Andrew Buckley's Blog, page 3

My Trip to GeekGirlCon 2017 - Seattle

My first visit to GeekGirlCon​ has been a ton of fun! I took part in the Villainess Panel hosted by Carolyn Noe and Fox Smith from Super Heroines, Etc.​ and featuring Symantha Reagor​ and Evan J. Peterson​ (audio of the panel coming soon). I also hosted the first of two of my The 'Not So Happily Ever After' Storytelling Workshops to a packed room. You can now check out the whole trip in this great vlog produced by the talented Maurits.ca​. HIATWP2! Next up is the release of HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES 2: THE PERILS OF GROWING UP WEREWOLF, happening on October 3rd!! Pre-Order your copy today! Pre-Order Your Copy

Goodreads Giveaway! - HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES 2

You've got until October 3rd to enter to win a copy of HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES 2! Hop over to Goodreads now to enter! ENTER GIVEAWAY

Podcast Interview - Author Andrew Buckley & Devil Cats: Finding Mythological Agents, Book Lies & Ankle Biters

You can now listen to my guest interview on the Read.Write.Repeat podcast! Appropriately titled: Author Andrew Buckley & Devil Cats: Finding Mythological Agents, Book Lies & Ankle Biters. We discuss The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, literary agents, public speaking, and I read an excerpt from HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES 2! 
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Bite-Sized Movie Review - 'IT' (2017)

It's well documented that I don't like Stephen King's work, though I feel like I should and I keep trying. I've never read IT and doubt I ever will. The orgy at the end of the book is enough to make me not want to read it (excellent decision to cut that from the movie). While a lot of King's archetypical characters were present in the movie, it was overall a good, creepy watch, with lots of thrills and scares. Skarsgard was suitably fiendish in his role as Pennywise, the shapeshifting creature who emerges every 27 years to feed on the children of Derry.  As with a lot of King's work, the evil isn't limited to the big bad. In Derry, there are scales of evil that must be addressed. Sure, at the top we have Pennywise the child-eating clown. Just below him we have every single adult in Derry. Every. Single. One. From Beverley's father, to Eddie's mother, the town Sheriff, the Jewish kid's Dad, Billy's Dad, creepy pharmacy guy, and so on. Just below that are the town's psychotic bullies who are fine with carving names into kids. And below that is everyone else in Derry who isn't a member of the loser squad. This town sucks!!  Some stuff didn't make sense: Pennywise's motivations or powers are rooted in being able to generate fear (he's basically a miscast creature from Monsters Inc) but it's never explained. What are the lights in his mouth that made Beverly float? Why did she snap out of it with a kiss? What's the deal with all the other floating kids? Are they dead? Trapped in a spiders web kinda thing?! Some great scenes included the rock fight, the projection screen attack, that classic opener with the storm drain, and the few moments when the kids seemed to genuinely be having fun.  The jumps were well-executed, and everyone should now be thoroughly afraid of clowns. Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard (best name in history) stole the show as the archetypical King loud potty mouth with a heart of gold. And thanks to some nefarious title trickery at the end of the movie, it appears we're in for a sequel. If you like scary movies, give this one a watch! ​​

COVER REVEAL - HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES 2: The Perils of Growing Up Werewolf

It's here! It's finally here! It's like Christmas only without the presents, or the pudgy guy in the chimney, or elves, no reindeer, no turkey, no childbirth in a stable . . . so not like Christmas really. But it's exciting nevertheless! Today is the official cover reveal for HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES 2! Below you'll find the official cover along with links to pre-order your copy! The official release date is October 3rd (just a couple of days before this year's full hunter's moon) so mark your calendars!

​You can check out my interview with Month9Books  regarding what you can expect from the sequel, why I decided to write a werewolf series in the first place, introducing the new villain, and maybe a couple of hints about the mystery surrounding Jeremy . . . 
Being a werewolf is no picnic. Colin’s constantly hungry, spends a ton of time shaving, and fights to keep his emotions in check to avoid turning into a giant, drooling, hairy, smelly, howling wolf. But Colin’s not the only creature hanging around the town of Elkwood. Vampires, zombies, goblins, ogres, and other questionable visitors and their various shenanigans have got everyone on edge.

​Colin just wants to live a normal life, date, and get his homework done on time. But the town of Elkwood needs him. So when a secret government organization asks for his help, will he be able to control the animal inside, or will he give in to the perils of growing up werewolf?
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Bite-sized TV Reviews - Glow (Netflix)

I'd heard about this show mostly in passing, but having grown up in the UK I wasn't aware of the source material upon which it was based. It wasn't until I learned it was about wrestling that I decided to give it a look. Perfectly compacted into ten 30 minute episodes, this comedy drama about the creation of the 70s/80s reality tv show, Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, is a delightful first season.

