David M. Brown's Blog, page 15

The Bleaklisted Movies: The Goonies

About The Bleaklisted Movies

Many moons ago a despotic cat named Charlie decided that he wanted to be a book critic. It would fit so nicely with his existing roles as food critic, dog critic and owner critic. Thus The Bleaklisted Books was born.

After fifty books Charlie ran out of the limited ideas and inspiration he had and turned his attention to the world of films. We apologise but this dictatorial little beast will not be contained.

Read at your risk… (And beware… SPOILERS!)

The Goonies (1985)

What happens?

A group of kids known as the Goonies hunt for the treasure of a famous pirate known as One-Eyed Willie.

Reason for bleaklisting?

Legendary pirates should not have names that leave me in fits of adolescent giggles.

What should have happened?

A group of kids that live on the run down Looney Tunes Estate are in danger of being evicted by the cruel landlord – Daffy Duck. In order to save their homes, Dikey informs his friends – South, Beta, Randy, Skunk, Mandy, Staff and Goth – that they are going to hunt down the treasure of an infamous pirate with a very cool name – Captain Kick Ass Skull Crusher – who bested a wimp known as One-Eyed Willie in a duel and ran off (sailed off!) with all his gold before one of his crew got careless and managed to steer their ship out of the water, onto land and then buried it under a local McDonalds, even though they didn’t exist in the 17th century. Dikey leads his friends in the hunt for the treasure and they have some awkward encounters with the Creature from the Black Lagoon who is having a mid-life crisis. In the end they find the pirate ship but Captain Kick Ass Skull Crusher and his crew come back to life for no reason other than they can. Dikey talks his way out of things by pretending that he and his friends are mad. They prove this by showing they have signed copies of One Direction CDs and it has the desired effect. Before leaving the ship, Dikey is given enough money to satisfy the demands of Daffy Duck and everyone lives happily ever after, including the Creature from the Black Lagoon who is given the contact number of a good therapist.

Working title?

The Loonies.

Tagline?

The Family Misadventure of the Year.

Who should direct?

John Carpenter.

Who should star?

Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O’Connell.

Mr B compares the stories

I grew up watching The Goonies. It was one of the classic eighties movies full of adventure, the truffle shuffle, “Hey you guys!” and a pirate captain with a very amusing name. Charlie has sought to recreate this endearing family movie by giving the pirate captain a better name and for some reason choosing the memorable cast of Stand By Me for the leads. This isn’t a bad decision for a movie in theory but when it comes to a script where the Creature from the Black Lagoon is having a mid-life crisis, I think such talented actors deserve much better.

The post The Bleaklisted Movies: The Goonies appeared first on B-Lines and Felines.

Surviving Valentine’s Day: Pauline Parril’s Advice for Married Women

Valentine’s Day is coming! For some it’s a day of joy, for others it’s a day of last minute card/flower buying, for some it’s a total nightmare. Collette Yvonne, author of The Perils of Pauline, lets her protagonist Pauline Parril loose on B-Lines and Felines to share some advice for surviving the day…

Surviving Valentine’s Day: Pauline Parril’s Advice for Married Women
by Pauline Daley-Parril

Valentine’s Day hashtags are proliferating on Twitter. That means one thing: #valentinesdayiscoming. For single women, the 14th of February is tough enough when it’s #nodate and #aloneagain. But for married women, Valentine’s Day is a #minefield #forgetaboutit #norosesforyousister #fml.

For women in general, Valentine’s Day is like trying on a new bikini: single girls hope to find something nice that handles the girls effectively but all too often end up with lingering regrets and maybe a yeast infection from the previous person who tried the bathing suit.

All that married women can hope for is that the top half can still work the old black magic while the bottom half still fits the base.

Meanwhile, the average man is completely oblivious to the whole #chocolates #romance and #finedining thing. That’s because he hasn’t set foot in a shop since the day before Christmas when he did his annual shopping trip. Only women know that, just minutes after New Year’s Day is over, every store and mall in the country turns into a raging river of pink and red hearts with fur-trimmed bralettes on display in every window.

It’s not enough to avoid the flood of lacey crap at the mall. You better stay away from the drugstores too. Trouble is, you forgot to get your flu shot last fall, didn’t you? Now you need lozenges for the bug that is shredding up all the real estate in your throat. In you go, determined to make it past the heart-shaped candies and roses-made-of-chocolate aisle. You quickly skirt the section with the wide selection of ribbed condoms, cherry-flavored lubricants and estrogen massage cream. But, suddenly, you’re confronted by the greeting card aisle. Love is in the air. And it’s sucking all the oxygen from the store.

You pause to look at all the pretty, pretty cards. Maybe it’s a good idea to inject a little romance into your plodding relationship and get your man a special valentine? You pick up a card with a pink satin bow. It says: “You are my forever best friend.” But, last time you checked, your husband wasn’t a Golden Retriever. The card with the velvet trim says, without the tiniest trace of irony: “Every moment I spend with you is a dream.” Every last card is festooned with curvy fonts, cupids, roses, arrows and hearts. As if you weren’t feeling sick enough with the flu before.

The sad fact is there are no realistic cards for wives to give to husbands. Clearly, companies need to offer cards with more truthful messages, such as: My darling, you deserve the best of me. (Sorry I called you a moron yesterday. The stupid of you got the better of me.)

Or: You can be my Valentine, but only if you stop being a prick.

For newer brides, the card could read: Be mine. (Unless you cheat on me. In that case, I will cut you.)

Or: Let’s get married all over again! (Without your drunk cousins this time.)

Together forever. (Unless you screw it up.)

Middle-aged marrieds have even more options: Loving you is my mission. It’s right up there with gaining control of the remote someday.

You are still hot to me. Mostly. (I’m still sleeping in my socks tonight because your feet are freaking blocks of ice.)

You make me smile. (To be honest, sometimes I smirk. Sometimes, it’s an evil grin. And sometimes I laugh hysterically. You say tomato …)

For older marrieds, the card could say: I can’t believe I’m still putting up with your shit. But, wonder of wonders, I am!

Nothing can compare with you! Dude, you could win a snoring contest.

Together, we are stronger. Especially when we fart at the same time.

Never mind. Skip the card aisle. You have a bad head cold. It’s February for goodness’ sake. Your man doesn’t want a card anyway. He’d prefer a roughly hand-drawn coupon for an anytime, anywhere blowjob-on-demand.

Buy yourself some chocolate and don’t forget the cough syrup.

###

About Collette YvonneCollette Yvonne graduated from York University in Toronto with an Honor’s BA in Creative Writing. Her short stories, including From the Cottage Porch and Wild Words 2010, appear in several anthologies. She’s written numerous articles in national Canadian publications, plus over 150 pieces for various Ontario newspapers. Her short story, Snapshots for Henry, was made into a short film, directed by Teresa Hannigan, and received a 2007 Genie nomination for Best Live Action Short Drama.

The Perils of Pauline is her first novel.

About The Perils of Pauline

Life seems “picture perfect” for Army veteran Pauline Parril–a solid career, a loving (though slightly absent) husband, two adorable young children.  Perfect that is, until the usual Friday meeting at the office ends with a termination letter.

