Cool stuff and big announcement today!
Don’t forget the next posting of Insecure Writer’s Support Group is Wednesday October 5. If you haven’t signed up to participate in this awesome monthly event, click on the tab below my blog header for details.
The very beautiful and talented Elizabeth Mueller is hosting a blogfest to celebrate the release of her first novel! “I'd love to christen Darkspell by brewing up an online "If I had all the magic in the world, I'd ..." spookfesta. On Halloween day, share with me what you'd do if you discovered that you had all the magic in the world at your fingertips.”
Oh, and did anyone see the comments on Blastr about Terra Nova? The good, the bad, and the funny! My favorite was:
“I’m watching Terra Nova on Tivo delay. Someone let me know if Fox cancels it before it ends.”
Now for the big announcement!
This is the brainchild of Matthew at the QQQE. I’m helping with this awesome blogfest.(Okay, I just made the button for it.)
Pay it Forward! October 14, 2011 The idea is to introduce all of us to everyone else. We want this to be easy - meet and follow as many other bloggers as you like. In your post, we would like you to please list, describe, and link to three blogs that you enjoy reading and know that others would enjoy as well. And what’s cool, is this can be part of your regular Friday blogging.
Visit those who’s signed up. Visit those they recommend! If you don’t have time to comment, just follow. Take the weekend to go through the list. You might find some really cool blogs out there, just like you did during the first post of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group or last April during the A to Z Challenge. (Or during any of my odd blogfests. Really, I am a writer and an author! Just a little movie obsessed…)
Now, who’s with us???
And did you watch Tucker & Dale vs. Evil Wednesday night? (It was fun and a really good movie. Very gory, so be prepared.) Seeing it this weekend? Seeing anything? Back of your eyelids perhaps…?
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
October Movie Preview!
It’s that time again!
Don’t forget, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil comes out this Friday, although those with Direct TV’s HDNet can see it tonight, Wednesday! (Rusty, don’t forget to set the DVR…)
Rather sparse for October, so threw in some DVD releases. As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.
4 –
DVD Release – Fast Five
One of the best movies this year!
7 –
Real Steel
Director: Shawn Levy
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly
The Plot: A future-set story where robot boxing is a popular sport and centered on a struggling promoter (Jackman) who thinks he's found a champion in a discarded robot. During his hopeful rise to the top, he also discovers he has an 11-year-old son who wants to know his father.
Sounds goofy. Every time I see the commercial, all I can think about are Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots…
The Ides of March
Director: George Clooney
Stars: Paul Giamatti, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ryan Gosling
The Plot: An idealistic staff member (Gosling) for presidential hopeful (Clooney) gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail.
Excellent cast.
14 –
The Thing
Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen
The Plot: At an Antarctica research site, the discovery of an alien craft leads to a confrontation between graduate student Kate Lloyd (Winstead) and scientist Dr. Sander Halvorson (Thomsen). While Dr. Halvorson keeps to his research, Kate partners with Sam Carter (Edgerton), a helicopter pilot, to pursue the alien life form.
This is a prequel to Carpenter’s master, The Thing, so we all know how it ends…
Footloose
Director: Craig Brewer
Stars: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid
The Plot: City kid Ren McCormack (Wormald) moves to a small town where rock 'n' roll and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace.
Absolutely no need for a remake. Not a chance I’ll give money to this film. It’s more than six degrees from Kevin Bacon!
DVD Release – Green Lantern
Hey, I enjoyed it! So sue me.
18 –
DVD Release – Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
It was fun. Better than the last two!
21 –
The Three Musketeers
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Stars: Logan Lerman, Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson
The Plot: D'Artagnan (Lerman) and his musketeer comrades Athos (Macfadyen), Porthos (Stevenson) and Aramis (Evans) thwart the plans of Royal Prime Minister Richelieu to usurp the King's power.
Could be fun. Could be average.
28 –
In Time
Stars: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde
The Plot: Set in a world where people stop aging at 25, but are genetically-engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Here, a young man (Timberlake) accused of murder goes on the run with a hostage (Seyfried), though their eventual connection becomes an important part of the way against the system.
This one sounds intriguing. Wonder if Olivia Wilde will be naked again?
The Rum Diary
Director: Bruce Robinson
Stars: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, Aaron Eckhart
The Plot: American journalist Paul Kemp (Depp) takes on a freelance job in Puerto Rico for a local newspaper during the 1950s and struggles to find a balance between island culture and the ex-patriots who live there.
Not sure why, but the preview amuses me.
Any strike your fancy?
Special announcement this Friday! Want to know what it is? Well, I’m not telling…
Don’t forget, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil comes out this Friday, although those with Direct TV’s HDNet can see it tonight, Wednesday! (Rusty, don’t forget to set the DVR…)
Rather sparse for October, so threw in some DVD releases. As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.
4 –
DVD Release – Fast Five
One of the best movies this year!
7 –
Real Steel
Director: Shawn Levy
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly
The Plot: A future-set story where robot boxing is a popular sport and centered on a struggling promoter (Jackman) who thinks he's found a champion in a discarded robot. During his hopeful rise to the top, he also discovers he has an 11-year-old son who wants to know his father.
Sounds goofy. Every time I see the commercial, all I can think about are Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots…
The Ides of March
Director: George Clooney
Stars: Paul Giamatti, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ryan Gosling
The Plot: An idealistic staff member (Gosling) for presidential hopeful (Clooney) gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail.
Excellent cast.
14 –
The Thing
Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen
The Plot: At an Antarctica research site, the discovery of an alien craft leads to a confrontation between graduate student Kate Lloyd (Winstead) and scientist Dr. Sander Halvorson (Thomsen). While Dr. Halvorson keeps to his research, Kate partners with Sam Carter (Edgerton), a helicopter pilot, to pursue the alien life form.
