stiffen up that upper lip.

"If there's one thing you gotta fake, it's confidence. You fake it you get it eventually."
"Wear your shoes. Be proud of you and be yourself, man." Eminem

AVATAR: Pocahontas in Sci-Fi

Today I watched Avatar for the second time. First time in XXI The Premiere, second time in 3D. Joko Anwar, a movie director from Indonesia, recommended his followers in Twitter to watch the recent work of James Cameron in 3D version.

Directed by: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez,
Giovanni Ribisi, Sigourney Weaver
Running Time: 161 minutes
Budget: $ 237,000,000

The Review:
When I first previewed the trailer, I wasn't interested watching this movie. I didn't know what the movie was about and assumed it would be just another not-so-kicking blockbuster movie. But after I watched the movie, I could tell you that the trailer is not helpful. The trailer is nothing compared to the movie.

Avatar is Pocahontas in Sci-Fi, only the main character is "John Smith" instead of "Pocahontas" and the battle is between men and alien (or should I say Na'vi and alien?) instead of the battle between two races. The goal is same, natural resources to bring further wealth.

Avatar brought mesmerizing picturesque of Pandora World. The pictures are fantastic. When you watch a fantasy movie, this you have to keep in mind: Know that every landscape in a fantasy movie is painted by men and came from men's creativity. So to see how outstanding the Pandora forest, to see how it's very detailed, will make you more amazed. You will go "whooa"-ing inside your head everytime the movie takes you to Pandora.

The character is well developed. The main character, Jake Sully, goes from useless, jobless, paralyzed ex marine to the greatest warrior and becomes the hope of every Na'vi. The process of how he finally see the world through Na'vi's eyes.

There is something about the word: see, in this movie. As Norm Spellman, a character in this movie explained to Sully: "When you say 'I see you', it's not literally meant I see you in front of me. But it's more like I see into you." Among Na'vis, they say "I see you" instead of "I love you."

So readers, go and hit the theatre to witness the magic of movie! It's worth your time, mark my words.

FFI 2009

What the heck is FFI?

FFI stands for Festival Film Indonesia. It's Indonesia's most prestigious movie award. If the Academy Awards's trophy is called the Oscar, then FFI's trophy is called Piala Citra.

Here are the nominees & winners (bold) of the Festival Film Indonesia 2009:

Nominasi film terbaik :
Identitas
Jamila dan Sang Presiden
Mereka Bilang Saya Monyet
Perempuan Berkalung Sorban
Ruma Maida

Nominasi Pemeran Wanita Terbaik :
Atiqah Hasiholan - Ruma Maida
Aty Kanser - Emak Ingin Naik Haji
Leony - Identitas
Revalina S Temat - Perempuan Berkalung Sorban
Titi Sjuman - Mereka Bilang Saya Monyet

Nominasi Pemeran Pendukung Wanita Terbaik :
Ayu Pratiwi - Emak Ingin Naik Haji
Henidar Amroe - Mereka Bilang Saya Monyet
Niniek L Karim - KCB 2
Widyawati - Perempuan Berkalung Sorban

Nominasi Pemain Pria Terbaik :
Tio Pakusadewo - Identitas
Emir Mahiri - Garuda di Dadaku
Reza Rahardian - Emak Ingin Naik Haji
Vino G Bastian - Serigala Terakhir
Yama Carlos - Ruma Maida

Nominasi Peran Pembantu Pria Terbaik :
Deddy Mizwar - KCB 2
Frans Tumbuan - Ruma Maida
Mamiek Prakoso - Garuda di Dadaku
Reza Rahardian - Perempuan Berkalung Sorban
Verdy Sulaiman - Ruma Maida

Nominasi Penyutradaraan Terbaik :
Ari Kusumadewa - Identitas
Djenar Maesa Ayu - Mereka Bilang Saya Monyet
Hanung Bramantyo - Perempuan Berkalung Sorban
Ratna Sarumpaet - Jamila dan Sang Presiden
Teddy Soeriatmadja - Ruma Maida

Penata Musik Terbaik :
Aksan Syuman dan Titi Syuman - Garuda di Dadaku
Djaduk Ferianto - Jagad Kali Code
Aksan Syuman dan Titi Syuman - King
Bobi Suryadi - Ruma Maida
Arge Swara - Merah Putih

