Thursday, April 23, 2015

A to Z Challenge – T – Cult Classics: This is Spinal Tap, Tremors, Triumph, The Time Machine, and More! Plus Divinity: Original Sin Review and Judges Needed

A to Z Challenge – Cult Classics – T
Movies-Music-Sci-fi Book-Bloggers-Dragon Term





Movies –

Tremors
This 1990 film harkens back to the classic monster movie. Starring Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, and Reba McEntire, it spawned three sequels and a series, and became a huge hit on video.

This is Spinal Tap
Directed by Rob Reiner, this rock mockumentary debuted in 1984. Selected for preservation by the USA National Film Registry, it became a huge hit, and many musicians said it hit close to home. The IMDB ranking for this movie was adjusted to eleven in honor of the film.

Time Bandits
This quirky 1981 British film featured an all-star cast, including Sean Connery and John Cleese. Directed by Terry Gilliam, it was the first of the director’s Trilogy of Imagination.


Music –

Triumph – Allied Forces
The fifth album from the Canadian trio, it was their first mainstream success. It featured the hits Magic Power and Fight the Good Fight.


Science Fiction Book –

The Time Machine – H. G. Wells
Published in 1895, Wells established the idea of a time machine. It’s inspired numerous movies, radio programs, comics and more. It’s likely inspired more works than any other story.



Bloggers –

Tara Tyler
Want to learn some fun stuff about marketing, organizing, kids, and everything in between? Need some tips, advice, or just a friendly smile? Then you need to follow the delightful author Tara!

TB Markinson at Making My Mark
Enjoy a variety of genres? Want some tips from authors who have gone before you? Then visit English lass TB today!

Teresa Powell Coltrin at Journaling Woman
Enjoy spiritual reflections on Sunday? Want to follow the adventures of Millie the dog? Get some writing tips? The you need to check out the wonderful Teresa!

Tonja Drecker at Kidbits
Want to learn more about the author journey? Learn about life on a farm? Meet someone who is uber-supportive? Then visit the joyful Tonja today!

Dragon of the Stars Term –

Tarquin
One of the oldest battleships in the Hyrathian fleet, the Tarquin saw the Dragon in action. Her age does not help her when the other races declare war against the Hyrathians though.

Dragon of the Stars is out now!
Check out the site What Are the Kargrandes? for clues as to how they tie into the story.

Calling Speculative Fiction Authors!

Last fall I got to judge a short story contest for high school students and it was a blast. (Bold New Worlds is available now.) Well, judges are needed for this year’s volume of the anthology.
Charity Bradford states:
I'm ready to start looking for the 2015 Judges. Judging will take place during the month of November. During the contest your photo, bio and links to books and webpages will be up on Bold New Worlds. You'll also be listed in the 2015 BNW Anthology as a judge.
If you are a speculative fiction author, see her site for details.

Computer Game Review

Divinity: Original Sin

This computer game was funded by a Kickstarter campaign.
It’s a cross between Icewind Dale and Dungeon Seige. It’s old school – a free roaming with turn based combat RPG. You have the traditional three-quarter view looking down on your party of four and it can be either single or multi-player.
The main quest has dozens of side quests. When you add them all up, there’s at least a hundred hours of play.
If you have the patience and aren’t all hack and slash, you can get lost for months with this game.
A lot of fun – highly recommended!


And have you signed up for the Blood, Boobs, and Carnage Blogfest yet?
Sign up – you know you want to!!



Fan of Spinal Tap? (This one goes to eleven.) Remember Triumph? (No, not the Insult Comic Dog.) Met those bloggers yet? Interested in judging for the anthology? Played any good computer games lately? And are you sad or excited the Challenge ends in one week…?

And if you missed it yesterday, I visited Donna K. Weaver and talked about building a strong online presence while maintaining privacy.

105 comments:

Empty Nest Insider said...

This Is Spinal Tap was a terrific movie that I would love to see again! One of the members of the band, Michael McKean (Lenny from Laverne and Shirley) plays a complex character on You Better Call Saul.

Julie

kaykuala said...

Remember very well Tremors and H G Wells' Time Machine. Not so much of the others though! Thanks Alex!

Hank

nashvillecats2 said...

Good day to you Alex , as per usual there are no films I remember as I gave up going to the cinema many years ago. I enjoyed the rest of your post, always of interest in various ways.
Have a good and easy day.
Yvonne.

Patsy said...

The Time Machine is one of the few Sci-fi books I have read. That was a long time ago (appropriately!)

Anonymous said...

