Best-selling author Trina Boice speaks at LDSPMA writers' conference

Guess who is speaking at the LDSPMA writers' conference in November? ME!!! Oh yeah, and my new best friend Orson Scott Card! Check out the impressive list of other speakers. It's going to be awesome!




Come join us!

https://www.ldspma.org/2018-ldspma-annual-conference/

The Bounce Back is too formulaic and plastic

Movie Title:  The Bounce Back

Grade:  C+

Rating: PG-13, 104 minutes

In a Nutshell:  This SUPER predictable rom-com has a good-looking feature couple, but with very little chemistry together.   Their hard bodies are impressive, but this movie is not.  

What was interesting is that it was the men in the audience who did all of the laughing.

Uplifting theme: 

• “What is love?  Is it a feeling?  A commitment? A live-happily-ever-after pill?  I like to think it’s a choice.” – Matthew Taylor (Shemar Moore)
• “Love is the most beautiful thing we can experience in this world.” - Matthew
• “Communicate, associate, empathize.” – Kristin Peralta (Nadine Velazquez)
• ‘People deserve a balanced perspective.” – Matthew Taylor  
• “Create the love you want for yourself.” – Matthew
• “Live into your future. Focus on the future.” - Matthew

Things I liked:

• I like the idea of an intellectual debate between the two main characters, although the conversations don’t ever go very deep.  I liked the discussion about how realistic these “self-help” gurus are or if they just say what we want to hear while they sell millions of “feel-good books.” 
• Sheryl Underwood plays herself as a talk show host.
• I’ve liked Rizwan Manji ever since I first saw him in the sitcom “Outsourced” and wish we could see him in more films.
• I like the theme that love is a choice.  Choosing to keep a marriage happy is about commitment.  Allowing yourself to be vulnerable enough to fall in love with someone is a choice.

Things I didn’t like:

• Nadine Velazquez is beautiful, but looks and acts really plastic in this movie.  You feel her acting, rather than feel her.  I was surprised, because I liked her in the sitcom My Name is Earl: Season 3 
• There is a distracting amount of SUPER white teeth and fake body parts.
• Matthew Taylor and Kristin Peralta’s first kiss was painful to watch.  No chemistry.  Blah.
• Matthew’s ex-wife, played by Denise Boutte, is always super dressed up when she comes to the door.  Yeah, like that’s what normal people look like when they’re home doing dishes.
• Bad and choppy editing.
• It’s more rom than com; there are very few things to laugh at.
• Bill Bellamy’s character is so over-the-top that he feels like a cartoon character, especially compared to the other actors who are trying to be more dramatic.
• I had never seen any trailers for this movie before it played in the theater, so I picked it based off the description that Matthew was an author.  I've gone on book tours with my books, so I thought that aspect of the movie might be interesting and relatable to me.  Unfortunately, the movie is more about the drama between Matthew and Kristin.
• Kristin is supposed to be a therapist.  Aren't therapists supposed to listen more than talk?  She does an awful lot of talking and bashing, rather than listening.
• I've read a lot of movie reviews of this film by people who really liked it, but I left disappointed.

Interesting lines:

• “My book isn’t about grieving, but creating.” - Matthew

Funny lines:

• “Just because you have a voice in your head doesn’t make you a psychic.” – Kristin

Tips for parents: 

• Pre-marital sex, talk of teens having sex, and inappropriate jokes.
• There are a lot of skimpy clothes on various women.  You see Nadine Velazquez in nothing but her underwear and bra as she climbs all over a shirtless Shemar Moore in bed.

@trinaboice 

Goosebumps is ghoulish fun

Movie:    Goosebumps

Rating:    PG, 1 hour 43 minutes

Grade:   A

In a Nutshell:   If you grew up reading R.L. Stine's Goosebumps books or were a parent who read them to your kids like I did, you’re going to get a kick out of this homage to comedy horror stories and the author who gave them to us.

Sony Pictures Animation does a great job at blending reality with fantasy, mixed with sarcasm and romance.  Thanks for releasing it in time for Halloween!   “It gives me…oh what’s the word…goosebumps.”

Uplifting Theme:

·         “It’s time to face your demons…” – R.L. Stine

·         Connecting with real people.

Things I liked:

·         As an author, I love how the ink literally comes to life off the pages of the book.

·         I love how Slappy actually looks like Jack Black/R.L. Stine.

·         You gotta admire the way the real R.L. Stine is bringing new life and sales back to his books!  Brilliant!

·         Good for Amy Ryan for starring in 2 movies in theaters at the same time!  (Bridge of Spies )  I’ve always adored her ever since I first saw her do a Yoda impression on The Office: Season 5 .
-     There is a playful nod to the book series that was the cheap knock-off version of the Goosebump books called "Shivers".  Jack Black's character goes by "Mr. Shivers" in the beginning, before it's revealed that he's actually R.L. Stine.

·         See if you can spot the real R.L. Stine in his cameo at the school as the Drama teacher.  This is what he looks like in real life:

Things I didn’t like:

·         It was a little bit scawy…
-    It would have been fun to see more of the other characters R.L. Stine created in the movie.
-    Jack Black didn't have a mole on his forehead like the real R.L. Stine does.
-    Some of the CGI looks cartoony, although I didn't mind it.