This is a prequel to Carpenter’s master, The Thing, so we all know how it ends…
Footloose
Director: Craig Brewer
Stars: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid
The Plot: City kid Ren McCormack (Wormald) moves to a small town where rock 'n' roll and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace.
Absolutely no need for a remake. Not a chance I’ll give money to this film. It’s more than six degrees from Kevin Bacon!
DVD Release – Green Lantern
Hey, I enjoyed it! So sue me.
18 –
DVD Release – Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
It was fun. Better than the last two!
21 –
The Three Musketeers
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Stars: Logan Lerman, Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson
The Plot: D'Artagnan (Lerman) and his musketeer comrades Athos (Macfadyen), Porthos (Stevenson) and Aramis (Evans) thwart the plans of Royal Prime Minister Richelieu to usurp the King's power.
Could be fun. Could be average.
28 –
In Time
Stars: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde
The Plot: Set in a world where people stop aging at 25, but are genetically-engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Here, a young man (Timberlake) accused of murder goes on the run with a hostage (Seyfried), though their eventual connection becomes an important part of the way against the system.
This one sounds intriguing. Wonder if Olivia Wilde will be naked again?
The Rum Diary
Director: Bruce Robinson
Stars: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, Aaron Eckhart
The Plot: American journalist Paul Kemp (Depp) takes on a freelance job in Puerto Rico for a local newspaper during the 1950s and struggles to find a balance between island culture and the ex-patriots who live there.
Not sure why, but the preview amuses me.
Any strike your fancy?
Special announcement this Friday! Want to know what it is? Well, I’m not telling…
Monday, September 26, 2011
Movie News and Reviews
DL Hammons at Cruising Altitude has a challenge today – six short excerpts/flash pieces based on a prompt from six different writers. Can you guess which writer wrote which piece based on their ‘voice?’ Let’s just say I already know one of the writers…
Elizabeth Mueller asked if I was some kind of Hollywood Ninja spy since I know so much about films. While I do harbor a lot of movie knowledge and see a ton of movies, there are a couple key sites I hit.
For information, release dates, and reviews, I visit Rotten Tomatoes and the IMDB.
For hot-off-the-press news, I visit JoBlo and Blastr.
Now you too can be a Movie Ninja!
Battlefield Earth was easily the number one Worst Movie Ever in last week’s blogfest. After so many awful films, I thought I’d offer you some good ones:
Drive
Great reviews prompted me to see this one. Ryan Gosling is a stuntman/mechanic by day and a getaway driver by night. A man of few words, he befriends a neighbor and her son. When her husband returns home from prison, Gosling offers to help rob a pawnshop to pay back protection money. Things go wrong, of course…
If you remember my review of Hanna, this movie is similar – an art house action flick. Very slow paced and stylish, with great camera work and lighting, and a unique soundtrack. Think Michael Mann’s Heat and Manhunter. If you like that style of film, I highly recommend Drive.
The Warrior’s Way
I had no idea what to expect from this film but was pleasantly surprised. It begins with a ninja warrior, toting a baby he spared, seeking refuge with a circus group in an isolated Western town. As you can tell by the setup, it’s quirky! The entire film was shot on green screen and looks quite amazing, including a giant Ferris wheel under construction. It was like a comic book come to life and featured some bloody and intense action. Geoffrey Rush is excellent in his small role as a drunken former gunslinger. This movie isn’t for everyone, but I found it quirky and fun.
And this Wednesday Tucker & Dale vs. Evil is the featured film on Direct TV’s HDNet Movies! Last I looked, it was still a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with over thirty reviews.
Seen any good movies lately? Don’t forget to check out Cruising Altitude. And hey – less than three months to Christmas!!
Elizabeth Mueller asked if I was some kind of Hollywood Ninja spy since I know so much about films. While I do harbor a lot of movie knowledge and see a ton of movies, there are a couple key sites I hit.
For information, release dates, and reviews, I visit Rotten Tomatoes and the IMDB.
For hot-off-the-press news, I visit JoBlo and Blastr.
Now you too can be a Movie Ninja!
Battlefield Earth was easily the number one Worst Movie Ever in last week’s blogfest. After so many awful films, I thought I’d offer you some good ones:
Drive
Great reviews prompted me to see this one. Ryan Gosling is a stuntman/mechanic by day and a getaway driver by night. A man of few words, he befriends a neighbor and her son. When her husband returns home from prison, Gosling offers to help rob a pawnshop to pay back protection money. Things go wrong, of course…
If you remember my review of Hanna, this movie is similar – an art house action flick. Very slow paced and stylish, with great camera work and lighting, and a unique soundtrack. Think Michael Mann’s Heat and Manhunter. If you like that style of film, I highly recommend Drive.
The Warrior’s Way
I had no idea what to expect from this film but was pleasantly surprised. It begins with a ninja warrior, toting a baby he spared, seeking refuge with a circus group in an isolated Western town. As you can tell by the setup, it’s quirky! The entire film was shot on green screen and looks quite amazing, including a giant Ferris wheel under construction. It was like a comic book come to life and featured some bloody and intense action. Geoffrey Rush is excellent in his small role as a drunken former gunslinger. This movie isn’t for everyone, but I found it quirky and fun.
And this Wednesday Tucker & Dale vs. Evil is the featured film on Direct TV’s HDNet Movies! Last I looked, it was still a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with over thirty reviews.
Seen any good movies lately? Don’t forget to check out Cruising Altitude. And hey – less than three months to Christmas!!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Celebrations, Winners, and What the Heck DID I Do This Past Summer?
Wow, what a week! So many awesome things to celebrate:
Blogger buddy M. Pax announced a release date for her book, Semper Audacia, at The Wicked Writers. Her short stories are awesome - can’t wait to read her novel.
RaShelle (who rocks) posted the Book Trailer for her upcoming book, Exiled.
