See "Saw"

I watched Saw: The Final Chapter this afternoon at Robinson's Place Manila on my own since almost every single one that I asked to come with me said they are scared of the movie's nature.

It was already late when I got to the mall. I only had an hour to spare before the show starts and I haven't eaten my lunch yet. So I grabbed a very quick lunch and practically run to catch the movie. At first, I was so happy to know that the movie is showing at the Midtown. But I was disappointed the moment I walked in. The not-more-than ten rows of seats are too close to the screen. There's not a Balcony section that can make the experience better so I have to settle to the second row since the first row was already full. As I settle to my seat, the discomfort sets in. The screen is too close so I had to tilt my head in order to see the whole screen better.

The movie, as for me lacks something. I think since this movie has seven installments over the years, the story got so predictable already. I had not watched the first five chapters and watched only the sixth chapter and the story really did not change much. There are still, of course, the bloods, screams, the typical antagonist being the wiser than the protagonist but end up losing in the end. And that was it. The movie is a mixture of present storytelling and backflash storytelling. I think it lacks some emotions. There is emotion but in between screams, and deaths, the movie just lost the emotion along the way. You can see the anguish of the victims, the fear in their eyes, but all of these are very technical. I mean, these are prerequisites of a thriller movie but I see no soul in them. Their eyes are cold and are not speaking to me which I am very fond of seeing in a movie. I love it when the eyes are evoking emotions and therefore touching me and letting me live their lives and feel what they are feeling. But in this movie, I felt none except by the jolt I have to endure because of the sound effects and the sickening feeling in my stomach whenever I see some of the most gruesome scenes in the movie. So I think, this is really the best time to end the whole series. Although, the movie sort of used the open-ending kind of end this time, while I think that there are still some loose ends that need to be tied. It was a short film that I think there are some parts that were rushed so some of them turned out "half-baked".

From Princesses to Murderers

I am a book lover. I prefer buying books and reading it while in bed, in coffee shops, instead of listening to it. What with audio books or podcasts everywhere. I love turning pages of read-worthy books. Kind of books that will certainly take your breath away, making you ache to know the next thing that will happen, those that will make you keep your hands clutch tightly on the book as events unfold.

I have been reading quite a lot of books since I was in Elementary. It ranges from Sweet Valleys to those book report types. But, as much as a book lover that I am, I never had a favorite author. Even though every time I fill up a friend's slum book, I always write Francine Pascal as my favorite author. Growing up, my love for book reading did not at all, ceased. But it has lessen. What with textbooks and textbooks that school teachers require us to read. I just do not have time for leisure reading anymore. It is when I am about to graduate in college that I started the habit of reading again. I have read a variety of books but I have discovered that chic-lit books are what I mostly opt for. It is because of the fact that my life is already stressful that I want something that could lift my spirits or make me laugh at the very least instead of cry a river thing. Well, sometimes though I read those tear-jerker books like Nicolas Sparks' A Walk to Remember. Anyway, in my search of beautifully crafted chic-lit books, I found Princess Diaries. Of course, with the help of cable channels showing Mia Thermopolis' transformation. I dived into the royal world of Mia. But, I did not however, finish all the published installment. I guess, I have grown away from it.

Last year, I have scanned my stacks of magazines and tried to search for books featured on these mags to add to my collection. I am aching to read again but I want those fun, light ones, so that it won't add to the heaviness of my emotional baggage. It was then that I came across "Size 14 Is Not Fat Either". At first, I did not realize the author. I mean, I just wrote down the title, the author, and then head to Nat'l Bookstore to purchase it. But then, the book was a little over my budget at that time so I did not buy is as planned. It was only last month that I saw it again, with much a lower price than the first time I saw it. So, naturally, I bought it. The 1st and the 2nd installment. I left the 3rd installment behind thinking that I will buy it after the first two installment. Well, honestly, to "test the waters". If I will like the story or not.

So now, I just finished the 2nd installment of Heather's Mysteries, she is the Mia in this series I am blabbering about. She is the heroine of Meg's crime novel. And now that I have finished reading the 2nd installment, I am really disappointed of myself that I did not buy the 3rd installment. It is really a magnificent novel. Meg Cabot do not only know royalty and grandeur. She also know murders, stories I mean, and executes it perfectly. I sooo love this Heather Wells' Mysteries series. Meg wrote the story not only thrillingly but also comically. Okay, you may not be convinced on the greatness of the outcome of this combination. But, it is real awesome. You should try reading this to see for yourself. I know you will be addicted to it. You will be actively thinking with Heather, trying to solve the puzzle yourself. But this kind of thinking you wouldn't mind doing. You would laugh on the hysteria of Heather's bouncy life. You would be frustrated on Heather's love life.

Meg Cabot is simply a chic-lit novelist alright. A princess of her own field as I can say.