Merah Putih

image taken from here

MERAH PUTIH
Cast : Lukman Sardi, Darius Sinathrya, Teuku Wikana, Donny Alamsyah, Zumi Zola

This Indonesian movie was a trilogy called Trilogy Merdeka. So this movie was the first part of three movies which the other two will be release later. This movie’s setting was in 1947 when Indonesia was in second years of Independence. Start with Donny Alamsyah which became an eye witness when his family was killed by colonizer (until here, I got confused. It said that Indonesia has been liberated, then why it still has a colonizer?) Then the story moved into a future years (still on 1940’s. Don’t know exactly), when he joined the Indonesian soldiers and made a war with the colony. In soldier’s camp, he met their friend, Lukman Sardi, Zumi Zola, Teuku Wikana, and Darius. So, what’s going to be happen next with the Indonesian Soldiers in the battlefield? Just watch Merah Putih.

Something that made this movie special are the release moment were almost coincide with the 64^th of Indonesian independence day (This movie was released on August 13^th 2009, Indonesian independence day is August 17^th). Another special thing is the cooperation between the production house with some specialist movie maker from abroad, such as stuntman specialist, explode specialist, make up specialist, and also the director. Almost forget, this movie was an action movie, which is it’s very infrequently in Indonesia. So I can say, this movie was against the Indonesian movie’s mainstream.

I don’t how to say, but I have a little disappointment about this movie. Why? You should watch it by yourself. And if I have to rate it, it’s 3 of 5 stars.

I'm not an expert on movie, so my notes is just an opinion from an ordinary audience of a movie.

-dimas daniel-

If I'm in Jakarta now (Part 2)

Fellas, after my last post about food/resto which I'll visit if I'm in Jakarta. Now I'll tell you all about places that I'll visit if I'm in Jakarta. There are so many places that I want to visit. I'll describe it one by one.

1. PONDOK INDAH MALL (PIM)
image taken from google image
*This one is outlook of PIM*

Maybe this just an ordinary mall like other mall that u have known before. But for me, this place is more than that. PIM has a lot of choices and as mall, everything is available here. Starts from supermarket, department store, cassette store, book store, a lot restaurants, cinema theatre, etc.

image taken from google image
*inside PIM 2*

More over, this place has been expanded with one new building on 2006, called PIM 2. It made PIM as a modern-city mall in Jakarta. I have no words to describe more about PIM. It such a great place for me. Besides, this is a memorable place for me. I almost visited this place every weekend with my high school friends. So, I have many memories in some points of PIM. My favorite places here are cinema theatre (of course!! Both 21 and XXI), Bakmi Gajah Mada Resto, skywalk, PIM 2's food court, and some stores. Maybe this is the first that I will visit if I'm in Jakarta.

2. CINEMA THEATRES

image taken from google image

Well, I hope you guys understand about this. This is my favorite place in every city, because its related to my hobby, watching a movie. Well, as you know, as a capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta has a 'previlage' with the facilities include the entertainment places, or spesifically for the cinema theatre. Jakarta has 5 types of cinema theatres and I want visit it all. First, cinema 21.

image taken from google image

This is the most popular cinema theatre in Indonesia. Maybe this is the pioneer of cinema theatre in Indonesia. The second is Cinema XXI.

image taken from google image

This place closely same as cinema 21. I don't really know what exactly the different between cinema 21 and cinema XXI, except the way to say 'twenty one'. Haha. But, one thing that I notice about the different of those is XXI is more classy than 21. It's just my opinion, whether its right or wrong, those place has the same function, place for watching movie. Then, next movie theatre in Jakarta is Blitz Megaplex.

image taken from google image

Jakarta has 3 blitz place. There are in Grand Indonesia, Pacific Place, and Mall of Indonesia. Those place is kind of far away from my house. But, recently there's a new Blitz branch in BSD. Its close to my house, kind of 30 minutes to get there *it's kind of fast in Jakarta*. BSD Blitz called Blitz Teraskota, because it placed on a plaza named Teraskota. Some of my friends have already watched there. Hopefully, I can go there when I'm in Jakarta. Well, next cinema theatre in Jakarta is MPX Grande.

image taken from google image

Actually, this has been operated since a few years ago. But I never been there before. I just pass in front of the plaza (Pasaraya Grande), and when I got pass the movies that show mostly were Hindi movies. But when I googling about MPX Grande, I got so curious about this place, because it design is like a cinema theatre abroad. The place is a little bit far from my house, but I don't think it's a big deal. hoho. Last type of cinema theatre is Cinema Surya M2.

image taken from google image
*sorry guys for the bad picts*

This place is totally far from my house. My House placed in south of South Jakarta *read : Tangerang* but this place is on North Jakarta near to Ancol. So far away. I don't what exactly inside this theatre. I never been there before. So I have no words for this place. So let me try first. hoho.

3. DUFAN

image taken from google image

I never feel bored when I visit this place. It related to the moment I think and also the main purpose when I get there. For me, this place is a place scream loud and freely. So it can express your emotion. It's a very great place, for me.

