#RiffTrax Live – Invasion of the Giant Spiders, Top 15 #MST3K Episodes, Missing Link Review, and Ninja News

I have a post at the IWSG site today - Ten Ways to Support Other Authors.

Please check it out!

RiffTrax: Live – Invasion of the Giant Spiders

Another great show!

First there was a 60’s short with marionettes about phone lines and etiquette. The main marionette’s name was Handy, so the jokes took a bit of a dirty turn.

Then came the main feature, staring Alan Hale from Gilligan’s Island. And yes, his very first line was ‘Hey, little buddy!’

The story of a meteor crashing, creating a black hole, and releasing spiders from another dimension as barely thought out. (The giant spider was a VW with legs!) However, that just gave the guys full reign to make fun of its Wisconsin location and scream ‘Packers!’ often.

At one point, Alan Hale (as the sheriff who never left his office) got a phone call, and Mike said ‘You want me to bend over at a forty-five degree angle?’ It continued, but the funniest part was Bill and Kevin both cracking up at Mike’s deadpan delivery.

This was originally a Mystery Science Theater 3000 movie and props to the guys for not repeating any jokes.

Overall hilarious and the only way to watch the film! If you missed it, the encore is August 20.

Now enjoy some of the preshow slides:

Top Fifteen Mystery Science Theater 3000 Episodes

Why fifteen? Because there were too many for ten!

Spanning almost thirty years and three hosts, here are the funniest MST3K episodes ever:

#15 – Lost Continent – Rock climbing, guys, rock climbing…
#14 – Merlin’s Shop of Mystical Wonders – Stories about artifacts taken from Merlin’s shop, or as I like to call it – ‘Ernest Borgnine Has Bills to Pay’
#13 – Space Mutiny – So bad, they did it twice - it was also a RiffTrax: Live
#12 – Cry Wilderness - The touching story of a boy and his Sasquatch
#11 – Laserblast – one alien weapon, one rock embedded in a goofy kid’s chest, and one Roddy McDowall gleefully going off a cliff to avoid being in the rest of the movie…

#10 – The Creeping Terror – Victims actually have to crawl into its mouth to be eaten. And watch out for the band number – it’ll be stuck in your brain forever.
#9 – Mac and Me – You’ll believe a boy in a wheelchair can fly – and roll down a hill and off a cliff.
#8 – Pod People – Watch Trumpy do stupid things!

#7 – Prince of Space – aka, Attack of the Chicken People.
#6 – Wild Rebels – bikers, drugs, the 60’s, and Ross Hagan – Google him! He did a lot of bad, bad movies.
#5 – Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues – No one puts Boggy Creek Baby in a corner!
#4 – Time of the Apes – no one stays long in Johnny’s world – would you?

#3 – Cave Dwellers – It’s got O’Keefe. How much? Miles…
#2 – Parts: The Clonus Horror – Hi, I’m Peter Graves. Tonight on Biography – I star in a really bad film about clones.

And the number one MST3K episode – 

Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster 

Now shag on out there beanie-boy and fix that whoop-whoop noise!


Honorable mention goes to The Phantom Planet and Invasion of the Neptune Men.


How many of those episodes have you seen? (How many of the films have you had the misfortune of seeing without MST3K’s help?) Many are available on DVD, from NetFlix and Amazon, from the MST3K site, and on the MST3K Pluto TV channel. Sadly, you won’t be able to find Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster as they only leased it for five years. Unless you find someone like me who recorded almost every episode and now has them all on DVD!

Movie Review

Missing Link
A British ‘big and unusual game hunter’ travels to the USA to find Sasquatch.
First, I do want to note that the stop motion is amazing. There is also some computer animation blended in the background, and it all looks incredible.
However, the story was rather blah. Plus it was a very uneven film, with sprinkles of humor spread way too thin. It went for cheap, easy laughs. And missed. You want to see a movie about Yeti, go watch Smallfoot instead.
I’m not sure what the message of the film even was. Your dreams will be dashed – just be happy where you are? That’s what I got out of it anyway.
It was made by the studio that brought us Kobo and the Two Strings, which is a far superior film. Kobo was much more expressive, moving, and a complete story.
Unless you just really have to hear Hugh Jackman’s voice (also includes Zoe Saldana, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Thompson, David Walliams, Timothy Olyphant, and Stephen Fry), I’d skip this one.
Not recommended

Ninja News

Just two weeks left to enter the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Annual Anthology Contest!
Genre is middle grade historical – either adventure or fantasy – and the theme is voyagers.
See the site for full details.

The WEP Challenge for August is Red Wheelbarrow.
Post your entry this week and then add you link to the WEP site.

