--I hope everyone had a nice Father's Day. We've been so busy with work/business around here that we totally forgot to send a card to my dad. Not that he cares, but that's not the point. I did manage to give him a call, though, so I'm not a totally terrible son. (haha!)
Don Draper has proven, time and again, that he's not a very likable protagonist. I mean, he cheats on his wife, yet berates her for kissing another man in the line of duty. She's an actress on a successful soap opera. I realize that they tell you why, exactly, Draper is the kind of man he is via flashbacks to his youth, but still...he's not a character I can sympathize with in any respect. I'm pretty sure that's intentional on the writer's part.
Regardless, Jon Hamm is great in the role and the entire cast is equally impressive. I'll stick with it, but I'm hoping they wrap things up, soon.
--We saw Man of Steel this past Friday (along with everyone else in the country, it seems) and I had Regardless of what you may have read, this flick is pretty darn good (in my opinion) and stands head and shoulders above Superman Returns.....even though I thought Kevin Spacey made a great Lex Luthor. Well worth the time if you're looking for a well done action movie.
--I've been looking for a local writing group, down here in Vero Beach, Florida so, if anyone in the area knows of any....
--Also, on the writing front I've been working pretty diligently on my new project. It's tentatively titled Last Chance and will involve super-heroics in the old west town of.....Last Chance, Wyoming. It's circa 1850s, which will mean a bit of research as to how life was lived (generally speaking) back then. Things are coming along and ideas are forming, so I think it's all heading in a very positive direction.
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To go along with my old west project, here's on their huge hits... Apache.
Have a great week!
33 comments:
Enjoyed your potpourri if a post. Good luck with your new project and with finding a writing group. :)
I like the sound of your writing project!
I liked Man of Steel. Just heard they are hard at work on two sequels. Just happy we can move past the origins now and get on with the adventures.
I've noticed more and more there is a large gap between the critics' reviews and the movie-going populace's feeling toward any given film, and most especially if the film is a genre film. Unless you can find a reviewer you do mostly agree with, I wouldn't say you can really trust them to steer you toward what is "good" (at least, not toward what YOU will find good).
~MPL
PepperWords
Hey Mark! Glad to hear you remembered to call Dad before the day passed. We took mine out to brunch, as is usual request.
Wish I lived closer to join in that writing group; I'd love to find one here in Jersey too.
My brother saw Man of Steel with a bunch of friends and came back with mixed reviews from the lot of them. I think I'll have to watch it for myself to make up my mind!
Happy Monday!
Glad you remembered to call Dad!
Man of Steel is on my Must-Watch List. I realize that I have gotten past caring what Newspaper/Magazine Reviewers think of a movie. I care more about what my blog friends think. Hahahaha. However, if I really want to see it, I still will. I might just wait until it comes out on DVD. In this case, Good News that you liked it!!!
I hope you find that Writer's Group. Best to you on your new writing project:)
I'm sure your dad was happy with the phone call. Men just throw away cards anyway.
I thought Man of Steel was good.
@Melissa: Thank you very much :)
@Alex: Thanks and it should be fun to write. Hopefully, it will be fun to read, too :) Two sequels? That -is- good news. I've read where this franchise is supposed to be the launchpad for a Justice League movie. Let's hope!
@Pepper: Yeah, it's rare that I ever agree with a paid movie critic. I just avoid them, these days, but only read them for entertainment purposes only :)
@jaybird: We used to take him out for lunch but, being 1,000 miles away, a card is all he's getting...lol. Yes, definitely, check it out for yourself and let me know what you think!
@Robin: Yes, definitely, stick to your blogging buddies...we won't steer you wrong :D
@Diane: LOL....this is true, though I've been known to hold onto cards for a while :)
I've heard good things about Man of Steel. Guess you're on the same track as the others who have seen it.
Hope you find a writers group in your area. It's so good to be able to sit down and talk with other writers about your work and theirs.
Glad you liked it, I thought it was amazing.
That story sounds really cool. Good luck on the research and writing.
A great post, men don't seem to bother about Father's Day as we mother's do. I get real upset when my off springs forget......which they have the past few years.
Loved the video.
Yvonne.
I always have to remember to send my dad a card from my dogs, too. He calls them his granddogs and fully expects cards from them, too.
I've never really gotten into Mad Men. My mother-in-law loves it, though.
Glad to hear your project is heading in a positive direction!
Good luck on your WIP- wild west research sounds like fun.
I enjoyed Man of Steel as well. Cavill and Snyder did much better than I expected, and Zimmer's score was great as usual.
And good luck on superheroes in the Old West! That's a fruitful concept. I loved the Once And Future Thing episodes of Justice League Unlimited.
I watched a few episodes of Madmen once and loved them. Not sure why I didn't watch anymore, but now, I guess I'll have to que them up on Netflix or wherever they are. I didn't see Man of Steel, but if the critiques say negative stuff, that usually means a movie is great! :)
I do hope you find a local writing group. I too have been hoping to find one.
I keep hearing good things about Man of Steel. Maybe I should just go ahead and make it a date with the wife.
Hey Dude-with-the-awesome-name,
You live in Vero???
Have you ever heard of the weekly newspaper - Hometown News?
