The Final Cut in Movies: Putting Science Fiction & Fantasy Center Stage

The Final Cut in Movies is a talk radio show I host that airs throughout the week from 8:00 to 10:00 am & pm on Ad Astra Radio: The World's Premier Science Fiction Talk Radio Network ® (www.adastraradio.com). I also podcast the show each week on iTunes.

On this show, I'll be discussing Wolverine and other science fiction and fantasy movie news.

 

Fantasy novelist M. B. Weston is the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Publications, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. Weston hosts a podcast on her To Elysia and Back Again blog, which can be downloaded on itunes. Click here for a complete listing of the To Elysia and Back Again podcast episodes. Weston also hosts two radio talk shows: The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast on M. B. Weston's Podcasts site or on iTunes and Culture Watch Radio, a show that reviews movies, books, and TV shows from a Christian perspective on southwest Florida's Praise FM 89.5. Weston speaks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit www.mbweston.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

 

The Final Cut in Movies: Putting Science Fiction & Fantasy Center Stage

The Final Cut in Movies is a talk radio show I host that airs throughout the week from 2:00 to 3:00 am & pm on Ad Astra Radio: The World's Premier Science Fiction Talk Radio Network ® (www.adastraradio.com). I also podcast the show each week on iTunes.

Time constraints kept me from uploading Monsters Vs. Aliens last week, so I'm uploading it now. On this show, I'll be discussing Monsters vs. Aliens and other science fiction & fantasy news.

To listen to tonight's show, click the link beneath the blog entry.

Missed Saturday's edition of The Final Cut in Movies? Don’t worry, you can catch the re-runs each day from 2:00-3:00am & pm at www.adastraradio.com, or you can download the podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcasts site or by following this link on iTunes.

Be sure to check out M. B. Weston's new podcast on her blog, To Elysia and Back Again! You can download the To Elysia and Back Againpodcast on iTunes.

Fantasy novelist M. B. Weston is the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Publications, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. Weston hosts a podcast on her To Elysia and Back Again blog, which can be downloaded on iTunes. Click here for a complete listing of the To Elysia and Back Againpodcast episodes. Weston is also the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast on M. B. Weston's Podcasts site or on iTunes. Weston speaks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit www.mbweston.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing all things James Bond. Find out:

• which actor I think played the best Bond: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, or Daniel Craig.
• which Bond I think is most like Davian in The Elysian Chronicles.
• which Bond I think would destroy the other Bonds in a fight to the death.
• which Bond makes the best alpha male.
• why Sean Connery is a better Bond than Roger Moore--case closed.
• my suspicions on the "secret" symbolism of the 00 in 007. (Hint: Bond's were almost destroyed in Casino Royale.)
• which Bond delivers the best puns.
• what I think of the new direction the James Bond movies seem to be taking. 

Be sure to check out my new To Elysia and Back Again podcast every Tuesday! Click here for more information.

Fantasy novelist M. B. Weston is the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Publications, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. Weston hosts a podcast on her To Elysia and Back Again blog, which can be downloaded on itunes. Click here for a complete listing of the To Elysia and Back Again podcast episodes. Weston is also the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast on M. B. Weston's Podcasts site or on iTunes. Weston speaks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit www.mbweston.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, reasons you may not want to snore in a theater when you're sitting next to someone who hosts a radio talk show on movies, why the Academy is full of idiots, and just how much Button was like Forest Gump--no joke!

Be sure to check out M. B. Weston's new podcast on her blog, To Elysia and Back Again! You can download the To Elysia and Back Again podcast on iTunes.

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast on iTunes. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Publications, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. . For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing Babylon AD, the sad end of science fiction and fantasy summer movie magic, and other science fiction & fantasy news.

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site or on iTunes. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Press, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

First, I appologize for not uploading this sooner. Tropical Fay went straight over my house, and I had a few account issues, book issues, and DragonCon issues that I had to deal with.