Nominasi Penata Suara Terbaik FFI 2009
Edo W.F. Sitanggang - Identitas
Irwan Ali Akbar & Edo W.F. Sitanggang - Emak Ingin Naik Haji
Satrio Budiono & Jajang Muslim - Jamila Dan Sang Presiden
Shaft Daultsyah dan Khikmawan Santosa - Ruma Maida
Trisno & Khikmawan Santoso - Serigala Terakhir

Nominasi Penulis Skenario Cerita Asli Terbaik FFI 2009
Aria Kusumadewa - Identitas
Armantono - Jagad Kali Code
Ayu Utami - Ruma Maida
Sally Anom Sari & Sammaria Simanjuntak - Cin[T]a
Salam Aristo - Garuda Di Dadaku

Nominasi Penulis Skenario Cerita Adaptasi Terbaik FFI 2009
Aditya Gumay & Adenin Adlan - Emak Ingin Naik Haji
Djenar Maesa Ayu & Indra Herlambang - Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet!
Ginatri S. Noer - Perempuan Berkalung Sorba
Joko Anwar - Pintu Terlarang
Ratna Sarumpaet - Jamila Dan Sang Presiden

Nominasi Penata Sinematografi Terbaik FFI 2009
Faozan Rizal - Perempuan Berkalung Sorban
Ical Tanjung - Ruma Maida
Ical Tanjung - Serigala Terakhir
Ipung Rahmat Syaiful - Pintu Terlarang
Yastki - Identitas

Nominasi Penata Artistik Terbaik FFI 2009
Frans X. Paat (Jamila Dan Sang Presiden)
Herlin Lanang (Emak Ingin Naik Haji)
Indra Tamoron Musu (Ruma Maida)
Iqbal Marjono (Serigala Terakhir)
Kekev Marlov (Identitas)

Nominasi Penyuntingan Terbaik FFI 2009
Arifin Cu’unk & Wawan I. Wibowo (Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet!)
Go-Chang Senior (Identitas)
Sastha Sunu (Jamila Dan Sang Presiden)
Waluyo Ichwandiardono (Ruma Maida)
Wawan I. Wibowo (Pintu Terlarang)


P.S.: Sorry for late post. I hope it will be useful for readers who are looking for good Indonesian movie refference.

GOD is a crazy artist

GOD is a director/GOD is an architect. This question is brought up through an Indonesian movie, Cin(T)a (2009).
I have a personal opinion regarding what GOD is, and that is:
GOD is a crazy artist.

Why artist as the noun?
An artist is a person who create sth. As I and many people believe, GOD is the creator of the world along with every living creature.

Why crazy as the adjective?
Sth is called crazy when it is out of the reach from our logic and wisdom; when it is hard to understand.

So GOD is a crazy artist. This came up as I rethink of this earth, the nature, the sky that keeps changing; and human beings that live. Human is the highest form of art. Their body shape, their skin color, their anatomy, the way they are consisted of millions of cells. Also what their brain can come out with, like how one human can think very differently from another. No matter how close they are related to another.

As for crazy, we can never know why GOD let sin venom the human heart while we believe that HE is love. Why don't HE just get rid our sins from us or HE prevent us from comitting sin, when we believe how powerful HE is. That is sth people won't be able to understand. That is sth people won't be able to decipher. People have to meet with the artist himself in order to understand.

Muallaf (The Convert)

Title: Muallaf (The Convert)
Year: 2008
Directed by: Yasmin Ahmad
Country: Malaysia
Starring: Brian Yap; Sharifah Amani; Yeo Yann Yann; Sharifah Aleysha

Synopsis:

This is a tale of three souls who find soalce in religion. Brian has lost his faith in Christianity since he was 12 after being humiliated by his father, a strict Catholic. During his teaching days at the school, he meets the two sisters who often recite verses from the holy Qur'an and gain simple knowledge of Islam. Each of their life journeys will never be the same again.

Hypnotizing!

The first minutes was interesting. The picture was simple but refreshing. In the middle of the movie, I got pretty bored because of its slow approach to the climax. I'm beginning to know the character though. The two sisters are intriguing, independent, devout Muslim and optimistic. While Brian is depressed, stingy and he's in a condition where he lost his faith in Christianity because of childhood trauma and indulgent mother. But as I watched the movie until it ended, I found that this movie is personally hypnotizing.

