C.A. Milson's Blog, page 237
October 7, 2014
Strange Empire (TV Series) – Review
Strange Empire (2014– )
Stars: Michelle Creber, Cara Gee, Matreya Scarrwener
IMDB Rating: 5.7
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Tagline: We’re To Be Whores Ma’am
Plot: A serialized Western drama set near the Alberta-Montana border in the 1860s, in which three women band together for survival after the men in their town are murdered.
Review: Set in 1869 along the Montana/Alberta border, Strange Empire starts with two dead babies and a graveside wedding, and ends with a cozy pseudo-family scene threatened by lawlessness.
There’s plenty to sink into with the new series. Dark doesn’t quite seem to cover what happens to kick off the series—the mass slaughter of 20 men, and in rides John Slotter (Aaron Poole), the questionable hero who has ulterior motives, to get the stranded women to work in his whorehouse (either willingly or by force).
Cara Gee plays Kat with a fierce intensity and tenderness, and she is the emotional heart of the first episode. Aaron Poole (as John Slotter) is heartlessness and brutal who seems to be doing all he can to get his whorehouse business turning a profit, with a selection of hookers of all ages.
While the pilot episode was filled with rich scenery, I did find that there were some similarities to other TV shows I have seen. Kat did come across like the character, Clara Paget (Black Sails); And Aaron Poole did have some similarity to Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad). With that said, there were times when we see Kat draw her gun and ready to blow a hole in some schmucks head.
The four leads in the mostly female cast, are outstanding. While I did find the pilot had its slow points, it was enough for me to want to watch further episodes and see where the series leads.
Verdict: Annie Get Yer Gun
Rating: 6.5 out of 10.
Filed under: TV Show Reviews Tagged: Aaron Poole, Ali Liebert, April Telek, Cara Gee, Matreya Scarrwener, Melissa Farman, Michelle Creber, Strange Empire, Western 
Top 10 List Male Actors
Okay, a couple of people have asked me what actors would be in my Top 10. So I decided to make a list, in no particular order. Some people may not agree with all the choices, but feel free to comment and share your thoughts.
In no particular order, my selection of Top 10 Male Actors are:
1. Denzel Washington
2. Morgan Freeman
3. Robert Patrick
4. Woody Harrison
5. James Spader
6. Jack Nicholson
7. Patrick Stewart
8. Michael Keaton
9. Anthony Hopkins
10. Ben Kingsley
Next post will be my Top 10 Female actors
Filed under: Media Tagged: Anthony Hopkins, Ben Kingsley, Denzel Washington, James Spader, Michael Keaton, Morgan Freeman, Patrick Stewart, Robert Patrick, Top 10 actors
October 5, 2014
Creatives Roundtable With Australian Author Max Davine
Be sure to tune in to our next BlogTalkRadio episode this week with our host from the listening post, Jett.
Filed under: Guest Authors, Interviews Tagged: author interview, BlogTalkRadio, Book Chat, Books, BTR, Interviews, Novels, podcast, Writing, writing process
October 2, 2014
Meet My Character: Jamiesonn from The Chosen Series
Welcome to the Meet My Character. Today we will meet the bad-ass Jamiesonn and find out what makes him tick
Jamiesonn
Is he/she fictional or a historic person? Fictional
When and where is the story set? The storyline of The Chosen is set in the not top distant past, and ends with the final book set in the very not to distant future.
What should we know about him/her? For those who has read previous books in The Chosen series, you will know that Jamiesonn is not the type of demon you want to mess with. Originally born in 1329 in the remote village of Nesikan, Russia. He grew up for the most part in a small hut with his mother, Olga. During his younger years, he was the victim of verbal and physical abuse on a daily basis. By the time he was a teenager, he had been so conditioned to the abuse that each day, he almost looked forward to what form of punishment he would suffer at the hands of his mother.
Soon after his 15th birthday, he met his cousin, Danska, for the first time, and in the spring of 1345, he married his beloved, and for a season, a hope for a better life….
