 So... Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Watched it.
Loved it. Now, just to preface this mini review, I'm a huge fan of Jane Austen's novel. I've read Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice seven times. It's the only novel I've loved enough to read that many times. So you can imagine my trepidation going into this movie. That said, the silliness of it, the originality of the zombie story itself and the zombie mythos, and the superb cast exceeded all my expectations. The stylishness of the film, the cinematography and the fight choreography were all excellent, in my estimation. Although it takes extreme liberties with the characters from Austen's work, I found it amusing to see how certain story-lines were changed to fit around and incorporate the zombie apocalypse and pleasantly surprised by how original it all was. The zombie aspect, and the time period, reminded me more of the anime Attack on Titan than Pride and Prejudice actually. Additionally, I liked the spin on the "smart zombie" styled zombie story. Usually I don't like "smart" zombies or "fast" zombies, and this had both, but they were used to great effect. I liked that the villain was a real villain and I liked the women saving the pretty men constantly throughout the film. When Jane Bennet jumps on Mr. Bingley toward the end of the film and saves him, then they share a kiss, I couldn't help but smile at the fun way in which the damsel saved the gentleman in distress. The strong feminism of Jane Austen's original novel comes out in a slightly different way in Seth Grahame-Smith's rendition. But it's surely no less enjoyable. Although the film kept a serious tone throughout, the movie is so outlandish that you can enjoy it for what it is -- a fun, silly and certainly unrealistic zombie romp. Just like the World War Z film which far exceeded my expectations, this film did too. In more ways than one. And although I still love the original source material more (of course I do), it's just that this movie was so well done, such brainless fun (to make a horrible pun), that I couldn't help but love it for what it was. And anyone who doesn't like it because it "ruined" one of their favorite books obviously are taking things wayyy too seriously. You don't compare a parody to an original and complain because the parody isn't an exact carbon copy of the original. That doesn't make any sense. Parodies are parodies for reasons that distinguish them from the original. That's how you have to judge it... as a parody. And it's a silly, fun, parody at that. I'd definitely recommend it to zombie fans and fans of well crafted cinema.
1 Comment
 I have to admit, I'm a big Stevie Kopas fan. And it's not just her amazing post apocalyptic Breadwinner series or her writing skillz that I dig, but here personality too. I follow her on social media more for the straight up uncensored nature of her posts and the fact that I always enjoy a girl who can cuss but make it sound like chocolate dripping from her lips, bitter sweet and leaving you wanting more. Stevie just came out with a new book Never Say Die: Stories of the Zombie Apocalypse, so check that out if you get the chance.
My weird obsession with strong willed and smart women aside, I was lucky enough to steal some of Stevie's time and she allowed me to pick her brain for this micro-interview. Q1. How many books did it take until you felt like you came into your own as a writer? Stevie: Well, I've written four books and a few short stories and I still don't think I've "come into my own." The more you write, the better you get. We're always evolving and developing, so I'm not gonna be one of those new authors that say they've already reached the top of the mountain. 2. Can you share with us a few lines or a catchy phrase from a WIP or a recent release? Stevie: "I’m always really scared when there’s a thunderstorm. Usually Mommy or Daddy will sing to me until I fall asleep or until the rain stops, but Daddy tried to hurt me, so Mommy killed him." From the chapter of Rosie, Never Say Die: Stories of The Zombie Apocalypse. Q3. What's a writing tip you'd give an aspiring writer that you had to learn on your own the hard way that nobody had told you about early on but you wish they would have? Stevie: Don't take reviews personally, whether they're good or bad. Don't let them get inside your head. You're not as bad as someone says you are, and remember, there's always someone better than you, so, stay humble my friends. There you have it folks! So please head over to Stevie's amazon author page and click on the follow tab and support another great up and coming talent in the writing world! ### If you'd like to read any of my previous interviews, you can find them by following the links after the jump. Happy reading! Micro Interview #1 Tonia Brown Micro Interview #2 Jonathan Maberry Micro Interview #3 Shawn Chesser Micro Interview #4 Curtis M. Lawson Micro Interview #5 Matt Hawkins  The Bitten posters arrived in the mail today. If you'd like one, click on the new store tab at the top of the page and order one.