On (last) week’s show, I'll be discussing Tropic Thunder and why it was so sidesplittingly hilarious. I'll also be discussing just what it takes for me to consider a guy hot (I know all of you have been secretly wondering that very thing)--and it might surprise you. Matthew McConaghey vs. Ewan McGregor? Barack Obama vs. John McCain? Orlando Bloom vs. my husband? Tune in and find out my requirements for male hotness. This week should be fun!

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site or on iTunes. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Press, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing The Mummy: Toom of the Dragon Emperor, what they could have done with this installment of The Mummy to actually make it good, and other science fiction & fantasy news.

The show will air from 8:00-9:00am & pm and re-air throughout the week at the same times on www.adastraradio.com. To listen to tonight's show:

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site or on iTunes. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Press, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing X-Files: I Want to Believe (the crime drama pretending to be a science fiction movie), new information on why Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull disappointed (hint: it doesn't start with Steve), and other science fiction & fantasy news.

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site or on iTunes. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Press, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

Hear A Prophecy Forgotten the way I intended it to be read!

As all of us wait for Out of the Shadows: Book II of the Elysian Chronicles, I've decideed to entertain you with a few podcasts (i.e. a FREE downloadable audio versions of my novel in mp3 format so you can listen to it on your computer, your iPod, or burn a CD) of A Prophecy Forgotten: Book I of the Elysian Chronicles. For those of you who cannot afford the cost of the hard-cover version of A Prophecy Forgotten, this is a good way to test it out for free. (And stay tuned for more information on the upcoming paperback version.)  I will continue posting new chapters every few weeks, so please continue to check the blog.

Click to read my latest installment: "Chapter 5: Poisoned Water." (The title of this chapter actually has a double meaning...) 

Fantasy novelist M. B. Weston is the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Press, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. Weston is also the host of The Final Cut, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast on M. B. Weston's Podcasts site or on iTunes. Weston speaks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit www.mbweston.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

Sorry everyone. I forgot to post this last week.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing Hellboy, renewing my vows against movie critics, and other science fiction & fantasy news.

The show will air from 8:00-9:00am & pm and re-air throughout the week at the same times on www.adastraradio.com.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing The Dark Night, how to create terror in an audience without any blood, what to do after you kick the thug holding a knife at you, and other science fiction & fantasy news.

The show will air from 8:00-9:00am & pm and re-air throughout the week at the same times on www.adastraradio.com.

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site or on iTunes. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Press, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

Hear A Prophecy Forgotten the way I intended it to be read!

As all of us wait for my newest fantasy novel, Out of the Shadows: Book II of the Elysian Chronicles, to get out of editing, I've decideed to entertain you with a few podcasts (i.e. a FREE downloadable audio versions of my novel in mp3 format so you can listen to it on your computer, your iPod, or burn a CD) of A Prophecy Forgotten: Book I of the Elysian Chronicles. For those of you who cannot afford the cost of the hard-cover version of A Prophecy Forgotten, this is a good way to test it out for free. I will continue posting new chapters every few weeks, so please continue to check the blog.

This is "Chapter Four: Mornachts and Monsters."

Fantasy novelist M. B. Weston is the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Press, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. Weston is also the host of The Final Cut, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast on M. B. Weston's Podcasts site or on iTunes. Weston speaks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit www.mbweston.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing Hancock, Will Smith, and other science fiction & fantasy news. Oh, and I'll be blasting the bobbleheads (i.e. movie critics). Trust me, this one is a blast!

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site or on iTunes. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Press, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

Hear A Prophecy Forgotten the way I intended it to be read!

As all of us wait for Out of the Shadows: Book II of the Elysian Chronicles to get out of editing, I've decideed to entertain you with a few podcasts (i.e. a FREE downloadable audio versions of my novel in mp3 format so you can listen to it on your computer, your iPod, or burn a CD) of A Prophecy Forgotten: Book I of the Elysian Chronicles. For those of you who cannot afford the cost of the hard-cover version of A Prophecy Forgotten, this is a good way to test it out for free. I will continue posting new chapters every few weeks, so please continue to check the blog.