Seen every one of the movies a few times. This is Spinal Tap and of course my rating has to be 11. Know a few musicians that even looked the part. Could keep writing but the cat is getting annoyed.

Jeremy [Retro] said...

One of my neighbor's company had something to do with the making of Time Bandits and as kids we had got to see my very first press screening with all the junk that comes along with it. Maybe that is the reason I have the love for films as I do and the joy of conventions, well in the press world maybe... this weekend another great convention in tow.

Jeremy

mail4rosey said...

Tremors came out in 1990! That seems like such a long time ago. Spinal Tap is even longer, and I haven't seen that one but hubby has it in our DVD collection.

ediFanoB said...

Several years I ago I started to play Divine Divinty on PC.
Nowadays I prefer to play on console because it is much more convenient for me.

I liked the TIME BANDITS movie.


How many people did really read the original THE TIME MACHINE by H.G. Wells?
Honestly I read the orignial version in 2013.

I still love the 1960 Time Machine film.

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

I've read The Time Machine, and I think I've seen The Time Bandits, or at least part of it.

I'll have to think about being a judge--I already have too much on my plate!

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I haven't seen the movies and am GLAD I didn't see Tremors. Yikes. I've read The Time Machine!

Thanks for the mention!

TBM said...

Tremors is a classic! And I lived the Time Machine. Even today, it's still exciting and doesn't seem dated. Thanks so much the shout out, Alex. You're the best!

Liza said...

Off to read your interview and then to meet some new bloggers. Thanks, Alex.

Sarah Foster said...

Haven't seen any of the movies, but I'll have to ask my fiance about Time Bandits. Lots of his favorite people involved in it!

Bob/Sally said...

Tremors, Spinal Tap, and Time Bandits? Boy, you really want me digging deep into my old VHS collection lately, don't you? :)

Annalisa Crawford said...

Hubby introduced me to This Is Spinal Tap too - I think he must be the cool one in our relationship ;-)

Annalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep

Michael Abayomi said...

I enjoyed watching Tremors on TV back in the day. My friend has been trying to get me to try Divinity: Original Sin for a while. But I think your review just finally did the trick. :)

Christine Rains said...

Tremors is one of my all time favorites! And wonderful T bloggers. I follow them all! Divinity sounds like a game I'd like. I haven't played a computer game in ages.

Rhonda Albom said...

Spinal Tap, Time Bandits, and Tara - what great selections for T

Jennifer Hawes said...

Loved Tremors! I remember watching it not too long ago. Funny compared to today's sci-fi monster movies;)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Julie, yes he does! That is a great show.

Jeremy, that is really cool!

Rosey, that was a long, long time ago...

Edi, I read it years ago, just don't remember when.

Sandra, it's not as time consuming as you think.

Teresa, you're welcome!

My honor, TBM!

Sarah, I'm sure he's seen it then.

Bob, that was the plan!

Michael, it's a lot of fun - try it.

Christine, I don't play as many as I used to.

Ava Quinn said...

I love the movie Time Bandits. Still own it on VHS, that's how hardcore (read nerdy) I am.

Jo said...

Only thing really familiar to me was The Time Machine, saw the movie as well. Time Bandits is familiar but don't think I saw it.

I won't be sorry when the A to Z has finished. Seems to have taken up a lot of time this year. It must have been worse for you. I seem to have been living on my computer.

Pat Hatt said...

Time Bandits was one weird arse movie. Loved Tremors. They are supposedly making another one. That back in time one sucked, the rest I liked though. The sliders rip off of it was dumb too, all that show did was rip off b movies when they switched writers, idiots.

River Fairchild said...

I think I must have slept through the '80s. No, I had kids and no time for music of my own. As for video games, the last one I played was Mario and couldn't even master that!
River Fairchild – A to Z April Challenge
Untethered Realms

Dean K Miller said...

Spinal Tap, Tremors and a list of fantastic new bloggers? And "T" day shows up on a Thursday? Can it get any better?

Unknown said...

That must've been a blast judging high school student's stories!

Chrys Fey said...

I never read The Time Machine, but I have seen the movie with Guy Pierce. It'e pretty good.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Alex - The Time Machine a book of forethought .. Bloggers: Tara and Teresa ... TB as she's English ... I'd better visit .. Tonja sounds great too ..

Cheers Hilary

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

I admit, this Challenge starting zipping by after M or so. I've had more laughs at Martha's expense than I ever imagined. It's been awesome. Your comments, and others, were outrageous. Though I'm not sad it's ending. Smiles.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Ava, you're cool, not nerdy.