I watched this movie today with my friend Marvin Julian and Clarissa Putri Suseno on the 8th day of 2009's JIFFest. I closed Muallaf with a talk show with Okhtar Ahmad, the sister of director Yasmin Ahmad. By the time this movie is released in Indonesia, Yasmin Ahmad has passed away.

The talkshow changed my mind and gave me perspective. First I thought that this movie was about Islamisation. But then, no it isn't. It's more about how the lives of 2 devout Muslim affected those around them. Brian is just one example given in the movie. This movie is purely based on a true story. The problems brought up there are the problems that people in Malaysia - so Okhtar Ahmad said - coped most of the time in their family. At the end it doesn't boldly show that Brian convert to Islam. In fact, it said nothing about convertion at all. But if you know the real story, which Okhtar brought up to us, the character Brian really converted to Islam.

The last minutes of Muallaf used the song "Amazing Grace." You know that it is the song Christians and Catholics like to sing in Churches. So why Amazing Grace, I wondered. She said, "Because it inspires people. My sister Yasmin listens to any kind of music. She doesn't adopt the way of thinking that listening to music from other religion will hurt Allah. If you watched her other works, you will see that she used various musics."

So dear Okhtar, your sister Yasmin didn't die. She left her legacy through her arts. Her movies pretty much reflect her characters, what kind of person she was at the time of her life. I take Muallaf as Yasmin's tribute to keep both of your lives' story eternally.

Me, Okhtar Ahmad, Clarissa Putri Suseno

If you're interested in knowing the late Yasmin Ahmad further more do visit her blog:
http://yasminthestoryteller.blogspot.com
http://yasminthefilmmaker.blogspot.com

upcoming

upcoming post: Gerakan 9/12
stay tuned!

I Decide

As a further respond to my previous entry, I will give you - all of the insecure people who's in a process of reaching self-actualization - a song that can help you gain your confidence. Watch and learn, people!

I Decide by Lindsay Lohan

Don't think that you can tell me what to think
I'm the one who knows what's good for me
And I'm stating my independence
Gonna take the road I'm gonna take
And I'm gonna make my own mistakes
It's my life

Don't think you're ever going to hold me down
Couldn't do it then, can't do it now
I'm kicking down all the fences
Gonna do it all and do too much
And if I mess the whole thing up, it's my ride

I decide
I decide how I live
I decide who I love
The choice is mine
And no one gets to make my mind up
I decide
I decide where I go
What I need, who I know
I'm the one who's running my life
I decide

I'm taking my own chances
I'm finding my own answers
I'm only answering to me
And that's the way it's gonna be

*) Soundtrack of Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

inside the head of my "menye-menye" side

Menye-menye: a term created by one of my good acquintance, a friend of mine for unfierce, unbitchy person who smiles a lot.

the label "menye-menye" once landed on me. i disagreed that i was a "menye-menye" person. i admit though that i had a "menye-menye" side. but that "menye-menye" side of me that i admitted, wasn't because i smiled a lot. i have more profound desc. of "menye-menye." though now, as the entry is published, i guess the creator of the term has also elaborate its description.

Menye-menye: deciphered by Priscillia Sidharta, as the term for insecure, weak-minded person; a person who doesn't stand on his own ground.

Here's the input of a "menye-menye"'s head that produces an output a human being who is "menye-menye."

i don't know which one to choose,
my choice has to please everybody,
so i always let people choose.
i don't think that person is using me,
everything he asks me to do doesn't trouble me that much,
so i always say yes to whatever help he's asking.
i don't listen to what i really want,
because it's the voice of my bad human nature,
so i let my mother designs my future.
i don't know what to do,
i leave no room for hurting someone,
so i always draw myself back in a conflict.
i never argue,
everybody knows everything better than me,
so i make everybody my teacher and do as they say.

and finally...

i don't know who i am,
i'm too much influenced by people around me,
but this is my starting point.

Make the best of your JIFFest!

JIFFest is soon to come! It will be an event attended by numerous crowds, most of them are hardcore moviegoers. Competition for tickets won't be easy. Be fast or your seats taken. I am here to give you a few tips on how to manage the competition, how to arrange clashing movie
schedules, and how to choose the right movies........