Posters are $9.99 individually. If you want them signed, say so in the order form. Hopefully in the near future I can expand the store. If the posters sell decently I will add magnets, t-shirts, caps, and mugs. But we'll see how things go. I am in the process of making high quality art-prints of the character art I had done earlier this year. But these will be limited, and will cost around $300 smackers. With the posters, however, BITTEN fans can get some stylized swag and hang it on the wall. They also are great conversation starters. People will immediately be attracted to them, read them, and ask "What's this from?" You can tell them, it's from this great post-apocalyptic zombie book series by Tristan Vick! Or, you know, you can just let the poster speak for itself. In the future I will offer poster and signed book copies as packages. But I'm still waiting on the print edition of BITTEN and BITTEN 2 to arrive. But stay tuned for updates!  In the year 3096...
The Robots Have Won. Robotica [Coming Soon] Cover art by the talented Dean Samed. #CYBERPUNK #GENRE #FICTION #SCIFI #POSTHUMAN #AUGMENTED#ANDROID #COVERART #DEANSAMED  Synopsis
Deadpool debuts in this film by his very own name, Deadpool. It's an origin story about how Wade Wilson becomes the infamous "merc with a mouth." It's funny. It's raunchy. It's ribald. It's definitely not for young children. Which is why it was tagged with an "R" rating -- although that technically doesn't mean much outside of the U.S. At any rate, I'm not going to spoil anything here. Instead, I'll just give it a big two thumbs up. What I liked: Ryan Reynold's performance was exceptional. Many have said this was the role he was born to play. I couldn't agree more. And it seems millions of others thought so as well, as Deadpool is now the highest grossing rated R film of all time. It has even made more at the box office than Batman v. Superman. That's right, Deadpool, a relatively unknown and obscure comic book character outside of the comic book world made more money than D.C. comics flagship characters of both Batman and Superman (but seeing as how BvS sucked balls, it's not entirely unfathomable). But you have to give credit where credit is due, and Deadpool, the movie, captures the very essence of the comic book series and character. The rest of the supporting cast was excellent as well. And the scenes with Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead were so well done. I loved that they finally got the voice and the character of Colossus done right. And Brianna Hildebrand, who plays Negasonic, is one major hotty. Does that make me a perv? I don't know. How old is she? (Checks IMDB). She's 20. Phew! Safe. Not a perv! But still totally a perv. What I Didn't Like: The villain was rather generic. Ajax, although played by the uber talented Ed Skrein, was nothing more than your stereotypical bad guy doing bad things just because he can. His motivation was basically just ... do bad stuff for badness' sake... and then later on it was... kill Deadpool because he annoys me. And really, that's the extent of it. That said, that's all that was really needed to set up the plot and to introduce Deadpool as a character. It works. It's cliche as hell, but it works. What Bothered me: Not enough dildos. Final Two Cents: Deadpool is a movie that will offend just about everyone! I absolutely love movies that make everyone into overly conservative schoolmarms with nothing better to do than to try and censor art because it offends them. That said, I liked the poop jokes, the raunchiness, the ribald innuendos, and the not so subtle and totally juvenile sex talk. Some have complained the movie was immature, grotesque, and offensive. But that's Deadpool for you. So, huge success! I enjoyed the non-stop humor, the fast paced action, and Deadpool's zany antics and meta-moments. The action scenes kicked major butt, and were really fun to watch. It made the film a helluva lot more entertaining than Bored Batman v. Not Really Superman guest starring Barely Wonder Woman. So, if you can stomach Deadpool, I'd say give it a shot. It's the first hard R rated Superhero film, and that alone is something that piqued my interest as a comic book fan and an avid movie goer. But the film is also a really great comedy and a hugely entertaining action piece, so if any of this interests you then I think you'll love it. If not, well, it's definitely not the sort of film everyone will appreciate. You might call Deadpool an acquired taste. Mainly for perverts and sociopaths. :p But I wouldn't have it any other way. ;)  Writers come in all shapes and sizes. Matt Hawkins is the president/coo of Top Cow comics and is a writer who's written many noteworthy comics. He has created and written over 30 new franchises for Top Cow and Image including Think Tank, The Tithe, Necromancer, VICE, Lady Pendragon, Aphrodite IX, Tales of Honor as well as handling the company’s business affairs. Matt was gracious enough to agree to answer a few of my interview questions.