His idealistic life quickly became a nightmare, as the abuse from his mother continued, and he was married to a woman who despised him no end. A year after they were married, Danska gave birth to a stillborn, male child, which naturally was not his. It was then, that his eyes were opened and he became blood-thirsty for revenge. His undying hunger for vengeance fueled his insatiable rage.
He got his revenge… Six years later. I wont say what happens, but during the years he left that shit-hole he became “a better man”…
If I tell any more, that would give away the game. So you’ll just have to have a read of the books to find out just how evil he truly is.
What is the main conflict? Jamiesonn never found peace. Neither in life or death. After his horrific murder (no spoilers here on how he was killed), he came back to haunt the living, and of course, create his own kind of mayhem for anyone he wants to torment. Which just happens to be everyone :)
What is the personal goal of the character? His personal goal? Complete and total world domination. He will find some form of satisfaction when all of creation is at his mercy (although we all know he is not one to show any form of mercy).
Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it? Prophecy’s End is the title of the final book. But you can read about Jamiesonn in the other 3 novels; Rise Of The Darkness, Bloodline Of Darkness; and She’s Not So Ordinary. (BTW: If you want to see some film snippets, a production company in QLD, Australia has released a trailer for Rise of The Darkness, which they hope will be filming the feature film in 2015/2016).
When can we expect the book to be published? The first three books are available now in Print and Ebook. (Rise Of The Darkness is also available in Audiobook. Prophecy’s End is still in the works.
Filed under: Book Tour Tagged: Audiobook, Author, Bloodline of Darkness, Book, Fiction, Horror, Rise of the Darkness, She's Not So Ordinary, Writing
September 24, 2014
Z Nation (TV Series) – Review
Z Nation (TV Series). 2014 –
Stars: Nat Zang, Russell Hodgkinson, Michael Welch, Kellita Smith, DJ Qualls, Keith Allan, Pisay Pao
IMDB Rating: 4.9
Tagline: It’s A Man Eat Man World
Plot: Three years after the zombie virus has gutted the country, a team of everyday heroes must transport the only known survivor of the plague from New York to California, where the last functioning viral lab waits for his blood.
Review: Z Nation. In a post apocalyptic world, a group of survivors must get to California with the only hope humanity has….
If this sounds familiar, it is. For those who are followers of AMC’s The Walking Dead, you will know the plot here. One person holds the key to reverse the effects of a zombie virus and in turn, save what is left of the human race.
Z Nation may seem to be on TWD bandwagon, but I will give credit to say that this show was quite well done with the budget that is obviously nowhere near to the budget for TWD, and some reviewers may slam this show for being similar to TWD, but seriously, how many TV shows and films of zombies has there been with fast-moving flesh-eaters? TWD was not the first, and it will not be the last.
The show opens 3 years after a global infection which has turned humans into flesh-eaters. At the NSA Emergency Command Center, personnel are evacuating to a “secure location” with the exception of Simon/Citizen Z (DJ Qualls), who has to stay behind til the last minute to ensure Delta team escorts a doctor (and any other survivors) to the CDC Mass Infection Lab.
That is when the shit hits the fan for Simon. He gets outside the hangar to watch the evac plane take off (bastards couldn’t wait 5 minutes!) and then crash, killing everyone on-board. Stranded, and alone at the NSA center, Citizen Z spends his time trying to make contact with anyone who is happening to be listening, and having loving chats with his VR girlfriend.
Add to that the never ending supply of zombies, and survivors who love to blow stuff up, we have a winner! :) (Now just add some heros with lightsabers and we have a top ranker!)
Z Nation certainly does entertain, and it will be interesting to see how many seasons it runs for. Character development does need work, I will say, but with DJ Qualls in the line-up, I wouldn’t be surprised if this show amassed quite a following like Resident Evil, Shaun Of The Dead, Zombieland or TWD.
Although I am not big on the whole “zombie genre”, I will say that this is one show I do recommend. If you watch it, watch with an open mind and try not to compare to TWD.
