Monday 20 November 2017

Justice League - A Beacon of Hope for DC Comics Movie


Less than 30 days ago I watched Marvel’s Thor Ragnarok, which is surprisingly very very entertaining, I’m talking if its compares to its two previous movies, and ended up with me losing my faith in the upcoming DC comics’ Justice League. I’m thinking that Thor Ragnarok just hit the ball straight out of the park, not only that they set a new level, but invent a new concept of how to bring comic book superheroes to the cinematic world; and there’s no way in hell that the next DC comics’ movie is going to be that good.Sure DC had their heyday with Nolan’s Batman trilogy, but after that, personally I think, things went south for Warner Bros. Despite the success of Wonder Woman, I still had my doubt on the Justice League. Marvel took a decade to assemble the Avengers, the studio introduce each characters through years of process to make the audience familiar to the kind of Loki, infinity stones and Groot to the “muggle” of comic world out there. Now DC comics is trying to introduce their version super friends after three movies? You see how pessimistic I am right? But apparently Justice League surprised me.

Less than 12 hours ago I watched Justice League and my prediction was spot on. It was not as entertaining as Thor Ragnarok, but it somehow it impressed me more compare to Thor Ragnarok. It still has that  Zack Snyder’s gloomy and blue-yellowish color through out the movie, apparently DC is still into darker tone. As for the cast, I had my doubt the first time I saw the cast line up, but I was wrong. This is the perfect cast for Justice League movie. I can see how they put effort to bring the big three characters to live according to comic book. Supes is full of hope, Diana is still struggling with her idealism and her past, and last, Batman, although he looks like he’s on something the whole movie, but he’s starting to reflect the Batman version of comic book, the insecure one; the only human in the league without super power. However, I get a sense that because DC is trying to focus on the big three, the other Justice League member’s character left a bit under develop. As if they only associates the Flash as the funny one, Aquaman as the muscle, and Cyborg as the geeky one. I’m expecting the presence of Green Lantern on the next Justice League movie, it’s no JLA without the emerald knights; also Martian Manhunter. In the end, the cast and their role really do impress me.

Plot-wise, I would have to go with average. While Marvel’s movie is full of twist, DC is plain. They need to improve by adding drama to create curiosity and enthusiast for the audience. However, in the bigger picture, I sense that DC is trying to introduce its superheroes after this big movie, while its contrary for in the Marvel world. They build the characters through time heading to the first Avengers movie. For me personally, its a gambling move. What if Justice League failed? It would be a very hard homework to leverage the audience trust towards the DC’s movies in the future. Fortunately, it works, all the sins from BvS and Suicide Squad is paid, at least 3/4 of it. This leaves another good impression for me. 

As for the script, DC is still left far behind Marvel creative team. I understand the challenge of combining stories from comic books to create a new storyline, but DC need to learn a lot from Marvel for this case. I like the tale scene (amazon, atlantian, lanterns, human, and gods), but I still find few scenes with bad script that makes the scene existence is unnecessary in the movie. DC have to learn to make the combination and transition as smooth as possible. Remember the infinity stones as the bigger storyline, with small chapter as Shield vs Hydra, Howard Stark assassination, civil war, etc? DC can’t just come up with merging one of the best story in DC comics history, The World Without Superman & The Return of Superman, with the Mother Boxes plot, it has to be more smooth. But if I compare it to BvS & Suicide Squad, Justice League is way ahead of its previous movies. Can’t imagine if they use the identity crisis or flashpoint story line. This part does not impress me.

Good cast, good plot, average script, how about the cinematography? To be honest, I’m not a big fan of alien entity (tentacles, weird shape spaceship) that has been going on since the man of steel, and apparently still appearing in thus movie. But again, if we compare to previous DC movies, this movie improves a lot. They learn from their mistakes, and for that I lift my hat off to them. Another impression por moi.

Overall this is a good movie. I never give “good” statement to any of DC movies before, but this one is exceptional. As I mentioned, they learned from their mistakes and improve it. They gamble and it works. There’s still few things that they can improve in the future, but if this is where the direction of DC comics movies going forward, then I think they still have a chance to be equal with Marvel Cinematic Universe. My faith in my childhood hero movie (Superman) is back. My verdict 4/5.


Note:

There’s two credit scene, so sit your ass down. The second one is epic. 

Thursday 15 June 2017

RIP Lady the dog

I never expect that this day would come....

This is for you Lady...

Thank you for being there for us, we will miss you.

