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Author Archive for Jowana Bueser

13
Jun
13

Movie Review: Man of Steel

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man of steelCAST: HENRY CAVILL, AMY ADAMS, MICHAEL SHANNON, DIANE LANE, KEVIN COSTNER, RUSSELL CROWE, LAURENCE FISHBURNE, CHRISTOPHER MELONI, ANTJE TRAUE

DIRECTOR: ZACK SNYDER

SUMMARY: Before the destruction of his home planet Krypton, Jor-el (Crowe) sends his infant son Kal-el (Cavill) to Earth. The Kents (Costner and Lane), a childless couple in Kansas found Kal-el, named him Clark and raised him as their son. However, no amount of disguise and discretion can hide his inherent superhuman abilities. The kid struggled whether to use his powers or keep it a secret. For the longest time, he lived a life of anonymity until his past came back to haunt and hunt him. General Zod (Shannon), a murderous single-minded warrior from Krypton, along with his soldiers, tracked down Clark’s whereabouts in order to rebuild their once proud race. Taken as hostage in exchange for the continuing existence of the human race, Clark must reach deep inside him and forge an unstable alliance with humans in order to defeat the monsters of his past.

  1. Man of Steel abandoned the cheese and camp of past Superman reincarnations and loaded on grit, grim and grime. (I just caught Brandon Routh-led Superman on cable and I almost forgot its unbearable campiness.) This Superman has no spitcurl, phone booth/dressing room and numerous romantic airborne moments with Lois. Instead, the film brandishes a bearded and sometimes half-naked Clark Kent, an alien ship and horrific close-calls for Lois. Just like potential superhero film franchises, Man of Steel serves as a foundation and an introduction to a different kind of Superman. It re-establishes Superman as an alien. The first scenes is all about his planet and his people. This makes a lot of sense since the human/alien identities of Kal-el/Clark Kent is a recurring theme all throughout the movie. 
  2. The cast is first-rate. Cavill is a beautiful, beautiful choice to don the familiar red and blue. (I am about to fangirl so let us stop with Cavill is a beautiful, beautiful choice. Brits are indeed born to take on the iconic superheroes of the Stars and Stripe. Ironic.) More than the casting of Russell as Jor-el, it is the designation of Lane and Costner as the Kents that I like more. Lane is a superb performer. Ditto for Costner. Now there is a proper couple. Lois Lane deserves a formidable actress and she sure got one in Adams. No complaints here. It is just a good ensemble. But the explosion scenes is a different matter.
  3. EXPLOSIONS, EXPLOSIONS EVERYWHERE. I had to double check if the name of the director is either BAY or BRUCKHEIMER. I get the crumbling buildings, it’s a Nolan thing, but there’s a concept of too much. This one is just too much. Oh. Look, a building. And it’s gone. I had Explosion Fatigue after. (As for the fight scenes, am not a fan of testosterone-laden stunts. Curiously, it bores me to pieces.) Is this some sort of design to temper the film’s over-all grim atmosphere? Prevailing seriousness notwithstanding, the film has a number of teasing jokes. In one fight scene, a truck bears the name LexCorp, precursor to a possible appearance of Lex Luthor in the upcoming sequels. The name Smallville, a nod to the popular show about a teenage Clark Kent is emblazoned in a water tank. These blink-and-it’s-gone references is a breather from the gritty atmosphere of the film. One more thing: more deadpan quips from Mrs. Kent. Her comment upon seeing her son in full Superman regalia (“Nice suit, Clark), is one of the funnier moments. Humor can elevate the entertainment value of Man of Steel. Lessen the bang-bang, boom-boom blast scenes (just too numbing) and include more tasteful jests.
  4. Choice is at the heart of Man of Steel. Jor-el chose to provide his son an option and not conform with the societal structure of their planet. General Zod chose to remain  true to his upbringing, “No matter how violent, every action I take is for the greater good of my people.” Jonathan Kent tells his adopted son, “One day, you’re going to have to make a choice. You just have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be, Clark. Whoever that man is, he’s going to change the world.” Lois chose to trust Clark. Kal-el/Clark made his choice. He forged an alliance with humans and therefore substantiates Jor-el’s foresight, “You will give the people an ideal to strive towards. They will race behind you, they will stumble, they will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders.” He used his superhuman abilities not to rebuild his race but to defend his adopted planet. Is it predestined? No. It is a choice.
  5. The humanization of superheroes has led to a spate of entertaining and and exceptional blockbuster films. Seeing them shed tears, bleed blood, feel emotions and suffer tragedies makes it easier for us to emphatize with them. The fact most superheroes are mortals before gaining superhuman traits add to the ease of their humanization process. But Superman is different. He is not from Earth. He does not need spider bites or genetic mutations to acquire incredible abilities. Superman is born a superhero. This makes his humanization different and difficult. Humanizing Superman requires finding the right element in his life and expounding it into a narration of struggle and triumph. Moreover, Superman necessitates an update. He must be made relevant to our times. A filmmaker of a lesser degree will succumb to studio pressure and bad taste. Snyder and Nolan, thankfully, are made of sterner stuff. One can sense the enormous thought process and preparation in the entire duration of the film as seen in its  cohesion and goal. Excessive explosions aside, the filmmakers found the apropos Superman and created a film meritorious of its legend.

RATING: A-

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03
Apr
13

Thoughts on a Book: Shards and Ashes

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Gripping and powerful original stories of dystopian worlds from New York Times bestselling authors.

CONTRIBUTORS:
KELLEY ARMSTRONG (BRANDED) has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers’ dismay. Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She’s the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Darkest Powers/Darkness Rising young adult series as well as the Otherworld and Nadia Stafford adult series. Kelley lives in Ontario, Canada, with her family. You can visit her online at http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com

RACHEL CAINE (DOGSBODY)is the New York Times, USA Today, and intermationally bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires young adult series, and the new Revivalist series in urban fantasy. She has published more than thirty novels and has been translated into more than twenty languages around the world. You can visit her online at http://www.rachelcaine.com and on Facebook and Twitter @rachelcaine.

