1. Michael Cunningham’s lecture. 

2. MoMA Class.

3. BBC SHERLOCK.

4. Exclusive interview with Steve Woz.  

5. My first everything in Paris - especially the flight back home. 

Top ten films:

1. Beasts of the Southern Wild: ordinary story told in extra ordinary way. Also a proof that there’s still a place for poetry in my heart, apparently in a form of a movie. Striking performance by Quvenzhane Wallis. <3

2. Life of Pi: best adaptation to the most unfilmable shit etc etc yes yes I am sold since the very first shot! The reason this is #2 is because I have read the book and the story does not really surprise me the way Beasts did. Let me hug you, Ang Lee.

3. The Cabin in the Woods: seriously, if I am not such a sucker for something so poetic and fun and spiritual, this would have been on the top of the list, but third place isn’t so bad, is it? A rare moment that we can call a film as groundbreaking. I think it’s responsible for fewer horror crap in our cinemas this year (or I would like to think that). 

4. The Intouchables: I was going to put Comme un Chef in this list, because I saw both in the same week and the latter gave me more laughs, but after a few weeks, I realised The Intouchables left stronger details in my memory. 

5. Atambua 39 Derajat: in a country that is suffering from vulgar expression, Atambua cannot do a better job in presenting ideas in the subtlest way. My favorite work from the director. 

6. Prometheus: say whatever you have to say, when you grew up in the 90s, the Alien franchise is something that you cannot escape. I remember spending nights in the couch watching Alien 1-5 with my brother. Prometheus is an outstanding work to bring the franchise to the next level, it cannot be otherwise. Also, I am team Damon Lindelof. I love speculations and this is the most discussed movie of the year. While I sulk at Lost season finale like everyone else, I’m still glad I spent years watching them. And it’s the same with Prometheus. This is also a bow to the great Ridley Scott - welcome back Sir!

7. Frankenweenie: I love Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and I really enjoy seeing references to the original story and other great horror films in Frankenweenie.

8. The Avengers: Here’s a reason why The Avengers made it to the list and The Dark Knight Rises did not. Every superhero character in this movie practically shines. Each is so distinct and you can understand them all in one viewing. When I watched The Avengers, I asked myself how TDKR can top that. TDKR had the burden of the final instalment (if I may, in the same way The Hobbit is made as the first of the trilogy). They were made for fans. I am a sucker for stories and that’s why action films rarely get my attention. As a casual viewer, I dig The Avengers so much, thanks to a very well written script and compelling action and the most perfect Hulk ever.

9. Argo: I totally regret seeing it on my laptop (in my defence, I am sick of having distribution problems got in a way). It deserves all the glory that a cinema can offer. The second half of the movie practically put me on the edge of my seat. 

10. 21 Jump Street: I cannot recall the last time an American movie made me laugh so hard since The Hangover. Who would have thought that Channing freaking Tatum can be excellent - in comedy!

Lovely mentions: Looper, Amour, Pitch Perfect, Chronicle, Take This Waltz, Comme un Chef, Skyfall (if Javier Bardem and Roger Deakins don’t get Oscar nominations I will be very upset), Les Bien-Amies (I know that I will never forget this film). Breaking Dawn 2 (JOKING) (aren’t you glad that the saga is over)

The one that can do no wrong for me: THE HOBBIT. I can’t believe I have only seen it three times. Peter Jackson put fans on top priority for the first instalment and we cannot be thankful enough. 

A movie that I wanted to like but yeah I can’t: Moonrise Kingdom.

Worst stuff that don’t worth your money or time - even if you get to watch it for free: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, John Carter, Bidadari-bidadari Surga.

I am yet to see Oscar contenders (Zero Dark Thirty, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained, Les Miserables) and big names from ‘across the pond’ that I wish to see (Anna Karenina, Sightseers).

All in all, it’s been an excellent year in movies. Bring it on, 2013!

New month, new way of looking at things.

Done cleaning up my Twitter timeline. I have been abandoning my main timeline for a couple of weeks now, and it feels great. I’m not gonna lie. I follow people for courtesy, not because I like what they tweet. It’s really not a problem — UNTIL they use Twitter as their emotional bin. And I guess I don’t need to know them that well. I just went through my followings and put select people in a private list. Apparently, out of 300+ people I follow, I only like 50 of them. The good thing is that most of them are on Path anyway. I’m very honest on Path sometimes it creeps me out. I mean, privacy breach is only a screen capture away.

Anyway, Twitter & Tweetbot, now you’re more useful than ever.

PS: I’m sorry I can’t shut up about The Hobbit. Had Twitter existed ten years ago, I wouldn’t be able to stop talking about Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings either. And I love The Hobbit even more. And Sherlock most. Bless you. X

Music is magic because most songs are only five minutes tops, but they make you smile, laugh, cry, love, nostalgic, all at the same time. I will never understand music. And I’m glad. Because it means I can love it wholeheartedly.