Fangirl Friday: Aquaman (movie)

Nearly 80 years after the King of the Seven Seas was first introduced by DC Comics, the most underrated superhero—who hardly anyone talked about—finally gets his own movie. Directed byJames Wan and starring Hawaiian-born actor Jason Momoa as the titular character, Aquaman becomes the first underwater superhero film of its kind. I had been waiting for this release ever since it was first announced years ago, so of course I was beyond excited to watch Aquaman on its opening day. Some of the opinions in this post may be slightly biased, but hey, it’s Fangirl Friday!

Aquaman basically tells the origin story of Arthur Curry, the son of Atlanna, the queen of Atlantis, and Tom Curry, a humble lighthouse keeper. The film begins with Atlanna escaping an arranged marriage to Orvax Mauris and fleeing to the surface world. On a dark and stormy night, Tom discovers her washed up on the rocky shore and helps her recover. In the months that follow, the two fall in love, and Atlanna becomes pregnant with their son, Arthur. Shortly after his birth, however, Atlantean soldiers storm the lighthouse and drag Atlanna back to Atlantis. Later that day, Atlanna decides to return willingly to protect her family, promising Tom that she will come back to him one day. After that, no one really knows what becomes of her.

Growing up on land, Arthur never feels like he truly belongs in either world. Though only half Atlantean, he inherits extraordinary powers and abilities from his mother. He is secretly trained in Atlantean ways by Nuidis Vulko, his mother’s loyal adviser. Through Vulko, Arthur later learns that Atlanna was sacrificed to the Trench after King Orvax discovered the truth about her. Rejected by the Atlanteans for being a half-breed, Arthur shows little interest in ever visiting Atlantis—even though he has always been the rightful heir to the throne of the legendary underwater kingdom.

Fast forward to the present day, after the events of Justice League, Arthur has embraced his role as protector of the deep. Now known as Aquaman, he safeguards the oceans and rescues those in danger at sea. One day, he faces a gang of high-tech pirates led by a father-son duo, Jesse and David Kane, who attempt to hijack a submarine. This encounter sets up the film’s secondary conflict of Aquaman, revealing Black Manta’s origin story and the reason behind his deep hatred for Arthur.

Meanwhile in Atlantis, Arthur’s fully Atlantean half-brother, King Orm, is determined to unite the seven kingdoms of the sea and wage war against the surface dwellers (that's us), who have been polluting the oceans for far too long. In response, Princess Mera of the underwater kingdom of Xebel seeks out Arthur’s help to stop the coming war. She reminds him of his responsibility to protect both humans and Atlanteans, and to claim his rightful place as the heir to Atlantis. After some reluctance, Arthur finally decides to embrace his destiny—to pursue the throne and save humanity. Thus, his journey begins.

Aquaman is, at its core, a classic tale of coming home, sibling rivalry, legends, and myths. Heavily influenced by the New 52 Aquaman series, the film follows the comics quite closely—covering Aquaman’s origin story, the introduction of Black Manta, the Trench sequence, the ancient history of Atlantis, and the iconic costumes of its classic characters.

The oceanic superhero adventure delivers non-stop action while weaving in themes of family and, of course, romance. In fact, we get two love stories for the price of one—what more could a romance fan ask for? Both are engaging and delightful in their own way. However, Aquaman is not just about romantic love between two people. At its heart, it explores a broader concept of love: family. This includes Arthur’s complicated bond with his half-brother King Orm, Mera’s relationship with her father King Nereus, David Kane with his father Jesse Kane, and Arthur’s deep connection with his mother Atlanna. It’s no secret that family, especially mothers (think the two Marthas, or Hippolyta), has always been a cornerstone of the DCEU. As expected, Aquaman’s mother plays a pivotal role in both the story and the growth of its characters.