This is "Chapter Three: Rumble in the Schoolyard."

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site or on iTunes. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Press, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

Hear A Prophecy Forgotten the way I intended it to be read!

As all of us wait for Out of the Shadows: Book II of the Elysian Chronicles to get out of editing, I've decideed to entertain you with a few podcasts (i.e. a FREE downloadable audio versions of my novel in mp3 format so you can listen to it on your computer, your iPod, or burn a CD) of A Prophecy Forgotten: Book I of the Elysian Chronicles. For those of you who cannot afford the cost of the hard-cover version of A Prophecy Forgotten, this is a good way to test it out for free. I will continue posting new chapters every few weeks, so please continue to check the blog.

This is "Chapter Two: Earth's Future Rests On..." You'll have to guess who it's talking about. (He he he.)

Fantasy novelist M. B. Weston is the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. She is also the host of The Final Cut, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast on M. B. Weston's Podcasts site or on iTunes. Weston speaks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit www.mbweston.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing The Happening, why I'd like to see--just once--Hollywood make an environmentalist the bad guy while the businessmen are the good guys, and other science fiction & fantasy news. Be wary, folks. The Happening got under my skin just a wee bit, and I'm going to get a little controversial on this one.

The show will air from 2:00-3:00am & pm and re-air throughout the week at the same times on www.adastraradio.com.

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site or on iTunes. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

Here is my latest installment of my podcast of my novel, A Prophecy Forgotten: Book I of the Elysian Chronicles. This is Chapter One: A Message of Hope.

You can purchase the novel on Amazon.com by clicking here.

A Prophecy Forgotten's sequel, Out of the Shadows, is currently in editing and will be released in a few months. Click here to receive a post card alerting you to its release!

Fantasy novelist M. B. Weston is the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. She is also the host of The Final Cut, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast on M. B. Weston's Podcasts site or on iTunes. Weston is a speaker who talks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the world of publishing. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her personal blog, To Elysia and Back Again, at www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing Iron Man, rules to follow if you ever find yourself caught in a science fiction or fantasy movie, the question of whether making weapons is a good idea, why you need to pay careful attention to every Marvel Comics movie coming out, and other science fiction & fantasy news.

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site or on iTunes. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing Kung Fu Panda, why you still need to pay careful attention to every Marvel Comics movie coming out, whether you should see M. Night Shamalamadingdong's The Happening or The Incredible Hulk and other science fiction & fantasy news. (You can also find out my new nickname for Mark Walberg.)

The Final Cut in Movies is an internet radio talk show that puts science fiction and fantasy center stage. The show airs on AdAstraRadio.com from 2:00am to 3:00am and 2:00pm to 3:00om. If you can't be next to your computer at those times, download the show here!

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

(and not the robot version either... This one is live!)

As all of us (including yours truly) are impatiently waiting for Out of the Shadows to come out, I figured it was time to have a little fun with the radio equipment.

*big, smart-alecky smile from yours truly.* (I just love "fun with the radio equipment" games.)

So I figured, why not read a chapter a week of A Prophecy Forgotten and podcast it? Especially because I know a lot of you would rather listen to it anyway.

Here you have it, A Prophecy Forgotten: Prologue. Oh, and did I mention that we made some slight changes for the eventual paperback version? That means that there's stuff in here that NONE of you have heard (or read) before.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, what gives a movie mojo, and other science fiction & fantasy news.

