Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Black Adam Review, and November Movie Preview


It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

The awesome co-hosts for the November 2 posting of the IWSG are Diedre Knight, Douglas Thomas Greening, Nick Wilford, and Diane Burton!

November 2 question - November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?

Yes! I participated in 2010. It was right after the release of my first book, CassaStar. And during NaNo, I wrote most of the sequel, CassaFire. (I didn’t finish until mid-December, but I did win at NaNo.)

I also participated in a June event, BuNo I believe it was called. I didn’t win, but I wrote a good chunk of what would become CassaStorm.

So, I do recommend them for anyone needing a deadline or some real motivation!

The IWSG Goodreads Book Club selections for November are:


Black Adam Movie Review


The film is good, what you’d expect from a superhero movie, and it just falls short of great.
I liked Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam.
I also loved seeing Hawkman and Dr. Fate. Pierce Brosnan was an excellent choice for the latter. Some reviews say the Justice Society is in it too much – I didn’t think so.
It tries to be a crowd pleaser, sometimes too hard. But it does deliver on all levels and with the great special effects you'd expect.
I enjoyed it though and recommend it to any superhero, DC, or Justice Society fan.
Don’t go in thinking it will subvert your expectations – it’s exactly what you think it will be.


November Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for October. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.


2 –


The Monkey King: The Legend Begins
Director: Soi Cheang
Stars: Donnie Yen, Chow Yun-Fat, Aaron Kwok
The Monkey King: The Legend Begins is the re-imagined version by Hollywood of the film The Monkey King: Havoc in Heavens Palace, the origin and birthplace of The Monkey King Story.
It was shot back-to-back with the sequel – The Monkey King II: Electric Boogaloo.



11 –


Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Director: Ryan Coogler
Stars: Angela Bassett, Tenoch Huerta, Martin Freeman, Danai Gurira
The nation of Wakanda is pitted against intervening world powers as they mourn the loss of their king T'Challa.
I tried to avoid spoilers but the shapely Black Panther suit gave it away…



25 –


Battle for Saipan
Director: Brandon Slagle
Stars: Casper Van Dien, Jeff Fahey, Louis Mandylor
A Surgeon defends a hospital from invading enemy forces in the Battle of Saipan during World War II.
Somebody thought doing a war movie with a low budget and B and C list actors a good idea. Make sure you thoroughly destroy all expectations before seeing it.


Are you participating in NaNo? Did you see Black Adam? Any movies catch your eye this month? It’s slim pickings…

91 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

I love the encouragement and support you so generously offer to so many people. Thank you.

A Hundred Quills said...

Hi Alex. Thanks for the Black Adam review. Hoping to watch it the coming weekend.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Any month of fast writing gains something. If nothing else but to empty the brain of ideas.

This made me laugh, "Make sure you thoroughly destroy all expectations before seeing it." That wouldn't be my kind of movie, but I love the advice.

Teresa

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Alex - NaNo seems to inspire many ... and I wish everyone good luck for it - meaning I've never done it! I have seen a few films - Film Society ones. I did catch up and see Anthony Hopkins as Burt Munro in 'The World's Fastest Indian' 2005 film - which I'd missed - and enjoyed the story, as well as the acting. I love Teresa's comment ... cheers Hilary

Liza said...

Never did NanNo and it's unlikely I ever will. Mostly my stories come out while I am writing. To complete 50K in a month, I'd have to have a solid idea and an outline.(Oh the horror!)

Leigh Caron said...

You gave a totally different perspective of NaNo. Nice to hear that, though not for me this year. I'll be heading back to the States soon and hope to catch some movies....in English :) Black Panther and Black Adam sound good. Thanks for your reviews.

Truedessa said...

Welcome back! I still haven’t seem Black Adam but, I am a fan of Dwayne Johnson. So, eventually I will see it. I am really in the mood for something more romantic. I guess with the holiday frenzy starting I can catch some movies on Hallmark or Lifetime.

Have a great week! Miss seeing you around.

Deniz Bevan said...

