Alex J. Cavanaugh's Blog, page 41
September 3, 2014
Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anniversary Special Announcement! Plus September Movie Preview, New Books, and Ninja 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 Laura at My Baffling Brain, Mark Koopmans, Shah Wharton...
August 25, 2014
News to the Page, Goodbye Dear Tina, Movie Trivia Answers, and Ninja News
I have the awesome
Julie Musil
here today!
I also have a special tribute to a dear blogger buddy who is no longer with us…
From the News to the Page
I remember the moment when inspiration struck for my latest YA release, The Summer of Crossing Lines. I was watching the local Los Angeles news. A small white pickup truck led police on a high speed chase, and by the end of the chase, two teens were splayed out on the freeway. Spotlights shone down on them as cops moved in. A cache of weapons had b...
I also have a special tribute to a dear blogger buddy who is no longer with us…
From the News to the Page
I remember the moment when inspiration struck for my latest YA release, The Summer of Crossing Lines. I was watching the local Los Angeles news. A small white pickup truck led police on a high speed chase, and by the end of the chase, two teens were splayed out on the freeway. Spotlights shone down on them as cops moved in. A cache of weapons had b...
August 18, 2014
RiffTrax – Godzilla, 80’s Trivia, Women’s Bodies, Monuments Men Review, and Ninja News
RiffTrax!
I hit the road Thursday night to see a live broadcast of the
RiffTrax
guys tackling 1998’s Godzilla. And as always, it was worth it!
It’s not a truly awful film, but it was incredibly cheesy. Some of the effects don’t hold up well, either. And no, that was definitely NOT Godzilla. (Although the babies did look a lot like velociraptors.)
If you’re a fan of RiffTrax (or Mystery Science Theater 3000) it’s a lot of fun going to see one of these films on the big screen. They do a live pe...
I hit the road Thursday night to see a live broadcast of the
RiffTrax
guys tackling 1998’s Godzilla. And as always, it was worth it! It’s not a truly awful film, but it was incredibly cheesy. Some of the effects don’t hold up well, either. And no, that was definitely NOT Godzilla. (Although the babies did look a lot like velociraptors.)
If you’re a fan of RiffTrax (or Mystery Science Theater 3000) it’s a lot of fun going to see one of these films on the big screen. They do a live pe...
August 11, 2014
The Next Ninja Blogfest! Plus Golon the Grumpy Dwarf, Movie Reviews, IWSG and Thoughts, and Ninja News
A lot happening today! Hope the recent shift to less promotional stuff and more fun stuff, including movie reviews and a bit about me, is to your liking.If not, Mini-Alex will play his guitar until your ears bleed...
Golon the Grumpy DwarfToday I welcome Golon from Jack Lewis Baillot’s latest novel, A Test of Loyalty, Book Two. He’s a dwarf with an ornery streak and his party is on a quest to save Prince Lachlan. We had some fun with the interview…
Are you any relation to Gimli?
Who is Gimli?...
August 6, 2014
Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Plus Genre Smashing with Tara Tyler, Marvel Movie Trivia Answers, and Ninja and Alex 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 Sarah Foster, Joylene Nowell Butler, Lily Eva, and Rhon...
August 4, 2014
Guardians of the Galaxy Review, Interstellar Trailer, Marvel Movie Trivia, Music to Write By with MJ Fifield, and Ninja News
I have an interview with Richard P. Hughes for his “What I like about where I live” feature today!
Movie Review
Guardians of the Galaxy
Best movie of the summer!
The Guardians are part of the Marvel universe, but this felt more like Indiana Jones meets Serenity rather than a superhero film. It harkens back to those fun 80’s movies and I sported a big grin for the duration of the film.
The movie hits all the right notes. The action is well paced, the humor spread evenly, and the sentiment shines...
Movie Review
Guardians of the GalaxyBest movie of the summer!
The Guardians are part of the Marvel universe, but this felt more like Indiana Jones meets Serenity rather than a superhero film. It harkens back to those fun 80’s movies and I sported a big grin for the duration of the film.