Segment A: Current Topic (13:30)
Storyline
Positives

• Positive note 1: I only took one and a half pages of notes, meaning I got lost in the story.
• Do a good job of making you hate the bad guys.
• The landscapes!!!
• Authenticity—the world felt real.
• Susan’s outfits

Segment B: The Final Cut News (5:50)
Box Office Report
Final Cut Movie News

• Matthew Marsden will play a British Special Forces named Graham in Transformers 2.
• Tim Burton, John August and Johnny Depp will be teaming up to create Dark Shadows, a film based on based on the '60s supernatural TV show. August wrote the script, Burton will direct, and Depp will produce. He's also thinking about playing the vampire, playing Barnabas Collins.
• French director duo Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury negotiating with Dimension Films about directing Halloween 2, the follow-up to Rob Zombie's Halloween.
• Bryce Dallas Howard is in discussions to play Kate Conner, John Connor's wife in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins. She will replace Charlotte Gainsbourg, who left due to scheduling conflicts.
• Danny Glover, Thandie Newton and Oliver Platt are in negotiations to join Columbia Pictures' epic disaster project, 2012.
• Ryan Condal will write an adaptation of Ocean (a comic miniseries by Warren Ellis about discovery of coffins containing angel-like bodies and a huge WMD beneath the ice on Jupiter's moon, Europa) for Warner Brothers.
• Matthijs van Heijningen will make his directorial debut with Warner Brothers by directing Army of the Dead, a story about zombies taking over Las Vegas.
• Find out if Christopher Lee might return in the prequel to Lord of the Rings by clicking here.

Segment C: Current Topic (4:50)
Final positive: Douglas Gresham had a cameo
Negatives

• C.S. Lewis’s themes not as prominent
• Velosa Raptor Mice
• No cool little scene after the credits like last time

Segment D: Either same topic or different Topic (8:00)
Movie Mojo

Segment E: Wrap (4:10)
Upcoming Movies--none
Box office predictions:

1. Kung fu panda
2. Don’t mess with Zohan
3. Sex in the City
4. Iron Man
5. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

The Final Cut in Movies is an internet radio talk show that puts science fiction and fantasy center stage. The show airs on AdAstraRadio.com from 2:00am to 3:00am and 2:00pm to 3:00om. If you can't be next to your computer at those times, download the show here!

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing how George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg successfully destroyed Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and my new list of: The Top Ten Ways to Ruin the Sequel to Your Successful Trilogy. Should be fun!

The show will air from 2:00-3:00am & pm and re-air throughout the week at the same times on www.adastraradio.com.

Missed Saturday's edition of The Final Cut? Don’t worry, you can catch the re-runs each day from 2:00-3:00am & pm at www.adastraradio.com, or you can download the podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcasts site or by following this link on iTunes.

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site or on iTunes. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing Speed Racer, corruption in sports, steroids, disagreeing with movie reviewers, and other science fiction & fantasy news.

The show will air from 2:00-3:00am & pm and re-air throughout the week at the same times on www.adastraradio.com.

Segment A:

• Storyline
• Note: You must see this film in the right context, i.e. check your brain at the door.
• Once again, I’m taking a stand against the Bobble Heads.

Positives

• Rex talked about the car and jumping with confidence—like it was real.
• Royalton
• Little kid (Paulie Litt, Paulie Litowsky) plays Spritle.
• The Martial arts scenes (adding in John Goodman made it WWE meets Kung Fu)
• The colors
• I loved the family values.

Negatives

• Had a hard time telling by the news bites what Rex did.
• Trixie’s line: “Since when did winning become so important?â€� (Um, it’s a race.)
• Predictable: I was onto Rex still being alive in the beginning.
• A Few things that didn’t need to be in a kids movie (i.e. the flick off scene)
• The cars never needed to pit.
• I wish I had the pancake recipe

Segment B: The Final Cut News

Box Office Report, where we only pay attention to movies that matter—Science Fiction & Fantasy movies.:

• #1, $50.5 million: Iron Man. Iron Man has grossed $177.134 million in the past two weeks, and those are only the domestic numbers.
• #2, $20.21 million: Speed Racer. I predicted this last week. It's a shame because Speed Racer was a phenomenal movie. It's just fallen victim to poor timing, getting squashed between Iron Man and Narnia: Prince Caspian.
• #8, $1.9 million: The Forbidden Kingdom. Another movie that fell victim to poor timing. Where were all these movies during March and April?
• #9, $1.325 million: Nim's Island. Though Nim's Island has only grossed $44 million domestically, I think its prolonged exposure in the box office could lead to decent DVD sales and rentals.