Anyone else catch the RiffTrax show? What are your favorite MST3K episodes? Seen Missing Link? And are you entering the IWSG Anthology Contest or WEP competition?

See you all September 4 for the next IWSG post day – and the deadline for entering the contest!

And be sure to check out Ten Ways to Support Other Authors.

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Hobbs and Shaw Review, August Movie Preview, and Lots of News

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.


My awesome co-hosts today are Renee Scattergood, Sadira Stone, Jacqui Murray, Tamara Narayan, and LG Keltner!

August 7 question - Has your writing ever taken you by surprise? For example, a positive and belated response to a submission you'd forgotten about or an ending you never saw coming?

This whole author thing in general I never saw coming.

But having a couple of my books hit the top of science fiction on both Amazon US and UK definitely took me by surprise!

Plus all the support when I got online surprised me.

What’s surprised you?


And quick report – I did get a lot written last month!

Don’t forget, only one month left to enter the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Annual Anthology Contest!
Genre is middle grade historical – either adventure or fantasy – and the theme is voyagers.
See the site for full details.

Here is August’s IWSG Instagram:

 

The WEP Challenge for August is Red Wheelbarrow.
Use the time between now and then to write and edit your entry, so you're ready to post your direct link at the WEP site between August 21 - 23.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw – Movie Review

It continues the story with Hobbs and Shaw working together to find a deadly virus.
You know what you’re going to get with this franchise. If you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy it. If not, skip it.
I’m capable of leaving my brain at the door and just enjoying the crazy stunts and ridiculous, over-the-top action sequences. And those bat-crap crazy moments are spectacular.
The interaction between the leads is filled with funny insults and snarky comments. Toss in Ryan Reynolds (playing himself so well) and Kevin Hart and it’s funny from start to end. Idris Elba is a convincing and ruthless villain, and Vanessa Kirby is a kick-ass heroine.
As with the rest of the franchise, it’s all about family bonds.
And lots of wild car stunts.
Highly recommended.

New Releases!

Peel by Angela Brown
Published by Book Jaunts
Find it on Amazon and several other sites

Fractured Princess by Debra Renee Byrd
Available on Amazon in paperback eBook

Emergency Transmission by Sean McLachlan
Fourth book in the Toxic World series
Find it on Amazon

August Movie Preview

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

9 –

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
A group of teens face their fears in order to save their lives.
Director: André Øvredal
Stars: Zoe Margaret Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Dean Norris
PG-13 – they might actually have to rely on scares rather than gore.





16 –

47 Meters Down: Uncaged
Four teen girls diving in a ruined underwater city quickly learn they've entered the territory of the deadliest shark species in the claustrophobic labyrinth of submerged caves.
Director: Johannes Roberts
Stars: Nia Long, John Corbett, Sophie Nélisse, Brec Bassinger
Because there were so many unanswered questions from the first film…



23 –

Angel Has Fallen
Secret Service Agent Mike Banning is framed for the attempted assassination of the President and must evade his own agency and the FBI as he tries to uncover the real threat.
Director: Ric Roman Waugh
Stars: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Piper Perabo, Lance Reddick
How many things can fall in one guy’s lifetime?



Anything about your writing surprise you? Catch Hobbs and Shaw yet? Entering the IWSG Anthology Contest? (Less than a month!) Writing for WEP? And what movies will you be seeing this month?

My next post will be August 19 when I report on the final RiffTrax of the summer - The Giant Spider Invasion!

Spider-man: Far From Home, Stranger Things 3, Murders on Boats with Ellen Jacobson, and Ninja News!

Spider-man: Far From Home

Picking up after Avengers: Endgame, Peter Parker needs a break and takes a school trip to Europe. Of course, Spider-man is needed!
This film was a ton of fun. Marvel just keeps getting better and better. It was a great idea to get Spider-man out of New York for a bit.
Tom Holland is excellent as Spider-man/Peter Parker, bringing just the right elements to the roles. His friends and classmates also made for a great cast.
The special effects are spectacular. However, it’s the human element that makes this film so engaging.
And remember this name – Night Monkey!
As always, stay through the credits. The first bonus scene is very critical and really sets up an interesting third Spider-man film. And at the end of the credits is the second bonus scene.
Highly recommended!

Stranger Things – Season Three

The third and possibly last season of Stranger Things dropped on the Fourth of July and I may or may not have watched half of it that day!
The kids are now teens and enjoying their summer. Everyone but Will has a girlfriend/boyfriend, so there are a lot of raging hormones. The familiar faces all return – the kids, the young adults, and the adults – plus there are a few new faces in the crowd.
The first episode establishes where the characters are in life, taking its time to introduce the weirdness. Oh, but it does come! There are also a lot of different subplots running along, but as the episodes progress, they all start to come together.
NetFlix had a lot of faith in season three and put a lot of money into the production. The special effects are really great and on a much bigger scale.
The Duffer brothers have a great grasp on all things 80’s. It feels like you are watching something from Steven Spielberg or Joe Dante.
Eight episodes is the perfect length. And all those subplots come together for one explosive and surprising ending. And certainly stick around for the post credit scene. It will make you wonder if this really is the final season. (They are now talking two more although maybe not with all the same characters.)
Highly Recommended!

