Movie Blogfest Wrap-up, Ninja News, Covers, Wednesday Movie Quote, and Movie Reviews

Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest Wrap-up

Whoa! One of the most successful blogfests ever – 183 participants! Lots of great movies listed. If you want to continue browsing for movie suggestions, the list is HERE and all links go straight to the post. (Yes, I’m anal and took the time to do that.) Great turnout and lots of comments. Thanks to all who visited - I had almost 240 comments!

Ten movies was difficult, and I was reminded of a few that should’ve made my list – The Usual Suspects, The Princess Bride, and John Carter. (And since I visited everyone - most popular was LOTR, Avengers, and The Princess Bride.)

Did anyone visit all of the participants? I did! And special thanks to Jeremy, David, and Mark who also visited a ton of folks.

Now, who’s ready for movie night?

Ninja News

Laura Eno just found out that her book, Immortal Desires, has been nominated for Best Romance – Paranormal Romance 2012 by The Romance Reviews. Voting is now open HERE. Congratulations, Laura!

The Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm Expansion Set arrived Monday. I’ve not had time to play it much, but so far it is awesome! Yes, like I need another time suck in my life…

Cover Reveals!

First one was supposed to go up Monday – my apologies, Christine!

1305 & 1306 - The Oracle and The Vampire
The 13th Floor series, #5
By Christine Rains
Release date: May 13th, 2013

Eye of the Soul
Pool of Souls, Book One
By Terri Rochenski

Ocean Slays
Book Two of Ocean Breeze
By Jade Hart
Release date: May 2013


Congratulations, ladies!

Wednesday Movie Quote

This week’s theme – Westerns.

My choices come from Tombstone, said by Doc Holiday –

“I’m your huckleberry.”

“It’s true, you are a good woman. Then again, you may be the antichrist.”

Next week’s movie quote theme – horror.

Movie Reviews

Resident Evil: Retribution
Still directed by Anderson and staring Milla Jovovich, the look and feel of the series remains intact. However, it just might be running out of steam.
Not much of a plot. Does it need one? Well, not really. The storyline just rolls into a new, unbelievable setting and sets it up for another movie.
I knew what I was getting and was mildly entertained.
And my wife wants Milla’s personal trainer.

Dark Shadows
Directed by Tim Burton and staring Johnny Depp. Of course!
Based on an old soap opera, the film follows cursed vampire Barnabas Collins' return to the family after years of imprisonment.
This film was odd. And overall, not very good. Instead of endearing quirkiness, it’s more like dysfunctional unease. This time Burton and Depp did not gel well for a good movie. Glad I skipped it in the theater.

Did you find some new films to watch on Monday? Vote for Laura? Pick up the new Starcraft? Dig the covers? What’s your favorite Western movie quote? And have you seen either Dark Shadows or the latest Resident Evil?

The Lost Girl, Ninja News and Answers, and the September Movie Preview!

The Lost Girl

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna was released this week – congratulations, Sangu!

Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other”, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

What Eva finds is a grief-stricken family; parents unsure how to handle this echo they thought they wanted; and Ray, who knew every detail, every contour of Amarra. And when Eva is unexpectedly dealt a fatal blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom to be an original. To be Eva.

Purchase The Lost Girl now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon UK

Ninja News!

Next Wednesday is post day for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Please remember to post the badge and a link to the IWSG list so others can find the group and join us!

Michael Abayomi’s second book in the Guardians & The Lost Paradise series, The Fall, is available now. Congratulations, Michael!!



And so many questions for the Ninja! It will take me months to answer all of them. Selected a few for today…

From Spacerguy - Alex, is there a price to pay for being Captain of the Ninja Army?
Just the willingness to invest my time and myself.

From Christine Rains - What book are you reading right now?
Just started Roland Yeomans’ The Legend of Victor Standish.

From just about everyone – a photo of me! There is one on my About Me page.
Want something better? Well, Mark Koopmans has something in mind for November…

September Movie Preview!

Here are the upcoming releases for September. As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me. 


7 –

[REC]³ Génesis
A couple's wedding day turns into a horrific events as some of the guests start showing signs of a strange illness.
Director: Paco Plaza
Stars: Leticia Dolera, Diego Martín, Javier Botet, Àlex Monner

Won’t catch it in the theater, but the first two were good.

14 –

Resident Evil: Retribution
Alice fights alongside a resistance movement in the continuing battle against the Umbrella Corporation and the undead.
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Stars: Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Michelle Rodriguez, Kevin Durand

Fifth? Sixth? I’ve lost count. As long as they make money (and Milla stays in shape) we’ll see many more. Won’t see this in the theater either, but I will watch on NetFlix. As long as they don’t suck, I’ll keep watching!

21 –

Dredd 3D
In a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO.
Director: Pete Travis
Stars: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey, Rachel Wood

Urban is supposed to be awesome in this! Now to wipe that awful Stallone film from my mind…

28 –

Looper
In 2072, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent 30 years into the past, where a hired gun awaits. Someone like Joe, who one day learns the mob wants to 'close the loop' by transporting back Joe's future self.
Director: Rian Johnson
Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano

I’ve been looking forward to this film for months! Gordon-Levitt is great in everything now (and he’s in just about every movie as well) and Willis is always fun.

Hotel Transylvania
Dracula, who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy discovers the resort and falls for the count's teen-aged daughter.
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Stars: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez

Thought I’d throw in something for the kids. From the guy who brought us Over the Hedge.

Have you picked up The Lost Girl Yet? Or The Fall? Ready for the IWSG next week? My answers satisfy your curiosity… for now? And what September movies are on your radar?