Gloria Oliver's Blog, page 24
October 8, 2016
Chaos, News, and Oct 14th Impending Release!
Greetings all!First, apologies for the lack of consistency on my posts of late. Between 2015 and 2016 life has been an ever filling bucket of chaos! Whee!Most of it stems from the dreaded, but horribly necessary - Day JOB! I have to eat, pay bills, all those pesky things one does to survive while working above and beyond to push a writing career. Not for the faint of heart on a normal basis. And with all that's been happening at work in the last couple of years...People leaving the department like every three months or so in 2015. Owner ship changes. Duty changes. And in 2016 the added fun of an accelerated system conversion at the same time as declaring bankruptcy and coming out the other side. Then add in the layoff and people who survived it leaving at the worst possible time...and you can see how full the bucket is.I've got my fingers crossed that 2017 will finally have things slow down. I want to be able to WRITE! Got a science fiction manuscript screaming for me to edit it so I can shop it around and a new urban fantasy manuscript with several thousand words already down and tabulated research on the side. Neither of which has seen anything from me in at least six months. :(The peeps from the writers group I belong to are not sure I still exist! (Been with them for a long time and I've always been anal about getting my crits for any submissions in! Now they never hear from me except to catch a glimpse and a word or two from me at cons. (I'm still alive! I promise! I will do my part soooooooonnnnnn!)The blog schedule has not gone unscathed, and has gotten worse the last few months Apologies! At least I've still managed to show up at the cons. (Though on the last two I missed a couple of my panels - *gack* - Even after looking at my schedule repeatedly! Mind exhaustion anyone?)We're hitting 3rd quarter close and audit - so it's not looking good for October. But I'll keep struggling to get back on track. And so as part of this long apology for sporadic posting schedules and more I will also be a good author and announce the impending release of my novelette "Charity and Sacrifice."
Release date is October 14th! Less than a week away! And in case you missed the post a few weeks ago - it's already available for pre-order! Kindle, Kobo, and iBook.The novelette is 10K words and will only be available in ebook. For a short excerpt check the book page here. It is a historical/alternate history work set in London, England in the late 1800's. :)If you wouldn't mind, please help spread the word! And wish me LUCK! (I need it!) :P
Release date is October 14th! Less than a week away! And in case you missed the post a few weeks ago - it's already available for pre-order! Kindle, Kobo, and iBook.The novelette is 10K words and will only be available in ebook. For a short excerpt check the book page here. It is a historical/alternate history work set in London, England in the late 1800's. :)If you wouldn't mind, please help spread the word! And wish me LUCK! (I need it!) :P
September 25, 2016
Virtual Tourist - Dues Ex: Mankind Divided 9/25/16
Morning all!The Chaos continues. Every time I think it is about to let up - BAM! More chaos!Anyway, upgraded my video card as I was having issues with the videos in the game. Started over to see those bits and also discovered that the images themselves became even more awesome. So retook a few. :P
Airliner crash in the news. Caused by an aug with PTSD - or so they believe.
Our virtual news reporter is back!
That hairdo is killing me! :P
The abandoned hotel in Dubai. Really would have been impressive if they'd finished it. 
Mac - he doesn't like me much. Feeling is mutual. Though I do like to poke at him. 
The Boss - Miller
Our approach in.
I took this same exact image the first time! Freaked me out when I saw that this morning. lol.
So much more detail! Ooooh!
That sandstorm really looks scary, doesn't it? :PGot day 3 of Fencon this morning. So gotta run!
Airliner crash in the news. Caused by an aug with PTSD - or so they believe.Our virtual news reporter is back!That hairdo is killing me! :PThe abandoned hotel in Dubai. Really would have been impressive if they'd finished it. Mac - he doesn't like me much. Feeling is mutual. Though I do like to poke at him. The Boss - MillerOur approach in.I took this same exact image the first time! Freaked me out when I saw that this morning. lol.So much more detail! Ooooh!That sandstorm really looks scary, doesn't it? :PGot day 3 of Fencon this morning. So gotta run!September 23, 2016
Movie Review - Storks
Storks
Starring: Andy Samberg, Katie Crown, Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Aniston, Ty Burrell, Anton Starkman, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Danny Trejo, Stephen Kramer Glickman, and more.
