Movie Review - Transformers

I got deceived into watching this dreadful movie by the news that the box office sales had broken all records. I wish I had followed my instincts and stayed away.
This movie had no depth, no layers, no character arcs. The stakes were the destruction or not of the world. I didn't give a damn. I didn't give a damn if the hero lived or died. I didn't give a damn if the eye-candy heroine, who spent most of the movie running around trying to look scared, lived or died. I didn't care if the hero's freaky parents lived or died, and what they were doing being air-dropped into Egypt defies logic.
The machines were gigantic, and the humans were tiny with their tiny guns and tiny bullets yet they still won. I had to suspend belief so far it hurt.
The action scenes were ridiculous. It was impossible to know what was happening, and when machines fought machines, it was a junkyard tangle of monumental proportions. One was indistinguishable from the other. The relentlessness of the action scenes, and the confusion that reigned made me bored and sleepy while fire and brimstone reigned upon the Egyptian desert. Slow motion scenes of beautiful girl and heroic guy outrunning explosions were classics in their awfulness.
The only slight relief from the pain were a couple of comic situations and one or two good lines. But they could fill about three minutes in all. I considered leaving but I had paid my money and refused to conceded defeat. The best part might be in the last few minutes. It wasn't.

Travel Pages Live

Finally my travel pages on my website are up and running. We had some problems with getting all the images to show but my clever husband figured out the problem and now you can see photos from some of the many countries I have visited. You can click on any of them to make them bigger. They span many years so you will see me from 18 years old until now. A bit spooky to see so many decades all in a few clicks.

Good News - Ruby Awards

I have had some splendid news. Back in February I entered two of my published books, Crash into Darkness and Beneath the Surface, into the Romance Writers of Australia Ruby Awards for published books. Both books have finalled in the Romantic Elements category. The other two finalists, Maggie Alderson and Bronwyn Parry, are very stiff competition.
The winners will be announced at the RW of Australia conference in August so an extra trip this year is looming - across the Tasman Sea to Brisbane.
The photo above is an example of the award and I reckon that could look pretty fine on my study desk.
This is the link to information on the awards: Romance Writers of Australia

Five Points to Share

1) Writing:
Since the beginning of the year, I have written 8 manuscripts all to page 50 and then my self-confidence dips and I give up to start another. I am now on manuscript 9 and I am at page 125. So three cheers for me. I seem to have broken my own particular kind of writer's block. Mind you, I never stopped writing - I just couldn't get past page 50. I think all the other manuscipts are valid stories and I will return to them but for now I must focus and finish this one. I am aiming at the Juno line which is right up my alley - strong female leads. I have discovered with "Crash into Darkness", my third published book, that I can write paranormal - also an essential element in Juno books. The reason I am blogging less is so I can actually find some time to write. With a family and a full time job, it is a constant struggle and something had to give. That was my web presence. Until I get print published, that will continue to be the case.
2) Inspiration:
We all need inspiration not just as writers but in order to put one foot in front of the other and I have found that in this season's American Idol. I have always watched it and enjoyed it, but this year is different. These kids are so damned talented and no one has picked them up before. How could someone like Adam Lambert, who has been on the music scene for some time, never have been noticed? He has the extreme talent of Elvis, or David Bowie or Sting or ... you get the idea. He is good looking, charismatic, humble and, man, can he sing! He is a true born artist and there are not that many in this world. So how could he be ignored despite the fact that he was putting himself out there?
You might ask how that inspires me. Well, it does. I now get my confidence from his story. I am the undiscovered talent that will one day be picked up if I try long enough. Don't laugh at me. This is what works for me, or, at least, is working at the moment. I can't wait for the final.

3) Work:

The inspiration from number two is also what gets me through the work day. I have reached a point in my job where there are no longer any challenges and I am so bored sometimes I want to evaporate. I hate being cooped up in a cubicle all day, where I can't see the sky. I have only done this kind of office work for two years now. Before, I was a teacher and I could return to it, but it doesn't pay as well as this job, and it is so hard to go backwards in financial terms. I am thinking of retraining, but that would mean time without an income stream, and my husband would take a dim view of that. I feel trapped, as I know many other people do. I have always found in life that there is a solution out there, but this time it is very slow in coming to me. I'll let you know if a bolt of brilliance hits me with the answer.
4) Travel:

Meanwhile I have something to look forward to. In July, my son and I are going to Peru. I will finally see Machu Pichu - a long time dream of mine, as you will know if you follow my blog. I am slightly worried about the altitude sickness that hits many at that height but since the mountain won't come to me, I must go to it. I'll blog about my experience when I get back.

5) Star Trek:

Another place I find inspiration for my writing and for life is movies. Yesterday, I saw Star Trek and loved it. I think almost everyone will enjoy this film, but for those of us brought up with the first TVseries, this is a must see. We know all the characters and learn how they all got together to be on the SS Enterprise. It is a wild ride from beginning to end. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me sigh and it made me sit on the edge of my seat all the way through. This has great growth of character for the leads. The one female lead perhaps a little less but she is tough and compassionate and not really the focus so I will let that pass. And all the actors they chose are so believable as the younger versions of themselves. I was right there with them all the way. Go see it, even if you are not a Trekkie.

In Bruges

I saw this on DVD last night and am sorry I didn't see it in the cinema because Bruges is so beautiful. A friend told me they didn't like it so I didn't go. Stupid me! It's one of the best films I've seen in a long time.
All the actors were amazing and who knew that Colin Farrell could show such a range of emotions with the flinch of a facial muscle. The one liners were sharp, witty, numerous and superb. In fact the whole movie was a one liner.
This is the darkest comedy I have ever seen but the screenplay, the directing, the acting lift it to the top ranks of moviemaking. Watch for the symbolism everywhere, especially in the art gallery and at the end.
Remember it is dark and every second word is a swear word but listen hard and you will be totally amazed at how ingenious the script is. Brilliant!

Back Home

I'm back and can hardly believe that my holiday in Las Vegas is all over. Time passes so quickly.

The photo on the left is me in the Venetian Hotel. The hotels in Vegas are incredible. They are ornate, themed and immense. We spent most of our time lost trying to find the way out to the street.

The photo below is of my sister, Margot, (on the left) and my friend, Genevieve at Disneyland, where we stayed on our last day in the USA.

I came home to find out that I have been chosen as a ParaNormal Romance Reviewer "Top Pick" for February 2009 with my book, Crash into Darkness. This is the permalink to the feature. I am honored to be in the company of Christine Feehan and other great writers.
Anyway, it is time to get out of holiday mode and back into work mode. Life can be very sad.

Las Vegas

I have been very slack lately and though I have been writing, I have not been blogging. I am dropping in to tell you my latest news. I am off to Las Vegas on 6th March for the Epicon conference. I will only attend the Awards Banquet on Saturday night because I am a finalist in the EPPIE Awards. Las Vegas is too exciting to be cooped up in a room all day, so instead my sister, my friend and I will be enjoying the sights including a flight to the Grand Canyon and of course we will be taking in a show - Cher. Should be spectacular. We'll also spend a night and a day in LA so I can go to Disneyland for the third time. Can't wait - I am just like a kid at a fun fair. Will be away six days, then back home to work and reality.