Funny, I just looked up mine and 2010 was my first NaNo year!

Natalie Aguirre said...

That's great that NaNo helped you with some of your manuscripts. I'm like Liza. I don't think Nano is for me for a lot of reasons.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi Alex,
Whenever I want to get the first draft which is a spin-off for a series out of my head and onto paper then I use NaNo.

No, I haven't seen Black Adam. By the time, it gets to where I'm living, it will probably be on DVD or some other medium that one can buy on Amazon.

Have a great day.

Shalom aleichem

Jennifer Lane said...

Congrats on completing a big chunk of your sequel in one month!

Nancy Gideon said...

Alex, I totally agree with your take on NaNo. I use it for what I can get out of it, not for what it's intended. This year I'm determined to do a first read thru edit of a just completed romantic suspense.

Enjoyed Black Adam. It didn't really make use of the things I love about The Rock, which is mostly his sense of humor but physically, oh yeah! He brought it. The cast and setting were superb. I'll have to say it's one of the few films I've been able to stay awake the whole way through in a dark theatre with reclined seat once the popcorn is gone. We have all the Marvel and DC movies in our collection so I'm saving a space.

Lynn La Vita said...

I agree with you, deadlines encourage and motivate many actions ...not just writing.
Our monthly IWSG blog hop is a excellent example of writing to meet a goal.

Now, if only I could get my blog to post when scheduled!

Lynn La Vita @ http://la-vita.us/

Mary Aalgaard said...

Not participating in NaNo. I have different projects to work on. I admire those who do it, though!

Stacy McKitrick said...

Never did NaNo. Don't write in sprints, either. I just never could get into writing that way. Maybe if I plotted ahead of time, but that's not me, either. I really need to do something to motivate me to write right now, though. Haven't found it yet...

I do want to see the Black Panther movie. I'm hoping Hubby does, too, but if he doesn't, maybe I can go with my daughter (or someone else).

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Elephant's Child, appreciate that.

Teresa, I bet I'm correct in that assessment.

Leigh, enjoy the movies.

Pat, at least you'll get to see it eventually.

Nancy, it was odd he wasn't humorous, but the character really isn't either. And I will be buying it.

Erika Beebe said...

It sounds like writing contests really help you through your work. I hope to participate one day just to say I did it. Thank you for your movie review and the additional previews. Happy IWSG Day.

Jemi Fraser said...

I love NaNo and the encouragement it gives to the community of writers!

PT Dilloway said...

I did NaNo officially once and unofficially a couple of times just for the heck of it, but I don't really need the motivation.

I haven't seen Black Adam and I'm not really sure about Wakanda Forever; it seems like the type of superhero movie that's going to try to cram too much stuff into it.

I look forward to seeing Battle of Saipan on Rifftrax in a couple of years. I mean, come on, you have the stars of Starship Troopers/Saber Raine and the star of Lawnmower Man? If it were directed by James Nguyen it'd be perfect.

Nick Wilford said...

Glad NaNo went well for you. Films look like a mixed bag but Black Adam does look good.

Jennifer Hawes said...

That's great you were able to write one of your books during NANO. Sometimes it takes a push or a shove to get us going!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Chow Yun-Fat hasn't been in a movie for a while. Curious about Monkey King but probably not enough to go see it.

Loni Townsend said...

The kids and I went and watched Black Adam. I'd read the titles to several articles calling it a failure, so I went in expecting very little. It was entertaining enough for me, though I found Shazam more humorous.

H. R. Sinclair said...

No NaNo for me. I've heard mixed things with Black Adam, but I'll watch it! And yeah, I've seen the trailer to Wakanda too. I know. ;)

Bish Denham said...

Haven't been to a movie in so long, I can't even remember what I saw the last time I went?

Anyway, for what it's worth, I'm sort of back in the blogging world again.

J.Q. Rose said...

Nano was definitely a winner for you! That's good news.

Computer Tutor said...

I will miss this month, but love the question (as always), Alex. My last push to launch my new book, Natural Selection. See you soon, though!

