Risky Business

Guess who got invited to appear on the Harlequin Blog?

That's right! Little old me. What a great opportunity to reach new readers. I assume people are short of time, like me, so as always I tried to keep it short. I talked very little about the book and instead reviewed a terrific movie that had something in common with Across the Line.

Here's a link to the blog. Check it out!

Entertaining Kate #2 - Movie

Hubby and I rented Albert Nobbs the other night. I loved it. First, because it was a period piece, and I love the costumes and sets that go with historicals, especially since they go to a lot of trouble these days to remain true to the time. Like remember Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra? I remember that looking so sixties!

Here's a short blurb.

Albert Nobbs struggles to survive in late 19th century Ireland, where women aren't encouraged to be independent. Posing as a man, so she can work as a butler in Dublin's most posh hotel, Albert meets a handsome painter and looks to escape the lie she has been living.

I don't usually find myself caring so much about a character, but there was something about this woman that made me want her to be happy. At first, I was just curious to find out why she was posing as a man. I also wanted to find out why she was saving all that money. (Not a spoiler, you find that out pretty quickly.) By the time the painter arrives on the scene, I'm hooked. The actor who plays that painter is AMAZING.

I also really appreciated the fact that the gay agenda wasn't being forced down my throat, as is so often the case. (And don't get me wrong. I support many of the gay issues. My oldest son is gay. But I don't agree with everything the GLBT juggernaut stands for and it annoys me when they use entertainment to try to manipulate me into believing in this or that.)

Anyway, this is a great movie. I would watch it again, and I don't say that about many movies.

Entertaining Kate #1 - Movie

Rented Goon. I think It was the last of my hockey movie list. It was surprisingly cute, laugh-out-loud funny in a lot of places, and I really liked it. It showed a gritty side of hockey that wasn't present in Mighty Ducks, for example or Mystery, Alaska. The skating looked much more realistic than it did in Mystery. The main character is adorable, honest and sincere, despite his brawny abilities.

Labeled an outcast by his brainy family, a bouncer overcomes long odds to lead a team of under performing misfits to semi-pro hockey glory, beating the crap out of everything that stands in his way.

My only complaint: why didn't they have subtitles for the hearing impaired, something I'm starting to become??? They had them in Spanish, and that was it. Boo.

Thursday 3: Quirky But Good Movies

Thursday 13 is too much trouble. I only do 3.

This week I'm listing three movies that I liked but are a little "out there."

1. Martian Child - The romantic drama Martian Child stars John Cusack as a recently widowed science fiction writer who forms an unlikely family with a close friend (Amanda Peet) and a young boy he adopts that claims to be from Mars. The new couple ignores some sage parenting advice from the widower’s sister (Joan Cusack) and gets more than they bargained for when a series of strange occurrences lead them to believe that the child’s claim may be true.

I love John Cusack. While I didn't buy some of the events that occurred in the movie, it was poignant and funny, both things John seems to excel at.

2. Lars and the Real Girl - In this comedy, Lars Lindstrom is an awkwardly shy young man in a small northern town who finally brings home the girl of his dreams to his brother and sister-in-law's home. The only problem is that she's not real - she's a sex doll Lars ordered off the Internet. But sex is not what Lars has in mind, but rather a deep, meaningful relationship. His sister-in-law is worried for him, his brother thinks he's nuts, but eventually the entire town goes along with his delusion in support of this sweet natured boy that they've always loved.

This was a very strange movie. I didn't like it at first, but like the character Lars, eventually I went along with it until I was invested in what happened to him. Nicely done.

3. Perfume - Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in the stench of eighteenth century Paris, is born with a superior olfactory sense. His work, however, takes a dark turn as he tries to preserve scents in the search for the ultimate perfume.

I read the book this movie was based on decades ago, but still remember it as being amazing. I also love Alan Rickman. The movie is definitely edgy and graphic, so be prepared.

Jason Stratham

While looking for a movie to rent, I happened upon Transporter 3. It looked good. But we'd never seen the first two Transporters. So, I opted for the first one. It was a total testosterone fest, but I really liked it. Jason Statham was fantastic as the taciturn, hard-as-iron, kick-ass loner who has a softer side. In other words, your perfect romance hero. Unfortunately, there wasn't any romance. But actually, I'm okay with that because if they'd tried to include a romantic sub-plot, they probably would have botched it. Better to focus on the real story and do that really well.

Just two days ago, my younger son and I watched Transporter 2 and we liked that just as much! I'm always surprised when I like a sequel as well as the first. Oh, there was a lot more that I had to roll my eyes at, plausibility-wise, but it was still a fun adventure. I'm really looking forward to number three.

Star Wars Silliness

This video made me laugh. It's the Star Wars saga retold by someone who hasn't seen it. Enjoy!

Weekly Wrap-Up #2: Gimme Popcorn!

TGIF! This week's wrap-up topic is The Movies.

In the past week have you gone to the movie theatre? Yes.

