Sheep Movie Review: Stuber (2019)

Stuber (2019)
Jul 12, 2019
Directed By: Michael Dowse
Written By: Tripper Clancy
Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Dave Bautista, Iko Uwais, Natalie Morales
Rating: R (for violence and language throughout, some sexual references and brief graphic nudity)
Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy
Runtime: 105 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
When a mild-mannered Uber driver named Stu (Kumail Nanjiani) picks up a passenger (Dave Bautista) who turns out to be a cop hot on the trail of a brutal killer, he's thrust into a harrowing ordeal where he desperately tries to hold onto his wits, his life and his five-star rating.

Went to see Stuber with my movie buddy TanyaC and our two 18-year-old daughters. We all thought it was terrible. That was 109 minutes of my life I regret. Well, not completely because hanging out with the girls is always fun. And tickets were only $5. So it could have been worse.

The movie was predictable, cliche, and a little boring. There are some really funny scenes with some great banter between the two guys...just enough to make a...trailer! Yup, the trailer is the best part of the movie.

Stay away from this one. Maybe watch it if it comes on cable TV, but only there aren't any Andy Griffith reruns...the ones with Goober in them.

1 1/2 "Uber" Sheep

SharonS

Mutiny on the Moonbeam by Rie Sheridan Rose + giveaway

Hi there! Pleased to be guesting here on I Smell Sheep.

Today I’d like to talk about a theme that runs through several of my novels (including Mutiny on the Moonbeam.) This is the device of a girl pretending to be a boy. Most of us go through a tomboy stage as kids, and maybe that is what makes this such a fascinating trope for me. Three of my novels to date feature a major character who is later revealed to someone else to be a female. I’ll give you the names of the books, but not the characters, because one of them is supposed to be a big surprise. 😉 The Lute and the Liar, The Luckless Prince, and Mutiny on the Moonbeam all have young women who don trousers and pretend to be male.

What is the reasoning behind this choice? A woman can be strong and independent without wearing pants! Of course, she can.

But then it becomes a matter of logic. In most fantasy societies, you see a reversion to somewhere around Medieval or Renaissance Europe as far as mores and customs. These societies were male-dominated for the most part, and women were to be seen and not heard in most cases. So, a girl who wanted to be able to move freely about the countryside and fit into situations more traditionally seen as male—like the decks of a pirate ship—would want to blend in. To do that, it makes sense that she would put on trousers and hide her femininity.

It is also amusing as a writer to see the sort of trouble that you can put your heroine into as she tries hard to not get discovered. Do the men reveal secrets they wouldn’t discuss around a lady? Does she get cuffed for insubordination and then apologized profusely to once her secret is revealed. How does she react to that?

Things to think of if you put a girl into a situation like this:

· Where will she get her clothes. Steal? Buy? Make?
· Will she change her hair? Cut it? Pull it back? Dye it?
· Will she disguise her voice or act younger to make it logical?
· Will she confide in anyone? Pro—ally to help sell it. Con—someone who can sell her out.
· What, if anything will cause her to reveal her secret? It might be fun to have a character who never tells anyone the truth...

Each of my heroines has a different reason for their subterfuge, and each reveal is different. Their personalities all define their reaction to the necessity of “becoming other.” And the trope is not confined to fantasy. It will work in other historical genres as well. My Steampunk heroine was quite taken with trousers when she needed to wear them for a while. Luckily, we don’t have to pretend to be boys to wear pants these days!

Mutiny on the Moonbeam

by Rie Sheridan Rose

August 1, 2018

199 pages

Publisher: Mocha Memoirs Press; 1 edition

Branwyn St. Clair is running from her wicked stepfather when she stows aboard the first ship she comes to. Little does she know it is the infamous elven pirate ship, the Moonbeam. When cabin boy, Johnny Pate finds her in the hold, they form an uneasy alliance.

Life aboard the Moonbeam is not what she expects. The ship soars through the clouds in search of plunder But the biggest theft of all has already occurred...

About the Author:website-FB-twitter
Rie Sheridan Rose multitasks. A lot. Her short stories appear in numerous anthologies, including Killing It Softly I and II, On Fire, and Hides the Dark Tower. She has authored ten novels, six poetry chapbooks, and lyrics for dozens of songs. These were mostly written in conjunction with Marc Gunn, and can be found on "Don't Go Drinking with Hobbits" and "Pirates vs. Dragons" for the most part--with a few scattered exceptions.

Rie lives in Texas with her wonderful husband and several spoiled cat-children.

GIVEAWAY

a music CD of songs I wrote the lyrics to 

As airship pirates are one of my favorite things, I want to offer a copy of the music CD I wrote with Marc Gunn, (https://amzn.to/2Y9xZs0) to one of the commenters on this post. I will sign and mail it to the randomly chosen winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Kingdom of Thorns & Dreams Boxed Set

Kingdom of Thorns & Dreams Boxed Set

October 15th 2019
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, New Adult
Sleeping Beauty, but not how you remember it
One kiss.