Computer Tutor said...

And, thanks for the movie recommendations. I need some new ideas.

Lisa said...

I want to see Black Adam and the new black panther. Thanks for the heads up! I enjoyed nano the few times I did it for the same reasons you talk about. Good motivation to meet a deadline!

C.D. Gallant-King said...

There are ALOT of Monkey King movies. The one with Jackie Chan and Jet Li was pretty good (Forbidden Kingdom), and I really like the Stephen Chow one (Journey to the West). It's like the Batman of China. They keep remaking it, and remaking it, and remaking it...

Meka James said...

I'll be doing a gentle NaNo this month. Mainly focusing on getting words (hopefully at least 1000) per day but not shooting for the full 50k needed to "win". I'll be happy with making progress of any kind right now.

Joanne said...

I enjoyed the couple of NaNos I did and they did give me a book or two. It was a lot of work and November is busy, but it was a group thing at the time - a bunch of us had fun with it. Still need to see Black Adam with Ray. And I'm psyched for Black Panther. Hard to believe it's Nov already - I've seen the least amount of movies this year than I have for decades. What am I doing with those hours? Ha!

kjmckendry said...

I did NaNo several years ago but didn't finish it.
We haven't been to a movie theater in a really long time but I would like to see Wakanda.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Hi Alex, I have never done NaNo, it was great that you could do NaNo and complete a major chunk of your book. Sometimes having such a strong motivation gets the words flowing.

Victoria Marie Lees said...

My daughter will probably go see Black Adam. She likes Dwayne Johnson. I've never participated in NaNo. I have too much pressure to write as it is. Thanks for all you do, Alex, to assist writers. All best to you, sir!

Rachna Chhabria said...

Happy Thanksgiving Alex.

diedre Knight said...

Howdy, Captain!

I'm not doing Nano this time, but the idea is more enticing with each new year. You sure made the most out of your Nano experience ;-) The books listed in the Member Spotlight look interesting. Can't say as much for the movies, but as always, appreciated your reviews. And yes, deadlines are devilishly motivational ;-)
Happy November!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

thanks for the reviews, Alex. I haven't done NaNo. Probably won't. I am a slow writer. Happy IWSG Day. I'm getting ready to leave for the winter so I'm not participating in the blog hop this month.

Charity Bradford said...

Alex, thanks for always being a supporter of writers everywhere. And, I'm excited to say I've read both books for the November book club. :)

cleemckenzie said...

I've been meaning to see the Black Panther. Just haven't gotten around to it yet. Thanks for the reminder.

The Happy Whisk said...

I likely won't see the movie. I'm a little maxed out of The Rock. Not really a fan. No on NaNo. I have a friend that has done nearly each year though. She enjoys it.

Birgit said...

I can see NaNo help many people stick to a schedule and help them write. I want to see Black Adam which looks like fun and I love Pierce Brosnan. Wakanda looks like it will deliver the goods. I want to see the film Tar and that one with Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Great encouragement, Alex!
Yes, I'm doing NaNo as a rebel, and I enjoyed Black Adam. Lots of fun, and the Justice Society part was great!

J E Oneil said...

Black Panther 2... I'm looking forward to it, but I'm still totally devastated over the loss of Chadwick Boseman...

Arlee Bird said...

I can always use motivation to write and a deadline is a big help, but I don't think I'd want to do the Nano thing again. Maybe, but probably not.

Don't see any movies in your list that I'll be likely to see, but if they show up on some free platform that I access I might.

Have a great Thanksgiving. I'll be pretty much on the go until after that.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

Tonja Drecker said...

Thanks for the Black Adam review. We'll be hitting it in a week or two...but I'm told we have to watch another one first to fully appreciate the plot.

Kristina Kelly said...

I did not know there was an event in June! I'll have to look up BuNo and see if it's any less daunting.

Liz A. said...

I guess the movies are waiting for December to release.

talklady said...

Wait, we still haven't seen the Clooney-Roberts rom-com for elders like us! Black Adam is on our list and we anxiously await Speilberg's next.