If so, what did you see? Hubby and I got away to see State of Play with Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck. I liked it. I expected another governmental military cover-up story, of which I'm somewhat tired, but it wasn't. I liked that it gave the audience credit for having a brain. Helen Mirrin was excellent as usual. I just love her. Ever see Calendar Girls? LOVED that one. She's hilarious in it.

Do you frequently see movies in theatres or wait until they are out on DVD or TV? We usually wait. Movies are so expensive these days.

Have you ever gone to a movie during its opening? Did you wait in line? Do you get excited for movie openings? Yes. I saw Star Wars The Phantom Menace. There was a line. We drank hot chocolate from a thermos. I was teaching full time then and some of my colleagues and I went to the Too Goddamn Early showing and we drank hot chocolate from a thermos while we waited. Afterward, we went to breakfast and then staggered in like zombies to work. The act of going with my friends was more fun than the movie, which I thought was sub-par. I will sometimes get excited about movie openings, but usually wait to see them. I don't like fighting crowds.

Your turn...

In the past week have you gone to the movie theatre? If so, what did you see?
Do you frequently see movies in theatres or wait until they are out on DVD or TV?
Have you ever gone to a movie during its opening? Did you wait in line? Do you get excited for movie openings?

T-Shirt Hilarity

I am becoming more disenchanted with the Bella and Edward world. I just watched the movie last weekend and was less impressed than I was with the book. I wanted to laugh several times (at non-funny parts), but thought that might ruin the experience for my family. (My 15 year old son liked the movie.)

So, an online writer friend sympathized with my disenchantment and told me about this t-shirt. Here's the blurby thing from the site where you can buy it.

Don't you think the vampires-are-people-too thing has gone a little too far? I mean, the whole point of a vampire is that they survive by sucking your blood. I don't care if his skin glows and twinkles and he smells like kittens and fabric softener, he's still just a glorified syringe. Remember the last time you had blood drawn? Yeah, me too, and it sucked! It's time we put an end to this nonsense: Edward, may I treat you to a stake dinner?

Now, I have never watched Buffy, but this still cracked me up. Kittens and fabric softener? LMAO!

Thursday 3: Twilight Semi-Fan

Thursday 13 is too much. I only do three.

I just finished New Moon, the second Bella and Edward book. Again, I'm underwhelmed. Here are three reasons why (spoilers may ensue):

1. It begins with 400 pages of not much: Bella angsts over losing Edward (a hell of a lot), hallucinates, and makes a new best friend. The final 100 pages or so are better. Stuff finally happens.

2. Bella uses Jacob horribly. As soon as Edward comes back into the picture, she dumps him. Bitch. Jacob deserves better. Bella is not a heroine I like.

3. I'm sorry, but I can't buy that a roomful of tourists are drained of their blood in Volturra and no one in the media makes a big fuss. Is this a regular occurence? Why haven't the authorities discovered the existence of a vampire coven?

I'm going to give Eclipse a chance, only because a friend at work said number four is really good. I hope the library is able to get me a copy before I lose interest. The movie should be arriving via Blockbuster tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes.

Cinematic Tag

It's a game I couldn't resist. Here's how to play:

1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies.
2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.
3. Post them here for everyone to guess.
4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.
5. NO GOOGLING/using IMDb search functions or going to my favorite movies list on my profile!
6. Tag 10 people who you especially want to answer and/or post their own list.
7. Anyone can play, even if you're not tagged.

1. "I liked it when she stabbed herself, Your Majesty."
2. "Fraulein, is it to be at every meal, or merely at dinnertime, that you intend on leading us all through this rare and wonderful new world of... indigestion? "
3. "You won my bet? You presumptuous insect, I won it."
4. "Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof. "
5. "Ah, good morning. Can I interest you in some nipples of Venus?"
6. "In case I forget to tell you later, I had a really good time tonight."
7. "Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it"
8. "Master, I could be wrong, but that might not be the best way to win the girl's affections."
9. "Then cutting your hair was a total waste. There's no way I can go to camp with pierced ears and come home without them. I mean, come on. Get real."
10. "Just tell me one thing, Burke. You're going out there to destroy them, right? Not to study. Not to bring back. But to wipe them out."

Any guesses as to these movies?

Tagged: Robin B., Dana B., Paige T., Inez K., Evie B., Eden B., Lucie S., Anna E., Keira R., Ber-Jenn

70 Best Pictures

After watching the Oscars last week, I got curious about how many of the Best Pictures I've seen. So, here's the tally: 38. Bold means I've seen it. A "+" means a liked it. A "-" means I didn't.