KAMI GARCIA (BURN 3) is the New York Times and internationally bestselling coauthor (with Margaret Stohl) of the Beautiful Creatures novels. Beautiful Creatures, published in forty-four countries and translated in thirty-three languages, is currently in preproduction as a motion picture with Alcon Entertainment. She is also the author of Unbreakable, the first book in her solo series, The Legion (Little Brown 2013), which is currently being developed as a major motion picture by producer Mark Morgan (of the Twilight Saga) and Black Forest Film Group. When she is not writing, Kami can usually be found watching disaster movies or drinking Diet Coke. She lives in Los Angeles with her family and their dogs, Spike and Oz (named after characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer). You can visit her online at http://www.kamigarcia.com.

NANCY HOLDER (PALE RIDER) is the New York Times bestselling and multiple award-winning author of the Wicked Crusade, and Wolf Springs Chronicles series. She’s written tie-in projects for “universes” including Teen Wolf, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Hellboy, and Saving Grace. Hot Blooded and Vanquished are her newest young adult novels. She also writes comic books and teaches in Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. She and her daughter, Belle, are published coauthors, and they spend every dime they make together at Disneyland. You can visit Nancy online at http://www.nancyholder.com and on Facebook and Twitter @nancyholder.

MELISSA MARR (CORPSE EATER) is the author of the New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series, Graveminder, and Carnival of Souls as well as manga series (Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales) and various short stories. She is also the coauthor, with Kelley Armstrong, of the upcoming children’s series the Blackwell Pages and is coeditor of the Enthralled anthology (also with Kelley) and the ucoming Rags and Bones anthology (with Tim Pratt). When not writing, editing or traveling, Melissa is buried under a plethora of books, dogs and children in Virginia or online http://www.melissa-marr.com.

BETH REVIS (LOVE IS A CHOICE) is the New York Times bestselling author of the young adult science fiction novel Across the Universe and its sequel, A Million Suns, as well as several other short stories set on the spaceship Godspeed. A former high school English teacher, Beth drew inspiration for her novels from her students and their lives – although she took the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in a small town and enclosed her characters on a spaceship instead. Beth currently lives in rural North Carolina with her husband and dogs, and she believes space is nowhere near the final frontier. You can find out more about her online http://www.bethrevis.com.

VERONICA ROTH (HEARKEN) is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the dystopian thriller Divergent and its sequel, Insurgent, the first two books of the Divergent trilogy. Her books are inspired in equal parts by her Chicagoland upbringing and her twisted imagination. She currently lives in Chicago with her husband and can be found online at http://www.veronicarothbooks.com and on Facebook and Twitter @veronicaroth.

CARRIE RYAN (MIASMA) is the New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimaed Forest of Hands and Teeth series, which has been translated into more than eighteen languages and is in development as a major motion picture. She is the editor of the anthology Foretold: 14 Tales of Prophecy and Prediction as well as contributing author to the Infinity Ring series. A former litigator, Carrie now writes full-time and lives with her husband, two fat cats, and one large dog in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can visit her online at http://www.carrieryan.com.

MARGARET STOHL (NECKLACE OF RAINDROPS) is tha author of the forthcoming futuristic thriller Icons and is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author (with Kami Garcia) of the Beautiful Creatures novels, which sold more than a million copies in more than forty countries. Beautiful Creatures, named Amazon’s Top Teen Title of 2009, is currently in development at Warner Bros. Studios. Studying American Literature while living in Emily Dickinson’s street in Amherst and earning an MA at Stanford University, Margaret came to her love of the South much as she comes to her love of everything – through books. Margaret spends most of her free time traveling to faraway places with her husband and three daughters, who are internationally ranked fencers. She can be found onlineat http://www.margaret-stohl.com.

  1. YOUNG ADULT DYSTOPIAN (YAD) NOVELS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE PUBLISHING WORLD. The broad book genre has vanquished the reign of chic-lit tomes atop the bestseller chart. The Hunger Games series dusted the once unclear path for aspiring authors and their phalanx of reselient heroines – and the public keeps on extending their appreciation. The appeal is different from one reader to another. For me, the familiarities these novels share in real life is its finest attraction. Real life, but it is set in the distant future? Yes but the usual devices utilized – authoritarian rule, age/gender/socio-economic discrimination and rebellion – are all too familiar to all of us living in conflict-marred Earth. I guess these stories serve as cautionary tales, a peek to a possible dark future if the present is left unguarded. Female authors have cornered the largest chunk of the hottest book genre (Go girls!). In a demonstration of not just power but also camaraderie, some of the biggest names of YAD genre teamed-up to create a compendium of short stories. The result is Shards and Ashes, a collection of nine stories dealing with the bleak and distant future.
  2. Hearken (ROTH) is one of the best entries in the collection. The Earth is under constant threats of diseases and outbreaks, most people die before reaching the age of 50. A hearkener is one of the more important jobs for such a person can hear life or death. It is a bittersweet tale of acceptance and forgiveness between mothers, sisters and daughters. And although the idea of a hearkener is fascinating, it is nothing compared to the emotional turmoil the lead character suffered and survived all throughout. Unlike the other stories, Roth spun her tale without a conscious beginning, middle and end. It is a testament to her skill and development as a writer. Known for her action-packed Divergent series, she turned on the emotional knobs and succeeded in creating a tale anchored on character development.
  3. Corpse Eaters (MARR) at some point, is blasphemous BUT IN A GOOD WAY. New Faith has spread across continents with the arrival of a god. Unlike other religions, New Faith can claim their god is for real because it lives on Earth. However, the god’s predilection for human corpses posed problems and of course, deaths. A group of rebels swore to extinguish New Faith. The “arrival of a god” scenario is a real hoo-ha. Just think of the chaos it will bring to the world if one the gods of an existing religion appears to all mankind. Chaos not peace? Duh. Of course it is going to be chaotic. Blood has been spilled in the name of gods so just imagine if these gods appear to their faithfuls in real life. Corpse Eaters ended in a tragic manner and to add, a surprising conclusion. Its real selling point though is blurring the dichotomies of gods and monsters, of faithfuls and fanatics.
  4. Miasma (RYAN) felt too familiar. Not that it copied other stories. No. It felt familiar because the author utilized a number of common devices such as the suffering heroine, a Romeo and Juliet romance and the omnipresent cruel authorities. In short, it has all the characteristics of a standard YAD. The most incredible thing about Miasma is that in spite of its future setting, it conjured images of the past, the Medieval and the Industrial periods, in particular. Set in the future, at a time some parts of the Earth has reached alarming levels of pollution, people are under the truculent superintendence of “beaked” doctors. Think of them as similar to the “beaked”, “goggled”, and “masked” sketches of doctors in the Medieval period during outbreaks. As for the extreme pollution scenario, this has occurred during the Elizabethan Era. In this glorious age of British civilization, England doubled its population and rural-to-urban migration increased despite zero indoor plumbing. So just imagine the stench of human and animal fecal matters all throughout London combined with garbage dumped along Thames. Not so distant future? It happened before and OLD IS NEW INDEED. The author could start a fad here, re-imagining the past as our future.
  5. Other notable stories in Shards and Ashes are Branded and Burn 3. The rest is not as compelling compared to the abovementioned short stories. True fans will find this book as a nice addition to their YAD collection. The contributing writers is an all-star cast of the biggest names of the genre. Though some of the entries missed the mark, most of it delivers and surprises. YAD continues to flourish as a genre and it seems there js bi let-up in sight. Shards and Ashes II?