1. So far JIFFest always helds its event in December. When it comes to November, be sure to check JIFFest website www.jiffest.org routinely. As soon as they publish fix schedule, check for ticketing. It will give you information on how and where you can buy ticket. My advice: always be earlybirds to secure your position. JIFFest's popular movie tends to sell out first few days.

2. Before going to the locket, make sure you have viewed the whole schedule. If you want to watch 8 JIFFest movies, you have to arrange the day and time to avoid clashing. Usually JIFFest airs a movie two times, so there will always be alternatives. But if it is really not possible, then you have to pick movies!

3. Picking a movie. Deciding which movie to watch and which to eliminate needs a strategy. You don't want a wrong choice. Only two things you must keep in mind: movies with more awards and movies that are from countries except US. It's easy to find the DVD for US's movie but it's not for movies from non-Hollywood countries. As for me, I always sacrifice Hollywood movies in JIFFest due to the previous consideration.

And here's my extra tip. It's really not my field but I know the big picture. It's about.....

4. Outfit to JIFFest! Attending JIFFest, you will find fellow moviegoers, idealist, down-to-earth/lowprofile people and activists. So always dress casually! It's okay to be a little eccentric. But avoid dressing formally and fancy.

And one more thing that will really "make the best of your JIFFest":

5. Meet the faces of movie industry! JIFFest invites Indonesian directors and some foreign directors. JIFFest is not exclusive for JIFFest's attendant to meet them. So pay attention to JIFFest events! Usually it's in the last pages of the booklet. Meeting the man that produces award-worthy movie will definitely make your JIFFest an event to remember.

Me, (director) Nia Dinata, Marvin Julian

The 11th JIFFest 2009

The Jakarta International Film Festival 11th will be held starting December 4th, 2009 - December 12th, 2009. As I am posting this entry, it has already begun.



Jakarta International Film Festival is an annual movie festival in Jakarta (Indonesia), which aired movies from around the world including local movies. It is established by YMMFI, stands for Yayasan Mandiri Masyarakat Film Indonesia.

This year the festival will be opened with a local movie by Riri Riza: Sang Pemimpi. It is the sequel of last year's favourite Laskar Pelangi. It will be closed with New York, I Love You.

The 11th JIFFest campaigns alongside madani. They air movies that tell about Islamic values and cultures.

Alas! Don't forget to visit www.jiffest.org for movies time & schedule. Make sure you take part in supporting Indonesia's movie industry!

rabbit & the turtle

"the turtle challenged the rabbit for a running race.
rabbit laughed at turtle because she knew
who was going to win, yet she didn't refuse. They started
the race and rabbit ran as fast but stopped to sleep by
halfway to the finished. Turtle came to rabbit's
place and gained all energy to preceed rabbit.
Turtle was near the end, but suddenly the fast
rabbit started to wake from his sleep..."

THIS IS MY STARTING POINT. I AM THE AWAKEN SLEEPING RABBIT.

INDONESIA: The Sleeping Giant

Sebelumnya, judul postingan ini saya ambil dari video salah satu finalis QueenBee, Cynthia Chaerunnisa.

Saya setuju sekali bahwa Indonesia adalah raksasa tidur. Indonesia punya potensi besar untuk menjadi daerah wisata terbaik, untuk menarik wisatawan-wisatawan mancanegara. Liburan musim panas kemarin saya pergi ke negara adidaya untuk berwisata. Dan apa yang saya temukan? Mereka mengkomersilkan segala produk, tempat, bahkan PEMANDANGAN untuk menjadi atraksi turis. Kita bisa belajar dari mereka dalam hal mengolah pariwisata negara kita tercinta.

Apa yang perlu kita lakukan?

1. Menjaga peninggalan budaya yang ada. Alangkah baiknya bila kita bisa merawat bangunan-bangunan kuno dan patung-patung peninggalan. Objek-objek peninggalan budaya adalah ASET besar pariwisata negara ini.
2. Mengkomersilkan tempat wisata. Seperti misalnya: menjual cinderamata di setiap tempat wisata. Bisa berupa magnet, gantungan kunci, dan hendaknya cinderamata ini dijual dengan kisaran harga yang luas. Dari yang berharga murah dan terjangkau sampai berharga mahal, untuk barang koleksi.
3. Menaikkan harga masuk untuk wisman. Untuk turis lokal dan orang Indonesia sendiri harganya murah akan tetapi untuk turis asing, bisa dinaikkan sekitar 20%.