As Pauline navigates the difficulties of unemployment, she finds the handles of her world turning upside down. Her estranged daughter, Serenity, returns home with shocking secrets.  Her husband, Donald, is not at all who she knows him to be, and a handsome stranger opens her eyes to the complex worlds of poetry and temptation.

In this uproarious female comedy of just how one event can change the course of…well everything. The Perils of Pauline follows an intrepid every-woman as she marches through the pressures of building the “perfect life,” finding there’s actually more to discover about yourself than you dreamed, and constantly answering the scariest question of adulthood: “What now?”

Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Astor & Blue

The post Surviving Valentine’s Day: Pauline Parril’s Advice for Married Women appeared first on B-Lines and Felines.

The Diary of Mr Kain: Week #19

Monday 

Strange things were afoot today. Frizzy Hair’s mother came to visit and brought another cat with her. Said cat has been shut away upstairs and is clearly too good to fraternise with the rest of us. It wouldn’t be a problem but the rest of the cats would probably leave the poor thing traumatised so it’s probably best she stays where she is. Should make the week ahead interesting though.

Tuesday

Beard Face’s continued job search is starting to get very weird or very desperate. He walked into a DIY shop today and offered his services as a tool. “I’m a complete tool,” he said. “I am multi-functional. You can use me to hammer, to saw, to screw and to bang. Whatever you need I can do.” The shop’s owner was naturally horrified at this ambiguous offer and could only consider Beard Face for the position of makeshift shelf. The beard turned it down, citing the lack of career progression as shelves can only go so high.

Beard Face is officially in the Oxford English Dictionary as an alternative definition of tool

Wednesday

Gorgeous day today so I decided to spend the bulk of my time outside the house. Anywhere away from Beard Face is an idyll paradise. I found a tree and spent a couple of hours watching two local cats – Phyllis and Snotty Simon – having an argument about the levels of unemployment in the UK. What employment has to do with them I do not know but I didn’t choose to get involved in the discussion. I opted to head home once these two morons had gone their separate ways.

Thursday

Another trip to the vets for Charlie today. Just a routine check-up but Charlie professed it to be the execution of his plan to assassinate all the staff and to burn down the building. I haven’t seen anything on the local news to this effect and given that Charlie didn’t leave the house with a shotgun and some matches, I think it’s safe to assume that he was just lying to us.

Friday

Beard Face was watching a film called Frank today. It was about an eccentric band whose singer always wears a giant fake head. It was an interesting little movie and gave me ideas. I’ve enlisted Charlie to begin work on a giant head for Beard Face. It will be human looking but with purple skin and green hair. Plastered across the forehead will be the words, “I’m a the cesspit of mankind and I’m proud of it.” I can’t wait for him to try it on.

Saturday

Beard Face has been running with great intensity today. By intensity I mean he has been puffing his cheeks, clenching his fists and even having head spasms. Impressive stuff but you should have seen what he was doing when he actually started the running bit!

Sunday

Beard Face was watching Oz the Great and Powerful today. The closest the old boy has ever been to great and powerful is when he’s on the toilet. Naturally, Charlie couldn’t help but tune into the movie for some tips on how to be a great ruler. He sat through about half an hour before dismissing Oz as a buffoon and spitting at the screen. Charlie instead opted for a movie with Steve McQueen in. A proper man, he told me.

The post The Diary of Mr Kain: Week #19 appeared first on B-Lines and Felines.

Entertainment Favourites of January 2015: Elizabeth is Missing and The Lost Chapter Mystery

Without doubt my favourite read of January 2015 was Elizabeth is Missing. I’d picked this up a while ago via Audible and for some reason hadn’t started it even though it looked really intriguing. I then saw a tweet from a book blogger praising it and it spurred me to push it to the top of my TBR list. I’m so glad it did. This was a beautiful read – funny and tender, disturbing and entertaining.

About Elizabeth is Missing Elizabeth is Missing, Emma Healey’s stunning debut novel, introduces a mystery, an unsolved crime and one of the most unforgettable characters since Mark Haddon’s Christopher. Meet Maud …

‘Elizabeth is missing’, reads the note in Maud’s pocket in her own handwriting.

Lately, Maud’s been getting forgetful. She keeps buying peach slices when she has a cupboard full, forgets to drink the cups of tea she’s made and writes notes to remind herself of things. But Maud is determined to discover what has happened to her friend, Elizabeth, and what it has to do with the unsolved disappearance of her sister Sukey, years back, just after the war.

A fast-paced mystery with a wonderful leading character: Maud will make you laugh and cry, but she certainly won’t be forgotten.

‘Elizabeth Is Missing will stir and shake you: an investigation into a seventy-year-old crime, through the eyes of the most likeably unreliable of narrators. But the real mystery at its compassionate core is the fragmentation of the human mind.’ – Emma Donoghue

‘A thrillingly assured, haunting and unsettling novel, I read it at a gulp’ – Deborah Moggach

Emma Healey is 28 years old and grew up in London. She has spent most of her working life in libraries, bookshops and galleries. She completed the MA in Creative Writing: Prose at UEA in 2011.Elizabeth is Missing is her first novel.

Amazon Goodreads

I’ve started gaming again, both casually on my Nexus and also on the PS3. (Skyrim is the current game of choice on the PS3, with Mr B sharing responsibility for keeping our Nord alive. It’s not going well.)  My game of the month for January has to be The Lost Chapter Mystery. This was a really clever little game, with a ‘game within a game’ twist. The puzzles were fun and it was a decent length with just the right amount of hair-tearing. Definitely work a look!

About The Lost Chapter Mystery

The Lost Chapter is a mystery game that launches you into an adventure where you step into the shoes of a private detective hired to solve a murder case. A video game programmer has been murdered and bizarre clues were left at the crime scene. Among the mysterious clues is a classic video game. Could it be related to the crime?

Unfortunately this is just the first of many murders. As the body count rises, it is clear that the murderer is no fool. He is cold, calculating, and obviously has a dark motive. You seek answers, but they will not be easy to find.

Two stories will start to unfold. The main story and the classic video-game’s story. Your task is to find the connection and discover the murderer’s identity before it’s too late.

Explore the city looking for clues that will help you unravel the riddle that will forever change the lives of everyone involved.

Features:

• Classic point and click adventure

• Inspired by classic mystery games

• Suspenseful and intriguing murder mystery story-line

• Realistic characters, dialogues and scenarios

• Memorable scenes

• Play a retro-styled video game searching for clues

• Fun and challenging puzzles

• Gain achievements for solving the riddles

If you enjoy playing point and click adventure mystery games, this game is for you.

Do you have what it takes to step into the mind of a deranged serial killer and use your detective skills to solve the case?

Amazon Play Store

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The Prison Break Ending Reimagined (Spoiler Alert)

**Warning: Contains major spoilers so don’t read if you haven’t finished PB!**

When I discovered Prison Break it wasn’t long until I was fascinated by the unravelling of Michael Scofield’s tattooed mysteries (ahem) and quite gripped by the ‘will they, won’t they’ aspect of both of the escape and major plotlines (such as the Michael-Sarah romance).