And.. 3, 2, 1... let's do this! Q1. How many books (comics and/or graphic novels) did it take until you felt like you came into your own as a writer? Matt: It took me about 10 years to feel like I came into my own as a writer. I had an inclination to overwrite and include too much narrative and dialogue and it took me a long time to trust the art to tell the story. 2. Can you share with us a few lines or a catchy phrase from a WIP or a recent release? Matt: Here's an excerpt from Think Tank Creative Destruction #3. Panel 1 Narrative: Ever stop and think about your life and realize you’re not where you want to be? Panel 2 Narrative: Your dreams have slipped away to the banality of chasing a paycheck, the daily routine and trying to keep your relationship from a short half-life. Panel 3 Narrative: Sex is still fun, but the raw energy of it abates with entropy just like everything else. Panel 4 Narrative: Knowing how the brain works only enhances feelings of anxiety, stress, fear and guilt. Narrative: Being smart is overrated. Narrative: Ignorance should be a cherished commodity. Narrative: Knowledge is a curse. Q3. What's a writing tip you'd give an aspiring writer that you had to learn on your own the hard way that nobody had told you about early on but you wish they would have? Matt: Don't write what you know that becomes boring very quickly. Write what you want to know, then the research and process is fun. Most excellent! Thanks again to Matt Hawkins for being such a great sport and taking the time out of his busy schedule to do this interview. If you'd like to learn more about Matt and his projects, please head to his official creator bio at Image comics online by clicking HERE. If you want to read more of Think Tank or any of Matt's other TopCow comics, you can find them HERE. Be sure to scroll down to sample the free digital comics! ### If you'd like to read any of my previous interviews, you can find them by following the links after the jump. Happy reading! Micro Interview #1 Tonia Brown Micro Interview #2 Jonathan Maberry Micro Interview #3 Shawn Chesser Micro Interview #4 Curtis M. Lawson
I made some Bitten posters.
I will have these fine designs printed off somewhere like Vista Prints or Overnight Prints on glossy, high quality poster paper. These A3 (11x17) sized posters will be part of the BITTEN goods store I am creating. Along with these posters, there will be T-shirts, hats, mugs, and etc. I plan on releasing limited edition art prints of the character art you can see at the bottom of the BITTEN page. Stay tuned for updates when the store is up and running. Also, I will sell the posters at cons and book signing in the near future. I hope you enjoy them! I sure had fun making them.  Curtis M. Lawson is a versatile writer who has written comics as well as had his first novel The Devoured published through Winlock Press. As both an Indy veteran as well as a traditionally published writer, I thought it would be a good idea to ask him some questions.
Q1. How many books did it take until you felt like you came into your own as a writer? CML: I learned how to tell stories in the years I spent exclusively making comics. I did a bunch of one shots, anthology shorts, contest pieces, three webcomics, and three graphic novels. With the exception of a horror comic called The Wrong House they all felt somewhat disingenuous. I compromised my own world view and presented some insincere, mainstream sensibilities into my work. Philosophically I'm drawn to thinkers like Nietzsche, and young William Blake. I'm attracted to old world ideas of heroism and greatness, rather than contemporary Judeo-Christian sentiments. I was afraid to embrace those natural inclinations in my earlier writings. It wasn't until my first novel, The Devoured, that I really found my voice as an author. I was able to cast away some the mental chains I had laid upon myself and write in way that was confident, honest, and fresh. 2. Can you share with us a few lines or a catchy phrase from a WIP or a recent release? CML: This is a little snippet from my upcoming novel, It's A Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World: "While The Antique Man lay suffering in the hospital and the two lovers collectively known as The Picasso Killer terrorized a murder groupie who went by the handle AbsurdByrd_666, another man with an unusual pseudonym of his own was crouching by an open window, watching a U.S senator through a sniper's sight. The assassin's Christian name was Jack, but to most he was only known as The Rhodesian." Q3. What's a writing tip you'd give an aspiring writer that you had to learn on your own the hard way that nobody had told you about early on but you wish they would have? CML: Be yourself. Never get so caught up in a potential opportunity that you lose sight of the kind of stories you want to tell. I spent a lot of time doing contest pieces, and writing stories aimed at particular markets just because an opportunity was present. In hindsight I would have done myself a far greater service by staying the course and focusing on what I was passionate about rather than what I thought might sell. Thank you Curtis! And good luck to you in the future. ### Be sure to check out my previous interviews too with authors Tonia Brown and the estimable Jonathan Maberry. Micro Interview #1 Tonia Brown Micro Interview #2 Jonathan Maberry Micro Interview #3 Shawn Chesser  My third micro-interview is with the ever popular Indy author Shawn Chesser. As if you didn't already know, Chesser is the author of the extremely popular Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse series. His latest book, DRAWL: Duncan's Story, the tenth book in the saga,
