Backseat Movie Talk

Daybreakers Review by Crymsyn Hart

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:53:00 +0000

4.5 out of 5 coffins by Crymsyn Hart

Daybreakers stars Ethan Hawke, Sam Neil, and Willem Defoe. The movie starts off in 2019 where all the humans have been turned into vampires that don't sparkle.

Humans are almost extinct and the vampires can't come up with a blood substitute. The movie is dark and in some ways a commentary on life today in regards to humanity making other wildlife extinct.
Besides the blood and the plot line, it was a vampire flick which I love. So automatically I was going to go see it anyway.

The film was action packed, but it wasn't on the scale of say Avatar, but for a vampire movie it did the trick. It some ways it reminded me of the old film, Near Dark.

The main vampire never wanted to be a vampire and tried to assimilate into the life of the others. Of course the others won't accept him back into the fold once he becomes human.

Over all, I loved the movie and would give it 4.5 out of 5 coffins. LOL. Only because I was hoping for a kick ass soundtrack and wasn't too happy with that.

I love to buy soundtracks and this one didn't stand up to something like Underworld.

Either way, go sink your fangs into it. I definitely say its worth the bite.

Crymsyn Hart

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Portrait of a Vampire - She captured his image only once, and it’s haunted her ever since. - Read More
Turning Ash out now from PHAZE!

NEW MOON REVIEW By Veronica Blake

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:26:00 +0000

New Moon, the second movie in the hugely popular Twilight Saga, had to fulfill great expectations. The first movie, Twilight, was immensely successful, but with a different director, Chris Wietz, for the second installment, there has been a lot of speculation about the outcome of this new movie.

Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan opens the movie with a heart-wrenching scene as she dreams that she is introducing her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen, to her grandmother. But, she is looking into a mirror and the woman is not her grandmother; she is looking at herself as an old woman. Standing at her side, Edward is still young and vibrant. When she wakes up, it is the day Bella has been dreading – her eighteenth birthday – she is now older than Edward, who will be forever seventeen. After a tragic mishap at her birthday party, Edward decides that he must leave to keep Bella safe. The grief that Bella suffers after losing Edward is agonizing to watch and the passing of time is dramatically represented by the changing seasons outside of Bella’s bedroom window as she sits unmoving in a chair. Although, it is understandable that she would have terrible nightmares because of her deep depression, her hoarse-sounding screams in these scenes are just annoying.

The realization that she can see images of Edward or hear his voice whenever she does something dangerous sends Bella on a series of reckless escapades in her quest to keep his memory alive. One scene has her hopping on the back of a stranger’s motorcycle, which seems senseless and completely out of place. Yet, another scene where she cliff dives in an attempt to glimpse his illusion again, you are immersed in Bella’s desperate quest so deeply that you feel like you are drowning, too.

There is plenty of eye candy in the form of the half-dressed ‘wolf pack’ and especially in the nicely developed muscles of seventeen year old Taylor Lautner, who plays sixteen year old Jacob Black, Bella’s childhood friend from the local Quileute Reservation. Jacob’s hopeless devotion to Bella and his unwanted werewolf affliction will definitely tug relentlessly at your heart-strings. The transformation of the pack from human form to wolf form is spectacular and action scenes with the wolves are exciting and fast-paced. A scene where Jacob and Paul are fighting one another in their wolf forms will have you biting your nails!

Robert Pattison is perfect once again as the tortured love-sick hero. His expressions of pain speak a thousand words in every glance as he portrays 109 year old vampire, Edward Cullen. For Edward fanatics like myself, his anguish over leaving Bella was pure torture and seeing him through most of the movie as only mist-like images was done well enough that I could endure his absence. One scene, however, showing Alice – Edward’s vampire sister – having a vision of the future where Bella and Edward are running through the forest dressed like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and John Travolta from Saturday Night Fever was too far-fetched for even a hard-core fan like myself.

If you have not read the books, parts of New Moon will be hard to follow. I am an avid reader of the series, so I thoroughly know the plot, but seeing the action on the big screen is an added bonus. As described in the book, but not mentioned in the movie, vampires have skin that is as hard and smooth as marble. The final fight scene in Italy with the Volturi - the terrifying vampire royalty – shows Edward being thrown against the hard marble floor, causing his cheek to develop cracks just like the floor he has crashed against...a stunning and unexpected special effect that left me breathless.