Verdict: Lets Blow Shit Up!
My Rating: 7 out of 10 (for now)
Filed under: TV Show Reviews Tagged: AMC, DJ Qualls, Nat Zang, Resident Evil, Russell Hodgkinson, Shaun Of The Dead, TWD, Z Nation, Zombieland
Space Station 76 – Movie Review
Space Station 76 (2014)
Stars: Marisa Coughlan, Patrick Wilson, Liv Tyler, Matt Bomer, Jerry O’Connell
Screenplay: Sam Pancake, Jack Plotnick, Jennifer Elise Cox, Kali Rocha, Michael Stoyanov
Director: Jack Plotnick
IMDB Rating: 5.2
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Plot: A 1970s version of the future, where personalities and asteroids collide.
Review: Space Station 76. The poster should say it all. A cheesy 70’s version of what life would be like in the future onboard a space station.
While the director did attempt to create a 70’s spoof film, this one failed to launch to anywhere except to Space Station Boredom. Although this film starred Liv Tyler, the film was humorless, bland and filled with cliche’s that left me wondering if I was watching a bad take-off of The Jetsons.
From the poster I expected a film that would be comparable to Battle Beyond The Stars or The Last Starfighter. Sadly, I ended up watching something that was the worst “Sci-fi” movie of all time.
Verdict: Watch Spaceballs instead.
My Rating: 2 out of 10.
Filed under: Movie Reviews Tagged: black comedy, Jack Plotnick, Jennifer Elise Cox, Jerry O'Connell, Liv Tyler, low budget film, Sam Pancake, sci-fi, sci-fi comedy, Space Station 76
September 23, 2014
September 19, 2014
True Detective (TV Series) – Review
True Detective (TV Series) (2014 – )
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Monaghan
IMDB Rating: 9.3
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Plot: The lives of two detectives, Rust Cohle and Martin Hart, become entangled during a 17-year hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana.
Review: Drama shows. Love them or hate them, they are entertaining to watch. Some drama shows make the grade, such as CSI, Almost Human, Bones and Breaking Bad, while others do not.
Fortunately, True Detective is one show that does make my top 5 of all time TV Dramas. (Breaking Bad does rank Numero Uno for me).
A new series, airing on HBO, True Detective sets the stage of the lives of 2 detectives over a period of 17 years (Woody Harrelson – Detective Marty Cole and Matthew McConaughey – Detective Rust Cohle). The series opens with Marty and Rust being interviewed separately by 2 other detectives about a murder that happened some years before. As the story onfolds, there are a lot of flashbacks scenes, where we get to see the lives of Marty and Rust unravel to the climatic scenes later in the series and their inevitable falling out.
Add into the mix plenty of sex scenes (almost 1 per episode) and you have a winning combination.
The show kept me interested to the point where I am hooked. The writing, the acting, the scenery. Everything that you would expect from a good drama. Harrelson and McConaughey bring the characters to life in this gritty, dark drama, and it is evident by their performances that they have really got immersed in their characters.
While the action can be slow, that says nothing compared to the story that unfolds. This series is a “must watch”.
Verdict: Touch The Darkness.
Rating: 10 out of 10.
Filed under: TV Show Reviews Tagged: Brighton Sharbino, Man Is The Cruelest Animal, Matthew McConaughey, Michelle Monaghan, True Detective (2014), Woody Harrelson 
Transformers: Age of Extinction – Movie Review
Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Nicola Peltz
IMDB Rating: 6.1
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Plot: A mechanic and his family join the Autobots as they are targeted by a bounty hunter from another world.
Tagline: Stand together or face extinction
My Tagline: Wipe them out…. All of them….
Review: Nothing could be cooler than having a vehicle that can transform into a 30 foot tall war machine, complete with the sound effects, and wipe out anything that gets in your way! :) Bumblebee would certainly come in handy when fighting the regular traffic I am faced with on Ballarat Road…
I am a Transformers fan, and have been I saw the cartoon series that used to be on TV. I will say that cartoon series and the first 3 movies I could get into. And after seeing the ad on TV some months ago for AoE, I was under the impression that this film would be filled with non-stop action with Dino-transformers galore.