That’s all. Just one kiss and the curse will be broken.
But is love’s true kiss a myth and will it be strong enough to break the curse that’s held her in its grasp for a century?
The compelling tale of a young princess fated to sleep forever and the prince destined to save her retold in this spellbinding collection by USA Today and Amazon bestselling authors.

One click now for your happily ever after.

Pre-order

Cover Reveal: Once Upon an Enchanted Forest: An Anthology of Romantic Witchcraft Stories

The autumnal equinox is a time of harvest and celebration, a balance of light and darkness, of magick and transformation. It’s a time when those who honor the changing seasons find a time to rest and reflect.

Or reap what they’ve sown.

Once Upon an Enchanted Forest, a collection of adult fantasy romances, features ten novelettes centered around one of the most enchanting preternatural beings of the ages: the witch. With lovers, magical forests, and witchcraft, our stories are sure to warm your nights and your dark little heart.

Once Upon an Enchanted Forest: An Anthology of Romantic Witchcraft Stories Authors: Alisha Klapheke, Angela J. Ford, Autumn Shelley, Bethany Adams, Charissa Weaks, Elva Birch, Emma Hamm, Juliet Marillier, Michelle Tang, Morgan Jensen
Publication date: September 24th 2019
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

🌳In the aftermath of a deadly Harvest Moon festival, the valley’s Witch Collector and a voiceless diviner venture into Frostwater Wood—a forest transformed into a dangerous, ever-changing maze—in hopes of saving their king from certain death.

🌳Desperate to escape her village, cobbler Rhianne braves the enchanted wood to find the Witch and her matchmaking loom. But when the loom weaves her a highborn match, the Witch flies into a rage that will set Rhianne’s fate on fire.

🌳After a drunken man falsely claims his daughter can spin straw into gold, a peasant woman—accused of witchcraft and facing death at the hands of the Mad King—must manage the impossible with no more than a wooden spindle and a prayer—and perhaps the aid of a dashing Fae she never saw coming.

🌳In a place called Wolfswood, Rosaline, a talented hunter, must face cursed and deadly creatures on the night of the autumnal equinox if she’s to save her people—and the woman she loves.

🌳When a wounded sorcerer infiltrates the boundary protecting her home, Thalia, Queen of the Dryads, must choose whether to trust this foreigner who’s quickly claiming her heart or uproot the seeds of affection growing between them and send him away.

🌳After a fatal accident places a village in grave danger, Yula, a young woman with unpredictable magick, is guided by a handsome knight on her quest to find the only person who can help her—the legendary and evil Dark Queen.

🌳In a time of war, a witch possessing healing powers, is tasked with saving the life of her wounded king, all while trying not to lose her heart to his brutish right-hand man.

🌳A young man struggling with his own identity journeys to a modern-day witch living in a lonely forest garden, and is presented with an unexpected connection and a tantalizing choice.

🌳In an enchanted garden deep in the heart of London, the elven scout Tarah guards the portal to her realm, a boring task after so many centuries. But when a dragon awakens in the countryside, searching for his stolen hoard, life becomes anything but mundane—especially when the dragon decides that Tarah might be the greatest treasure of all.

🌳This anthology also includes a new story from the brilliant Juliet Marillier, author of the Sevenwaters Trilogy and many other historical fantasy novels, including her recent publications The Harp of Kings and Beautiful, an Audible Exclusive.

Now, sit back and let us tell you a tale. Welcome to The Enchanted Forest.

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Excerpt: Migration: Queer Sci Fi's Sixth Annual Flash Fiction Contest (Book 5) + giveaway

 Queer Sci Fi has just released the annual QSF Flash Fiction anthology. This year, the theme is "Migration."

Migration: Queer Sci Fi's Sixth Annual Flash Fiction Contest (QSF Flash Fiction Book 5)

Editor: J. Scott Coatsworth

July 24, 2019

258 pages

Genres: sci fi, fantasy, paranormal, horror

Pairings: All

Publisher: Other Worlds Ink; 1 edition

Cover Artist: J. Scott Coatsworth / Kelley York, Sleepy Fox Studio (typography)

MI-GRA-TION (noun)
1) Seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.

2) Movement of people to a new area or country in order to find work or better living conditions.

3) Movement from one part of something to another.

Three definitions to inspire writers around the world and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell. Here are 120 of our favorites.

Migration feaures 300 word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.

