Ant-Man and the Wasp Review, Movie and IWSG News, Devil’s Rock Review, and New Releases

Movie Reviews

Ant-Man and the Wasp
Very entertaining!
Two years after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Scott is finishing up his house arrest when a quest to find Hope’s mother (lost in the beginning of the first film) brings the two of them and Hank together again.
It’s light-hearted, funny, and the perfect popcorn movie. It’s breezy and fun – in line with the first Ant-Man film. You never feel anyone is in mortal danger, but that’s all right. It’s not that kind of a film.
There’s no central villain. It’s more of a caper as everyone is after the research lab. (Which conveniently shrinks to a rolling suitcase.)
Scott, Luis, and friends have also started a security system company, which is ironic since they were all once thieves. Luis also had some of the funniest lines again.
One of the strongest aspects is Scott’s relationship with his daughter. It’s very sweet and natural.
As always, stay through the credits for two bonus scenes. (They tie the film in with Infinity War.) Highly recommended!

The Devil’s Rock
From the IMDB: Set in the Channel Islands on the eve of D Day, two Kiwi commandos, sent to destroy German gun emplacements to distract Hitler's forces away from Normandy, discover a Nazi occult plot to unleash demonic forces to win the war.
This New Zealand film came out in 2011 and we caught it on Amazon Prime.
This is a quiet, atmospheric horror film. The giant bunker is dimly lit and strange sounds and screams carry eerily down the corridors. It’s as unnerving as it is gory. (And when it’s gory – wow!)
Basically there are only four people in the film, but they do a fine job of carrying it. You never know who to trust. Sometimes the accent is heavy, so you have to listen close.
If you can handle the gore, this creepy little film is definitely worth a watch.

New Releases

Landscape Love by River Ford (Charity Bradford)
Nathaniel Pierce ran away from home and the painful memories of his past. He's recreated himself in Eureka Springs. No longer a veterinarian, he's Nate the landscaper. When old Lilly Connor dies, the whole town turns to him to watch out for her granddaughter.
Find it on Amazon

Bluebonnet Ballerina by Carol Kilgore
Gracie Hofner returns, and chaos reigns—including a couple of ghosts trying to save their granddaughter.
Find it on Amazon

Movie News

JoBlo reported on Friday that Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom had crossed the billion dollar mark worldwide.

An article on JoBlo states that production on Birds of Prey should begin January 2019. Actress Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn) says this Suicide Squad spin-off featuring an all girl gang should be rated R.


July DVD releases:
July 10 - A Quiet Place
July 17 - Rampage
July 24 - Ready Player One

IWSG News

IWSG Co-Hosts!
We need one more co-host for August 1.
We also need co-hosts for September 5 (the day we announce the genre and guidelines for the next IWSG Anthology Contest), October 3, November 7, and December 5.
If you can help any of those days, leave a comment or shoot me an email.
Thanks!

#IWSGPit happens Thursday, July 19!

You don’t want to miss this event.

Visit the IWSG site for the rules, time, and hashtags. The IWSG Admins will be monitoring the feed and encouraging participants.

Good luck to everyone pitching!


Today at the IWSG site we have a special guest - Mary Kole, founder of the award-winning Kid Lit site. She’s discussing editing and more, so check it out.

The next WEP – (Write...Edit...Publish) challenge in August has been announced – Change of Heart.
Sign-ups begin August 1.
How does this tie in with the IWSG? You’ll soon find out…




I will be gone for a few days next week, so I’ve made the decision to take the rest of July off. I’ll pop in now and then, and be active on Twitter, but it’s a chance for me to catch up on some IWSG stuff and work on my story.

Catch the new Ant-Man movie? Ever see The Devil’s Rock? Participating in #IWSGPit? Picking up some DVDs or books? And who can co-host the IWSG?

Have a great July!

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, #IWSGPit, July 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 July 3 posting of the IWSG are Nicki Elson, Juneta Key, Tamara Narayan, and Patricia Lynne!

Today’s optional question - What are your ultimate writing goals, and how have they changed over time (if at all)?

Well, in the beginning I just wanted to write one book. When I realized I would be writing more, my goal was to finish the series. Then it was to write a story completely separate from that series. Now I’m back to working on that series. So I guess you could say my ultimate goal is always just the next book. One foot in front of the other…

And yes, I am writing. Working on Bassan’s story a little bit at a time.

