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Be inspired with an "Inspire Me Korea" subscription box

by with No Comment News

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Subscription boxes have gathered a huge following thanks to the wide variety at hand and how easy it is to get your favourite beauty products, foods or even to try something a little different from another country. Previously on MCM Buzz we have covered the likes of Retro Game Box, Beauty Bi, and Japan Crate who have all offered something amazing and entertaining. This time we are looking at a Korean and UK based subscription box by the name of “Inspire Me Korea”.

When asked about Inspire Me Korea, the founder and CEO Diana Chan stated, “I just graduated, and decided to take a graduation trip on my own to South Korea. I stayed for one month in Incheon and Seoul and it was the most memorable experience of my life, and definitely life changing! I had such a great time there that when I came back to the UK for my graduation ceremony I couldn’t stop thinking about how to go back to South Korea. I came up with many ideas, like finding a job in the UK that will send me to South Korea or finding an English speaking job in Korea. Instead, I settled with bringing South Korea to the UK!”

Diana wanted to share the vibrant culture that she experienced in South Korea and show that there is a lot more to South Korea than just K-pop or Korean dramas. “There is a rich history, culture, traditions and amazing people who are respectful and caring towards everyone,” said Diana. “I wanted to portray this multi dimensional culture and share it with people I care about – people who love Korea or could love Korea through Inspire Me Korea! That is why I have chosen an array of items to go into our boxes each month, so people can learn about Korea and have a taste of the diverse culture.”

The main goal of Inspire Me Korea is the hope that the subscription box service will cover all the aspects of Korea in one small package, especially for those who cannot travel, giving them the opportunity to experience and be inspired by Korea.

“The whole idea is to create a community of Korea lovers in the UK, to share our stories with one another and just feel comfortable to be in love with Korean culture,” explained Diana. “I definitely remember being in love with K-pop five years ago, but had no one to talk to and no one to share this with, and I wish that no one has to feel that way any more!”

In terms of creating a community, Inspire Me Korea have an “Inspired By Korea Blog” series where stories can be shared and inspiration can be passed on from person to person about everything from traditions, culture, music, movies and entertainment, right down to the best places to eat when visiting Korea.

So what about these boxes? Well, the boxes are sent out on the 5th of every month and each one will have a different theme. For example, April’s one will be “Cafe” which we have been told could feature some fun, cute and amazing Easter themed gifts. Each box is filled with surprises, but we are guaranteed something to cover history and culture within a magazine, snacks, K-pop and Korean entertainment items, as well as some beauty products for those of you who opt in for them. All the products are hand-picked and carefully curated to the monthly theme. The items are then hand packed in a special box, and delivered straight to your door.

At £13.33 per month the subscription box is a steal for the quality of items you can receive. Should you get impatient of waiting for your box you could always head over to the Inspire Me Korea shop where they house some really cute items for sale.

MCM Buzz readers are really lucky, for we have been given an exclusive discount code where you can get free shipping on the first box you order. All you have to do is use the code ‘MCMBUZZ’ when paying for your box, and Inspire Me Korea will sort it out from there. For a sneak preview of what to expect be sure to check out the video below, and check out Inspire Me Korea’s website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more updates and details about the UK’s first Korean subscription box.

unnamed-1024x469

Be inspired with an “Inspire Me Korea” subscription box

by with No Comment News

unnamed-1024x469

Subscription boxes have gathered a huge following thanks to the wide variety at hand and how easy it is to get your favourite beauty products, foods or even to try something a little different from another country. Previously on MCM Buzz we have covered the likes of Retro Game Box, Beauty Bi, and Japan Crate who have all offered something amazing and entertaining. This time we are looking at a Korean and UK based subscription box by the name of “Inspire Me Korea”.

When asked about Inspire Me Korea, the founder and CEO Diana Chan stated, “I just graduated, and decided to take a graduation trip on my own to South Korea. I stayed for one month in Incheon and Seoul and it was the most memorable experience of my life, and definitely life changing! I had such a great time there that when I came back to the UK for my graduation ceremony I couldn’t stop thinking about how to go back to South Korea. I came up with many ideas, like finding a job in the UK that will send me to South Korea or finding an English speaking job in Korea. Instead, I settled with bringing South Korea to the UK!”

Diana wanted to share the vibrant culture that she experienced in South Korea and show that there is a lot more to South Korea than just K-pop or Korean dramas. “There is a rich history, culture, traditions and amazing people who are respectful and caring towards everyone,” said Diana. “I wanted to portray this multi dimensional culture and share it with people I care about – people who love Korea or could love Korea through Inspire Me Korea! That is why I have chosen an array of items to go into our boxes each month, so people can learn about Korea and have a taste of the diverse culture.”

The main goal of Inspire Me Korea is the hope that the subscription box service will cover all the aspects of Korea in one small package, especially for those who cannot travel, giving them the opportunity to experience and be inspired by Korea.

“The whole idea is to create a community of Korea lovers in the UK, to share our stories with one another and just feel comfortable to be in love with Korean culture,” explained Diana. “I definitely remember being in love with K-pop five years ago, but had no one to talk to and no one to share this with, and I wish that no one has to feel that way any more!”

In terms of creating a community, Inspire Me Korea have an “Inspired By Korea Blog” series where stories can be shared and inspiration can be passed on from person to person about everything from traditions, culture, music, movies and entertainment, right down to the best places to eat when visiting Korea.