Funny lines:  

·         “Dude, we should call the cops!” – Champ

“Have you met the cops in this town?” – Zach

·         “Is that your scream?” – Zach

“Don’t judge me.” – Champ

·         “What is that?” -    Aunt Lorraine   (played by Jillian Bell)

“I rub myself in cilantro every morning.” – R.L. Stine

·         “I don’t remember writing about a giant preying mantis!   (it then spews s sticky ick from its mouth)  “Right, now I remember.” – R.L. Stine

·         “Let’s split up!”  - R.L.

“No!  Haven’t you read any of your books?  We’re never supposed to split up!”  - Champ

·         “Look at this kitchen!” – Gale

“We don’t cook.” – Zach

“Well, look at all this counter space to put take-out on!” – Gale

·         “I’m going to get a start on decorating my room…knock it off my Bucket List.” – Zach

·         “I know I speak for the entire administration when I say how excited we are about this weekend’s dance.  We  can’t stop twerking about it.” – Gale

·         “Shut your mouth!” – Cop

“Ok, but that’s not going to help.”  - Slappy  (the ventriloquist dummy)

Things you learn about writing from R.L. Stine:

·         “Every story ever told can be broken down into 3 distinct parts: the beginning, the middle, and the twist.”

·         R.L. Stine wrote”THE GHOST NEXT DOOR book.  I guess he wrote about it twice.  Think about it.

·         “The night was cold.  Cold was the night.”  Word order is powerful.

·         “No, it doesn’t work unless it’s a real R.L. story with twists, turns and frights…and personal growth for the main character.”

·         Champ asks R.L. “Why did you have to come up with something so freaky?”  The author simply replies “I just have a knack for it.”    In other words, write what you know.

·         “Steve King wishes he could be me!  I sell way more books than him, but no one ever talks about that.”

·         “Why couldn’t you have written stories about rainbows and unicorns?”   - Champ

“Because that doesn’t sell 400 million copies.”   R.L. Stine

“Domestic?” – Champ

“No, international, but it’s still a very impressive number.  Shut up!”   R.L. Stine

·         “That typewriter is special.  It has a soul of its own.” – R.L.

Tips for Parents:

·         Some of the monsters can be pretty scary.  There are plenty of creepy things too, like clowns, ghouls/zombies, drooling werewolf with frightening teeth and claws, evil garden gnomes, dolls, bugs, aliens, etc.  R.L. Stine said in a recent interview with Plugged In that he didn't want to traumatize children who see the film, so you won't see any blood.

·         Explosions, violence, suspenseful chase scenes.
-    Topics addressed include evil, revenge, and love.

Can't get enough of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps? Check these out!


 

Maze Runner sequel surprises with zombies

Movie  Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Grade: B

Rating:  PG-13, 2 hours 9 minutes

In a Nutshell:  Zombies?  I didn’t know this movie had zombies!  The trailers did a great job of not revealing the story line and fun surprises in this sequel to the Maze Runner series.  It’s action-packed and leaves you wondering who is really on the right side. 

Although my friend, James Dashner, wrote the book that these films are based on, I embarrassingly admit that I’ve never read them.   Apparently, the sequel veers from the original source material quite a bit.  He and I did a book signing together many years ago when we were both nobodies.  While he has made it big time, I’m still a nobody.  (weak grin)  Here is a picture of us when we both were speakers at the LDStorymakers Conference several years ago.  I’m so happy for him and his success!

To see my movie review of the first Maze Runner movie, click here.

Uplifting Theme:

·         Run!

·         Friendship, loyalty, trust.

Things I liked:

·         The special effects were very good.  I’d like to see a director make a riveting movie out of one of my non-fiction books.  Ha ha

·         The cast does a great job.

·         The scale and scope are much larger than the first Maze Runner.
-     The sets, green screens, and backdrops are impressive.

Things I didn’t like:

·         There was way too much running around in the dark.  I had a hard time seeing what was going on, even on the big screen! 

·         The cliff-hanger at the end was pretty predictable.  Even some of the lines were predictable.  It was still entertaining though.

·         This is not a stand-alone film.  If you haven’t seen the first movie, you’ll be lost.
-     This film feels like it’s the bridge between two better films.

·         There weren’t any memorable funny lines.

·         My teenage son described the movie as “A bunch of Abercrombie & Fitch models running around in the desert.”  Kinda true.

·         You don’t learn much more about these teenagers, nor what’s really going on.  The plot wasn’t as deep as I had hoped.  One of the best questions dystopian movies should ask is what happens when civilization crumbles.  What morality is left?  We're still waiting for those answers after the final credits roll.

·         The film isn’t available on IMAX and PLF screens this time around, like the first one was.  The really big screens are being reserved in theaters for the opening weekend of the remake of Everest .

