The first half of the year saw me still into blockbuster movies yet trying to break out with watching only one Indonesian movie. I am still on never-ending adjustment period but it was pretty bearable now — except for the hellhole that was February. Nevertheless, I had fun! I learned that underestimating things can reward you in the sweetest way possible. Also, some closure feels better than the rest. Here are the movies I watched in the first half of 2019.

Looking back, I quite regret that I missed some of the highly anticipated movies from last half. Movies like Blade Runner 2049, Wind River, even Coco. But on the other hand, I am glad the time I spent in cinema was worth it. I watched the movies that have been on my list for quite some time and pretty entertained by them. By the last half, my office moved to the central region of the capital. More entertainment but also less time to go to one. Something I've been trying to fix to this day!

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I like Marvel Studio's new take on this much-loved neighborhood hero. It's fresh, it feels current, it feels homely. More of coming of age film than a superhero one and I really appreciate it. Somewhat a reminder to Sam Raimi's trilogy with The Amazing Spider-Man touch. Everyone was awesome. Michael Keaton steals the show by being such a humane villain we can all relate to somehow. And Tom Holland! This movie cemented why he's the best Peter Parker AND the best Spider-Man. That being said, I am terribly bummed that they were trying to make this as a tie-in to Captain America: Civil War. Iron Man did bring more profit but I feel like he was there just to see Peter slip up and then go "I told you so." In all, pretty entertaining but also feel insubstantial at times.

I weren't originally wanting to watch this but I feel like I need some hilarious entertainment at that moment, so there I go. Best decision, honestly. Everyone is equally entertaining. The dysfunctional team between Ryan Reynolds and "the Motherfucker" Samuel L. Jackson is amazingly well done. The action was top-notch too. Nothing got left behind. But I really have to give a shout-out to Salma Hayek's character and her potty mouth. Damn goals.

Fun fact: Edgar Wright, the director of this movie, was supposed to direct Ant-Man. And since people in Letterboxd raved about this movie so much I think I shall give it a view. It was so so good. No regrets. Everything was so A+ I really cannot fault it. It feels like a bundled up love letter to the cinema in general. In particular, the shots and the cinematography. If you're on the look for good movie to spend your night with, this is the one. Don't blame me if you're jamming along to the soundtrack 😜

I highly anticipate this movie you have no idea. I believe for too long that Thor would bring something new to the table now that Taika Waititi helmed it and my prayer have been answered. It was gloriously fun! Taika took some cheeky tone in Thor 1, set it in space opera, get rid of almost everything, yet injected new life to the much-needed God of Thunder. So Thor lost a hammer but gained a comedy skill. I'd say that's a good trade. The thing that's unmistakably present in this movie is how the people involved looks like they are having the time of their life, and it showed! I cannot love Thor more. Good job, Taika.

Okay, so I ended last year with a disappointment. With the awesomeness that is Wonder Woman, I had this glimmer of hope that Justice League would end up having me on a good ride. What a hope it was. Zack Snyder's vision and Joss Whedon's vision collided rather messily and left off hanging by a thin thread that is amazing characters. They ended up being a saving grace of this messy execution and a rather sexist take on a Superhero movie. I believe Snyder's vision was good enough yet Warner Bros. execs still wanted Whedon to give his touch, resulted in this mess. Not to mention everything about Superman gave me chills and not in a good kind. I still have hope James Wan would save the team for the upcoming Aquaman this year. And I hope Snyder would take a note or two because damn, I still have lots of hope for DCEU!

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I made an ongoing list of the movies I watched in 2017 in Letterboxd along with small reviews. For monthly recap please hop on to my diary. Read the first half review here.

I cannot stress how much I am looking forward to 2018. Particularly because lots of amazing and highly anticipated movies lining up this year. Black Panther (coming up on my birthday!), Avengers: Infinity War (!!!!!!), Ant-man and the Wasp, Aquaman, Isle of Dogs, and so many more. And you bet that I will (try) to watch them all!

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How's your cinema trip in 2017? Any movie felt stood out the most for you?

Welcome to another edition of Tannya babbling about her days under the disguise of movie listicles. By the half of the year 2018, you will find this blog have already switched from personal to solely movie review under the name of "The Cinema Lady".

I am joking. But that doesn't sound like a bad idea either.

Last November, my brother diagnosed with TBC and he's currently undergoing 6-to-9 months of treatment. He is fine — no more coughing up blood and feeling so weak all the time. I was diagnosed with rather chronic gastritis and I have to eat all the time. We were on a bit of health problem by the last quarter but we will get it by. We are fine right now. In wise words of Doctor Strange, "Pain is an old friend." All of those things happened made it feels harder and harder to talk about my days as it always seems so bleak and dark and foggy. I have no strength to argue with anything anymore yet I guess I take things rather calmly nowadays. I found a way not to be so angry with the world. Instead of "Why me?" I find it easier to say "Oh well" and move on. Is it a sign of optimism or tiredness? Stay tuned as I find out.

In other note, I am pleased with movies I watched in December. I always associate Christmas and holiday with Home Alone and yet I found it shifting to Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Millennial much? A TV channel broadcasted The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings marathon and I enjoyed them so much. Continued on with Mission Impossible and Transformers which were just as fun. I also managed to catch Justice League on cinema in which I found rather overwhelming despite the characters were really loveable — except Superman. Did you catch it too? Tell me what you think about it!

I didn't go to the cinema this month for various reasons. My brother was sick. I was sick. Basically everything went south on this month and it took a great toll on myself. I hated that. November was probably the hardest month in 2017 for me. I wish I could undo and do it better. I'll spare the details in the yearly recap. Soon!

The movies I watched were pretty nice. I finally finished La La Land after three attempts to finish — I think I have a short attention span. It was magical, but I kind of feel underwhelmed. Whiplash was far superior to me but this one gets more half stars because the songs are so good and I am so smitten by the opening sequence. Will Emma Stone's performance stood the test of time and be A Classic™? We'll see.

I also finally got to check Deepwater Horizon and boy, it did blow my mind away. It was amazingly well done. I heard the budget went very very high yet halfway the movie went I wonder where they are. BAM. The explosive scenes are top-notch. The story is also pretty good. It kept me on the edge of my seat and the casts did well. Unexpectedly, I like it.

With everything happening in my life, somehow the reminder to post the monthly recap gets relegated to the very back of my mind. Guess I'll save everything for the year-end recap. I am currently well despite some gastritis problem and I'm hoping you are. Also I've been behind in blogwalking and I felt bad considering how warm your response to my previous post but I promise I'll get back to you soon. I promise.

October was adventurous. Revisiting old faves and checking out some much-hyped movies from earlier years. I managed to catch Thor: Ragnarok which was super fun. Kinda regret I didn't go to do the second watch (hopefully soon! It's still in theatres!). Everyone looks like they're having the time of their lives and afterward I came out of the theatre grinning from ear to ear. It's a bit bummer that the movie went the usual Marvel-esque typical story by the last third but everything is amazing. Thor gets the movie he deserves. Well done, Taika Waititi.

I also checked out the critically acclaimed Blade Runner prior to its sequel in which I missed alongside Wind River. So bummed. I grew up with mangas and animes inspired by Blade Runner and I have to say it's even better than every inspired work after. Years after and it's still hold up. The cinematography is perfect, the realm is even better. Then, to a friend's recommendation, I watched Ghost in the Shell for accompanying material to Blade Runner. Strangely they fit together rather seamlessly -- with GitS being the inspired work et al. It was somewhat surreal experience and I enjoyed both a little too much. I am so going to repeat that.