Menanggapi musibah bom yang terjadi di Indonesia kemarin, para kontributor di bidang pariwisata jangan berkecil hati ya... Tetap semangat memajukan pariwisata Indonesia!

SARAH PALIN: "Don't Trust Me"

check out this parody made by Shane Dawson, as a reaction to Sarah Palin quitting from governor of Alaska.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mWqr8pb2MY&feature=topvideos

courtesy of ShaneDawsonTV on youtube.

Demi Lovato gets tan!

looks like Demi Lovato has changed her appearance. our teen idol has grown up!

fresh white skin and bang

INTO

exotic tan and bangless

anything you do, we will always love you, Demi!

NEW YEAR PLAN!

I'm finishing year 11 and I've plans for the upcoming year 12.

1. Expand my pulsa business. Now I've got to increase my omset so that I'll serve the customer satisfyingly.
2. Launch CaC in my RT (Rukun Tetangga).
3. Find a new business. I don't know what.. Yet I have to seek for a new income other than pulsa business.

And of course.. be a much better person!

signing out, life-is-groovy.

Holiday = time to invest

I look holiday as a time to invest. This is our moment to learn, fill ourself, add new skill, discover new knowledge, looking for your passion, everything, anything that will you use for (membekali diri).

This is a little tips for self-investation in public speaking. As I'm trying to improve my public speaking skill, I know some that might useful:

1. Perbanyak nonton film, especially Hollywood's movies. Tapi jangan menonton dari genre yang sama, ganti-ganti genrenya. Kamu bisa belajar menjadi comedian (untuk drama), motivator (tontonlah film-film politik atau apapun yang ada orang yang sedang memotivasi, example: All The King's Men), good debater (tonton film yang bercerita tentang lawyers and laws).
Tips tambahan: Apabila Anda sedang mengikuti lomba inggris yang memerlukan your speaking skill, then you REALLY should watch movies in English. It will get you more fluent dengan atau tanpa Anda sadari.
2. Tontonlah E Channel, Channel V, MTV Asia. Lihatlah para selebriti diwawancara di situ. Kalau beruntung tontonlah acara-acara Awards, dan lihatlah para selebriti menyampaikan speech kemenangan mereka. Anda bisa mempelajari gaya para selebriti itu. They're entertainers and if we want to be succeed in public, we have to be entertainers. So, learn from them!
3. Kalau di channel2 itu sedang kosong, carilah videonya di youtube!
4. Practice in front of the mirror. Lakukan seperti orang-orang the SIMS saat sedang improve charisma atau practice speech.

Catatan dari saya: public speaking pasti akan terpakai. Apabila public speaking Anda bagus, Anda bisa banyak digunakan. Anda bisa menjadi orang yang diandalkan dan digantungkan oleh orang-orang sekitar.

Lalu... bisa invest apalagi contohnya?

Menambah kemampuan berbahasa. Saya adalah orang yang senang mempelajari bahasa asing. Dan untungnya saya tidak kesulitan mempelajari bahasa. Mungkin itu juga yang menyebabkan saya senang belajar bahasa asing, karena saya tidak kesulitan mempelajarinya. Kalau untuk ini, Anda harus latihan intensif. Sisihkan minimal 1 jam setiap hari. Kesempatan belajar bahasa ini belum tentu Anda dapatkan pada hari sekolah, di tengah sibuknya rutinitas dan tugas-tugas sekolah!

Belajar memasak. Ini sangat dianjurkan untuk para perempuan yang menganggur di rumah. Atau mungkin hanya sibuk berjalan-jalan di mall. Sisihkan setidaknya satu hari dalam seminggu untuk belajar memasak. Dan sangat dianjurkan belajar memasak dari oma Anda atau para tetua di keluarga Anda karena mereka biasanya mengetahui resep rahasia dalam memasak.

