My thoughts on Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James

When I read the first few sentences of this book, I thought this was kind of juvenile. Like one of those Sweet Dreams books I read when I was in high school. The awkward girl meets the handsome rich guy while the other boys are falling all over her because she doesn’t realize how beautiful she really is. Hmm…okay, it was based on a fanfiction of Twilight. Hence, we have Anastasia as a fetching klutz and Christian Grey as a smoldering man with a dark secret.

I was having second thoughts featuring this book because well, many parts go against things I personally believe in. Like treating women like objects and making them play a submissive part in a mockery of a role play.

So finding out that this book is on top of the bestsellers list had been dumbfounding for me. Do women really like this? Or was it read only out of curiosity like me? But then all three books are selling like pancakes not only the first one. So many people must have liked it. And that's okay, to each his own. I haven't read any Harry Potter book but have read the Twilight and Hunger Games series so I guess each of us have their thing.

However, parts of this book had been a little disturbing for me. The erotica had been quite graphic and detailed. And it wasn’t just in some parts, but on many parts. Honestly, they should have an R rating for this if you ask me. It should be contained on a certain part of a bookstore because it's like reading a woman’s fantasy of bondage littered with those intimate stuff you do behind closed doors where children aren’t allowed to see. Imagine a twelve year old reading this.

Okay, I read it because it was controversial and because it's almost taboo for some. I wanted know what the fuss is all about. Fine, the detailed telling of the trysts I can live with but not the contract. His vile contract  designating her to play the submissive and him being the dominant with specific instructions on what she should do for him and what she should accept like those bordering on physical violence like caning, that’s a lot to take. And to think she still has to think it over. Hello, woman have a little self-respect. If I were her, I’d kick him in the groin, hit the contract hard on his face and walk away while muttering a**hole on the side.

Reading those parts felt like hearing chalk being scraped on a dull blackboard or nails being ripped on a smooth surface, ugh. It was that bad for me. I like strong female characters and this goes against what I like reading. Yes, I was tempted to throw it away and never look at it ever again but I wanted to know how it ends, how pathetic is that.

And read on I did. There were some parts I liked so it's not all that bad, the touchy feely, romantic parts. Like how Christian can get so protective of her, his bouts of jealousy and their entertaining emails to each other. It’s like this guy isn’t that numskull who quivers into a frenzy when she bites her lower lip. There were also moving moments when she asks herself if he really loves her and her seeming conviction to sacrifice herself for this love. Those parts I get because one can really be irrational when someone's in love, circumventing reasons to understand a paramour's baffling behavior even if it borders on sicko already. Those were some heartfelt moments I welcomed.

Lastly, the ending was surprising but pleasantly so. After a slight “beating” of the belt, lo and behold, she comes to her senses. She decides to leave him. It was supposed to be a triumph on my mind but then I felt bad for them. Reading the heartbreaking parts like her returning all the stuff he gave her because “I don’t want anything to remind me of you” tugged at me. Aw, that hurts. But then again if ever he pulls himself together, maybe go to therapy or something maybe they’ll have a chance. Maybe. So whether I’ll be reading the next parts of the trilogy, I’m not so sure. Maybe I’ll have to go to therapy first because this one just blew my mind, whew!

Watching my first Ballet: World Stars of Ballet

I didn’t know what to expect from the ballet. Maybe get bored or be impatient. But that was not the case. It has been more than a week and I'm still enthralled by it, this inspiring display of strength and grace. These are not the delicates, the frou frous or the effeminates in tights but athletes.

Like with the mountaineers I saw in Mt. Manabu with large packs on their backs, I am still in awe of them, they who have mastered their bodies, bending it to their will. I have never been athletic, I'm more of a bookworm so watching people with this high level of physical intelligence is a treat. 

Besides, it must not have been easy to perform in front of the hundreds of people inside Aliw Theater when every mistake can be gasped at or every tumble can result to a muffled shriek. But their performance had been almost flawless except when one dancer faltered after a long twirl. But who wouldn’t? It’s a surprise he was still standing after an arduous spin. All of them were standing on tip toes most of the time and twirling and twirling without missing a beat. How can they still smile after turning 360 degrees almost five times is a miracle to me. Lots of practice and strong physical constitution, I guess.

It’s quite different when you see them up close, the ballet dancers. Watching them on TV, they look like china dolls in shimmery costumes, light and frilly. Even the men. But watching them live on stage, it’s another story. Witnessing the strong, leaping strides, powerful jumps and lifts that make the ladies look weightless on their backs, makes you realize that they are athletes in their own right, rendering the same tremendous grit to polish their skills and spending countless hours in practice. You can see the sweat literally flying on the stage.