I have been working on two upcoming events for the IWSG – the anthology contest (lining up judges) and #IWSGPit (sending out invites). And not we have over a thousand agents and publishers invited to watch the feed on July 19 for #IWSGPit!
So get those pitches ready. Over five thousand tweets last January and we were a trending topic – plus several authors have now found homes for their books. Don’t miss out!
Details at the IWSG site.

New Releases!

Boyfriend Material (The Man Catalog #2) by Megan Morgan
Need a date? Or a temporary boyfriend? How about a husband in a hurry? The professionals at SASS—Singles Arrangement Service Specialists—are here to help.
Find it on Evernight Publishing, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Smashwords, and Kobo

Book Two of the Family Relics Series by Tanya Miranda
Jasmyn blames herself for her baby sister's death, and she's confident her family blames her too. Instead of returning home, Jasmyn joins her coven to focus on developing her grandmother's magic.
Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Google Play, Smahwords and Kobo

Heart Seeker - The Fire Heart Chronicles Book 1 by Juliana Haygert
"For over twenty years, I've been lied to--magic burns within my veins, and I'm unable to resist its call."
Find it on Amazon, and Goodreads

July Movie Preview

Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for July! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.

6 –

Ant-Man and the Wasp
As Scott Lang balances being both a Super Hero and a father, Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym present an urgent new mission that finds the Ant-Man fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past.
Director: Peyton Reed
Stars: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña, Walton Goggins
Supervillains beware – you’ll need both crawling and flying insect spray. Pest control is so pricy…

13 –

Skyscraper
FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader and U.S. war veteran Will Sawyer now assesses security for skyscrapers. On assignment in Hong Kong he finds the tallest, safest building in the world suddenly ablaze, and he's been framed for it. A wanted man on the run, Will must find those responsible, clear his name and somehow rescue his family who are trapped inside the building...above the fire line.
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Pablo Schreiber, Noah Taylor
Just refer to the RiffTrax: Live slide from last week:

The Nun
A priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate the death of a young nun in Romania and confront a malevolent force in the form of a demonic nun.
Director: Corin Hardy
Stars: Bonnie Aarons, Taissa Farmiga, Charlotte Hope, Demián Bichir
A ghost nun? Our knuckles will never be safe again!

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation 
Mavis surprises Dracula with a family voyage on a luxury Monster Cruise Ship so he can take a vacation from providing everyone else's vacation at the hotel. The rest of Drac's Pack cannot resist going along. But once they leave port, romance arises when Dracula meets the mysterious ship Captain, Ericka. Now it's Mavis' turn to play the overprotective parent, keeping her dad and Ericka apart. Little do they know that his "too good to be true" love interest is actually a descendant of Abraham Van Helsing, ancient nemesis to Dracula and all other monsters.
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Stars: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Fran Drescher, Mel Brooks
Thank goodness they greenlit this – so many unanswered questions from the second film.

20 –

The Equalizer 2
Robert McCall serves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed, but how far will he go when that is someone he loves?
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Stars: Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo
Denzel is back playing…well, playing Denzel. But he does it so well…

27 –

Mission: Impossible - Fallout
Ethan Hunt and his IMF team, along with some familiar allies, race against time after a mission gone wrong.
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Stars: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Cavill, Vanessa Kirby
Cruise in a post-apocalyptic wasteland? Wait, don’t confuse this with Fallout the video game…

Have your writing goals changed over time? Participating in #IWSGPit? Picking up some new books? And what July movie catches your eye?

RiffTrax: Live – Space Mutiny, Fallen Kingdom Review, Murder at the Marina, The Disaster Artist Review, and News

RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny

I didn’t get the photos organized in time for my post last week, but I wanted to give you guys a taste of the experience.

This probably wasn’t the best RiffTrax show, although it had some incredibly funny moments.

MST3K (Mike, Bill, and Kevin) did this movie, and I’ve seen that version at least a dozen times. So while I admire their determination to bring new jokes to the film, repeating very few from the MST3K version, it just didn’t hit all the notes. Because of course, the best jokes were taken. (The moment you see the Valerian women, you think Stevie Nicks, but since MST3K used that, the guys came up with another singer. And yet your mind still screamed Stevie Nicks.)