As the series’ continued, I found myself a little frustrated – would they ever be free? – though I suspect that’s rather the point. These are people who don’t ever seem to be able to escape, even when they’ve escaped. If we feel like pulling our hair out, imagine how they must feel…

And then, of course, it ended and as moving as that final scene was, where you saw everyone moving on and realised that there was one important individual missing, it had something missing. A hand! A hand needed to sweep down as everyone disappeared onto the beach. A mysterious hand that plucked up the origami crane as the owner watched everyone from a distance.

Now as rumours of a Prison Break return are circulating, I say the first order of business needs to be adding that hand. I know Scofield being alive won’t make much sense in the light of the events of the TV movie ‘Prison Break: The Final Break’ but we’ll swallow it. If we’ll swallow a half-body overnight tattoo removal, we’ll swallow anything.

Wentworth Miller suggested that new episodes could be little insights into past events. I say, no. Make new events and let us be all smug as the greatest romance continues (by which I mean the ever-so-lovely bromance between Sucre and Scofield).

So, add the hand. Who’s with me?

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The Diary of Mr Kain: Week #18

Monday

Beard Face’s job hunt continued this week. Inspired by a recent trip to the vets (for Charlie, not for himself) the old boy has decided to work with animals. Specifically, he wants to specialise in testicles. The reason for this, he explained enthusiastically is, “I can handle bollocks all day. I can see bollocks, I can feel bollocks, I can taste bollocks, I can talk bollocks, I’d be all about the bollocks baby!” Clearly Beard Face has developed a fascination for animal testicles overnight or he’s suffered a breakdown.

Tuesday

Beard Face has started playing Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. He clocked up nearly 150 hours on the previous Elder Scrolls game so with any luck he’ll be lost for a similar amount of time with this one. It’s something of a blessing to know that we won’t have to deal with the old boy for the next few weeks. We will, however, have to endure his random outbursts such as “I’ve got an impressive sword,” and “Fire at me one more time and I’ll penetrate you.” I can’t wait.

Charlie wasn’t this cooperative during his visit, I can assure you of that!

Wednesday

Beard Face had a go at yoga today. It didn’t last. After 10 minutes he was in a heap on the floor, presumably unconscious while the yoga mat had decided to manifest itself and complete the session for him. Somehow exercise and Beard Face just don’t mix.

Thursday

Charlie was at the vets today for an operation. He insisted he was laying siege to Grimsby but the truth was he was having some teeth out. It was very quiet not having to listen to Charlie’s strategy meetings for battles that will never take place. When he returned Charlie was eating strange but insisted it was just down to battle fatigue after the successful capture of Grimsby. There was nothing on the local news about the town falling to a feline lunatic so I’m inclined to think Charlie has just been fibbing.

Friday

Charlie has been playing the hero today, talking about his war wounds and his military excellence. Apparently having some dental work done is akin to having a limb blown off in battle but still continuing the fight. I wish Charlie had been injured in battle to be honest, not seriously, but at least his pride could have taken a severe dent. It’s hard to reason with a sadistic maniac though.

Saturday

Beard Face was gleeful today as Barnsley celebrated a rare win with a 2-1 victory over Port Vale. Beard Face spent most of the match trying to figure out where Port Vale was and he only got as far as learning it wasn’t in Yorkshire. It’s actually in Staffordshire but I won’t throw big words like that around. It would only confuse my nitwit of an owner.

Sunday

I must say I enjoyed watching the tennis final today. Andy Murray was beaten 3-1 in sets and took it as well as Charlie did when Buggles spilt Vimto on one of his military maps. Apparently one of Charlie’s legions spent six weeks looking for purple landmarks! Speaking of Buggles, he was transfixed watching the tennis, his solitary eye following the movement of the ball and wondering how it was possible for it to move so fast. He wondered if it had anything to do with being hit by a tennis racquet but concluded that was just a coincidence.

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This Month’s Films (January 2015)

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Matthew McConaughey gives the performance of his career in this uplifting and powerful film inspired by true events. Texas cowboy Ron Woodroof (McConaughey) sees his free-wheeling life overturned when he’s diagnosed as HIV-positive and given 30 days to live. Determined to survive, Woodroof decides to take matters in his own hands by tracking down alternative treatments from all over the world by means both legal and illegal. After finding an unlikely ally in Rayon (Jared Leto), he establishes a hugely successful “buyers’ club” and unites a band of outcasts in a struggle for dignity and acceptance that inspires in ways no one could have imagined.

Verdict: 10/10

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Mighty Aphrodite (1995)

When he discovers his adopted son is a genius, a New York sportswriter seeks out the boy’s birth mother: a prostitute.

Verdict: 7/10

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Night and the City (1992)

The story about a cheating and incompetent lawyer (Harry Fabian) who suddenly gets obsessed on becoming a boxing promoter.

Verdict: 4/10

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21 Grams (2003)

A freak accident brings together a critically ill mathematician, a grieving mother, and a born-again ex-con.

Verdict: 9/10

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Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)

George Clooney (Ocean’s Eleven), Drew Barrymore (Charlie’s Angels:Full Throttle) and Sam Rockwell (The Green Mile) star in the comedy thriller that poses and irresistable question: what would happen if a wildly successful TV Producer was also a top secret CIA assassin? While a maverick creator of America’s favorite game shows gains notoriety for his smash television hits, he is also drawn into a shawdowy world of danger as a covert government operative! But soon his life begins to spiral out of control-both of them! Directed by George Clooney and based on Chuck Barris’ clut classic autobiography, this entertaining hit delivers comedy to keep you laughing…and intrigue to keep you guessing!

Verdict: 8/10

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Pierrot Le Fou (1965)

Dissatisfied in marriage and life, Ferdinand (Jean-Paul Belmondo) takes to the road with the babysitter, his ex-lover Marianne Renoir (Anna Karina), and leaves the bourgeoisie behind. Yet this is no normal road trip: genius auteur Jean-Luc Godard’s tenth feature in six years is a stylish mash-up of consumerist satire, politics, and comic-book aesthetics, as well as a violent, zigzag tale of, as Godard called them, “the last romantic couple.” With blissful color imagery by cinematographer Raoul Coutard and Belmondo and Karina at their most animated, Pierrot le fou is one of the high points of the French new wave, and one last frolic before Godard moved ever further into radical cinema.

Verdict: 8/10

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Empire Records (1995)

A comedy about an eventful day in the lives of the young slackers, doers and dreamers who work at a bustling record store.

Verdict: 5/10

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The Grand Illusion (1937)

During the First World War, two French soldiers are captured and imprisoned in a German POW camp. Several escape attempts follow until they are sent to a seemingly impenetrable fortress which seems impossible to escape from.

Verdict: 8/10

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A Hard Day’s Night (1964)

A ‘typical’ day in the life of the Beatles, including many of their famous songs.

Verdict: 8/10

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Toy Story 3 (2010)

The creative minds behind Disney•Pixar’s groundbreaking animated blockbusters invites you back inside the Toys’ delightful world for a heartwarming and hilarious Hi-Definition movie experience you’ll never forget. All the original voice talent returns (including Tom Hanks and Tim Allen) plus new talent including Michael Keaton as Ken and Ned Beatty as Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear. It’s “the biggest, best, most exciting Toy Story of them all,” raves Access Hollywood.

