Justice League - Film Review

Hi guys

Recently went to see Justice League the latest in the DCEU which follows on from Wonder Woman and more importantly Batman Vs Superman.

The latter film was panned critically but I enjoyed it giving it 9/10 when I reviewed it last year and even though the production for Justice League has been in turmoil with Director Zac Snyder leaving and Joss Wheadon from Avengers coming in to do re-shoots.

The film does suffer slightly from the production hassle but I think the main problem is how similar it feels to Avengers even down to the Mother boxes in the film which can destroy life on Earth being like the Tesseract in Avengers.

Another problem is Steppenwolf who is the CGI big bad looks like a PlayStation 3 end boss and his motive isn't right good.

The film I felt needed to be longer as some of the cast don't get enough screen time and are a bit wasted including J K Simmons as Commissioner Gordon and Amy Adams as Louis Lane.

The film is set after Batman Vs Superman and hope has left the Earth after Supermans death.

Bruce Wayne/Batman again played by Ben Affleck knows there is an invasion coming due to his future vision and finding Parademons around Gotham so enlists the help of Wonder Woman played again by Gal Gadot and new recruits Cyborg - Ray Fisher, Aquaman - Jason Momoa and Flash - Ezra Miller.

Plus - SPOILERS - they use one of the boxes to bring back Superman - Henry Cavill.

Overall there are some great action scenes and character moments including Cyborg relationship with his Dad.  I loved when Superman came back confused and fought the league he wiped the floor with them.

Hopefully there will be a sequel which looks to be set up in post credit scene. 

Score    -    8/10

Nanowrimo-less and a death

Hi guys

Hope your all busy reading and writing.

I was meant to get stuck into Nanowrimo this year as want to send a submission off by end of December to Angry Robot as they have open submissions on going till 31 December.

Sadly as always does in November something goes wrong.  In this case the sickness, decline and eventual passing of my Steddad who I've known for 22 years.  This is longer than my actual Dad as he died when I was 15.

Because of this the notes I was going to make in October got finished last week and I definitely won't be hitting the Nano monthly target of 50,000 words.

So have decided will try a mad sprint in final week despite a funeral looming and aim for 15,000 words which is better than nothing and it's what he would have wanted.

So RIP Pat xx

Catch you all laters.

Neilx

Thor - Ragnarok - Film Review

Hi guys

Went to see Thor- Ragnarok the third and so far best in the Thor trilogy of movies and Marvel fans are in for a treat.

Set after the second Thor film which saw Loki (Tom Hiddleston) impersonate Odin (Anthony Hopkins) it follows on with Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returning to Asgard which is in disarray thanks to Loki.

Dangerous Artefacts are missing from the vaults and Heimdall (Idris Elba) who looks after the Biofrost bridge is missing.

After watching an hilarious play about Loki's death Thor calls Loki out who explains he exiled Odin to Earth.

On Earth Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) in a funny scene shows them where he is.

Odin in Norway - home of the Norse Gods - explains his time is up but his presence has been holding back his daughter Hela (Cate Blanchett) who wants to destroy Asgard.  She destroys Thors Hammer easily and Thor and Loki escape by the Biofrost she hitches a ride to Asgard and knocks them off path.

Here is where the fun starts as Thor arrives on the planet Sakaar home of the Grandmaster (played excellently by Jeff Goldblum) who is host to gladiator games.  The current champion being Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) who after Avengers - Age of Ulton has stayed as Hulk for 2 years and captured.

The fight between Thor and Hulk is awesome and a highlight of the film which shows Thor the stronger of the two.

Once the fight is over Thor and Hulk talk - have to admit Hulk talking quite a bit was weird but he does that in the comics.  

Thor has Hulk turn back to Banner who is confused and freaked out by being away so long and on an alien planet and they plan their escape back to Asgard with the help of Loki who also arrived there and Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) who has links to Asgards past and the rock creature Korg (voiced by Director Taika Waititi who does an excellent job directing).

With other characters like Skurge (Karl Urban) who helps Hela to stay alive but joins Thor the film is packed with fun and has an Eighties feel.

It has some great action and funny gags and visuals which are similar to Guardians of the galaxy films.

Overall  -  A great Thor film and one of the best Marvel films out.

Score   -   9/10

Happy Nanowrimo

Hi guys

Hope you're all well and busy writing as it's the first day of National Writing Month.
As you writers will know the aim is to achieve 50,000 words written on a novel in November.

Sadly I am behind due to other life issues and not finishing my notes on my Nano but will be up and writing soon.
As I've never finished writing 50,000 words I think I will aim for a more realistic 20,000 to 25,000 words which is better than nothing- wish me luck.

So once I've done more on my planning I will start by weekend.

My story is set in the future where humans are colonizing distant worlds although there is a religious group which tries to stop these Colony ships from leaving called Earthers.  They believe we should stay on Earth no matter what as God put us there.

So Defending the Colony ships is Captain Banks and his rag tag crew in their ship - Defender.  Once the Colony ship has left for deep space and the Earthers have retreated to their last hideout ironically in the moon Captain Bank's crew can enjoy some downtime.
Although President O'Hare wants them to head out to Colony X - the tenth colony which settled in a more isolated area of Space.
So Captain Banks must again gather his crew and set off to investigate not knowing one of his crew is a murderer and something deadly and sinister awaits them.
Is it a trap?

Hope you like the idea and yes I realise I should be actually writing instead of blogging.
But Nano I will catch thee up!

If any of you are doing Nano and want to add me my Nano name is Neilxuk!

Leave any comments below.

Enjoy x

P.s.  Yep Captain Banks is named after acclaimed sci fi author Iain M Banks and President O'Hare after the Captain on the first season of Babylon 5 which starts November 13th on Pick.