When it comes to characters, what would Arthur be without Mera and Atlanna? While he may be the film’s central figure, this is far from a one-man show. Both women are strong, independent, and heroic in their own right. They stand as the epitome of what a woman—and a queen—should be. Meanwhile, the villains are far from cliché, with well-developed arcs and motives that are reasonable and easy to follow. The supporting characters are also engaging and seamlessly woven into the story, with each character given just the right amount of time to shine. Alongside Jason Momoa, Aquaman boasts an impressive lineup of talent, including Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Patrick Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Dolph Lundgren, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

Aside from its star-studded cast, the film is packed with epic, thrilling action sequences that feel fresh—not just for the superhero genre, but for cinema as a whole. Thanks to its unique setting, Aquaman stands apart from most DC movies, which often lean dark and edgy in tone. This story unfolds largely in the depths of the ocean, showcasing an underwater world unlike anything we’ve seen before. With spectacular visual effects, stunning cinematography, and solid direction, James Wan brings Atlantis vividly to life on the big screen. The result is pure magic—colorful, vibrant, and visually breathtaking from start to finish. The sea creatures and monsters are extraordinary, and Wan, best known as a “horror maestro,” even adds a chilling touch through the Trench creatures, jump scares, and surprise explosions

And it’s not all underwater—Aquaman also takes us to the surface, from the vast Sahara Desert to the charming landscapes of Sicily, before diving back into Atlantis to keep the story moving forward. A major plot twist in the second act sets the stage for the film’s powerful finale. While Aquaman is filled with plenty of funny moments and genuine humor, it also delivers surprisingly emotional and touching scenes. The ending even brings tears to my eyes every single time. Yup… I’m soft. Great movies have a way of doing that. And without a doubt, the best part of the entire film is the final battle—it’s nothing short of spectacular.

That said, not everything is perfect. The dialogue can be a little too dramatic and corny at times, and some action sequences feel a bit cartoonish. Maybe it’s just me, but I also found Mera a little over-the-top whenever she used her powers—it kind of annoyed me. Still, I’d much rather see overacting than underacting. The story itself is fairly predictable, but it’s executed so well that it doesn’t really matter. Other than that, I don’t have many complaints. Aquaman is truly a breath of fresh sea air for the DCEU.

Wait.

As a professional fangirl, I believe Jason Momoa’s portrayal of the titular hero deserves an entire paragraph of appreciation. Long-haired, bearded, muscular, and tattooed—what else could you ask for? Arthur’s classic orange-and-green Atlantean armor looks straight out of the comics, and it’s absolutely badass. No one can make Aquaman jokes anymore. Momoa’s cheerful yet macho personality makes the character instantly relatable, and it’s his natural charisma that makes him perfect for the role. Honestly, I thank God every day for creating Jason Momoa on this planet—for his long, dark, luscious hair, his glorious beard, and his magnificent beauty. Aquaman is now officially everyone’s favorite underwater superhero. No explanation needed.

Speaking of scores, the soundtrack in this movie is absolutely on point (well… except for that Pitbull song, sorry). “Kingdom of Atlantis” by Rupert Gregson-Williams and “Everything I Need” by Skylar Grey are definite standouts. Skylar’s voice is pure angelic—when I first heard the song playing, I instantly fell in love with it. It gave me chills, and the more I listened, the more it grew on me. And today, they finally released it!

This song feels like a love letter from Mera to Arthur, and every time I listen to it, I’m instantly pulled back into the world of Atlantis. And speaking of music, I still can’t get over the fact that they used one of my favorite Sigur Rós tracks—Sæglópur—at the very beginning of Aquaman. I cried like a baby. It was so beautiful. That lighthouse dock, those romantic scenes… all of it makes me so emotional 🤭

Last but not least, the movie carries a warm yet powerful message about the Earth we live on today—especially the oceans. Beyond his rivalry with Arthur, Orm’s true motivation is marine pollution. He isn’t the first “environmentalist villain” we’ve seen, and in a way, he’s not truly evil at all. He’s trying to protect his people, but in all the wrong ways. I really appreciate when a superhero movie touches on environmental issues, even if the conflict remains unresolved. It makes me wonder: if the ocean could speak, what would it say to us? It’s a call for us, the surface dwellers, to act now—stop polluting, help clean, and keep it clean. Because if not us, then who?

Aquaman is without doubt one of the best—if not the best—DC movies ever made. James Wan couldn’t have done it better. I don’t want to spoil anything, but trust me: you don’t want to miss this journey. It’s fun, it’s breathtaking, and it’s worth every minute. Billion-dollar club, here we come!

I'm so in love with the suit!

Hail King Arthur, long live the king!