#RIP #Ladythedog



Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet
goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and
play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and
comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those
who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember
them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss
someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and
looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers.
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs
carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you
cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses
rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once
more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never
absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

(anonymous) 

Tuesday 3 January 2017

The 2017

Hallo,

Sepertinya sudah lama sekali saya tidak menulis blog dengan Bahasa Indonesia ya. :-) Yak, cukup dulu dengan bahasa Inggrisnya ya, saatnya mengasah kembali kemampuan bercerita dengan bahasa ibu.

Jadi di hari ketiga tahun 2017 ini saya ingin berbagi "catatan saya" untuk Anda semua. Catatan tentang apa yang bagaimana saya melihat tahun 2016 kemarin dan apa saja yang harus saya lakukan di tahun 2017 ini.

Saya akan mulai dengan sebuah dari salah satu ucapan yang saya terima ketika momen pergantian tahun kemarin, yang menyebutkan "Life is about choices and decision we make". Hidup kita adalah semua pilihan dan keputusan yang kita pilih/ambil/perbuat. Ketika membaca ucapan ini langsung terbenak di pikiran saya sosok Craig Sager. Sedikit informasi, Craig Sager adalah seorang reporter olahraga (bola basket) asal Amerika Serikat yang belum lama ini meninggal setelah "kalah" dalam pertarungan melawan penyakit kanker. Ia memenangkan penghargaan Jimmy V tahun 2016 kemarin atas kegigihannya melawan kanker. Dalam pidato penerimaan penghargaan tersebut Sager menyebutkan jika "Time is simply how you live you life - waktu adalah caramu menghabiskan hidupmu."

Kedua ucapan ini seolah-olah saling melengkapi dan saya menanggapinya dengan dugaan, mungkin ini adalah "modus" Sang Pencipta yang berusaha untuk menyampaikan sesuatu ke hambanya yang kadang suka telmi ini. Saya melihat ini seperti sebuah jawaban untuk doa yang meminta di malam pergantian tahun, yaitu agar tahun 2017 menjadi tahun yang lebih baik terutama bagi saya pribadi.

Hidup ini adalah kumpulan dari pilihan dan keputusan yang kita buat, dan apa yang sudah kita putuskan maka kita akan menjalaninya dari waktu-waktu sampai pada akhirnya kita membuat sebuah keputusan baru.   

Hingga saat pergantian tahun kemarin saya terus merasa kecewa dengan tahun 2016. Kenapa? Saya merasa karir saya mandek, rejeki sepertinya seret banget, banyak publik figur yang meninggal (walaupun tidak ada hubungan langsung dengan saya, tapi rasa sedihnya tetep kena *emangbaperansihorangnya*), kerabat meninggal, hanya bisa menyelesaikan 1 buku, dari 366 hari (tahun kabisat) hanya mampu mengunjungi 2 destinasi wisata lokal, dan lain-lain. Apakah sebegitu parahnya 2016 saya, bukankah masih banyak orang menderita dibanding saya? Tidak juga, saya hanya melihat kegagalan ini murni hanya dari kacamata saya. Sebenranya jika ditelusuri akan lebih banyak hal yang saya syukuri di tahun 2016 ini, namun apalah daya saya hanyalah seorang manusia. mahluk yang ditakdirkan untuk  lebih banyak ngeluhnya ketimbang bersyukur. Itulah mengapa saya beranggapan mengapa 2016 bukan tahun yang baik untuk saya pribadi.

Tapi setelah membaca 2 kalimat tersebut, saya seakan ditampar dan diingatkan jika semua kejadian yang menurut saya membawa sial/negatif/buruk pada tahun 2016 kemarin sebenarnya adalah karena ulah saya sendiri. Karena saya yang mengambil keputusan untuk tidak mau meyudahi momen-momen kesedihan dan keputusasaan tetapi malah membiarkan momen-momen tersebut merajai 2016 saya.

Hal ini membuat saya berpikir di hari kedua tahun 2017, saya harus lebih jeli lagi dalam mengambil keputusan di 2017. Karena saya tahu perjalanan saya menuju impian/kebahagian saya masih panjang, dan akan lebih baik jika saya memilih keputusan-keputusan yang akan membuat waktu di perjalanan saya menuju impian/kebahagian saya menjadi sesuatu yang menyenangkan.

Menulisnya sih sederhana ya, tapi seperti biasa, menjalaninya akan butuh kekuatan yang sangat besar. Untuk itu saya hanya bisa berdoa:

Sang Khalik, berikanlah hamba Mu ini kebijakan dan kekuatan dalam mengambil keputusan dan menjalankan hari-hari di tahun 2017 ini. Bimbinglah hamba Mu beserta kerabat dan keluarganya, semoga di tahun 2017 ini dapat menjadi tahun berkah bagi semuanya. Tuntunlah kami selelalu di dalam jalan Mu dan lindungi kami dari segala cobaan dan bahaya. Amin.

-2017 editor-