Jo, I have indeed been living in front of my computer.

River, I'm sorry!

Dean, the stars have aligned...

Melanie, it was fun. Some were very talented.

Robyn, your posts have been hilarious.

L.G. Keltner said...

I love Tremors! This is Spinal Tap is also classic. You made some excellent film choices!

Bish Denham said...

When I first saw This is Spinal Tap I actually thought it was a real documentary... And the Time Bandits! One of my favorites. It's also one of the first movies that was backed by George Harrison. He also wrote some of the music for it.

The Time Machine... Such a classic! Great selections for T!

Tess Julia said...

I remember those movies, Tremors and Time Bandits! Time Bandits totally creeped me out. I don't think I'll ever get British humour.

Shell Flower said...

Ha, Tremors and Time Bandits are both classics. Your theme is really bringing back some memories. The Tarquin ship is interesting too. I can tell Dragon of the Stars has a lot of depth in the world building.

Leovi said...

The wonderful book The Time Machine by HG Wells made me dream from my childhood!

Patricia Stoltey said...

I guess it's time I finally watch Spinal Tap.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Bish, I didn't know that!

Shell, I worked hard on the world building.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

Will visit the bloggers. They sound great.
Not familiar with the movies.

Andrew Leon said...

What does that even mean, Imagination trilogy?
I didn't know he was American!

Stephen Tremp said...

This is Spinal tap was a classic back in the day. And I may be one of the few who didn;t think Tremors was all that good.

Anonymous said...

I think Netflix has This is Spinal Tap, but I haven't watched it yet.

~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

Tara Tyler said...

thank you for having me on T day! You're so sweet! and i'm in such great company!

Plus Time Bandits is one of my all time faves =)

happy t day!

jaybird said...

I do love to participate in the A-Z but I am getting tired. I write each post the day before or the morning of lately and I am wearing myself out. Looking forward to the break after letter Z.

Time Bandits was a classic in our house. We watched it all the "time". See what I did there? Ha.

cleemckenzie said...

The only movie I missed on your list was Tremors. The rest I've seen and I really loved Time Bandits.

Anonymous said...

A lot of T memories here! I've seen Tremors and Time Bandits, listened to Triumph, read The Time Machine, and I know three of the bloggers. I'll have to visit the fourth.

Al Penwasser said...

If I had a time machine, I'd go back to the night I lost my virg...but, I've said too much already.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Tremors is one of my favorite movies. All those quirky characters and Kevin Bacon as a redneck. More great bloggers and music.

Unknown said...

The Hubby and I still do bits from Spinal Tap. We've got every line from that and Python's Holy Grail memorized. Also loved Time Bandits.

I'm doing great and will be back one day!

SpacerGuy said...

I'm amped to meet Tara, TB, Teresa and Tanja, ever hopedul making their acquaintance will boldly take me where no bloggie has gone before. Time machine is a great sci-fi book - loved reading it.

D.G. Hudson said...

I like Tremors and Kevin Bacon was great in it. Reba, too, as a gun-totin' survivor type. It reminded me of a working man's DUNE movie. Like the Time Machine, too. . .

No, can't do the BBC blogfest, as time limited - trying to sell and find new place, but I'll drop by to visit those who do. . .

Mary Aalgaard said...

Teresa, The Journaling Woman, is one of my favorite bloggers. I think I read The Time Machine, and yes, it has inspired so many other stories, etc. ever since it's publication!

J.L. Campbell said...

Definitely remember Tremors.
I know Tara too!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Andrew, it included Brazil and the Adventures of Baron M.

Patricia, you have to watch i!

Tara, you're welcome!

Jaybird, mine are written, but I complete and schedule them the night before. Like you, I'm getting beat.

Al, funny!

Anne, good to hear from you!!

DG, good luck.

Maurice Mitchell said...

Tremors is one of my favorites for taking all the horror conventions and throwing them out the window. From not explaining where the creatures came from (which is realistic because the immediate concern is to not get eaten) to giving them silly names like "Grabboids". A wonderful film. It must have been fulfilling to judge a short story contest for high school students. Bravo sir

Timothy S. Brannan said...

I love "Spinal Tap"! Just a great movie.

--
Tim Brannan, The Other Side Blog
2015 A to Z of Vampires
http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/

Kathryn Thornton said...

Some excellent choices there.
What anthology are you judging?

stephen Hayes said...

I know Tremors isn't held in high regard but I always find something in it to make me laugh, especially if I'm watching an unedited version.

J.H. Moncrieff said...