News (where I massacre a bunch of different Hollywood names):

• Gore Verbinski will direct BioShock, an adaptation of the video game. Academy Award-nominated writer John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator, Sweeney Todd) is in talks to do the screenplay. My Take: I've never heard of the video game, but I like the talent they're getting.
• Top Cow Productions and Arclight Films will develop a live-action film adaptation of Top Cow's comic book franchise, "Witchblade." They're considering shooting in Australia.
• Transformers 2 director Michael Bay has cast Aussie actress Isabel Lucas for the role of "Alice" in the sequel. My Take: What happened to Megan Fox?
• Beast may appear in the X-men prequel spin off, Magneto. George 'El Guapo' Roush of the Latin Review was taking a tour of Hellboy II: The Golden Army, and saw a photo of a young Beast leaping through the air. The rest is movie-leak history. (Click here for his actual story.) My Take: If you're working on a movie, and you know people are going to be taking tours of your office, DON'T LEAVE LITTLE GIVEAWAYS ON YOUR DESK! (This is coming from an author who is very protective of her plots.)

Segment C:

• The Mob really does influence a lot of the games.
• This movie makes you want to go out there and fight corruption.
• To fight corruption, you’ve got to be the best. (to beat the fixed races—you have to drive better.)

Segment D:

• The whole comic book/cartoon knock off argument.
• How true do you make it to the original without annoying the folks who don’t know about it and want to see a good movie but keeping the fans of the comic book series?

Segment E: Wrap

• Upcoming Movies: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
• My Box Office Predictions

The Final Cut in Movies is an internet radio talk show that puts science fiction and fantasy center stage. The show airs on AdAstraRadio.com from 2:00am to 3:00am and 2:00pm to 3:00om. If you can't be next to your computer at those times, download the show here!

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing Iron Man, rules to follow if you ever find yourself caught in a science fiction or fantasy movie, the question of whether making weapons is a good idea, why you need to pay careful attention to every Marvel Comics movie coming out, and other science fiction & fantasy news.

 

Segment A: Iron Man Storyline & Positives

Storyline

Positives

• Great Character development—especially Tony Stark
• Have to have character development for the story to work by nature of Tony Clark’s turnaround and decision to build Ironman.
• The method they used to create the lines was perfect considering the actors.
• Gwyneth Paltrow
• The humor
• The Toys!
• Watching him try to fly.
• The Suit was Sweet

Segment B: Box Office Report & News

Box Office Report:

• #1, $100.75 million: Ironman. Spring has its first blockbuster! Ironman has grossed more than Transformers did on it's opening night! And it was good, so you know it will do well next week. The second place movie? Made of Honor at $15.5 million. (Do you see why Science Fiction & Fantasy rocks???)
• #6, $4.2 million, The Forbidden Kingdom. The Forbidden Kingdom is better than the $45 million it has grossed so far. I think it's biggest mistake was coming out only two weeks before the May blockbusters. If it had been released earlier, its target audience wouldn't be watching Ironman and preparing for Speed Racer, Narnia's Prince Caspian, and Indiana Jones.
• #7, $2.75 million, Nim's Island.
• #11, $1.35 million, Horton Hears a Who.