As Andy gets ready to leave for college, Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the gang wonder if this is the end of the line. But, when a mix up lands them in the Sunnyside Day Care Center where they meet 14 new toys, they soon discover that a wild new adventure is just beginning! Take an amazing journey with some of the most beloved characters in movie history and discover what being a friend is truly all about.

Verdict: 10/10

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Amores Perros (2000)

A horrific car accident connects three stories, each involving characters dealing with loss, regret, and life’s harsh realities, all in the name of love.

Verdict: 10/10

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Dressed to Kill (1980)

Writer-director Brian De Palma “maintains a fever pitch from start to finish” (Leonard Maltin) with this “steamily libidinous and extremely bloody thriller” (Newsweek)! Starring Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson and Nancy Allen (in a Golden Globe-nominated performance), this taut psycho-sexual chiller is a razor-sharp tale of passion, madness and murder that’s as “scary as the devil [with] suspense to spare” (Playboy)! Fashionable Manhattan therapist Dr. Robert Elliott (Caine) faces the most terrifying moment of his life, when a psychotic killer begins attacking the women (Dickinson and Allen) in his life- with a straight razor stolen from his office. Desperate to find the murderer before anyone else is hurt, Elliott is soon drawn into a dark and disturbing world of chilling desires. And as the doctor edges closer to the terrible truth, he finds himself lost in a provocative and deadly maze of obsession, deviance and deceit- where the most harmless erotic fantasies…can become the most deadly sexual nightmares!

Verdict: 7/10

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Blue is the Warmest Color (2013)

Adele’s life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire, to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. In front of others, Adele grows, seeks herself, loses herself and ultimately finds herself through love and loss.

Verdict: 10/10

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Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Experience the film that captured the hearts of critics and fans around the world in a breathtaking new way. MONSTERS, INC. is “visually dazzling, action-packed and hilarious,” raves The Boston Herald. Lovable Sulley (John Goodman) and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. When a little girl named Boo wanders into their world, it’s the monsters who are scared silly, and it’s up to Sulley and Mike to keep her out of sight and get her back home. Open the door to a phenomenal world of excitement and imagination that will have you screaming for more. Loaded with sensational bonus features, including the theatrical short “Partysaurus Rex,” MONSTERS, INC. is hours of fantastic family fun.

Verdict: 8/10

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Delicatessen (1991)

Post-apocalyptic surrealist black comedy about the landlord of an apartment building who occasionally prepares a delicacy for his odd tenants.

Verdict: 9/10

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His Girl Friday (1940)

A reporter helps a condemned man escape. “His Girl Friday” is even better than the very good original, “Front Page”. Howard Hawks and Cary Grant have rarely handled comedy better, and Rosalind Russell gives one of her most memorable performances. Grant stars as Walter Burns, a newspaper editor whose top reporter, Hildy Johnson (Russell), is leaving the paper to get married. Walter wants her to stay in order to cover the impending execution of a convicted murderer, but Hildy refuses, leading to a continuing battle of wits between them. Hawks was always interested in what makes the professional tick. Almost all of his films touched on this theme in one way or another.

Verdict: 8/10

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Wonderland (2003)

On the afternoon of July 1, 1981, Los Angeles police responded to a distress call on Wonderland Avenue and discovered a grisly quadruple homicide. The police investigation that followed uncovered two versions of the events leading up to the brutal murders – both involving legendary porn actor John Holmes. You’re about to experience both versions.

Verdict: 5/10

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Brave (2012)

Pixar Animation Studios, the creator of TOY STORY 3, whisks you away on an astonishing adventure to an ancient land full of mystery and tradition. Bursting with heart, unforgettable characters and Pixar’s signature humor, BRAVE is “a rousing, gorgeously animated good time,” raves Peter Travers of Rolling Stone. Take a heroic journey with Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land. When Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos in the kingdom, she must harness all of her skills and resources — including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers — to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late, and discover the meaning of true bravery.

Verdict: 7/10

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Boyz N The Hood (1991)

BOYZ N THE HOOD is the critically acclaimed story of three friends growing up in a South Central Los Angeles neighborhood. It is a place where harmony co-exists with adversity, especially for three young men growing up there: Doughboy (Ice Cube), an unambitious drug dealer; his brother Ricky (Morris Chestnut), a college-bound teenage father; and Ricky’s best friend Tre (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), who aspires to a brighter future beyond “The Hood.” In a world where a trip to the store can end in death, the friends have diverse reactions to their bleak surroundings. Tre’s resolve is strengthened by a strong father (Larry Fishburne)who keeps him on the right track. But the lessons Tre learns are put to the ultimate test when tragedy strikes close to home, and violence seems the only recourse.

Verdict: 8/10

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The Deep (2012)

Based on actual events, a fisherman tries to survive in the freezing ocean after his boat capsizes off the south coast of Iceland.

Verdict: 7/10

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Ender’s Game (2013)

In the near future, a hostile alien race has attacked Earth. If not for the legendary heroics of International Fleet Commander Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley), all would have been lost. In preparation for the next attack, the highly esteemed Colonel Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford) and the International Military are training the best and brightest young children to find the future Mazer. Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), a shy, but strategically brilliant boy is pulled out of his school to join the elite.

Verdict: 6/10

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Short Term 12 (2013)

SHORT TERM 12 is told through the eyes of Grace (Brie Larson, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, 21 Jump Street), a twenty-something supervisor at a group home for troubled teens. She s passionate, tough and in love with her long-term boyfriend and co-worker, Mason (John Gallagher Jr., The Newsroom). But Grace s difficult past, her fierce independence and the arrival of a distraught new girl at the facility create complications that push Grace and Mason to the brink. In this unique love story the couple comes to embrace a surprising future together, discovering truth and humor in unexpected places.

Verdict: 9/10

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Transformers (2007)

An ancient struggle between two Cybertronian races, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, comes to Earth, with a clue to the ultimate power held by a teenager.

Verdict: 7/10

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Kill Your Darlings (2013)

When Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe) is accepted at Columbia, he finds stuffy tradition clashing with daringly modern ideas and attitudes – embodied by Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan). Lucien is an object of fascination for shy, unsophisticated Allen, and soon he is drawn into Lucien’s hard-drinking, jazz-clubbing circle of friends, including William Burroughs (Ben Foster) and David Kammerer (Michael C. Hall), who clearly resents Allen’s position as Lucien’s new sidekick. A true story of friendship, love and murder, Kill Your Darlings recounts the pivotal year that changed Allen Ginsberg’s life forever and provided the spark for him to start his creative revolution.

Verdict: 8/10

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The Conformist (1970)

In Mussolini’s Italy, repressed Jean-Louis Trintignant, trying to purge memories of a youthful, homosexual episode–and murder–joins the Fascists in a desperate attempt to fit in. As the reluctant Judas motors to his personal Gethsemane (the assassination of his leftist mentor), he flashes back to a dance party for the blind; an insane asylum in a stadium; and wife Stefania Sandrelli and lover Dominique Sanda dancing the tango in a working class hall. But those are only a few of this political thriller’s anthology pieces, others including Trintignant’s honeymoon coupling with Sandrelli in a train compartment as the sun sets outside their window; a bimbo lolling on the desk of a fascist functionary, glimpsed in the recesses of his cavernous office; a murder victim’s hands leaving bloody streaks on a limousine parked in a wintry forest. Bernardo Bertolucci’s masterpiece, adapted from the Alberto Moravia novel, boasts an authentic Art Deco look created by production designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti, a score by the great Georges Delerue (Contempt, Jules and Jim, and That Man From Rio) and breathtaking color cinematography by Vittorio Storaro.