Directed by: Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland Written by: Nicholas Stoller Cinematography by: Simon Dunsdon Music by: Jeff Dana and Mychael Danna
Premise: Storks used to deliver babies to expectant parents. But that is a function they've not provided for almost two decades. They now deliver packages worldwide. And Junior's been told he's about to be promoted to "Boss". All he has to do is fire the human - Tulip. The storks are responsible for taking care of her ever since her failed baby delivery 18 years before. Now that she's come of age, though, she's no longer their problem and Hunter wants her out. Junior can't bring himself to fire her outright though. And through a series of events, Tulip inadvertently activates the baby factory. Due to a messed up wing, Junior must have Tulip's help to deliver the produced baby before Hunter finds out about it and his chance to be the "Boss" is ruined. (Rated PG)
Review:
1) Voice Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Andy Samberg and Katie Crown play off each other well as Junior and Tulip. Kelsey Grammer was awesome as the head stork, Hunter. (The whole "Bossssss" sequences are too funny!) Anton Starkman was adorable as the lonely and ignored Nate Gardner. Jennifer Aniston and Ty Burrell as Nate's over achieving parents were a hoot. And I adored Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele as Alpha and Beta Wolf. (The wolves rocked!)
2) Artwork/Animation - Total Thumbs Up: Warner Brothers Animation did a great job on the film. The texture for the feathers, especially when ruffled, looked great. They also seemed to have had a lot of fun playing with Tulip's hair. (Her bored scene and changes in hair to pretend to be other people was too funny!)
The baby at the crux of the problem is beyond adorable. And the babies later on are an overdose of cuteness!
The wolves were such a fun treat! Not only funny, but they have mad skillz! ROFL. Animating their antics and making them look believable definitely deserve some well earned kudos.
A lot of subtext in the art with regards to buildings and working environments. And the Titanic reference was priceless!
Loved all the cool inventions, too. The fully working baby factory was awesome! :)
The Ninjago short before the main film was darn funny and looked great. The Chicken vs. the Master. (Since hubby's been killed by a chicken on an MMO, it made this even funnier! heh heh)
3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: A simple premise filled with a lot of deep issues and themes. Storks are not the only way to get babies. They did mention this important detail for when we're informed they stopped delivering kids - lol. Junior seems to be living the dream, rising quickly to the top. But as the story unfolds, we get bits and hints showing all is not as wonderful as everyone thinks they are.
The same is true for Nate. His parents are go getters. They run a successful house selling business from their home, but they've lost their way. They've forgotten that by only craving success they've left something even more precious behind.
Lots of interesting characters and bizarre personalities! Pidgeon Toady is a little scary. :P
Family, responsibility, denial, and allowing oneself to care for others than money - these are just a few of the themes explored. If you've ever been a parent, you'll see a lot in there that will make you nod. You'll know exactly what they're experiencing because you've been there. lol.
Conclusion: Storks is an adorable and surprisingly deep film. Lots of unexpected and cute bits. And the power of the pack! Go Wolves!
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Pay Full Price to See Again)
Starring: Andy Samberg, Katie Crown, Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Aniston, Ty Burrell, Anton Starkman, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Danny Trejo, Stephen Kramer Glickman, and more.
Directed by: Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland Written by: Nicholas Stoller Cinematography by: Simon Dunsdon Music by: Jeff Dana and Mychael Danna
Premise: Storks used to deliver babies to expectant parents. But that is a function they've not provided for almost two decades. They now deliver packages worldwide. And Junior's been told he's about to be promoted to "Boss". All he has to do is fire the human - Tulip. The storks are responsible for taking care of her ever since her failed baby delivery 18 years before. Now that she's come of age, though, she's no longer their problem and Hunter wants her out. Junior can't bring himself to fire her outright though. And through a series of events, Tulip inadvertently activates the baby factory. Due to a messed up wing, Junior must have Tulip's help to deliver the produced baby before Hunter finds out about it and his chance to be the "Boss" is ruined. (Rated PG)
Review:
1) Voice Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Andy Samberg and Katie Crown play off each other well as Junior and Tulip. Kelsey Grammer was awesome as the head stork, Hunter. (The whole "Bossssss" sequences are too funny!) Anton Starkman was adorable as the lonely and ignored Nate Gardner. Jennifer Aniston and Ty Burrell as Nate's over achieving parents were a hoot. And I adored Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele as Alpha and Beta Wolf. (The wolves rocked!)