That said, it’s still the perfect film to riff. Most of the budget was spent acquiring old Battlestar Galactica footage, which they somehow manage to make worse. The vehicles driven on the space ship look like a cross between a bumper car, a golf cart, and a waxing machine. Many sets are reused (and it’s obvious) and some scenes are reused. There is even a scene after a character is murdered where she still appears in place on the bridge. (‘I loved your funeral.’) It embraces all that was cheesy and bad about the 80’s, including early special effects and video games, all while coming out in 1988. Yeah, really.

And of course, I have some pre-show screen shots to show you:

And just so you can see it really was Battlestar Galactica footage...

Next RiffTrax: Live is August 25 - KRULL!

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Review

Beginning a few years after the previous film, Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen (Chris Pratt) go back to the island to save the dinosaurs before the volcano destroys everything. But all is not as it seems… Dino chaos ensues.
The last film disappointed me. The characters weren’t very likeable and the script had a ton of plot holes and stupid mistakes.
This one was definitely a step up. Even though the basic plotline is similar to The Lost World – (slight spoiler) – a group is gathering the dinosaurs with a nefarious agenda.
The effects and sets are spectacular. Ironically, I recently re-watched Jurassic Park and those dinosaur special effects are on par with today’s work.
The story goes in a really unique direction, especially the ending, and I will give them that. It takes the dinos in a new direction, but also people. (See the film and then really think about the implications.)
The characters are bit more likeable this time around. Big plus there.
If you liked the last one, you’ll like this one. If the last one didn’t quite do it for you, this one is better. It’s a little rehash mixed with some fresh material.
Recommended

Murder at the Marina by Ellen Jacobson

In 2013 I told my mother that my husband and I had decided to move aboard a sailboat full-time in New Zealand and head off cruising in search of adventure. Like any good mother would, she worried about our safety, but she was supportive of our crazy plan.

Then two movies came out that same year which alarmed her—“All is Lost” and “Captain Phillips.”

“All is Lost” (starring Robert Redford) is about a man sailing solo in the Indian Ocean when his boat starts taking on water, eventually forcing him to abandon ship. Although it was critically acclaimed, many in the sailing community panned the movie for being unrealistic in terms of the lack of critical safety equipment on board and the decisions he made. I tried to explain to my mother that the probability of our boat sinking was quite small, but I don't think she believed me.

“Captain Phillips” (starring Tom Hanks) was inspired by a true story of a freighter being hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. Once she realized that these weren't Johnny Depp kind of pirates, we were forbidden from sailing in that area.

We ended up having such a great time cruising in New Zealand (and didn't sink our boat or get hijacked by pirates), that we ended up buying another sailboat back in the States. Our adventures and misadventures buying a boat and living aboard full-time inspired my light-hearted, humorous cozy mystery, “Murder at the Marina.” Of course, now my mom is going to worry that we might discover a dead body aboard our boat, like my main character, Mollie McGhie, did.

“Murder at the Marina” available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, and iTunes. Find out more at ellenjacobsonauthor.com and follow along on Twitter @Ellen__Jacobson and Facebook @EllenJacobsonAuthor.

The Disaster Artist Review

This is the true story of Tommy Wiseau and how he came to make the horrible film The Room. (Which was riffed brilliantly by RiffTrax: Live.)
From IMDB: When Greg Sestero, an aspiring film actor, meets the weird and mysterious Tommy Wiseau in an acting class, they form a unique friendship and travel to Hollywood to make their dreams come true.
James Franco directs and stars in this film, which also features his brother Dave as Greg. While I admire Franco’s passion for the subject matter – how did this horrible director/actor/writer create a film so bad it would develop a cult following – the one thing it fails to do is give us any more than we already know about Tommy Wiseau. (Other than to confirm he was crazy and a bit of a jerk.)
Both brothers are great in their roles. James nails Tommy and it’s almost eerie.
Some scenes are hard to watch. Could someone really be that delusional?
Where did Tommy get the six million to fund this film? Where is he from? How old is he? No one knows, and this film provides no answers.
Interesting to watch just because I’ve seen RiffTrax rip The Room. But it didn’t do a lot for me. Your experience may vary.

Ninja News

The Contemplative Cat had a really fascinating post:
Lustron Corporation, a division of Chicago Vitreous Enamel Corporation, was founded in 1947 and began to construct 15,000 homes in that year and then 30,000 (according to this info above) in 1948. The houses cost between $8,500 and $9,500.
These houses were unique, to say the least: all steel.
The houses are made of steel, top to bottom. Cabinets, closets, kitchens, doors, walls, door jams, support beams---everything is steel. (Notice the built-ins throughout the house in the YouTube video below.) Houses were pre-fabricated and assembled on site, in two weeks. Steel slates are on the roof. Enameled steel square panels cover the exterior. No repainting, roof repair, termite damage are in these houses.
Check out her post for images and more details.