Being an ‘older’ woman, I do not fit into the target audience for the Twilight books or the movies. Stephanie Meyer wrote the books for teens, yet, the overpowering love story spans all ages. It has reminded me, and probably other mature women like me, of long forgotten dreams that we all had as young girls about love – true love, the kind that is so powerful that it will last for eternity – a love that you would die for if necessary. The Twilight Saga is a fantasy...it is a romantic escape interlaced with unspeakable dangers and ancient legends, and we love it!

Review by author Veronica Blake author of BLACK HORSE.
Was there any warrior more handsome, more virile than the powerful young war chief bathing naked in the river? Meadow was certain she'd never forget the sight of his lean hips, his sinewed thighs and bronzed chest. He was all that a Sioux maiden could want in a mate. But though she'd been raised in the village, Meadow was not really one of the People. Her parents had been white, and her past would bring unexpected disaster upon her band of Oglala.

She was his to love, her flaxen hair shining like gold on the furs as he stroked her sweet body. But when she was ripped from his arms after a single night as his wife, Black Horse swore he would rescue her from the pony soldiers. Even if he lost his own freedom, his life, he would gaze one more time into the beautiful jade green eyes of the woman who possessed his soul.
Find out more or buy the book from AMAZON.COM
Black Horse (Leisure Historical Romance)

Twilight Movie Review by Terry Kate

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:41:00 +0000

Alright I confess I might be having a little bit of an obsession with this film. I truly must be in the mood for teen angst. I mean really! Is this a great film - shite no. I went into watching it with low expectations even though I enjoy the actors Kristen Stewart (Bella) and and the very handsome Robert Pattinson (Edward). So Enjoyment 5/5 Car Horns, film wise, I will be generous and give it 3/5 Car Horns.

Okay, sometimes the cheese factor is high, the glowing skin looked goofy. Edwards whole I am a killer/predator speech, well rivals velveta. So why do I love it? I have read the first book and all I could think was that Bella was annoying in her low self esteem and well she has some whine to go with her cheese in the books.

In the movie her moments of self doubt play as cute and funny. The make out scene is hot - in the book, "I wanted him to kiss me forever", like we have never read that line before - Not an exact quote. Our stars have great chemistry though Robert Pattinson just makes puppy love very believable, I thought so with Cho in his role as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter, boy gets two iconic literary roles.

I found family moments between the Cullens added to the story such as when they cook for Bella and he lets them know she already ate. Their thunder storm baseball game, and friendly banter is a nice touch. Their world, which Bella is entering just happens to be entirely separate from that of the other students and really, who would choose to be in high school over and over and over?

Soundtrack is a great enhancer to the movie and my fave song is actually performed by our star Rob Pattinson. Another song in the film is actually sung by Rob's sister also. Hot and talented, sigh. I might have to clear my schedule and run to the movies to see New Moon tomorrow. I have a soft spot for this boy, though I hear he is only in the film for the first 15 min or so. I am not sure if the watching her sleep is sweet or stalker-ish. Either way they did a great job with Bella's hair color, divine and I want.
If you want teen love and obsession look no further. It is all right her in the Twilight Movie.
Listing to Backseat Movie Talks radio show on the subject with author A.E. Rought here...

Hot Fuzz Rules!

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:44:00 +0000

I have said this before in more then one location. Hot Fuzz is awesome. the more I watch it the more I love it! For real. There are so many layers of humor going on that they are difficult to grasp the first time through. So here is the description of the movie if you don't know. Okay I could not find a good synopsis so just watch the Preview.

The Short Trailer
The Short Trailer

The Long Trailer

Now the Trailer makes you believe it is action packed from start to finish like an American film would be, but it is not. I builds to a hilarious ending in the way a lot of British films do though thankfully not as slow as some.
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost wrote it and star and make me laugh throughout. There is not little comment that doesn't come back to be tied in and worked out - to repeat and enhance the joke. Smart, funny, and understated.

There is an interesting Homo-erotic element to all the films those boys write and my dad even mentioned that there is not love interest there to which I had to point out the love interest is filled by their relationship. I can not recommend it highly enough and might even buy it myself. It is one of the few films that if it comes on cable me and the Boyfriend never switch the channel.
Review by Terry Kate
Romance in the Backseat
http://www.romanceinthebackseat.com

Monday Movie Meme - Life Changing Films

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:49:00 +0000

I feel like I blinked and it was Monday - Seriously! Now the Bumbles have asked us this week what movies changed our lives? That is hard stuff. For real. Got a few though.

