Movie Reviews Long Overdue

Not that I'll ever catch up on all the films I watch on NetFlix...

Legend of the Guardians
Or as my wife called it, “The stupid owl movie.” (And she really wanted to see it, too!)
Zach Snyder’s directorial style is in full force here (think The 300) and the animation is superb. One particular scene with an owl called Soren flying in slow motion through a waterspout is incredible.
However, the story felt flat. I just wasn’t involved with the characters or overall storyline. It’s supposed to be an epic fantasy on par with LOTR, but I just didn’t feel it. And it may be based on a children’s book, but this flick is not for the little ones.

The Losers
I heard some good buzz about this film but missed it in the theaters. An elite Special Forces team (The Losers) is double-crossed and decides to clear their name the only way they know how. Cue the bullets and explosions. This is a guy movie with good characters, fun dialogue, and a smoking hot Zoë Saldana.

Kick-Ass
The superhero movie that turns the genre on its head. Kick-Ass (from a graphic novel series) tells the simple story of a teen nebbish who decides to turn his life around - by becoming a superhero despite the fact he has no powers whatsoever. Funny, poignant, crude, and over-the-top. I really thought I’d hate this movie, but it’s quite entertaining.

Planet 51
One word - bad! I finally gave up after 30 minutes. (Yes, I survived 122 minutes of Sharktopus, but that was for a cause!) It’s as if someone took an unedited, rough first draft screenplay and made it into a film. Bad dialogue, poor editing, and a lame story. I felt bad for the animators who worked on this film because they did a fine job!

And to wrap up this movie-fest of a week - Friday is the roundup of October movies!

Sharktopus: A Play-by-Play

Did you catch this SyFy disaster last Saturday night? Fear not! Though it was far worse than expected, I suffered through the event, just for YOU! There were far better things on TV that night, too. I caught glimpses of the Boise State game during the commercials, and let me tell you, that Smurf-blue field looked far more enticing! But I stuck it out so that I could present to you:

My thoughts while watching Sharktopus, recorded by the minute.

3 min – The “ding” of the elevator sounds just like my microwave oven chime.

7 min – They didn’t waste any time with pesky details like plot or exposition.

10 min – Roger Corman must have pictures of Eric Roberts with a donkey or something.

13 min – Roberts isn’t even trying. I think he’s cold-reading the script from cue cards.

15 min – Hot woman on beach – the movie is getting better.

16 min – Oh wait, Sharktopus killed her. Movie sucks again.

19 min – Not so attractive woman goes bungee jumping. I’m okay with her dying.

30 min – Various shots of sun-soaked, bikini-clad hotties flashes across the screen. This should be the centerpiece of the film.

37 min – Sharktopus attacks sunbathers. The CGI is so bad I find myself growing nostalgic for a guy in a big rubber suit.

42 min – A man tells Roberts there’s something on TV he has to see. I’m pretty sure it’s not Sharktopus.

44 min – The lead actress’s voice keeps shifting from British to American. She must’ve studied at the Kevin Costner Robin Hood School of Acting.

51 min - Is there enough alcohol in the house to get through this movie?

62 min – Pretty sure Roberts is drunk. Lucky basterd.

64 min – They should rename “SyFy Saturday Night” to “SyFy Saturday Craptacular.”

73 min – The upside to being eaten by Sharktopus: you don’t have to sit through the rest of Sharktopus.

80 min – A pirate radio DJ mocks Sharktopus and is devoured. This is a life lesson, people!

83 min – Sharktopus just pantsed some guy. That was… awkward.

93 min – No really, Roberts is hammered. This guy was on a three-day bender shooting this film.

98 min – The movie just morphed into a Puerto Vallarta travelogue. Or a bad Bollywood film. Not sure which.

101 min - I wonder if Boise State is still winning?

107 min – Roberts is killed by Sharktopus and there was much rejoicing.

110 min – Our hero now intends to run over Sharktopus with a minivan. Hope he’s insured.

122 min – Sharktopus is arrested on tax evasion charges. Movie over.

Now you don't have to waste two hours of your life! You can thank me later...

Blogfests, Stoked, and Double Vadar

Whew! What a week for blogfests. The Top 10 TV Shows was a big hit. Everyone enjoyed discovering new and old favorite shows. The Great Blogging Experiment with Elana Johnson and Jennifer Daiker at Unedited was even bigger! I’m still reading entries. Thanks to everyone who participated in those blogfests. Special mention – Michele at Southern City Mysteries hosted her Blog Birthday Fest on Friday. Sorry I didn’t get to participate, Michele, but I did read some of the entries. A really big thanks to all who answered my call for help on October 19 this week! The sheer number of bloggers who responded humbles me. You’ve done wonders to alleviate the anxiety of a new author – thanks! My publisher sent me a copy of the Library Journal page upon which my review appears this month: Yes, I’m stoked!!! Grinned for hours after I received it. And I’m a guy – I rarely smile! Next post will contain several movie reviews, including Legends of the Guardians and SHARKTOPUS!!! You didn’t forget to watch that train wreck of a movie last night, did you??? In the meantime, enjoy a rundown of characters who appeared at Dragon Con this year, courtesy of Chad Vadar!

Creating Compelling Characters

Today’s blogfest is all about how writers create compelling characters.

First, let me quantify that statement – I hope I’ve figured out how to do that!

Now, on to my process…

I just look to the qualities in the characters of other books. What draws me to that character? What do I admire? What causes me to relate to those characters?

I prefer characters that are intelligent and crafty, remaining one step ahead of their opponent. They should be brave and possess confidence. But, the most important component – they are flawed and yet still manage to get the job done.

For me, that’s the key – imperfect characters. Nobody’s perfect. (I know I possess many defects!) That’s why we relate to others who share our weaknesses and insecurities. Of course, a character can’t be a total loser. Even at our lowest point, we still hope that we possess some redeeming qualities. We want to believe that we can grow and improve. And a compelling character needs to do the same.

In the end, believable characters give us faith in ourselves. Broken down into those simple terms, designing compelling characters isn’t so difficult after all.

And if you really think about it, that’s pretty damn cool!

Be sure to visit Elana Johnson and Jennifer Daiker at Unedited, along with the other participants listed below!