What Movie to Watch on Semester Break: Here’s What UIII Students Pick

The semester has ended and this is the time to take a break. The question is: what to do during the semester break? Well, watching movies could obviously be an option. Movie lovers have eagerly awaited this week, as it marks a significant time of the year when theaters are packed with blockbuster films.

The long-awaited movies of the year namely Barbie, Insidious: The Red Door, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and Oppenheimer are now showing in theaters across Indonesia and around the globe.

The initial three movies are fictional in nature, featuring Barbie, the renowned toy line, and Insidious, a well-liked horror and suspense film franchise that began in 2010. And we have Mission: Impossible, a long-standing action spy film series known for its thrilling action sequences and stunts, which first hit the screens in the mid-1990s.

Meanwhile, Oppenheimer is a depiction of a true historical event, centered around the life of American physicist Julius Robert Oppenheimer. It portrays the factual events linked to the creation of the first atomic bomb and the development of nuclear weapons.

Foreign films, including Hollywood films and films from other countries, enjoy significant support in Indonesia as it covers a wide diverse range of genres. It is also accessible as it is widely distributed not only through cinemas but also through online streaming platforms. Appreciating high-quality productions is also due to the global influence of the film industry and foreign films are also subtitled and dubbed oftentimes in Bahasa Indonesia.

In line with this big week for movies, several UIII students also took time off from their studies and hit the theaters with their own chosen films to watch. They also have differing expectations and reviews.

Amidst the excitement of the much-hyped movie week, several UIII students seized the opportunity to unwind after their finals week and catch a film of their choice at the theaters. The experience led to a range of different expectations and reviews among them, adding to the lively discussions about the movies.

According to MA student Nizar Lukman, he chose to watch Barbie as it reminded him of his sister's favorite movie during childhood. In comparison to other featured movies, he expects that it would generate a more positive mood.

“In my personal view, the Barbie movie is really worth watching; it was beyond my expectations. I really loved and enjoyed the show. It conveyed many values that we can learn from and addressed sensitive issues like feminism and patriarchy. I would give it a rating of 9.0/10,” he added.

Apart from Nizar, his friend, MA in Political Science student Hamad Shoukat, also joined in for a movie over the weekend, opting for "Oppenheimer." According to Hamad, the movie holds value in enhancing historical understanding and highlighting the significance of science during the events of World War II.

"Moreover, they depict historical figures such as Einstein and Bohrs, along with other great scientists who contributed to the field of physics. Additionally, the movie touches upon Dr. Oppenheimer's alleged affiliation with the Communist Party USA, which particularly intrigues me as a student of Political Science," he continues.

On the other hand, Wahyu Wulandari, an MA student from the same faculty as Nizar and Hamad, who is a horror enthusiast, decided to watch ‘Insidious: The Red Door’. However, she expressed that it didn't quite live up to her expectations and felt inferior compared to the prequel.

As the huge week for the film industry continues, the discussions sparked by moviegoers not only highlight the power of motion pictures to evoke emotions and memories but also underscore their potential to provoke thoughtful contemplation on historical events, societal issues, and the human experience.

Whether you are a cinephile or simply looking for an enjoyable time, taking a break to watch some movies could provide us with encouragement to think beyond the confines of reality, all in moderation. Hence, make sure to spare some time and immerse yourself in imaginative experiences by getting tickets for a movie during this semester break.

So, have you decided which movie to watch this semester break?

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