** All gifs are taken from Aquaman trailer videos

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Beauty Thursday: The Saem 99% Jeju Fresh Aloe Soothing Gel

It is dry season here and the weather is insanely hot for a couple of months. The sunlight is intense outside even high SPF sunscreen can't save me. As a result, I get sunburned badly for just walking on the street or during a long ride. My skin turns really red and sore, then cracks and slowly peels. It's not fun at all. Unable to bear severe itchy skin, so about four months ago, I decided to try aloe gel once more. I once had a bad experience with aloe gel from another brand, but that was year ago and didn't know if there was any better products out there. After checking out many aloe gels available in the market, my choice went to The Saem 99% Jeju Fresh Aloe Soothing Gel.

This is pretty much an all-purpose gel that can be used for face, hair, and body in many ways. As soon as it goes on the skin, it has an immediate cooling effect and absorbs quickly into it without leaving any sticky feeling thereafter. The smell is heavenly, refreshing and not overpowering. This stuff is such a lifesaver! It definitely does what it needs to do. It eases the pain of my sunburn like nothing else has. Not only does it soothe my skin, but it relieves the itching as well. This aloe gel, unlike the previous one I used, doesn't dry out and sting my skin. Sometimes I apply a thin layer as a light moisturizer before sunscreen and makeup, or a thick layer as a sleeping mask overnight. Aside from after-sun care, it can treat various types of burn too. I have used this when I get a chemical burn from using skin care products that contain acids, and it works wonders. I also like to put this on after waxing or shaving to reduce irritation from razor burn. It is packed full of natural extract ingredients and doesn't contain any harmful chemical for skin.

While it's perfect for skin relaxing, it doesn't help that much with acne. As soothing gel, this product is not meant to be used as a stand-alone moisturizer. However, for everyday use, this stuff is very nice. I don't experience any breakouts or dryness from using this. I'm on my second jar now and I will continue to repurchase in the future. It is also available in the same size tube, which makes it more hygienic and travel friendly. Overall, this is a product that I think everyone should have and recommend this to all-skin type.

Notes: Make sure that you are purchasing authentic Korean beauty products from official stores or authorized distributors. Please be aware that buying beauty products online from unauthorized sellers should be done with caution. If it is extremely cheap (and not on sale), this could be a sign that the product is fake.

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Friday, November 2, 2018

I have been questioning my life for such a very long time.. The question I have is not if life is worth living, because it is, but am I worth living?

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Mudahnya Menanam Cabai Pelangi Razzamatazz

Hai, semua!

Kebetulan beberapa hari yang lalu ada yang bertanya apakah saya masih memiliki bibit cabai pelangi atau tidak. Sayang sekali, tapi sudah satu tahun belakangan ini saya tidak menanam cabai lagi. Bicara soal cabai pelangi, saya pun jadi teringat dengan artikel ini deh, sayang kalau hanya bertahun-tahun teronggok dalam draf. Jadi, tahun 2015 silam, penjualan benih cabai unik dan hias secara online benar-benar marak dan menjamur di tengah masyarakat. Mulai dari cabai berwarna pelangi, hitam, dan cabai dengan bentuk-bentuk aneh lainnya. Penasaran akut dengan bagaimana rupanya, saya tak mau ketinggalan dong untuk ikutan menanam cabai hias di rumah. Akhirnya saya pun memesan berbagai jenis benih cabai unik dari beberapa penjual. Dari sekian banyak cabai yang dicoba untuk ditanam, salah satu yang berhasil tumbuh besar adalah cabai razzamatazz.

Sekilas mengenai cabai ini, razzamatazz adalah varietas cabai dalam genus Capsicum dengan nama ilmiah Capsicum annuum longum group. Sebagai tanaman menahun (perennial plant), varietas ini dapat bertahan hingga lebih dari dua tahun. Razzamatazz memiliki tipe pertumbuhan pendek (dwarf) dengan tinggi sekitar 30-50 cm sehingga ideal untuk ditanam dalam pot atau polybag. Tanaman ini menghasilkan buah yang produktif, cabainya tumbuh menjulang menghadap langit dan berdiri tegak pada tangkainya. Buahnya berwarna-warni dengan warna menyesuaikan tingkat kematangan dari cabai tersebut. Warnanya akan berubah dari ungu tua saat muda lalu menjadi merah menyala ketika masak. Begitu pula dengan tingkat kepedasannya yang  akan semakin meningkat.

