A to Z Challenge – Avengers, Captain America, and As I Am - Plus Ninja News and Special Thanks

My theme for the A to Z Challenge is Favorite Movies, Bloggers, and Music! I’ll name a favorite movie that corresponds with the letter, and then select a character from the film. I will then name a favorite blogger who reminds me of that character, and then dedicate a song to him. (Also corresponding with the alphabet.) I’ll wrap it all up with trivia and/or fun facts about the movie, the blogger, or the music!

In addition, two lucky commenters this month will receive a review copy of CassaStorm!.One comment per day and each is worth one entry except – the first and one hundredth comments on each day will receive ten entries!

The Avengers

One of the greatest superhero films ever. It really captures the feel of the comic book. It was amazing to see all the heroes come to life on the big screen. Whedon did a great job creating a cohesive, engaging story.

Captain America is a gentle, innocent soul with a heart of gold. He’s truly unselfish, placing the concerns of others above himself.

Who is Captain America?

Father Dragon, Al Diaz!
Blogging at Father Dragon Writes, Al is a very genuine person. He stands ready to champion those in need. He came into this community curious and eager to learn. Al possesses great wisdom and is willing to share with anyone who will listen. It’s been an honor to get to know him better and call Al my friend. He’s a Dragon Captain now, but one day he’ll be the Dragon General!

Al is a translator, artist, writer, and dwarf wrangler.

To you Al, I dedicate As I Am, by Dream Theater

“To those who understand, I extend my hand, to the doubtful I demand, take me as I am”

You are your own Dragon – stay that way!

Facts and Trivia –

This Ninja may have clones, but did you know Al employs dwarves to assist him? Although this month, they are part of my Ninja Minions team!

Joe Johnston directed Captain America. What other superhero/adventure type movie did he direct twenty years ago?

Ninja News

Want another chance to win CassaStorm? The Goodreads giveaway opens today!!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

CassaStorm

by Alex J. Cavanaugh

Giveaway ends April 21, 2013.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Susan Gourley’s latest book, Marine’s Queen, was released by New Concepts Publishing last week. Congratulations, Susan!

Yolanda Renee at Defending the Pen signed a deal for two books with Curiosity Quills Press. Congratulations, Yolanda!!

RaShelle Workman’s latest book, Cindy Witch, is available now. You rock, RaShelle!

Juliana Haygert’s book, Destiny Gift, is really available today! I know I posted about it on Friday, but in the A to Z Challenge confusion, I got the date wrong.

Special Thanks – This is For You, Lee!

Three years ago, a fellow blogger announced a challenge to blog the letters of the alphabet in April. I waited until the last moment to commit, and joined a hundred other bloggers attempting the same challenge. I winged it, coming up with brilliant topics such as Q*Bert and Q (yes, the awful 80’s flim) for “Q.”

By the end of the month, my blog was changed forever. I went from thirty followers to over eighty and made so many amazing friends, such as Ella, Yvonne, and Jamie. I’d connected with the community in an amazing way and found my groove as a blogger.

And I owe all of that to Arlee Bird at Tossing it Out. Lee, had you not thrown out that Challenge, I don’t know where I’d be today, because I’d floundered here online for five months without any real success at that point. It’s been an honor to serve as a co-host for the past three Challenges. Lee, you can count on my support and friendship forever! Thank you.

Fan of the Avengers or Captain America? (Melissa, don’t answer that!) Following the awesome Father Dragon? Know the movie Joe Johnston directed? Excited about the new book releases? And Challenge veterans, what has the Challenge meant to you?

Captain America, Comic Con, and More!

Thanks again to Karen Walker for amusing the Army last week with her guest post – and for your awesome comments!

With temperatures around a hundred degrees, it was a good excuse to go hide in a cool movie theater for a couple hours. And I’m glad I did!

Captain America

This film was a lot of fun and one of the best times I’ve had in the theater all year. The story flowed well with solid action scenes, and the WWII setting gave it an old-school vibe. There is a certain innocence to the film, due in part to the time period and the main character. It sets up next summer’s Avengers movie, but it also stands well on its own.

The cast was great. Chris Evans really fit the role. (I’d also like to know how the CGI guys made him look so scrawny in the beginning.) Hugo Weaving did his usual great job as Red Skull and Tommy Lee Jones had some of the best lines. Howard Stark’s character is in the film, and the storyline centers around a magical cube from Thor’s world – again, setting things up for the Avengers movie.

Marvel keeps hitting them out of the park – Captain America is a great movie. Next summer’s Avengers promises to be huge!

Comic Con was this past week in San Diego and all sorts of interesting news, videos, and images were released. (Did you know they are making a Jurassic Park IV? And that Spielberg is involved?) For the best coverage, visit G4TV’s site.

Did you see Captain America? Any Comic Con news catch your attention? Did you melt in the summer heat? (And if so, can I have your Hot Tamales?) Oh, and I'll announce my next big blogfest in August. Care to make any guesses?

July Movie Preview Already?

That’s right – the year is half over! Now prepare for another month of living in a cool movie theater.

All descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments provided by me.

Today – June 29

Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tyrese Gibson
The Plot: Against the backdrop of the space race between the U.S.S.R. and the USA, the alliance between Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) and Optimus Prime is put to the test against a common enemy: Shockwave.
This was scheduled to come out July 1, but they bumped it up a few days. Critics say special effects are amazing but there’s no character development. Hello! It’s Transformers. Soon as I get off work, I’m off to see it in 3D!

July 8

Ironclad
Director: Jonathan English
Stars: Paul Giamatti, Jason Flemyng, Brian Cox
The Plot: In 13th-century England, a small group of Knights Templar fight to defend Rochester Castle against the tyrannical King John (Paul Giamatti)
Could be way cool, but I bet it will be difficult to find in theaters.

Horrible Bosses
Director: Seth Gordon
Stars: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis
The Plot: Three friends (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis) make a pact to rid the world of their respective bosses.
Okay, this one caught my attention with the line about Bateman street racing his Prius – “I don’t win much.”


July 15

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II
Director: David Yates
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
The Plot: The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione return to Hogwarts to find and destroy the final horcruxes. But when Voldemort finds out about their mission, the battle we've all known has been coming -- Harry vs. Voldemort -- looms large on the horizon. And who will triumph?
Like we don’t know how it ends! Maybe this will be the first Potter movie to cross the billion dollar mark. Just please tell me Harry does more than run…

July 22

Captain America: The First Avenger
Director: Joe Johnston
Stars: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Samuel L. Jackson
The Plot: After being deemed unfit for military service during WWII, Steve Rogers (Evans) volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, the Sentinel of Liberty -- a superhero dedicated to defending America's ideals. His first mission: to combat the Nazi propaganda effort headed by Johann Schmidt (Weaving), also known as the Red Skull.
Marvel’s been hitting home runs lately and this one should be no different.

July 29

Cowboys and Aliens
Director: Jon Favreau
Stars: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde
The Plot: In Silver City, Arizona, Apache Indians and Western settlers must lay their differences aside when an alien spaceship crash lands in their city.
Wicked cool! Tell me, what boy hasn’t wanted to see cowboys fight aliens? Besides, Olivia Wilde is hot. Which is good, because Daniel Craig stole Rachel Weisz.

Attack the Block
Director: Joe Cornish
Stars: John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, Alex Esmail
The Plot: Moses (John Boyega) and the rest of his teen gang look to protect Wyndham Tower -- their housing estate -- from an alien invasion.
Hard to say, but the buzz for this film is good.


So, what are you seeing this month?