Thanks for shepherding this disparate crew in insecure writers.

Happy Turkey Day!

Fundy Blue said...

Hi, Alex! I posted late today, but I am up now. I'd like to curl up under a blanket and watch any movie after eight nights without my computer or television and very little internet access. I'd like to see "Black Adam." I hope you're having a good IWSG Day!

Sandra Cox said...

Sounds like Nano was a great motivator for you. That's awesome.

Patricia JL said...

I tried NaNo a few times but it didn't work to motivate me. I'll stick with cheering those participating on.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Pat, exactly! It will be perfect for RiffTrax.

Loni, the character is more serious.

Bish, welcome back!

Jacqui, go get 'em!

CD, I know! I was stunned to see how many there were.

Joanne, and we thought 2020 was slim pickings for movies...

Victoria, appreciate it!

Joylene, no worries.

Charity, well done!

Ivy! Good to hear from you.

Tyrean, it was!

Lee, visiting family?

Tonja, not true! It's an origins story, so go see it.

Olga Godim said...

I want to see Black Adam. Thanks for the review.

Denise Covey said...

Nah, Alex, as I said in my post, no, I'm no longer a fan of NaNo. But I write every day regardless.

kimlajevardi.com said...

I've never gotten to try NaNo, but maybe sometime in the future. It sounds like it was a great experience for you.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Looks like lots of great films for my husband to check out!

I'm always in the middle of a project when NaNo starts, so it's never the right time for me. :)

G. B. Miller said...

Never understood the appeal to the novel writing "contest". I do know back in the heyday of blogging, a lot of writers would have a widget to keep track of their word count and would talk about forming groups for it, but I personally feel if you're gonna write, you're gonna write and no special month is needed.

In regards to "The Monkey King" movie, I was under the impression that Chow Yun-Fat had sworn off making movies with lots of violence and instead make story driven movies. Was I incorrect in that assumption?

Jean Davis said...

NaNo is a great motivator to get writing done - mostly as a kickstart to getting the bulk of a first draft on the page. I've done a couple summer month versions as well, but they often don't have the group social aspect that November does and I haven't been as successful at staying with those projects in a word frenzy sort of way.

Damyanti Biswas said...

Congrats on completing a big chunk of your sequel, God knows how I'm waiting to complete mine! :)

Yvonne Ventresca said...

Glad to hear Nano has been successful for you!

Jemima Pett said...

I think getting the big chunk of a book done helps. And anything that helps me do that is good :)

Looking forward to my next Cassa-read, but probably next year now. I read in chunks, too :)

Have a good November, Alex.

Jemima

Mary Kirkland said...

I'm looking forward to watching Black Adam and Black Panther.

Steven Arellano Rose Jr. said...

Although I don't think it will be as good as the first one, I wouldn't mind checking out the second Black Panther film. It will be interesting to see where they go with the death of T'Challa. (Personally, I don't think he's really dead but, then again, maybe they didn't want to use a replacement actor so as not to break continuity in appearances between the replacement and the deceased actor, I don't know.)

Shannon Lawrence said...

Electric Boogaloo, lol, best sequel ever. ;) I haven't seen Chow Yun Fat in ages. May have to check this out.

Shady Del Knight said...

Hi, Alex!

As a former TV news producer, I spent years working under a very strict deadline (down to the second). I was very happy to leave the news division and switch to entertainment production where the deadlines for completing work were not nearly as rigid. Therefore, I doubt that I will ever participate in the novel writing challenge.

Have a great weekend, good buddy Alex!

Donna K. Weaver said...

I'm looking forward to watching Wakanda.

Melissa Amateis said...

I haven't done NaNo in years. I'm in grad school this year and have a paper to write, but maybe next year I'll give it a go.

J Lenni Dorner said...

I'm looking forward to the next Black Panther movie.
Just watched Enola Holmes 2 on Netflix.
I'm working hard on the second Existence book. It's finally coming along. I finally worked out the kinks from the first act that have been bugging me all these years. Plus, the third edition of Fractions of Existence is out, which makes me very happy.