2) Artwork/Animation - Total Thumbs Up: Warner Brothers Animation did a great job on the film. The texture for the feathers, especially when ruffled, looked great. They also seemed to have had a lot of fun playing with Tulip's hair. (Her bored scene and changes in hair to pretend to be other people was too funny!)
The baby at the crux of the problem is beyond adorable. And the babies later on are an overdose of cuteness!
The wolves were such a fun treat! Not only funny, but they have mad skillz! ROFL. Animating their antics and making them look believable definitely deserve some well earned kudos.
A lot of subtext in the art with regards to buildings and working environments. And the Titanic reference was priceless!
Loved all the cool inventions, too. The fully working baby factory was awesome! :)
The Ninjago short before the main film was darn funny and looked great. The Chicken vs. the Master. (Since hubby's been killed by a chicken on an MMO, it made this even funnier! heh heh)
3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: A simple premise filled with a lot of deep issues and themes. Storks are not the only way to get babies. They did mention this important detail for when we're informed they stopped delivering kids - lol. Junior seems to be living the dream, rising quickly to the top. But as the story unfolds, we get bits and hints showing all is not as wonderful as everyone thinks they are.
The same is true for Nate. His parents are go getters. They run a successful house selling business from their home, but they've lost their way. They've forgotten that by only craving success they've left something even more precious behind.
Lots of interesting characters and bizarre personalities! Pidgeon Toady is a little scary. :P
Family, responsibility, denial, and allowing oneself to care for others than money - these are just a few of the themes explored. If you've ever been a parent, you'll see a lot in there that will make you nod. You'll know exactly what they're experiencing because you've been there. lol.
Conclusion: Storks is an adorable and surprisingly deep film. Lots of unexpected and cute bits. And the power of the pack! Go Wolves!
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Pay Full Price to See Again)
September 16, 2016
Movie Review - Sully
Sully
Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Valerie Mahaffey, Delphi Harrington, Mike O'Malley, Jamey Sheridan, Anna Gunn, and more.Directed by: Clint Eastwood Screenplay by: Todd Komarnicki Based on the Book by: Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow Cinematography by: Tom Stern Music by: Christian Jacob and the Tierney Sutton BandPremise: After landing flight 1549 on the Hudson River in NY, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger finds his life turned upside down. Immersed in a surreal environment; he must deal with PTSDs and self-doubt. But also fans, and several agencies hoping to prove his water landing was a mistake rather than a miracle. (Rated PG-13)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Tom Hanks continues to amaze with his developed acting skills. He's a master at taking a average people and surprising you with unexpected depths of feeling when you least expect it. Laura Linney gave a wonderful performance as Sully's wife. Aaron Eckhart, who played first officer Jess Skiles, did an amazing job as well. All the acting was top notch.2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: I loved the subtlety of the special effects on the film. The nightmares as well as the actual landing looked real. Cool engine explosions as well. A ton of kudos for actually using an interior of a plane that is realistic! Narrow aisles and all! lol. The deployment of the emergency equipment and the slow flooding and sinking of the plane looked amazing!3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: The film starts in the middle of a nightmare - giving the audience their first hint of Sully's PTSD's and stress as he waits to meet with the different agencies to discuss the events of January 15th, 2009. As the story unfolds the audience is taken back and forth to learn more of the man and also the day of the event.One thing I liked about how they told the story is the inclusion of the lives of others. While a standard film tactic in disaster films, it worked even better in this context. We see the captain's own doubts and fears as the media and other agencies try to wear him and his family down. And as the day gets relived in the film, we get to see the events unfold from all sorts of angles. A nice well rounded look at an amazing event.One neat thing I realized later about the film is how they subtly acknowledged how the successful landing touched the lives of New Yorkers. This is a city that less than a decade before, had suffered a major disaster at 9/11. The fact Sully was able to avert another disaster from staining the city visibly touched the souls of those around him. The Manager at the Courtyard by Marriott shows this unspoken feeling more aptly than words ever could. 4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The chaos inside the plane, people jumping into freezing water or shooting down wet slides, showing the jobs of rescue personnel - the stunt crew did a great job on all of it. It is the efficiency of those doing their jobs as they would on any given day that makes the acts even more amazing.Conclusion: "Sully" is a fascinating look at the man, the people and the events of flight 1549. The deed is easy, it's the aftermath you have to look out for.Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)**After you see the film or if you're not going to see it, check out this cool website called 208 Seconds. 208 seconds is the interval of time from takeoff to landing in the Hudson. Mind boggling!**
Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Valerie Mahaffey, Delphi Harrington, Mike O'Malley, Jamey Sheridan, Anna Gunn, and more.Directed by: Clint Eastwood Screenplay by: Todd Komarnicki Based on the Book by: Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow Cinematography by: Tom Stern Music by: Christian Jacob and the Tierney Sutton BandPremise: After landing flight 1549 on the Hudson River in NY, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger finds his life turned upside down. Immersed in a surreal environment; he must deal with PTSDs and self-doubt. But also fans, and several agencies hoping to prove his water landing was a mistake rather than a miracle. (Rated PG-13)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Tom Hanks continues to amaze with his developed acting skills. He's a master at taking a average people and surprising you with unexpected depths of feeling when you least expect it. Laura Linney gave a wonderful performance as Sully's wife. Aaron Eckhart, who played first officer Jess Skiles, did an amazing job as well. All the acting was top notch.2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: I loved the subtlety of the special effects on the film. The nightmares as well as the actual landing looked real. Cool engine explosions as well. A ton of kudos for actually using an interior of a plane that is realistic! Narrow aisles and all! lol. The deployment of the emergency equipment and the slow flooding and sinking of the plane looked amazing!3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: The film starts in the middle of a nightmare - giving the audience their first hint of Sully's PTSD's and stress as he waits to meet with the different agencies to discuss the events of January 15th, 2009. As the story unfolds the audience is taken back and forth to learn more of the man and also the day of the event.One thing I liked about how they told the story is the inclusion of the lives of others. While a standard film tactic in disaster films, it worked even better in this context. We see the captain's own doubts and fears as the media and other agencies try to wear him and his family down. And as the day gets relived in the film, we get to see the events unfold from all sorts of angles. A nice well rounded look at an amazing event.One neat thing I realized later about the film is how they subtly acknowledged how the successful landing touched the lives of New Yorkers. This is a city that less than a decade before, had suffered a major disaster at 9/11. The fact Sully was able to avert another disaster from staining the city visibly touched the souls of those around him. The Manager at the Courtyard by Marriott shows this unspoken feeling more aptly than words ever could. 4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The chaos inside the plane, people jumping into freezing water or shooting down wet slides, showing the jobs of rescue personnel - the stunt crew did a great job on all of it. It is the efficiency of those doing their jobs as they would on any given day that makes the acts even more amazing.Conclusion: "Sully" is a fascinating look at the man, the people and the events of flight 1549. The deed is easy, it's the aftermath you have to look out for.Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)**After you see the film or if you're not going to see it, check out this cool website called 208 Seconds. 208 seconds is the interval of time from takeoff to landing in the Hudson. Mind boggling!**
September 4, 2016
Virtual Tourist - Deus Ex Mankind Divided 9/4/16
Morning!Deus Ex Mankind Divided
Mission One
The approaching sandstorm is getting closer!
Look at the size of that thing!
Oh my!
Things are about to go from bad to worse. (I so should have taken more pics before this point. I got too involved in playing. lol)
Our inside man, Singh.
This is what death looks like. Sigh. My video card was struggling in this insane melee.But I did disable the chopper! Booyah! Hubby had found somewhere that there was no way to meet either objective. That was WRONG! Bwahahahahaha! (Man, I really will have to upgrade...Wah!)
One of the mysterious figures pushing matters around for their selfish agendas.
Another of those involved in the shadows.
Holographic meetings for the win! :P
Not all the players feel things will go smoothly in the US.
Letting the young whipper snapper move his plan forward.The game is about to truly begin.
A week after the mission, Jensen is meeting an old friend in Prague.
Lovely, isn't it? :)Have a good one!