The movie hits all the right notes. The action is well paced, the humor spread evenly, and the sentiment shines...
July 28, 2014
Hercules Review, August Movie Preview, Waiting for Acceptance/Rejection, Movie Trivia Answers, and Ninja News!
Movie Review
Hercules
A new twist on the legend of Hercules - caught this in 3D last Friday.
This movie is the perfect B-grade film with an A-list of actors on board.
The plot is pedestrian. What elevates it beyond the average story is great acting and exciting action scenes. (The ending is spectacular.) The movie pokes fun at itself – it knows it’s a B-grade film and plays that angle to the max.
The cast did a great job. Rufus Sewell gets to play a good guy (it’s been so long!) and Ian McShane...
HerculesA new twist on the legend of Hercules - caught this in 3D last Friday.
This movie is the perfect B-grade film with an A-list of actors on board.
The plot is pedestrian. What elevates it beyond the average story is great acting and exciting action scenes. (The ending is spectacular.) The movie pokes fun at itself – it knows it’s a B-grade film and plays that angle to the max.
The cast did a great job. Rufus Sewell gets to play a good guy (it’s been so long!) and Ian McShane...
July 21, 2014
Snowpiercer Movie Review and Others, Movie Trivia, Blogging Changes, and Ninja News!
Movie Reviews
Snowpiercer
Finally caught this on Direct TV! Set in a future where a failed climate-change experiment kills all life on the planet except for a lucky few who boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe. Directed by Joon-ho Bong who did The Host.
This is a film where you have to buy into the really odd premise in order for it to work. (And I won’t spoil the origins of the Snowpiercer, but it makes more sense than it sounds.)
Visually it’s very impressive. It’s a...
SnowpiercerFinally caught this on Direct TV! Set in a future where a failed climate-change experiment kills all life on the planet except for a lucky few who boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe. Directed by Joon-ho Bong who did The Host.
This is a film where you have to buy into the really odd premise in order for it to work. (And I won’t spoil the origins of the Snowpiercer, but it makes more sense than it sounds.)
Visually it’s very impressive. It’s a...
July 14, 2014
Dawn of the Apes Movie Review, Sharknado 2, Traditional Publishing Defined, and Ninja News!
Movie Review
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Amazing!
First, I have to address the special effects. This film blows away all competition. I completely forgot I was watching CGI apes. Expressions, movement, eyes – all beyond real.
As for the story, it is one intense ride! Every scene adds a new layer of intensity. No, it’s not a feel-good film. There are moments of great sorrow and anger. You can see both sides clearly and there are mistakes made by both.
The film sets a good pace. It invites you...
Dawn of the Planet of the ApesAmazing!
First, I have to address the special effects. This film blows away all competition. I completely forgot I was watching CGI apes. Expressions, movement, eyes – all beyond real.
As for the story, it is one intense ride! Every scene adds a new layer of intensity. No, it’s not a feel-good film. There are moments of great sorrow and anger. You can see both sides clearly and there are mistakes made by both.
The film sets a good pace. It invites you...
July 7, 2014
Sidelined with Kyra Lennon! Plus Summer Songs Blogfest, Ninja News, and Traditional Update
Sidelined - The Soundtrack
Sidelined is probably the first book I’ve ever written that I didn’t have a soundtrack in mind for when I started. Possibly because a lot of the time, books I write come to me within the lyrics of a song!
Sidelined wasn’t that way for me. Sidelined was born because of the characters I’d already written, and even when I got to the end of the story, I still found it difficult to nail down a playlist. But then I heard this song:.
If you happen to read Sidelined, yo...
Sidelined is probably the first book I’ve ever written that I didn’t have a soundtrack in mind for when I started. Possibly because a lot of the time, books I write come to me within the lyrics of a song!
Sidelined wasn’t that way for me. Sidelined was born because of the characters I’d already written, and even when I got to the end of the story, I still found it difficult to nail down a playlist. But then I heard this song:.
If you happen to read Sidelined, yo...
