark, I stopped again. I finally finished it recently, having to rewatch a bit to remember the story.

Ann Hsu really impressed me. I haven't see her in anything since 16 Summers. Hsu has really matured as an actress and pulled me into her world. A "go get them" journalist character was needed to move the story along as it was a very slow moving storyline. At 8 episodes, it could have been reduce to 6 or so in my opinion. A sequel was annouced, but I have not seen anything about it's release recently.

It is an investigative series in nature. From one clue to the next, the pieces of the puzzle start to take shape and form a picture. I liked how it was in filmed in Taiwan and made me a bit nostalgic. Someday, I will visit my birth country again.

If you like CSI and other shows like it, this will be a fun watch. Seeing how it is done in non-US setting was pretty fun.

Driverless - 無人駕駛

Driverless (無人駕駛) is a 2010 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Liu Ye, Gao Yuanyuan, Li Xiaoran, and Ruby Lin. The supporting cast include Chen Jian bin, Wang Luodan, and Huang Xuan. The movie is directed by Zhang Yang. Zhang Yang says that this is the 2010 version of his 1997 film, Spicy Love Soup (愛情麻辣燙).

The movie follows 3 story arcs that have common characters. The first story is a love triangle between Liu Ye, Gao Yuanyuan, and Li Xiaoran. Liu and Li are married with a 2 year old son and they have marrital problems. Liu runs into Gao at a business presentation. They dated in college. The second story is of Ruby Lin and her pyramid scheme. Ruby is dumped and looking to get back on her feet. Ruby sucks in a depressed Chen. The third story is Wang and Huang whom play the teenage love story. Wang plays a deaf girl that has had a very shelter life, but finds friendship with an womanizing player in Huang.

Weird happenstance intertwine all three arcs. The car accident that ultimately links them all is a little underwhelming. Unless you see it, you won't know what I mean.

In all, I was sucked in to the movie because of Gao Yuanyuan, Li Xiaoran, and Ruby Lin. Three lovely ladies entering their mid 30s in spectacular fashion. If it weren't for these three ladies, I would have stopped watching. Sometimes, its not about the story as it is about the eye candy casting.

Sophie's Revenge - 非常完美:奪愛大作戰

Sophie's Revenge (非常完美:奪愛大作戰) is a 2009 film out of China. The movie stars Zhang Ziyi, Peter Ho, Fan Bing-Bing, and So Ji-Sub. Ruby Lin is on as one of Sophie's two best friends.

The movie is convoluted. Sophie, played by Zhang Ziyi, is engaged to Jeff, played by So Ji-Sub. But when Jeff encounters Joanna, played by Fan Bing-Bing, in the hospital, he's breaks up with Sophie. Sophie now wants revenge. The revenge plan is to make Jeff want Sophie back so that Sophie can dump him like he did her. Enter Gorden, played by Peter Ho, a still photographer from Taiwan. Ruby Lin as Lucy is there with another friend to help Sophie plan her revenge. But when Sophie breaks her leg in one of her schemes, Gorden volunteers to look after her.

Intriguing movie to say the least. The movie walks into Scrub like fantasy moments all too often for my taste. Playing off Sophie's cartoon profession the fantasies come and go. Very stylist movie though. I didn't like the movie, but didn't mind it either. I think it's worth a watch because of the high production value and eye candy the film provides.