Mission One
The approaching sandstorm is getting closer!
Look at the size of that thing!
Oh my!
Things are about to go from bad to worse. (I so should have taken more pics before this point. I got too involved in playing. lol)
Our inside man, Singh.
This is what death looks like. Sigh. My video card was struggling in this insane melee.But I did disable the chopper! Booyah! Hubby had found somewhere that there was no way to meet either objective. That was WRONG! Bwahahahahaha! (Man, I really will have to upgrade...Wah!)
One of the mysterious figures pushing matters around for their selfish agendas.
Another of those involved in the shadows.
Holographic meetings for the win! :P
Not all the players feel things will go smoothly in the US.
Letting the young whipper snapper move his plan forward.The game is about to truly begin.
A week after the mission, Jensen is meeting an old friend in Prague.
Lovely, isn't it? :)Have a good one!
September 2, 2016
With the release date of 10/4/16 for Charity and Sacrific...
With the release date of 10/4/16 for Charity and Sacrifice looming near...I just found out Charity and Sacrifice (published by Uncial Press) is now ready for pre-order!KindleKoboAnd should also be in the IBook store!So if you're so inclined - order your copy today! :)
August 31, 2016
Picture Kaleidoscope - Animefest 2016
Yes, still running behind on all things despite my best efforts. Boo!Lots happening in the next few weeks so posts may be spotty for a little while longer. Wish me luck!Animefest 2016
Cool new creation from ChibiChains that debuted at the con. :P
Isn't he the cutest thing ever? :)
Pic of one of our neighbors. She always has the coolest yukatas.
Our next door neighbors. Lovely miniature painting work.
A close look at some of their awesome work.
Love the robot lady on the left!
Don't mess with the armored fish ladies!
The dress is super adorable! The ponytail clip was the clincher though. LOL!
Rough crowd. Best steer clear. :P
Funky group! They look awesome! (Ack, there's so many games and anime I do not know!)
Death by cuteness? Heh heh.
That is one sweet ride! :)
Don't make her angry now!
They look rather dapper, don't they? Nice!
A gaggle of Mario princesses. Hmmm.
The Monkey King! He looked fabulous!
And look at that hat!
The StarFox Crew!
Miki-chan!
The Gravity Falls crew! Sweet!
That ax is gorgeous!
And look at those ears!
They came out fantastic! Just recently saw the video they are based on. Amazing!
The Full Metal Alchemist crew! Nice!People and their creativity are just amazing!
Cool new creation from ChibiChains that debuted at the con. :P
Isn't he the cutest thing ever? :)
Pic of one of our neighbors. She always has the coolest yukatas.
Our next door neighbors. Lovely miniature painting work.
A close look at some of their awesome work.
Love the robot lady on the left!
Don't mess with the armored fish ladies!
The dress is super adorable! The ponytail clip was the clincher though. LOL!
Rough crowd. Best steer clear. :P
Funky group! They look awesome! (Ack, there's so many games and anime I do not know!)
Death by cuteness? Heh heh.
That is one sweet ride! :)
Don't make her angry now!
They look rather dapper, don't they? Nice!
A gaggle of Mario princesses. Hmmm.
The Monkey King! He looked fabulous!
And look at that hat!
The StarFox Crew!
Miki-chan!
The Gravity Falls crew! Sweet!
That ax is gorgeous!
And look at those ears!
They came out fantastic! Just recently saw the video they are based on. Amazing!
The Full Metal Alchemist crew! Nice!People and their creativity are just amazing!
August 29, 2016
Mind Sieve 8/29/16
Morning all!
Trying hard to get back on schedule. The chaos of 2016 continues!
Fan Fun
Justice League Official Trailer - Oh this is gonna be fun. And cyborg looks super pimped out! lol.
Luke Cage Official Trailer - sweet!
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Finds Them Trailer 2 - looking forward to it!
Social Media/Author PlatformAds are NOT a Brand and Promotion is NOT Platform—Understanding the Difference by Kristen LambHow to Improve Social Media Posts With Custom URL Shorteners by Derric Hayne at the Social Media Examiner.
Writing AdviceDo You Share Your Work in Progress? by Jami Gold. Stuff to think about!
Have an awesome week!
Trying hard to get back on schedule. The chaos of 2016 continues!