Lydia Kang snagged an agent. Way to go, Lydia!
And my good buddy Rusty Webb decided that I needed a picture of me for my blog. (There really is a picture on my About Me page.) Rusty designed this:
Thanks, dude – now I look like a rock star!
Drinks for everybody!
Winners! We’ve got winners!
Jeremy (iZombie) was recently a guest and these lucky bloggers won:
Will Burke - a copy of Jeremy’s book, Chatterbox
Judy Harper - a zombie makeover
And the winners of The Arranger by L.J. Sellers are…
Amity at Dreams Are My Reality
Arlee at Tossing It Out/a>
Edit at Edi’s Book Lighthouse
Another round of drinks! (Being drunk is not a requirement to enjoying my blog, but I’m sure it won’t hurt.)
And finally – what the heck DID I do last summer?
This is my entry for Michael di Gesu’s What I Did On My Summer Vacation Blogfest:
I didn’t really take a vacation. There were a few fun weekends with my wife, but not a real ‘vacation.’ I did watch a lot of movies. Mowed the grass way too many times. (I really need to install Astroturf.) But what else happened?
Well, there were two really awesome things that happened!
My second book, CassaFire, was approved and a release date of February 28, 2012 was set. The cover art just blew me away and my publisher is working on a book trailer. Yeah, that was really cool.
The other big event was the successful launch of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. From casual comment to large support group – wow! The responses from our first posting were so amazing – so many were encouraged. I really had no idea it would be such a big hit. (And if you haven’t signed up, click HERE for a full description.)
That was my summer! What did you guys do? Did you enjoy the Worst Movies Ever blogfest? Any other news this week? One more round of drinks and then you won’t even remember you were here!
Blogger buddy M. Pax announced a release date for her book, Semper Audacia, at The Wicked Writers. Her short stories are awesome - can’t wait to read her novel.
RaShelle (who rocks) posted the Book Trailer for her upcoming book, Exiled.
Lydia Kang snagged an agent. Way to go, Lydia!
And my good buddy Rusty Webb decided that I needed a picture of me for my blog. (There really is a picture on my About Me page.) Rusty designed this:
Thanks, dude – now I look like a rock star!
Drinks for everybody!
Winners! We’ve got winners!
Jeremy (iZombie) was recently a guest and these lucky bloggers won:
Will Burke - a copy of Jeremy’s book, Chatterbox
Judy Harper - a zombie makeover
And the winners of The Arranger by L.J. Sellers are…
Amity at Dreams Are My Reality
Arlee at Tossing It Out/a>
Edit at Edi’s Book Lighthouse
Another round of drinks! (Being drunk is not a requirement to enjoying my blog, but I’m sure it won’t hurt.)
And finally – what the heck DID I do last summer?
This is my entry for Michael di Gesu’s What I Did On My Summer Vacation Blogfest:
I didn’t really take a vacation. There were a few fun weekends with my wife, but not a real ‘vacation.’ I did watch a lot of movies. Mowed the grass way too many times. (I really need to install Astroturf.) But what else happened?
Well, there were two really awesome things that happened!
My second book, CassaFire, was approved and a release date of February 28, 2012 was set. The cover art just blew me away and my publisher is working on a book trailer. Yeah, that was really cool.
The other big event was the successful launch of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. From casual comment to large support group – wow! The responses from our first posting were so amazing – so many were encouraged. I really had no idea it would be such a big hit. (And if you haven’t signed up, click HERE for a full description.)
That was my summer! What did you guys do? Did you enjoy the Worst Movies Ever blogfest? Any other news this week? One more round of drinks and then you won’t even remember you were here!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Rocking the 80's!
Cool guest and 80’s quiz for you today! And a few chuckles at my expense.
But first, a HUGE thank you to everyone who participated (or simply enjoyed) the Worst Movies Ever blogfest. Wow! I think that was the best one yet. I got such a kick out of reading everyone’s reasons for their worst movie selections. I managed to visit everyone’s post and then some. (Which is why I took a break Tuesday morning.) But I really, really appreciate everyone who got involved in the revelry of crappy movies. All of the links now lead straight to the blogfest post, so please continue to browse, especially the later entries.
Now, for your viewing pleasure… the 80’s Queen herself – Nicki Elson!
I’m just going to say it: Alex and I have nothing in common.
I write chick-lit romance; he writes sci-fi adventure.
He’s a techno-gadget wizard; I recently had to Google to figure out how to turn off my hand-me-down Nano.
I’m a frequent user of the emoticon. :) He doesn’t partake of them. :(
And music? Let’s just say we have differing tastes. Sir Alex won a totally rockin’ out cool One Hit Wonders of the 80s CD in a trivia contest at my blog during A to Z, and do you know what he said? Well, I don’t remember his exact words, but it was essentially “I’ll take a pass.” For real. He took a pass on the likes of Kajagoogoo and Dexy’s Midnight Runners. Can you imagine? (Yes, I did!)
But I so wanted to guest post at his place to show off my schnazzy new book cover (with nary a spaceship in sight) and let Alex’s Army know about Omnific Publishing’s awesome Back-to-School Sale throughout September―Three Daves and other school-related titles are only 99 cents in Kindle, Nook, and ePub! So I had to come up with something…anything…to ingratiate myself to the Ninja Master. Then it hit me…
…I’m a big fan of the 80s, as evidenced by the era in which Three Daves is set…
…he’s a big fan of heavy metal…
Metal was HUGE in the 80s! At least as huge as the hair of the musicians themselves!
And here we have it, the common ground. :)
Don’t be nervous, but right now we’re going to see how fit you are to be a member of Alex’s Army. How many of these 10 songs from the 80s can you match with the correct metal band? Give it a whirl and please let Alex know in the comments how you did (if you preferred 80s New Wave to Metal, you can let him know that too—loudly.)
