The topes used in Connections! The Unexpected First Collection
The Tropes in Connections! The Unexpected First Collection
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – JenEric Movie Review
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Hello Cinephiles,
Today we’re talking about the 2010 film The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
Story
This story takes liberties with history, mythology, literature, and physics but it has excellent beats and a good urban-fantasy story.
Score: 1
Characters
The leads are charismatic and so are the villains. There’s a distinct arc for all the characters and it’s well acted. I did find the love interest a little bland and his behaviour around her a little creepy. She felt like she was in the wrong movie but she did save their asses so that’s nice.
Score: 0.5
Dialogue
Cheese and one liners between scenes of pining and info-dumps. It sounds tedious but they did an excellent job of alternating and keeping thing fresh.
Score: 1
Visuals and Music
The movie was stunning. The special effects look fresh even a decade and a half after it’s release. They did a great job with night filming without making it too dark.
The music used the original theme extremely well and created a pretty epic soundtrack.
Score: 1
Fun
This movie was made for fun and everyone in the family loved it.
Score: 1
Overall
One of the best urban-fantasy movies, it keeps you on your toes and despite the warping of history, it’s well paced and wonderfully acted.
Final Score: 4.5 Stars out of 5
Beautiful (Belle) helper
If you came to see us at Ottawa Comic Con 2025, you were probably assisted by our Belle helper (if you were looking at the books). She read them all (other than the pen name stuff) this summer, and is enthusiastic about getting more people to read them. Living up to her costume!
(Also it’s her birthday this week, so I had to post her first!)
Recharging…
Hello Friends, Family, and Fans;
I feel like a faulty battery sometimes, always plugged in but never holding a charge. I’ve been extra tired, extra stressed, and extra not writing. I was hoping to have Elizabeth book 5 half done by now but I’m only part way through chapter 4 of 30.
After comic con, I decided to recharge my creative juices by watching Wednesday. I have to say I wasn’t expecting much. I’ve grown to dislike Tim Burton. As a creator, I find he’s more interested in aesthetics than heart. Lots of style, very little warmth.
I’m done season one and it’s an uneven series but the actors are great and more often than not the writers seem to understand the characters. More importantly, the cast seems to understand their characters.
The high school drama is very CW early 2010’s but it’s fun. It’s the kind of fun that makes me think, “I can do better.”
Yes, that seems a little egotistical but most of my writing is YA supernatural fantasy mixed with mystery. The show is literally my main genre.
I think the themes and some of the drama in Elizabeth 5 will be inspired by Nevermore Academy. The tensions of having multiple magical people in a high school is something I look forward to exploring.
Elizabeth and Wednesday have a lot in common. An obsessive need to solve a mystery, a colourful cast of friends, a habit of pushing people away, precociously intelligent, and viciously clever. Both are giant softies for their friends and family.
I’m back to writing tomorrow and hopefully I can get words down. I want this book ready for 2027.
Stay safe and be kind,
Éric
Breathing isn’t easy
Hello Friends, Family, and fans;
I found out on Monday that I have sleep apnea. It may be something that’s been making my migraines worse.
I got an APAP machine that adjusts to my breathing at night, and I’m still getting used to it. It hurts my nose a little. I wish I could say that I’ve slept better since I got the machine but it’s been two nights and both nights had child wakeups. So I haven’t been sleeping super well.
I also find it hard to breathe at the beginning of the night. Like my body can’t handle all that oxygen going to my brain. I must be doing okay once asleep because I went from 43 incidents an hour to only 3 with the machine.
I’m hoping I’ll get a few good nights of sleep soon.
I’m supposed to use this mask (a nasal cushion) for three days and then try the other one (full face mask) for three days to see which I want. I’m guessing I’ll keep both the nasal one for most of the time and the full mask for when i have a cold or allergy issues. That’s my hope.
Wish me luck, as I now have two wrist guards, a mouth guard, and an APAP mask that I need to equip for bed. Hopefully I won’t be adding anything anytime soon.