Fan Fun
Justice League Official Trailer - Oh this is gonna be fun. And cyborg looks super pimped out! lol.
Luke Cage Official Trailer - sweet!
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Finds Them Trailer 2 - looking forward to it!
Social Media/Author PlatformAds are NOT a Brand and Promotion is NOT Platform—Understanding the Difference by Kristen LambHow to Improve Social Media Posts With Custom URL Shorteners by Derric Hayne at the Social Media Examiner.
Writing AdviceDo You Share Your Work in Progress? by Jami Gold. Stuff to think about!
Have an awesome week!
August 28, 2016
Virtual Tourist - Deus Ex Mankind Divided 8/28/16
Morning!Started a new game this week. Hubby had bought it back in Jan and it finally came out! Woot! The Deus Ex series is one of my favorites. :)Deus Ex Mankind Divided
Main screen for the game. Have not had a chance to look a the other bits. Too pumped to play. :P
Miller, Jensen's commander. Jensen is currently part of TF 29 - a United Nations task force now given jurisdiction all over the world.
Jensen's new look. Grittier, more edges. And a black dye job. :P
The team. Jensen is the only augmented one among them. Mission One
First game mission is in Dubai
Destination is that half built hotel in the water. Far off is a large approaching sandstorm. Eek!
Jensen close up. He's about to jump from the plane.
The half built hotel from above.
On his way! No parachute! He has a new toy he can use to land with. So cool!
First look at the actual site. Tons of dead augmented workers from when they were made to go bezerk during the big plot of the last game two years before.
Actual view once you're in control. Gorgeous view!
Inside the hotel. Looking forward to all the chaos! Though may have to upgrade the PC.
Main screen for the game. Have not had a chance to look a the other bits. Too pumped to play. :P
Miller, Jensen's commander. Jensen is currently part of TF 29 - a United Nations task force now given jurisdiction all over the world.
Jensen's new look. Grittier, more edges. And a black dye job. :P
The team. Jensen is the only augmented one among them. Mission One
First game mission is in Dubai
Destination is that half built hotel in the water. Far off is a large approaching sandstorm. Eek!
Jensen close up. He's about to jump from the plane.
The half built hotel from above.
On his way! No parachute! He has a new toy he can use to land with. So cool!
First look at the actual site. Tons of dead augmented workers from when they were made to go bezerk during the big plot of the last game two years before.
Actual view once you're in control. Gorgeous view!
Inside the hotel. Looking forward to all the chaos! Though may have to upgrade the PC.
August 26, 2016
Movie Review - Mechanic: Resurrection
Mechanic: Resurrection
Starring: Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones, Michelle Yeoh, Sam Hazeldine, John Cenatiempo, Toby Eddington, Femi Elufowoju Jr., Anteo Quintavalle, Yayaying Rhatha Phongam, and more.Directed by: Dennis Gansel Screenplay by: Philip Shelby and Tony Mosher Story by: Philip Shelby and Brian Pittman Based Upon Characters Created by: Lewis John Carlino and Rachel Long Cinematography by: Daniel Gottschalk Music by: Mark IshamPremise: Having faked his own death, Bishop's been leading a normal life down in Rio. But someone from his past has tracked him down and he tries to blackmail him into killing three people. Bishop says no and escapes. Hiding out on a remote island in Thailand, he meets Gina. Someone else being blackmailed by the same man. It's time to make other plans. (Rated R)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Jason Statham does what he does well - flawless looking action. He excels at deadpan and brooding expressions mixed with quick glimpses of his inner self. Jessica Alba brings out a little humor and even smiles from the troubled Bishop. She also shows some spunk and isn't just a helpless female. Tommy Lee Jones is a hoot as Max Adams. 2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Explosions, grenades, bullets, and more! The fight on the ship put bullet holes everywhere! A really neat effect is the effects of a chemical reaction Bishop tests for one of the jobs. Nice!3) Plot/Story - Neutral: You don't expect a lot of plot from these types of actions films, but there are limits. Though they mention multiple times how important it is for the deaths look "natural", the first one has Bishop propping up the dead man in prayer. Using items to hold him up. Uhm, how would that look like a natural death to anyone? Especially with his drink all splattered on his clothes? And the bruises from a fight? Hello?Somewhat soured the rest of the film for me. And it's a pity, as they get very creative on the jobs he pulls off! Which in its own way made the trouble worse since the guy is super intelligent and ends up doing