Inception is a Dream Come True

This is probably one of the most difficult blogs I've sat down and tried to post. I've waited for this movie for around a year or more. I've hyped myself up so much about this movie that I would have told you this picture was the cure for cancer. Thankfully Christopher Nolan deliver. I believe this is his magnum opus. It sailed above every movie he's made previously. Niether Momento, Batman Begins, nor The Dark Knight can compare. Nolan has set the bar so high with this movie that it will be a long time before a sci-fi movie can compare. I do believe that the only competition that will be offered to Inception will a rival of Nolan's filming.

To try and articulate how I was near falling out of my seat because I was so far on the edge is difficult. Inception is aweing, mind bending, and genius. I've never seen a movie so breath taking. Scene after scene of cinematic risks - things that I can't call a comparison for. To try and compare this movie to James Bond, Oceans 11, or The Matrix is absurd. To try and box this movie in those terms is shallow at best. They cannot compare to Inception because they are nothing like it.

The movie is a spectacle from beginning to end, but my favorite scene of the movie was the ending. It was emotional and a great pay off for such an overwhelming movie. But in true sci-fi fashion Nolan leaves you with a moment that makes you think and say, "Hey, wait a minute!"

James Cameron should take note from Nolan. This is how movies should be made. You don't have to use gimmicks. Inception was made without 3D and I enjoyed it more than Avatar, it was an original movie, and had such a fantastic story. You need to go to the movie and experience it for yourself. I've not tried to break Inception down scene by scene with this review. It would taint the movie. Inception can't be explained. It must be seen. Go see it, please. You won't regret it.

Without a doubt Inception is my number one movie for 2010:

1. Inception

2. How To Train Your Dragon

3. Toy Story 3

4. Shutter Island

5. Despecable Me

6. Iron Man 2

7. Grown Ups

8. Predators

9. Date Night

10. Robin Hood

11. Killers

12. The Crazies

13. Kick-Ass

14. Alice in Wonderland

15. The Book of Eli

16. Remember Me

17. Valentine's Day

18. The Bounty Hunter

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Despicable Me Was Not Despicable To Me

Okay, in all honesty, I did not have high hopes for this movie. There were no particular reason that I set the bar low. It was just low by nature. From start to finish Despicable Me was some of the most fun I've ever had at the theater. Of all the movies I've seen this 2010 it's only rival, as far as fun factor goes, is How To Train Your Dragon.

Gru was awesome. I loved this character as much as Michael Scott. Whether Steve Carrel chose to play Gru by his own choosing, or was influenced to do so, I thank God that he did. One of his best performances.

Without hesitation I would say that the little girls stole the show. Of course they were animated, but they were so cute. I wanted to take them home with me. All day I've thought about my favorite line of the movie from Agnes: "IT'S SO FLUFFY, I'M GONNA DIE!"I can't remember laughing so hard except for when I watched (and re-watched) The Hangover.

How can I forget the Minions. I would not complain in the least if they started making animated shorts of the funny little guys to be played before any movie I saw. Really I would like to see a Top Ten Plays from Sportscenter dedicated to these guys.

I would love to see a sequels for this movie, and I don't say that often. They did not set it up for one, but it would not be hard to carry this movie into a franchise.

Go see this movie. You'll have so much fun you might die!

2010's Top Movies:

1. How To Train Your Dragon

2. Toy Story

3. Shutter Island

4. Despicable Me


5. Iron Man 2

6. Grown Ups

7. Predators

8. Date Night

9. Robin Hood

10. Killers

11. The Crazies

12. Kick-Ass

13. Alice in Wonderland

14. The Book of Eli

15. Remember Me

16. Valentine's Day

17. The Bounty Hunter

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Predators Ripped My Spine Out and Gurgled My Blood

When I first heard that they were doing a new Predator movie I was overtly skeptical. The Alien vs. Predator franchise was to Predator what Joel Schumacher was to Batman. Both nearly murdered their respective characters.

I began to change my mind when I saw the first trailer for the movie. The execution of the preview was perfect. It made me remember the first Predator: Arnold's muscle bulging as he fires his machine gun, Jesse Ventura's classic one liners, and the coolest movie monster. Ever.

I wanted to see this movie so bad that I went to the first showing yesterday before work. I went by myself and was pleasantly surprised to find that a lot of people had the same idea that I did. It's always nice to go to see a movie and the theater be nearly empty. I like the solitude of the experience. But it's nice to be in a room full of people wanting to see a movie that deserves to be seen Predators deserves to be seen.

Now, if you're wanting a movie that's thought provoking and intelligent. Predators is not the movie for you. There are no deep concepts or moments that make you go, "wow."

However, if you're looking for a movie that's bloody and violent . . . Predators is the movie you'll want to see. Everything I hoped that Predators would deliver it delivered. Robert Rodriguez must be commended because he took the movie back to the roots of the first movie.

The only downside of the movie is the dialogue. Much of it was pretty cheesy. A friend of mine told me that RobRod intentionally has cheesy dialogue. Knowing that makes me appreciate the movie that much more. If you can get past the dialogue - which I was able to - you'll love this movie.

The best part of the movie: spine ripping, awesome guns, characters you end up caring about, etc.

Without ado here's 2010's movie rankings:

1. How To Train Your Dragon

2. Toy Story

3. Shutter Island

4. Iron Man 2

5. Grown Ups

6. Predators


7. Date Night

8. Robin Hood

9. Killers

10. The Crazies

11. Kick-Ass

12. Alice in Wonderland

13. The Book of Eli

14. Remember Me

15. Valentine's Day

16. The Bounty Hunter

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If I Could Create a Mark-Verse

I was in the shower this morning - well, actually I started thinking about this at work yesterday - and I was thinking about what kind of alternative universe I would create if I had the ability. Hmmmm . . .

Now, we've seen Lost do the side verse. Awesome concept. Interesting a long the way. In the end it was poorly executed.

If I created a Mark-Verse it would serve no other purpose then for my entertainment.

To start off with I would have the choice of practicing polygamy. Notice I said I would have the choice. That does not mean I would make the choice. But if I did I would have four wives:

First, I would continue to be married to Mrs. W. She is beautiful, the only woman I could imagine keeping around full time, and the only woman I can say I'll ever truly love. She would be in charge of the fashion of the world. She sets the standard and of course you buy. Don't worry she has great tastes. Second, she would be in charge of the rest of my wives. They'd be like her serving girls or something. *shrugs*

Second, I would marry Scarlett Johansson. Her purpose in our marriage would be to continually act the part of Natasha Romanoff. On a nightly basis she would pick a movie for me to watch.

