Arrivederci

Snap! In 5 days, it's gonna be Christmas; a The Interview-less Christmas day. Snap! In 11 days, it's gonna be 2015. 2014 was a sprint for me. I usually end up last on a marathon or any kind of run, but I ran through 2014 without my own realization. Early this year, I'm in Japan with my bro. Then 2 months in Indonesia. Then another 5 months in Japan then the last 4 months of the year in Italy. It has been crazy. And I am incredibly thankful. With this achievement, I'm not proud of myself. But I'm proud of my parents for getting me here at this point. I met many new people in Europe, interesting ones too. Though I expected to meet more Italians but Americans would do just fine.

Milan, Italy, Europe has been a dream; and I never want to wake up from it.

For this year-ending post, I'd like to review my top 10 most anticipated movies and see if my intuition is right about those films.

10. The Raid 2
It was ass-kickingly awesome and pulpy but for an Indonesian film, it ruins the essence of the nation a bit for me. The snow scene, although awesome, is still strange. But everything else is great. The chase scene around the city, bro, that is skill.
Is it worthy of top 10 films of the year? No

9. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Mmm. Among the top 3 of the summer definitely. Might be the best film ever made about talking monkeys. Andy Serkis is definitely king of mo-cap
Is it worthy of top 10 films of the year? Yes

8. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
It was another money-based stupid decision. The book itself is pretty bad, and this movie doesn't do that much either. Jennifer Lawrence is great but the movie is doomed to underperform from the moment they decide to split it.
Is it worthy of top 10 films of the year? No

7. Transcendence
It has its great ideas. But ultimately, it became only a star-studded misfire. I was hoping this to be Johnny Depp's comeback to reality. But no. I was really looking forward for this film to succeed.
Is it worthy of top 10 films of the year? No

6. Gone Girl
Hell yes, this film is among my top three of the year so far. A perfect crime made into a perfect movie. The book is awesome, add that with Fincher, Oscar-nom-bound Rosamund Pike, and a better-than-ever Ben Affleck.
Is it worthy of top 10 films of the year? Yes

5. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Sadly, like I have bashed in the previous post, this so-called 'defining chapter' is not good. In fact, this might be the biggest disappointment of the holiday season.
Is it worthy of top 10 films of the year? No

4. Edge of Tomorrow
One of the most fun films in summer. This and Guardians of the Galaxy brought back the fun factor in summer films before it was uniformly Nolanized. Tom Cruise at his sci-fi best, Emily Blunt spiked up the badass factor.
Is it worthy of top 10 films of the year? Yes

3. X-Men: Days of Future Past
An awesome standalone film, but I have my reservations since it wiped all of the original trilogy timeline and Wolverine timeline. I loved X-Men, X2 and softly fond of The Wolverine, that's why. But still, a kick-ass film
Is it worthy of top 10 films of the year? Yes

2. Godzilla
Sadly, the charm of this film only exist on the first viewing. The second viewing exposes you to the brutal truth of how flawed the film is in overall.
Is it worthy of top 10 films of the year? No

1. Interstellar
Let me reveal to you my top 3 films of the year so far. 3. Nightcrawler. 2. Gone Girl and 1. Interstellar. Need I say more? This film is a mindblowing sci-fi, a celebration of imagination, a testament in adventure and exploration and an important declaration of love.
Is it worthy of top 10 films of the year? YES

Well, so five misfires and five spot-ons. Not bad. But mostly because I did not expect myself to grade my expectations.

Anyway, I'm off to travelling around Europe. See you next year!
Merry christmas and happy new year!
Buon natale e buon anno nuovo!