Movie Review - How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon - without a doubt the best movie I have seen this year!

First I have to say that Dreamworks outdid themselves with the animation. Every object had such incredible texture, and you could even see the hairs on the arms of the Vikings. The flying sequences were breathtaking but not nauseating, and the scenery vivid and detailed.

Not that I've praised the animation, let me get to the story. The movie opens with a dragon raid on a Viking village. The whole village aspires to be dragon killers, believing every dragon should be killed on sight. And then one day the village leader's son befriends the most dangerous dragon of all...

Despite the angle taken by the trailers, this is not a silly film. It's more of an adventure than a comedy, and a little somber in parts. How to Train Your Dragon is a coming of age film - a young man's quest to find his place in life.

The dragons (and there many breeds) each possess their own personality. While the dragons are fierce, they are more like dogs than anything else. Wild dogs I might add - it takes the young hero, Hiccup, quite a while to earn the dragon's trust.

The feel of this movie will resonate with you for a very long time. I highly recommend you catch this film in 3D - especially before this Friday's release of Clash of the Titans forces it out of the 3D theaters...

eReader News and More

Entertainment Weekly features a column from Stephen King and this week he discussed eReaders. Mr. King loves his Kindle and states "Gadgets fascinate me, particularly if I can think of a way they might get weird." However, even he doesn't feel that eReaders can fully replace books.

I have agree with that statement. There's something about a physical book - the feel of the pages and knowledge that I hold a tangible object. ITunes may be my favorite store for music, but I often burn my downloads to disc, just in case.

Now, with all that in mind...

I pre-ordered my iPad this past weekend!

Yes, the pressure was too much. I had to possess the new gadget. And on April 12th, a Wi-Fi 64GB iPad and case will leave the Apple warehouse, destined for my address. So expect a comprehensive review of the device by the last week of April...

In other news, I received CASSASTAR back from my publisher after a round with the editor. So I will be busy with edits, rewrites, and polishes on my book this week. I also saw another rough draft of the cover art and it's really coming together.

And thanks to everyone who visits my blog on a regular basis. I appreciate the encouraging words and comments. I was even more stunned when science fiction author David J. Williams left a comment last week! I felt honored and humbled. (And I'm really looking forward to his next book, The Machinery of Light.)

Thanks again - and movie review tomorrow, I promise!

Awards and New Look For Blog

From Summer at And This Time Concentrate!

The Soulmates Award. This award originated with Christi Goddard at A Torch in the Tempest and is one part gift, one part social experiment! Fun!
The rules:
1. Choose five followers/commenters that 'get' you
2. Write something fake (preferably not too mean) about them
3. Link to them, and link back to this post to comment your receipt of the award.

This is what Summer had to say about ME!
"Alex J. Cavanaugh has dated both Kate Beckinsale and Kate Winslet; obviously, he has a thing for women named Kate. Just stay away from Kate Gosselin!"

I think two Kates are already more than I can handle!
I pass this on to:

Michele at Southern City Mysteries who secretly hates mystery
Galen at Imagineering Fiction who really has no sense of humor at all
Falen at Falen Formulates Fiction who is secretly seeing Sting on the side
Diane Spunk On A Stick’s Tips at who secretly hates cats
Dez at Hollywood Spy who really doesn’t love anyone

The second one is the Quest Award from B. Miller at B. Miller Fiction, who had nothing but nice things to say about me. Thanks, Miller, I hope I continue posting informative stuff with lots of movie info!

I pass the Quest Award on to

Marvin at The Old Silly who is on a quest of peace and humor across the web!

And let me know what you think of the new look for this blog!

How We Watch Movies

I caught this article yesterday about Blockbuster video and their financial woes - Blockbuster is Bleeding to Death

I'll provide a summary:

Blockbuster is one billion dollars in debt. In a last-ditch effort to avoid declaring bankruptcy, they are in the process of placing Blockbuster kiosks across the nation, have signed a deal with Warner Bros. Studios to offer those movies one month before NetFlix, and have launched mobile movies through T-Mobile. However, this may still not be enough.

Most of the video store chains have vanished. Will Blockbuster be next?

The way we watch movies is changing - fast.

I can't remember the last time I rented a DVD from a store. Most of my 'rentals' come from NetFlix. Shows I watch on Hulu. Occasionally I watch a movie on one of the movie channels. Soon I will have the adapter for my Bluray, and I'll be able to watch NetFlix movies on my TV as well. A NetFlix app for the iPhone is in the works, and it won't be long before mobile movies are available on every phone.

Of course, my first choice is still the movie theater. With the advancements in 3D, it's an incredible experience and the theater is the only place to see it... or is it? The first 3D movies are now hitting the market, and this June several stations will begin broadcasting in 3D.

Has the way you watch movies changed in the last 5 - 10 years? Are you a NetFlix junkie like me? Will you purchase a 3D TV within the next year?