Thursday, January 28, 2010

Legion (Movie Review)

I am a movie fanatic. Usually go anytime I can. I went to see Legion thinking it was going to be an awesome war scene with the good and bad angels – I was mistaken. I must say I was very disappointed in this movie. It must have been relatively low budget because most of the movie took place in a diner.

Now with that said, I still enjoyed it. It had some good points like the irony between Gabriel and Michael’s purpose. The fact that the girl carrying the baby (who was the hope for the future of mankind) didn’t even want the baby, of course she changed her mind. The movie dropped positive message amid the chaos and attacks of the fallen angels, which showed some depth to the characters. These things kept me in my seat watching.

So, if you are thinking about a movie that you may want to see on video – this one is it. I give this movie 1.5 stars.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Are people pre-destined? Or manipulated by a greater force?

In writing EXPLORER X – Alpha, I touched on this subject, but for a moment. Aadi is faced with a terrible situation; one he really doesn’t know how to fix. He can’t even fight it with the surety that he will be successful, so he takes a moment and prays. Daniel replied to his actions with disgust, but Scott supported him. His call for help didn’t appear to be answered, because things just went from bad to worst. However, he chose to stay true to what he knew about himself. In that final hour of trouble, whether he won, or lost – he was to stand true and not allow the bad things that happened to him to change him for the worst, but to change him for the better.

When I look back at my life, I am like, “Wow!” I used to ask myself time and time again, why did I have the parents I had? Why did I have so many struggles growing up when I was defenseless? However, I always believed in a higher being. I believed in a God that allowed me to make choices, and was conditioning me to be stronger. Who loved me, but made me into a compassionate, survivor, and determined woman I am today. I needed that, because my life as a young person was full of turmoil. A product of teenaged parents, who were still learning about themselves, is a tough way to grow up.

I don’t believe that your life is pre-destined. I believe that when you are faced with problems, circumstances that are horrible and out of your control, you still have power of choice. No one can change or harm your inner most self. That part of you that lays hidden within, unless you allow them too. I believe we have choices. The choice to learn from your difficult circumstances, become stronger, and to fight against the temptation to turn into those that tormented you. You know how I know this is possible, because I am a product of this, and so many other people I knew succeeded in spite of circumstances so difficult that most people could never imagine surviving.

Explorer X – Alpha shows the difficult journey of Aadi’s realizing that he has control over one major thing in his life – himself. Although he was created to be a conqueror of worlds, he gets to decide if that is what he will become. Just as we all have a choice in what we become. We can let difficulties make us bitter, sad, hurt ourselves, or we can fight to make those circumstances turn us into heros – that learn from the pain, and help someone else in their difficult journey.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

THE CHILD THIEF, by Brom (Book Review)

Book review by, LM Preston, www.lmpreston.com

(4 out of 5 stars)

Brom’s, THE CHILD THIEF, is a remake of the epic tale of Peter Pan. It’s a dark tale bought to modern day, and delves into the hidden or lightly touched on sinister plot of the tale of Peter Pan.

I picked this book up because the artwork on the cover intrigued me. It was hauntingly beautiful. The boy on the cover enchanted me and innerved me at the same time. When I opened the cover to read the excerpt – I couldn’t put it down. So, I scooped it up and took it home, and fought with my husband to read it first.

Peter Pan was one of my favorite fairy tales when I was younger, and even today I replay the movie even when my kids aren’t there to watch it with me.. The Disney versions of Peter Pan (there were 2 versions, the cartoon and the full length movie) showed the tale as a sort of love story with Peter and Wendy. Yet, I always thought there was something dark about Peter, Neverland, and those Pirates.

Brom’s THE CHILD THIEF digs into the darker aspect of why would any kid want to go away and never grow up. Peter’s darker side, the side that made him desire to steal kids away to come to a land where they were in danger of death or worse. Lastly, whatever became of the ‘lost boys or girls’ that followed Peter? What made those kids so vicious?