Third, Evangeline Lilly. She would be the first mate of my pirate ship. That's right, I said a pirate ship. We would sail the oceans blue hunting for buried treasures and sending land lubbers to Davey Jones's locker.

Fourth, Zooey Deschanel. I would marry her for her pretty voice. For my dinner every night she would be dressed in some glamorous outfit that Mrs. W. told her to wear, and she would serenade me while I eat my meal.

In my Mark-Verse Peter Pan would be a real person, and he would be my best friend. We would fly through Neverland looking for trouble and adventure with the Lost Boys, and day and night we would terrorize Captain Hook.

I would have lots of pets in my Mark-Verse. But my favorites would be: Diesel, my pit-bull that I had to have put down a few months ago. He would be alive and would accompany me to Neverland and would sail the seas with me as top dog on my pirate ship. I would also have a pet dragon. He would be monstrous. He would live in the keep of my castle. He'd be 40ft tall and 80ft long. His wing span would be seen from lands around as we soar through the sky. He scales would be black as night and his eyes would shine like gold. He would breath fire hotter than 400 hell. Nightwind would be able to  melt Mount Everest with nothing more than an exhale.

Derek Trucks would be the music of my Mark-Verse. No matter where I would go his music would be there. He would be omni-present so that I could see him in concert no matter what city I would travel to. Susan Tedeschi would also be there and Warren Haynes. I would be able to enjoy their jam sessions whenever I wanted to.

The best thing about my Mark-Verse is that Jesus is a hippy-vagabond. He travels the land spreading peace and love, and my Mark-Verse is perfect because of Him. He's there to help whenever someone needs helping.

For the time this is my Mark-Verse. I'm sure this world will expand. When it does you'll be able to read about it here.

Until next time,

Adios and via con dios.

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Very Belated Thoughts on Grown Ups and A Revised Ranking of 2010's Best Movies. This Sentence Serves No Other Purpose Than Making This Title Long.

I apologize for my stark absence from the Madhouse. I needed a break so I left you, my minions, here to hold the fort down. Thank you for doing so. The place is nice and tidy. I'll offer three thoughts on Grown Ups:

1. I love anything that Adam Sandler does. Except Little Nicky. Those were the dark ages of Sandler, and we've come far.

2. David Spade played his best role ever.

3. Grown Ups was the funniest movie I've seen this year. When I'm in my 40s I can imagine being just like the dudes in the movie.

This is not my best review but I let my thoughts on the movie stagnate and for that I apologize. I promise it won't happen again.

I've been thinking about my ranking for the best movies of 2010 for a few weeks, and there are some revisions I need to make. I have two areas of criteria that I judge movies by: How entertained am I and will I see the movie again.

I put Robin Hood at the top of the list and I need to change that. After letting my thoughts on the movie percolate I decided that I don't share the same feelings as when I left the theater. I probably wouldn't see the movie a second time. But don't let my change heart cause you to feel that you won't be entertained. You will be. Here's the new list for 2010:

1. How To Train Your Dragon

2. Toy Story 3

3. Shutter Island

4. Iron Man 2

5. Grown Ups


6. Date Night

7. Robin Hood

8. Killers

9. The Crazies

10. Kick-Ass

11. Alice in Wonderland

12. The Book of Eli

13. Remember Me

14. Valentine's Day

15. The Bounty Hunter

This weekend I plan to go and see Robert Rodriguez's "Predators". My hopes for this movie are pretty high. From the trailers it looks promising.

And today let the countdown begin for Inception. 11 days.

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The Importance of Fantasy and Why You Should Read It

Fantasy has been around since the human race has existed.

Whether fantasy be told in the form of fairy tales, or Greek gods and Hercules, men have always told stories to escape into worlds where men have powers and gods are as fickle and corrupt as the men who worship them.

Of every genre fantasy is the most fun and most exciting.

However, fantasy has a bad reputation, and for damn good reason. There are not a lot of great, even good, fantasy writers. With J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" the genre was brought to the forefront of literature. C.S. Lewis also did a lot to help with "The Chronicles of Narnia". These two series are some of the most beloved tales regardless of the genre.

The fantasy genre probably exploded in the 70s. Maybe a little earlier. This isn't really a history lesson so I'm guessing. An influx of fantasy writers were being published in this time period. The problem with so many writers being published is that not a lot of the writers were very good. That hasn't changed a whole lot over the last 30 or 40 years.

I'll list a few of the problems with the fantasy genre:

A) REHASHED STORIES: Fantasy writers are experts at beating a dead horse. There are more than a handful of fantasy tales where the average farm boy becomes a great and mighty king. Another aspect of fantasy that's been over done is the quirky wizard who takes the average farm boy under his wing, and mentors him to greatness. A final tale that has had its carcass beat to mush is the damsel in distress story. Personally, I hate this direction of plotting. I love a story with strong female characters who aren't afraid to stand by men in battle and are beautiful while chopping off heads and slaying dragons.

B) MAGIC WITH NO RULES: The first fantasy series I ever read was the first trilogy of "The Dragonlance Chronicles" by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I was 16 and had never read anything like that before. If you're just getting introduced to fantasy "Dragonlance" is a great place to start. You're not going to read anything that is revolutionary or will push the limits of literature, but the stories are fun. One of the big appeals of "Dragonlance" for me was the magic. Since reading that series I've looked for fantasy stories with unique magic systems. I hate, with a burning passion, fantasy stories that have magic systems with no rules. When you have stories like this basically you have a bunch of demi-gods running around doing whatever the hell they want. When it happens that they get in a situation they don't know how to get out of they don't turn to their god-like powers, but instead act like a mere man. Stories like that just suck the reality out of what you're reading. Magic needs rules. That's what will make the powers unique and interesting.