Bagi saya, cara menanam cabai razzamatazz sama saja seperti menanam cabai pada umumnya. Mengikuti beberapa saran agar benih direndam dulu sebelum disemai, maka saya rendam benih cabai tersebut selama dua belas jam dalam air irisan bawang merah. Untuk penyemaian, saya hanya menggunakan media tanam siap pakai agar tidak repot dipindah saat sudah berkecambah, lalu pesemaian tersebut langsung diletakkan di tempat yang terkena sinar matahari penuh. Boleh juga menggunakan metode penyemaian dengan media rockwool dan tissue atau kain yang dibasahi. Tidak masalah, kok. Dalam kurun tiga hari (biasanya lima hari hingga dua minggu), benih yang ditanam sudah berkecambah. Bibit cabai siap pindah tanam dari pesemaian ke pot atau tanah pada usia 14 hari atau bila tanaman telah berdaun 2-4 helai dengan tinggi 10 cm. Jangan sampai terlambat dipindah tanamkan karena dapat menghambat pertumbuhan dan produktivitas tanaman cabai itu sendiri. Persiapan media tanam sangat penting sekali terhadap pertumbuhan tanaman cabai. Media tanam yang saya pakai adalah campuran tanah gembur, sekam, dan pupuk kandang. Diameter pot yang digunakan sebesar 30 cm untuk satu tanaman cabai. Hingga tahap ini, saya belum menggunakan pupuk kimia.

Bibit usia tiga hari: batang dan daun tanaman razzamataz terlihat lebih gelap cenderung ungu dibandingkan dengan tanaman cabai lainnya 

Memasuki usia satu bulan, baik pupuk organik maupun kimia dapat mulai diberikan. Bila boleh jujur, saya sendiri kurang menyukai penggunaan NPK dan lebih memilih menggunakan pupuk guano sebagai pupuk lepas lambat setiap dua minggu sekali. Kompos dan pupuk kandang dapat ditambahkan setiap satu bulan sekali. Untuk pupuk kimia, saya mengaplikasikan pupuk daun setiap dua minggu sekali. Pemberian zat pengatur tumbuh juga dapat diberikan setiap dua minggu sekali untuk merangsang munculnya bunga dan buah. Tentu saja, semua pupuk harus diberikan secukupnya dan sesuai dosis yang dianjurkan karena jika tidak, tanaman cabai akan layu dan kemudian mati.

Kelopak bunga razzamatazz berwarna ungu

Saat usia dua bulan, tanaman cabai razzamatazz akan mulai berbunga, meski awalnya akan lebih sering rontok dengan sendirinya. Seperti kebanyakan cabai pelangi, razzamatazz juga memiliki bunga berwarna ungu muda. Unik, ya? Kalau cabai sudah siap berbuah, jangan lupa untuk pasang ajir yang kecil saja supaya membantu menopang tegaknya tanaman. Biasanya tanaman cabai akan berbuah pada usia tiga bulan. Buah cabai razzamatazz akan mengalami perubahan warna, yakni ungu tua-ungu muda-kuning-jingga-merah. Lantas bila cabai sudah berubah merah dan matang, apakah razzamatazz bisa dikonsumsi selayaknya cabai biasa? Tentu bisa dong, baik dalam kondisi mentah maupun dimasak. Menurut laman web salah satu produsen benih razzamatazz di Inggris, Mr. Fothergill's, cabai ini merupakan sumber vitamin C, antioksidan dan serat yang sangat baik. Dengan tingkat kepedasan menengah, kita dapat menambahkan razzamatazz ke dalam masakan untuk menambah cita rasa pedas dan warna pada salad, misalnya. Konsumsilah secara bijak, jangan berlebihan. Namun, saya pribadi kurang menyukai tekstur dan rasa dari razzamatazz ini. Sebagai seorang penikmat cabai, saya rasa razzamatazz lebih baik dijadikan sebagai cabai ornamental saja deh ketimbang untuk dikonsumsi bersama gorengan atau dibuat sambal. Haha.

Cabai-cabai bermunculan!

Razzamatazz mampu bertahan dalam kondisi  cuaca buruk. Cabai ini sangat menyenangi sinar matahari penuh dan tidak pernah berhenti berbuah sepanjang musim panas. Pemangkasan tidak begitu diperlukan karena cabai ini termasuk tipe pendek dan rimbun. Boleh saja dilakukan pangkas tunas agar tanaman cabai tumbuh dan berbuah lebih lebat. Sama seperti tanaman cabai lainnya, razzamatazz juga banyak membutuhkan air, tapi tidak boleh berlebihan. Terlebih lagi, media tanam cabai sangat mudah sekali kering pada musim panas sehingga dapat menyebabkan daun layu dan rontok. Oleh karena itu, penyiraman dapat dilakukan sebanyak dua kali sehari (pagi dan sore hari), kecuali saat hujan. Bila musim hujan datang (off season), produksi razzamatazz akan mengalami penurunan.