Murders on Boats!

Please welcome Ellen Jacobson!

I love reading mysteries and I live on a sailboat, so it only seems natural that I would seek out movies and TV shows that feature murder on boats.

Death on the Nile (1978)
This classic adaptation of Agatha Christie’s book stars Peter Ustinov as the Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. When a wealthy heiress is found dead on a paddle steamer, Poirot puts his little gray cells to work identifying the killer.

Murder Mystery (2019)
This comedy stars Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler as a married couple who get caught up in a murder investigation on a billionaire’s mega-yacht. If you’re looking for a light-hearted whodunit, this might be just the ticket.

High Seas (2019)
This Netflix Spanish language series features two sisters who travel on a luxury cruise ship from Spain to Brazil. When someone ends up dead, they try to discover who the murderer is. The 1940s vintage period decor and setting add to the appeal.

Dead Men Tell (1941)
Charlie Chan investigates the death of a woman who planned to seek out treasure on an old sailing ship. A pirate ghost with peg leg, missing pieces of a treasure map, and a talking parrot add to the fun.

The Mystery Cruise (2013)
When two best friends set off on a three day murder mystery game on a luxury cruise ship, they end up putting their investigative skills to work after they discover a real murderer is on board.

Poisoned by the Pier is available in ebook, paperback and large print on all retailers. If you’re new to the series, you might want to start with Murder at the Marina. The ebook is currently on sale for only 99c/99p on all retailers. Find out more on my website.

Get Ellen’s books here - Poisoned by the Pier and Murder at the Marina

Ninja News

We are looking for one more admin to join the IWSG team! If you are interested, please email us. Must be active member of either the blog hop or Facebook. Email - admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com

Don’t forget the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Annual Anthology Contest is open and taking submissions!
Genre is middle grade historical – adventure/ fantasy and the theme is voyagers.
See the site for full details.

A Not So Heartless World by Pat Hatt
This is book nine in the series!

After facing time travel, time fractions, the time axis, the Time Junction, alternate realities, Olympus, the Freton, aging, and even being turned into cartoons, Jack, Jeremiah, Emily, Trudy, Orlin, and the rest of their family have finally made it safely home. But as a battle as old as time itself comes to a head, they soon find that home is the least safe place they have ever been.

Pick it up on Amazon


After sixty-seven years, Mad Magazine is shutting down.
From Rolling Stone:
The comedy mag will be pulled from newsstands after the release of issue nine in August and from then on will be sold exclusively via subscriptions and comic book store (Mad reset its numbering in 2018 after moving offices). Starting with issue 11 in October, “new” issues of Mad will only feature new cover art, while the rest of the magazine will comprise articles pulled from previous issues.


Upcoming DVD releases:

July 16 – Shazam!

July 23 – Alita: Battle Angel

And in case you missed it, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance series debuts on August 30 on NetFlix. The series is a prequel to the movie released in 1982.

Fingers crossed they stay pure to Jim Henson’s style and vision!

With a vacation coming up soon, I’m going to take the rest of July off. I’ll also be writing! So enjoy your summer and after this week, I’ll see you on August 7 for the next IWWSG post day.

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Sci-fi Fantasy Movies, July Movie Preview, and More!

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.

My awesome co-hosts for the July 3 posting of the IWSG are Erika Beebe, Natalie Aguirre, Jennifer Lane, MJ Fifield, Lisa Buie-Collard, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!

July 3 question: What personal traits have you written into your character(s)?

Most of my characters are nothing like me. Aden from Dragon of the Stars is pretty much my polar opposite. Only Byron from my Cassa series got any of my traits – I’m also a perfectionist and like my privacy. When I was younger, I had his temper, but I outgrew that. Like most rock stars, I mellowed with age…

And on a side note, I have been writing! Around a thousand words a night for the past week. But I’m in the groove and should have a finished story by August.

Science Fiction - Fantasy Movies

I'm so excited to have a spot on IWSG day at the grand poobah's place!

Alex is a top notch movie reviewer and sci fi writer, among other fantastic things... So as I celebrate the release of WINDY HOLLOW, fantasy adventure, I thought a short post about my favorite sci-fantasy movies would be apropos. Sci-fantasy incorporates sci fi settings or tech with some mystical or magical components. In Beast World, the fantasy creatures are no strangers to modern-day technology!