Good luck!
Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for having me, Alex!
P.S. If you’re a book reviewer, A Tale of Many Reviews has opened up sign-ups for a Three Daves paper book tour.
Visit Nicki Elson at her website or blog.
All right guys – you’ve been challenged!
And if metal is not your thing, can you name any other 80’s band? Anyone? Anyone?
But first, a HUGE thank you to everyone who participated (or simply enjoyed) the Worst Movies Ever blogfest. Wow! I think that was the best one yet. I got such a kick out of reading everyone’s reasons for their worst movie selections. I managed to visit everyone’s post and then some. (Which is why I took a break Tuesday morning.) But I really, really appreciate everyone who got involved in the revelry of crappy movies. All of the links now lead straight to the blogfest post, so please continue to browse, especially the later entries.
Now, for your viewing pleasure… the 80’s Queen herself – Nicki Elson!
I’m just going to say it: Alex and I have nothing in common.
I write chick-lit romance; he writes sci-fi adventure.
He’s a techno-gadget wizard; I recently had to Google to figure out how to turn off my hand-me-down Nano.
I’m a frequent user of the emoticon. :) He doesn’t partake of them. :(
And music? Let’s just say we have differing tastes. Sir Alex won a totally rockin’ out cool One Hit Wonders of the 80s CD in a trivia contest at my blog during A to Z, and do you know what he said? Well, I don’t remember his exact words, but it was essentially “I’ll take a pass.” For real. He took a pass on the likes of Kajagoogoo and Dexy’s Midnight Runners. Can you imagine? (Yes, I did!)
But I so wanted to guest post at his place to show off my schnazzy new book cover (with nary a spaceship in sight) and let Alex’s Army know about Omnific Publishing’s awesome Back-to-School Sale throughout September―Three Daves and other school-related titles are only 99 cents in Kindle, Nook, and ePub! So I had to come up with something…anything…to ingratiate myself to the Ninja Master. Then it hit me…
…I’m a big fan of the 80s, as evidenced by the era in which Three Daves is set…
…he’s a big fan of heavy metal…
Metal was HUGE in the 80s! At least as huge as the hair of the musicians themselves!
And here we have it, the common ground. :)
Don’t be nervous, but right now we’re going to see how fit you are to be a member of Alex’s Army. How many of these 10 songs from the 80s can you match with the correct metal band? Give it a whirl and please let Alex know in the comments how you did (if you preferred 80s New Wave to Metal, you can let him know that too—loudly.)
Good luck!
Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for having me, Alex!
P.S. If you’re a book reviewer, A Tale of Many Reviews has opened up sign-ups for a Three Daves paper book tour.
Visit Nicki Elson at her website or blog.
All right guys – you’ve been challenged!
And if metal is not your thing, can you name any other 80’s band? Anyone? Anyone?
Monday, September 19, 2011
Worst Movies Ever Blogfest!
It’s time for the Worst Movies Ever Blogfest!
Today, post a list of up to ten of the worst movies you’ve ever had the misfortune to watch. Films that just oozed awfulness and featured plot holes so big you could drive a bus through them. Any genre or year, but only theater and straight to video/DVD titles. (We already know SyFy Channel movies suck!) Sign up, grab the button, and give us the worst! And be sure to visit others participating in the blogfest.
And now, some of the worst movies I’ve ever watched:
Manos: The Hands of Fate
It just goes to show that sometimes the worst films can make the best MST 3000 episodes. But on its own, this film is a dumpster fire. I can't even say that at least it's in focus, because it's not.
Catwoman
At one point Halle Berry plays with yarn and licks herself. It would have worked as porn, but not as a PG-13 rated super heroine movie.
The Wicker Man
Nicholas Cage in a bear costume. Need I say more?
The English Patient
Yup, I'm talking about the Oscar winning movie The English Patient. I despised every character in the movie. Cheating losers. C'mon movie, at least give me one likeable character! Yes, I'm prepared for flack on this one...
The Mist
Great first half followed by a train wreck of a finish. So, let me get this straight, all the people in the grocery store turn from their own moral values and try to sacrifice a boy in less than a day? Complete and utter crap, especially the very ending.
House of the Dead
Uwe Boll must be stopped. With films like In the Name of the King, Alone in the Dark, Bloodrayne, and this cinematic turd, Boll is single handedly destroying the movie industry. And I thought the SyFy Channel movie version of my book would be bad...
Highlander 2
"There can be only one" and this movie proves it. It's either an unfunny comedy or a dull and confusing action movie. Or, quite possibly, the best disaster movie ever.
The Happening
The only thing scarier than the trees and wind forcing people to commit suicide might be homicidal high humidity. (Thank you, Rifftrax.) As a matter of fact, watch this with Rifftrax to turn a terrible movie into a work of genius.
The Guardian
Killer druid nanny. Say that a couple times to yourself to truly capture the inane silliness of those three words. Killer druid nanny. Really?!! Considering that this is from William Friedkin, the masterful director of The Exorcist and Sorcerer, this movie is a major misfire. I almost walked out on this movie.
Battlefield: Earth
This movie fails on every level. The acting is terrible and the dialogue is cringe-worthy. If L. Ron Hubbard hadn't died fourteen years previous, this would have killed him.
Agree? Disagree? Think I’m insane for including an Oscar-winning movie on my list? What horrible film(s) would you choose?
Be sure to visit others participating in the blogfest!
Today, post a list of up to ten of the worst movies you’ve ever had the misfortune to watch. Films that just oozed awfulness and featured plot holes so big you could drive a bus through them. Any genre or year, but only theater and straight to video/DVD titles. (We already know SyFy Channel movies suck!) Sign up, grab the button, and give us the worst! And be sure to visit others participating in the blogfest.