C) BAD WRITERS: I'm going to step out on a limb here and point the finger at someone who I consider a horrid writer, Terry Goodkind. Everything I mentioned above he's built a career on. His series "The Sword of Truth" is a blatant rip off of a series that made me want to become a writer. I've mentioned it many times, "The Wheel of Time". Not only has Terry Goodkind built his career on recycled stories he pushes the limits of sex and bondage to the point that you're extremely uncomfortable reading the story. I know everyone has this image of fantasy writers as geeky guys who haven't shaved, cut their hair, or have taken a bath in many moons. The aforementioned sit in their basement beating off to the steamy scenes of whatever fantasy tome they're reading. First, there's not a lot of fantasy stories I've read with steamy or trashy sex scenes. Usually it's barely mentioned. Terry Goodkind has had graphic rape scenes in at least every book he's had published. Women are abused and beaten to a pulp. I can't really remember when his male protagonists have suffered tragedies of the same nature as his women. It takes all the fun and escape out of the stories. His protagonist Richard is also the only War Wizard to have lived for a thousand years, and has such grandeur powers that he might as well be considered a god. That's boring.

In anything you have to take the good with the bad, and there are a lot of bad fantasy writers out there. But there are many fantasy writers who really shine. If you're looking for fantasy writers who have created epic adventures and fantastic worlds look no further than this list of people:

Robert Jordan

I've said over and over that "The Wheel of Time" has changed my life. I'm not lying. It's one of the grandest stories that have ever been told. If you're looking to get into fantasy WoT is a great place to start.

Ursula K. Le Guin

Before Rowling ever wrote Harry Potter Ms. Le Guin wrote "A Wizard of Earthsea". Ursula's prose is unmatched in all of litreature. It's deep and intimate. Quite frankly, her writing is so beautiful I want to lick the words off the pages. She's one of my personal heroes. Read. Her. Today.

Brandon Sanderson

There is no writer out there, now, like Brandon Sanderson. He dominates the fantasy genre with little competition. His debut novel Elantris is so good that you would think Sanderson had been published many many times before. He's rescued WoT and is finishing the final books. I've not read them, yet, but hear only great things about them. His magic systems are unparalleled. I read his novels just to enjoy the complex systems of magic that he creates. Not only does he imagine great worlds and greats powers, but he's a fantastic writer and superb story teller. You can't miss the mark by reading any of Sanderson's books.

Patrick Rothfuss

Mr. Rothfuss is one of the only competitors that Brandon Sanderson has. Patrick's story telling ability is unmatched. I've been reading his debut novel "The Name of the Wind" and it is the most well told story I've ever read. I've never read a fantasy story in the way that this one has been told. Amazing! You must read his work. Unfortunately, Wind is the only novel that Rothfuss has published. The sequel "Wise Man's Fear" is scheduled for release in March of 2011. Until then you have the words of "The Name of the Wind" to salivate over.

These four writers are some of the best fantasy authors to have ever been published. I think you would enjoy any of their books that you picked up and read. I believe without a shadow of a doubt that you would become a life long fan of any of these writers. Hopefully, I've persuaded you to give fantasy a try if you're not a reader of the genre. If you are I hope I've introduced you to some new faces.

Until next time,

Adios and via con dios.

***Click on the names of the writers so you can be transported to Amazon to preview or buy their work.

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Toy Story 3 Brought Out the Kid in Me

The great thing about being a kid is your always in awe of the world, there's always new adventure awaiting your imagination to explore, and every new day is full of fun.

Sadly, growing up you lose awe for the grandeur of the world outside. Your imagination is replaced by school, job, and "real life". Becoming an adult takes away the fun of being a kid.

Not to be religious but I always liked that Jesus said, "To be a part of my kingdom, you've got to be like a little kid."

When you see Toy Story 3 it'll take you back to the awesomeness of uncharted world outside and inside.

The movie is just plain fun. I laughed a bunch from beginning to end. I was never the Toy Story fanatic, but I've seen them all. This by far is my favorite of the trilogy. I say hands down it's the best movie Pixar has released. I never really believed they could top The Incredibles. I think Pixar did so with this tale of Woody and Buzz. The beauty of this movie is it reveals the pureness of fantasy. It's a look at the fun-ness of a fantasy world. It's everything I love about the fantasy genre: Imagination, fun, and happy endings.

Go see this movie.

I've deliberated a lot as to where this movie should place. It was that good.

So here's the top movies for 2010:

1. Toy Story 3

2. Robin Hood

3. How To Train Your Dragon

4. Shutter Island

5. Iron Man 2

6. Date Night

7. Killers

8. The Crazies

9. Kick-Ass

10. Alice In Wonderland

11. The Book of Eli

12. Remember Me

13. Valentine's Day

14. The Bounty Hunter

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Kalifornia: A Moral Conundrum

Brad Pitt is one of my favorite actors.

The first time I knew he was a genius was when I saw Twelve Monkeys.

Twelve Monkeys has a unique plot. It's intelligent. However, when I think of TM I think of Jeffrey Goines. Man, Brad Pitt was awesome in that movie. Talking about it makes me want to watch it again.

But that's not my topic. A friend told me if I enjoyed Brad Pitt in Twelve Monkeys then I needed to see Kalifornia.

My friend has a stellar taste in movies so I put Kalifornia at the top of my To-See list. A few days ago I saw that it would be showing on Encore Mysteries. I set it to DVR and just finished watching.

Earlier today I read a blog from a favorite writer of mine, Dan Wells.

(Check out his debut novel "I Am Not A Serial Killer".)

Today he posted a blog entitled "Emotional Contrast". Click on the title and go check out the post or I'll some it up in these few words: Dan talks about art that causes you to feel two contrasting emotions at the same time. For example: A scene from a movie that provokes you to be happy and sad at the same moment. That's not something that's easy to do.

Kalifornia was not a movie that had a handful of scenes where I felt conflicted. From the moment Early Grayce is introduced to the moment he's no longer a part of the movie I was conflicted. There was something about him that I liked. I'm sitting here trying to pinpoint the reason that I liked him and not a single thing comes to mind. Brad Pitt portrayed Grayce in such a way that I just thought, I like this guy.

You find out early on that Earl has a secret that his acquaintances don't find out until later. Early is a serial killer. You never find out why Earl enjoys killing people, but he does. As the four main characters trip across the United States Grayce leaves a slew of bodies in their wake.

Even thought Earl (very) brutally people throughout the movie I still liked him, but I began to dislike him. It was strange. Early seemed like a guy it'd be cool to sit back, smoke a cigar, and drink a beer with. You could shoot the bull until sunset and not run out of things to talk about. Earl would have story after story to tell. Most would be exaggerated or out right lies but you wouldn't care. When Earl gets a little intoxicated he likes to stretch the truth, but he keeps you laughing.