Latest release!
Old Mam by Pat Hatt
Find it on Amazon




From JoBlo:
Multiple Star Wars films still in the works!
A few days ago a report came out that Lucasfilm was freezing several upcoming STAR WARS standalone/spinoff movies in carbonite, and that they would be focusing only on the current trilogy, Rian Johnson’s new trilogy and movies from David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Turns out that may not be entirely correct, as Lucasfilm sources told ABC News they still have “multiple” new STAR WARS movies still in the works.
The news outlet reports the Lucasfilm sources are calling the original report “inaccurate,” and that they indeed have movies outside of the Johnson trilogy and Benioff/Weiss series that are in the works and moving forward. No specific projects are named, but in the past, we have heard about a Boba Fett movie from James Mangold and an Obi-Wan movie by Stephen Daldry.

Also from JoBlo:
SyFy is developing a Nightbreed series.
Almost thirty years ago, Clive Barker wrote and directed NIGHTBREED, a dark fantasy horror film based upon his 1988 novella "Cabal." Unfortunately, Barker had to deal with studio-mandated cuts and misleading marketing and the film would go on to become a commercial and critical failure, but over the years, NIGHTBREED has become a cult hit and Scream Factory even released a director's cut of the film in 2014. Last year, Morgan Creek Entertainment announced that they were looking to exploit a number of films in their catalogue, including NIGHTBREED, and it seems that our next trip to Midian will take place on television as Syfy is developing a series based upon Clive Barker's creation.
I really dug the movie so I’m curious where they will go with the series.

The Kindle edition of Carol Kilgore’s Bluebonnet Ballerina is now available for the pre-order price of 99 cents at Amazon.
This price will be good through the release date – July 9, 2018.
Bluebonnet Ballerina follows Jalapeno Cupcake Wench and is the second book in The Amazing Gracie Trilogy.

And finally, there is a movement to remake The Last Jedi. No, really. Yes, go ahead and laugh. No script and no rights from Disney – sure you’re going to remake it! Get the details at Slate.

Ready for RiffTrax to tackle Krull? Who else saw Fallen Kingdom? Picking up Murder at the Marina? Surprised by those steel homes? Thinks some fans take Star Wars way too serious…?

Remember, Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day is July 3, a Tuesday next week! See you then.

Incredibles 2 Review, Movie Remakes – in the Works/Better than Original, Movie News, Movie Trivia Answers, and Ninjabread Cookies

The Incredibles 2 Review

This sequel picks up not long after the first one ended. Supers are outlawed and The Incredibles aren’t to use their powers. But a wealthy man and his sister entice them to let Elastic Girl try to change the public’s perspective.
The story was a bit slow in the first half. By the second half, it really picked up and went all out. Jack-Jack has some of the funniest scenes.
Animation is amazing of course, especially in 3D.
It was a fun film but not as good as the first one. You’ll guess the twist and ending really early in the film. Plus the trope of leaving dad at home alone to bumble his way through with the kids is a tired one.
Lucious (Frozone) gets a bigger role and they introduce a lot of other Supers. Since they are all forced into hiding though, it does have an X-Men feel about it.
The voice talent all returns – Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson. Plus Winston the wealthy man is voiced by Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul).
It’s a fun way to kill two hours although not the most memorable. Most of the fresh reviews on Rotten Tomatoes echo that thought. Recommended.

Movie News

JoBlo had several articles regarding Aquaman, including this one:
At long last Entertainment Weekly has given us our first look at the deep sea pirate and mercenary David Kane, a.k.a. Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II)
The movie is getting a lot of buzz and great response from early viewers, so I’m really stoked. Aquaman is my favorite super hero and it’s good to know they are doing it right.

This article on JoBlo amused me - Top 10 Types of Movie Fans That Need To Chill The F*ck Out (Sorry, their words, not mine.)
Movie fans can be some of the most accepting and interesting people you will ever meet. A true movie fan can talk intelligently for hours about any type of movie. But, there is a darker side to fandom. There are fans out there who are so full of vitriol and hate that they ruin it for everyone else.
The groups included DC Fans Who Hate Marvel and Marvel Fans Who Hate DC, Franchise Haters (Who Have Never Seen The Films They Hate), and Extreme Conservatives AND Liberals. (Nice to see some fair play on that last one.)