Similar to Orange is the New Black, Glow follows the journey of multiple characters, mostly aspiring actresses in this case. Each of the character's individual stories are explored but the true power comes in two elements. Firstly, the writing and story is exceptional, combining the right amount of quirky comedy with interestingly unique characters.

Secondly, the real powerhouse of the show is the tri-fector of the three main characters played by Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, and Marc Maron. The casting here is perfect and the three bring a sense of nuance to the roles that make the characters so likeable despite their flaws. I was particularly surprised by Maron; his role as the slightly washed up and sleazy director of Glow, coming to terms with the girl's lives and finding a connection with many of them was so fun to watch. I truly hope there's a second season!

UPDATE: Netflix has announced they've ordered a ten episode second season of Glow!

Bite-sized Book Reviews - The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

This series gets better and better. The story of the Tearling takes some interesting twists and turns with a surprising look back at the past (our future) and the great crossing. Kelsea continues to be a dynamic and engaging character, a true queen. I also loved father Tyler's story in the sequel! I highly recommend this series and am already into the third. I know I'm going to be seriously bummed out when I reach the end of this tale. It's a fun world to live in!

Bite-sized Movie Review - Spider-Man Homecoming

Why?! Why reboot Spider-Man AGAIN!? Oh, because you want to tie it into the marvel cinematic universe where it belongs, cast a perfect lead actor, and make a fun movie? That I can get behind!

Tom Holland made for a perfectly cast version of Peter Parker. His innocence and immaturity played well into the new 15 year old Parker and he delivered a performance that was both genuine and endearing. The origin was thankfully skipped (we didn’t need to see Uncle Ben get shot all over again), and we’re introduced to the young Spider-Man we saw first pop up and steal the show in Civil War. This new Spidey isn’t in full control of his powers (spider sense is noticeably absent), and he’s still getting used to the suped up suit which causes as much comedy as it does action.

The choices that Parker makes in this movie help define who the character will become as he continues on through the the various phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But those choices are made from the learning stand point of a still-developing teenager who’s struggling to come to terms with the powers he’s been granted. It makes for an interesting dynamic, far more so than any previous versions we’ve seen so far. Not to mention that Holland is charming as all hell. All these things will no doubt keep the character fresh and interesting and will hopefully mean we don’t have to switch actors or reboot again any time soon.

Add to this a strong list of supporting characters, Robert Downey Jr and Michael Keaton being at the top of said list, and you’ve got yourself a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but invests enough in the character and story development to make this series a future cornerstone of the MCU.

Homecoming was fantastic! Such a fun movie filled with charismatic characters that added to the story rather than just filling it. Plenty of teen angst to give it a John Hughes vibe while splicing superb action and well-placed humour. This is the Spider-Man I've been waiting for. STRAY THOUGHTS OF AWESOMENESS . . . The Iron Spider Suit!Karen, Spidey’s AI, is voiced by Jennifer Connelly who also happens to have played Betty Ross in And Lee’s Hulk and is married to Paul Bettany who plays Vision in the MCU.Michelle = MJ -  So, the new version of Mary Jane?
Mac Gargan was the buyer for the weapons on the ferry. Gargan in the comics is the Scorpion! Producers have said the villain in the Spider-Man sequel is someone we’ve never seen on screen yet . . . 2 + 2 = Scorpion!
Gwyneth Paltrow showed up. That’s nice.
Donald Glover plays Aaron Davis who’s not only The Prowler in the comic books but is also the Uncle of Miles Morales, the Ultimate Universe(?) Spider-Man who currently exists in the same universe as Peter Parker in the comics.

Bite-Sized TV Reviews - Game of Thrones Edition - S7E01 - Dragonstone

*SPOILERS AHEAD*  Just when you believe Arya can't be any more badass, that's when she kills every person in the room. Arya’s journey felt like it was staggering along for a while, so much so that she had to take an entire season in Bravos to finally reach the point where she’s not only capable but exceptionally lethal. ​She’s quickly putting to use her skills as a faceless assassin, first taking out the elder Frey last  season, and now taking care of the rest of his bloodline in a move that was so exceptionally cool that someone should just give her a dragon and be done with it.

Jon and Sansa attempt to rule the North but are overshadowed by an eight-year-old girl who should really be in charge of pretty much everything.