Improve your character! Selain public speaking, ini sangat-sangat vital. Anda tidak pernah tahu apa yang akan terjadi pada Anda. Bisa saja Anda tiba-tiba tinggal di lingkungan dimana Anda harus eksis atau mempertahankan eksistensi Anda. Anda tinggal di sekitar orang-orang yang selalu mengomentari segala hal, sehingga membuat Anda takut untuk dikomentari, khususnya bila Anda salah-salah adalah orang yang punya selera berbeda dengan para komentator. Supaya Anda tidak terpengaruh inilah yang harus Anda lakukan:
1. Dekatkan diri pada Tuhan.
2. Have self-confident. Belajar dari orang-orang di sekitar Anda yang punya self-confident yang tinggi, yang merasa nyaman dengan diri mereka apapun keadaannya. Yang tidak peduli walaupun dirinya dibilang 2000 and late, dibilang tidak sip, tidak uptodate, tinggal di gua dan hujatan lain.
3. Kuatkan hati. Ok. Seharusnya saya menaruh kuatkan hati di atas self-confident. Anda harus yakin akan pendapat Anda, akan hal-hal yang you stand for. Saatnya menguatkan hati. Jangan goyah hanya karena orang-orang bilang itu tidak keren dan tidak fabulous.
4. Bergaul dengan orang-orang positif. Jangan bergaul banyak dengan para komentator itu! Orang-orang yang benar-benar teman Anda dan berpikiran waras. Tidak mengejar fabulousity dan keeksisan.

Masukkan hal-hal positif ke dalam diri Anda selama liburan.

Holiday is a time to invest!

MOVIE MARATHON!

Today I had a date with my boyfriend, Hans Yonathan. We went to Puri Mall and watched 2 movies in a row. First, we watched 17 Again. A movie starring by teen heartrob Zac Efron.

17 Again (2009)

Recommended for Teens:
I found this movie pretty boring yet fun and has good messages. It reminds us teenagers that we're only 17 once, that's why we don't waste it and make bad choices. If you have a boyfriend, don't be so naive. He's never your forever. Well, that's a harsh statement I guess. Yet think about this: 1-2 years is not enough to determine whether a guy is your forever or not, let alone months! Don't give away your virginity!

Anyway, the tagline is contradictive with the movie messages.

Now I know why girls adore him!

I hereby admit...
I was one of those cynicals who used to not like Zac Efron. But now, after this movie my perspective changed on him. It's like my cynical eyes now turned wide open and I realize that he's pretty cute (anyway, his acting's good!) and now I know why girls went crazy over him. By the way, he's talented! His acting is so natural! Maybe he's one of Hollywood's next big thing. After all, Johnny Depp, Sean Penn, Jack Nicholson they grew older and older each year, so we need to spot good talent to proceed them.

The second movie is..

Star Trek Again!

Yup! I watched it twice! My bf hadn't watched it so he wanted some companion - that's me - to watch Star Trek. Now that I told you before about my attraction to Commander Spock, it's a pleasure for me to watch it again. The more I watch this movie the more I find how fierce and calm Spock is!

Live long and prosper!

HEROES

Lately I got addicted by this tv series. Thanks to Zachary Quinto who drags me into this eternal addiction to Heroes.

Let me introduce you to these super-HEROES.

Milo Ventimiglia as Peter Petrelli
Ability: absorb power


Hayden Panettiere as Claire Bennett
Ability: cell-regeneration


Noah Gray-Cabey as Micah Sanders
Ability: electricity


Adrian Pasdar as Nathan Petrelli
Ability: Fly


Greg Grunberg as Matt Parkman
Ability: mind-reader


Ali Larter as Niki Sanders
Ability: double-personality


Sendhil Ramamurthy as Mohinder Suresh
Ability: professor


Last but not least,

Isaac Mendes who can paint the future.

Note: I just watched Heroes 2 days ago, so up till now I'm still on the first season.

When You Watched Too Many Movies...

I've been a moviegoer for like, 6-7 years, and I wanted to share what I've experienced during those years.

This is what happens when you watched too many movies...:

1. You will find most movies predictable. Realize it or not, but you had automatically memorize the pattern of movies' storyline. I experienced it when I watched 27 Dresses. That made me didn't enjoy the movie and finally found the movie was pretty boring. Because I know what's going to happen next.

Pattern of chick-flick:
-introducing: female main character who's appealing outside but had problems with herself inside. most of the time our main character has a crush on her boss.
-pre-conflict: meet up with a charming guy who's interested in her. usually the charming guy is someone nice whom she just met, or whom she has never laid eyes on before.
-conflict: turned out that the boss or the character's crush has no interest on her. they usually interested in her sister, friend, or whoever has a close relation to the main character or maybe someone cooler. our main character goes outrage and depressed.
-post-conflict: the depression affect the character along with her relation with mr nice guy.
-ending: mr nice guy said something sweet, main character delivered a speech of apologise, and everybody get along and live happily.