However, he murders people. For fun. He takes their money and other valuables when he's done.

You're not supposed to like this kind of person.

You should want to smoke a 'gar with this person.

You shouldn't want to share a six pack with a serial killer.

But . . . he's a cool guy.

But . . . he murders people.

But . . .

But . . .

. . . It was fantastic art. I can't say that I'll ever watch Kalifornia ever again. It was not that type of movie. As Kalifornia progresses and moves towards its ending the intensity rises until it's hard to watch, and becomes tragic.

When the credits rolled for Kalifornia I was left feeling sad but still liking Early Grayce. I can't say that any movie has ever made me feel that way about a character. As a writer it's my goal to create antagonists like Early.

If you want to watch one of the best performances Brad Pitt has ever given. Check out Kalifornia. If you're a writer and want to watch a character that creates contrasting emotions. Watch Kalifornia. You may not feel the same way. If you don't. It's still a damn good movie and should be required watching.

Until next time,

Adios and via con dios.

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Life Reflections: What I've Learned About Myself as a Man, a Christian, and a Writer

The last week and a half I've been walking towards the light at the end of the tunnel. It's not very close but I've enjoyed the reflection time.

I've been thinking about who I am as a man, a Christian, and an aspiring writer.

Directly off the top of my head, I hate calling myself an aspiring writer. From here on out I refuse to do so. That's effin' derogatory. It's like claiming I'm not a man. I get every morning at 7:30am, eat breakfast, and then from 8am-10am I write. A good deal of what I've written has gone to the trash. But, still, I write. 

I said in a few blogs past that one day you're going to walk into a book store, somewhere in the world, and you're going to see a book I've written on the shelf. That doesn't make me a writer. That just means I'm published. I put the time and the effort into writing everyday. I love it. I spend my time brainstorming and being creative telling tales - if to no one other than myself - that I've never heard told before. That makes me a frakkin' writer. 

My last few attempts at writing a manuscript have bombed. I recently tried to write a horror story. It was bleak. I got bored trying to do it. Not my cup of tea. 

I've learned that fantasy is where I want to concentrate my efforts. I have a special affinity for the genre, and thought I want to write other things, there will never be anything more special than epic heroic fantasy. 

Every time I read Brandon Sanderson my heart burns and in my head I scream, "I can do this." Robert Jordan took my on a vast adventure of such scope I still reel from it. I want to write novels of grandeur that will make people want to never leave the high seas of their imagination.

I really needed to get that off my chest. Thank you for allowing me.

Growing older I've learned this about myself: The older I get the less I care and the less I care the more I do to show people I don't care. I really don't care what anyone thinks and it really puts a skip in my step to prove people that I don't. Maybe it's a flaw I've developed but who cares. 

Making the decision not to go into the ministry has caused me to do serious soul searching for more than six months. It's something I think about a good deal of the time. Part of the reason is because Tulsa, Oklahoma is the mecca for Charismatic Christianity. The essence of my decision was this: I don't think I'd be happy spending the rest of my life as a minister. That's why I decided to jump ship and dedicate my life to writing. First of all, Christianity will fit into any mold you put it into. It is the mold. 

God is the greatest story teller. Ever. Read the Bible for goodness sakes. The tale of Gideon was the original tale of the 300. I'm sorry, but Zakk Snyder nor Frank Miller told a story of the 300 as grand as God did. Not even the 300 Spartans were as glorious as Gideon and his 300 soldiers. 

Read about Jesus. Read about the awesome things He did for people. Read about the miracles he worked and the lives He changed. You don't even have to believe in Him to be touched. 

People that can't read the Bible and be inspired have no imagination.

You grew up.

You left Neverland.

I want to spend the rest of my life telling stories like my Father. I want to tell stories of heroic men and women who work miracles by magic, by strength, or my intelligence. I want to tell stories that make people want to get up and fight each day's battle. I want to tell stories that make people want to be better. Can you really do that writing fantasy? Yeah. Robert Jordan changed my life by telling the story of The Wheel of Time. I want to be a hero. The tale of Jesus - which is the greatest tale told (because it's true) - makes me want to be the best.

When I write fantasy I want people to think, there's Magic out there. When people read my stories I want them to believe that Something greater is out there.

Don't think you ever have to fit someone else's mold. Don't think you have to do it someone else's way. Living in Tulsa sometimes I feel like I'm surrounded by robots. Christians only think they can serve God by preaching from a pulpit, or some time of church ministry. I never want to live programmed to do it like the guy who went before me. Screw that. I'd rather be like Frank Sinatra and do it Mark's way.

Until next time,

Adios and via con dios

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Killers Didn't Kill Me but Was Still Pretty Funny

Killers was pretty good.

It was exactly what I expected.

I wouldn't go back for a second viewing. But the few laughs that I wanted to get out of it I got. That made it worth the five bucks I spent to see it. Early bird special, baby!

There were a two irksome moments for me:

1. During the fight scenes they used to shaky cam technique. I hate the shaky cam technique. You can't tell what the Sam hill is going on. Besides being totally lost to the action you're made dizzy.

2. Ashton Kutcher did not make realistic decisions as a spy.

*Spoilers Ahead*

When everyone you know is out to claim a $20 million bounty on your head. What spy is going to say let's stop by the house so we can get the go bag and the guns? Really? No. You would've never seen 007 make some kind of asinine decison. Ethan Hunt would've made do without the frickin' go bag. You're a spy for chrike's sake. Make MacGyver without the go bag. That's what you were trained for.

*End of Spoilers*

The best part of the movie were the parents. Tom Selleck's mustache is always impressive. He was funny, too, in case you were wondering. Catherine O'Hara made me recall all my childhood memories of Home Alone, and as she devoured glass after glass of alcoholic beverages I laughed my memories away.

Good movie. You can see it in theaters or just wait for it to be distributed your nearest Red Box container.

Killers doesn't make the top ten. It nearly missed it.

Top Movies of 2010:

1. Robin Hood

2. How To Train Your Dragon

3. Shutter Island

4. Iron Man 2

5. Date Night

6. Killers


7. The Crazies

8. Kick-Ass

9. Alice in Wonderland

10. Book of Eli

11. Remember Me

12. Valentine's Day

13. The Bounty Hunter

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Iron Man: Flash, Glitz, and Rust

I'll be frank. I went into Iron Man 2 expecting to be disappointed.