The Hound just needs a hug. Poor Sandor Clegane. He’s bested by Brienne, left for dead, turns to a life without violence, only to become extremely violent, and now he’s hanging out with Beric and his band of religious nut cases whose roles are still very unclear in the grand scheme of things. They appear to be moving North, even dropping by a past haunt of the Hound’s in the process. We’re already seeing a very different Hound than those first few seasons. He’s certainly not tender, and it’s highly unlikely that he’ll opt for a snuggle rather than chopping off someone’s nether regions, but there’s a heart there where there wasn’t one before. We’re watching him find purpose and his visions in the fire, while a little convenient, might be the guidance the Brotherhood Without Banners need.
Jon and Sansa attempt to rule the North but are overshadowed by an eight-year-old girl who should really be in charge of pretty much everything. Lady Mormont is a little powerhouse who constantly embarrasses and shames the Northern Lords, and has more balls than the lot combined. Aside from that, there’s still tension between Sansa and Jon, mostly caused by Little Finger hanging around being his usual creepy and pervy self. Preparations are underway for the North to defend Westeros against the coming storm, but if they really thought about it, they could just stick Lady Mormont in front of the Night King and he’d probably turn tail and run.

​I don’t know that the Greyjoy fleet will be all that much of an advantage against White Walkers, Daenerys and her dragons, or the sheer killing power of Arya Stark, but you go ahead and play with your boats.

​Cersei and her dealings with Euron Greyjoy wasn’t all that surprising. As she clearly outlined to her brother, the Lannisters have no friends, no allies, and everyone wants to kill them. The ONLY option left for them was Euron Greyjoy who, until this point, hasn’t really made much of an appearance. Although, props to him for building an entire fleet in record time. I don’t know that the Greyjoy fleet will be all that much of an advantage against White Walkers, Daenerys and her dragons, or the sheer killing power of Arya Stark, but you go ahead and play with your boats. After Cold Hands ditched Bran and his companion (whose name I can never recall) at the end of the last season, the pair reach the wall (finally). It doesn’t take much more than a few creepy words from Bran before Ed and the Night’s Watch let them through the wall. We can only assume Bran is heading to Jon as he now knows the truth of who Jon Snow really is.

​Daenerys finally lands on the mainland and realizes the people of Westeros appreciate a really good 'stairs' workout. Her return to Dragonstone, where she was born, seems a fitting place for her to setup camp. There wasn’t a great deal to go on in this episode so I’m sure we’ll be seeing much more of the Mother of Dragons in coming episodes as her plan for global domination unfolds. Of course, this is all without her knowing what’s really going on in the North or that Jon Snow is her cousin, so those will present some interesting spanners in the works, especially since we now know what lies beneath Dragonstone.
Which brings us to the book-stealer himself, Samwell “I’ve got a healthy gag reflex’ Tarly! Poor Sam’s tenure at the Citadel is not going so well, in that he’s nothing more than a poop-scrubbing servant. The logic of Sam becoming a maester, something that appears to take a long time to achieve, seems misplaced. Jon sent him there to learn more, so are we to believe Sam will live out the rest of Game of Thrones at the Citadel sneaking information out when he can? Seems like a lack luster character arc for someone who, up until now, has had an interesting story. However, Sam’s discovery that there’s a hefty amount of Dragon Glass under Dragonstone is the connection required to get Jon and Daenerys into the same room so maybe he still works as a plot device.

​Leading us to the question of the week: Taking into consideration that we now know who Jon’s parents were . . . does that make Jon Snow fire proof?
STRAY THOUGHTS OF AWESOMENESS . . . Nice to see Sir Jorah is still kicking around. Hopefully Sam slips him some moisturizer.Arya hanging out with the Lannister army was a nice touch showing that they’re not all evil, murdering, rapists and reminds us that an army is a necessity in Westeros.That White Walker army is looking threatening. I mean c’mon, they’ve got zombie giants. ZOMBIE GIANTS!Tormund’s flirty looks at Brienne are a thing of pure awesomeness. While she seems less than inclined to respond to his advances, I feel like there’s romance to be had there  . . .Ed Sheeran still looks like an escaped garden gnome. 

Bite-Sized Movie Reviews - Wonder Woman

MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD . . . You’ve been warned!
Well DC/WB, you did it. No one thought you could do it (including me). But you did it! You finally produced a superhero movie that wasn't riddled with plot holes and didn't misrepresent the core of the characters. AND you did it using a strong female protagonist. Nicely done!  Wonder Woman is a treat of a movie. From the character's origin to her introduction into the 'real world', from Gadot and Pine's on-screen chemistry, to the beautiful action sequences, often underscored by that most epic of superhero theme tunes (you know the one), Wonder Woman represents a DC superhero movie done right.

​Patty Jenkins has given DC something that they can proudly parade in front of Marvel, and while the latter has far more wins in terms of cinematic extended universe and sheer consistency of quality, DC has done something Marvel has not. They let a female superhero lead her own movie. While we know Ms. Marvel is coming one of these years, Marvel has treaded lightly when it comes to females in their movies, even giving Black Widow a bit of a hard time and degrading her character ala Civil War. We see no such degradation in Wonder Woman and it wins on multiple levels. But were there any negatives?