So what about these boxes? Well, the boxes are sent out on the 5th of every month and each one will have a different theme. For example, April’s one will be “Cafe” which we have been told could feature some fun, cute and amazing Easter themed gifts. Each box is filled with surprises, but we are guaranteed something to cover history and culture within a magazine, snacks, K-pop and Korean entertainment items, as well as some beauty products for those of you who opt in for them. All the products are hand-picked and carefully curated to the monthly theme. The items are then hand packed in a special box, and delivered straight to your door.

At £13.33 per month the subscription box is a steal for the quality of items you can receive. Should you get impatient of waiting for your box you could always head over to the Inspire Me Korea shop where they house some really cute items for sale.

MCM Buzz readers are really lucky, for we have been given an exclusive discount code where you can get free shipping on the first box you order. All you have to do is use the code ‘MCMBUZZ’ when paying for your box, and Inspire Me Korea will sort it out from there. For a sneak preview of what to expect be sure to check out the video below, and check out Inspire Me Korea’s website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more updates and details about the UK’s first Korean subscription box.

Saints and Soldiers The Void (Cover)

Review "Saints and Soldiers: The Void"

by with No Comment Reviews

Saints and Soldiers The Void (Cover)When you set about making a great World War II movie you’ve got some big military boots to fill. Depictions of the war can range anywhere from uplifting and action-packed to downright horrific. Saints and Soldiers: The Void seems to aim for the former but doesn’t quite hit the mark. When describing it, the word “almost” tends to come to mind. It’s almost inspiring, the actors are almost good and the story is almost interesting.

The Void starts with a montage of news footage that sets the scene, telling us the war is over and Hitler is dead. Which leads to the film’s biggest problem. If you’re making a WW2 movie and the war is over, then you take away a lot of the story’s tension. If there isn’t a war then why should we be interested?

In a setting like this a film needs to work hard to raise the stakes and increase the sense of jeopardy. What it needs is an antagonist but The Void seems to forget it should have one. There’s a Nazi tank commander (Christoph Malzl) who could fill that role nicely. Except he’s barely present. One flashback sets him up as a typical villain, the next time we see him it’s at a distance while he’s stood on a tank. The final confrontation against him sees him killed off. It should have a sense of victory but in reality it barely registers.

A film’s villain doesn’t always have to be a person however. The Void aims to make a point of the racism that affected African American soldiers during the war. Hatred, prejudice and even the hardships of war can work against the heroes. Except, like the Nazi commander, the subject of race doesn’t quite work against the hero enough for it to feel like a victory when it’s not there anymore. With the exception of Cpl Simms, most of the people Sgt Owens comes across are pretty friendly.

k DanorK. Danor Gerald plays the role of sympathetic Sgt Owens. He’s a real talent that stands out amongst what is a cast of mostly flat performers. He’s the only one who manages to pull off a scene with any sort of emotional weight and he has a charm that could carry him to bigger and better things.

The rest of the cast tend to sit in the middle ground where people can act but don’t quite offer much that’s unique or impactful. Which is a shame because the dialogue is there but no one seems to be able to pull it off. And at least one of the actors feels as if he got the job because he was ridiculously good looking. Trendy haircuts and pearly white teeth can be a bit distracting in a war setting.

The action scenes are pretty entertaining and the film does a great job with what is presumably a fairly small budget. The tank destroyer goes up against three German tanks in a tight spot. After the initial fight it turns into a slow game of wits as each tries to get in the best position to defend or shoot. The pacing is ideal, offering just enough breathing space for character development but not so slow that things get dull.

There are a couple of scenes that deserve honourable mentions. Such as the encounter with a German family and their broken down car. It doesn’t really lead anywhere but it’s an interesting exchange. The war is over and so there’s that much less to worry about and yet tensions would obviously remain high between Germans and Americans. The treatment of Sgt Owens starts out fairly cold but ends on a positive note.

The other is a flashback into Sgt Owens’ past, however to reveal too much would give away some major plot points. What can be said about it however is that it highlights racism in the military by revealing that neglect suffered by African Americans. The black soldiers request more basics like thick socks to deal with the cold, while the white men in charge continue to say “no” at any opportunity. It’s a simple exchange that the film really needed more of.

Saints and Soldiers: The Void is a film that almost succeeds. It’s got a good lead actor, some great dialogue and interesting flashbacks but bland performances and the lack of any sense of danger stops it from being anything more than just okay.

Battle Royale? Hunger Games? Now it’s the Avengers’ turn

by with No Comment News

This December, Marvel will be releasing the Avenger’s Arena, a comic that has an oddly familiar theme if you’re a fan of The Hunger Games trilogy, or of the more dated Battle Royale manga and live action movie.

The premise: 16 super-emotional, super-human teenagers are dumped on a deserted island and told to fight it out – to the death – until only one remains.

“An all-new series! All-new cast! All-new ways to die! This is Avengers Arena NOW!”

The comic’s creators, Kevin Walker (Artist) and Dennis Hopeless (Writer) ensure that no character is ‘cannon fodder’, every character serves a purpose and brings something to the ultimate story. Of course a few characters will be killed off early, but the idea is that every character has a story to tell, and this links in with the greater picture.

A tip of the hat to the Battle Royale poster made by the Avengers with the same
black/white style drawings including several characters already ‘wiped out’ of the list.  

The Hunger Games and Battle Royale both conveyed the difficult stages of a young adults life, especially when in extreme situations, but how will angsty, confused, unsure-of-their-place-in-the-world teens that have superpowers fare in a the same kind of deadly situation? We can only hope to find out.