Verdict: 7/10

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Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Captain America leads the fight for freedom in the action-packed blockbuster starring Chris Evans as the ultimate weapon against evil! When a terrifying force threatens everyone across the globe, the world’s greatest soldier wages war on the evil HYDRA organization, led by the villainous red Skull (Hugo Weaving, THE MATRIX). Critics and audiences alike salute CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER as “pure excitement, pure action, and pure fun!”

Verdict: 7/10

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The Magdalene Sisters (2002)

A stirring, must-see motion picture critics called one of the best films of the year, THE MAGDALENE SISTERS is the triumphant story of three extraordinary women whose courage to defy a century of injustice would inspire a nation! Abandoned by society and cast out by their families for crimes they did not commit, these women found themselves stripped of their liberty and dignity and condemned to indefinite sentences of manual labor. Within the church-run Magdalene Laundries, these women were forced into unbearable institutional servitude in order to cleanse themselves of the “sins” of which they had been accused. From acclaimed director Peter Mullan, this award-winning powerhouse not only reveals the truth behind one of the great tragedies of our time, but celebrates the bravery that would bring it to an end!

Verdict: 8/10

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The Twilight Samurai (2002)

Seibei Iguchi (Hiroyuki Sanada) is a low-ranking samurai living in the fading days of the Shogun period in Japan. His wife has died of tuberculosis, and with two daughters and an elderly mother to support, he and his family must survive in austerity. The divorce of his childhood friend Tomoe (Rie Miyazawa) leads him into a confrontation with her violent ex-husband, a high ranking samurai, and Seibei triumph against all odds. Just Seibei as begins to dream that despite his impoverishment he might win the hand of the long loved Tomoe, he is caught in the shifting turmoil of the times. His superiors, having heard of his sword-fighting prowess, order him on a dangerous mission: kill a renowned warrior who is on the wrong side of a clan power struggle.

Verdict: 9/10

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Cars (2006)

From the acclaimed creators of TOY STORY, THE INCREDIBLES, and FINDING NEMO comes a high-octane adventure comedy that shows life is about the journey, not the finish line. Hotshot rookie race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is living life in the fast lane until he hits a detour on his way to the most important race of his life. Stranded in Radiator Springs, a forgotten town on the old Route 66, he meets Sally, Mater, Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), and a variety of quirky characters who help him discover that there’s more to life than trophies and fame. Revved up with a sensational soundtrack, featuring Rascal Flatts, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, James Taylor, and others, plus exciting bonus features, including the short movie “Mater And The Ghostlight,” CARS is full of freewheeling fun for everyone

Verdict: 8/10

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To Catch a Thief (1955)

When a reformed jewel thief is suspected of returning to his former occupation, he must ferret out the real thief in order to prove his innocence.

Verdict: 7/10

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My Blueberry Nights (2007)

Oscar® nominee* Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Cold Mountain) and Grammy® Award-winning singer Norah Jones star in this “ravishing triumph… [of] pure romantic sensibility” (Armond White, New York Press). Law plays a big-hearted owner of a small New York diner who tries to soothe Jones’ jilted heart with his blueberry pie. But only after going on a year-long cross-country odyssey does she realize love was right at her doorstep all along. Gorgeously filmed by award-winning director Wong Kar Wai (In The Mood For Love) and featuring Oscar® winner** Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener) and Oscar® nominees*** Natalie Portman (Closer, Garden State) and David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck), My Blueberry Nights is an optimistic ode to love and “one of the best movies of the year!” (Andrew Sarris, New York Observer).

Verdict: 6/10

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Anonymous (2011)

Set in the political snake-pit of Elizabethan England, Anonymous speculates on an issue that has for centuries intrigued academics and brilliant minds… who was the author of the plays credited to William Shakespeare? Anonymous poses one possible answer, focusing on a time when cloak-and-dagger political intrigue, illicit romances in the Royal Court, and the schemes of greedy nobles hungry for the power were exposed in the most unlikely of places: the London stage.

Verdict: 6/10

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Papadopoulos & Sons (2012)

Following his ruin in the latest banking crisis, a self-made millionaire reluctantly re-unites with his estranged freewheeling brother to re-open the abandoned fish and chip shop they shared in their youth.

Verdict: 6/10

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Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)

RABBIT-PROOF Fence — featuring the Golden Globe-nominated score by Peter Gabriel -– is a powerful true story of hope and survival and has been met with international acclaim! At a time when it was Australian government policy to train aboriginal children as domestic workers and integrate them into white society, young Molly Craig decides to lead her little sister and cousin in a daring escape from their internment camp. Molly and the girls, part of what would become known as Australia’s “Stolen Generations,” must then elude the authorities on a dangerous 1,500-mile adventure along the rabbit-proof fence that bisects the continent and will lead them home. As shown by this outstanding motion picture, their universally touching plight and unparalleled courage are a beautiful testament to the undying strength of the human spirit!

Verdict: 7/10

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The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

The dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, continue their quest to reclaim Erebor, their homeland, from Smaug. Bilbo Baggins is in possession of a mysterious and magical ring.

Verdict: 8/10

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Schultze Gets the Blues (2003)

Schultze is an accordion player and newly without work. When the local music club celebrates its 50th anniversary, his taste of music changes unexpectedly.

Verdict: 7/10

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A Dangerous Method (2011)

From acclaimed director David Cronenberg (A History of Violence) comes a dark tale of sexual and intellectual discovery, featuring two of the greatest minds of the 20th century. Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender, Shame) has just begun his psychiatric career, having been inspired by the great Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen, The Lord of the Rings trilogy). When a mysterious and beautiful woman (Keira Knightley, Atonement) goes under Jung’s care, Jung finds himself crossing the line of the doctor/patient relationship, causing great conflict with his mentor and making Jung question his own morality in the process.

Verdict: 6/10

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Blackfish (2013)

Killer whales are beloved majestic, friendly giants yet infamous for their capacity to kill viciously. The documentary BLACKFISH unravels the complexities of this dichotomy, employing the story of the notorious performing whale Tilikum, who unlike any orca in the wild has taken the lives of several people while in captivity. BLACKFISH expands on the discussion of keeping such intelligent creatures in captivity.

Verdict: 9/10

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The Fountain (2006)

As a modern-day scientist, Tommy is struggling with mortality, desperately searching for the medical breakthrough that will save the life of his cancer-stricken wife, Izzi.

Verdict: 6/10

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Girl, Interrupted (1999)

Two time Oscar-nominee Winona Ryder stars in the fascinating true story of a young woman’s life-altering stay at a famous psychiatric hospital in the turbulent late 1960’s. Questionably diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, Susanna (Winona Ryder) rebels against the head nurse (Whoopi Goldberg) and top psychiatrist (Vanessa Redgrave), choosing instead to befriend the resident “loonies”,a group of troubled women including the seductively charismatic sociopath Lisa (Angelina Jolie). But Susanna quickly learns if she wants her freedom, she’ll have to face the person who terrifies her the most of all: herself.