Let's be honest. Sequels aren't always what the originals were. There are few exceptions. To name a few sequels that are better than their elders I can name off hand: The Dark Knight, The Empire Strikes Back, The Two Towers and Return of the King. That's barely a hand full. It is a rare occasion for a sequel to out shine its predecessor.

Thankfully, I was not wholly disappointed by IM2. But it didn't live up to the first.

The pacing of the movie was nice. It moved along fast and kept me ready to see what would happen next.

Tony Stark dying was unnecessary. I didn't like the direction of the plot, but I saw why they did it. I just didn't like it. Seemed like a cop out to make him discover a new technology. I think they could have taken a more creative direction. Oh well, it was what it was.

My biggest let down of the movie was that there was not enough of Scarlett Johansson. She was smokin' as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow. The only bone I have to pick with her performance is the lack of a Russian accent. I mean the character is Russian for Pete's sake. I'm going to assume this dropping of the ball is due to Jon Favreau, and not Ms. Johansson.

Here are a few things that I enjoyed about IM2:

A) Gwyneth Paltrow rocks a pair of heels. I don't think there's anything more sexy than a woman strutting in a pair of stiletto heels. They make my heart thumpety-thump-thump just a little harder than normal.

B) IM2 was a visual spectacle. I enjoyed the final scene where Tony and Rhodes team up for the big battle. The chase scene was especially enjoyable. Great special effects. You get your moneys worth.

C) Mickey Rourke. Even when he looks like trash his talent shines through. I can't really imagine anyone other playing the part of Whiplash.

**Spoilers Ahead**

D) I could really care less for the Avengers movie. I'm very doubtful that I'll even see it when it comes out. However, I did like the homage to Thor after the credits. It makes me look forward to the movie debut of the Norse God of Thunder.

**End of Spoilers**

Despite the things that let me down about IM2 I enjoyed myself. The movie makes my top five. Here's my top movies for 2010:

1. Robin Hood

2. How To Train Your Dragon

3. Shutter Island

4. Iron Man 2

5. Date Night

6. The Crazies

7. Kick-Ass

8. Alice in Wonderland

9. Book of Eli

10. Remember Me

11. Valentine's Day

12. The Bounty Hunter

***If you'd like to enlarge the picture of Pepper Potts just click on it.

Next in line on my To-See list:

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I Suck Because I'm Not Stephen King

I haven't blogged in a few days. For that I apologize.

Everything has been nice in my neck of the woods. I've started working on a new MS. I'm falling in love with the characters. They're awesome. Maybe I'll be able to share this story with you one day.

On to the bloggage.

This is somewhat of a sequel to a blog I posted a few weeks ago. It was entitled *Life's Worth Living Even If It Sometimes Sucks*. If you'd like to read that post kindly click on the title.

Anyway . . .

A man I greatly admire, Dr. James B. Richards, once said, "Life isn't fair."

He's right. Life. Isn't. Fair. Sometimes it just plain out sucks. Other times life doesn't just suck. There are times when you'll feel like you suck. When those times come there's no reason to down yourself, or lock yourself in a closet. Feeling like you suck is a fact of life. There's nothing you can do about it. When the sucky moments come they might as well be embraced.

I'm not saying you should dig a hole of misery. That's missing the point. Place your emotions on a petri dish, and examine them under a microscope.

Why do you feel like you suck?

Are you doing something to make yourself feel like you suck?

What can you do to change the feelings of suck-ass?

As I mentioned earlier: I'm working on a new manuscript. I get up every morning at 8 and am excited to take the first two hours of my day and write. I've been discovery writing. If you don't know what discovery writing is it's simple: I'm planning nor plotting anything. I sit down, read my previous work, take pen in hand and dive the depths of my imagination.

Yesterday, I believe, I started reading Stephen King's "It". Thus far, phenomenal read. It's the only book I've read that's freaked me out. Great feeling.

Before I sat down in front of the laptop to type these words I was reading "It". While reading King's tale I started to get that sucky feeling. I started comparing my work to SK's work. I felt like a major suck-hole.

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Some time ago I decided I wanted to make my living in the arts. As a writer. Becoming published isn't easy. You actually have to write. Everyone that dreams of getting published would increase their chances if they would actually sit down and write. That's why there's not more published writers. After that there's the whole business side of things: finding an agent, finding an editor and publisher, etc.

Starting out, I had no set scheduled and wrote at sporadic moments. I dealt with feelings of suckage. I would think, I'm never going to make it as a writer. If I could ever get published my dreams would come true but that probably won't happen. Those feelings were pretty easy to deal with once I actually started writing. Every day. All the time. The only love I have besides my wife is writing.

There's nothing that can talk me out of making my living as a writer. No matter how hard I have to work or how long it takes I will be published.

You will see a book, that I have written, on a book shelf in a book store all over the world.

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Stephen King has become a personal hero. I love the down-to-earthness of his prose. I read his dialogue with eagerness. His imagery is vivid and I see every word he writes. So . . . when comparing my works to his I tend to think, Holy shit, I'll never be this awesome.

When I think that way it's really easy to set the pen and notebook aside and wallow it the suckness. But I don't do that. I examine my feelings and determine why I feel like I suck:

1. Stephen King has been perfecting his craft for longer than I've been alive.

2. Stephen King understand his craft better than I do.

3. I'm not Stephen King and I have my own style. My own voice. I have my own technique of telling tales.

4. I admire Stephen King's work but I don't want to be Stephen King. I want to be Mark Westmoreland.

I'm getting better and better at what I do. I'm understanding my art better and better everyday. My ability to tell stories is improving, and has come a long way. One day someone will admire me the way I admire Stephen King.

Whenever you feel like you suck and want to quit: Don't. Find out why you feel the way you feel and if there's anything you can do about it at all. Do it.

Thanks for reading this lengthy post. I try to keep them short so consider this an exception and not the rule.

Until next time,

Adios and via con dios.

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Life Reflections: Farewell to Lost and One Year of Wedded Bliss

Part One:

O, Lost, Fare thee well

Last night I said goodbye to a dear friend. Lost. 

I don't believe it was the best episode of the six seasons, but it was satisfying. 