RATING: B-

02
Apr
13

The Top 10 Pop Culture Bites in Moranthology

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Categories: books, pop culture and top ten
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moranthologyFemale comedians are no longer a RARITY but a DOMINANT FORCE in entertainment. LENA DUNHAM and her acclaimed series Girls has been baptized as the voice of her generation. MELISSA MCCARTHY continues her box-office killing spree. REBEL WILSON has blossomed into one hell of a force of nature. MINDY KALING, CHELSEA HANDLER, AMY POEHLER, TINA FEY. These names are the gold-standard of COMEDY. One sure sign a female comedian has made it is if publishers are scrambling to release their autobiographies. It is the good fortune of humankind most female comedians are fabulous writers. Their grasp of sentence construction is remarkable and their pulse for human interest topics is impeccable. Introducing: Caitlin Moran, 2010 Columnist of the Year of the British Press Awards. Though not a comedian in the same entertainer mold as the Tinas and the Lenas, Moran is one hilarious Brit whose first book, How to be a Woman zoomed at the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Marie Claire describes her as the British Tina, Lena and Chelsea all rolled into one. Wow. In her second book, MORANTHOLOGY, Caitlin shares her views about (aside from being a woman) socio-politics and pop culture. Her take on pop culture is – for lack of fancier term – brillant. Once more, Moran proves FUNNY WOMEN are incredible, inescapable, irreplaceable, irreverent and most of all, important.

NUMBER TEN: CELEBRITY WEIGHT LOSS: THE TRUTH
“‘I’ve been so busy running around after the baby, the weight just dropped off?’ celebrity mom reveals, giggling.

Whoah here, missy, woah! ‘I’ve been busy running around after the baby, the weight dropped off’? But how can that be? Your experience is so very dissimilar to mine! When I had babies, I seem to remember most of that time being spent pinned under a fractiously half-sleeping colicky functions, like breathing particularly deeply, or finding the TV remote.

The first nine months of a baby’s life are an infamously non-mobile period. A baby’s notable stasis has been the inspiration or a number of high-profile inventions – such as the stroller, and the sling. How – six weeks aft birth – anyone could be ‘running around’ after something with all the motility of an ancient tumulus is an absolute mystery to me.”

NUMBER NINE: I AM A DWARF CALLED “SCOTTBAIO”
“As with all good drugs, World of Warcraft has turned my perceptions of the world upside down. Take for instance, the very beginning of the game, when you decide on the character you will play. Personally, I’ve never created a character to play a game with before – hey, I have to do that in front of a closet every morning for real, and I think all the ladies will know what I’m saying here.”

NUMBER EIGHT: MTV HOES
“When I was a teenager, all my pop heroes were Britpop and grunge – unisex jeans and sneakers for all. I was raised with the expectations that, if I wanted to, I could sell twenty million albums with my upper arms covered at all times.

My daughters, on the other hand, are being raised in the Era of the Pop Ho. This is a time when the lower slopes of Britney Spears’s leotard-clad pubis mons are more recognizable than – although oddly redolent of – David Cameron’s face , and pop videos have become so predictable.”

NUMBER SEVEN: SHERLOCK REVIEW 2: THE FRUMIOUS CUMBERBATCH
“A myriad of amazing moments from Cumberbatch, who will surely – surely – with his voice like a jaguar in a cello, and his face like a sloth made of pearl – get a BAFTA for such a passionate, whole-hearted, star-bright re-booting of an icon.”

NUMBER SIX: DON’T FEED THE TROLL
“So this is why I can’t agree with the internet’s first rule: ‘Don’t feed the trolls.’ It’s fine when it’s just some spenk on a message board, with only five users. Ignoring provocative nonsense is only right and sensible. But when millionaire celebrity broadcasters, and entire publications, start trolling, ignoring them isn’t really an option anymore. They are gradually making trolling normative. We have to start feeding the trolls: feeding them with achingly polite e-mails and comments, reminding them of how billns of people prefer to communicate with each other, every day, in the ost regulated arena of all: courteously.”

NUMBER FIVE: THE BEST ROYAL WEDDING EVER
“This wedding, however, feels like it’s been imagined by a much younger and more confident generation: these glossy-haired girls and flush-cheeked, slightly-awkward boys; this confederacy of tight-knot brothers and sisters and cousins. There is a sense of freedom, simplicity, camaraderie and fun here that one imagines Prince Charles watching from the pews in a slightly bittersweet way. These young royals seem to have a much better handle on being royal than their parents ever did.”

