- Thor (2011)
This movie features the brilliant and incredibly handsome Chris Hemsworth—who can resist the Hemsworth brothers (Liam and Chris can both pick me up anytime)?But surprisingly, the real star of this Norse mythology-inspired superhero flick isn’t the Thunder God himself; it’s his brother, Loki. The sly, conniving, and witty nature of Loki absolutely steals the show, and let’s be real—have you seen Tom Hiddleston? Seven-year-old me was completely charmed. It’s a win for younger brothers everywhere because, no matter how much older you are, sometimes you just have to be a villainous god with a flair for frivolous tricks. Trust me, every pre-teen (and even someone older like me) will be under your spell!
- Heroine Disqualified (2015)
This Japanese shojou truly captures the essence of being a teenager, an era filled with love triangles—think Hollywood classics like The Vampire Diaries and Gilmore Girls. For me, Hatori (Mirei Kiritani) embodied the experience of being a boy-crazy high schooler, shifting from a one-sided crush on her best friend, Rita, played by the charming Kento Yamazaki, to fake-dating the flamboyant and popular Kosuke. Played by Kentaro Sakaguchi, Kosuke is the ultimate popular guy—flirty, surrounded by female friends, and somehow only focused on our heroine. It’s the classic dilemma of picking one guy over the other, and I found myself leaning toward Kosuke because his love for Hatori felt so pure. Plus, I can’t resist a jock-like character (yikes). Sakaguchi’s performance makes the second-male lead syndrome really come alive here!
- Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
I watched this movie in the theatre when it was released and let me tell you—while Sandra Hüller’s performance had me shook, Swann Arlaud gave me a new celebrity crush that lasted a whole month! This murder mystery, layered with complexity, is more than it seems. Hailed as the best original screenplay of the year, this French cast presents a dilemma that the audience shares with the blind son in the movie. We’re left with questions, but also with admiration for the lawyer, Vincent. His exceptional intellect, paired with a puppy-like innocence in his love for Sandra, leaves you feeling giddy. In such a tense premise, that juxtaposition is refreshing. The perceptions of reality really come alive in this film, along with my admiration for Vincent.
“Swann Arlaud Deauville 2017 2” by Georges Biard is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.