There are some things throughout the years that I think I would've done different. For example:

(a) I never would have explained the origins of the Island. I thought it was unnecessary. One of the charms of the show was that you didn't exactly know what the Island was. Purgatory? Heaven? Hell? Part of developing the character of Jacob - which I will talk more about in point b - you had to deal with the Island. That's when one of the most shameful stories of Lost was told . . . the Light. Watching the backstory of Jacob and his younger brother was interesting, but it was a downer when you find that the power behind the Island was a light. I mean this is the show that dealt with time travel, alternate universes, physics, relativity, and other awesome concepts. Why trash those great stories with a light. I would have rather been left in wonderment of the Island than have know about the Light.

(b) I would have left Jacob an non-tangible character. Why did Jacob even need to be brought into the foray? I was content watching Ben talk to his imaginary friend or deal with Richard as the go between. I didn't need to see Jacob. It took away from the concept that the Losties were dealing with a higher power. I didn't like the thought that Jacob was just another dude. I always enjoyed wondering whether or not Jacob was God.

(c) Why the hell couldn't it have been a thousand years family feud between Jacob and Esau! I will go on in blissful ignorance believing that it was so.

It's time to move on, now. I don't know if I'll ever find a show to replace Lost. It was a worthy investment of my time.

Goodbye, Lost.

Part Two:

One Year of Wedded Bliss

If you knew me and knew my personality you'd be surprised that I was even married. Really. I'm a pretty hard dude to get along with at times. I'm a slob. Spend a lot of time doing nothing but reading and writing. It took a special woman to come along and decide I was worth marrying. Thank God we found each other. 

Being married is awesome. I wouldn't change the past year with my wife. I wouldn't marry another woman. She's the best.

These are some of the best things about being married:

(a) Always having someone to come home to/be with. Spending my time by myself got old after a while. It's nice to have someone to hang out with.

(b) It's nice that someone is not a family member and is genuinely interested in what I'm doing with my life. She cares about the fact that I want to be a writer. She's supportive of that dream. She likes the fact that I have high aspirations. That's cool.

(c) Someone to make babies with. The person you exchange vows with you want them to be a great parent. I can say that the woman I married is going to be an awesome mom. One day I look forward to having chil'ren with Sunny D. 

We have an awesome life together.

I look forward to years and years and year and years with her. 

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The Thievery Of Robin Hood

These are the kinds of stories I like: Stories that have clanging swords and the twang of bow strings. Stories that are epic with heroes that triumph and beautiful heroines that rise up in a time of need. I like stories with grand battles where evil is crushed. I like stories that take place in ancient lands where magic is as common as breath. 

Robin had a combination of all of these except magic. That is okay. 

I let go a sigh of relief when I found that Kevin Costner did not reprise his role as the Hood. 

I don't know if Ridley Scott was setting history straight or spinning a new tale, but he told a damn good origin story. 

These are the type of roles that I enjoy Russel Crowe in most. When I want to see a common man rise to heroic heights Crowe does not disappoint.

I've never been remotely attracted to Cate Blanchett but she carried dignity and class as Maid Marion, and that was sexy. 

Robin's Merry Men had me laughing in their drunken exploits and cheering in the heat of battle.

You won't be disappointed by Robin Hood. The movie has stolen my number one spot for my favorite movies of 2010. 

1. Robin Hood

2. How To Train Your Dragon

3. Shutter Island

4. Date Night

5. The Crazies

6. Kick-Ass

7. Alice in Wonderland

8. Book of Eli

9. Remember Me

10. Valentine's Day

11. The Bounty Hunter

Do yourself a favor. Take a trip to Nottingham and enjoy Robin and his Merry Men. You'll thank me.

Until next time,

Adios and via con dios

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Life's Worth Living Even If It Sometimes Sucks

We have a new member of the Madhouse. Everyone say hello to Tara by visiting her blog. You can jump there by clicking *here*

Now, on to the madness:

Sunny D has a friend going through a hard time.

She put as her face book status:

Life: 1. ______: 0.

I know everyone has felt that way. I have. To try and cheer her up I look for a quote. I sifted through a bunch of quotes . . . a bunch of very bad quotes. Who could've known there would be so many bad quotes? I even google searched, "funny quotes about life." After reading some of my results I thought, I'm not trying to get this girl to jump off a bridge. There just weren't any that were "haha, make you slap your knee" funny. I guess that's what you get for trying to be thoughtful.

Anyway, I took matters into my own hands, took a trip to www.thinkexist.com, and found this one:

Don't worry about life, you're not going to survive it anyway.

It's kind of morbid. I doubt she'll shoot herself. It made me laugh but I have a weird sense of humor. In the end the bell rings true. You're going to die one day so on your way out make sure you give life one helluva punch to the face.

Don't give up - life's not over until you're dead.

Give it your all - what else do you have to give?

Enjoy the ride - life's worth living even if it sometimes sucks.

Besides . . . the suckage can only last so long. Suck something long enough and it will blow, and that's when the good things happen. Then everyone is all smiles.

Until next time,

Adios and via con dios

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A Date to see Date Night

Hope all mother's reading this have had a nice mother's day. The wife and I took my mom and sister to Baker's St. Pub and Grill. 

We discovered this place a little over a week ago and we've been there three times since. Fantastic food and drink. Our first go round I had the Black and Bleu Burger. No lie, one of the most delectable burgers I've ever had. Just thinking about it now I begin to salivate.

Our next visit Sunny D and I had drinks and an appetizer. The name of the appetizer has just slipped my mind, but trust me, it was hella good. 

Today I had the Baked Potato and Cheddar Soup. I'm already planning for my return visit so's I can devour the soup. Forever and ago I discovered the broccoli and cheddar bread bowl at Penera Bread. I have since been faithful to this soup and have not strayed to others. Now, I have found a companion for my broccoli and cheddar and the two soups shall enjoy a holy matrimony in my belly.

Afterwards, we hit up Barnes and Noble - my own Fortress of Solitude - and I bought The Regulators by Stephen King. Every time I stop by BandN I browse through the Cormac McCarthy books and drool. I want to read All the Pretty Horses like I want to breathe.

Onto my movie review.

Unplanned and a departure from my To See list Sunshine and I checked out Date Night. I swear to Betsy that Steve Carell is the funniest s.o.b alive. If you haven't seen this movie finish my review, leave a nice comment, and check it out. Take a belly of laughs with you because you're going to need. Hang around for the blooper reel too. 

I look forward to any creative endeavors Steve Carell and Tina Fay may join in. Date Night sky rocketed to the top three of my 2010 Movie Rankings. 

Understand that my ranking system is solely based on entertainment value, and whether or not I would consider a reviewing.