I was surprised by how much I liked Tremors. They really had fun with that movie--there was a lot of humour in it.

What, no Terminator? ;)

Carrie-Anne said...

I read The Time Machine for a book report in fifth grade. I still remember waking up at 5 AM to finish reading the book and write the report. I also have a 1982 book on tape of the story, which I listened to over and over again as a preteen. I finally gave it a rest after I either started having nightmares or just got really scared by the line that ends Side One, "I pray that whoever finds this will do what I was unable to do—Destroy the Morlocks!" It was delivered in such a creepy way.

Cherie Reich said...

I still need to see all of Tremors. I've caught it on TV a time or two, but haven't seen the entire movie. Loved H.G. Wells' The Time Machine!

S. L. Hennessy said...

Tremors is one of my all time favorite "throw popcorn at the screen" movies. It's amazing.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Tremors. Excellent movie. I think I liked it better than Footloose, though the soundtrack wasn't as impressive.

Tammy Theriault said...

Tremors. Agh!!!! Freaky weird film

Arlee Bird said...

Tremors is one of those films I went to see when it came out in the theaters and was super impressed by it. What a fun silly movie, but very well done. And I love Reba.

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out

Jeffrey Scott said...

Time Bandits was an awesome movie when it came out. I was just a kid then and remember seeing it at the show all day one particular Saturday. Back then, we had a theatre which only showed one film at a time. "Don't touch it, it's evil!"

Time Machine - One of my favourite books. Also loved the George Pal film. The only Time Machine version I'll watch. Also remember a comic, but I forget who produced it.

Tremors - I don't talk much about this series. I've always hated the series because it's my understanding SciFi cancelled Farscape to produce the series. So I boycotted the series.

Lauren Farrow said...

Love the video game review!! I have to check out Divinity because it is a single-player, cooperative multiplayer fantasy role-playing game.

I love that! I love cooperative multiplayer because I think it promotes team work in players and motivates us to care about our teammates-- rather than your typical single-player hack and slash.

Another blogger over at A Beer for the Shower recommended the game Dying Light for the same reasons. It's a zombie survival game, but what I was told is that it is cool because they have a cooperative mode.

Thanks for the Video Game recommendation! Love a lot of the movies you list, too!

Charles Gramlich said...

Tremors, Spinal Tap, and Timebandits are all movies that my wife likes quite a bit more than I do.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Love it that the Time Machine novel has inspired so many tales. It's a favorite of mine!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thanks, Maurice. Tremors was just good old fashioned monster fun.

I judged last year's Bold New Worlds anthology, Kat. It was a lot of fun.

Carrie-Anne, you scared yourself.

Lauren, that's a great description!

Jeffrey, never saw the series. I got to the second movie and called it quits.

Lauren, you'll enjoy it because you can play it either way.

Michele at Angels Bark said...

Loved the movie Tremors! It just cracked me up. Love Kevin Bacon. And what a cool piece of trivia about the IMDB adjusting the rating to an 11 for This is Spinal Tap. I had no idea. What an honor! And Triumph: LOVE the band. I featured them in my A-Z post today too. Such amazing hits they had.
Michele at Angels Bark

CA Heaven said...

Haven't hear of Triumph. I think Testament would been my T-band >:)

Cold As Heaven

Susan Kane said...

We aced the movies for T! HG Wells--will we ever see the likes of him again?

Good choices.

Nilanjana Bose said...

Double thumbs up for The Time Machine. The book not the films/series..the book's way better.

I am a bit conflicted about the end of the challenge...relieved-sad? Relieved if I make it through, and sad it's ended. But there's always next year :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Michele, awesome!

Nilanjana, there is always next year.

Tony Laplume said...

My brother and sister-in-law have This is Spinal Tap listed alphabetically under "s" as if the movie's title is only Spinal Tap. It bugs me. I tried to correct it, and they moved it back. I still haven't seen the movie, though.

Cathrina Constantine said...

Now these cult classics I know!!! I liked the movie Tremors!!

Have a good day, Alex.

Lisa said...

Saw Tremors, never saw This is Spinal Tap, but now I want to. Loved Time Bandits (all but the ending)and have actually read The Time Machine! I have visited Tara, and just finished The Dragon of the Stars! Your best effort yet, Ninja Dude... Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com

Nick Wilford said...

Seems like your cult classics have a big following - I'll add to that by saying I've seen all three movies (for once) and loved them! They're all pretty funny in their own way.

Bob Sanchez said...

I remember This Is Spinal Tap, quite the droll send-up.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

I haven't read Wells' Time Machine, but I've seen both old and new movie!