The Red Violin - If you have not seen it you must. It is a fabulous story of interwoven tales and showed me how truly great a film could be. Should I ever make a film half so good I would die happy.

Here are a few a lot of people will not think of, for less monumental reasons.

Real Genius - I quote it all the time and if it changed the way I speak it changed my life.

Labyrinth - Bog of Eternal Stench is forever a part of my discourse and it proves that muppets and humans can live together in harmony some place other then Sesame Street. Oh and David Bowie...

The Princess Bride - If you can honestly say this is not a great film I can honestly say I no longer trust your movie opinion.

South Park - have any of us ever looked at cartoons the same way again? Ever time I meet someone named Kyle - Cartman tries to slip out in my voice. I walked into a classroom and had a High School freshman ask me if I had a soul since I was a ginger - I said I am a bottle ginger so yes - yes I do.

I another student floored me when he came out with a hugely astute observation while discussing South Park and the Simpsons - We were discussing how very contemporary South Park is with current events and bless his little heart this thug of a boy turns to me and says "It makes me wonder if South Park will be as funny years down the line when people rewatch it since in is so very contemporary and dependant on current events for it's humor. Without the context behind the joke will younger generations still follow the show. " Floored me after haveing had the kid in class all week as his sub.

Plus it is true - Will Cartman going into PF Changs to find out about the Chinese Invasion plan dressed up in a rediculous outfit and saying, "Hello fellow Chinks," ever NOT be funny?

The Pillow Book - Introduced me to Asian film and it is stunning - also had my first full frontal male nudity - now I have HBO - Love Rome - but Marc Antony is forever showing his junk - not that I mind.

The three films that I have thought the strongest through High School and that made it through 4 years of film school without slipping just flip flopping order

American Psycho

American Beauty

American History X

Hope you all enjoyed I managed a few this week.
Good movie watching to you all.

Paranormal Activity Review - By Crymsyn Hart

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:09:00 +0000

The commercials show people screaming in audience at the movie. Well the previews were right. At everyone moment in the theater people were screaming behind me. I was one of the many people who voted to have this come to my home town because I really wanted to see it. Mainly because I love scary movies and secondly because I love paranormal stuff so this was right up my alley.

The movie starts off slowly, but that’s okay because then the action escalates. The actors were supposed to be everyday people so they did everyday things, but the man was annoying. You really felt bad for the girlfriend because when she tells him no Ouija board in the house, what does he go out and get? Yup. He brings in the Ouija Board.

Overall the movie got my blood pumping enough so I went home that night and pulled the covers over my eyes and hoped there wasn’t anything freaky lurking in the shadows. Of course the ending is the whole build up to the movie and in my book the director did a great job. I would recommend it to everyone who loves scary movies. Even my husband said it was a F**ked up movie. For him to say that, must mean it was awesome.

Crymsyn Hart
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Tarnished Souls out now from Purple Sword

Monday Movie Meme - Them Tricksy Films

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:09:00 +0000

Hmm...

It seems the Bumbles are trying to trick me this week with their Tricksy subject.

But I have a few under my sleeve others might not get...

The Machinist - Christian Bale - deep stuff and I did not see that one coming at all. Why does he change so much? Surprise - Reveal - Tricksy ending. Scary Skinny.

Hide - Interesting film - very interesting - actually really liked it as a smart psychological horror/thriller film. Killer couple with a very believable relationship. Very twisty story, very, very smart.

Man I can not believe I am stumped after two but I am without big time repeaters cause no I did not figure out the 6th Sense.

Oh well, looking forward to reading everyone elses lists.

Terry Kate Romance in the Backseat

Cat People - Review by Author Kerry L. Marzock

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:45:00 +0000

CAT PEOPLE

I am definitely drawn more towards werewolf movies and even more towards those movies where the creature actually shape shifts into the body of a wolf, very cool. However, there was an older movie, “Cat People”, first released in 1942 staring Simone Simon as Irena Gallier, which was quite interesting. It was a dark, moody, eerie, an almost surreal, campy-type of movie where Irena shifted into a beautiful black panther. In the original movie, the horror was more implied and, of course, Simone Simon was a very dark, smokey, campy-type of actress.

The remake was released in April 1982 and starred the beautiful Natassia Kinski, along with the very dark actor Malcolm McDowell (as Paul, Irena’s brother), John Heard (curator Oliver Yates), Annette O’Toole (Alice Perrin), and Ed Begley, Jr. (Joe Creigh). Alice and Joe were Oliver’s curator assistants. There was also Ruby Dee who played Paul’s housekeeper. Descended from a very old line of ‘cat people’, Irena and Paul turn into black panthers (mostly after they mate) and then **ugh** must kill in order to revert back to human form once more. Even though Paul has known of his ancestry for years, and who primarily preys on hookers, Irena is completely unaware of being a panther.

