Logan Movie Review, MST3K Returns, RiffTrax: Live Schedule, Ayreon – The Source, Superhero Movie Trivia, Special Feature – Birgit, and Zafris-Kothari Writer Workshop

Movie Review – Logan

Set a few years in the future, Logan hides out while caring for an ailing Professor X. Mutants have been wiped out and Logan has plans to protect the professor, but his world is disrupted when a young mutant appears.
Logan is an excellent film. It’s more drama than superhero film. Those who don’t like the traditional super hero movies will appreciate this film–the mutants do have powers, but the focus is on the characters, none of which are superheroes.
The film is dark and bleak. This isn’t The Avengers. You won’t come away all happy and pumped. It has depressing elements that will make you think and touch your heart.
All three leads were fantastic. They are all broken characters, flawed and full of regrets. While their plight is sorrowful, it’s also what connects viewers to the film.
Logan is not for kids and rated R for a reason. While it is no more violent than other superhero films, it does show the graphic capabilities of Wolverine’s claws.
It’s also over two hours, but the story is captivating from start to finish.
Due to its heaviness, it’s not one for repeat viewings, but I do highly recommend it.

MST3K is Back!

The new season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 starts April 14 on NetFlix!

Jonah Ray is the show’s new host, and we saw him last year during the RiffTrax: Live MST3K Reunion Show. Felicia Day plays Dr. Forrester’s daughter and Patton Oswalt son of TV’s Frank. Hampton Yount and Baron Vaughn are the voices of Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo, while original creator Joel Hodgson helms the prodution.

MST3K’s best years were with Mike Nelson and Kevin Murphy, especially once Bill Corbett took over for Crow. So we can only hope this new version will live up to the standards.

For updates, check the MST3K website and @MST3K.

RiffTrax: Live

RiffTrax is also launching its live show schedule.

On April 13, it’s a new version of Samurai Cop. (We recently watched the first RiffTrax version and wow, is that movie bad!) Then it’s the Summer Shorts Beach Party on June 15, which will include Mary Jo Pehl and Bridget Nelson. Finally, it’s a super-secret mystery movie on August 17.

In order to pull off these shows, they’ve set up a Kickstarter. You get some cool stuff depending how much you pledge, so check it out.

New Ayreon Album

The Source is another concept album and returns to science fiction. The story takes place before the album 01011001. It has an all-star cast of musicians and singers, including James LaBrie from Dream Theater, Floor Jansen from Nightwish, Russell Allen from Symphony X, and Tommy Karevik from Kamelot and Seventh Wonder.

The Source will be released on April 28.

So for Monday’s Music Moves Me, hosted by X-Mas Dolly, I’m featuring two videos from The Source.

The first video is the third song on the album – it’s short and very accessible for anyone who enjoys fun rock music. Plus there are some cool animations.

This song, the first on the album, is a traditional prog rock song and thirteen minutes long. But what’s amazing about it is the running commentary (in text) from the master mind himself, Arjen Anthony Lucassen. It also features cool graphics and showcases all eleven guest singers.

Special Writer Feature

We have such a great community of bloggers and writers here that I’ve decided to feature some cool people you may not have met yet.

Today I am featuring Birgit from BB’s Creations. I met her a couple years ago and always stop by for her Thursday movie picks and to admire her creativity with cards. Take it away, Birgit!

So my name is Birgit...not Brigit, Bridgette, burdgett, butget, beernut, bagel, bruschetta, baguette, gretel or Ingrid and, yes, I have been called all of these

Where are you located?
I am not sure what you mean by my real location but I am somewhere between lost and

 Albuquerque.

What spurs your passion and creativity when it comes to making cards?
I love when I see a beautiful picture of a sunset, flowers, animals a person who has warmed my heart, colours, and..Jo's purple bowling ball:)
So the card I am showing has all my favourites, blues and purples, an animal, colouring with my markers, 3D effect, embossing, sparkle and shine and crystals.

Can we buy any of them?
To be honest, I am scared that I won't find the time and start feeling the pressure to make cards for money plus I just think my cards are not ok that special but I am tickled pink when people like them. Now, if someone would love to have a card, I will create one for them and send it...just because....unless you want a 100 of them, then I know you want to drive me insane.

What do you enjoy most about the Thursday Movie Picks?
I joined Thursday Movie Picks because I love the themes each week and to see what other movies people pick. I like to find out why they like them, or sometimes, hate them plus it gives me more choices to watch in the future. Right now I have. List that is about. 5 miles long. Simply put, I love movies.

What is your favorite movie?
My favourite film is It's A Wonderful Life with James Stewart. It shows an average man in a small town that most of the world have no idea who this man is. In this town, he always gives often sacrificing what he desires to make others happy. When he realizes what life would be like in the town if he never existed, he sees how much good he has done making his life worth meaning and worth living. Even though I have seen this, 50 times if not more, I cry every time Harry comes through the door to see his big brother George. I only hope I could be a bit like George.

Zafris-Kothari Workshop

Tonja wanted to pass on some information about an incredible writing workshop:
Unique among workshops tackling the novel, the Zafris-Kothari workshop reads and analyzes 200 pages of your novel. Brainstorming with an individual instructor leads to restructuring the novel. Along with this are group craft lessons. The days are intense and fulfilling. A full day is complemented with an evening together for participants to read their work. Several published novels have come out of this workshop which was begun at the Kenyon Review Writers' Workshops
Tonja says:
The Zafris-Kothari novel workshop is like no other. You have the option to have 100 or 200 pages of your novel critiqued. This intense workshop focuses on your writing - you are not tasked with critiquing others. Because such a large chunk of your novel is critiqued by highly skilled writers, editors, and teachers, you will get feedback on how your narration choice and structure is working across your entire novel. The workshop was life-changing for me as a writer. I can't recommend it enough.

Movie Trivia

In honor of Logan’s release, today’s trivia is all about superhero films. Name the movie from the director and year:

1 – Richard Lester, 1980
2 – Alex Proyas, 1994
3 – Guillermo del Toro, 2004
4 – Sam Raimi, 1990
5 – Bryan Singer, 2014
6 – Mark AZ Dippe, 1997
7 – Russell Mulchany, 1994

Answers on Monday!

Anyone else see Logan? Excited about the return of MST3K? Going to see the RiffTrax: Live shows? Following Birgit? (Want to order a hundred cards from her?) Interested in the Zafris-Kothari workshop? And do you know any of the movie trivia?

Thanks again for another awesome IWSG post day! I visited as many as I could, despite having to do battle with the word verification that shows up after visiting thirty or so Blogger blogs. I mean, what’s up with this?