+ 2008 - “Slumdog Millionaire”
+ 2007 - “No Country for Old Men”
+ 2006 - “The Departed”
- 2005 - “Crash”
- 2004 - “Million Dollar Baby”
+ 2003 - “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
+ 2002 - “Chicago”
- 2001 - “A Beautiful Mind”
+ 2000 - “Gladiator”
- 1999 - “American Beauty”
+ 1998 - “Shakespeare in Love”
+ 1997 - “Titanic”
- 1996 - “The English Patient”
+ 1995 - “Braveheart”
+ 1994 - “Forrest Gump”
+ 1993 - “Shindler's List”
+ 1992 - “Unforgiven”
+ 1991 - “The Silence of the Lambs”
+ 1990 - “Dances with Wolves”
+ 1989 - “Driving Miss Daisy”
+ 1988 - “Rain Man”
- 1987 - “The Last Emperor”
1986 - “Platoon”
- 1985 - “Out of Africa”
+ 1984 - “Amadeus”
- 1983 - “Terms of Endearment”
+1982 - “Gandhi”
1981 - “Chariots of Fire”
1980 - “Ordinary People”
1979 - “Kramer vs. Kramer”
1978 - “The Deer Hunter”
1977 - “Annie Hall”
+ 1976 - “Rocky”
1975 - “One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest”
1974 - “The Godfather Part II”
+ 1973 - “The Sting”
1972 - “The Godfather”
1971 - “The French Connection”
1970 - “Patton”
1969 - “Midnight Cowboy”
+ 1968 - “Oliver!”
1967 - “In the Heat of the Night”
1966 - “A Man for All Seasons”
+ 1965 - “The Sound of Music”
+ 1964 - “My Fair Lady”
1963 - “Tom Jones”
1962 - “Lawrence of Arabia”
+ 1961 - “West Side Story”
1960 - “The Apartment”
+ 1959 - “Ben-Hur”
+ 1958 - “Gigi”
+ 1957 - “The Bridge on the River Kwai”
+ 1956 - “Around the World in 80 Days”
1955 - “Marty”
1954 - “On the Waterfront”
1953 - “From Here to Eternity”
1952 - “The Greatest Show on Earth”
+ 1951 - “An American in Paris”
1950 - “All about Eve”
1949 - “All the Kings Men”
1948 - “Hamlet”
1947 - “Gentleman's Agreement”
1946 - “The Best Years of Our Lives”
1945 - “The Lost Weekend”
1944 - “Going My Way”
1943 - “Casablanca”
1942 - “Mrs. Miniver”
1941 - “How Green Was My Valley”
1940 - “Rebecca”
+ 1939 - “Gone with the Wind”
1938 - “You Can't Take It with You”
1937 - “The Life of Emile Zola”
1936 - “The Great Ziegfeld”
1935 - “Mutiny on the Bounty”
1934 - “It Happened One Night”
1932/1933 - “Cavalcade”
1931/1932 - “Grand Hotel”
1930/1931 - “Cimarron”
1929/1930 - “All Quiet on the Western Front”
1928/1929 - “The Broadway Melody”
1927/1928 - “Wings”

I was surprised by how many I'd seen. Of all of them, the one movie I could probably watch over and over and not be bored would be Shakespeare in Love. It totally violates my deep-seated need to have a happily ever after ending, but there you go.

How many have you seen? Which was your favorite?

Question: Which Flicks Have You Seen?

This is a list of the top 100 movies ever made according to the American Film Institute. I've marked the thirty-three I've seen. How many have you seen? Do you feel like you SHOULD see more of them?

And I can't believe Raiders of the Lost Ark is not on the list. WTF?

1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
2. CASABLANCA (1942)
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)

11. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
15. STAR WARS (1977)
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
18. PSYCHO (1960)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
27. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
48. JAWS (1975)
49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
56. M*A*S*H (1970)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
58. FANTASIA (1940)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
61. VERTIGO (1958)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
66. NETWORK (1976)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
78. ROCKY (1976)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84. FARGO (1996)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
93. THE APARTMENT (1960)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

Thursday 3: 2009 Books To Write

Every Thursday, as part of a popular meme, many people blog a list of thirteen items. I only do three. Sue me.

For this year's first Thursday 3, I'm listing three books that I have yet to write.

1 and 2. The third and fourth books in my Be-Wished series for Ellora's Cave. Three friends made wishes on woven bracelets, and in each book their wish is granted by Davina, a wacky wish fairy. The third book is about half done. It centers around Livvy, the third friend. Her wish goes awry in many, hopefully funny, ways.

The fourth book belongs to Davina, the wish fairy. I've been dying to write this book. Davina is probably the most eccentric character I've ever created. It's going to be so exciting to see where she'll take me. If you've read the first two Be-Wished books, you can probably tell who the love of her life will be.

3. Finally, I'd like to write another tale set in the world I created for Secrets of the Jin-Hakku. The Shinwa culture was so much fun to romp around in, that I feel compelled to revisit it. I have a rough idea about someone involved in horses, someone with long, straight, coal black hair. Remember that Indian character in Dances With Wolves, Wind in His Hair? I loved that guy. I loved his hair.

Or, I also want to write something for the 2010 Ellora's Cavemen Anthology. Those need to be 15K and simple. If I can think of an idea between now and summer, I may tackle this, too.

So I guess this was a Thursday 4, after all.