Elizabeth Mueller
AtoZ 2015
My Little Pony

Jay Noel said...

Tremors! That's a movie I haven't thought about in a long time. And Time Bandits was a fun movie to watch over and over again.

H.G. Wells' The Time Machine changed my life. It turned me on to steampunk for sure.

Cherdo said...

I always thought of Tremors as a sleeper hit - it kinda snuck up on me.

A few nights ago, I made my son watch Spinal Tap; it is a classic and I love the deadpan humor. Gonzo nearly choked when the drummer exploded, ha ha.

Sandra Cox said...

I liked Tremors:)

Li said...

I'll be honest - I'll be relieved when the challenge is over. But I am looking forward to perusing the list (at my leisure) in June and July. There are so many blogs that I want to re-visit and read all of the entries!
I rented Tremors and let my son watch it when he was around 9 or 10. I thought it might be too scary, but he found it...laughable. :/

Dixie@dcrelief said...

Alex - these are all a big YES!!
Time Bandits
The Time Machine
Tara Tyler
TB Markinson
Tonja Drecker

I've never seen 'Spinal Tap.' I know.

J E Oneil said...

Tremors and Spinal Tap, two of my favorites. I can't believe I've never heard of Time Bandits before...

Unknown said...

love T.B. and Tara! I'll check out the others. Love the blogger shout out love :)

Holy Ghost Writer said...

Three fun movies. Tremors would be my favorite of them

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Tony, that made me chuckle.

Lisa, wow - thank you!!!

Jay, that's cool.

Cherdo, good for you!!

Lisa, not scary. Just a bir of vulgar language. I just want to visit some new folks on the list...

kjmckendry said...

Spinal Tap is hilarious!

Mark Koopmans said...

To a T, U know I happy that A-Z is ending. F-word, I'm so ZZZ...

PS: For the first time this month, I recognized all the books and movies!

Of course, the music choice was a bust for me!!

Julie Flanders said...

I didn't remember Triumph until I read this post LOL. Love Spinal Tap.

Al Diaz said...

I did see Tremors. I didn't read the Time Machine, but I have seen many movies about that. Does that count? :D

Birgit said...

I just watched Tremors again about 3 weeks ago-I love that movie-It is fun and they don't take themselves too seriously. I also love...LOVE Time Bandits. This was my first venture into Terry Gilliam land without Monty Python and I am still hooked. I love all his films. Did you know George Harrison produced that film? Of course I know Triumph:) Grew up with them. I am enjoying it but I am missing doing other things so will be also happy and have a real sense of accomplishment

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Mark, not bad, though.

Al, close enough!

Birgit, I know now!

DMS said...

I was just talking about This is Spinal Tap yesterday! Have to rewatch- definitely saw it a lot growing up. :)
~Jess

Liz A. said...

I've never seen This is Spinal Tap. I mean to one of these days... Tremors was more fun than it had any right to be. I hate those kinds of movies, but I enjoyed that one. And Time Bandits... What is that thing about? I saw it when it came out, and it made absolutely no sense to me.

Helena said...

Spinal Tap really is a classic. There was also a follow-up one hour TV "documentary" about the band that's a real classic.

Rob Reiner said he got the idea for the movie when he witnessed a scene at a hotel where for twenty minutes a manager explained over and over to famous (unnamed) rock band members that if their luggage was missing, that's because they had failed to retrieve their luggage at the airport when they landed. They just couldn't grasp the concept.

Intangible Hearts said...

I loved Donna's book!

Unknown said...

Spinal Tap is HILARIOUS and Tremors was surprisingly great. I've read Time Machine, but now it get the book confused with all the movies versions.

You can find me here:
ClarabelleRant

Heidi L. Murphy said...

I found you! Very cool. And now to read your stuff. I've got to have read at least something of yours already.

Tonja Drecker said...

I'd totally forgotten about Spinal Tap!
Thanks for mentioning me :) (Was sick in bed yesterday, so didn't see it) Good luck with the last run next week for A-Z! I can't believe it's almost over.

Trisha said...

Yay for Tara Tyler!! She's awesome.

I only recently saw that Spinal Tap movie for the first time. Absolutely loved it.

Michelle Wallace said...

Hey, I know all those bloggers!
Tara Robinson is a sweetheart and my very first follower/commenter.
I really enjoyed the interview over at Donna Weaver's place!

Rachna Chhabria said...

Tara is a sweetheart. H.G Well's book Time Machine is something I am familiar with :)