Movie Reviews, Blogging Tips, and Giveaway

And not necessarily in that order…

First, I have a short guest post and giveaway over at The Electrical Book Cafe that went live on Saturday – and you could win a copy of CassaStar!

For blogging tips, I have the honor of appearing at The Ramblings of Amy today, giving you my best guess as to what works.

Before you go, two quick movie reviews and a question!

Fright Night
This remake takes the story and makes it its own without insulting the original material. It retains the charm and camp, with a few surprises. I very much liked the new Peter Vincent – he was incredibly different and very funny. Wish he’d had more screen time. While it’s a fine movie and a good remake, I’ve seen it all before. The original was so fresh in 1985 and it’s still superior.

Unknown
It wasn’t a bad movie, but it starts off with a couple scenarios I just don’t buy – which means I didn’t buy most of the film. Leaving the briefcase (Neeson’s character just wouldn't do it), jumping into the cab without telling his wife, Jones as Neeson’s wife in the first place… Ganz’s character is supposed to help Neeson, but he never actually does that, and Langella’s role was small and a waste. Forgettable overall.

Be sure to visit The Electrical Book Cafe to win a book and The Ramblings of Amy for blogging tips!

Which leads to my parting question – what would you offer as a blogging tip?

Oh, and did anyone else see the naked guy on the Weather Channel Saturday? His parents must be so proud...

Totally Stunned! And Ninja News…

I was stunned by the response to Wednesday’s post about a Insecure Writer’s Support Group. When I wrote that post, I worried it was a lame idea. Everyone seemed so excited though! My original idea may not be big enough.

I see three ways to do this. You guys just let me know which one is best for your needs. (Because this is for you!)

1 – Scheduled post date once or twice a month for participants to either post their insecurities or offer advice and encouragement to others. I’d make a Linky List and keep it in on a separate page here.

2 – Start a new blog called the Insecure Writers Support Group (with help – I do need to sleep sometime) with weekly (or more) encouraging tips from others who have been through the wringer and survived. Maybe have separate pages to list members and their genres or position in the writing process or something. Maybe a mentor page. Maybe a way to communicate with one another. (Not sure how to do that but willing to try.)

3 – Set up a forum called the Insecure Writers Support Group, featuring topics of encouragement, calls for help, discussions, stuff like that. (Thanks to Elizabeth Mueller for the suggestion.)

Let me know which idea rocks your world.

Now for some contests and stuff:

Lydia Kang is hosting a 900 followers contest – you can win books.

Paul Joseph is hosting a back-to-school contest – win a stack of books for your favorite teacher.

Lisa at Flash Fiction is part of a big Renaissance Blogfest this October.

Ellie Garratt is hosting the Star Trek Blogfest this coming Monday. I’m all over this like a pack of rabid Tribbles…

Don’t forget my Worst Movies Ever Blogfest coming September 19!

And the wonderful Amy gave me the Blog on Fire Award. Thanks, Amy! I was supposed to answer some questions about rutabagas... Oh well! I’ll just pass it along to Bryan at The Alchemy of Writing, because the dude’s just cool!


Off to see Conan this weekend! Let me know which idea for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group sounds cool. (Or if they’re all dumb, which one sucks the least.)

Cowboys & Aliens Review and News!

Once again, this Ninja sought refuge in a cool movie theater…

Cowboys and Aliens

Another enjoyable summer film! A good story and great mishmash of science fiction and western. It was more intense than anticipated – not cheesy at all. The effects were really good and I especially liked the aliens. Some amazing scenery as they pursued the aliens across the desert, trying to reclaim the townspeople who were taken.

Daniel Craig channeled Clint Eastwood’s Man With No Name character– he was calm and cool. I really liked how they developed Harrison Ford’s character – he began gruff and went from cookie cutter villain to a real, fleshed-out person. Olivia Wilde was sexy, Clancy Brown great, and Sam Rockwell had some great lines.

No, it wasn't perfect, but overall, a fun time at the theater. Made me want to go shoot aliens.

And this just in…

Ellie Garrett is hosting a Star Trek Blogfest on August 22. Let loose the geek! Just don’t place him in a red shirt…

Tessa is hosting the I Hate You Blogfest on August 12

Ciara Knight reviewed CassaStar last week – and it was part of her 500 followers giveaway as well. Thanks, Ciara!

And I have to thanks the following people for hosting some awesome contests. I actually won!
RaShelle’s birthday celebration - $20 Amazon card
Elizabeth’s book tour giveaway – cool dragon bookends
Amy’s Retro Blogfest – free book and a guest post on her blog August 29
Thanks ladies!

Did you see Cowboys and Aliens? Know of any good blogfests? Win any prizes? Melt from the heat this weekend?

Retro Summer - Time to Scare Everyone!

Today is Ramblings of Amy’s Retro Summer Blogfest! Here’s the scoop:
Find an old mixed audio you haven’t listened to in a while and post the following:
- Write down all the tracks: Artists and song title.
- Write what they mean to you and why you like it.

Now, here comes the amusing part I promised on Monday. As I tried to explain to my wife, guys don’t normally like songs because they ‘mean’ something – we just think they’re cool. Now, my version of cool might send you running. So, to the best of my ability, I described why I think the songs are cool.