Here's how this year's rankings stack up:

1. How To Train Your Dragon

2. Shutter Island

3. Date Night

4. The Crazies

5. Kick-Ass

6. Alice In Wonderland

7. Book of Eli

8. Remember Me

9. Valentine's Day

10. The Bounty Hunter

I still plan to see Iron Man 2 this week. Honestly, I don't foresee it cracking my top five. The only thing that could heft it towards the top is this pretty lady . . .

*gasp*

*pant*

*sigh*

Until next time, ladies and gents,

Adios and via con dios

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Did Kick-Ass Kick Ass?

Yesterday I had two of my wisdom teeth pulled. I'm not hurting as bad as I thought I might be. I haven't even had any swelling. The doctor provided me with some handy drugs. That's nice. I was awake for the procedure, and no lie, it was pretty cool. The only thing I didn't enjoy was having needles stuck into my gums and my tongue. That sucked.

So . . . I took yesterday and today off. I slept most of the day yesterday. Four hours total. It was pretty nice. Today I woke up and didn't do a whole lot of anything. That's what made me decide to go catch a movie. I've been planning on seeing Kick-Ass for a couple of weeks but hadn't got around to it. I finally did.

My thoughts.

I'm kind of disappointed. Wasn't what I was thinking it would be.

The highlight of the movie was Hit Girl. Watching a foul mouthed twelve year old kick the crap out of a bunch of men was fun.

McLovin' a.k.a Red Mist was not so fun. Sadly I think Super Bad may have type cast Christopher Mintz-Plasse (for me).

The protagonist Kick-Ass/Dave Lizewski was somewhat boring.

Nicholas Cage gave one of his best performances in a long while. Cage is a comic book lover and seriously shamed himself with his Elvis impersonating Ghost Rider. Gladly he redeemed himself with Big Daddy.

I wish the movie had been more about Big Daddy and Hit Girl than Kick-Ass. They're where the movie is at.

Where does Kick-Ass come in on the rankings . . .

1. How To Train Your Dragon

2. Shutter Island

3. The Crazies

4. Kick-Ass

5. Alice In Wonderland

6. Book of Eli

7. Remember Me

8. Valentine's Day

9. The Bounty Hunter

Next week I may check out Iron Man. Not because I'm excited about seeing but because Scarlett Johansson is in it.

Until next time,

Adios and via con dios.

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Little Green Men

Before I share this week's short story I would like to welcome Nisa to the Madhouse.

She has one of my favorite blogs and definitely an awesome blog title. Really wish I could steal that one. You can check it out by clicking on these words *Wordplay, Swordplay*. Her Ten Word Tuesdays are always my favorite posts. Do yourself a favor and mosey on over that way.

This week's short story is probably my favorite that I've written. Hope you guys get as much enjoyment reading it as I did writing it.

Little Green Men

"C'mon."

"I don't wanna."

"Come on."

"I said, 'no.'"

"Listen. If they were gonna kill us - ah - we'd be dead already. Now, let's go!"

"I'm not going. You go on. Die by yourself."

"I swear to God, Julia. I'm going to grab you by the hair and drag you out in the middle of that field."

"Barry, you touch my damn hair and I'll kill you."

"You know what? I'm going. See you in another life, Julia."

"No, wait . . ." Julia reached out for Barry. She caught empty air is all. Julia tried to peer through the bushes but there was nothing to see.

#

Julia wondered how long she'd been hiding. She saw a man wearing a red shirt in the middle of the field. That was Barry. He'd been standing there since he'd left her. Julia thought about going to him but she wouldn't. She'd seen movies. She wasn't stupid. All you had to do was watch t.v. You'd find out that when a big ship hovers in the sky bad things happen. She stayed where she was. Julia wasn't moving. Let Barry die by himself.

#

Barry wanted to take Julia by the hair and drag her out here. Things like this never happened. How could she miss out on it?

Would anything happen?

Barry thought he had been standing here for a while. He kept standing. The longer he stood the longer nothing happened.

#

Julia was almost asleep when Barry's head popped through the bushes. She screamed.

"Be quiet."

"You're not dead?"

"No, I'm not dead."

"Where's the aliens?"

"Stupid things wouldn't come out. I even yelled for them. You didn't hear me?"

"No."

"Oh well. Let's get outta here. I want a beer."

#

Little green men stood at the transport station. They looked into a screen that showed Barry and Julia. They were walking away from the field.

The smallest of the little green men looked at the tallest of the little green men and thought, Do you think it is wise for us to leave the ship?

The tallest of the three little green men thought back, I sense no harm.

The shouting man could present danger. The smallest of the little green men thought this to no one in particular.

The thought hung. Neither the tall little green man nor the medium-sized little green man thought back. Little green men can go for long periods of time without thinking to each other.

Finally, the medium-sized little green man thought, You two can go out to your sure destruction, but I'm staying here.

Like a candle being snuffed out the alien ship winked out of Earth's atmosphere.

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Death By Samurai

Alfonzo painted.

Everything Alfonzo painted came to life.

In no uncertain terms this scared the shit out of Alfonzo. Two nights prior Alfonzo slept with a woman named Maroon. Alfonzo had painted her. When she stepped out of the painting she was naked. Alfonzo liked to paint naked. They were both naked. He couldn’t stop the inevitable from happening.

Last night Alfonzo painted a samurai. Alfonzo hated samurais. That’s not why he painted one. He wanted to see if it, too, would come alive. It did. The samurai chased Alfonzo around his studio. Katana unsheathed, and in hand, the samurai cornered Alfonzo and stabbed him through his middle. As Alfonzo died he thought, I should have painted a woman named Purple, or money that filled my accounts.

Alfonzo lay dead. His wife found him the next morning.

Alfonzo’s wife studied Alfonzo’s final painting. It was a samurai. Red paint smeared the blade of his katana.

Nothing that Alfonzo painted ever lived again.

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Are Books Going the Way of CDs?

Before I started buying MP3s I had the biggest CD collection of anyone I knew.

Thinking about it, I would guess that 1 out of every 5 CDs had a warning label on it.

Some of the music I enjoyed had explicit content: Guns 'n Roses, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Metallica, etc.

I don't really care for any of those bands anymore, but if this lady in FLA gets her way, our library books are going to come packaged with a warning label (<---- click here).