And now, some of the worst movies I’ve ever watched:
Manos: The Hands of Fate
It just goes to show that sometimes the worst films can make the best MST 3000 episodes. But on its own, this film is a dumpster fire. I can't even say that at least it's in focus, because it's not.
Catwoman
At one point Halle Berry plays with yarn and licks herself. It would have worked as porn, but not as a PG-13 rated super heroine movie.
The Wicker Man
Nicholas Cage in a bear costume. Need I say more?
The English Patient
Yup, I'm talking about the Oscar winning movie The English Patient. I despised every character in the movie. Cheating losers. C'mon movie, at least give me one likeable character! Yes, I'm prepared for flack on this one...
The Mist
Great first half followed by a train wreck of a finish. So, let me get this straight, all the people in the grocery store turn from their own moral values and try to sacrifice a boy in less than a day? Complete and utter crap, especially the very ending.
House of the Dead
Uwe Boll must be stopped. With films like In the Name of the King, Alone in the Dark, Bloodrayne, and this cinematic turd, Boll is single handedly destroying the movie industry. And I thought the SyFy Channel movie version of my book would be bad...
Highlander 2
"There can be only one" and this movie proves it. It's either an unfunny comedy or a dull and confusing action movie. Or, quite possibly, the best disaster movie ever.
The Happening
The only thing scarier than the trees and wind forcing people to commit suicide might be homicidal high humidity. (Thank you, Rifftrax.) As a matter of fact, watch this with Rifftrax to turn a terrible movie into a work of genius.
The Guardian
Killer druid nanny. Say that a couple times to yourself to truly capture the inane silliness of those three words. Killer druid nanny. Really?!! Considering that this is from William Friedkin, the masterful director of The Exorcist and Sorcerer, this movie is a major misfire. I almost walked out on this movie.
Battlefield: Earth
This movie fails on every level. The acting is terrible and the dialogue is cringe-worthy. If L. Ron Hubbard hadn't died fourteen years previous, this would have killed him.
Agree? Disagree? Think I’m insane for including an Oscar-winning movie on my list? What horrible film(s) would you choose?
Be sure to visit others participating in the blogfest!
Friday, September 16, 2011
"Arranging" a Giveaway and Dark Future Humor
I have a guest today - and she’s offering a giveaway!
And, don’t forget – Monday is the Worst Movies Ever Blogfest! Click the link to sign up and join us in listing up to ten of the worst movies ever made. Remember, must be a theater or video release. SyFy movies don’t count – we already know they suck…
On to my guest, the awesome L.J. Sellers…
Finding Humor in a Dark Future
In my new novel, the future is bleak, my characters are flawed, and their quests are intensely personal. Writing this novel could have been depressing, but I set much of the story in an endurance contest called the Gauntlet, which provided some unusual and amusing research moments.
In one competition scene, the protagonist is required to crawl through tunnels. I wanted her experience to seem real, so I left my keyboard and got down on my hands and knees. I crawled around the family room for a few minutes, trying to decide how big the tunnel needed to be and what part of my body would start to hurt first. Of course, my husband walked in as I was crawling and mumbling and said, “When does the barking start?”
It was the first laugh “til your belly hurts” moment I’d had in a long time.
In another phase of the contest, Lara enters a locked-room scenario, in which she must use the items on hand to find a MacGyver-type solution to get out. I admit, I sought help from my husband, who designs and builds things for a living. We came up with a plausible three-step solution, then decided to test the parts of it that we could. Not wanting to give away this scene in the story, let’s just say we headed down to the garage with a box of matches and some potentially combustible material. (It’s Oregon, and it was raining, so we had to stay inside.)
As we struck the matches and cheered for a flame, we remembered catching our three boys doing something similar when they were young. We imagined our kids walking in on us while we attempted to start a fire in the garage, and saying “What the hell?” We laughed until the tears rolled.
It’s good to experience little moments like that when you write gritty thrillers. Otherwise, it’s too easy to get sucked into a dark mode and forget that people and characters can find joy and humor even under stressful circumstances. I also managed to sneak a light moment into the story near the end. And even though The Arranger is set in a bleak world thirteen years from now, the overall theme is an affirmation of the human desire to improve oneself and make a difference in the world around us.
Do you need humor in every novel? Or are some thrillers better without it?
L.J. Sellers is an award-winning journalist and the author of the bestselling Detective Jackson mystery/suspense series: The Sex Club, Secrets to Die For, Thrilled to Death, Passions of the Dead, and Dying for Justice. Her novels have been highly praised by Mystery Scene, Crimespree, and Spinetingler magazines, and the series is on Amazon Kindle’s bestselling police procedural list. L.J. also has three standalone thrillers: The Baby Thief, The Suicide Effect, and The Arranger. When not plotting murders, she enjoys performing standup comedy, cycling, social networking, and attending mystery conferences. She’s also been known to jump out of airplanes.
Leave a comment to win a copy of The Arranger! One physical book and two eBooks will be given to three random winners.
Questions for LJ? Ready for the blogfest? Seeing a movie this weekend? (Hopefully it doesn’t end up on your list.) And does anyone want to hear me play guitar? Just kidding – I don’t torture my blogger buddies!
And, don’t forget – Monday is the Worst Movies Ever Blogfest! Click the link to sign up and join us in listing up to ten of the worst movies ever made. Remember, must be a theater or video release. SyFy movies don’t count – we already know they suck…
On to my guest, the awesome L.J. Sellers…
Finding Humor in a Dark Future
In my new novel, the future is bleak, my characters are flawed, and their quests are intensely personal. Writing this novel could have been depressing, but I set much of the story in an endurance contest called the Gauntlet, which provided some unusual and amusing research moments.
In one competition scene, the protagonist is required to crawl through tunnels. I wanted her experience to seem real, so I left my keyboard and got down on my hands and knees. I crawled around the family room for a few minutes, trying to decide how big the tunnel needed to be and what part of my body would start to hurt first. Of course, my husband walked in as I was crawling and mumbling and said, “When does the barking start?”