is out now. Without further ado, here's the interview. Q1. How many books did it take until you felt like you came into your own as a writer? SC: I still don't feel like I've come into my own. I guess I suffer from the imposter syndrome I've heard so many other writers speak of. However, that being said, around the time my third book went live and I was getting into my fourth, I began seeing real big sales and came to realize people were really enjoying my yarns. 2. Can you share with us a few lines or a catchy phrase from a WIP or a recent release? There's a little one in this teaser from my upcoming novel 'District: Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse': One grocery store’s car-choked parking lot still held the remnants of what looked to be hundreds of cardboard boxes. Having been exposed to the elements for some time, the once three dimensional objects had been reduced to a morass of tan sludge pounded flat by the scores of zombies still patrolling the lot. Old habits die hard, crossed Cade’s mind as the areas of commerce gave way to to a neighborhood he imagined once stood proud with stately Colonial style homes, churches, and schools. Not so much now. He could look straight down into many of them lost to a conflagration that had claimed what he estimated to be hundreds of structures once rising up from the twenty or so square blocks encompassing his view south to north. The dead were everywhere. They were milling about side streets in small knots. They traipsed across scorched walks and drives bordering squares of blackened lawn. The cement foundations left standing were no deterrent to the creatures who, following life-long conditioning or acting on some snippet of buried memory, stood rooted in what used to be family rooms or kitchens or dens, their pasty white faces standing out starkly against the light-stealing sea of black as they gaped expectantly skyward at the passing stealth helicopter. Q3. What's a writing tip you'd give an aspiring writer that you had to learn on your own the hard way that nobody had told you about early on but you wish they would have? Don't rush. Don't expect immediate results. Always remember that what we do should be treated as a marathon, not a sprint. Lastly, I've learned that book sales/success is commensurate with not only the amount of effort put into the story, but also how well I have followed the 'golden rule' when interacting with readers and fans both in person and on social media. Thanks Shawn! You can find more about Shawn Chesser and his works on his official website: http://www.shawnchesser.com/ Additionally, you can find all his works on his Amazon author page by clicking HERE. *** Be sure to check out my previous interviews too with authors Tonia Brown and the estimable Jonathan Maberry. Micro Interview #1 Tonia Brown Micro Interview #2 Jonathan Maberry  She's a real lady. When I first began reaching out to authors and networking, Tonia Brown was the first to respond to my emails, add me as a friend on Facebook, give me friendly advice, and help spread the word about my writing. She even interviewed me early on when she was still doing her radio show.
Needless to say, I can't thank her enough, but I can try to repay her by sharing her books and also by doing this micro interview where I ask her three simple questions. Short, sweet, and to the point. Q1. How many books did it take until you felt like you came into your own as a writer? Wow. TB: That’s a really hard question to answer. Let me see… I think by Lucky Stiff I had found a distinct voice. So that makes… *counts on fingers* *carries the two* * does complex algebra* 47? No! Wait… something like a half dozen or so. I think. Q2. Can you share with us one catchy phrase from a WIP or a recent release? TB: “Trust me, son, when you get this old, you take the jokes where you can find them, because everything else is such a fucking drag.” ~Satan, Friend of the Devil Q3. What's a writing tip you'd give an aspiring writer that you had to learn on your own the hard way that nobody had told you about early on but you wish they would have? TB: Appreciate the one star reviews as much as the five star one. Every review has merit. Look for the true complaints or suggestions or praise, and ignore the rest. Take the time to learn this. Excellent! Thank you Tonia Brown. And please, do be sure to check out her books. Her Badass Zombie Road Trip and Friend of the Devil are a great comedic series worth checking out. To learn more about Tonia Brown and her works, please check out her amazon.com author page. Trust me, you won't regret it! Thanks for reading. |
Tristan VickBy day I am an educator and a cultural ambassador. By night I entertain notions of being a literary master. In reality I am just a family man and ordinary guy who works hard and loves writing just about as much as I love my family. Just about. AVAILABLE NOW
NEWSLETTER
|
RSS Feed