After having sex with a hooker and killing her in a hotel room, the cat finds himself trapped in animal form because the hooker escapes with her life. He is thus captured and put into a zoo which introduces Oliver and assistants. Walking through the zoo one day, Oliver sees Irena sitting and sketching the new panther. They form a friendship and Irena lands a job there at the zoo. Shortly after, Joe (Ed the assistant) is killed by the panther which eerily disappears (because Paul is now able to revert to human form after killing). Paul, however, even in panther form, was able to recognize his sister, Irena.

Irena meets Paul when she returns that night to her apartment and she finally becomes knowledgeable on her animalistic condition and lineage, mostly because Paul has told her that only they can have sex together (rather kinky) and not have to kill anybody afterwards. However, Irena is horrified at the thought and has come to realize that she cares deeply for Oliver, so now she is terrified that she could eventually harm him.

The movie itself moves on with interesting shifts and turns. The sound track of the remake is actually very haunting and beautiful. The theme song is “Putting Out the Fire” and sung by David Bowie, and a few other songs from the movie are, ‘Faraway Places” and “Why Not Tonight?”. After the movie is over, that haunting theme song kind of stays inside your head.

Paul is ultimately killed and Irena, realizing what type of dangerous creature is part of her, is found by Oliver. Irena is back in human form only because she kills (Alice) to do so. Not wanting to go back and forth, fearful that she will continue killing, she asks Oliver to have sex with her so she can become the panther and live her days out in that shape. He does so, but binds her completely so that when she turns he will not be killed. The movie ends with her caged and Oliver stroking her lovingly through the bars. Different from the ending of the 1942 original where Simone Simon gets the keys to the panther cage, goes in and is killed by the cat.

I would certainly recommend watching these two movies, possibly back-to-back. Have a Cat People night, lots of popcorn, and paint on those whiskers (oh yeah, dress all in black).

I would certainly say that it is a 3 to 3-1/2 tail light movie. If you like an eerie, haunting horror movie without too much explicit violence and some nice music, then check it out, either the original, remake, or both. But, I still like “The Howling” (the original), “Wolfen” (with Albert Finney), and the more recent "Blood and Chocolate" for werewolf and shape-shifter movies.

Kerry L. Marzock

Author of: “Raven’s Way” and “Raven’s Rage – Order of the Claw”

Shocktober with Beer Guy Jim

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:55:00 +0000

What ever happend to candy corn with razor blades?

There are many things I appreciate about living in California, the sun, the warm weather, never being more than an hour from the ocean but every fall I grow nostalgic for the the charms of the North East. The smell of decaying leaves, the crisp blow of an Autumn breeze, and of course that end of October ritual Halloween. Thats not to say we don't have Halloween in Cali, we do, its just not the same ruckus holiday that defined so many mischief filled moments of this man's misspent youth.

Though the one thing I miss most of all is Shocktober. It was a B horror movie ritual every year on channel 11, WPIX which later became the defunct WB now the CW. Where does that leave me and a generation of young people who grew up on a steady diet of edited for television versions of the scariest movies 1982 had to offer? Classics like "Carrie" where a possessed car kills people who have done her wrong, or "The Kiss" a movie about a ghost that lurks in the body of a teenage girl, or my personal favorite "The Gate" this honest to goodness piece of B movie fodder used to scare the piss out of me as a kid.

What's the point to all of this? This country, Nay this world has grown soft. Where are our children expected to see poorly edited versions of classic horror films now? Surely not on deep cable as they leave those classics as is and if you can get TNT to stop running the "Lord of the Rings" long enough perhaps. No I feel this generation will grow up never hearing Chucky utter the phrase "Ill Fricken Cut your throat coot", or Freddy Krueger say "Show me your tot's butch."

I guess I'm an idealist, I'm better off just excepting things as they are.
Beer Guy Jim

So Slowly But Surely I Get to Review - Wanted

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:50:00 +0000

Last night was a BIG one for me. I saw two films I had never seen before and took the time to actually watch them. Instead of half listening. Well I had a Red Bull yesterday and I was surprisingly energetic till 2 in the morning, who'da thunk?

