YOUTHFUL - A to Z Challenge

It’s the third A to Z Challenge! Blog the letters of the alphabet in order every day except Sundays The participation list is HERE – start with the blog after yours and visit at least five blogs a day. Mostly, make new friends and have fun!

My theme – I have selected a word for each day and will present to you blogger buddies who fit that description, along with movies, music, etc. My theme is to give back, highlight some awesome bloggers, and have fun in the process.

YOUTHFUL

Nicki Elson
Nicki is an 80’s child. She revels in the music, the lifestyle, the fashion, the bad hair… (Maybe not the hair.) But with that mischievous smile of hers, you just know there is a youthful teenager inside, ready to break out in dance and song. Nicki always makes me feel young again. (And without having to go back and endure the horrors of school.)

Mary at Play off the Page
Mary’s youthfulness comes in a different way. She is spirited and determined. Her enthusiasm for plays, both attending and writing them, comes through loud and clear in her blog posts. And I think that is the secret to youth – enthusiasm. Mary, don’t ever lose yours!

Super 8
Coming out last summer, this movie focused on a group of pre-teens shooting a movie and a strange alien creature. My favorite film of 2011, this movie took me back to my own youth, as I was very close to the age of those kids in 1979. Evoking a style reminiscent of a young Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams perfectly captured the tone, look, and feel of the movies of my youth.

NINJA NEWS!

One of my best blogger buddies and a fellow Challenge Co-Host, Jeremy Hawkins of Retro Zombie’, had some exciting news – He’s officially been added to an independent record label called "Howlin' Wolf Records" to run their on-line magazine. Congratulations, Jeremy – you rock, dude!

Ciara Knight’s book, Rise From Darkness, is available for free on Amazon through today. So hurry!!!

Laura Bambrey’s 101 Blog Prompts is half off this weekend!

The Pirates
I went in wanting to love it, but just couldn’t. After watching Flushed Away last weekend, I was really expecting some humor. It’s cute, but not really funny. After so many Ardman Animations winners, I think this will go down as their first dud. Sad, because the claymation and effects are really good.



Following Nicki and Mary? What did you think of Super 8? Downloaded any books lately? Seen Pirates yet? Only one more day of the Challenge – are you ready? And who do you know is youthful? (Not me – I am really starting to feel my age…)

The Best of the Best and the Rest

We’ll start with the rest!

Thanks to everyone who visited my two guest posts this week. Sorry if I shocked anyone with my blogging hours. That’s what it takes to keep up with my blogger buddies. You guys are awesome – how could I not keep up?

I’ll be co-hosting another blogfest – details next week. And yes, I will host one of my own soon! It’s been ages since the Worst Movies Ever Blogfest and I have something really cool planned for later this spring.

The trailer for CassaFire went live at You Gotta Read Videos on Tuesday – voting opens later this month. I’ll keep you posted.

Special thanks to Arlee Bird at Tossing it Out for his review of CassaFire on Monday. I’ll take the 4.99999 out of 5.0, Lee – thanks!

And we have a special video announcement at the A to Z Challenge blog today.

Now on to the best!

Instead of just a “Best of 2011” list, which everyone else has already put together, thought I’d do my favorites, some honorable mentions, and a look ahead to this year.

Favorite movies – where else did you think I’d begin?

Super 8

Fast Five

Captain America (I know you love that, Melissa!)

Thor

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II

Source Code

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

Rango

Honorable mention goes to Drive and Hanna – not favorites, but two excellent films.

Favorite albums – all rock/progressive rock, which should come as no surprise!

In Flames – Sounds of a Playground Fading

Dream Theater – Dramatic Turn of Events

Mastodon – The Hunter

3 – The Ghost You Gave to Me

Serenity – Death and Legacy

Favorite Games – because I am a computer game junkie.

Skyrim

Orcs Must Die

(I lead a double life – Orcs during the day on my laptop, Skyrim at night on my Xbox!)

Favorite books – and I so dig reading books on my iPad!

Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Feast of Souls by C.S. Friedman

Honorable mentions – Karen Walker’s Following the Whispers (never read a memoir before and hers was just amazing) and Rusty Webb’s unpublished novel (don’t stop until you find a publisher, dude!)

And since this post is growing long, I’ll just give you the movies I most want to see this year –

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Peter Jackson can do no wrong! Yes, I will totally geek out at the end of the year for this one.)
Dark Knight Rises (Christopher Nolan can do no wrong either.)
The Avengers (This will be just EPIC!)
The Cabin in the Woods (Joss Whedon rocks.)
Prometheus (High hopes for another Aliens ride.)
Underworld: Awakening (Favorite vampire/werewolf series. And of course, KATE!)
John Carter (Please don’t screw this up, Disney.)

Now, you tell me – what was your favorite movie/album/game/book in 2011? What movie do you most want to see this year? Curious about the upcoming blogfests? Still trying to figure out what ‘progressive rock’ means?

Dreams and the Muppets

Everyone have an awesome Thanksgiving? Finish your Nano project? Invent teleportation over the weekend? (Send me a private email if you did!)

I have some announcements and a movie review for you today.

First, Amity at Dreams are my Reality is celebrating her three-year anniversary of blogging today! And, I was honored when she asked me to contribute a few words to the event. My short tribute to Amity is now up at her site, accompanied by an even longer introduction that is really, really sweet. If you don’t already follow Amity, you need to visit Dreams are my Reality today!

