Prelude to Dune

Prelude to Dune is a trilogy of Dune: House Atreides, Dune: House Harkonnen, and Dune: House Corrino. The Prelude to Dune trilogy took place around 30 or 40 SY before the events on Dune. This gave us a background on the main characters of the first three Classic Dune novels. This also gave the not-so-Dune-reading community the chance to have... say... motivation to read through all six novels of the Dune Chronicles. And it did.

And what's a Dune novel without Duncan Idaho. Yep, he's here and the original, not the ghola. This is also when the no-field was invented, and used by the Harkonnens. This first no field would be seen (or read) again on Heretics of Dune; including the skeletons of its original makers. This is also when the first atempts of the Bene Tlielax to synthetically produce Spice took place. They succeeded only after 5000 SY; again, Heretics of Dune.

I found a different apeal in the writing styles of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. Their writings tend to be more interesting; more infomation or detail -diven but not that boring. Maybe because they were working on notes left by Brian Herbert. Maybe.

If you've read the original six novels, you'll want to read the Preludes so you can go, "So that's what happened." or, "So that's where it started." or just plainly say, "Oh, I see."

Dune Chronicles

Dune, as far as I'm concerned, is the best Science Fiction series; Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Eperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, and Chapterhouse: Dune.

I have just finished reading the original first six novels written by Frank Herbert, and it took me a while. It wasn't very easy getting the copies until recently. The events in all six novels happened in a span of at least 5000 SY (Standard Years). The first three books was (I think) a trilogy. The story kind of melowed down by the fourth book. Events of the fourth book happened well after 3500 SY; a very long time. The events of the fifth one happened after another 1500 SY. Again, a very long time. Not to mention there were events in between like the Famine Times and the Scattering.

The end of the sixth book left me hanging and wanting to know more what happened next. Frank Herbert died before finishing the series.

In my opinion, I think Duncan Idaho is the main man in the Classic Dune novels. I mean, he's been around all the six novels. Yes, he's in all six of them and nope, he didn't live for at least 5000 SY. Heck, he died in the first novel. This is because of the Bene Tleilax technology of producing gholas. If you're a Dune fan, you know what I mean. For the sake of the non-Dune readers, yet, a ghola is a being that is grown form the cells of a cadaver. Much like a clone only from the dead. And Duncan Idaho have been made a ghola countless times. A thousand lives.

Good thing Frank Herbert's son, Brian Herbert, and co-writer Kevin J Anderson, wrote The Prelude to Dune Trilogy, Legends of Dune Trilogy, and, with the help of Frak Herbert's now found notes, the end of the Dune Saga; Hunters of Dune, Sandworms of Dune, and Paul of Dune. I'm not sure about Paul of Dune but it is written in the Hunters novel that it is forthcoming. So far, I only have read the Prelude to Dune Trilogy and Currently reading Hunters and so far, it has been a very nice read.

Cloverfield

The first time I saw Cloverfield's theatrical theater, I said to myslef, 'This looks interesting.' I mean it didn't have a title back then. All it said was it was a Bad Robot Production and its release date 1.8.2008. With just that information, searching the net reallly won't be much of any help.

One day, I was watching on YouTube. Then I saw it, the release date 1.08.2008, watched the video and that was it. Some of the videos had tentative titles on them. One of them being Cloverfield.

Cloverfield.

The day came and I went to see Cloverfield.

Giving a handycam feel to a monster movie. Sugoi. Cloverfield is like a cross between Blaire Witch and Godzilla, but the monster is nothing like Godzilla. Maybe they're the same size. Though the handycam feel is quite dizzying, it does give you a sense of realism and adds to the excitement.

Tell me about it. There were times when I plainly said, 'Hurry up and point the camera at it! I want to see.' If it were shot like an ordinary movie, it wouldn't be as awesome. But of course, it's not without its downside. Being that it's just shot through 'handycam', it doesnt' really have a clear cut start or end. I sat there thinking where the monster came from. What the hell happened next? There were questions everywhere. But alas, that's all the movie had to offer.

Funny. After the movie, a lady seated at the back of the theater sait, 'Yun lang? Ni hindi nga natin alam kung 'san galing yung impakto na 'yun. (That's it? We didn't even know where that monster come from.)' I second that remark.

D-War a.k.a. Dragon Wars

When I was done with my business at Bacolod (This was 7 Feb 2008), I decided to get some R&R. Since I was at Robinsons Place, I thought I'd see a movie in one of its theaters. I had a choice between Dragon Wars and Alien Vs. Predator 2. I went for Dragon Wars.

I paid the Php 80 for the ticket and went in. The movie has just ended when I got into the theater. Goodie! I get to see the movie trailers. I noticed that the theater was fairly big. Even if you were seated up front at the lower part of the theater, you won't have a stiff neck or get motion sickness. I thought the 80-peso ticket was well worth it... as far as the theater was concerned. But they could do something about the smell. It's not very good. The restrooms are very nice, too.

Now, why am I not talking about the movie yet? It's because it sucked! It was absolute trash. I was better off watching Alien Vs. Predator 2. Heck, I was better off watching an episode of Dora ten times over. Every event in the movie was so conviniently... done. Simply put, it was bad story telling. But I have to give credit to the effects. Not bad.

My recommendation: Don't see this movie you have a brain and have the ability to comprehend.

If you don't, be my guest and see it.

It was better off shown on an unknown channel some desolate location.