Monthly Archives: December 2009
Polar Storm – Movie Review
Polar Storm – Written by Jason Bourque & Paul Ziller. Directed by Paul Ziller. Stars Jack Coleman.
Tagline: The earth is going to explode. Quick, call Noah Bennett!
Here is another example of a movie that went straight to video, and there is a good reason why.
The line-up in this movie is laughable at best, with the exception of Jack Coleman (Noah Bennett – Heroes). The plot is simple: A comet going to hit Earth and one team has a chance to stop the destruction of Earth’s magnetic field.
Now if you are thinking movies such as Armageddon, Deep Impact and The Core, you are right. This movie is quite the take on all three of these movies, which the BIG difference being that is is obviously very low budget, with poor CGI effects and even worse acting. The movie centers around the main character and his family – Dr. James Mayfield (Coleman), his wife Cynthia (Holly Dignard), and their son Shane (Tyler Johnson) – and their quest to save the Earth from certain doom.
As I said, the acting is laughable at best, especially with Tyler Johnson who looks like he recently graduated from the Tom Cruise Academy of Tom Cruise Wanna-be’s. (Seriously, his gestures, talking, are almost identical to Cruise).
- The telescope is an inexpensive Newtonian type telescope. Since the model shown is clearly mounted on an inexpensive German Equatorial mount, it certainly has a value of no more than $400.00; not the $4000.00 as suggested
- In Alaska, a laptop’s LCD screen is shown acting as if it were a CRT monitor. LCD screens do not display a wave effect in the presence of an EMF field.
- As a large comet fragment enters the atmosphere overhead, it will create massive amounts of heat and an enormous shock wave which will wipe out everything over a large area. No impact required! That covers about 1% of the problems in the first 1/2 hour of the video.
- Once again, a car will still out-run an earthquake.
- Russians, when agreeing with someone will always say No, rather than the correct word DA.
Save yourself from this disaster of a movie and watch Jack Coleman in Heroes instead.
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Survey
If C.A. Milson was to do a book tour, would you:
1. Be inclined to attend the event?
2. How far would you travel to meet the author?
3. Would you be more likely to purchase the book from a bookstore as to online?
4. What city do you live?
5. Would you bring a friend to the book signing?
Thank you for your valuable input.
Dark Country – Movie Review
Dark Country – Written by Tab Murphy. Directed by Thomas Jane, Lauren German and Ron Perlman.
Tagline: At the End of the Road… The Nightmare Begins!
It has been some weeks since I actually watched this movie, but I felt that it was worthy of a review nonetheless.
Thomas Jane directs a film that shows more promise than actual success. Its a Noirish tale about a honeymooning couple who who accidentally run over a man staggering in the desert, stop to help him only to have everything go horribly wrong when the man turns on them. From that point on it’s a descent into hell as things get complicated on every level.
The Thaw – Movie Review
The Thaw – Written & Directed by Mark A. Lewis. Starring Val Kilmer.
Tagline: This spring, the sacrifice begins…
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Tormented – Movie Review
Tormented – Written by Stephen Prentice; Directed by Jon Wright.
Stars: Alex Pettyfer, April Pearson, Dimitri Leonidas, Calvin Dean, Tuppence Middleton,
Tagline: Jimmy Hopkins from Bullworth Academy goes Horror!
If you think you have seen this one before, then you have. This movie is the typical “underdog kid gets teased at school, kills himself, gets revenge” movie.
The first thing that cropped to my mind when I saw this movie was “Bully! goes horror!”
While the concept is certainly not knew, and the plot had more holes than Swiss Cheese. I do admit that I did enjoy watching the performance of Tuppence Middleton as the lead role in this high school slasher flick.
Plenty of gruesome kill scenes done with little special effects, near naked girls to satisfy any horror buff, and lots of stereotypical characters to fill an idiot troupe.
For those who have not seen it, go rent it. I will say it is worth the weekly rental.
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Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009.
What a year this has been. This year has seen many ups and downs for this writer. Unfortunately, it does seem that there have been more downs than ups, but that is life, and we live and learn from the experiences and teach others the things we have learned.
This journey of mine, as a writer, has seen many accomplishments, and has in itself, taken many turns into new and previously unchartered waters. Waters, that I had never thought possible even for me.
But these tides that I have gone through have seen countless blessings, both small and great. And while the experiences of these has been a blessings, there also comes a new level of self-awareness and responsibility. Not only for me as an individual, but also as a person in the public eye.
I have got to meet some new friends in my trek, both in person and online, and I hoped I have inspired some people along the way.