4. KARMEL VALLEY CHURCH

image taken from google image

I love this place so much. Ow ya, this pace isn't in Jakarta. It's on Puncak, West Java. It's about 2-3 hours to reach there by car. I love every parts of this church. The eucharist, the building, the place is so warm even it place in a valley. Sometimes I'll back again there.

I love to do travel, but I'm not a travel-holic
-dimas daniel-

If I'm in Jakarta now (Part 1)

I want to share about my wish, if I'm in Jakarta right now. There are a lot of things that I want to do, places that I wanna visit, foods which I want to eat, and persons whom I wanna meet. Let me describe it one by one. The part 1 will describe about food.

1. Siomay

image taken from google image

This isn't a local food from Jakarta, moreover Indonesia. I think we're all know that Siomay was come from China. It's not an expensive or a branded siomay. It's just an ordinary siomay which sells around the house-complex, but the taste..... EXTREMLY YUMMY!!! This is my favorites snack. Maybe I was the loyal customer of it. Almost everyday I was waiting for it bell ring as a sign of the seller and I directly stop the wagon with call the seller. Usually, it pass through my house around 3 or 4 p.m. And you know what, because of my loyality to buy siomay, the seller always ring the bell loudly when he pass through my house. Hahaha.

image taken from here
by Jatmika Jati

Ups! I almost forget to tell you about the how its sell. Well, the seller is a man and he using a bicycle to sell the siomay. And there's a bell on his bicycle as a sign of him. He has a pan which full of siomays, potatoes, cabbages, otak-otaks, and tofu. Its price is just 500 rupiahs each!!! How cheap rite?? I don't know, what's the price now. Is it still same as before or maybe more expensive now. It's been 6 months *maybe more* I'm 'fasting' of this food. So, this is the first thing that I wanna do and wanna eat, when I'm in Jakarta.

2. MM Juice & Resto
image taken from google image

This resto is kind of rare nowadays. I don't know, maybe the effect of inflation or maybe got a customers-lost. But I'm still the one of the loyal customers, especially for the avocado juice!!!

image taken from google image
*the avocado juice is not like the picture above*

This restaurant not only give some juice for its menu. There's another menu, such as siomay*I also like this, but my favorite is still siomay in #1 describe*, Mie Ayam, also many kinds of rice variant. I know this resto since I was in first year in Elementary School. Every weekend, when my parents picked me up from school, we *almost* always have some eat here, and I always order avocado juice. Since that moment, I try to make a avocado juice like that, but always failed. But someday, when I order avocado juice in MM Juice, I finally found the 'secret recipe'. Hahaha. Sorry guys, I won't tell u about it. hehee.

image taken from google image
*one of MM Juice's Branch shop*

MM Juice has some branches of shop. I have tried in 4 places, Pamulang, BSD, one of Bogor Plaza, and Blok M. Unfortunately, it opens just in Jabodetabek. There's no MM Juice in Jogja. Hiks!Hopefully, when I go back to Jakarta, I still can order it and drink it. Hopefully.

I love to eat a lot, but my body still can't fatter than now.
-dimas daniel-

District 9

image taken from here

DISTRICT 9
Cast : Jason Cope, Sharlto Copley, Nathalie Boltt, Sylvaine Strike

Well actually when I decided to watched this movie, I have no idea what is the story about, even I have already read the synopsis. I just noticed this movie is about alien in human environment.

And when I was in the theatres and watch the movie, I almost have no words for review. I've been so confused to give the review. Okay, let me try to explain you about this movie and I hope I didn't give a wrong storyline*with no spoiler of course*. Firstly, this movie sets on South Africa. And I guess, this is an African Movies. Because, I don't feel any american movie style here. Well, never mind about that.

There's a field operative of MNU (Multi National United), Wikus van der Merwe. With all the crew (camera person, and some guards), make some census in District 9. He was the head manager of alien's relocate mission from district 9 to district 10. And when he entered one of alien's house, he found a bottle of fluid which suddenly sprays a dark liquid into his face. The effect of the liquid is his human's DNA has been contaminated with alien's DNA. And slow but sure, he transformated into a alien. So, what's happen next with Wikus? Can he transform back become a human? Just watch District 9.

My review of this movie as I said in the early sentence, I don't know how to give the review. There's something that made me confuse. Such as, I don't really understand what the purpose or the background of the relocate mission. In some part of this movie, there's a violence againts the aliens, there's no alien-nity or alien-ism. This movie showed a lot of arrogance side of human*most hatest part of this movie*. They subjected aliens like it has no brain to think. Besides, this movie shows that the alien can talk, can operate the plane, take care of their son*most lovable part of this movie*, etc. I don't think I have to explain all the violence(s). You have to watch it by yourself. I said in the beginning that I don't feel American movie style in this movie, want to know why? Because the picture quality it as same as documentary movie, moreover the subtitle.

Actually I like the story idea, especially there's a Peter Jackson's name in the movie poster. I thought it can be another selling point of this movie. Well, honestly from the deepest side of my thought and my heart *haha* I totally confused to give a review. Because this movie give me a reason to hate but also like it. So it's balance. And because of its balance, my rates 2.5 of 5 stars.