Verdict: 7/10

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The Seven Year Itch (1955)

It’s a steamy summer in New York City and this scandalous, sexy comedy heats things up even more! A married man (Tom Ewell), whose wife and son are away for the summer, has his fidelity put to the test when a seductive starlet (Marilyn Monroe) moves in upstairs. Keeping his marriage vows in the face of her flirtations proves tough when challenged by the notorious “seven year itch.” Faced with this provocative problem, he’s victim to an outrageous mating dance filled with hilarious comedy!

Verdict: 6/10

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Love in the Afternoon (1972)

Though he has an adoring wife, a bourgeois man is still tempted to pursue other women.

Verdict: 8/10

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The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

In 1930s New Jersey, a movie character walks off the screen and into the real world.

Verdict: 7/10

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Glory (1989)

The heart-stopping story of the first black regiment to fight for the North in the Civil War, Glory stars Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman. Broderick and Elwes are the idealistic young Bostonians who lead the regiment; Freeman is the inspirational sergeant who unites the troops; and Denzel Washington, in an Oscar-winning performance (1989, Best Supporting Actor), is the runaway slave who embodies the indomitable spirit of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts.

Verdict: 8/10

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The Green Ray (1986)

It’s July, and Delphine has nowhere to go for the summer. She feels very bored and “empty”, but this won’t last; one day she accidentally meets someone who seems to be totally made for her…

Verdict: 7/10

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Filth (2013)

James McAvoy plays Detective Sergeant Bruce Robertson, a scheming, manipulative, misanthropic man who spends his time indulging in drugs, alcohol, sexually abusive relationships, and “the games” cruel plots and systematic bullying of his co-workers and friends. While working on the murder case of a Japanese student, he starts coming unhinged, slowly losing his grip on reality and suffering from a series of increasingly severe hallucinations as he desperately tries to hold his life together.

Verdict: 8/10

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La Cage aux Folles (1978)

One of “the most successful foreign films ever shown in the U.S.” (The Wall Street Journal),this “wildly hilarious” (Independent Film Journal) French farce is “giddy, unpretentious and an entirely lovable film” (Time)! When young Laurent returns to exotic St. Tropez, he bears big news for his beloved father, Renato. Laurent has found the girl of his dreams and they are engaged! What’s more, she and her family are on their way over for dinner at Renato’s home to meet the in-laws-to-be. This traditional meeting of families seems typical, but because this ultraconservative family will be expecting to meet Renato and wife, they’ll never be prepared for the shock of meeting Renato and his flamboyant, campy, outrageous lover and drag queen Albin! So in a great effort to please his son, Renato asks Albin for the performance of a lifetime’setting up an unforgettable evening that is charged and ready to detonate an explosion of zaniness and absurdity.

Verdict: 8/10

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The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

In late 1950s New York, Tom Ripley, a young underachiever, is sent to Italy to retrieve a rich and spoiled millionaire playboy, named Dickie Greenleaf. But when the errand fails, Ripley takes extreme measures.

Verdict: 9/10

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The Nutty Professor (1963)

To improve his social life, a nerdish professor drinks a potion that temporarily turns him into the handsome, but obnoxious, Buddy Love.

Verdict: 7/10

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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)

Based on the best-selling novel by John Boyne, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is the tale of curious 8 year-old Bruno. Bored in his new home, Bruno wanders off into the nearby woods where he discovers an unusual fence, behind which is a boy strangely dressed in “black- and-white pajamas.” Bruno embarks in a most unusual friendship with the boy, one that proves both ordinary and remarkable, both inspiring and tragic in this “unforgettable motion picture experience” (Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com).

Verdict: 8/10

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The Whistleblower (2010)

Academy Award® Winners Rachel Weisz and Vanessa Redgrave head a powerful cast that includes Oscar® Nominee David Strathairn in writer-director Larysa Kondracki’s harrowing dramatic thriller. When Nebraska cop Kathryn Bolkovac (Weisz) accepts a U.N. peacekeeper position in post-war Bosnia, she discovers a deadly sex trafficking ring. Risking her own life to save the lives of others, she uncovers an international conspiracy that is determined to stop her, no matter the cost. With masterful acting and a heart-racing plot, The Whistleblower is an acclaimed film inspired by actual events.

Verdict: 7/10

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Frankenweenie (2012)

From Disney and creative genius Tim Burton (ALICE IN WONDERLAND; THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS) comes the hilarious and offbeat FRANKENWEENIE, a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life — with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous. Complete with electrifying bonus features, FRANKENWEENIE is alive with enchanting fun for the whole family.

Verdict: 7/10

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The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence returns as Katniss Everdeen in this thrilling second adventure from The Hunger Games saga. Against all odds, Katniss and fellow tribute, Peeta, have returned home after surviving the games. Winning means they must turn around, leaving their loved ones behind, and embark on a Victory Tour through the districts. Along the way, Katniss senses a rebellion simmering – one that she and Peeta may have sparked. At the end of the Victory Tour, President Snow announces a deadly 75th Hunger Games (Quarter Quell) that could change Panem forever.

Verdict: 7/10
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Hard-Boiled (1992)

Chow Yun-Fat stars as one of the all-time toughest, coolest cops, who teams up with an undercover agent to bring down a ruthless gun smuggling ring. Features some of the most amazing action cinematography in film history.

Verdict: 9/10

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The Quiet Ones (2014)

A university professor and a team of students conduct an experiment on a young woman, uncovering terrifyingly dark, unexpected forces in the process.

Verdict: 2/10

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Out of the Furnace (2013)

From Scott Cooper, the critically acclaimed writer and director of Crazy Heart, comes a gripping and powerful drama about family, fate, circumstance and justice. Russell Baze (Oscar Winner Christian Bale) leads a dead-end life – he works a meaningless steel mill job all day, and cares for his terminally ill father at night. When Russell’s brother Rodney (Casey Affleck) returns home from Iraq, he is lured into one of the Northeast’s most ruthless crime rings and mysteriously disappears. When the police fail to solve the case, Russell puts his life at risk in order to seek justice for his brother. This absorbing film features a knockout cast that includes Woody Harrelson, Forest Whitaker, Willem Dafoe, Zoe Saldana and Sam Shepard.

Verdict: 7/10

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Locke (2013)

Ivan Locke, a dedicated family man and successful construction manager, receives a phone call on the eve of the biggest challenge of his career that sets in motion a series of events that threaten his careful cultivated existence.

Verdict: 9/10

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The post This Month’s Films (January 2015) appeared first on B-Lines and Felines.

This Month’s Books (January 2015)

Ernest Shackleton – South: The Story of Shackleton’s Last Expedition 1914 – 1917 (1919)

On the eve of the first World War, as Europe steeled for conflict and, incidentally, Gandhi departed for India after 20 years in South Africa, Sir Ernest Shackleton made final preparations for a 28-man expedition to Antarctica. His ship, HMS Endurance, left England in early August, and four months later, captain and crew sailed from the southern point of South America, headed at last for the desolate continent that was their destination. Within days, they hit pack ice, slowed to a crawl, and soon, with literally nowhere to go, hitched to an iceberg for the next 10 months. The trials that then followed strain credulity and have occupied several good books by different authors, but no account beats Shackleton’s own. Horrible to imagine and impossible to ignore, South’s shocking accounting of individual leadership and collective strength yields a priceless reminder, both of how bad things can get and just how much humans can accomplish.

