7 Years of Tradition

This may not mean much to other people but this tradition means a lot for me. I have no idea why. It all started back in 2006, when one of my best friends had a birthday party and decided to watch Casino Royale. It's not a big deal but I already watched the film days prior with my family. From that year, every year I watched at least one film twice in the cinemas. 7 years of tradition. Never thought I would be that committed even until in Japan, where cinema tickets are highly overpriced. Let's go back to 7 years ago. [This post is sponsored by Breaking Bad as I wrote this listening to my BB playlist, most importantly Badfinger's Baby Blue]

2006: Casino Royale
The film that started this tradition. It's a darker, Bourne-esque James Bond reboot with Daniel Craig in his first outing as James Bond.

2007: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Same scenario, but different order. Watched this first on my friend's birthday and then re-watched it again with my family. The film got better everytime you see it. The best of the series.

2008: The Dark Knight
Again, same scenario with Casino Royale. I'd watch this a thousand times if I could.

2009: Avatar and Up
Avatar is the only film that I watched three times in the cinemas, but to my defense, I watched different versions every time I watched it. The first time was in 3D, and then 2D. And then a couple of months later in 2010, I spent 3 hours of my life for the special edition. And for the fourth time, I watched the extended version on DVD. The biggest shame is that on 2012, they released it on IMAX 3D but I already went to Japan. Whereas Up has the same scenario with TDK and Casino Royale.

2010: Toy Story 3 & Tron Legacy
I was obsessed with these two films back then. To be honest, I have never watched Toy Story 3 without tears flooding. That two times I watched in the cinemas, that two times I cried like a baby, literally. As for Tron Legacy I was crazy about the film and Olivia Wilde's Quorra. I even attended the Tron Night event months before, for approximately 20 minutes preview of the film.

2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, Fast Five, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows, and Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I
Yeah I know. Baby boom. Bada boom. Mostly because I watched the films with my family and then with my x. Except for Harry Potter which I was incredibly obsessed at that time. Also note that the year 2011 was the year that Hollywood films were boycotted for about 6 months. Take this boom as redemption for me.

2012: The Dark Knight Rises, Prometheus, and The Hunger Games
I watched TDKR twice because the other viewing was to feel the fire rising in IMAX. It was my New Year's resolution: to watch TDKR in IMAX. Whereas Prometheus was one of my 2012 favs and it's my first IMAX film. For THG, I was obsessed with the amazingness of the film and of course Jennifer Lawrence's breathtaking performance. Literally, I can't stop thinking about the film right after I first watched it.

2013: Man of Steel
It's a bit tricky now that I'm in Japan. There are films that I really want to re-watch right after watching it, like Tom Cruise's Oblivion, the Pirates' team's The Lone Ranger and ultimately Pacific Rim. However there are things to consider: money and time. It's expensive to watch a film twice in the cinemas and it's hard to squeeze a film in your tight schedule. But then, Man of Steel compelled me to watch again. Even after a month of its initial release in Japan. The film gets better after second viewing and you get to discover overlooked details like the Wayne logo on a satellite.

Here's to the continuation of this (for you-unimportant) tradition. CHEERS.
Achtung: no new film reviews in October. But still there will be posts.

Update Aug 8, 2015
The tradition is very much alive. 2014 entries: Godzilla & Interstellar. 2015 entries: Kingsman: The Secret Service, Cinderella, and Jurassic World.