NUMBER FOUR: MY DAY WITH PAUL MCCARTNEY. FROM THE BEATLES
“Why did I ask McCartney about his face being mashed up? Why? Why? I am the worst Beatles fan since Mark David Chapman.”

NUMBER THREE: COME PARTY WITH GAGA
“And, most importantly of all, she clearly couldn’t give a f*** what anyone says about her. When she appeared on The X Factor, it was the week after Simon Cowell had said that he was ‘Looking for the next Gaga.’ She performed Bad Romance in an eighteen-foot-long bathtub with six dancers – then played a piano solo on a keyboard hidden in a pretend sink, while seating on a pretend toilet. Clearly, Simon Cowell would never sign up anything like that in a million, billlion years. It was very much in his face.”

NUMBER TWO: ELIZABETH TAYLOR: HEAVY, LIKE WET ROSES
“In a world where women still worry that they are ‘too much’ – too big, too loud, too demanding, too exuberant – Taylor was a reminder of what a delight it can be, for men and women alike, when a woman really does take possession of her powers.”

NUMBER ONE: ON THE SET OF DOCTOR WHO
“It is despite being about a 900-year-old man with two hearts and a spacetime taxi made of wood, still one of our very best projection of how to be human.”

NOTE:

  1. Moran, Caitlin. Moranthology. USA: Harper Perennial, 2012.
  2. Moran adores Cumberbatch and Tennant. SO EASY TO LIKE HER.
11
Mar
13

Movie Review: Oz The Great and Powerful

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Categories: movies and reviews
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OzCAST: JAMES FRANCO, MILA KUNIS, RACHEL WEISZ, MICHELLE WILLIAMS, ZACH BRAFF, BILL COBBS, JOEY KING, TONY COX

DIRECTOR: SAM RAIMI

SUMMARY: Oz or Oscar (Franco) is a struggling magician who dreams of becoming a great and powerful man. His ambition got the best of him after his balloon crashed into a freak tornado. He found himself stranded in the magical place of Oz where he befriends sister-witches Thedora (Kunis) and Evanora (Weisz) who told him he is the wizard who will fulfill a prophecy. In Oz, he gets his chance to take a stab on greatness.

  1. Wow. The filmmakers behind this film have serious sets of balls to create a prequel to an all-time classic. Sure, it is not a remake but still. Just imagine the tornado of unfavorable comparison it’ll receive from both the critics and the audience. The Wizard of Oz is one of the ten films completing Hollywood’s Greatest Year (1939). Roll call: Gone with the Wind, Stagecoach, Wuthering Heights, Dark Victory, Love Affair, Goodbye Mr. Chips, Ninotchka, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Of Mice and Men. To top it all, Oz (and Gone with the Wind) consistently ranks in the top 10 best films of all-time. You now see the big picture, of what’s going to happen if the prequel turns out to be a screw-up. 
  2. To be fair, Oz: The Great and Powerful put some serious emphasis on modern special effects, one thing its predecessor  will never have. Oz, in this case, is quirkier. However, it still is not the same. It lacks magic. And music. Yes. Oz: The Great and Powerful lacks music and magic. More on this later.
  3. James, Mila, Rachel and Michelle are all competent performers. Franco, in particular, has enough chutzpah to take on the role of Oz. As for the witches, here is the deal, girl power is missing and the scorned women cackled but did not roar. Theodora, despite her abilities, cried and stepped into the dark side after Oz left him. Evanora is the stereotypical scheming b*tch, I mean, witch who just cannot handle fame and power. Honestly, too much female hatred. As for Glinda,  well, she’s the good witch who saw the goodness inside of Oz and ends up kissing him. No one told me this is romantic fluff.
  4. MUSIC + MAGIC = JUDY GARLAND. No doubt Garland lifted the The Wizard Oz to brilliant heights. Her Dorothy deserves a time capsule because it is one of those once-in-a-lifetime performance. Capturing the innocence and fortitude of the classic heroine, Garland elevated a memorable character her into a cinematic icon. That is indeed a special performance.
  5. Seven words: Oz The Great and Powerful lacks magic.

RATING: C+

01
Mar
13

Movie Review: Jack the Giant Slayer

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Categories: movies and reviews
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Jack the Giant SlayerCAST: NICHOLAS HOULT, EWAN MCGREGOR, STANLEY TUCCI, BILL NIGHY, ELEANOR TOMLINSON, IAN MCSHANE, EDDIE MARSAN

DIRECTOR: BRYAN SINGER

SUMMARY: Jack the Giant Slayer is a re-imagination of the popular fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalks. Long ago, in the kingdom of Cloister Albion, a group of monk decided to use a magical bean in order to meet their God. Unfortunately, the giant beanstalk led them not to heaven but to a land of giants. Tasting the flesh, blood and bones of humans, the murderous creatures seek more people beneath their homes. In order to defeat the giants, the King of Cloister forged a crown made out of the heart of a fallen giant. The piece of jewel enables the bearer to control the creatures. King Erik drove them back to their place. The giants bid their time and vowed to seek revenge against the descendants of the king. Centuries have passed  and the magical kingdom is threatened once more after a simple farmer, Jack (Hoult) got hold of the magical beans and accidentally misplaced one of the seeds. To make matters worse, the princess, Isabelle (Tomlinson) is a prisoner of the giants. Jack, with the help of the knight Elmont (McGregor) tries to rescue the princess from the clutches of the giants and something more sinister – a corrupt human.