Verdict: 4/5

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Phoenix Sullivan – Vet Tech Tales: The Early Years (2011)

Armed with the belief that simply loving animals would be enough to see her through high school, college, and eventually into veterinary medicine, Phoenix is in for some rude surprises as she navigates her way toward a career working with animals in “The Early Years,” the first instalment of her VET TECH TALES series.

From the dying finch found miraculously “resurrected” in a pet store to the diabetic poodle that gives its elderly owner a purpose in life to an embarrassing incident with a coyote, these engaging true tales reinforce how the animals we meet teach us the greatest lessons about what it means to be human.

A charming coming-of-age story for anyone who’s ever had a dream or a pet.

Verdict: 2/5

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Gavin Aung Than – Zen Pencils (2014)

Zen Pencils is an exciting and unique new comic form that takes inspirational and famous quotations and adapts them into graphic stories. From icons like Confucius, Marie Curie, and Henry David Thoreau, to Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge, to contemporary notables like Ira Glass, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Neil Gaiman—their words are turned into sometimes heartwarming, sometimes sobering stories by cartoonist Gavin Aung Than. Be inspired, motivated, educated, and laugh as you read famous words as never before!

Verdict: 5/5 

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The Know-It-All (2004)

Part memoir and part education (or lack thereof), The Know-It-Allchronicles NPR contributor A.J. Jacobs’s hilarious, enlightening, and seemingly impossible quest to read the Encyclopaedia Britannica from A to Z.

33,000 PAGES

44 MILLION WORDS

10 BILLION YEARS OF HISTORY

1 OBSESSED MAN

To fill the ever-widening gaps in his Ivy League education, A.J. Jacobs sets for himself the daunting task of reading all thirty-two volumes of theEncyclopaedia Britannica. His wife, Julie, tells him it’s a waste of time, his friends believe he is losing his mind, and his father, a brilliant attorney who had once attempted the same feat and quit somewhere around Borneo, is encouraging but unconvinced.

With self-deprecating wit and a disarming frankness, The Know-It-Allrecounts the unexpected and comically disruptive effects Operation Encyclopedia has on every part of Jacobs’s life — from his newly minted marriage to his complicated relationship with his father and the rest of his charmingly eccentric New York family to his day job as an editor atEsquire. Jacobs’s project tests the outer limits of his stamina and forces him to explore the real meaning of intelligence as he endeavors to join Mensa, win a spot on Jeopardy!, and absorb 33,000 pages of learning. On his journey he stumbles upon some of the strangest, funniest, and most profound facts about every topic under the sun, all while battling fatigue, ridicule, and the paralyzing fear that attends his first real-life responsibility — the impending birth of his first child.

The Know-It-All is an ingenious, mightily entertaining memoir of one man’s intellect, neuroses, and obsessions, and a struggle between the all-consuming quest for factual knowledge and the undeniable gift of hard-won wisdom.

Verdict: 4/5

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Happy Launch Day (and #Giveaway): Playing House

We’re celebrating the launch of Playing House today, a lovely romance novella to offer a little respite on these chilly winter nights! You can grab a copy for just 99c.

Taking part in the giveaway is easy – tweet a message, pin an image or two – and you could win a $25 gift certificate.

Happy reading!

About Playing House “Masters only did two seascapes before his hand was crushed.”

David and Emma Thomas have reached the end of the road. Only one thing is preventing them from parting ways: a painting they bought on honeymoon. Priceless to both of them, the only solution seems to be to find the second of the elusive Masters’ seascapes and each carry away a piece of the past.

Will an impromptu road trip set them free once and for all?

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Excerpt

They had talked about David staying in the house – spare room, of course – until he could find something more permanent but in the end he couldn’t bear it. The things you stopped noticing after fifteen years – sometimes, conversely, the very things that had helped you fall in love in the first place – were suddenly amplified. The way she always hummed when she made coffee in the morning, whatever her mood. The scent of her moisturiser. The way she chewed her pencil end, even though she admitted it was a habit that drove her crazy when others did it.

You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone…

Or almost gone. Being reminded every day of what he was about to lose would have been too much to bear. Not that he would call the current circumstances particularly bearable.

Instead, he had rented a small studio flat a ten minute walk away. He could easily have afforded something bigger and he certainly could have afforded something less sparsely furnished but he didn’t want a new home right now. He just wanted somewhere to retreat and lick his wounds.

Privately he admitted to himself that the feeling of temporariness helped perpetuate the charade: perhaps it wasn’t all quite over. He knew he was kidding himself. He was not the kind of man to give up without a fight and he believed he had fought hard for Emma. She just didn’t want him any more.

As he reached the building and entered the lobby, he wondered if he should just let her go now. The painting? She could have it. Who needed a reminder of all the things they’d never have again? She had transformed his life over the last fifteen years. A canvas, however stunning, was a poor substitute.

In his ‘kitchenette’ – one counter, a sink and a toaster and kettle – he poured a glass of whisky, took a mouthful and then shook his head and emptied the rest of the glass down the sink. He was drinking too much. It wasn’t habitual but it could easily become so. Whisky – even damn good whisky – was even less of a substitute for Emma than a Masters’ seascape.

He would call her in the morning, he decided. She could have the painting. Forget the auction. Forget the road trip.

If you love someone set them free…

She wouldn’t come back to him, he suddenly knew that. And perhaps it would indeed mean she never had been his, but oddly he was cheered by this thought. Nobody could own someone as free as Emma. She was born to soar. He had always believed they could soar together and the realisation that he had been wrong crushed his heart in a vice of pain. She had given him so much in the last fifteen years, made so many sacrifices. This would be his final opportunity to give Emma something she really wanted: her freedom. After everything he had put her through, it would be the very least he could offer.Show moreShow less
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#RRBC: The Genesis Saga Tour – John Fioravanti

We’re delighted to welcome John Fioravanti to the blog today. John is the author of Passion and Struggle and is on tour with Rave Reviews Book Club (#RRBC), sponsored by 4WillsPublishing. Thanks to John for stopping by!

The Genesis Saga Tour

I’m grateful to my host of this tenth post of THE GENESIS SAGA TOUR, and to Nonnie Jules of 4WillsPublishing who arranged it all! The full lineup for this tour can be found here.

My purpose, is to give readers a greater familiarity with planet Genesis – within the Equations universe created by author and friend, Kenneth Tam.

To this end, we embarked upon a series of interviews of some key players in Book One of The Genesis Saga: PASSION & STRUGGLE. Nonnie Jules of the famed interviews, ‘Who’s On The Shelf With Nonnie Jules?’ agreed to lend her formidable skills to this process. She gave me the nickname “Fio” a while back – so keep that in mind in case she opts to use it!