Michael Dougherty's Godzilla: King of Monsters is set to come out next May. Staring Vera Farmiga Millie Bobby Brown Kyle Chandler, and Ken Watanabe, it features not only Godzilla, but Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah as well. Remake of Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster? We’ll find out!

Sony and Entertainment One are now backing The Chronicles Of Narnia series, taking over from 20th Century Fox. Mark Gordon is producing, along with Douglas Gresham (C S Lewis’ stepson), Vincent Sieber and Melvin Adams. David Magee will pen the script for The Silver Chair, which will reboot the franchise with a whole new cast.
Good! Not cool to leave this series unfinished. It deserves the same royal treatment as Lord of the Rings.

Movie Remakes in the Works

Yes, more movie remakes! Your favorite film from the past is about to become history. Here are some you might not know were coming soon.

Aladdin – Releasing May 2019, directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Will Smith (as Genie), and Marwan Kenzari.

Big Trouble in Little China – starring Dwayne Johnson, no release date set.

The Blob – Coming January 2019 and directed by Simon West (Con Air, Expendables II), it will star Samuel L. Jackson and Halle Berry.

Dune – Directed by Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Sicario, and Blade Runner 2049), this will likely become two films instead of one.

Hellboy – Releasing January 2019 with Neil Marshall (The Descent) directing. David Harbour (Stranger Things) is Hellboy and he’s joined by Ian McShane and Milla Jovovich.

The Lion King – Release date July 2019 and directed by Jon Favreau. This live action piece will star Donald Glover, Seth Rogan, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and James Earl Jones reprising his role as Mufasa.
Teaser trailer here.

Pet Cemetery – Releasing April 2019, directed by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmeyer. It will star Amy Seimetz, Jason Clarke, and John Lithgow.

Shaft – Written by Kenya Barris and Alex Barnow, the release date is June 2019. Directed by Tim Story (The Fantastic Four), it stars Samuel L. Jackson as Shaft.

Movie Remakes That Work

Most remakes result in a crappy, cash-grab film. They are easy money since the script is already written and already needs minor adjustments. Or maybe a studio just wants a reboot. (Spiderman, anyone?) Or they just want to swap things around. The results are mediocre at best.

Sometimes though, we get a gem. A film equal to or even better than the original. I’m going to list a few I think of as good or even better than the original.

The Fly – The original featured Vincent Price and came out in 1958. As with most films of that time, it became dated quickly. The remake starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis was brilliantly directed by David Cronenberg. Not only are the special effects better, but the film takes on a far deeper meaning.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers – Original came out in 1956 and had a lot of political overtones. The first remake in 1978 starred Donald Sutherland and really drove home the fear of an invasion we couldn’t fight. It also featured a bleaker ending. (Another version, Body Snatchers, came out in 1994. While not memorable, it reimagined the setting and placed it on a military base.)

The Thing – The original came out in 1951 and deviated from the source material, a book by John W. Campbell, Who Goes There? The remake in 1982 by John Carpenter followed the story closer and is a masterpiece of horror and suspense. Not to mention the amazing creature effects, done before the days of CGI..

Movie Trivia Answers

Movies featuring artificial intelligence answers:

1 – 1982, Jeff Bridges – Tron
2 – 2014, Alicia Vikander – Ex Machina
3 – 1982, Harrison Ford – Blade Runner
4 – 2002, Milla Jovovich – Resident Evil
5 – 1927, Brigitte Helm – Metropolis
6 – 1986, Ally Sheedy – Short Circuit
7 – 2016, Felicity Jones – Rogue One
8 – 1983, Matthew Broderick – War Games
9 – 1996, Patrick Stewart – Star Trek: First Contact
10 – 1986, Sigourney Weaver – Aliens

Ninjabread!

When looking for something in the pantry, we discovered a kit for making Christmas Ninjabread Cookies that we’d forgotten. So we went ahead and made them. Merry Christmas in June!

Here they come to snuff the rooster... (Name that tune!)

Did you catch The Incredibles 2? Ready for Aquaman, Godzilla, and Narnia? Any of those remakes make you cringe or are there some in need of a remake? What remakes can you think of that were equal to or better than the original? Want a Ninjabread cookie? And how many trivia answers did you get right?