The ‘love’ story at the centre of the plot is represented more by self-sacrifice than by romantic relationship so it’s easy to overlook the absence of romantic development. ​

Yes, but they were minor. Chris Pine generally plays ‘Chris Pine’ so it wasn’t much of a surprise to see him once again playing Chris Pine. There was a little more awkwardness to the character this time around as he struggled to deal with a dominant female in a society where women are still fighting to vote, but it was still Pine underneath it all. Consequently the love story and the speed in which it developed was a little hard to believe, but I think we can chalk it up to being an ‘under extraordinary circumstances’ situation. The ‘love’ story at the centre of the plot is represented more by self-sacrifice than by romantic relationship so it’s easy to overlook the absence of romantic development. 

​There were a few more bits and pieces that stood out, like the whole story behind the creation of the amazons and the battle between Zeus and Ares, that leaves a few questions, and I did wonder more than once as to whether Wonder Woman is bullet proof? I’m assuming the answer is yes as she went through a hell of a beat down at the end and came out unscathed, but that leaves me to wonder why all the stopping of bullets with her wrist guards all the time? And what has she been up to since World War 1? Anyway, minor stuff like I said. Moving on . . .

Gadot was five months pregnant while filming!! How the? What the? You go, girl. ​

Gal Gadot was a superb find for the role of Diana/Wonder Woman. She brought the right combination of emotion and aggression to the role in such a way that no one thought was possible. True, all we had to compare the character to was previous DC animated adventures, the 1970’s Wonder Woman TV Show with the amazing and beautiful Lynda Carter, and that absolutely horrific TV Pilot from David E. Kelly. Gadot’s Wonder Woman appearance in Batman v Superman was the highlight of the whole movie and that was just a glimpse. The Jenkins/Gadot solo outing solidified the character as a major player in the cinematic DCU. Also, Gadot was five months pregnant while filming!! How the? What the? You go, girl. 

I could likely go on and on about this movie but I’ll save it for the Trilogy Spoilers Podcast. This is supposed to be a bite-sized review after all. However, there are bits I want to highlight that made this movie shine. 

​The combination of well choreographed action sequences and beautiful CGI fused with that kickass guitar riff theme tune made for such enjoyable action sequences. While snippets were seen in the trailers, they did a great job of hiding many of the scenes, including the final battle which I don’t believe was even hinted at in any of the trailers. 

The irony that she’s a woman in no man’s land wasn’t lost on anyone, but it’s a poignant moment that separates the women from the boys.

When Diana can no longer ignore the suffering around her and is told flat out that she cannot enter No Man’s Land, she fully ignores the warnings and does just that. The irony that she’s a woman in no man’s land wasn’t lost on anyone, but it’s a poignant moment that separates the women from the boys.

​Wonder Woman’s natural compassion, despite not being raised in the modern world, is touching. She sees a baby and wants to hold it, she sees people suffering and struggling and she feels the need to help. She feels pain when an entire village is brutally wiped out. Coming from an isolated island of amazonian warriors, this perspective is such an endearing quality that it naturally humanizes her.

Her actions speak for themselves and the representation of women in this movie, not as god-like creatures (though in many cases they are), but as strong people who want to make the world a better place through their actions, not through the way they look, or the way they are perceived, is inspiring and relatable.

And finally, the thigh jiggle. Bear with me here. I don’t know why it stood out to me so much but the more I think about it, the more I believe that one single scene carried a powerful message. Gadot as Diana is naturally beautiful, I doubt anyone would disagree. But she isn’t overly sexualized throughout, which I think we can credit to Jenkins. I have little doubt that a male director would have chosen different shots and likely would have opted for several slow motion shots of Diana moving seductively, with or without clothing. Even when she’s in full battle gear, she comes across as warrior-like and majestic. During the big final battle, Diana does the patented superhero landing, dropping heavily on the ground, but instead of concrete unwavering muscles her leg actually jiggles slightly. I challenge you to find this happen to any other superhero on film. She’s a strong, powerful woman who doesn’t have to be sexualized, who exudes natural strength, and doesn’t have to be the perfect archetype of a hero or what we’ve been led to believe is a hero. Her actions speak for themselves and the representation of women in this movie, not as god-like creatures (though in many cases they are), but as strong people who want to make the world a better place through their actions, not through the way they look, or the way they are perceived, is inspiring and relatable. This is true of almost all the female characters, including Robin Wright’s aged warrior, Pine’s secretary, even Doctor Poison. Sure, the latter is making the world better by her own crazy standards, but she seems to spend a lot of time around poisonous gas, so we can forgive it this time around. 

​Diana is an inspiration. A purer character than Batman who is driven by revenge, and a brighter shining light than Superman who, let’s face it, is a mopey boring character. I liked the humanized elements of Wonder Woman as much as I liked the superhero qualities. I hope they keep her character consistent as the movies continue to be developed, and that we see a lot more of her in the future.