I'm not an expert on movie, so my notes is just an opinion from an ordinary audience of a movie.

-dimas daniel-

Orphan

image taken from here

ORPHAN
Cast : Peter Sarsgaard, Vera Farmiga, CCH Pounder, Isabelle Fuhrman, Margo Martindale

My third movie review post. Now I will give you all a review about horror-thriller movie, ORPHAN. It's different with a movie titled Orphanage. Different totally.

This Orphan tells about a couple, Kate and John, who get a tragic lost of their unborn third baby. They already have a son and a daughter. After their lost, they decide to adopt a child from orphanage. And they meet Esther. And u can guest next, of course they adopt her. But after John's family live with Esther, they feel something wrong, with so many accidents. Kate feels Esther is the person behind of all accidents. John doesn't believe in Kate, because he found a wine which suspectly drank by Kate. So what is the cause of those accidents? Is there any connection between the accidents and Esther? According to the tagline, what's wrong with Esther?? Just find out the answers with watch this movie.

My review (hope I'm not spoiling anything here) TOTALLY THRILLER!!! Very unpredictable story. With 123 minutes of running time, it's suffering me in my seat. I'm sorry guys, this movie is full of surprises that u can't predict before. So I can't give you a lot of review. All I just can say, for thriller lovers or people who likes to pushing up their adrenaline, I suggest u to watch this movie. At least, this movie is WORTH TO WATCH! Or in extremly, I can say : this movie is a must to watch. Not only belongs to horror lovers, but also everyone who read my post. For horror-thriller movie, my rates : 4 of 5 stars.

I'm not an expert on movie, so my notes is just an opinion from an ordinary audience of a movie.

-dimas daniel-

Merantau

image taken from google

MERANTAU
Cast : Iko Uwais, Sisca Jessica, Christine Hakim, Donny Alamsyah

Back with me again fellas. Now, still with my movie review. This is one of Indonesian movies. It's titled Merantau. Merantau has a little bit common with adventure or a journey.

Well, this story tells us about a man named Yuda (Iko Uwais). He is from Minangkabau, West Sumatera. In Minangkabau, there's a tradition for a boy that will become a man, it's Merantau. So shortly, Yuda do his adventure to Jakarta as a capital city of Indonesia. He must do something and when he back again to his village, he can make his mother (Christine Hakim), his brother (Donny Alamsyah), and all of people in his village proud of him. With Yuda's idealism, he try to survive in Jakarta, he's homeless, and all he wants to do is teaching silat (a self defence). Main story of this movie is when Yuda try to rescue Astri from some bandits. Astri and her brother, Adit, live in the hardness life of Jakarta. So, what happens next with Yuda when try to rescue Astri and Adit? Can he become a proudness of his family and his village?? Just watch Merantau in cinema.

My review : THIS IS SUCH A GREAT INDONESIAN MOVIE!!!! I mean it! In all aspects of this movie. The story, the cast, the action, it's all great. Even Sisca Jessica can act greatly as Astri *I always see her just in infotainment or some kind of FTV*. For me, this movie can be a pride of Indonesia in international's sight, with the story and also the tradition which become the main title of this movie, Merantau. Special credit for Iko Uwais, he plays all the action scene by himself. Somekinds like jump for one building to another, fighting scene, running scene, etc. Based on some information, he is an athlete of Silat. That's why he can play the action scene perfectly. Another credit for this movie, the director is not an Indonesian. His name is Gareth Evans (Footsteps - 2006).

Well, there's a lot of good things in this movie. You have to proof it by yourself and I hope my notes is not just a hyperbolism. hehe. My rates : 4.5 of 5 stars.

I'm not an expert on movie, so my notes is just an opinion from an ordinary audience of a movie.

-dimas daniel-

The Proposal

image taken from HERE
THE PROPOSAL

Cast : Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds

Okay, it's my my first movie review post. Actually, I alread post a movie review on my old blog. But, as I said in my first post, because of something so I made a new blog.

And now, The Proposal is the first movie review post in my blog. My first opinion when I see the poster is SANDRA BULLOCK IS BACK ON ROMANTIC-COMEDY GENRE. After we saw her on Miss Congeniality Series and Two Weeks Notice.

The story tells us about Margaret (Bullock), an editor-in-chief of some books which has to face her deportation problem. Suddenly she announced her suddenly engagement with Andrew (Reynolds), one of her staff. Andrew finally decided to help Margaret, but with some conditions. Well, what's happen next? Just see it in cinema near you.

Now, my opinion after watch! This movie is totally fun, easy to understand, and a great amusement. So many parts that will make you laugh a lot. But it's not as perfect as u imagine. I feel a little bit disturb of Sandra Bullock's wizened (sorry....), she still funny actually, but her age can't lie. But, her role is still fit on her. I can't imagine who will be play the role if it's not her.
Last word, this movie is worth to watch and my rate : 3 of 5 stars.

I'm not an expert on movie, so my notes is just an opinion from an ordinary audience of a movie.

-dimas daniel-