It was the first laugh “til your belly hurts” moment I’d had in a long time.
In another phase of the contest, Lara enters a locked-room scenario, in which she must use the items on hand to find a MacGyver-type solution to get out. I admit, I sought help from my husband, who designs and builds things for a living. We came up with a plausible three-step solution, then decided to test the parts of it that we could. Not wanting to give away this scene in the story, let’s just say we headed down to the garage with a box of matches and some potentially combustible material. (It’s Oregon, and it was raining, so we had to stay inside.)
As we struck the matches and cheered for a flame, we remembered catching our three boys doing something similar when they were young. We imagined our kids walking in on us while we attempted to start a fire in the garage, and saying “What the hell?” We laughed until the tears rolled.
It’s good to experience little moments like that when you write gritty thrillers. Otherwise, it’s too easy to get sucked into a dark mode and forget that people and characters can find joy and humor even under stressful circumstances. I also managed to sneak a light moment into the story near the end. And even though The Arranger is set in a bleak world thirteen years from now, the overall theme is an affirmation of the human desire to improve oneself and make a difference in the world around us.
Do you need humor in every novel? Or are some thrillers better without it?
L.J. Sellers is an award-winning journalist and the author of the bestselling Detective Jackson mystery/suspense series: The Sex Club, Secrets to Die For, Thrilled to Death, Passions of the Dead, and Dying for Justice. Her novels have been highly praised by Mystery Scene, Crimespree, and Spinetingler magazines, and the series is on Amazon Kindle’s bestselling police procedural list. L.J. also has three standalone thrillers: The Baby Thief, The Suicide Effect, and The Arranger. When not plotting murders, she enjoys performing standup comedy, cycling, social networking, and attending mystery conferences. She’s also been known to jump out of airplanes.
Leave a comment to win a copy of The Arranger! One physical book and two eBooks will be given to three random winners.
Questions for LJ? Ready for the blogfest? Seeing a movie this weekend? (Hopefully it doesn’t end up on your list.) And does anyone want to hear me play guitar? Just kidding – I don’t torture my blogger buddies!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
If I Could Be Anyone...
Today we are celebrating Talli Roland’s new release, Watching Willow Watts!
Talli is a super awesome blogger buddy and the cutest Canadian English girl you will ever meet.
Watching Willow Watts is available as an eBook at Amazon and at Amazon UK - paperback coming in November.
She asked if we’d help her celebrate by answering the question, “If I could be anyone, I would be…”
I’d be John Petrucci, guitarist for Dream Theater!
I play guitar, but next to this man, I suck.
Petrucci has created his own unique style, coupled with technical expertise.
In my opinion, he’s one of the most talented musicians in rock history.
I’ve seen Petrucci play live, and it was both inspiring and depressing. (Yes, I really do suck as a guitarist!)
I’d love to know what it’s like to play with such effortless precision and musicality.
I have good days and bad days on my guitar, but even on perfect days, I can’t hold a candle to this man’s musical genius!
And...
Dream Theater’s new album, A Dramatic Turn of Events, came out Tuesday.
Time to crank the music to eleven!
Now, if you could be anyone, who would you want to be? Anyone else want to be a rock star? We’ll form a band! We’ll suck, but it will be fun…
Photo credits of Petrucci - #1 #2
Talli is a super awesome blogger buddy and the cutest Canadian English girl you will ever meet.
Watching Willow Watts is available as an eBook at Amazon and at Amazon UK - paperback coming in November.
She asked if we’d help her celebrate by answering the question, “If I could be anyone, I would be…”
I’d be John Petrucci, guitarist for Dream Theater!
I play guitar, but next to this man, I suck.
Petrucci has created his own unique style, coupled with technical expertise.
In my opinion, he’s one of the most talented musicians in rock history.
I’ve seen Petrucci play live, and it was both inspiring and depressing. (Yes, I really do suck as a guitarist!)
I’d love to know what it’s like to play with such effortless precision and musicality.
I have good days and bad days on my guitar, but even on perfect days, I can’t hold a candle to this man’s musical genius!
And...
Dream Theater’s new album, A Dramatic Turn of Events, came out Tuesday.
Time to crank the music to eleven!
Now, if you could be anyone, who would you want to be? Anyone else want to be a rock star? We’ll form a band! We’ll suck, but it will be fun…
Photo credits of Petrucci - #1 #2
Monday, September 12, 2011
You Rock! And News...
Today I am visiting the awesome and beautiful Elizabeth Mueller, talking about brainstorming the second book. So, if anyone else out there has written one story and now you’re beginning to panic about a sequel or follow-up, head on over. Hopefully I don’t mess you up even worse.
But wait – there’s more!
Big thanks again to those who left such awesome comments for those participating in the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. I appreciate everyone’s efforts. You guys rock!
And I got some news on the book trailer my publisher is creating for CassaFire – and I’m so stoked! Another animated piece, but - no words to read this time. You get to hear Byron speak! Damn, I can’t wait…
And, in one week, it’s the Worst Movies Ever Blogfest! Spread the word. If the insecurity of last Wednesday didn’t take down the internet, then we need to try again with an onslaught of crappy movies. Sign up below!
Any other questions about the Insecure Writer’s Support Group? Did you makes some new friends? What about the blogfest? Have you signed up? Why not?! Can’t tell me there aren’t a slew of bad movies out there…
Crap, I can’t wait to see my book trailer…
All right, go see Elizabeth now and tell her she’s one beautiful lady!
But wait – there’s more!
Big thanks again to those who left such awesome comments for those participating in the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. I appreciate everyone’s efforts. You guys rock!