Hence that was not to be. What I did see was 165 minutes of a story that made no sense, filled with the occasional lens flares and the lamest acting by a teenage girl who wouldn’t know the meaning of the word “acting”.
Wahlberg is an actor you can bank on. I have seen him in quite a few films, and his performance has always been top-notch. That is until this masterpiece of junk.
The plot (if you want to call it that) starts with all Transformers are classified as a threat (and maybe a menace to society like Spidey), and who else to lead the eradication of the Autobots but the ever “not even close to being mildly funny” Frasier. Of course, he has ulterior motives and even Optimus Prime looks like he is outsmarted by the reborn Megatron.
I could go on, but I refuse to subject anyone to the trash that was 165 minutes of my life I will never get back. The film could have been better, and the performances by the actors definitely needed more depth to their personalities.
Watch it if you want to see some wild explosions (which there is alot of), but to save you the boredom, you have seen the same in the first 3 movies.
Verdict: Watch the first 2 and then watch Walking With Dinosaurs!
My Rating: 1 out of 10.
Filed under: Movie Reviews Tagged: Kelsey Grammer, Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Stanley Tucci, Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
September 12, 2014
She’s Having A Baby! (Short Film) – Movie Review
She’s Having A Baby!
Stars: Wendy Bos, Tommy Clifopoulos
Directors: Chris Smellin, Robert Smellin
IMDB Rating: 6.3
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Plot: Simon wakes up alone and tied to Jenny’s bed. Jenny is a psychotic woman in her late 30’s, she is obsessed with nothing but than having a little baby boy or girl. Held as a prisoner Simon is forced to help Jenny conceive her baby or die. A cat and mouse like struggle unfolds as Simon fights to survive…
Review: I had the pleasure of watching this Australian made horror flick last night, courtesy of a friend’s post on Facebook. She’s Having A Baby! tells the short tale of Jenny (Wendy Bos). A woman in her mid 30’s who is desperate to get pregnant, and will stop at nothing to breed with any helpless sap.
The film opens with Simon (Tommy Clifopoulos). An ordinary bloke, tied helpless to her bed, and being raped repeatedly until he delivers (no pun intended) exactly what she wants…. getting her pregnant. While it seems a very straightforward concept, the film does explore the darker side to the main character (Jenny) and her journey along the highway of complete insanity as her obsession for a child of her own is more than just her “biological clock ticking”. Her biological clock is more like a bomb. With her deranged delusions of grandeur, it makes you wonder just what type of mother she will end up being. (Insanity breeds insanity after all).
I will say that there was moment in this film that did remind me a of the film Misery (you dirty birdy), but I don’t think Annie Wilkes had these kind of designs on Paul Sheldon (Aint we glad for that!).
Wendy Bos performance was strong enough to carry the film to the climatic ending, and wait til you see what becomes of her victim, Simon. (No spoilers now). But there’s enough blood and T&A to satisfy any horror lover.
A brilliant film by Australian film-makers Chris Smellin and Robert Smellin. This clocks in at just under 15 minutes, and has everything you would expect from a horror/thriller film. This has all the makings to be turned into a feature length film.
She’s Having A Baby! has already been screened at over a dozen film fests and has picked up awards at a few so far including; WorldFest Houston (Silver Remi Award for Best Suspense/Thriller), Melbourne Underground Film Festival (Winner, Best Director and Nominated, Best Short Film), Louisville Fright Night Film Fest (Honorable Mention)
As I said, this film was brilliant, but I did want to see more. Let’s hope that these film-makers decide to remake this into a feature length film.
Verdict: Be careful who you date!
My Rating: 9 out of 10
Filed under: Movie Reviews Tagged: Chris Smellin, Robert Smellin, She's Having A Baby! (Short), Tommy Clifopoulos, Wendy Bos