  1. The first fifteen minutes or so of the film discusses a made-up historical background of the magical beans. It is an obligation for the on-going trend of re-imagined tales to convince the audience their re-imagined tales. Think of us as famish fishes and the backgrounder as a fat, fresh and delicious bait. Once it captures our attention, the film reels us in – hook, line and sinker. BUT IS IT REALLY DELICIOUS? NO.  WE WERE SIMPLY HUNGRY. 
  2. Re-imagined kid stories are sometimes cool, sometimes fun and most of the time preposterous; but these movies are never exceptional. Substance takes a backseat and instead and special effects take over. From time to time, the movie elicits real thrill, especially in the second half, but like riding a roller-coaster, the blast ends when it stops. This happens because of its thin plot.
  3. As for the cast, Hoult and Tomlinson acquit themselves but the spotlight belongs to McGregor and Tucci. The latter in particular is such a delight. Think of his role as a cartoon version of Alan Rickman’s Sheriff George of Nottingham. McGregor looks like he’s having fun in the movie and it shows on-screen as he nailed his punchlines, perfectly.
  4. All throughout the first half, the characters are often reminded that battle with the giants is real and it ONLY became a legend with the passage of time. Well, there is an epilogue and it kind of ties with its EARLY constant reminder. Go back and read the gist because there is a clue on the epilogue. I liked the epilogue. I consider it a CROWNING JEWEL. Dammit. Spoilers.
  5. Jack and the Beanstalk symbolizes acquiring wisdom after hurdling tribulations. Jack the Giant Slayer is about a boy who confronted his fears (and giants!) in order to rescue the girl he loves. We can all agree, the movie could have tried to substantiate its narration. It is quite unfortunate  the filmmakers put premium on special effects. Though, the second half of the movie has enough thrills to entertain the audience.

RATING: B-

28
Feb
13

The Top 5 Techie Ways to Improve Your Reading Habit

By jowanabueser 3 Comments
Categories: books and top five

books-e-booksI needed a tablet. As a social media slave, I needed  a gadget with Internet capabilities and a big screen. I am not a fan of smartphones despite its expanded screen size; it’s just too small for my taste. A couple of weeks ago, I bought a fourth-generation iPad. Like an excited kid, I quickly installed apps.  The obsessive-compulsive diva in me kicked-in and so I had to research the essential apps for movies, music, travels and of course, books. A respectable book slut has to have the proper book apps. Of course, Goodreads topped the list. The top social networking site for book lovers is a must-have. There is one app though that made me ill at ease – Newsstand. The iOS magazine stand is so tempting. I have read reviews extolling the greatness of reading rags using an iPad; and well, a credit card holder is a weak human inside the app store. As a fan of paper-based books, I have avoided the temptation of e-books. (I still have not stepped into the “dark side” but e-zines are altogether different case). Despite working as a social media manager, I keep it analog when it comes to personal reading habits. However, a little bit of techie touch helps to make the experience better.

NUMBER FIVE: GET AN E-READER

Some e-readers such as Kindle Fire act like an infant tablet. It has an app store just like it’s big brother. Of course, it’s specifically design for reading e-books. Now, as much as I like to discuss the pros and cons of an e-reader, I do not own one and has no intention in the near future to acquire a unit. Not that I’m joining the anti-digital movement, it’s just that I do not feel comfortable with e-readers. It used to be the glare (but some e-readers have fixed this problem), but now I realized, am not a fit with e-readers. Yes I know, it’s more portable than lugging three or more books, but still. Some of my friends though swear by their Kindles so, I guess it helps. Plus, it probably is the most obvious reason to tech-amp one’s bookworm cred.

NUMBER FOUR: JOIN ON-LINE BOOK CLUBS

HuffPost Book Club: click the link. It doesn’t have weekend coffee meets but it’ll still does the trick of pushing us to read books. Not to mention, it does feel awesome realizing it’s a global book club. Just think of the different opinion of people from different cultures.

NUMBER THREE: READ BOOK-RELATED BLOGS AND SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES, PAGES

Networking sites allowed authors to create some sort of personal relationship with their fans. Neil Gaiman is active on Twitter. Most YA (young adult) authors maintain websites, Tumblrs and Facebook Pages to strengthen their bond with their loyal readers. Even established publishing houses have Facebook Pages to entice and excite consumers about upcoming book releases. In the pre-digital era, book events and book signings are enough to drum up interests but now, a new book requires a proper social media campaign. It seems complicated, but for book sluts like us, a simple book cover reveal on Facebook is enough to drive us insane.

NUMBER TWO: DOWNLOAD BOOK-RELATED iOS AND ANDROID APPS

Smartphones and tablets have a number of book apps to choose from both iOS and Android platforms. Some of the more popular ones are Kindle, iBooks, , Kobo Books and several free books apps. Since am not much a fan of e-books, I spend more time with Newsstand. It’s a pre-installed iPad app for e-zines. Not an endorsement for Apple products, but reading your essential rags is quite an experience in iPad. Of course, one needs to subscribe to the magazines but it’ll just as worth it as the ink and paper version. Plus, electronic versions include videos, slides and other stuff paper-based magazines cannot even dream about in its publication lifetime.

NUMBER ONE: JOIN GOODREADS

Goodreads is the social networking site for book sluts like me. It records and organizes your book collection. Like your usual social networking sites, users can invite friends, create groups, like and comment on interesting stuff. But of all its features, the one thing that makes it great is the Goodreads Challenge. A user can set a reading goal for one year and it will track your progress all throughout the duration. For example, I challenged myself into reading 60 books in 2013. Goodreads will remind me how much more pages do I need to flip in order to reach the magic number. Best of all, it also reminds users if they’re ahead or behind their goals. I’ve been using it for two years and saw my progress increase from 50 to 60 books annually. Tip: sync Goodreads with Facebook and Twitter so you’ll be more responsible in reaching your goals. After all, you wouldn’t want any of your friends see you fail in a personal challenge.

27
Feb
13

Thoughts on a Book: Through the Ever Night

By jowanabueser Leave a Comment
Categories: books and reviews
Tags: , , ,

Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It’s a moment they’ve been longing for with countless expectations. And it’s a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at first.

Then it slips away. The Tides don’t take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry’s control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this have truly exist? Threatened by false friends and powerful companions, Aria and Perry wonder, can their love survive through the ever night?

In this sceond book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and sci-fi elements to create a captivating adventure – as perilous as it is unforgettable.

