Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Movie Reviews, August Movie Preview, and New Releases

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 August 6 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Natalie Aguirre, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Olga Godim!

August 6 question - What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

Right now, I would say it was all of the people on X and other social media who follow you, send you what seems to be a friendly message, and after a few exchanges they are pushing you to let them market your book or do other work for you. Anne R. Allen talks about getting a lot of marketing emails, so I guess this is just a new way for them to get to you.

Movie Reviews

The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Must say, I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. It’s a very fun film.
I really dug the 60’s vibe of Earth 828. The retro was stylish and complete but with futuristic elements woven in.
There is great chemistry between the four leads. They come off as real people and a genuine team.
Galactus and the Silver Surfer are great villains, with the later having a full character arc.
Great special effects, good story, and unlike the next film, it all made sense.
Highly recommended!

Superman
I wanted to love it. But sadly, I was disappointed. Watching Superman get his ass kicked for two hours is not my idea of fun.
Lex Luther was way too powerful. He could make his own superhero, pocket dimensions… His whole thing was jealousy and he wanted Superman dead, and yet when he had Superman in his grasp, he did not kill him.
Like most of the movie, it didn’t make sense.
Not all was lost. Mr. Terrific and Krypto were the best parts of the film.
Sorry, can’t recommend it.

New Releases!

If The Quest for Orichalcum was a movie, how would it be compared?
Well, it’s in the scifi realm, but more Star Trek than Star Wars. At this stage of this galaxy, wars are trifling things. And Pete and Lars wouldn’t be anywhere near them, because they meet at college, and are more interested in launching their careers than in fighting for powers they don’t believe in. Their adventures with planet surveys, space walking, girls, and bullies fit well into a Star Trek universe, but Pete has a secret destiny, and there’s a lot of lovely scenery, so maybe I can claim affinity with Lord of the Rings? There’s a touch of Casablanca about it, too, largely because the origin of my series started with a flash fiction mash-up of Casablanca and Star Wars… and all before they hit it rich… mining orichalcum.
- Jemima

Out August 12!
The Quest for Orichalcum by Jemima Pett
The Quest for Orichalcum tells how it all started – the revolution that transformed the galactic economy, let alone space travel.
Find it on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo

Available now!
Past and Present by Rosemary Johnson
We need to know about the past in order to make sense of the present.
Find it on Amazon

August Movie Preview

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

1 –

The Naked Gun
Director: Akiva Schaffer
Stars: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser
Only one man has the particular set of skills - to lead Police Squad and save the world.
I wonder if this one also has a nice beaver?

8 –

Weapons
Director: Zach Cregger
Stars: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich
When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.
The real weapons are the Legos those kids left all over their bedroom floor…

15 –

Red Sonja
Director: MJ Bassett
Stars: Matilda Lutz, Martyn Ford, Rhona Mitra
An adaptation of the comic book, Red Sonja, a vengeful warrior known as a "She-Devil with a sword.”
She-devil with a sword, puppy with nunchucks, dik-dik with brass knuckles…

22 –

Primitive War
Director: Luke Sparke
Star: Tricia Helfer, Ana Thu Nguyen, Jeremy Piven
Vietnam. 1968. A recon unit known as Vulture Squad is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone.
Predator meets Jurassic Park meets the Vietnam War meets super low budget…you can see where this is headed.

29 –

The Toxic Avenger
Director: Macon Blair
Stars: Peter Dinklage, Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige
A horrible toxic accident transforms downtrodden janitor, Winston Gooze into a new evolution of hero: The Toxic Avenger.
Remake of an awful 1984 cult classic – is this what Dinklage gets for insisting Snow White not use real little people?

What do you think is an unethical practice? Seen either superhero movie? Picking up either book? Seeing any of the movies coming out in August?
I’ll be posting at the IWSG site on August 18. Otherwise, see you September 3 for the next IWSG post!

Series and Movie Reviews, Movie Trailers and News, and New Books

Series/Movie Reviews and News

Squid Game
From the IMDB: Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children's games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits with deadly high stakes. A survival game that has a whopping 45.6 billion-won prize at stake.
A South Korean series set in current time, Squid Game tells a very dystopian story.
The first season took many twists and turns I was not expecting, some of them actually pleasant.
It is very dark and extremely violent. Some of the games are tough to watch.
But what makes it engaging are the characters, especially the lead, Lee Jung-jae. They bring humanity to the cold-hearted games.
If you can handle the violence, I highly recommend it.

What We Do in the Shadows
From the IMDB: A look into the daily (or rather, nightly) lives of three vampires, who've lived together for over 100 years, on Staten Island.
Season three just dropped and it’s just as funny as ever.
Nadja, Laszlo, Nandor, and Colin, along with Guillermo, now promoted from servant to guardian, continue to bungle their way through situations with often hilarious results. Nandor and Nadja are now head of the Vampiric Counsel – of course taking turns and undoing each other’s work.
This might be the dumbest collection of vampires ever to hit the screen. It makes for a very silly and light-hearted show.
This series is based on the original movie and still written by creator Jemaine Clement. (He’s also an actor – look for him in the upcoming Avatar films.)
If you’ve never watched this mockumentary series, it’s a must – highly recommended!

News of the World
From the IMDB: A Civil War veteran agrees to deliver a girl, taken by the Kiowa people years ago, to her aunt and uncle, against her will. They travel hundreds of miles and face grave dangers as they search for a place that either can call home.
It’s a very simple and sometimes slow-paced story. The glue is the relationship between Hanks and Zengel. Two lost souls who need each other.
There are some intense action scenes, but it’s the bond between the two that carries the film.
Recommended!

DC Fandome debuted a teaser trailer and a teaser feature of Black Adam starring Dwayne Johnson, coming out next year:



And a teaser/trailer of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom:

Denis Villeneuve's Dune comes out in theaters October 22 – but it will release one day earlier on HBO Max!
Like all Warner Bros. releases this year, it will appear in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously. This might hurt its theatrical release even as it pleases those who still don’t want to gather in a crowded theater.
I plan on seeing it in the theater and will probably watch it one or two more times on HBO Max.

New Books!

The Life and Times Of Color by HR Sinclair
This book is for people who love color, history, trivia, and superstitions. I’ve collected bits of information on color ideas around the world, added a color thesaurus, and color descriptors as well as places and things that are predominantly one color that a writer could drop into a scene if they’re looking for a pop of color. But this is not just for writers, it’s for everyone who’s fascinated with color.
Read more about the book here
Universal purchase links here

Write Well, featuring Rosemary Johnson
A handbook for Christian writers from the Association of Christian Writers.
Find it at their site

Long-time blogger friend, Katherine’s Corner, is hosting Autumn on a Tray this November 6. 

Visit her site for details.

Seen either series or the movie? Looking forward to the DC movies next year? Seeing Dune in the theater? Picking up either book?
Don’t forget – October 26 is RiffTrax: Live – Amityville Horror 4, live in theaters!
See you November 3 for the IWSG post.
Almost forgot - Books Forward is featuring the IWSG today and an interview with me about the group!