From the moment I read the first chapter I was captured, Peter unfolds as a complex likeable character that is also sinister. See, Peter needs the kids just as much as they believe they need him. He purposely selects his victims, stalks them actually. Peter needs kids that are strong, have nothing to lose and that he can train to fight in the war that is waging in Neverland.

This book has a lot of violence, and is not for kids to read. The violence has reason and the characters have depth. The only reason I gave it less than 5 stars was because I cried near the end. See I prefer happier endings. The ending of this tale is good and fitting for the tale. I just wanted a different outcome.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Tease from THE PACK (Fall, 2010)



To read more check it out @ www.lmpreston.com

Shamira, the main character is blind, and a vigilante on the prowl to get answers about the missing kids on Mars.

“Looks like you made out pretty good today,” she said and walked toward him. She didn’t give him a chance to reply as she punched him with enough power to smash his back and head against the wall.

Cracking his neck to the side, he licked his lips. His voice filled with lust as he said, “Hey! You like it rough, don’t ya? I do too, you fine young thing.”

She grinned at him, and with lightening speed she gripped his neck. He gulped when she tightened her grip and her knee jabbed into his groin with force.

“Don’t try to sweet talk me. I want information. You know where the kids are being held, don’t you? Tell me, and I’ll let you go with memories of Earth,” she said. She held his neck with her clawed glove. Using her other hand, she reached into her pocket to pull out a truth tick that she pierced into his neck. She waited for the flat mini computerized bug to do its job. It sharp legs sunk into the Lenny’s skin and the biological replica of many species, inserted a poison into Lenny that forced him to tell the truth.

“I’m not talking. I ain’t getting killed for no one, sweetness,” Lenny said with a wince from the tick’s deepening claws. His speech slurred while the tick started to do its dirty work.

“We’ll see about that. Just give it a moment, sweetness,” she said and promptly spit in his face. He disgusted her. His kind had no morals.

The scent in the air changed, and she heard someone approaching. One of Lenny’s sidekicks, she could smell Lenny’s scent on him. She swiftly took the metal ball out of her pocket, waited for the guy to come closer, and without turning from her captive, tossed the ball at him while she faced Lenny as he weakened. The metal web burst from the ball and slammed its running victim against a wall of the buildings they were sandwiched between. She heard him gurgle while the web drew tightly to strangle its victim within an inch of his life. It allowed only enough air into his lungs for him to stay alive.

“Now, where were we? Oh yeah, you were telling me about where those kids are being held—and as a matter of fact, where Security Force Leader McCann of Sector Three may be,” Shamira said.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

MOVIE MADNESS (Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, Daybreakers)

I went to see 3 movies in the last two weekends. Because I am an action and thrill junkie, I went to see movies that I thought would give me a rush. All of them delivered.

Now I will forwarn you, I am not the type of critic that looks at a movie for plot and all that. I go to the movies strictly to be entertained. So, with that said, you know my expectations aren’t that high.

AVATAR (4 out of 5 stars)

Okay, I have to be honest. When I first heard of this movie I thought it was The Last Airbender (Avatar).The Last Airbender (Avatar). You see, my kids and I watch this cartoon all the time – and I love, love, love it. Now, once I realized that AVATAR the movie was about this guy who’s brain is placed in this being who he controls from another location, I was still intrigued. I went to see this at the IMAX movie, in 3D and I was truly impressed. The storyline was decent, and the scenery was downright amazing – especially when you see it in 3D. There was a sprinkle of love, lots of action, and a world that I would love to live in. My husband said it was like, Dancing with wolves, but in SciFi.

SHERLOCK HOLMES (3 out of 5 stars)

I actually liked this movie. It was visually interesting, dark, and the chemistry between the leading men was entertaining. Sherlock was intelligent, strong, and eclectic. Holmes was the sane one – or sort of the co-dependent one. Throw in a fake supernatural element that gets despoiled and you have a fun movie.