AUTHOR: VERONICA ROSSI
Veronica Rossi lives in northern California with her husband and two sons. Her debut novel Under the Never Sky, has already been embraced by publishers in more than twenty-six countries worldwide and been optioned for film by Warner Bros. Don’t miss the stunning conclusion to the Under the Never Sky trilogy, Into the Still Blue. You can visit Veronica online at http://www.veronicarossi.com.

1. Young adult books often fall into certain classifciations. The more popular ones SUPERNATURAL ROMANCE (as in Twilight) and DYSTOPIA (as in Hunger Games). With the saturation of he second classification, some authors have tried to add a little bit of standard science fiction in the usual mix. One of the more successful ones is Veronica Rossi’s Under thr Never Sky series. Set in the future, our planet has suffered a terrible cosmic occurence where solar storms have reached the Earth. Instead of the rich and poor divide, the prevailing social strata are between the Dwellers (people inside a protected dome) and the Tribes (people outside the dome.) It is a literal insiders vs outsiders set- up. In the thick things is an on-going Romeo and Juliet romance between a dweller, Aria and a tribe leader, Peregrine. In the second installment, Through the Ever Night, the star-crossed (or solar storm-crossed) lovers are reunited. But tribe leadership problems, jealousies, the inevitable end of the protective dome and the raging aethers (the solar storms) place serious dents in their forbidden relationship.

2. Call it sophomore slump but it seems to me most authors lose their mojo in sequels. Unlike in the first book, I sort of just went through the motions reading Through the Ever Night. The excitement waned. Whereas I paused to take all the romantic stuff in the first one, this one did not measure up to expectations. Disappointment started to creep in after I started hoping Aria get it on with his fellow Aud, Roar.

3. Speaking of Roar, I thought his affair with Liv is a BETTER STORY.

4. And Cinder. Talk about a wild card. This kid is not just wild but he holds the all-important card to the future of Earth. (The concluding book is entitled Into the Still Blue and there is one huge hurdle in reaching the place that Cinder can sort of pass through.)

5. Through the Ever Night laid out the possible conflicts and solutions to the final installment. It manages to deliver some of the stuff fans loved in the first book albeit with less excitement. Rossi is clever enough to develop his lead characters. Peregrine is more responsible as he tries to live up to the legacies of his father and brother as tribe leaders. He sticks with his personal brand of leadership despite protestation from tribesmen. Aria is more in tune with her special skills. She also uses her unique position as both a half-dweller and half-tribesman to the advantage of Peregrine and his people. The couple still kissed and made love in the end but after making sure the preparation for their quest to the Still Blue is completed. Romance took a back seat for responsibilities. Boo. Let us all hope the conclusion augurs well for them for that sure requires some epic on the beach action. Ehem. Just get it on.

RATING: B

26
Feb
13

Ang Siste Eh: Balota at Simbahan

By jowanabueser Leave a Comment
Categories: opinion and politics
Tags: , , , ,

Nang nakaraang linggo, naglabas ng listshan ang Diocese ng Bacolod ng mga kandidatong ‘di dapat iboto sa darating na halalan. Binansagan nila itong TEAM PATAY. Kabilang dito ang mga senador at iba pang kandidato na pumabor sa pagsasabatas ng Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill). Isinama rin nila ang ilang party-list groups sa nasabing listahan. Sa kabilang banda, nagpaabot din ng suporta ang diocese sa TEAM BUHAY. Sila naman ang mga kandidatong tahasang kinontra ang RH Bill.

Hindi ko pinansin ang muling paggamit ng pulpito sa halalan dahil hindi na ito bago lalo na sa usapin ng reproductive health. Dekada nobenta ng sumikat si Juan Flavier bilang kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan. Kung meron ka ng isip ng mga panahong ito, malamang maaalala mo si Yosi Kadiri o dili naman isa ka sa mga nakatanggap ng libreng bakuna sa mga public health centers. Isa ako sa mga nabakunahan. Isa ako sa mga taga-hanga ng kalihim. Elibs ako sa sense of humor ni Mang Juan dahil patok na patok ito sa panlasang Pilipino. Hindi pilit kundi saktong-sakto. Pero bago pa tumimo ang Let’s DOH It sa kamalayan ng nakararami, nakilala na si Mang Juan sa programang Doctors to the Barrio. Naitatago pa namin ang mga aklat nito na nagtuturo ng mga paunang-lunas at maging karampatang paggamot sa mga karamdaman. Isinulong ng dating kalihim ang kalusugan ng mga Pilipino. Kung iisipin nararapat mapabilang sa TEAM BUHAY. Pero malakas ang aking kutob na doon sa kabilang koponan itatapon ng simabahan si Mang Juan. ‘Tol, sinuportahan nito ang condoms. Na-eskandalo ang mga naka-habito. Napa-antandang krus ang mga ipokrito.

Kulang na lamang bansagan si Mang Juan na the anti-Christ. Kalimutan na na isinulong nito ang anti-smoking campaign kahit na Tabako ang isa sa mga tag-uri sa bossing nito sa Malacanang. Kalimutan na na maraming nakinabang sa libreng-bakuna. Iisa lang ang mahalaga: si Mang Juan supporter ng condoms at hindi dapot isulat sa balota. Oo. Tumakbong senador ang superstar ng gabinete ni Fidel Ramos. Ika nga, after the smoke cleared and as the dust settled, panalo si Mang Juan. Landslide sa ikalawang pwesto. Marahil kung meron lamang palabas sa tanghali tulad ni Tito Sotto ang ating idolo nag-number one sana ito, sapagkat kung hindi ako nagkakamali, si Sotto ang nanguna sa bilangan.

Tanong: kanino ka mas proud na idikit ang titulong “senador”, sa sikat na kalihim ng Kalusugan o sa host ng Eat Bulaga? Bang.

Pinagkalooban ng mga Pilipino ng 2-full terms sa Senado si Mang Juan sa kabila ng pagkontra ng Simbahang Katolika. Marahil tinimbang ng mga tao na mas maraming naiambag ang taong ito kumpara sa mga obispo. O dili naman naisip nila na di dapat katakutan ang condom. Isang precedent si Mang Juan sa mga kandidato na ‘di dapat magpasindak sa pulpito kung alam mong nasa panig ka tama at totoo.

