Book Stars (a book review): Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz

                I am quite familiar with the works of Melissa de la Cruz.  I also know that she is a Filipino and came from the Visayas, coincidentally the region in the Philippines where I am.  I have always wanted to read her books and knew that her first series, that of high society vamps, Blue Bloods has constantly been in the top selling list but I was just a little hesitant to read books because the covers were too “girly” for my taste (there goes my penchant of judging books by their covers, hahaha, but then again, it is my preference so nobody really should comment). I have never read any of her so-called hits.  Then came … Frozen, her new book and (thankfully) the start of a new series.

                The cover is simple; that of a girl in profile, hair slicked behind her as she seemingly immerges from a pool of water.  There is an emblem, a swirl of gold that looks so much a like a miniature dragon and the title, Frozen.  Finally, a Melissa de la Cruz that I can stomach to read (duh, such a stupid reason as how the cover looks to label a book I can stomach, again, so what? That’s how I want it…and yes, I judge people by their looks too…hahaha).

                Now, I always believed that I am a sort of an authority on the draconian mythology having read almost all the known series that features this race of majestic lizards.  Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern (my own collection of numerous titles donated) being one of my earliest reads in the genre of magic, fantasy and science fiction; not to mention, Eragon and its succeeding titles, Dragonlance (I also donated these books), and the newly popular Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin (for the clueless, it’s the basis for the HBO hit, the Game of Thrones which is the title of the first book).  I never really thought that there would be a new take on the dragon stories but as what the reviews say about de la Cruz, she can sure spin a whole new take on what is old, traditional and classical and make it seem like it’s really possible in the world of reality.  And not only dragons (which I falsely thought this books is centered on) but also elves, dwarfs (for the uninitiated, this is the correct plural for dwarf, the word “dwarves” was created or used by J.R.R. Tolkien in the Lord of the Rings trilogy to describe the race) and even zombies.

                This story is written by a goddess of world building.  The realities and nuances of the characters are so real that I almost can see them onscreen as a movie.  The adventures and the back stories are so believable that I had to stop for moments and imagine what was happening within the pages.  It is Waterworld, Tombraider, and the Day the World Stood Still combined all in one.  It is a dystopian tour de force that will surely transport you from where you are reading to where the action is. This book is to be believed and I can’t wait for the next one.

                *I’m reading one of Melissa de la Cruz’s earlier series next, she is a gem of a writer and I’m not entirely convinced that Frozen is a collaboration with her husband. But then again, I can be wrong like I am with the covers (I’m reading her earlier book covered with a non-transparent covering, hahaha).

                

ON THE JOB

(Reaction in lieu of Review)

                Honestly, I was planning to watch Erik Matti’s latest film, On The Job the first day of showing. But because plans have a way of changing as days come, other plans overlapped and so I was not able to see the film.  Nevertheless I kept hearing about it that I had to see it for myself. 

                Before I went inside the movie house, I promised myself that I will try to write my own (amateur) review of this much talked about film.  Almost 3 hours after seeing the movie, I still don’t know how to make a review so instead, I’ll just write my reaction.

BILATIBAY YA!

                Forgive the expletives, but those are the exact same words I exclaimed as soon as the cinema darkened and the credits rolled. 

                The movie is dark, gory & bloody but damn did it shout of truth and rawness and pain.  The dialogues were natural and carried underlying tension in the words chosen that hearing the prevalence   of even swear words painted the scenes with nuances that worked with the dirt of the settings and the dirt of what was happening on screen.  The director, part of the tandem who wrote the film managed to squeeze the innards of society (both from those seating in political seats and from those seating in the bowels of poverty) for fodder to fuel this reflection of what could very well be plain truth.

                I have never enjoyed a Filipino film for its story, depth and unpredictability more than this one. From the first 5 minutes where I swore to the scattering of brains I stayed at the edge of my seat never really knowing what to expect next.  To think that it’s an action film only adds up to its beauty having enjoyed none of action films ever; Hollywood made or not.  The actors were perfectly cast that I did not recognize the Gerald Anderson, the Piolo Pascual, the Joel Torre but instead was taken for a ride with the characters that propelled me from jaw dropping scene to the next “Putangina!”

                To say that this is a good film is an understatement, to claim that it has a lesson that subtly gives emphasis to choices, family, ambition and helplessness is expected.  What I can say though is that, this feels like a new birth for the types of films we will get to see from Filipino film makers.  I would certainly wait for the next “Directed by Erik Matti” or for the next film that will convincingly present mainstream actors in the next off beat but laudable role.

                On the Job is currently my gauge for a 5 star out of 5 movie!

BILATIBAY YA!