DAYBREAKERS (3 out of 5 stars)

This movie was a pleasant surprise. It had an okay story line. Vampires are running low on blood, and need to find a substitute or harvest humans to survive. Humans are on the run, and a miraculous cure for vampirism is found – but no one wants it. There was suspense, gore, attraction, and more suspense. Kind of quirky, but still a fun ride.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

FOLLOW YOUR GUT

Trusting your own gut feelings is one of the best gifts of being a human or an intelligent being. We all get that little ‘twinge’ when something just isn’t right. When that happens…LISTEN TO IT! Trust yourself or your ‘gut’ some call it. Trust it at all times, it will never steer you wrong.

When I was young I lived in the inner-city of Washington , DC . The neighborhood I called home, had gangs, drugs, muggers, killers, and lots of kids and family nearby. However, with all of these things present, I didn’t realize that my gut instincts were strengthening with each day I played outside, walked to school, to the bus, or traveled the city alone.

I never understood why my grandmother, affectionately named NaNa, didn’t want me to leave my block to go to the store alone. Or why, I wasn’t allowed to cut through the alleys to get to my cousin’s house, and the numerous list of things I was told to watch out for.

My main character in EXPLORER X – Alpha realizes that something isn’t quite right with the immunization he is given. Aadi takes the initiative as asks the Doctor why it is being given to him. In addition to this finding, Aadi confirms his concerns with others.

Here are some steps to take in trusting yourself in all things;


LISTEN TO THAT ‘TWINGE’ IN YOUR GUT


When you are in a situation with a friend or an adult, and you get that feeling that something isn’t quite right, then you are most likely correct. Learn yourself, and test this ability.


If your friend tells you that you should sneak out to go to that great party that so-and-so is going to, then you feel this tickle in your tummy, and you hesitate. This is your gut talking to you. It’s telling you … hold on … don’t jump into this.

Listen to it. Find out how your gut talks to you. Think of all those times you got into major trouble, and ponder over what you felt just before you did the deed that got you into that mess. That’s how you learn how your psyche talks to you.


TAKE A STEP BACK, AND ASK QUESTIONS

Never, ever, feel like you don’t have the right to ask a question. Asking a question only gets you in trouble when it hasn’t been asked, or the person of whom you are asking the question doesn’t want to give you an answer.

Don’t think I’m right on this? Test it, and think back to times when the person of whom you asked a question reacted negatively. In most cases, it is because they don’t want to give you an answer.

Asking the question is never, ever wrong. You have the right. So use it when you are in those situations where your gut is telling you that something is just not adding up.

IF IT DOESN’T ADD UP THEN IT DOESN’T ADD UP

When something doesn’t make sense, or the story just sounds down right disjointed, and your gut is telling you that something is off. Then trust your gut, something is off.

This is a saying my Nana used to tell me when I would give her a scenario of what a friend told me, or did to me.

“Honey, if it don’t add up, it won’t add up. Something is definitely not right with that story.”

Do you know in each instance she said this, she was absolutely correct.


TAKE ACTION

If you get that feeling something isn’t right take action.


In EXPLORER X – Alpha Aadi and Eirena, his co-pilot investigate their gut feeling that something is off about their camp with their team. They find that terrible things have been done to them.

There are several ways to take action. Here are some;

- Just tuck the knowledge away, and wait for the truth to reveal itself. Believe it or not this happens a lot in life. The truth has a way of coming out. Sometimes it happens quickly, and sometimes it takes a long, long time.

- Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions in order to get the answers you want. You can ask anyone questions, and that may solve the mystery.

- Run away or stay away. If you are in a situation where an adult or a peer appears to be leading you in a direction that you feel is not safe. Run. There is no harm in running away from or staying away from someone.


GUESS WHO's In Control? -- You are!

Realize that you have control of your destiny. No matter what happens to you in your life, you can learn from it all and become a better person. Making the same mistakes will become harder the more you learn to trust your gut instincts, and yourself.