News:

• Chris Wedge will direct the live-action adaptation of Brian Selznick's children's novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. My Take: Haven't heard of this one, but now that Harry Potter's last book has come out, I wonder what children's novel will take it's place.
• The rapper, Common, has signed on to co-star in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins. My Take: I still don't like the movie title...
• Universal Pictures is creating The Knights Templar. My Take: No it's not a story about Mary Magdalene. It's a story about the Knights Templar trying to keep vampires from destroying the Holy Grail.
• Ironman grossed $201 million world wide. (My Box Office Report shows only domestic sales.) My Take: Duh! It's an action-adventure-sci-fi movie that's family friendly (for the most part) with great character development, hilarious lines, and an audience waiting for it to come out. Why is the rest of the world shocked?
• Negotiations between DreamWorks and Jonah Hill (who was supposed to play Shia Pet's sidekick in Transformers 2) have broken down. My Take: I'm going to keep my mouth shut on this or I will say something mean. 
• Graphic novelist, Frank Miller, (300, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns) will try his hand at directing with the movie, The Spirit, an adaptation of Will Eisner's comic strip. The Spirit is now set for release on December 25, 2009. My Take: I just read 300 this weekend. Frank Miller has this intangible quality of being amazing that I can't put my finger on. I would love to see him adapt some of his own work.
• Fox, New Regency and Davis Entertainment will produce Little Big War, a comedy about a family that must fight action figures that come to life attack. My Take: Cute. With the right actors and a release date that doesn't coincide with something big, like Ironman 2.
• Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) will star in an adaptation of Italian comic book, Dylan Dog, called Dead of Night. My Take: Not much going on in the sci-fi/fantasy movie department today, eh?

Segment C: Negatives, Etc.

Negatives

• Didn’t understand the whole heart needs a battery thing.
• The suit
• How heavy? Need, like, hydraulic action or something to move it
• There will come a point where he needs Oxygen…. And a Parachute.
• Wile E. Coyote Physics. A couple times, he should have died—Like when he fell from the sky into the desert sand. But hey, all comic book adapted movies are supposed to use Road Runner Physics.
• End was a bit “Transformers-yâ€� with the bad lines.

The Final Cut’s Rules for Surviving a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie:

1. If a monster is chasing you, run out the door. Do not run down to the basement or up on the roof--unless you are either 1) Jackie Chan or 2) a comic book superhero with the ability to fly. Always try to give yourself a "means of egress."
2. If one of the bad guys decides to show you all the nitty-gritty details of his operation, run. Immediately.
3. If you discover that you are in a movie adapted from a Stephen King novel, find the nearest crazy person with whom you are trapped and tape his/her mouth shut! You might also consider taping his/her wrists and ankles. You may also want to bring some Prozac...
4. Never insult a Klingon. No matter how tempting...
5. If you are a good guy actively fighting bad guys and you have a girlfriend or a wife, get her out of the country. Suggestion: she might really enjoy some spa time in the Caribbean.
6. And after watching Iron Man, I just added a new one: If your arch-enemy is unconscious, make sure he's dead. This could save the director millions of dollars on extra stuntmen, more CG creation time, explosions, etc.

Regarding Comic Book Movies coming out: Pay Attention!

Segment D: Lessons from Iron Man

Iron Man raises the whole question: is building weapons good?

• Here’s the deal: Bad guys are going to create weapons and attack the good guys who don’t have weapons.
• It’s the essence of comic books, action adventure, and life.
• So the key to keeping the world safe is to give the good guys better weapons than the bad guys.
• Accountability is necessary.

Motivations—Tony Stark didn’t change his view on weapons. He changed his motivation from making money to helping to “protect the men we put in harm’s way.�

Ironman gives us hope that we can overcome our weaknesses.

Segment E: Wrap

Upcoming Movies:

• Speed Racer, Action. Wachowski brothers’ first writing/directing collaboration since The Matrix.
• Can view all upcoming science fiction & fantasy movies at www.finalcutinmovies.com on the Upcoming Movies page.

Box Office Predictions:

1. Iron Man
2. Speed Racer
3. What Happens in Vegas
4. Made of Honor
5. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Don’t forget to check out www.elysianchronicles.com. Something is brewing, but I can’t tell you what.