Here are some of my favorites of yon and of late... I didn't want to take up too much space, and I bet you could name a bunch more in the comments!

Star Wars (1977 sci-fantasy at its finest!)
Time Bandits (1981)
The Secret of Nimh (1982)
Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
The Matrix (1999)
I, Robot (2004)
WALL*E (2008)
Inception (2010)
Wreck It Ralph (2012)
Ready Player One (2018)

I always thought my Beast World stories would be awesome for an animated film series. They have everything I look for in a fantasy adventure movie: hijinks, young romance, difficult journeys, friendship, action, suspense, justice, unpredictability, highs, lows, soul-searching, unsung heroes, and lots of laughs. (Side note: I wrote this article back in January for my expected release back then... after some agony, I finally published it myself, then discovered a movie will be coming out next year: ONWARD by Pixar that is basically set in my Beast World. It’s been a devastating blow, but I’m working on getting noticed and taking it back!)

Anyway, thanks again for having me, Alex. I enjoyed the stroll down my sci-fantasy movie past and future. And for helping me get the word out about WINDY HOLLOW!

Did you think of a sci-fantasy movie you love? Ever wish your book could be turned into a movie?


WINDY HOLLOW
Beast World MG Fantasy Series, book #3
by Tara Tyler
Available NOW!

This summer, Gabe and his friends fly over the Great Sea for the wedding of the century: a dragon prince and a beautiful harpy. But Gabe can't relax on this vacation. Besides competing in rigorous wedding events, he overhears the nearby human village WINDY HOLLOW is in danger from an evil human scientist and a vengeful were-ogre experimenting on beasts. Gabe and his friends risk crossing the mountains to help, despite several warnings. 

Maybe he's going too far this time, but he's in too deep to quit. It's do or die, hopefully not die!

Paperback ~~~ Ebook

Goodreads

website: Tara Tyler Talks

twitter: @taratylertalks

facebook: Tara Tyler - Author

Instagram: taratylertalks

newsletter: tara tyler news

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

IWSG Anthology Contest

Don’t forget the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Annual Anthology Contest is open and taking submissions!
Genre is middle grade historical – adventure/ fantasy and the theme is voyagers.
See the site for full details.

For those who are confused by the genre:
Middle grade – suitable for 9 – 14 year-old children.
Historical – it must have historical aspects and be set in a time before 2000 or earlier. It just needs to be set in the past.
Adventure/fantasy – the subgenre can be either adventure OR fantasy. The fantasy genre is acceptable as there are many ancient cultures and times that believed in supernatural occurrences.

Book News!

My publisher is running a Fourth of July special - buy a book and get a free book.

Full details on their site.

Poisoned by the Pier by Ellen Jacobson

Life without chocolate and junk food—completely miserable. Finding someone poisoned by a cake—even worse.
Can Mollie nab the murderer before someone else is poisoned?
Spoiler Alert: You’ll never look at rutabagas the same way again after you finish reading this book!

Find Poisoned at the Pier on Amazon and Goodreads
Find Ellen at her website and blog

July Movie Preview

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

2 –

Spiderman: Far From Home
Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.
Director: Jon Watts
Stars: Zendaya, Angourie Rice, Tom Holland, Jon Favreau
Saw this on opening night - awesome! Don't miss it. And stay for the double ending. Totally worth it. Review next week!

12 –

Stuber
A detective recruits his Uber driver into an unexpected night of adventure.
Director: Michael Dowse
Stars: Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista, Betty Gilpin, Kumail Nanjiani
Drax takes an Uber…

Crawl
A young woman, while attempting to save her father during a Category 5 hurricane, finds herself trapped in a flooding house and must fight for her life against alligators. Director: Alexandre Aja
Stars: Kaya Scodelario, Barry Pepper, Ross Anderson, Anson Boon
Alligators attacking during a hurricane. I dread the Asylum/SyFy rip-off coming – Sharknado vs. Hurrigator.

19 –

The Lion King
After the murder of his father, a young lion prince flees his kingdom only to learn the true meaning of responsibility and bravery.
Director: Jon Favreau
Stars: John Kani, Seth Rogen, Donald Glover, Keegan-Michael Key
At this point, Disney doesn’t need an original thought ever again…

26 –

Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood
A faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the film industry during the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Sydney Sweeney
Tarantino puts 70’s Hollywood in a blender.

Do your characters have your personality traits? What are your favorite science fiction - fantasy films? Picking up Windy Hollow,  Poisoned at the Pier, or another book? (Ellen will be here on Monday!) Submitting to the IWSG Anthology Contest? And what July movies catch your eye?