Even the ladies are not lightweight. Behind the sheen of their dreamy costumes are taut back muscles and hardened calves, symbols of their dedication to their craft. Pirouetting in rich classical music, it’s easy to be lost in their performance. You can’t be bored. And I feel lucky to have witnessed it, thanks to a complimentary ticket courtesy of my husband. It is art coming to life.

Watching the Philippines, premier prima ballerina, Lisa Macuja who is set to retire soon is also a gift. Her petite frame belies her graceful power. I held my breath when she spinned from the back of the stage to the front nonstop. To have such poise, balance and power is almost surreal. Who can do that? Apparently, all the prima ballerinas from the Russian, American, Norwegian ballet troupes can. But Ms. Macuja’s performance had a certain lightness to it, a certain joy. Okay, I’m biased J But she was smiling all throughout the performance like it was a pleasure for her to perform, no wonder she’s our most famous prima ballerina J

Trying something for the first time like climbing a mountain or watching a ballet performance have corrected my misconceptions about certain things. That climbing mountains is more than just leisurely walking but a daring activity that invokes agility, surefootedness and mental strength while the ballet is not a show of the whimsical but a performance that radiates strength, grace and dedication. I’m glad I have been found wrong and I’m glad I have witnessed both J

Snow White and the Huntsman, a movie fan review

Watching Snow White & the Huntsman had been a visual feast. The action was steady at the start with rousing battles, colored flags and dark knights made of shards of dark glass. Kristen Stewart as Snow White was ethereal and innocent. She may be no match to Charlize enchanting appeal but her beauty was different, fragile but disarming.

And Chris Hemsworth, ah. He asserts masculinity with his roughness and might with the blow of an ax, quite different from that of William, the Duke’s son who strikes with a bow and arrow. Honestly, I haven’t watched Hemsworth in Thor and saw him only in The Avengers. But I liked him here, mortal and vulnerable. He reminded me of Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall.  Especially in one scene when Snow White was “sleeping”. I love that scene J

Meanwhile, the Dark Forest was its own character. Mysterious and dangerous, it will play tricks on your mind, awakening your fears through hallucinations with its moving trees and dark creatures. On the other hand, the land of the fairies was an inducing sight, a dream straight out of a fairytale. With moss-covered turtles, inquisitive bunnies and pixie fairies, it’s quite easy to be enthralled by it.

In terms of cinematography, the dramatic vistas of the castle near the sea with waves splashing on the jagged rocks and scenes of mountain ranges, woodlands, caverns made great cinematic viewing while the costumes especially of the queen easily became part of the cast. Elaborate and elegant, it radiated strength and beauty and complemented Charlize’s Evil Queen character very well.

Honestly, I am a fan of this type of film. I like period pieces like The Last of the Mohicans and The House of Flying Daggers. The knowledge that they spent unheralded hours to make costumes and research locations on top of other elements like horses, armors, swords is what appealed me to this movie. And the script was not too bad. Yes, they had added a twist to it but I think it can happen, it can be rationalized.

Because more than the twist, I think this movie was meant to be experienced. Like going through a hall full of paintings, it was meant to visually stimulate you, to leave your mouth agape with its colors and landscapes, not quite made for too much cerebral thinking. It was meant for you feel discord, collision between two strengths, good and evil in a grand cinematic scale.

I tried reading some reviews of critics because I wanted to know if they liked it too. Some were lambasting the acting, the twist of the story and a local critic sadly wasn’t happy with the back stories of the characters, why the queen became evil and why the huntsman became a drunkard. Are you kidding me?! Maybe a string of pallid sequences will equate as his moment of joy, he seems no need for character motivation, unbelievable. Seriously, are they being paid to review or paid only to criticize?  Note to others, if you love to criticize, be a critic and get paid for it.

I’m writing this as a viewer and a fan of movies. And unlike some critics I like back stories. I want to know how one character became the way he or she is. And maybe many millions of fans do too because the box office results speak for itself. But one consolation on reading these stinging reviews was this, it made me realize that even though some people will be raining on your parade, many more will be cheering you on especially if you believe in what you do. Hmm.. let me see, that applies to any endeavor even writing.

To end, if there's anything I didn't like in the movie, it was when the dwarfs burst into song in a campfire, it was a little dragging for me. I’m not a fan of singing sequences, sorry. And I was a bit sad that the dwarfs had some angst too. But then I realize this isn’t one of the cutesy, chirpy fairy tales they used to make. So okay, let the dwarfs have their angst then so I can have my Snow White in armor, riding a horse and charging by the waves J