No other joy can be compared though to the birth of a child. One dream that had eluded me for a great many years. But, all is in Gods timing, and that timing came about on May 12th of this year when our house was blessed with a son, David Lindley.
Of course, there have been many hurdles along the way of being a parent, but that joy remains as I know in my heart that I write because of my family. They are a great inspiration.
As I reflect on this Christmas, I am reminded that although it is traditionally thought of a time for receiving, I would like to reflect for a moment on one thing. On this day, a Saviour was born. To some He may mean a religious icon that we worship twice a year, for some maybe not at all, and for others, a way of life. It is a time of remembrance and giving. A time for sharing, a time for reflection, a time for celebrating.
However you decide to spend this Christmas, whether you spend it with family, your friends, your distant relative you see once a year, your co-workers, your neighbors cat…. Just remember this:
Drink Responsibly, Be thankful for this time when we can fellowship with family, friends, loved ones, and even those you may not like.
If I can encourage anyone this day, I would like to encourage you to do one thing for one person. Whether that person has a dream or is in need this season. Give to someone and make this Christmas a blessing for them. They can be anyone, a friend, a stranger, a relative you have not talked to in many years.
One act of kindness this season can make a difference.
You may have heard this a million times already, but I want to encourage you to try it, then post your act of kindness on this wall.
Have a wonderful Christmas one and all.
C.A. Milson
Links to purchase Rise Of The Darkness
For those who would like to purchase the paperback, there are several ways to order.
Currently ROTD is available through all major retailers below.
Title: Rise Of The Darkness
ISBN 13: 9781409281368
ISBN 10: 1409281361
BARNES & NOBLE: http://tinyurl.com/ya8j7ar
AMAZON: http://tinyurl.com/ybyl268
BOOKS-A-MILLION: http://tinyurl.com/ycv7bxk
LULU: http://tinyurl.com/yc77stu
TEXT TAILORS: http://tinyurl.com/ybp29gz
WATERSTONES: http://tinyurl.com/yctw9vw
THE SCI-FI BOOKSTORE: http://tinyurl.com/ycxbrgf
BLACKWELL UK: http://tinyurl.com/ych5m8h
IN AUSTRALIA:
THE NILE AU: http://tinyurl.com/ya7te2j
ANGUS & ROBERTSON (AUS): http://tinyurl.com/y9wdvgc
FISHPOND: http://tinyurl.com/ybmccox
IN NEW ZEALAND:
WHITCOULLS (NZ): http://tinyurl.com/ycxaxah
THE NILE NZ: http://tinyurl.com/y897pgg
Moon – Movie Review
Moon – Written & Directed by Duncan Jones. Starring Sam Rockwell & Kevin Spacey.
Tagline: 250,000 miles from home, the hardest thing to face…is yourself
Duncan Jones directorial debut shows us that he has the goods to deliver a compelling story of what perils one person goes through when faced with 3 years of solitude 250,000 miles from Earth.
Without a doubt, MOON was the best movie I have seen in a while. MOON puts a relatable human touch on an intriguing and deep sci-fi story that, while it originally appears to be taking the path of 2001 Space Odyssey, is a unique adventure.
An absolute brilliant performance by Sam Rockwell, who is an extremely versatile actor in his own right and Kevin Spacey’s GERTY voice-over is eery and excellent. This movie is definitely in my list of Top Movies, and one that is a Must See for anyone who likes a good movie.
Synopsis: Sam Bell has a three year contract to work for Lunar Industries. For the contract’s entire duration, he is the sole employee based at their lunar station. His primary job responsibility is to harvest and periodically rocket back to Earth supplies of helium-3, the current clean and abundant fuel used on Earth. There is no direct communication link available between the lunar station and Earth, so his only direct real-time interaction is with GERTY, the intelligent computer whose function is to attend to his day to day needs. With such little human contact and all of it indirect, he feels that three years is far too long to be so isolated; he knows he is beginning to hallucinate as the end of his three years approaches. All he wants is to return to Earth to be with his wife Tess and their infant daughter Eve, who was born just prior to his leaving for this job. With two weeks to go, he gets into an accident at one of the mechanical harvesters and is rendered unconscious. Injured, he awakens back at the station in the infirmary, he assumes assisted by GERTY. GERTY tells him that a rescue team named Eliza will come to the station to clean up the aftermath of the accident. After his recuperation, he takes an unauthorized trip back to the broken harvester, where he makes an unexpected discovery. Because of his find, he begins to doubt his sanity, then his true identity, then the company and GERTY’s willingness to do what is best for him. Because of his resulting beliefs, his sole mission becomes how to get back to Earth on his own
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C.A. Milson 