I am a guest in Nonnie’s office at 4WillsPublishing. I just finished relating to her an interview between the Earther leader, General Beckett Lupus, and the Genesis Free Press reporters, Annie Pinto and Marie Brooklynn. From the look on her face, I think she has more questions about the Earthers…

NJ: So these Earthers got mixed up in a bloody war for four years just to save the humans from these Krogg creatures? If they’re so darned saintly, Fio, why didn’t the Churchers on Genesis like them?

JF: Good question! During the war, ArcGeneral Sarah Manchester led the Genesis Navy through countless battles, while her Commanding Officer, Liz Hasting stayed on Genesis to coordinate the war effort. During Liz’s election campaign, Sarah testified on her behalf. One of the Churcher Congressmen challenged Liz’s friendship with Earthers. This was Sarah’s response…

Sarah sat at a large table set before the raised dais where the committee of eight Members of Congress sat. The table was empty except for the microphone, a water glass and pitcher. As she sat in front of the microphone, Sarah noted that the selection panel comprised six men and two women. She surmised the women had to be Naval class since no self-respecting Churcher woman would be involved in politics. Next, she looked at each of the males to see if there were any obvious signs of his loyalties. Her gaze stopped at one youngish man, likely in his mid-thirties, who sported thin, sandy colored hair, eyeglasses, and a scowl. The man chairing the committee rapped his gavel, drawing her attention away. He wore a friendly smile that softened his sharp, angular face. His graying hair suggested he

was in his fifties. His soothing voice put her at ease.

“Thank you for appearing before us today, ArcGeneral Manchester. We’re grateful for your courageous leadership during the war, and for the sacrifices those under your command made to keep Genesis safe.”

Seven Members of Congress smiled and applauded their agreement as Sarah bowed her head in acknowledgement. The eighth Member just scowled. Sarah smiled and ignored him.

“ArcGeneral,” the Chairman continued, “we have heard and considered the policy platform of candidate ArcGeneral Hastings. She has made very clear her economic, social, military, and foreign policy plans, so we feel confident we understand her position on these issues. We’re hoping you can give us insight about who the ArcGeneral is as a person.”

Sarah leaned forward and drank from her glass before she spoke, “Mister Chairman, I have known ArcGeneral Hastings since I was fifteen years old. She recruited me from the Genesis City Naval Cadets. Because of my family’s Naval history, I was drawn to this profession. Inspired by then ArcLieutenant Liz Hastings, I jumped at the chance to enroll in the Academy. She is a born leader. She is not only a gifted administrator, but she inspires those around her.”

The scowling congressman interrupted. “I’m Congressman Hawkins, ArcGeneral. What can you tell us concerning ArcGeneral Hastings’ sense of loyalty when she led the Naval mutiny which ended our Quest to conquer Earth?”

Sarah looked grim and paused a moment to compose herself, “ArcGeneral Hastings saved the lives of countless Navy crewmen that particular day. You see, Shappa Bactule’s plan was to massacre the crews of our Navy’s ships and replace them with hastily conditioned Crusaders. The ArcGeneral’s mutiny, as you call it, saved most of the Genesis fleet; and in so doing, she inspired the confidence and unswerving loyalty of those entrusted to her command.”

“And I suppose you approve of the fact that she allowed herself to become a lapdog to those heathen Earthers?”

Sarah’s eyebrow rose. Fortunately, she had prepared for hostility, because she was getting it.

“I find it fascinating that faithful people of the Church view the Earthers with such contempt and distrust, Mister Hawkins. They handily defeated the ships of our Navy under Crusader command. Their military superiority is obvious. Allow me to list the horrid things they did after that victory. First, they rescued the surviving crews in space and gave them life-saving medical treatment. Next, the Crusaders, defeated at Antarctica Base, were allowed to live among them – or return to Genesis. The Crusaders opted to stay! As well, they treated High Chancellor Bingham’s mortal wounds and saved his life. They offered him friendship, which he accepted gratefully. Now, did these bloodthirsty heathens make plans to conquer Genesis? On the contrary, ladies and gentlemen, they acceded to our request to help rid us of the Krogg overseers who had their own agendas! Did they take over Genesis after the ensuing war? Show me, Mister Congressman. Show me those cruel Earther masters who keep you in chains!

They are not the enemy, sir. They give – even at the cost of their own lives – because their nature causes them to do so. Their gifts have no strings.”

Hawkins’ glared, trying to unsettle Sarah, but she smiled at his discomfort.

“The Earthers are a great people who have enormous respect for ArcGeneral Hastings,” she concluded. “They saved her ship and her life at Krogg ‘A’, when our ships were unable to reach her. I’ve been to their world, Mister Chairman. It is a utopian society. I lived there for eight months while Earther shipbuilding yards and Earther technicians put our fleet back together for the trip home. They offered me free access to whatever I wanted. It is hard to imagine, I know, but true. By the way, Congressman Hawkins, have you seen the bill for the repairs to our ships yet?” Every eye turned to Hawkins as his scowl deepened and his face turned red. “No? Well, sir, I guarantee they won’t be sending one.”

Sarah shifted in her chair, and refilled her glass, as most of the committee members laughed and applauded her response. She drank and placed the glass on the table as she looked askance at the Chairman.

The Chairman rapped the gavel for quiet and looked to his right and left for more questions. Hawkins was sitting back in his chair, his expression dark and stormy. No one moved to ask a question.

“Thank you, ArcGeneral, for your frankness and insights. You have provided us with much food for thought. You may be excused.” The Chairman rapped the gavel once more.

NJ: Okay, Fio, what I got from that is that the Churchers are upset because the Earthers stopped their Quest to take over Earth.

JF: That’s true, Nonnie, but it is also clear that the Churchers saw the Earthers as an abomination against nature.

NJ: (Nonnie mulls that over in silence for a few moments.) I don’t pretend to understand those fanatics! Are there any nice Churchers on Genesis? Never mind, Fio, just thinking about them gives me a headache.

JF: Fair enough. Is there anything else you’d like to know about?

NJ: Yes there is! You know, I really like Marco. I’d like to know more about him. And I’d love a cup of coffee… but don’t tell Mar! Promise me, Fio…

JF: (John reaches out and touches Nonnie’s arm.) As you wish…

Join us for Nonnie’s next adventure… somewhere!!

About John Fioravanti John Fioravanti is a retired secondary school educator who completed his thirty-five year career in the classroom in June, 2008. Throughout his career, John focused on developing research, analysis, and essay writing skills in his History Classroom. This led to the publication of his first non-fiction work for student use, Getting It Right in History Class. A Personal Journey to the Heart of Teaching is his second non-fiction work; it attempts to crystallize the struggles, accomplishments, and setbacks experienced in more than three decades of effort to achieve excellence in his chosen field. John’s first work of fiction is Passion & Struggle and is set within Kenneth Tam’s Equations universe (Iceberg Publishing). He claims that, after two non-fiction books, he’s having the time of his life bringing new stories and characters to life! At present, John lives in Waterloo, Ontario with Anne, his bride of forty-one years. They have three children and three grandchildren. In December of 2013, John and Anne founded Fiora Books for the express purpose of publishing John’s books.
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The post #RRBC: The Genesis Saga Tour – John Fioravanti appeared first on B-Lines and Felines.