Pattern of action movies:
-before the ending, usually the bad guy walk around the captured good guy and boast about his plan of destroying the earth or ruling the earth. That gives time for our good guy to find a way to release himself and stop the bad guy from their evil plan.
-background of the villain: vengeance, hatred, pain, lust of power.

2. You will get bored. Suddenly you found yourself bored and sick of Hollywood movies. You need something fresh and different. So you go to movie festivals and watch indies for a couple of time.


My advice is:
1. To avoid boredom of movies, try to change your way of viewing a movie. See movies from what is the purpose of the producer to make this movie, do not compare movies from different genre.
2. Stop criticizing movies from its quality. Try to judge movie from what you get from this movie, not the quality.

signing out: Priscillia Sidharta.

Today's Obsession: Zachary Quinto!

Yesterday i went out with 6 friends, had a girls' day out to Pacific Place. Our main intention to go there was to have fun in Kidzania. Yet we came out disappointed by their service, they didn't inform us as we called them the day before that they were helding a Congress.

So a change of plan had been made, instead of going to Kidzania, we went to watch Star Trek.


It was a fun ride i had back then. I love meeting a whole new eccentric characters: James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), Commander Spock (Zachary Quinto), Montgomery Scott (Simon Pegg), Pavel Checkov (Anton Yelchin), Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Karl Urban) even Nyoto Uhura (Zoe Saldana).

Yet this is the character that gets my full during the movie:

Zachary Quinto as Commander Spock

Why do I like guys with pointed ears? Note that I also liked Legolas the elf from Lord of the Rings. :D

As soon as I walked out the theatre, I thought nothing but Commander Spock. I really wanted to go home and google him ASAP. I found that his name is Zachary Quinto and that he plays in Heroes as the villain Sylar.

Fierce isn't he?

DRAG ME TO HELL!: Raimi's Alarm to Wake Up Hollywood's Horror

Drag Me to Hell (2009)

Hari ini saya nonton film ini bersama beberapa orang teman. Saya bukan penggila horror, namun saya juga penikmat horror. Karena menurut saya film-film horror mempunyai cerita yang unik. Meskipun terkadang settingnya sama, yaitu di rumah berhantu, tetapi selalu ada latar belakang dan kisah menarik di balik penghantuan arwah-arwah penasaran di rumah itu.

Apa yang membuat saya SANGAT tertarik menonton Drag Me to Hell?
1. Trailernya yang sangat mengerikan. Coba lihat sendiri! Menonton trailernya saja sudah menghantui saya di tengah malam!
2. Film ini adalah arahan Sam Raimi. Yup, Sam Raimi sutradara Spiderman. Sam Raimi sebenarnya adalah sutradara film horror. Terkenal gara-gara The Evil Dead.

Bagaimana film Drag Me to Hell?

Untuk keseraman, secara objektif saya memberi rating 4. Karena saya yakin bahwa tipe-tipe horror dan seram seperti ini bisa menakut-nakuti masyarakat Amerika sana. Namun secara subjektif, saya memberi rating 2. Saya yakin bagi para penonton Asia, film ini pasti tidak seram.

Untuk filmnya secara keseluruhan, saya memberi rating 4. Empat untuk storyline, akting, penyutradaraan, dan gambar. Entah kenapa saya suka dengan animasinya - yang diprotes habis teman-teman saya setelah menonton film ini, karena menurut saya animasinya sangat klasik. Semua yang ada di film ini klasik. Mulai dari moving object dan adegan seram yang menjijikan seperti muntah.

Apa yang saya dapatkan dari film ini?

Saya tidak expect akan mendapatkan pesan moral, inspirasi, dan semacamnya. Haha. Karena tujuan saya menonton film ini adalah... hmm... untuk ditakut-takuti. Haha. Yah, benar. Sudah lama saya tidak menonton horror dan saya kangen rasa ketakutan saat menonton film horror. LOL.

The Reader: One of the Year's Romantic Picture

The Reader (2008)

Setelah menghabiskan 8 jam sia-sia di sekolah, saya dan adik saya pergi untuk menonton The Reader, film arahan Stephen Daldry dan ditulis oleh David Hare. Dan... Apa yang saya dapatkan?