 

The Final Cut in Movies is an internet radio talk show that puts science fiction and fantasy center stage. The show airs on AdAstraRadio.com from 2:00am to 3:00am and 2:00pm to 3:00om. If you can't be next to your computer at those times, download the show here!

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

The Final Cut in Movies is an internet radio talk show that puts science fiction and fantasy center stage. The show airs on AdAstraRadio.com from 2:00am to 3:00am and 2:00pm to 3:00om. If you can't be next to your computer at those times, download the show here!

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the characteristics of evil, the importance of second chances, and other science fiction & fantasy news.

Segment A: Narnia

Storyline discussion

Positives

• Well-developed characters (Peter, Lucy, Susan, Professor Diggory)
• The way they portrayed details from the book
• Great Scenery
• Liam Neeson’s voice.

Segment B: The Final Cut News

Box Office Report:

• 3, $11.23 million: The Forbidden Kingdom.
• #5, $4.525 million: Nim's Island.
• #8, $2.41 million: Horton Hears a Who.
• Who wants to bet that Iron Man will be number 1 next week?

News:

• Return to Witch Mountain announces new cast members. Tom Everett Scott, Chris Marquette, Billy Brown and Cheech Marin have joined the production as well as the original child stars from the 70's version, Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann.
• Lego Launches Raiders of the Lost Brick animated cartoon.
• Speed Racer will release a 20 minute "mockumentary" about the fictional Racer family--available at Target stores prior to the movie's opening. The mockumentary will be lengthened for the DVD.
• Jonah Hill (Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) is in negotiations for DreamWorks' and Paramount's Transformers 2. He will co-star opposite Shia Pet's Sam Witwicky as the "plucky comic relief." (And Galaxy Quest fans out there?
• The Mummy:Tomb of the Dragon Emperor has website updates! Catch their official website at themummy.com, and check out their production blog.
• David Silverman (The Simpsons Movie) has signed with Disney to direct The Pet, a live-action science-fiction comedy about an everyday guy who becomes the pet of a group of aliens.
• Cloverfield is #1 in both DVD sales and rentals this week.
• Director Guillermo del Toro has said that he asked Sir Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis to reprise their roles in The Hobbit, and he indicates they're in. McKellen has confirmed. (For those of you in Abercrombie Land, McKellen played Gandalf and Serkis played Gollum/Smeagol.
• G.I. Joe fans! Click here to check out the interview with Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the producer of G.I. Joe, here.
• Check out news daily on www.finalcutinmovies.com.

Segment C: Theme of 2^nd Chances

First, The Negatives

• Didn’t like Maugrim’s voice
• Changed the line: “Battles are ugly affairs when women fight in them,â€? to “Battles are ugly affairs.â€?
• “Send the dwarves in first and hold the Giants in reserveâ€?—not best war strategy

2^nd Chances

• Mr. Tumnus—stopped and did the right thing.
• Edmund—once rescued, joined the good side highly motivated.
• No matter how far you’ve gone, it’s never too late to turn back and fix it. Make it right.

Segment D: Characteristics of Evil

• Evil divides
• Evil kills or hurts the innocent—purposefully.
• Evil misunderstands/underestimates good & mercy.
• Evil makes it “Always Winter, never Christmasâ€?
• Evil uses force/fear to keep people in line.
• Evil takes advantage of people’s weaknesses.
• Evil doesn’t give 2^nd chances
• Reason and negotiations don’t work on evil. (i.e. Hitler)

So how does evil trick us?

• Offers something in return for loyalty
• Often appears beautiful
• Uses fear tactics

Evil must be fought! Will you stand when you must?

Segment E: Wrap & Box office Predictions

Upcoming Movies: Iron Man, Action, Drama, Fantasy.

Box office Predictions

1. Iron Man
2. Made of Honor
3. The Forbidden Kingdom
4. Baby Mama
5. 21
6. Forgetting Sarah Marshal
7. Prom Night
8. 88 Minutes
9. Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (I suspect whoever really wanted to see this already saw it.)
10. Son of Rambow
11. Nim's Island
12. Horton Hears a Who

Remember you can view all upcoming science fiction & fantasy movies at www.finalcutinmovies.com on the Upcoming Movies page.