I saw WANTED just premiering on HBO yesterday I believe. Sex? Why yes. Violence? Yes indeed. Unbelievable superhuman powers given to an average "Joe"? How did you guess? Yes again!

The Order of Assassins - a tried and true recipe for fictional fun. Hot chicks, hot guys, hot cars, and special effects and you have WANTED. Whether you want it or not is another question.

So who do they kill? Why who the thread tells them to, of course. Oh, and by thread I mean woven pieces analyzed under a microscope for imperfections translating into binary code. Dictated by fate and thread they go off and kill. Do you have faith? A true believer is a scary thing and Angelina Jolie's character Fox is a true believer. Over all it was fun. After that it was pretty. Did not have the mtotally predictable strait plot line though it was by no means a surprise either.

Best part of the film is when the main character escaping his life of drudgery to go be the ubber assassin his father was, tells off his boss then takes his keyboard from his desk. On the way to the door he uses it to smash in the face of the supposed "best friend" who had been sleeping with his girlfriend during "Dentist" appointments. It was a nice moment.

Overall it was a 3 1/2 tail light picture.
Let me Know what YOU thought.

Monday Night TV

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:07:00 +0000

I know I say this is a movie blog, but well... you see, I like TV too. And so I want to share my excitement about a couple of things going on tonight.

Season Premiere of - HOUSE - 2 hours of House in the Loony House - sweet! It also has the actor from Homicide life in the city joining the cast at least temporarily. Though I will miss Kumar who has moved on from the show to be an adviser to President Obama.

Let me know what you think after you watch it!
Terry kate

WHITE OUT - Movie Review by Crymsyn Hart

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:17:00 +0000

I thought end of the world, I thought monsters, my boyfriend thought aliens, we were both wrong. Terrible preview. Crymsyn on the other hand actually saw the film and here is what she has to say.

Snow. The first thing and the last thing I’ll say about Whiteout is snow. Lots of it and why in the world would anyone want to work in Antarctica? Yeah I guess if you’re a scientist, but I’m not much for cold.

Anywho… I’ve seen the trailers for Whiteout and I’m a Kate Beckinsale fan so I figured something alien or oogie was under the ice. My friend’s picked the movie since it was their turn in our monthly get together to go to the movies. I really had no idea what the movie was about, so I was going in blind.

Now I like Kate and I was happy to see Alex O’Laughlin in the movie since I was a huge Moonlight fan. But in my opinion, they should have stayed vampires. The movie was good, killings and such, frozen people, finger crunching amputations, and of course a quick out of focus front shot of men running out into the snow with no clothes on. I think that was one of my favorite parts even though it was brief.

Overall, the movie as an action movie was okay. Thrill/Action maybe. I’m not sure what category it goes under, but with Tom Skerritt being the villain was good. But I kinda figured that he would be. Whiteout wouldn’t be my first choice to see this weekend, but over all I would give it a three out of five. It was entertaining for a couple of hours, but I would wait until the DVD comes out before I watch it again.

Crymsyn Hart
www.ravynhart.com www.myspace.com/ravynhart

Amadeus Review - by Author Carrie Lofty

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:33:00 +0000

Terry invited me here today to talk about one of my favorite films, Amadeus. The year of its release, 1984, was a fantastic year for historical films, and Amadeus was nominated for Best Picture against dramatic powerhouses such as The Killing Fields, Places in the Heart, and A Passage to India. Although Tom Hulce didn't win Best Actor for his iconic embodiment of Mozart, F. Murray Abraham won Best Supporting Actor. And Mozart--the man, the legend, the musical genius--would never be the same.

So what's my fascination? The costumes are lush, enticing viewers to imagine trying one on--just once, to take a few pictures and walk around, but maybe not to wear all the time! The sets and locales evoke a time of romance, decadence, and entitlement during a time of fast-coming change in the wake of the American and French Revolutions. And the music...although I was only seven when the film was released, my family had HBO at the time and I watched it over and over, mesmerized by a style of music that wasn't often heard in my house. I bought the soundtrack when I was a teenager and wore out the tape. I bought it again on CD when I was in college, then started on a quest to expand my knowledge and understanding of classical music.

And then there were the performances. Tom Hulce played Mozart as he'd never been portrayed before: as a human being. Far from an untouchable genius, he's a rude, crass, loose, insolent brat who lives on the cusp of sanity and propriety, occasionally stepping his toe over the line--often for the sake of his music. There is mania in his performance, there is childishness, and there is genius. All come together to form a man unlike any portrayed on film outside of horror movies and tales of college hazing. That he's Mozart made it even more compelling.