Stay safe and be kind,
Éric
The Tropes in Coffee Shop Between the ‘Verses
The tropes used in Coffee Shop Between the ‘Verses
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Thunderbolts* – JenEric Movie Review
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Hello Cinephiles,
Today we’re talking about the 2025 film Thunderbolts*.
Story
A strong story about mental health, found family, and trying to be better, dressed up in superhero tights. The movie is both touching and one of Marvel’s funniest.
Score: 1
Characters
‘All the most forgettable MCU characters team up with the Winter Soldier’ doesn’t sound all that great, but each character received development, humanizing, and some time to shine.
It was well acted and believable despite the wild and ridiculous scenes.
Score: 1
Dialogue
This movie has all the quippiness needed for a Marvel superhero movie and throws in some road trip and found family jokes along the way.
The more serious parts tackled feelings of loneliness and nihilism in a way that was comforting without being condescending.
Score: 1
Visuals and Music
The use of shadow throughout the movie is beautiful and works so well with the themes. Every camera movement feels thought out and I really appreciate the way they shot the fight scenes. It was chaotic without being overwhelming or nauseating.
Score: 1
Fun
I wasn’t sure I’d like this one but I really enjoyed it and hope to see more of the characters. The entire family also seemed to like it.
Score: 1
Overall
One of Marvel’s strongest recent films that doesn’t shy away from serious topic but still knows how to laugh and have some fun.
Final Score: 5 Stars out of 5*
*A 5 star review doesn’t mean the movie was perfect nor that it is perfect for everyone but it is a movie I believe is as close to perfect as possible.
Thank You Ottawa ComicCon
Hello Friends, Family, and Fans;
This past weekend was Ottawa ComicCon, and it was a busy one. We saw lots of people, sold a lot of coffee, and somehow survived.
Every year while i prep, I wonder why I do it. It’s weeks of set-up, roasting, packaging, planning, and packing. I get all grumpy and introverted and worried.
But every year, the people make it worth it! In no particular order, I’d like to thank:
- Our close friends that vend next to us
- All the other amazing vendors
- The con goers that are both enthusiastic and genuinely happy
- The organizers, and
- The amazing volunteers that not only keep the whole thing running but are also some of our best clients.
Special shout-out to my family for being amazing. We couldn’t do this without you!
Another special thanks to Dragon and Pegasus, who were amazingly well-behaved and made us proud all weekend.
We feel loved, appreciated, and maybe a little more hopeful.
Stay safe and be kind,
Éric
The Thursday Murder Club – JenEric Movie Review
How This Works – Read Other Reviews
Hello Cinephiles,
Today we’re talking about the 2025 film The Thursday Murder Club.
Story
Two of the hardest things to write are adaptations and mysteries. Netflix succeeds at both with this movie that is as much fun to watch as it is to guess the murderer.
Score: 1
Characters
A group of retired professionals try and solve cold cases. It’s a fantastic idea to expand the Marple formula. Each of the four main characters has their own arcs and specialties.
The rest of the cast is large enough to make sure we already know who did it and small enough that we can recognize them all.
Score: 1
Dialogue
There are more jokes in this about the actors’ previous roles than I can count. I’ll need to rewatch a few times to catch them all. It’s clever, cheeky, and definitely well written and delivered with an abundances of skill.
Score: 1
Visuals and Music
The camera angles are well done and the movie is mostly shot in a very calm way that makes you forget you’re watching something. The residence, clothes, and sets are vibrant and beautiful. I particularly liked how each apartment reflected the style of the resident.
Score: 1
Fun
This was a great mystery and so much fun to watch. The whole family was glued to their seats.
Score: 1
Overall
A mystery story that is both fun and well written. Once you’ve watched it for the mystery, rewatch it for the references, jokes, and fantastic acting.
Final Score: 5 Stars out of 5*
*A 5 star review doesn’t mean the movie was perfect nor that it is perfect for everyone but it is a movie I believe is as close to perfect as possible.