UNSTOPPABLE - 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.

UNSTOPPABLE

Bossy Betty
This wonderful woman with a penchant for humor and eye for photography underwent a life-changing event last year, one that nearly wiped her out. However, she is not Bossy Betty for nothing! Struggling through the pain and sorrow, she bravely set out on the new path. I admire her strength and endurance and watch in awe as she tackles life renewed. Betty, you are truly unstoppable!

Leigh at Em-Musing
Her posts may be a wandering musings, but not her actions. Leigh is on the hunt, submitting her queries with determination. Add to her challenges a recent move to Mexico. But that won’t stop her either. And I know all of that unstoppable energy will one day meet with success.

Christopher Nolan
He certainly seems unstoppable with a string of one great film after another. Starting with Memento (from an earlier post) through Batman and Inception (also posted) he has a knack for hitting one home run after another. I can’t wait for the third of the Batman trilogy “The Dark Knight Rises.”

NINJA NEWS!

Wendy Tyler Ryan is putting together the Second Avenue Second Hand Anthology – see her site for details on how to submit.

Full details on the A to Z Reflections post May 7 are posted at the A to Z Blog

Don’t forget the First Loves Blogfest on May 14 – First loves of movies, music, books, and person.

NINJA CONTEST!

To celebrate 1500 followers, I’m holding a giveaway – a copy of CassaStar and CassaFire! This will be a little different though. The books will be donated to the winner’s choice of public or high school library, along with a selection of bookmarks. (The winner also gets bookmarks.)

How to enter: (and must be a follower)

Comment on my posts (just once) U-X (Tuesday through Friday) – one point

Ten extra points for the first comment (please don’t melt my blog)

Ten extra points if you blog about this contest (leave a link so I know)

Winner will be announced Monday during the Z post!

Following Betty and Em-Musing? Think Christopher Nolan rocks? Ready to share your thoughts about the Challenge on May 7? Entering the giveaway? And who do you know who is unstoppable?

Thanks again everyone for making 1500+ followers a reality. And despite the cool suggestions yesterday, I’m sticking with Ninja Captain. After all, Jean Luc Picard was an awesome captain!

February Movie Preview!

It’s movie time again! Where the heck did the month go?

And I'm visiting the blog of Chris Phillips today with a song that inspired the writing of CassaStar. It’s a short piece – and also a cautionary tale for those who leave suggestive comments. (Read it and you’ll understand!)

1st -

DVD - Monsters
Excellent film! Haunting. Read my review HERE





4th -

Sanctum
Director: Alister Grierson
Stars: Rhys Wakefield, Allison Cratchley, Christopher Baker
The Plot: A diving team experiences a life-threatening crisis during an expedition to an unexplored cave system.
James Cameron is the producer, which bodes well for this film. And while this is based on a real event, it bears a striking resemblance to the horror film, The Cave. (Sans creepy monsters of course.)


11th -

Gnomeo and Juliet
Director: Kelly Asbury
Stars: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Maggie Smith
The Plot: An animated version of Shakespeare's play, where Gnomeo (voice of McAvoy) and Juliet (voice of Blunt) are would-be lovers from rival garden-based families.
Not holding my breath on this one, as the previews look cheesy…

15th -

DVD – Unstoppable
Another great movie – lots of action and tension. Read my review HERE




18th –

Unknown
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Stars: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones
The Plot: Dr. Martin Harris (Neeson) awakens from a coma, only to discover that someone has taken on his identity and that no one -- not even his wife (Jones) -- believes him. With the help of a young woman (Kruger), he sets out to prove who he is.
If it’s done well, this one could be really good.

Vanishing on 7th Street (limited)
Director: Brad Anderson
Stars: Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton, John Leguizamo
The Plot: When a massive power blackout causes a city's population to vanish, a handful of survivors band together inside a tavern in an effort to survive as darkness approaches.
Anderson has done some great films (like Session 9) but so far early reviews are “eh.” Bummer, was really hoping for a good film… It’s free on Direct TV on the 16th, so I’ll still check it out.

I Am Number Four
Director: D.J. Caruso
Stars: Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Dianna Agron
The Plot: Nine alien teens come to Earth after their planet is destroyed by an enemy species. But soon discover that their enemy is now after them on Earth.
I know so many are excited for this film, but after reading story behind the publisher and the writer (who earned a whole $500 for this tale and that's it) I’d rather not give money to that machine…


25th –

Drive Angry 3D
Director: Patrick Lussier
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, William Fichtner
The Plot: A felon (Cage) breaks out of hell for one last chance at redemption: to prevent the cult who murdered his daughter from sacrificing her baby in three days' time. He's aided by a young waitress (Heard) and her ex-boyfriend's muscle car, and together the duo will have to face down the leader of the cult, the police, and a killer known as "The Accountant" (Fichtner) -- who wants to return him to the Devil.
Expecting another cheesy fest in the same vein as Ghost Rider.