I got my first paid writing job with those guys - up in Melbourne back in '05 :)
Ah, the good-ish old days :)
Cheers for the memory jolts and you have me curious about Madmen, so I may have to check it out...seeing as I'm up to date on Downton Abbey :)
Love the song - thanks for sharing ;)
Oh my gosh! Yes! Mad Men... LOVE...
I'm totally a sucker of period shows/movies too!
@Lee: Me too and, yes, I think it would be a great tool to help improve my writing.
@Brandon: It sure was and thank you, I'm looking forward to it :)
@Yvonne: Thank and I can understand that. Mothers do so much and shouldn't be forgotten.
@M.J: Hehe, we always 'sign' our cat's name to our cards and I draw a little paw print to go along with it :)
@Beverly: Thank you :)
@John: Same here. I was pleasantly surprised as to the job they did. Oh yeah, that was a great episode...I'll have to go back and rewatch that one. :)
@Celeste: Yes, you can never trust those silly critics :) I've watched shows like that, ones where I liked them, but never went back and caught up on them for one reason or another. Mad Men is definitely worth catching up on, imo.
@Jeff: Thanks and I hope you find one, as well. I think your wife would like a 'Man of Steel' date night :)
@Mr.K: Oh yeah, Melbourne's just right up the road and, yeah, we always have solicitors come in trying to get us to buy Hometown News. From now on I'll just say "Hey, if you can get Mark Koopmans back, -then- I'll subscribe" :D Downton Abbey is one that I need to catch up on ....I've watched the first three episodes and that was it.
@Trisha: You're welcome...it's one of my faves, too :)
@Morgan: See, I knew you were a lady with good taste :)
Only one beef with the new Superman flick- Lois Lane was too old. My kids said I was crazy, but I checked. There's an eight year difference in the actors and it shows.
Have yet to see Man of Steel- waiting for the theaters to thin out a bit first.
We started watching Mad Men but I had a hard time accepting the sexism and infidelity. I know that's how it was back then, which I think makes it even harder to watch. I've heard good things about SuperMan.
Glad Man of Steel didn't disappoint. I can't wait to see it. (:
My hubby and boys went to see the Superman movie and said it was the best one yet. I opted to stay home and write. Glad you enjoyed the movie.
Your new project sounds great! Best of luck with it. :)
Best of luck on your research results! Loved the trip back in time with the Ventures. Thanks for the blitz visit today!
Hi, Mark,
You new project sounds great! I love period pieces. My current novella is set in 1940's Chicago.. Lots of research and period slang... but it is a challenge.
I hope you find your writing group...
A period superhero novel sounds really exciting. That combines two of my passions Mark.
congrats on the job & the writing!
love the title, Last Chance, and thats its a new spin on a western! thats all good news!
I love these hodge-podge posts--such a great way to catch up. Oooohh, a new project! So exciting! And one that requires research--those are my favorites :) I, too, got sucked into Mad Men, and love it. Yes, Don Draper isn't likeable, but I think one of the reasons he's been so successful (if that's the right word) as an unsympathetic main character is because he portrays the contradiction of double standards (men are allowed to cheat, women aren't) in a way that confronts the audience very personally. I like that. The writers of that show have my utmost respect (talking about research, haha). Thanks for the earlier visit to my blog, Mark!
@Elizabeth: Hmmm...that didn't even enter my mind, but it's an interesting observation. I'm not a big fan of Amy Adams, but thought she was 'o.k' in the role. :)
@Melanie: We, usually, go during the afternoon matinees. Thin crowds and cheaper prices, too! :)
@Amanda: Yeah, I'm right there with you. I know they're just showing things how they were, back then, but it tends to be the same, old, things. I'm not sure just how many more ways they can show us that Don Draper is a creep....lol
@Elise: Me too! :)
@Elsie: Yeah, for me, it was one of the best yet. Way better than Superman Returns. You need to go see it! :)
@Dana: Thank you very much!
@Donna: Thanks and glad you enjoyed your 'blitz'! :)
@Michael: Oh very cool. My Nano story was set back in the 40s era and I love it. The look, the clothes, the slang....all very cool, for sure. Best of luck with that, as well :)
@Maurice: I hope it will be as exciting to read as it is to write and I hope to have a bit more info soon. Thanks :)
@Tara: Thank you! :)
@Guilie: Totally agree with your take on Mad Men. The writers really have a handle on the era, both good and bad aspects of it. I'm sure a lot of people can remember back to a time like that and nod their heads, thinking 'yep, that's how it was, pretty much' :)
Glad you enjoyed Man of Steel, haven't watched Mad Men myself but heard lots of good things and it wins several big awards every year, best of luck with finding a local writing group and with writing your latest project Mark. I had to tell my father Happy Father's Day in the evening because I missed him before he left Sunday Morning, so you're not the only one who had a Father's Day snafu.
I've watched Mad Men since the beginning and it was my favorite show on for a while but I totally agree with your comments. Jon Hamm is fantastic but I find Draper so despicable now that I can hardly stand to watch him. He's past the point of no return now and really has no redeeming qualities left at all.
Best of luck with the new writing project! Sounds like a good one.
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