a super stupid thing. (Which no one notices?) Ugh.Crain's motivation wasn't well thought out either. Why wait so long to get revenge? There was no catalyst for it. Also, the whole "Father's Watch" bit didn't work. If Bishop was an orphan and was sold to a group to be trained to fight, they would have never let him keep the watch. I'd half expected it to have a GPS locator in it, so it would have some function, but they let that opportunity pass.4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: All the stunt guys get a major workout on this one. There are a bunch of close quarters fighting and shooting. They looked great! The fight on the big boat was too fun to watch. And wait till the battle in the submarine bay. Sweet!5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The locations for the film were all over the world - Bulgaria, Thailand, Australia, Brazil, and Malaysia. So there are a ton of gorgeous vistas and different architectures used to add flavor to the film. The cinematography was very well done - taking full advantage of most of the locations. The guys will definitely enjoy the lovely photography of Jessica Alba swimming in the clear waters in Thailand. :PConclusion: If you like tons of action, action, action - the Mechanic: Ressurection delivers. Plot and consistency wise? Not so much. Rating: 3 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)
Starring: Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones, Michelle Yeoh, Sam Hazeldine, John Cenatiempo, Toby Eddington, Femi Elufowoju Jr., Anteo Quintavalle, Yayaying Rhatha Phongam, and more.Directed by: Dennis Gansel Screenplay by: Philip Shelby and Tony Mosher Story by: Philip Shelby and Brian Pittman Based Upon Characters Created by: Lewis John Carlino and Rachel Long Cinematography by: Daniel Gottschalk Music by: Mark IshamPremise: Having faked his own death, Bishop's been leading a normal life down in Rio. But someone from his past has tracked him down and he tries to blackmail him into killing three people. Bishop says no and escapes. Hiding out on a remote island in Thailand, he meets Gina. Someone else being blackmailed by the same man. It's time to make other plans. (Rated R)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Jason Statham does what he does well - flawless looking action. He excels at deadpan and brooding expressions mixed with quick glimpses of his inner self. Jessica Alba brings out a little humor and even smiles from the troubled Bishop. She also shows some spunk and isn't just a helpless female. Tommy Lee Jones is a hoot as Max Adams. 2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Explosions, grenades, bullets, and more! The fight on the ship put bullet holes everywhere! A really neat effect is the effects of a chemical reaction Bishop tests for one of the jobs. Nice!3) Plot/Story - Neutral: You don't expect a lot of plot from these types of actions films, but there are limits. Though they mention multiple times how important it is for the deaths look "natural", the first one has Bishop propping up the dead man in prayer. Using items to hold him up. Uhm, how would that look like a natural death to anyone? Especially with his drink all splattered on his clothes? And the bruises from a fight? Hello?Somewhat soured the rest of the film for me. And it's a pity, as they get very creative on the jobs he pulls off! Which in its own way made the trouble worse since the guy is super intelligent and ends up doing a super stupid thing. (Which no one notices?) Ugh.Crain's motivation wasn't well thought out either. Why wait so long to get revenge? There was no catalyst for it. Also, the whole "Father's Watch" bit didn't work. If Bishop was an orphan and was sold to a group to be trained to fight, they would have never let him keep the watch. I'd half expected it to have a GPS locator in it, so it would have some function, but they let that opportunity pass.4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: All the stunt guys get a major workout on this one. There are a bunch of close quarters fighting and shooting. They looked great! The fight on the big boat was too fun to watch. And wait till the battle in the submarine bay. Sweet!5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The locations for the film were all over the world - Bulgaria, Thailand, Australia, Brazil, and Malaysia. So there are a ton of gorgeous vistas and different architectures used to add flavor to the film. The cinematography was very well done - taking full advantage of most of the locations. The guys will definitely enjoy the lovely photography of Jessica Alba swimming in the clear waters in Thailand. :PConclusion: If you like tons of action, action, action - the Mechanic: Ressurection delivers. Plot and consistency wise? Not so much. Rating: 3 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)