Konserbatibo ang aking mga magulang. Pinaaral ako sa isang Catholic school mula grade school hanggang high school. Sumasali at nananalo noon ako sa mga Bible quiz contests. Kasapi ako noon ng ilang school-based religious organizations. Pero bukas ang isip ko. Tanggap ko na hindi katanggap-tanggap ang lahat ng kembot ng simbahan. Hindi ako nangingimi na kontrahin ang mga panuntunan nito sa darating na halalan. Iboboto ko ang ilan (o isa) na kabilang sa TEAM PATAY. Hindi ko rin feel ang mga TEAM BUHAY. Bakit? Dahil hindi RH Bill ang aking panuntunan kundi kalidad at kredibilidad ng kandidato. Komo bumoto sa RH Bill matatabunan na nito ang track record ng isang kandidato?! Kailan pa naging deodorizer ang pagkontra dito?! Para na rin sinabi ng simbahan, “Iboto natin si Kandidato X dahil kontra ito RH. Kahit na babaero ito. Kahit sugarol ito. Kahit palpak sa Senado ito. Mahalaga lamang naman kontra ito sa RH.” Ikakahon natin sa iisang issue ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa?! Binobobo din natin ang mga botante.

(Kung sakali nga palang ‘di nanalo ang mga pro-RH at sila naman ang TEAM BITTER OCAMPO sa nga panahong ito – hindi rin ako mangingimi na tuligsain din sila. Simple lamang aking pinupunto: napaka-childish at napaka-irresponsible na ikahon sa iisang issue ang daratig nahalalan dahil napakaraming problema ang hinaharap ng Pilipinas.)

Karapatan ng simbahan at sinuman na maglabas ng anumang listahan nga mga dapat at ‘di dapat iboto. Karapatan nilang ilahad angp kanilang sariling panuntunan sa pagpili ng mga iboboto. Subalit tungkulin natin na suriin kung tama at lohikal nga ba ang kanilang sinasabi. Tulad ng isang paring Hesuita na ‘di natakot kondenahin ang diocese ng Bacolod. Dito pa lamang dapat mag-isip na ang Katolikong Pilipino kung bakit tila ‘di nagkakasundo ang mga kasapi ng simbahan. Marahil nais lamang linisin ng simbahan ang dumi sa lipunan. Alam naman natin na napakalinis ng kanilang sariling bakuran. Walang bading na pari dahil kontra sila sa homosekswalidad. Wala pang napapabalitang pati na nakabuntis dahil labag ito sa kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin. Wala pang paring nasasangkot sa porno dahil labag ito sa kautusan ng Panginoon. Wala pang naitatalang pedophile case sa simbahang Katolika. Higit sa lahat, iginagalang ng simbahan ang separation of Church and State na nakasaad sa Saligang-Batas. PATAY TAYO DIYAN.

25
Feb
13

Thoughts on a Book: Seven Wonders The Colossus Rises

By jowanabueser Leave a Comment
Categories: books and reviews
Tags: , , , ,

Jack McKinley is an ordinary kid with an extraordinary problem. In six months, Jack is going to die.

After Jack collapses in the middle of a busy street, he’s whisked off to a strange hospital in a strange place. There are armed guards and weird kinds and fantastic creatures, not to mention no parents, no phones, and no possibility of escape. The place is run by an odd professor named Bhegad, who tells Jack that what’s killing him is a genetic trait inherited from a prince of a long-lost civilization. It’s destroying him by making him too strong too fast. He’ll need to stay strong though – because it’s up to him to save the world.

The long-lost civilization sank when seven magical Loculi were stolen and hidden around the world. Now Jack and his friends must find the Loculi before they fall into the wrong hands. If they don’t, they’ll never be cured, the lost world will rise, oceans will be displaced, and life as we know it will pretty much end.

No one ever asked Jack if he wanted to be a hero. He just has to be one. One kid. One mission. One big problem. The thrills begin in The Colossus Rises, the newest installment in the newest adventure from master storyteller Peter Lerangis.

AUTHOR: PETER LERANGIS

Peter Lerangis is the author of more that one hundred and sixty books, which have sold more than five million copies and been translated into twenty-eight different languages, including three books in the New York Times bestselling series The 39 Clues (The Sword Thief, The Viper’s Nest, and The Dead of Night). He is a Harvard graduate with a degree in biochemistry. After college, he became a Broadway musical theater actor. He has run marathon and gone rock climbing during an earthquake, but not on the same day. He lives in New York City with his wife, musician Tina deVaron, and their two sons, Nick and Joe. In his spare time, he likes to eat chocolate.

