The awesome co-hosts today are December 5 posting of the IWSG are J.H. Moncrieff, Tonja Drecker, Patsy Collins, and Chrys Fey!
Today’s question - What are five objects we’d find in your writing space?
Let’s see…jar of candy (usually Hot Tamales), my iPad, a Starcraft Protess Pylon USB charger, some sports memorabilia, and on the wall hangs framed comic books and other movie artwork.
And yes - back from my break in November. I've over 23,000 words for my next story now.
The #IWSGPit Twitter pitch is once a year now.
And the next one is in January!
Don’t miss it.
The next WEP Challenge is December 19!
It's much broader than a Christmas story! Give us ribbons - a race? Or candles - a tomb?
Sign up now at the WEP site.
We also have a winner for the February WEP theme challenge – Toi Thomas with the theme 28 Days.
Tyrean Martinson won the IWSG admin theme challenge for next December with the theme Footprints.
Congratulations, ladies!
Movie Reviews
The sequel to Wreck-It Ralph, this one sends Ralph and Vanellope to the Internet to find a steering wheel for her arcade game.
The film pokes at all things Internet without linger long on any of it. As one reviewer said, it achieves what Ready Play One failed to do.
Some of the animation is stunning. The main character from the online game Slaughter Race (voiced beautifully by Gal Gadot) looks incredibly realistic.
Seeing all of the Disney princesses is funny and the pop-up crook and his sidekick are indeed both kicks. While it’s a lot of fun, the film is a bit heavy in places. It’s missing some of the first film’s innocence.
If you enjoyed the first one, you will enjoy this one.
Recommended
On the eve of D-Day, American paratroopers drop behind enemy lines to penetrate the walls of a fortified church and destroy a radio transmitter. As the soldiers approach their target, they soon begin to realize that there's more going on in the Nazi-occupied village than a simple military operation.…
It’s two thirds war film, one third horror movie. It’s also an excellent adventure film and very tense from start to finish. The movie has an 80’s vibe to it.
The beginning scene with the ships and planes approaching, and being bombed, rivals any straight war film. The effects and production values are excellent. This is not a B film – it’s big budget all the way.
The lead, actor Jovan Adepo, is really good and very believable. Plus it also stars Wyatt Russell (yes, Kurt Russell’s son), Pilou Asbaek (from Game of Thrones), and Iain De Caestecker (Leo Fitz on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
It’s not really original, but it’s done very well. A bit gory but not over the top and it doesn’t venture into too weird of an arena.
Recommended
Concert Review – Hakan
Bent Knee was the opening band. They were…interesting. But good and very inventive. I will give them that. And their lead singer’s voice was beautiful – even if the band doesn’t make it, she will.
Leprous followed. It was a band I knew just a little about and I couldn’t put my finger on why they didn’t click with me. And then the lead singer opened his mouth and it became crystal clear. They were way too loud and horribly mixed. Their sound guys should be fired. And the band should take music lessons.
Then came Hakan! They were spectacular. I so enjoy seeing a show with musicians at the top of their game. And these guys are elite level musicians. I watched them perform in total awe and fascination – how do they do that???? I’m still not sure how they achieved what they did. Plus their lead singer is fantastic and very engaging. It was a great show and sadly over all too soon.
Passing of a Great One
She was his and his son Tristan’s trusted companion for eighteen years. And she often blogged for Gary when he wasn’t feeling up to it.
Penny, you will always be an Internet Superstar and we will miss you!
December Movie Preview
Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for December! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.
14-
A mysterious young woman named Hester Shaw joins forces with Anna Fang, a dangerous outlaw with a bounty on her head, and Tom Natsworthy, an outcast from London, to lead a rebellion against a giant predator city on wheels.
Director: Christian Rivers
Stars: Hugo Weaving, Stephen Lang, Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan
A much cooler title than The City that Ate Paris.
Spider-Man crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the Spider-Men of those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality.
Directors: Bob Persichetti | Peter Ramsey | Rodney Rothman
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Liev Schreiber
Cool – Spider-Man comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders. Collect them all! (The more Spideys the better.)
21-
Arthur Curry learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and must step forward to lead his people and be a hero to the world.
Director: James Wan
Stars: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Dolph Lundgren, Nicole Kidman
I read Aquaman comics religiously when I was growing up. Now as a mature adult with objectivity and wisdom, I can say…Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy – I can’t wait!!!
28-
A humorous take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic mysteries featuring Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson.
Director: Etan Cohen
Stars: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Ralph Fiennes, Rebecca Hall
I’ve only found two Ferrell films to be funny – maybe Holmes can find some clues as to what makes a film funny.
What’s in your writing space? Participating in WEP or #IWSGPit? See either movie last month? Heard of Haken? And what movies catch your attention this month?
I’ll have two more posts this month, including a review of the new season of MST3K, which dropped on Thanksgiving!