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

The Final Cut in Movies is an internet radio talk show that puts science fiction and fantasy movies center stage. The show airs on Ad Astra Radio (www.adastraradio.com) from 2:00 to 3:00am & pm. If you can’t be by your computer then, catch the show here!

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing The Forbidden Kingdom, starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li, a new, exciting development regarding Peter Jackson and The Hobbit, and other science fiction & fantasy news.

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

The Final Cut in Movies is an internet radio talk show that puts science fiction and fantasy movies center stage. The show airs on Ad Astra Radio (www.adastraradio.com) from 2:00 to 3:00am & pm. If you can’t be by your computer then, catch the show here!

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing Batman Begins (to prepare for The Dark Knight's release in July), real men, the four types of people in the world, what it takes to be a hero, and other science fiction & fantasy news. (This one's got a lot of rants, so it should be interesting, provocative, and even slightly controversial.)

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio. She is also a the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. Weston is a speaker who talks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

The Final Cut in Movies is an internet radio talk show that puts science fiction and fantasy movies center stage. The show airs on Ad Astra Radio (www.adastraradio.com) from 2:00 to 3:00am & pm. If you can’t be by your computer then, catch the show here!

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing Nim's Island, staring Jodie Foster, Abigail Breslin, and the 300's King Leonidas (Gerard Butler). (Yes, I do refer to him more as Leonidas than Gerard. Leonidas makes him sound tougher.) Tune in to hear my opinion on the movie, my thoughts on the latest Science Fiction & Fantasy news, and my little rant against the bobbleheads (my pet name for movie reviewers) and why I really don't care what they think. (For more of my terms, you'll have to visit my "Final Cut Lingo" page, which I just updated.)

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

The Final Cut in Movies is an internet radio talk show that puts science fiction and fantasy movies center stage. The show airs on Ad Astra Radio (www.adastraradio.com) from 2:00 to 3:00am & pm. If you can’t be by your computer then, catch the show here!

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing Will Smith's I Am Legend (now out on DVD), frogs, coral snakes, how to sweep your attacker's leg, a little bit of Sun Tsu, my thoughts on Nim's Island and The Ruins, and science fiction & fantasy news. (I think I even go on a rant on how Hollywood and comercials tend to blast men too much, so it should be fun...)

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio. She is also a the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. Weston is a speaker who talks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

The Final Cut in Movies is an internet radio talk show that puts science fiction and fantasy movies center stage. The show airs on Ad Astra Radio (www.adastraradio.com) from 2:00 to 3:00am & pm. If you can’t be by your computer then, catch the show here!

This week on The Final Cut in Movies, I'll be discussing 10,000 BC. Find out my opinion on the caveman non-documentary that seems to be doing well despite critical reviews and other science fiction & fantasy news. Here are the show notes, but remember I almost always deviate...

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

The Final Cut in Movies is an internet radio talk show that puts science fiction and fantasy movies center stage. The show airs on Ad Astra Radio (www.adastraradio.com) from 2:00 to 3:00am & pm. If you can’t be by your computer then, catch the show here!

On tonight's show, we'll be discussing the differences between The Original Star Wars and The New Star Wars, and--as always, other science fiction and fantasy movie news. Let's see how much I can cram into an hour... Well, 36 actual talking minutes.

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio. She is also a the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. Weston is a speaker who talks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

The Final Cut in Movies is an internet radio talk show that puts science fiction and fantasy movies center stage. The show airs on Ad Astra Radio (www.adastraradio.com) from 2:00 to 3:00am & pm. If you can’t be by your computer then, catch the show here!

On tonight's show, we'll be discussing The Spiderwick Chronicles, the 2008 Academy Awards, and other science fiction & fantasy news.

 M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio. She is also a the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. Weston is a speaker who talks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.