Review of ELYSIUM with Matt Damon
· · ·

Review of ELYSIUM with Matt Damon

Posted on:

ELYSIUM with Matt Damon

I like science fiction. I write science fiction, so there you have it. This is my disclaimer, so the gentle reader knows going in that I am wildly biased in favor of good sci fi.

ELYSIUM is good sci fi. In fact, it’s quite good. B+ good.

Matt Damon is an inherently likable, imperfect hero who harbors shadows in his past. He’s on probation. Right away we see him as a child, being tender with a lovely girl his own age. And then we see him as a tattooed man, getting creamed by a grotesquely unfair system.

Did I mention how hot Damon is? I’m biased that way, too, because he reminds me of a hot guy I dated in college. There weren’t a lot of those, so I tend to prize them.

The movie was fast-paced and visually interesting. It didn’t break new ground but it did tightly hold my attention. The characters were well drawn–Jodie Foster was an excellent evil rich protector–and the movie was well structured.

I have three rules for writing novels which I discuss openly: 1, story is how your protagonist does NOT get what he or she wants; 2, every story is an argument for a specific value; and 3, what are the stakes?

This movie sinuously answers all three of my rules. Matt Damon never gets all of what he wants. I don’t want to include a spoiler here, so I won’t say what that means. I will simply say that I admire the movie creators for not letting go of the story for a Hollywood ending. The value that is being argued for is an excellent one: the value of all human beings regardless of their net worth. And the stakes in the plot were always well defined.

I enjoyed this movie. I recommend it. It was a fun flick to see in the theater, and it would be an awesome rent at home.

 

Great New Reviews

Great New Reviews

Posted on:

THE LOVE OF MY (OTHER) LIFE is up on Netgalley, and a reviewer just finished a review. Evidently she’ll put it up on Goodreads, so I can post the link at that time. Here’s what she said:

Title: The Love of My (Other) Life

Link: 
Outlet:
Notes: Loved this book so much – I will be recommending this book to my good-reads, twitter and face book friends and family.
Full Text: At first look, I automatically thought this book was an erotic novel. With the naked bare bottom what else would I think?? What I found was that this was a beautiful story of love and loss with tremendous obstacles. Tessa is drawn to Brian even though she should be afraid of a guy that seems to be stalking her.

There is a magical almost destined feeling to this book.? The whole paralleled universe and how the two meet up and get to know each other kept me hooked throughout the book.

I loved the emotional ending and certainly enjoyed the quirky personalities and the syfi twists.� It made this book all the more interesting.� I have never heard of Traci L. Slatton but I will be looking forward to future reads.

Yesterday I also received word that The Midwest Book Review featured a review of COLD LIGHT on their MDB online magazine “MBR Bookwatch, Klausner’s Shelf“:

The white miasma Mists burned except chlorophyll. Billions died when the Mists sucked out metals from humans and other beings on the planet during the Day. Arthur saved Emma, her young daughter Mandy and seven lost little orphans attached to her when he dispatched the Mists and brought them into his safe camp. Emma assumed her husband Haywood and their oldest daughter Beth are dead. She and Arthur become an entry while leading their settlement. However, Haywood found his wife and child in France and brought them home to Edmonton leaving Arthur behind despondent from his loss (see Fallen).
In Canada, raiders abduct Beth. She and Haywood search for their child. Clues lead them to Arthur and his townsfolk; all of whom are angry at their former first lady for leaving them. Still everyone joins in on the quest to find and rescue Beth; while Haywood and Arthur demand she choose between them as neither will voluntarily leave her. At the same time, everyone mentally prepares for the confrontation with the Mists knowing many of their loved ones will die in the final battle for survival.
The second exciting “After” post-apocalyptic thriller moves forward on two fronts: Emma’s relationships and the anticipated suicidal Armageddon Mists war as Traci L. Slatton deftly blends both subplots into a superb dystopian tale through her quality cast. The triangle participants fear the repercussions on the young at a time when nightmares are prevalent yet none of them can leave. Readers will wonder who will quote Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.”
HOW FUN!

 

 

Lily’s Xanga & Nette’s Bookshelf

Lily’s Xanga & Nette’s Bookshelf

Posted on:

The Blog Tour continues. Andiamo.

Lily’s Xanga posted a review and a guest post written by yours truly. Her review was honest: “I wasn’t sure what to think of it at first, but it certainly grabs your attention. It has ebbs and flows, highs and lows, intrigue and, of course, romance.”  

It was also stirring: “It explores how far a person would go to say “I Love You” one more time and have a chance to say goodbye….What I really enjoyed about the book is that Ms. Slatton, like the artist that her character is, blends all of these elements like an artist’s paints to create in words a painting that explodes across the senses. Very enjoyable read.”

Nette’s Bookshelf hosted THE LOVE OF MY (OTHER) LIFE via a Character Q & A. It was fun to write and I hope it’s fun to read.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Posted on:

It’s Valentine’s Day, and thoughts go to the invitation of eros.

Of this, Rumi speaks well:

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
doesn’t make any sense.
  (#158 from OPEN SECRET, Versions of Rumi, translated by John Moyne & Coleman Barks)

And check out today’s Blog Tour stop for THE LOVE OF MY (OTHER) LIFE: BookNerdAsh.

Follow BookNerdAsh on Twitter here.

Also, here’s a great thoughtful review of THE LOVE OF MY (OTHER) LIFE on Stillreading Blog: “This is a lovely story of love and loss, surmounting obstacles, believing in what appears to be unbelievable and taking second chances. …There is a quirky, magical feel to this story…The book is a quick read, only 235 pages and I really enjoyed it. Actually, it put me in mind of the film Kate and Leopold with Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman, so I suppose anyone who enjoyed that film would really like this book.”

Since I am hopelessly enthralled by music these days, here’s an old favorite: “Shelter” by Lone Justice.

eBook Giveaway and Great Song: Romeo’s Daughter plays Velvet Tongue

Posted on:

SalaciousReads blog is hosting me today on the BlogTour. Here’s the review from when she read the ARC, and here’s the giveaway.

I peeked at the blog to check on the giveaway, and there’s a great song on the page: Velvet Tongue by new wave group Romeo’s Daughter. Awesome song. Such unexpected fun to find a cool new song!

There are better mixed recordings out there–but this video gives the flavor of the song.

Romeo's Daughter