And I got some news on the book trailer my publisher is creating for CassaFire – and I’m so stoked! Another animated piece, but - no words to read this time. You get to hear Byron speak! Damn, I can’t wait…
And, in one week, it’s the Worst Movies Ever Blogfest! Spread the word. If the insecurity of last Wednesday didn’t take down the internet, then we need to try again with an onslaught of crappy movies. Sign up below!
Any other questions about the Insecure Writer’s Support Group? Did you makes some new friends? What about the blogfest? Have you signed up? Why not?! Can’t tell me there aren’t a slew of bad movies out there…
Crap, I can’t wait to see my book trailer…
All right, go see Elizabeth now and tell her she’s one beautiful lady!
Friday, September 9, 2011
The Big Burrito Wrap!
Thanks to everyone who participated in the first post of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! I hope I visited everyone’s site. So many poured out their heart, and the encouraging comments were awesome. Really, it was beyond what I imagined. I may have started something here! But it’s you guys who made it special. One post that caught my attention was from Youngblood, and I hope you have a chance to drop by and offer a word of encouragement. Next post date – October 5!
I have the honor of a very short and funny interview over at Lydia’s site - The World is my Oyster - today!
I was also awarded the 7x7 Link award by Karen, Nancy, and one other person whom I can’t remember! (I’m sorry.)
I’m to list previous posts of mine that are the…
Most Beautiful: I don’t know about beautiful, but my recent post on Making Connections was cool.
Most Helpful: Me, helpful? Right….
Most Popular: At 174 comments, I’d have to say the announcement that My Second Book is Go! is the most popular.
Most Controversial: I don’t do controversy, but a guest post from p.m. terrell - We Want You To Make A Few Changes stirred up some conversation.
Most Surprisingly Successful: That would be my post this week for the Insecure Witer’s Support Group! I’m still stunned…
Most Underrated: The post was about an award I’d received, but those I passed on the Friends for the Journey award are really awesome people.
Most Prideworthy: I don’t think I have one that classifies as prideworthy…
I’m passing it on to Jeffrey Beesler, Michael Di Gesu, and Rusty Webb, because I really want to se what you guys come up with!
The wonderful Yvonne Lewis tagged me – ten things about myself. In the interest of time, I’m movie-loving, guitar-playing, author, blogger, D&D geek, headbanging, Kate-obsessed, Captain Ninja Alex! God, I hope that was ten…
Don’t forget my interview at The World is my Oyster
And sometime this week I went over nine hundred followers. Whoa!
Now, what did you guys think of the first day post for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group?
I have the honor of a very short and funny interview over at Lydia’s site - The World is my Oyster - today!
I was also awarded the 7x7 Link award by Karen, Nancy, and one other person whom I can’t remember! (I’m sorry.)
I’m to list previous posts of mine that are the…
Most Beautiful: I don’t know about beautiful, but my recent post on Making Connections was cool.
Most Helpful: Me, helpful? Right….
Most Popular: At 174 comments, I’d have to say the announcement that My Second Book is Go! is the most popular.
Most Controversial: I don’t do controversy, but a guest post from p.m. terrell - We Want You To Make A Few Changes stirred up some conversation.
Most Surprisingly Successful: That would be my post this week for the Insecure Witer’s Support Group! I’m still stunned…
Most Underrated: The post was about an award I’d received, but those I passed on the Friends for the Journey award are really awesome people.
Most Prideworthy: I don’t think I have one that classifies as prideworthy…
I’m passing it on to Jeffrey Beesler, Michael Di Gesu, and Rusty Webb, because I really want to se what you guys come up with!
The wonderful Yvonne Lewis tagged me – ten things about myself. In the interest of time, I’m movie-loving, guitar-playing, author, blogger, D&D geek, headbanging, Kate-obsessed, Captain Ninja Alex! God, I hope that was ten…
Don’t forget my interview at The World is my Oyster
And sometime this week I went over nine hundred followers. Whoa!
Now, what did you guys think of the first day post for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group?
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Insecure Writer's Support Group Post & Tips
I am posting one day early for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group because there were questions. And I have answers.
- You don’t have to visit everyone (that’s my job) just connect with a dozen or so participants.
- Feel free to copy the button, link, and/or linky code. If you want to post the list of participants just on the first Wednesday, that’s cool.
- What do you write about? Post about your concerns, fears, and struggles and/or recent breakthroughs or words of encouragement for others
This is my first Insecure Writer’s Support Group post:
My biggest fear is friends - losing them. I worry I might say or do something dumb. I worry my snark might be taken the wrong way or my inexperience will cause hard feelings. After losing a friend earlier this year (even though it was over something of which I had no control) I don’t want to see any other friendships dissolve. You all matter to me and I don’t want to offend anyone.
Fortunately, friends are my greatest supporters. If you’re a writer looking for friends and encouragement, you’ve come to the right place. On days you’re feeling down, someone will say a word that renews your energy. My blogger buddies have kept me going long after I wanted to quit. They mean the world to me. And if you’re connecting with other bloggers, you’ll discover they are an awesome bunch of people!
And this is a little surprise, because I didn’t tell these guys. But my publisher is currently preparing review copies of CassaFire, and this will be the dedication:
Now, what’s your word of encouragement or writer insecurity today?
(And Jessica Bell is sorry, but she does not have a post for this week and asked if you’d just skip her name on the list for now.)
- You don’t have to visit everyone (that’s my job) just connect with a dozen or so participants.
- Feel free to copy the button, link, and/or linky code. If you want to post the list of participants just on the first Wednesday, that’s cool.
- What do you write about? Post about your concerns, fears, and struggles and/or recent breakthroughs or words of encouragement for others
This is my first Insecure Writer’s Support Group post:
My biggest fear is friends - losing them. I worry I might say or do something dumb. I worry my snark might be taken the wrong way or my inexperience will cause hard feelings. After losing a friend earlier this year (even though it was over something of which I had no control) I don’t want to see any other friendships dissolve. You all matter to me and I don’t want to offend anyone.