"I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I'm afraid of." —Joss Whedon

J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Reference& Speculative Fiction Author, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, and Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge

Ray Rousell said...

Definitely looking forward to Black Adam!

Allie Bock said...

Good luck with your goals this year. I haven't seen any of the movies but enjoyed the reviews.

mail4rosey said...

Happy to see your review on Black Adam. That is our next movie to go see.

Nilanjana Bose said...

I've never done NaNo, but when I was in Bahrain, the writers' circle there used to have a retreat for it every Nov. I always joined and got a whole heap of writing done, the atmosphere was just incredible, the writerly energy of a group of people all focussed on their ideas was amazing. I more or less write everyday anyway throughout the year...just not a fixed wordcount.

Wakanda Forever - I'd like to watch that one. Thanks for the reviews, love the advice on the last film. Have a lovely November.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I love NaNo too.
I'm looking forward to seeing Black Adam. Could be fun.

Sandra Cox said...

I love that our book club is doing member spotlights. Woot. Woot.

Tara Tyler said...

got here at the perfect time for the movie previews and review! i hardly see them as i dont watch much commercial tv lately

but I also am getting to watch some great shows - like Smallville - I knew all the references to the Justice Society because of that show! It touches on just about every part of the DC universe, sometimes it’s a bit too predictable and out there but I’m glad I picked it up

My fave right now is the series GRIMM — ever watch it? i’m loving it!

and if you still need a host for Dec or Jan, I can help out

Elizabeth Seckman said...

The only time I've had for movies this year was while I was on vacation. Got to love vacation!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

GB, this one might be a combination of both.

Jean, I know I need that motivation.

Jemima, awesome!

Steven, JoBlo gave it ten out of ten and said it was the best Marvel movie ever.

J, thanks for the reminder about Enola Holmes 2!

Tara, I've not seen Grimm.

Karen Lange said...

Hey Alex,
Haven't ever participated in NaNo as there are too many other projects happening. And I'm not itching to write a novel at the moment anyway, so there's that. lol
As always, you provide encouragement and great info. thank you. Thanks also for stopping by my blog. Your support and input is always appreciated!

Annalisa Crawford said...

I did NaNo once - scrapped 50k and once edited and redrafted, it was a great short story! Glad you had more success than I did and got your second book from it.

Al Penwasser said...

Battle For Saipan looks intriguing. I'd better hurry, though. It probably won't be in theaters long. And that's a shame.

Sandra Cox said...

I'm definitely a Dwayne Johnson fan:)
YOU have a great one.

Cherie Colyer said...

I haven't done NaNo. I always seem to be in the middle of revisions or a release or something that keeps me from being able to focus on a new project. One year, I would like to participate.

Michael Di Gesu said...

HI Alex,

Glad that NANO worked for you! It has for many. I tend to write quickly, but to do all that writing in just one month would be impossible, especially now with all my other obligations.

Thanks for the review... I do enjoy superhero movies... I must check it out~

Wishing you and your family a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving! See you in a few weeks~

Nilanjana Bose said...

Just here to wish you a happy Thanksgiving.

Sandra Cox said...

Hope your Thanksgiving was a great one.

Sandra Cox said...

I haven't been to the theater since forever.
How's your writing going?

Sandra Cox said...

We haven't been to the theater in ages.

Kathe W. said...

Love all your recommendations!! We are binge watching Yellowstone- and when we aren't binge watching some series we are binge reading! What would we do without our libraries?
Right now we are reading Robert Galbraith books- John Sandford - Robert Crais-and a new author
Taylor Moore. His second book would make a fabulous movie! Actually his first would also!
I sure appreciate all your nice comments on my blog!
I noticed that I am an E-4? My pal was a E-7 in the Army. He has stories that he cannot even share with me! Have a great week! Cheers!

Sandra Cox said...

Did you get much writing done last month?

DMS said...

November is one of my busiest months at work- but I have long wanted to try NaNo. Maybe one year! :) ~Jess