F. Murray Abraham as Salieri is subtle and sly and deeply tortured. He loves that which he hates, and those conflicting emotions eat away at his soul. There's a scene where he discusses the opera The Marriage of Figaro. The Emperor is bored, his ears overtaxed by "too many notes." The public doesn't understand it. And Salieri does his best to spite his hated rival, Mozart, by compelling the Emperor to shut it down after only nine performances--but Salieri attends all nine, alone in his balcony, obsessed.

But beyond all of these elements, Amadeus speaks to the frustration of being compelled by a creative drive. Salieri, at his most sacrilegious point of desperation, gets down on his knees and curses God. He says to his Confessor, "All I wanted was to sing to God. He gave me that longing...and then made me mute. Why? Tell me that. If He didn't want me to praise him with music, why implant the desire? Like a lust in my body! And then deny me the talent?" Anyone who has ever burned with a gut-deep fire to dance, play an instrument, write, sing, or paint--but who didn't possess the natural talent--can understand Salieri's frustration, especially when Mozart, in his unfathomable abundance of talent, seemed to squander that talent and take it for granted.

Yes, some of the history behind Amadeus is bunk. You can read more about the argued inaccuracies here. But as a film of dramatic brilliance that celebrates one of the most profound musical adepts of human history, it is a spectacle of moviemaking that cannot be missed.

Oh, and if you're a fan of classical music--particularly compelled by their slavish devotion to a demanding muse--you might want to check out my free historical romance which was partly inspired by my love for Amadeus. In Serenade, a widowed violin prodigy in Napoleonic Salzburg studies with the reclusive Dutch composer she idolizes and grows to love, only to learn that he stole the symphony he's most famous for. The first three chapters of Serenade are here on my website, and the entire novel is available as a complimentary PDF or EPUB file to members of my Yahoo loop. Join today and enjoy!

Born in California and raised in the Midwest, Carrie found the love of her life in England. Her January 2010 release, Scoundrel's Kiss, features a Spanish warrior monk and the troubled Englishwoman he's sworn to protect. Stop by her website, follow her on Twitter, or visit Unusual Historicals, the multi-author blog she founded in 2006 to celebrate historical romances set in unusual times and places.

MUST LOVE DOGS - Reviewed by Marcia James and Smokey

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:05:00 +0000

MUST LOVE DOGS

Guest-reviewer Smokey gives the movie, Must Love Dogs, a perfect 5-Paw rating!

For those who don’t know me, I’m Smokey--a Chinese crested hairless dog and Berkley author Marcia James’ logo and virtual pet. (Check out our Web site: HYPERLINK "http://www.MarciaJames.net" www.MarciaJames.net) We “cresties” are a discerning breed, and I jumped at a chance to review one of my favorite movies, Must Love Dogs.

Based on a Claire Cook novel, Must Love Dogs features Diane Lane as Sarah and John Cusack as Jake—two recently divorced people with lots of reasons to be leery of love. Sarah’s sister creates a profile for her on a dating site, and she ends up on a series of nightmarishly funny dates until Jake answers her ad and they click. The road to their happily-ever-after is rocky, however, despite the help of a Newfoundland hound named Mother Theresa and a Scotty dog Jake borrows from his best friend.

No one is better at sad, longing looks than John Cusack, which he puts to great use in this movie. Marcia James says his eyes are positively yummy, but unfortunately they reminded me of a beagle who dumped me for a boxer. Still, the core of the movie is the romance, which is smoldering. The scene in which Jake teaches Sarah to row is so sexy, I almost wish I had opposable thumbs!

My favorite character is Mother Theresa, a “Newfie” played by a pair of 6-month-olds: Molly & Maeve. The movie’s director, Gary David Goldberg, adopted the pair after the filming ended. The scene in which the little Scotty scares the lumbering Mother Theresa, who then hides under the park bench is a classic.

I give the movie five paws for romance, humor, and cute dog actors! Must Love Dogs is a must-see for anyone who enjoys a great romantic comedy!

Welcome to My All New Blog

RomanceintheBackseat@gmail.com (Terry Kate) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:26:00 +0000

Okay I am a film person. I LOVE movies. So do a lot of other people. So do authors. What do ya know? So I invited some of these authors to join me here to share their thoughts on film.

Film lovers meet Authors, Readers meet film lovers. Worlds collide, I think we will all survive.
Enjoy and share the love,
Terry Kate