Sure, this lady has good intentions. I wonder, though, has she ever heard of a book called The Cathcer in the Rye. It's considered an American classic. All the vulgarity this woman wants to avoid this book packs it. Salinger's masterpiece is one of the most banned, and most studied books in America. Rye is considered the perfect portrait of teen angst. It's sits high atop my To-Read list.

Attempting to censor books is not going to stop people, or kids for that matter, from getting their hands on the books. It never stopped me from getting my hands on the music I wanted. The explicit content label seemed more like a trophy than a warning. Instead of censoring people's work maybe this lady should step up, be a parent, and talk to her kids. I wouldn't know, though. Maybe she does. If so, why try to parent other peoples kids?

Besides that, the reason a library has sections like childrens, young adult, and adult is so that someone who needs to be reading age appropriate novels can be guided in the right direction.

I, for one, think that this lady is hurting her cause more than she's helping it.

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Morning Zest = Wife + Tohline + David

I don't like to drink coffee. It's the taste. The bitterness of it makes my taste buds scream in pain. I'm more of a tea guy. Sweet tea only. When I wake up in the mornings I have a routine: bowl of cereal, sit down to write, and a tall glass of sweet tea in reach. However, this is all beside the point. Waking up I can be a pretty grumpy guy. I have to do something for my morning zest. I do this by going to my favorite blogs. These are blogs that are run by people I know, like, and consider friends.

I tell you about these blogs because I think it's a good way to get your day off on the right foot.

Keeping Up With The Westmorelands

This one is run by my smokin' hot wife, Dawn. Henceforth, we shall call her Sunny D. I don't call her that but she is a nice ray of sunshine. Her blog is summed up in the title; it's a chronicle of our life. She's also a guru of fashion. You can see her thoughts on clothing, make up, and the latest styles (Personally I skip those). Don't tell her that. Shhhh . . . I can guarantee you'll be won over by her ravishing personality within a few blogs. If not then you should probably check your pulse. 

The Great Lenore

Jordan and I met at a parking garage. We share a common bond in that we parked cars together. He introduced me to Hemingway. I introduced him to Robert Jordan. I have yet to read Hemingway. Jordan has yet to read Robert Jordan. But, hey, the door is always there. His blog focuses around the art of writing. He offers resources and advice on writing. Check out the preview of his novel The Great Lenore (<-------- CLICK ON THESE WORDS), and you'll see that his advice is worth heeding. On a side note, every time I read Jordan's blog I'm always inserting new words into my vocabulary toolbox. Like gregarious. What an astounding word.

John Stamos

Right now, you're scratching your head and you're wondering why the name of John Stamos is under a picture that's not even him. Well, when you click on John's name it's going to take you to a blog that this Heart Throb proclaims is the greatest site E.V.E.R. The blog is run my one of best friends Marc David. We share a first name - although he spells his different than mine - and we share a middle name. Some would say coincidence. But it's really not. It had to be fate. The first time I hung out with Marc David was Thanksgiving three years ago. We feasted and then saw a shitty movie. He watched while I slept. The movie you ask was Hitman. Marc summed it up perfectly when he said, "The best thing about the whole movie were the boobies, and they weren't even that nice." You're either going to love Marc David or be offended. Even if you do fall head over heels in love with him you may be offended, anyway. It's a right lovable quality. He's one of a kind and I'm proud to say he's one of my best friends.

***It would now behoove you to click on the name under each picture. It will take you to their blogs - places of Zest. 

**** The arrows pointing to The Great Lenore commanding that you, "CLICK ON THESE WORDS." Don't ignore those. They will take you to read a preview of Jordan's book. You didn't know this, but your life depends on this action. Well, maybe just your computer. You love your computer and you wouldn't want any harm to come to it, right? Well, click on the words and as Jordan would say, "fly."

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3 People From 3 Fields That Make My Creative Juices Flow

Robert Jordan

In my mind I like to call him Papa Jordan. He's the reason I wanted to become a writer. Writing has always been something I've enjoyed, but it wasn't something I wanted to dedicate my life to until I picked up a copy of The Eye of the World. 

Eye begins pretty ordinarily. It brings back memories of the Shire. And then you get a swift kick in the face from a Trolloc, and the book becomes something else entirely. There is no other fantasy series like The Wheel of Time. Its scope is far reaching. Its story lines are endless. Its characters are are inspiring. Its world is crowned by imagination. Its marked with tragedy. Jordan wasn't able to finish his epic. He died before he was able to pen the final book - the most important of them all. Rand would finally meet the Dark One on the battlefield of Tarmon Gaidon. Thanks to Harriet McDougal, Jordan's widow, the series will be finished. The torch has been passed on to Brandon Sanderson. Who is, in his own right, a fantasy heavyweight. His Mistborn trilogy sits high atop my To-Read list. I drool with anticipation to one day read this series.

Bob Dylan

In truth, there's really no reason Bob Dylan should be a rock 'n roll legend. He can't sing. He's all but a decent musician. His music can be aimless. But no one can put ink to paper like Dylan. I believe he's the greatest wordsmith of modern times. I have to be careful when I put Bob Dylan's music on. My day will very easily become a Bob Dylan day, and I'll have forgotten all the other music I wanted to listen to. No one takes up more room on my iPod than Dylan. I love him that much. 

I like to think that if Shakespeare were alive today that even he would be awed by Robert Zimmerman's words.

Dr. James B. Richards

Christianity is the most right yet most abused religion on the face of God's green earth. Turn on the television and you'll be swamped with a plethora of funny, weird, and wrong doctrines. Sadly, I'm a pessimist when it comes to the "Church". The only shinning beacon I've found is the ministry of Dr. Richards, Impact Ministries. He help me to learn to follow my heart. He encourages me to fulfill my dream of becoming a writer. In fact, he had as much to do with my desire to be printed as Robert Jordan. His book Grace: The Power to Change revolutionized my life. I don't try to please God with my own works. It's all about the finished work of Christ. He's a man that one day I hope to just sit and converse with. 

These 3 individuals make my creative juices pump. I can turn to anyone of them when I feel uninspired, and I walk away vigorous ready to conquer the page with pen. 

***You can click on their names and go to their individual sites. They're worth check out.

****The link for Robert Jordan will take you to Dragonmount. It is a Wheel of Time fan community. However, the fine people over at the site also hosted Robert Jordan's blog. If you take some time to shift through the blogs you'll find treasures of WoT info, writing advice, and odd facts that Jordan decided to share.

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