Wow. For me this is one of the year's romantic picture! Romantis? Mungkin orang-orang yang bukan moviegoers akan mengernyitkan kening mendengar label yang saya berikan: romantis. Ada dua alasan mengapa saya bilang film ini romantis.

Keromantisan film ini tidak kasat mata oleh para penonton awam. Penonton awam mungkin mengharapkan suatu keromantisan seperti film Love Actually, The Notebook. Namun film ini menghadirkan sesuatu yang berbeda. Di mana sepasang kekasih menorehkan kisah cinta mereka melalui sebuah hubungan long distance. Mereka tidak bertemu, mereka tidak berusaha untuk bersatu, mereka tidak berusaha untuk menciptakan hidup bahagia berdua. Tetapi mereka melanjutkan cinta mereka dengan menunjukkan keberadaan masing-masing.

Michael Berg (Ralph Fiennes) terus membacakan buku-buku kepada Hanna Schmitz (Kate Winslet). Ia melakukannya dengan merekam suaranya di tape recorder lalu dikirimkan kepada Hanna yang berada dibalik jeruji alias dipenjara. Pembacaan itu adalah sebagai pengantar tidur Hanna. Dan pembacaan ini mengubah hidup Hanna.

Alasan kedua adalah, kisah cintanya memang ditakdirkan untuk tertoreh dan berlangsung. Seakan-akan alam memelihara cinta mereka. Walau mereka terpisah karena Hanna pergi tanpa kabar, beberapa tahun kemudian Michael melihat Hanna.

Untuk moral lesson, saya mengaku tidak mendapat apa-apa dari film ini. Selain penggambaran tentang kota Jerman. Namun tontonlah film ini sebagai sebuah kisah romantis.

Peaceful Saturday!

today i went to my best friend, Karina's house and we spent time watching:

The Changeling

Changeling = a child surreptitiously or unintentionally substituted for another.
(from www.dictionary.com)

Bersetting di Los Angeles, 1928. The Changeling bercerita tentang Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie), seorang ibu yang kehilangan anaknya yang berusia 9 tahun, Walter Collins. Christine melaporkan masalah ini ke LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) yang saat itu dipimpin Chief James E. Davis (Colm Feore) dan Captain J.J. Jones (Jeffrey Donovan). Beberapa bulan kemudian LAPD menyatakan telah menemukan Walter Collins, namun ketika dibawa kepada Christine, ia menyangkal bahwa anak yang ditemukan itu adalah anaknya. Reverend Gustav Biegleb (John Malkovich) percaya pada Christine dan bersedia membantu Christine mengungkap konspirasi LAPD supaya nantinya tidak ada korban berjatuhan akibat kebusukan kedua pemimpin itu.

Get inspired!:
Film ini menstimulasi gw terhadap 2 hal, fashion and life lesson. I love Angie's style in this movie, gabungan antara feminim dan sophisticated.


Lalu yang kedua, about life lessons. Gw mengagumi perjuangan Christine Collins dalam mengungkap kebusukan LAPD, walaupun ia mendapat kabar ternyata anak sebenarnya sudah meninggal. She's got nothing to fight for, now that she lost his son. Tapi dia tidak menyerah karena ia memikirkan orang lain. Ia tidak mau konspirasi ini berlanjut dan mengorbankan orang tak bersalah demi nama bersih LAPD. Cukuplah dirinya menjadi korban terakhir kebusukan para pemimpin di atas. Dan film ini membuat gw - yang sebelumnya pesimis - menjadi yakin bahwa, kebenaran bisa ditegakkan. Bahwa, walaupun (suatu saat nanti) anda bertemu banyak orang busuk dan suka menghalalkan segala cara, ingatlah akan selalu ada orang yang berpihak pada kebenaran. Dan terakhir, bahwa -ingatlah peribahasa lama-, sepandai-pandainya orang menyembunyikan bangkai baunya akan tercium juga.

HI! My name is...

Hi! my name is...
my name is...
my name is...

(what?)

PRISCILLIA SIDHARTA

*Eminem's "My Name Is"*
this is the first day i make my blog goes public.
now i warn you, that i love writing but i'm not talented at writing.
so why i blog, you may ask?
"i blog to inspire."
(not to deliver my writing obsession or what.)


my best regards, =)

Ms. Sidharta