Fortunately, friends are my greatest supporters. If you’re a writer looking for friends and encouragement, you’ve come to the right place. On days you’re feeling down, someone will say a word that renews your energy. My blogger buddies have kept me going long after I wanted to quit. They mean the world to me. And if you’re connecting with other bloggers, you’ll discover they are an awesome bunch of people!
And this is a little surprise, because I didn’t tell these guys. But my publisher is currently preparing review copies of CassaFire, and this will be the dedication:
For my three awesome friends
who guided me on this journey -
Rusty Webb
Jeffrey Beesler
Anne Gallagher
I couldn’t have done it without you!
Now, what’s your word of encouragement or writer insecurity today?
(And Jessica Bell is sorry, but she does not have a post for this week and asked if you’d just skip her name on the list for now.)
Friday, September 2, 2011
Have You Hugged Your Zombie Today?
Quick reminder that next Wednesday is the first posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Time to act neurotic and send the blogging world into a tailspin.
And next month is the Rule of Three Blog Challenge, hosted by Lisa, Damyanti, and Stuart. My book is one of the prizes!
Today I have a really awesome buddy visiting. Please welcome Jeremy – better known as iZombie! He’s a super talented artist and author. Jeremy is going to tell you a little about himself and the inspiration for his awesome new book, Chatterbox.
But wait – there’s more! He’s got TWO giveaways for the awesome Ninja Army:
One lucky commenter gets a free copy of Chatterbox.
And one lucky person who leaves “Pick me!” in his comment get a free zombie makeover, retro style.
Winners announced next Friday.
Take it away, Jeremy...
Smile, Cringe and Down To A Frown...
By: Jeremy Hawkins [iZombie]
Can a zombie be sweet, loving and or have a huge heart this all depends on your point of view... I guess. Well you might know who I am or at least who I think I want to be, but I find myself wanting to tell you the origin of my ebook “Chatterbox” first. Fifteen years ago I was on a trip and was forced to looking at some old civil war homes that had been turned into a tour. Home after home I walked barking under my breath how really dull this was, not because I was bored I really didn’t want to be there. As we entered our forth or fifth house I cannot remember, I was a typical guy thinking about something to eat as I found a glass shelf with little trinkets and doo-dads [yes I said doo-dads].
Finding a tiny metal box that is all Victorian with reds, purples and flowery things I came across the top in script letters reading chatterbox. Why was it here, why did I see it when I did and could I steal it because it was awesome? I began to wander in my head on each item in these homes the stories they could tell, I asked myself if I could tell their stories. I made some mental notes and started seeing the world in a way that lead me to the story telling person I have become today, taking life and telling it with a twist. I was never meant to be normal in anything I should do from the art I create to the words I see, so once again can a zombie be sweet, loving and have a huge heart? You can decide?
Now if you want I can tell you the story how I upset a spirit in the last house and it followed me back home, wait that will be for another day. So turn that frown upside down and rejoice in the life we have, ask yourself how close is your life to the life you wanted? Is it close? Did I steal the chatterbox?
A Few Thoughts To Live By:
Life is always having a Plan B.
Life is a deadline; we try to get done before... we die.
Clown chickens lay Easter Eggs.
See art in everything.
Here’s a sample page from his book:
Questions for Jeremy? Questions about the Insecure Writer’s Support Group? Are you having a BBQ this weekend and can I join you?
And next month is the Rule of Three Blog Challenge, hosted by Lisa, Damyanti, and Stuart. My book is one of the prizes!
Today I have a really awesome buddy visiting. Please welcome Jeremy – better known as iZombie! He’s a super talented artist and author. Jeremy is going to tell you a little about himself and the inspiration for his awesome new book, Chatterbox.
But wait – there’s more! He’s got TWO giveaways for the awesome Ninja Army:
One lucky commenter gets a free copy of Chatterbox.
And one lucky person who leaves “Pick me!” in his comment get a free zombie makeover, retro style.
Winners announced next Friday.
Take it away, Jeremy...
Smile, Cringe and Down To A Frown...
By: Jeremy Hawkins [iZombie]
Can a zombie be sweet, loving and or have a huge heart this all depends on your point of view... I guess. Well you might know who I am or at least who I think I want to be, but I find myself wanting to tell you the origin of my ebook “Chatterbox” first. Fifteen years ago I was on a trip and was forced to looking at some old civil war homes that had been turned into a tour. Home after home I walked barking under my breath how really dull this was, not because I was bored I really didn’t want to be there. As we entered our forth or fifth house I cannot remember, I was a typical guy thinking about something to eat as I found a glass shelf with little trinkets and doo-dads [yes I said doo-dads].
Finding a tiny metal box that is all Victorian with reds, purples and flowery things I came across the top in script letters reading chatterbox. Why was it here, why did I see it when I did and could I steal it because it was awesome? I began to wander in my head on each item in these homes the stories they could tell, I asked myself if I could tell their stories. I made some mental notes and started seeing the world in a way that lead me to the story telling person I have become today, taking life and telling it with a twist. I was never meant to be normal in anything I should do from the art I create to the words I see, so once again can a zombie be sweet, loving and have a huge heart? You can decide?
Now if you want I can tell you the story how I upset a spirit in the last house and it followed me back home, wait that will be for another day. So turn that frown upside down and rejoice in the life we have, ask yourself how close is your life to the life you wanted? Is it close? Did I steal the chatterbox?
A Few Thoughts To Live By:
Life is always having a Plan B.
Life is a deadline; we try to get done before... we die.
Clown chickens lay Easter Eggs.
See art in everything.
Here’s a sample page from his book:
Questions for Jeremy? Questions about the Insecure Writer’s Support Group? Are you having a BBQ this weekend and can I join you?
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