Michael at In Time is hosting a one year blogaversary and (almost) five hundred follower celebration. Amazon gift cards, people! Get with it and go follow now!





I confess, I was a slug this past weekend. Outside of some eating and football games, I did nothing. Well, I did spend Sunday trying to figure out why our oldest computer died. Think the mother board ate itself. That’s never good. Seeking the help of a friend today and if we can’t fix it, there’s only one solution. Buy a new computer. That’s right – force me to purchase another geek toy! Damn I have such a rough life…

But, I did get out to the movies this weekend! That’s right, it was The Muppets for me.

The movie started out a little slow, but once they crossed that fourth barrier and let the audience in on the movie, it picked up. From that point, it was a trip down Muppet and the 80’s memory lane. Not sure how much anyone under the age of thirty-five will dig this movie, but Generation X and older will appreciate the nostalgia. As always, the story has a sweet spirit and positive message. Best parts for me were Jim Parsons (Sheldon on the Big Bang Theory) as Walter’s human counterpart and Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) as the drummer for the evil Moopets.

And I watched Super 8 again on DVD. Damn that was a great movie!

By next weekend I hope to catch Arthur Christmas.

You guys see any good movies? Finish your NaNo project? Have a computer meltdown?

Don’t forget to visit Amity at Dreams are my Reality

News and Movie Reviews!

Too hot for anything but a dark movie theater this weekend! But first, a couple announcements…

Laura Eno’s new book, Tempest Child, was released last week! Wow, it was a busy week for books, wasn’t it?

Geof at The Man-Cave is hosting a giveaway – win a gift certificate from Retro Planet!

I also have something special planned for my author friends! Might take me a week or two to organize, but hopefully you guys like it.

Now, TWO movie reviews!!

Super 8

Take one part E.T., a dash of Jaws, a pinch of Cloverfield and toss in a bit of Stand By Me and you have the ingredients for what I feel is the best movie so far this summer. The best compliment I can give the movie is that it made me feel like a kid again - that wide-eyed sense of wonderment that’s been sorely lacking in many recent films. J.J. Abrams movie is an homage to the great works of Steven Spielberg and he shines in all elements of this film. The true highlight, however, is not the special effects or the action scenes (which are great) it's the cast of relative unknowns who nail every scene. Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning are particularly great and the interplay between them rings completely honest. The film deals with weighty subjects like loss, depression, sadness and pain but balances it all out with friendship, young love and (oh, by the way) an effective monster hunt story. Obviously, I highly recommend it to those who yearn for a bit of nostalgia and childlike wonderment. (But parents, leave the little kids at home!)

Troll Hunter

College film students trail a man they believe is a poacher, only to discover he’s a troll hunter! This faux cinema verite film doesn’t take itself too seriously. After all, they’re hunting trolls! The creators came up with plausible explanations as to why no one has seen a troll and how the government’s Troll Security System keeps the creatures in control. The effects are good, there are a few laughs, and the scenery beautiful. A unique film from Norway that’s a fun watch!


Anybody else see either film this weekend? Any good previews? Saved me some Hot Tamales?

June Movie Preview Extravaganza!

It's June First and time for a preview of films hitting the theater this month! (I know, where the heck did May go? No clue.)

All plot descriptions courtesy of the IMDB

June 3

X-Men: First Class
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Stars: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence
The Plot: Charles Xavier (aka Professor X) and Erik Lensherr (aka Magneto) are two young men discovering their powers. Banding together with fellow mutants to stop a threat to the world, a rift grows between the two forces, leading to the founding of Professor X's X-MEN and Magneto's Brotherhood, and the beginning of their eternal war.
I’ve enjoyed the X-Men films and look forward to this one. Early review say it’s one of the best superhero movies ever!


June 10

Super 8
Director: J.J. Abrams
Stars: Elle Fanning, Amanda Michalka, Kyle Chandler
The Plot: Ohio, 1979: when kids shooting a super 8 movie witness a train crash, their shock soon turns to feelings of suspicion and horror after disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town.
Have you seen all the sneak previews? Extended previews? This looks awesome! Abrams is at it again.

The Troll Hunter - limited
Director: André Øvredal
Stars: Otto Jespersen, Robert Stoltenberg, Knut Nærum
The Plot: After learning that real-life trolls exist after years of being covered up by a government conspiracy, a group of Norwegian film students set out to catch the creatures on camera.
CineMarvellous gave this an awesome review and the trailer looks amazing. Plus, it’s showing next Wenesday June 8 on HDNet - I get to see it early!


June 17

Green Lantern
Director: Martin Campbell
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard
The Plot: When he's granted a mystical green ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers, test pilot Hal Jordan (Reynolds) becomes the first human to earn membership into an intergalactic squadron tasked with keeping peace within the universe. His mission: to combat an enemy called Parallax, which threatens to destroy the universe's balance of power.
I am a BIG DC Comics fan - can’t wait for this movie!


June 24

Cars 2
Director: John Lasseter Brad Lewis
Stars: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The Plot: Lightning McQueen, pit boss Mater, and the rest of Lightning's crew enter the Race of Champions, a multi-national event taking place in Japan, Germany, Italy, France, and England.
It’s Pixar. It’s Cars. What else can I say? Pixar trailers never look great, but the movies always deliver.

What movie has your attention? Are you all geeked-out for superheroes and giant trolls?