DVD – Megamind
I skipped this one in the theater, but I’m looking forward to seeing it on video.


All movie info and descriptions from the IMDB.





So, what are you catching next month?

Movie News and a Review

Two big movie releases this weekend.
I chose to see Unstoppable.
I think I made a wise choice.

Staring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine and directed by Tony Scott, Unstoppable is about a runaway train carrying toxic chemicals.

And the title fits perfectly!

This movie is fast, relentless, and never stops moving. It's the ultimate roller coaster ride. One critic called it "Perfect popcorn entertainment."

This movie does not break new ground nor is it perfect as a dramatic film. But you don't go to see Unstoppable expecting Oscar performances and a deep, thought-invoking plot. You go for the action!

Scott does an excellent job with the action - once things begin to roll, about ten minutes into the movie, the pace never lets up. The director maintains a high level of tension until the very end. And despite all of the crashes and explosions in the preview, there's really very little destruction and death. It's presented in a thrilling but realistic manner. Nothing appeared impossible or implausible.

The actors do a good job. Denzel is Denzel, full of charisma, and Chris Pine's character starts out as unlikeable, but grows over the course of the film. Rosario Dawson does a great job as the station manager working with Denzel and Pine.

And with any Tony Scott film, you have amazing visuals. His shots of the countryside, not to mention the trains, are fantastic. You see that speeding train from every angle possible - and from underneath is the wildest!

You want a fast-paced action flick that's not dumb? Go see Unstoppable!


In other movie news, Hollywood Spy posted a trailer for next year's Battle: Los Angeles and it looks both chilling and amazing. Looks like that alien invasion movie might live up to its hype!

Speaking of hype, have you read some of the reviews for Skyline over at Rotten Tomatoes? They're funny! Critics compare it to a SyFy original movie, a trip to Kmart, and just below a Roger Corman film. Said it made Independence Day look like a second coming of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Ouch!

If any of you ventured out to see it, let me know - was it really that bad?

Ultimately, I think it's a shame the studios chose to push Skyline instead of Monsters. Guess they felt tons of special effects would do better than a slow-paced, smaller film. I'll say it again - if it's playing near you, check out the sheer genius of Monsters. Critics of Skyline may claim that film making is best left to filmmakers, but the director of Monsters proves them wrong.

Time to write! How's everyone else doing with NaNo? Some new ideas hit me this morning and I'm ready to rock.

November Movie Lineup!

Who's ready for a movie?!?

5th-

Megamind
Director: Tom McGrath
Stars: Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt
The Plot: Megamind (Ferrell) is the most brilliant super-villain the world has ever known, though after several unsuccessful attempts to conquer Metro City, a new foe sees him attempt -- for the first time in his life -- to use his powers for good.
Could be good, could really suck!

Due Date
Director: Todd Phillips
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan
The Plot: High-strung father-to-be Peter Highman (Downey Jr.) is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis) on a road trip in order to make it to his child's birth on time.
Robert Downey Jr. makes this one a possibility…

12th-

Skyline
Director: Colin Strause Greg Strause
Stars: Eric Balfour, Donald Faison, Scottie Thompson
The Plot: A group of friends fight to survive as a mysterious light source causes people to vanish into the air.
Have you seen the latest trailer? I am so there!!

Unstoppable
Director: Tony Scott
Stars: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson
The Plot: A rail company frantically works to prevent an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train carrying combustible liquids and poisonous gas from wiping out a city.
Based on a real incident which only lasted an hour, involved no dangerous materials, and didn’t destroy cars or maim a soul. LOOSELY based I guess!

19th-

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Director: David Yates
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
The Plot: Harry (Radcliffe), Hermione (Watson), and Ron (Grint) set out from Hogwarts to find and destroy the Horcruxes -- the secret to Voldemort's power and immortality.
Why two parts? More money!!! Bloodsuckers. I’ll probably still see it…

26th-

Tangled
Director: Nathan Greno Byron Howard
Stars: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi
The Plot: Rapunzel (voice of Moore), a princess with 70 feet of magical, golden hair, has been locked away for years in a tower high above her kingdom. Desperate to be free, she strikes a deal with Flynn Rider (voice of Levi), a handsome bandit who chooses her tower as a hide-out spot.
Looks fun and funny! Yeah, I'm a sucker...

Faster
Director: George Tillman Jr.
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Maggie Grace
The Plot: An ex-con (Johnson) sets out to avenge his brother's death after they were double-crossed during a heist years ago. During his campaign, however, he's tracked by a veteran cop (Thornton) and an egocentric hit man.
For those who don’t want to go sit with the masses seeing Tangled - dumb, mindless violence!

What are you eager to see?