“Massive Metal Mix” (I know some of you are running right now!)
1 – Static X – Wisconsin Death Trip – Brutal & aggressive, great groove, and Wayne Static’s quirky voice. Yeah, don’t you wish your last name was Static?
2 – Pantera – Where You Come From – Ultimate in heavy. Any excuse to listen to Dimebag Daryl shred!
3 – Def Tones – My Own Summer (Shove It) - Maybe the coolest opening riff ever. I want this song to play when I enter rooms.
4 – Jimmie’s Chicken Shack – High – Cool riffs. (However, I do not condone drug use in any shape, form, or fashion, wicked cool song or not.)
5 – Chevelle – Mia – My first introduction to this band. I found it by accident, proving accidents can be good!
6 – Powerman 5000 – When Worlds Collide – Ultimate science fiction geek metal! Got to dig a lead singer named Spider. (He’s also Rob Zombie’s brother.)
7 – Soundgarden – Room a Thousand Years Wide – All right, THIS should be the song that plays when I enter a room, just to make people nervous…
8 – Rob Zombie – Dragula – Hey, Spider’s brother! Now we have horror geek metal covered.
9 – Anthrax – Harm’s Way – How can you not dig a song that starts “Here comes the biggest a__h___ the whole world has ever seen?”
10 – Helmet – It’s Easy to Get Bored – I once got my car up to a hundred mph while listening to this song!

Now, for those of you brave enough to reach this point, does anyone even know who those bands are????

Aleta at Fleur de Aleta hosts the ABC of Your State weekly blogfest. Today is “C.” So, out of everything in the Carolinas, I offer you – Charleston, SC! This historical Colonial city boasts a cool downtown with market, Patriot’s Point Navel & Maritime Museum, Fort Sumter, plantations & tours, ghost tours, SC Aquarium, and more! For those of you who write period pieces or horror stories, if you’re not inspired by Charleston… Well, I don’t know what to do with you then!

Been to Charleston? Is there a cool place near your home? Still wondering who the hell are those bands?

Potter Review and Upcoming Blogfests

Now that I’ve seen the entire film, I can finally review it!

Before we get to the review though… (Hey, you waited this long for the final movie, didn’t you?)

Amy at Ramblings of Amy is hosting the Retro Summer Blogfest this Wednesday, July 20. We’re to select an old mix tape or CD and talk about the songs. I intend to amuse you on Wednesday!

Aleta at Fleur de Aleta started the ABC of Your State weekly blogfest. Every Wednesday, post something special about your state that coincides with that week’s letter. This Wednesday it’s “C.” I won’t get to participate every week, but I will have something this Wednesday. Really!

And while remakes annoy me, I am excited about the remake of Godzilla. The screenwriter is David Goyer (Nolan’s Dark Knight movies) and the director is Gareth Edwards, creator/director/editor/special effects guy of Monsters. Do it right guys, and the film will rock!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I caught Part II last Friday and can safely say - it’s the best of the series. The pacing is good and at times the film is thrilling. This one is full of action! The storyline is easy to follow, even for those of us who haven’t read the books. It wraps up the franchise in good form, tying up the loose ends and finally putting an end to Voldemort. Harry finally gets to grow up and show he can kick some butt. (I still don’t buy the relationship between Harry and Ginny, though - zero chemistry between the characters.) Overall, an excellent film and one of the best of the summer.

And I waited to share my thoughts on Part I until after seeing Part II. They are night and day. Part I was slow, plodding, and very frustrating. The storyline was unclear and our great wizard hero spends the whole time running. And hiding in the woods. And talking. More running. More talking in the woods… I’m afraid I found it rather boring. Longer than Part II, the first one would’ve benefited from the shaving of at least thirty to forty-five minutes from the film.

At some point, I do plan to watch the two as a whole. Of course, I’ve been planning an extended edition Lord of the Rings marathon for years, so not sure when that may happen!

All right, Potter fanatics – your turn! What did you think of the movie?

I Really am a Writer

Really! I know I post about movies and stuff, but I really am a writer. Guess I can say author, since my first book came out last year. And just to prove it (because I know some of you may doubt) here’s some writing stuff for you!

Writing Tip
Crap, I got nothing… Oh wait! Listen to your critique partners, because they may have some awesome suggestions. And see the stuff you miss. Or omit. Or forget! Enough said.

What I’m Working On
The final revisions of the sequel to CassaStar. Got the last manuscript back from my test reader, and once I’ve fixed all the problems he found, I’ll send it to my publisher. (Before my June 30 deadline – cool!) Still no idea what to call the sequel. Back to oh crap…

What I’m Reading
A manuscript from Jeffrey Beesler and Feast of Souls by C.S. Friedman. Next up is a manuscript from Rusty Webb and Breakthrough by Stephen Tremp. Good, no crap there.

Online Participation
Two upcoming blogfests for me –
Getting to Know Your MC Blogfest on June 24, hosted by Elizabeth Mueller
Retro Summer Blogfest on July 20, hosted by Amy
Definitely no crap there!

Which means I can now give you some movie news! Because I just can’t help myself…

The box office results so far here in America (my little narrow view of the world):
The Hangover II - $216 million
Pirates - $209 mil
Fast Five - $205 mil
Thor - $174 mil
Rio – 136 mil

And the box office results world-wide (the figures that really matter):
Pirates – $887 million
Fast Five - $583.5 mil
Rio - $467 mil
Thor - $431.6 mil
The Hangover II - $431.2

Interesting, huh? I don’t think Disney is too worried right now.

Care to prove you’re a writer? Bet you're more convincing than me!