  1. The lost of continent of Atlantis is one legend I feel strongly about – like I strongly dream of finding it feelings. Back in college, a professor of mine dashed all personal hopes of proving its existence. In one of his lectures, he pointed out the one simple reason Atlantis could never have existed – BUOYANCY. Jerk. Continents float because of this force. No chance in Homer’s hell (Homer as in the Greek one not the father of Bart) can a thriving continent sink in the turbulent ocean. Dammit. Nonetheless, I still believe in Atlantis. Call me a romantic but there is just something appealing in this tragic tale of creation and destruction. Much more romantic than Paradise. It also heightens blind hope among enthusiats that it will rise again from the depths of the ocean and stand tall once more in the face of the Earth. Fiction in contrast to science has never forgotten Atlantis. One of its newest addition is Peter Lerangis seven-part series called Seven Wonders .
  2. Now that I’ve mentioned it, the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria). Like Alantis, some of these remarkable architectures of antiquity have been scruitinized. Their existence questioned for modern men cannot fathom the capacities of ancient engineers. One of the more controversial ones is the Colossus of Rhodes (as in the book title The Colossus Rises). Believed to have been built in the Greek city of Rhodes, the Colossus is all 30 meters high of massive statue of the sun god Helios. Artistic interpretations are even more impressive as it depicted the colossal piece at the entrance of the Rhodes port holding a torch (with real fire), guiding ships as it pass unrmeath the enormous structure. Think of a more intimidating Statue of Liberty. The Colossus of Rhodes is indeed one of the sickest piece of art and architecture of all-time. 
  3. Back-up. Notice the apparent enthusiasm for the other stuff about the book but not the book itself?  Meh. I just do not like the book. Sure. The book is meant for middle school kids but that does not mean I cannot like kid reads. I dig Rick Riordan. He has skills in integrating the ancient and the modern without shortchanging his readers in all departments, e.g. characters, historical notes, and the all-important alchemical combination of past and present bathed in humor. Fun. His books are great sources of entertainment. Something that cannot be said for Lerangis’. Curiously, Riordan provided the blurb for this one, “A high-octane mix of modern adventure and ancient secrets.” True, high-octane indeed. But I am looking for rollickin’ fun.
  4. Our hero is Jack, the standard normal kid with supernatural abilities. (He carries a dormant gene from his Atlantean ancestors that could kill him if he does not find the lost civilization.) Like most heroes, his special gifts did not manifest quick enough. It had to be discovered and understood. Jack is likeable enough but not remarkable at all. He has three friends, Aly (genius techie), Cass (human compass) and Marco (super jock). I like Aly the most because she is also a movie buff (“I’ve seen Citizen Kane for like the thirtieth time.”) but other than her, no one else stands out. If there is one character though that kills me with blandness, it’s Professor Bhegad. First, his name is just blah. Second, he does not exude father-figure compassion. The author had to resort to addidtional descriptions (“His eyes brimming with tears…”) to seek pathos from readers. He is no Dumbledore. Then there is Torquin – part guard part henchman – who is, going by our Potter analogy, is Hagrid. Unlike the lovable giant, Torquin comes as across as a cartoon  instead of a character. Lerangis’ latest book is comparable to Riordan’s Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicles series ONLY in terms of utilizing ancient civilizations and mythologies. However, Riordan populated his stories with memorable characters with proper personal histories and developments.
  5. I guess am going to follow the series just because I need to know the ending. Other than that, there is nothing quite wonderful in the Seven Wonders series.

RATING: C+

24
Feb
13

Movie Review: Beautiful Creatures

By jowanabueser Leave a Comment
Categories: movies and reviews
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Beautiful CreaturesCAST: ALDEN EHRENREICH, ALICE ENGLERT, JEREMY IRONS, EMMA THOMPSON, VIOLA DAVIS, EMMY ROSSUM, THOMAS MANN, ZOEY DEUTCH, EILEEN ATKINS, MARGO MARTINDALE

DIRECTOR: RICHARD LAGRAVENESE

SUMMARY: Gatlin, South Carolina – two kinds of people live in this place, those too stupid to stay and those too stuck to move out. Ethan Wate (Ehrenreich) knows this well. His late mother made sure he understood the truth about Gatlin.  He has a plan: leave town and go to college. Things changed after he met the new girl in school, Lena Duchannes (Englert). Despite her apparent strangeness and satanist rumors, Ethan finds himself attracted to Lena. Little does he know, their bond has lasted a lifetime and a centuries-old curse is about to test their love.

  1. This is no Twilight. This is no Bella and Edward. This is BETTER than Twilight. Lena and Ethan is BETTER than Bella and Edward. I have not read the paranormance (paranormal + romance) book where the film is based upon but I sure enjoyed this better than Stephanie Meyer’s series. What sets the Beautiful Creatures couple apart from the emo bloodsuckers is PERSONALITY. Ethan is funnier and more sensible, plus he reads books – the Charles Bukowski kind. He frequents libraries and rocks Buddy Holly glasses which screams I’m-a-cute-literature-nerd. On the other hand, Lena does not bite her lips nor tuck her hair as often as she blinks, but more importantly, she exudes emotions. That she collects poems is also a big plus. So before people start to label Beautiful Creatures as the next Twilight just do us a favor and stop. 
  2. Ehrenreich reminds me of Anton Yelchin – an up and coming actor deserving of a big break. He carried much  of the film as Ethan doubled as narrator. Though not as good-looking (not the usual chisled and cheekboned dude) as most leading men, his charm made up for it. He shines in scenes where he dismisses the craziness of the resident school bitch and whenever he falls under the spell of his girlfriend’s magical relatives. Ehrenreich proves a teen actor does not need abs nor complicated coiffure to elicit screams from the female audience.
  3. Newcomer Englert provided a not-so-good and not-so-bad-either performance. Just enough not to irritate most people. There is not much she can do because of her character (surprisingly, the male character is far more intersting). Her moment to shine is in the scene where she came face-to-face with the villainous Sarafine (Thomposon). I thought she did not give her all. Quite a disappointment, for she easily drowned in all of Emma Thompson’s insane fabulousity. If YA female characters were grades, Lenna Duchannes is B- which is rather acceptable because Bella Swann is an F. (Katniss Everdeen and Hermione Granger are the A+ gold standard.)
  4. Scroll back. Check the cast. Breathe in. Breathe out. SERIOUSLY: Irons, Thompson, Davis, Atkins and Martindale. The supporting cast has a bountiful collection of acting trophies in their homes. Props to the casting director for assembling a terrific collection of actors. Irons is ALWAYS worth the admission – I can listen to his hot baritone 24/7. But it is Davis as the Gatlin seer, who made quite an impact. The incredible actress delivers once again her trademark dignified and resolute performance. Oh. I just love her accessories. (I did checked out a couple of accessories stores after seeing the film. Hoping to recreate her look.)
  5. Beautiful Creatures is a watchable film adaptation of the popular book series. Though the special effects are a disappointment (the lightning stuff looks so cheap), the performance of the lead actors made it more engaging. There is nothing special with the plot for it is standard paranormace at best but the acting is earnest. Benefiting from a host of seasoned thespians, the film is sure to pass the taste of paranormance afficionados.

RATING: B-

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