Beryukurlah kita hidup di negara beriklim tropis, menanam cabai pun menjadi lebih mudah dibanding negara empat musim sehingga tanaman cabai tidak perlu melewati fase dorman. Cabai pun dapat dipanen dan dinikmati kecantikannya sepanjang tahun. Razzamatazz dapat hidup menahun sehingga perakarannya pun berkembang dan menjadi semakin kuat. Kadang hingga tidak ada ruang tersisa lagi bagi media tanam dalam pot. Pada saat inilah, mengganti pot dengan ukuran yang lebih besar dan penambahan media tanam sangat dianjurkan.

Usia enam bulan

Yang paling menyebalkan dari menanam cabai tentu saja serangan hama! Kutu kebul dan tanaman cabai sepertinya adalah dua hal yang tidak dapat terpisahkan deh. Namun, menurut saya razzamatazz ini patut diacungi jempol loh, sebab cukup tahan dari serangan kutu kebul yang menyerang tanaman cabai lain di sekitarnya. Penggunaan insektisida pun jarang sekali, sedangkan fungisida dapat dikocor di sekitar perakaran setiap satu bulan sekali. Tidak banyak masalah yang ditemukan selama menanam razzamatazz, kecuali pasukan semut yang bersarang dan bertelur di dalam media tanam. Biasa deh, problematika tabulampot.

Cukup berwarna, ya!

Dalam pot, tanaman razzamatazz dapat bertahan hingga dua tahun lebih sebelum akhirnya terbengkalai dan produktivitasnya ikut menurun drastis. Razzamatazz adalah cabai pelangi yang saya rekomendasikan untuk ditanam oleh pemula karena perawatannya yang mudah dan tidak rewel. Tanaman cabai pelangi berbagai varietas umumnya dijual dengan kisaran harga 30.000 hingga 80.000 rupiah. Biasanya di pameran flona yang digelar tiap tahun, cabai hias dan unik banyak diminati dan dicari kaum ibu rumah tangga. Memang sangat cantik untuk ditaruh di pelataran rumah. Akan membuat setiap orang yang melihatnya berdecak kagum dan memuji keindahannya.

Sebenarnya, razzamatazz bukanlah cabai hias pertama yang saya tanam. Saya  lebih dulu mencoba menanam Bolivian rainbow, hanya saja hasilnya tidak sesuai seperti yang dibayangkan. Cabai yang muncul ternyata berbentuk bulat menyerupai cherry bomb pepper dan sama sekali tidak berwarna pelangi. Entahlah, bisa saja benihnya tertukar saat pengemasan atau mungkin yang dikirimkan memang benih F2 (ih, su'udzon saja). Meskipun begitu, cabai tersebut sangat cantik dan layak dipajang sebagai pemanis pekarangan rumah, serta dapat dikonsumsi dengan tingkat kepedasan yang cukup rendah. Namun berbeda dengan razzamatazz, cabai satu ini sangat disukai oleh hama terutama kutu kebul. Karena sulit ditanggulangi, maka bolivian rainbow hanya dapat bertahan selama satu tahun dan kemudian mati.

Katanya sih bolivian rainbow sayy

Oiya, postingan ini dibuat hanya sekadar untuk berbagi pengalaman menanam cabai razzamatazz, ya. Barangkali bermanfaat bagi yang membacanya. Senang  deh rasanya bisa berbagi, walaupun saya sendiri masih harus banyak belajar lagi. Baiklah, selamat berkebun semuanya!

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Kedatangan Para Bayi Mungil

Pagi ini, kami dikejutkan dengan munculnya sekumpulan "bayi mungil" yang sedang berbaris manis di atas daun-daun tanaman kami. 

Inilah mereka. Imut, kan?

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Catching up on some old portrait drawings

Last night, I finally opened up my Path account after a really long time. I took a moment to look back at some of my old posts and look what I found.

I know they don't look that good, but I'm proud

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