Monday, May 19, 2014

Godzilla Movie Review, How I Found the Write Path, IWSG Milestone, and Ninja News!

Godzilla Movie Review

Caught one of the first 3D showings on Friday, which was great as I was surrounded with die-hard Godzilla geeks.

Did they get Godzilla right? Yes! This is the Godzilla of old, complete with his signature roar and atomic breath. He’s bigger and heavier, but that means he just packs a more powerful punch.

The movie is not perfect. It doesn’t click on all cylinders. I think the main reason is the writers and director weren’t on the same page. The writers went for story and spectacle and the director tried to bring out the human element. He’s a new director, so Edwards probably didn’t have much sway, and the pacing is sometimes a little uneven. (The first big monster fight we don’t really see, as they cut away to the main character’s family.)

The tone of the film Edwards nailed though. This isn’t your campy Godzilla – this goes back to the original movie. It’s serious and scary. Humans are really helpless against these beasts.

The special effects are incredible, from Godzilla swimming in the ocean to the monsters fighting in the city. The dark, gritty feel adds to the realism. And when that atomic breath fires up, be prepared!

The actors do a fine job in their roles. Cranston is probably the best, while Taylor-Johnson holds his own as the young hero.

And ultimately, the big battles at the end will leave you cheering.

Recommended!


Ninja News

Big thanks for Blog Blitz last week! I certainly didn’t expect it. Yes, it did wipe out my previous comment record by about forty comments - there were over three hundred and less than twenty were mine. Big thanks to DL Hammons for starting the Blitz Team.
And don’t forget Write Club is open for submissions until the end of the month! Visit the Write Club page at DL’s site for details.


Sarah Ahiers signed a book deal for All That Remains!

Birgit is a talented card maker and she made one just for me!!

Cherie Reich’s Reborn is now available!

The ABC’s of Sandwiches by Holly Sinclair is available now!
52 sandwich recipes following ABC order. Included are classics (like French Dips), favorites (like Beer-battered Fish Sandwiches), and my own creations (like Veggie Supreme Sandwiches).

Lynn Rush’s Absolute Zero comes out this week and she’s holding a party! Check her site for details.

Jeff Chapman’s Last Request: A Victorian Gothic is out now – buy it at Amazon.

Insecure Writer’s Support Group Milestone!

The IWSG Facebook hit a milestone last week – one thousand members!! Big thanks to the IWSG admins who run the Facebook group – you ladies rock. (I’m not on Facebook. Probably why it’s growing so fast!)

Just a reminder about the IWSG Facebook Guidelines:

1. Since the focus of IWSG is support, the Facebook page should reflect this ideal.

2. You are encouraged to support your fellow IWSG'ers who share their writerly-related experiences, which include accomplishments/disappointments/challenges, with the rest of the group. Keep in mind that writers are at different points of their respective writerly journeys. Some lurk for a long time, before finding the courage to share with the rest of the group. Since the IWSG is all about community, a word of encouragement or advice may be just what somebody needs. Or even just a smiley face/thumbs up...

3. News & Promotional Saturday is your opportunity to add a link. The IWSG administrators reserve the right to remove promotional links, especially if they are posted haphazardly.

How I Found the Write Path

Carrie Butler is putting together a free eBook for writers. To contribute, we were asked to write a letter to our younger selves. Here is my letter, short and simple:

Prepare For Changes!

Right now, you’re writing. It’s comfortable and fun. But once you’re on the path to publication, prepare for everything to change! This journey is going to rock your world.

You are going to meet so many amazing people along the way. Writers, readers and bloggers. Learn from them. Become a sponge and soak it up. You don’t want to go into this blind – learn from their mistakes and their successes.

Be a giver. That’s probably the most important thing. You may not think you have anything to give as a new author, as a social media newbie. But you do. You can support. You can uplift others. You can take what you’ve learned and the blog you established and let it be a blessing to others.

Don’t underestimate the support you’ll receive, either. The writing community is the most generous on earth. They want to celebrate with you. Your success isn’t a threat – it’s a beacon of hope. Let others help you with promotions, as their reach is far greater and packs a bigger punch.

Understand the reach of your work. Don’t narrow its appeal. Think bigger. Think beyond those people you believed you were writing for. What you wrote will have a far greater impact than you can imagine.

Last piece of advice – don’t stop writing. There’s more than one book in you. Your readers will demand more! And with each one, you’ll get better. It won’t be easier, but each time you’ll dig deeper and try harder.

Prepare for these changes and enjoy the ride!

Anyone else see Godzilla this weekend? Excited about the new releases? Participating in Write Club? Part of the Facebook IWSG? And what you tell your younger self if you could write a letter?

Come back next Monday for my X-Men review and the annual You Rock Awards!

213 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 213 of 213
Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

EJ, doesn't it?

Stephanie, years of Ninja training. And thanks!

Thanks, Eva!

Damy, that was a lot of comments even for me!

Mary, thank you.

Susan, you said it!

Sean McLachlan said...

The original Godzilla was pretty grim, especially when you understand the atomic bomb subtext.
Reich has a great cover designer. I might have to hire her/him sometime if my brother-in-law gets tired of designing mine!

Shannon Lawrence said...

Great advice! Also, yours is the first review of Godzilla I've read that has said more than "this rocks" or "too focused on the humans, so boring." Basically. Good review, thanks! Hubster and I will be going for a date at some point to see it.

Melissa Ann said...

I really want to find the time to go see Godzilla despite the mixed reviews I have seen about it. It looks like being work seeing in the theatre.

Barbara In Caneyhead said...

Thanks for the Godzilla review! It's playing in our local theatre now and the daughter is wanting me to take her.

Deniz Bevan said...

The writers went for spectacle and the director for the human element? Interesting! I'd have expected it to be the other way around. But I guess I'm stereotyping.

Great letter! That sounds like an intriguing anthology.

Beate said...

You're the second person recommending Godzilla now...I think I'll have to go watch it :)
That card that you got is awesome!
The letter you wrote to your younger self is amazing, because it let's us peek into the amazing journey you've been on through writing! When I started blogging I had no idea there is such a wonderful community out there and now I feel immensely blessed to have met so many wonderful, inspiring people :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sean, it was indeed grim.

Shannon, thank you.

Deniz, if you'd seen Edwards' first movie, Monsters, then you would understand that he's all about the human element.

Anonymous said...

Jeff's Last Request is a good one. I've heard only positive things about the new Godzilla -- look forward to renting it.

Danette said...

Godzilla was surprisingly was good. I am not a monster movie lover but it wasn't campy or cheesy. I am asking everyone though (and haven't gotten an answer): how did Godzilla get so chunky when he didn't eat? Cheers!

Rachel Schieffelbein said...

I've heard good things about the Godzilla movie. :)
Lots of good news this week! So great to see all these awesome releases coming out. :)

DMS said...

Glad to hear Godzilla was worth the watch. I was curious about it in 3D- but didn't want to spend the extra money if it wasn't good. :)

Amazing about the Blitz comments! WOW!
~Jess

Nicole said...

Catching up on all the Write Path posts. Love your advice about being a giver and thinking beyond who you *thought* you were writing for. I've seen so many amazing examples of both those ideas in action among the writing community. The second one is tricky to get perspective on, but so important.

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