Things to look for:

·         You’ll miss it if you blink, but Teresa (played by Kaya Scodelario) puts a blanket over the broken glass when Thomas throws a chair through a window.   That’s a good emergency preparedness tip to remember in a survival situation!  It’s also what you should do if you’re trying to get over a jagged fence or barbed wire fence.
-      See if you can count how many times the teens pose.  It's almost as if every screen shot could be turned into a movie poster for tween fans.

Tips for Parents:

·         Thomas (played by Dylan O’Brien) flips the bird.

·         The zombies that chase the kids are pretty scary because they run FAST and climb anything, unlike the ones in the hit TV show The Walking Dead: Season 1 .

·         Some profanity, an icky vomit moment,  and a high body count, sometimes bloody.

·         Kids will love it because it features kids outsmarting adults. 
·         Thomas and Brenda spend some time in a dystopian kind of den of iniquity with a bunch of druggies and boozers.

To get prepared for the sequel, start with these:

 

 If you can't get enough, check out the prequel and more!

 

Books by Trina Boice

I love watching movies and writing about movies, but I thought you might like to see some of my more recent published books! My next one hits stores next month!

My friend, James Dashner, just had his book The Maze Runner turned into a movie!

Movie Title:  Maze Runner

PG-13, 1 hour 54 minutes

Grade:  B+

In a Nutshell:   I’m so thrilled for my friend, James Dashner, who is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Maze Runner Series (Maze Runner) that this film is based on!  I first met him when he and I were doing a book signing at the same store.  People were lined up to meet him, of course, while I sat and twiddled my thumbs.  Ha ha  I have a hard time picturing my books being made into movies since I write non-fiction!

He and I are both members of the same author group and he is considered our resident rock star.  I’m so happy that his book was made into a movie!  That’s so unbelievably awesome!  Here is a picture of the two of us at a recent writers’ conference:

The story is a bit of a dystopian Lord of the Flies , as teenage boys try to figure out how they ended up on the edge of a killer maze and who put them there.  I haven’t had time to read the book, so I’m not sure what we might be missing in this suspenseful flick, but James said that the “tone and spirit and vision” of what he wrote in the book is totally in the movie.

Uplifting theme: 

Learning how to work for the benefit of others, these teenage boys also demonstrate courage, sacrifice, and teamwork.

Things I liked:

• As a mother of 4 sons, I thought it was funny and definitely true-to-life that the boys generally spent their evenings wrestling each other.  Ha ha
• The scary noises reminded me of the creepy alien sounds in Tom Cruise's movie The War of the Worlds .
• The movie starts fast and throws us into the action without dilly-dallying..  I always like that!
• All of the young actors did a great job, although I wish there had been time for more character development.

Things I didn’t like:

• There were some plot holes that bugged me.  I’m assuming the sequel will fill them?
• The runners wore these leathered, strappy things, but I couldn’t see what purpose they served.  They weren’t quite backpacks, so what were they for?
• They say “W.K.D. is good.”  Really?  No, I don’t want kids thinking wicked is good.
• Despite being trapped in a camping set-up, the boys are able to concoct some form of alcohol for partying at night.

Interesting lines:

• “You’re not like the others; you’re curious.”  - Alby
• “It’s not a prison; it’s a test.”  - Thomas
• “You’ll get your name in a day or two.  That’s one thing they let us keep.”  - Alby
• “You don’t get it.  We’re already dead.” – Minho

Funny lines:

• “I don’t know if he’s brave or stupid.  Whatever it is, we need more of it.”  - Minho
• (SPOILER ALERT)   “Seriously?”  - Jeff, when he sees the “Exit” sign.
• “I thought you had the chops to be a runner…until you face-planted.” – Newt

Fun Facts about James Dashner:

• He and I both graduated from BYU.  He majored in accounting, which seems like such a boring profession for such a creative guy!  He said “My heart bleeds for accountants.  I don’t miss it even in the slightest, tiniest, little bit.”  Ha ha
• James is a movie buff like me and confessed that movies like “Star Wars”, Alien , The Terminator and The Matrix influenced his writing.  It was the maze in the movie The Shining that got him thinking about writing his own novel that would feature one.
• Now that his book has been turned into a movie, he’s interested in screenwriting.  Go James!

Tips for parents:   Mild profanity, deaths, scary noises, violence.  Small children may be frightened by the “grievers” (robotic monstors that chase and kill the “gladers”).

Be a part of my blog tour this spring!

Trina Boice and Cedar Fort Publishing & Media are pleased to announce “Base Hits and Home Run Relationships: What Women Wish Guys Knew” blog tour, which will run from April 19-May 10, 2014.

If you’re interested in participating in this blog tour, please email us or leave a comment below.

About the book:

Love is like baseball, so hit a home run in your relationship! With Trina Boice’s advice, any man can learn how to step up to the plate. Learn tips, stats, and skills to make a powerful and lasting romance whether you’re in the “minor league” of dating or the “major league” of married life.

Enjoy this FREE book of love just in time for Valentine's Day!

Just in time for Valentine's Day...my Gift of Love eBook version is FREE today through Friday!  http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Love-Trina-Boice-ebook/dp/B00IDAY3IO/

Happy Valentine's Day!