Other Worlds Ink-Amazon-iBooks
Barnes & Noble-Kobo-QueeRomance Ink-Goodreads

Excerpt

Each year, hundreds of writers send in stories for the Queer Sci Fi flash fiction anthology. Here are the opening lines from some of the stories chosen for the 2019 edition – Migration:

“Darkness has substance. It is tangible; different shades within the black, sounds, a taste. It is accompanied by self-awareness of time and thoughts, even when other senses fail.” —Hope for Charity, by Robyn Walker

“The sky has been screaming for five straight days when the shrimps come to take us away. They’ve been boxing up the others and hauling them off. Now they’re here for us, soaking wet, dragging cords and crates behind them.” —Shrimpanzee, Sionnain Bailey

“Allister always had faultless hair. He’d comb and gel it to perfection while gazing in the mirror. One day a pair of eyes stared back.” —Zulu Finds a Home, by Kevin Klehr

“On her sister’s wedding day Ari noticed that one of her ears had migrated to her hand. It was right after her high school crush, Emily, arrived with Cousin Matt.” —Playing It By Ear, Aidee Ladnier

“The wound was fatal. Their vessel wouldn't live much longer. This is what came from leaving loose ends. Frantically they sought out a new vessel to migrate to. “ —The Essence, by L.M. Brown

“That night, we were sitting in the bed of her daddy’s old pickup truck and the radio was playing the best song. We had a pack of cigarettes between us and her hand was almost touching mine. The wheat field was silver in the moonlight. When they came, we weren’t surprised, just disappointed that our time was up already.” —Our Song, by Lauren Ring

“Willow said she was my wife, but I knew it wasn’t her, not the right her, anyway. Sure she looked like her with olive skin and bright pink hair. She even smelled of mango flowers, just like I remembered, but there was something about her smile that was slightly off, something about when she said she loved me that didn’t sit well in my old heart.” — They Said It Would Be Her, by Elizabeth Andre

“Agnes is eight when she first sees the river. Cutting its way through town, the only thing she knows not coated in coal dust. She sticks her toes in, comes home with wet socks and a secret. See, the river hadn’t been there yesterday.” —Stream of Consciousness, by Ziggy Schutz

“Terry twirled in her green synthsilk dress, looked at her reflection, liked what she saw. She felt good in her own skin, for maybe the first time.” —Altball, by RE Andeen

“The thing was in the corner. It had come through the window and had slid down the wall. Scratch went the sound. The noise of a hundred nails clawing at the wood. Nails of white bone. Alex pulled the sheets up quickly, covering every inch of skin and hair in a warm darkness.” —Whose Nightmare, by Jamie Bonomi

Included Authors:

A hundred and twenty authors are included in Migration:

Butterflies, by A O'Donovan

The Return, by A.M. Leibowitz

A New Spring, by Aaron Silver

Universal Quota, by Abby Bartle

The Call of Home, by Adrienne Wilder

Starfall, by Adrik Kemp

Playing it By Ear, by Aidee Ladnier

Rabbit, by Amanda Thomas

That Does Not Love…, by Andi Deacon

Inborn, by Andrea Speed

Saving Ostakis, by Angelica Primm

A Dawn Wish, by Antonia Aquilante

Diaspora, by Ariel E. James

Transmigration, by Ashby Danvers

Across the Mirror, by Ava Kelly

Between, by BE Allatt

The Speck, by Bey Deckard

The King of the Mountain Cometh, by Bob Goddard

Before and After, by C. A. Chesse

Home, by C.A. McDonald

Too Much Tech, by C.L. Mannarino

Ze Who Walks Into the Future, by Carey Ford Compton

The Gate, by Carol Holland March

Our Last Light Skip, by Chloe Spencer

Passage, by Christine Taylor-Butler

The Perils of Pick-Up Lines, by Colton Aalto

Parched, by Crysta K. Coburn

Changeling Dreams, by Damian Serbu

Destinations, by Dave Creek

Another Job, Another Planet, by David Viner

Thiefmaster Rosalind's Apprentice, by Devon Widmer

A Weight Off Their Shoulders, by Diane Morrison

Once a Year, by Dianne Hartsock

Mettle, by Die BoothForever Bound, by E.W. Murks

They Said It Would Be Her, by Elizabeth Andre

Til Death Do Us Part, by Elizabeth Anglin

Little One, by Eloreen Moon

GBFN, by Emilia Agrafojo

The Long Distance Thing, by Ether Nepenthes

Call My People Home, by Evelyn Benvie

Jace vs. the Incubi, by Eytan Bernstein

A New Tradition, by Foster Bridget Cassidy

The Curious Cabinet, by Ginger Streusel

Ready, by Hank Edwards

The Albatrosses, by Harry F. Rey

A Boy's Shadow, by Helen De Cruz

Portrait of a Lady, by Isobel Granby

Beam That Is In, by J. Comer

The Hunt, by J. R. Frontera

Repeating History, by J. Summerset

Neil's Journey, by J.P. Bowie

Homeward Bound, by J.S. Garner

Whose Nightmare?, by Jamie Bonomi

A Moment of Bravery, by Jessie Pinkham

Laetus, by Jet Lupin

Where You Go, I'll Follow, by Joe Baumann

Ambrose Out of Ash, by Jonathan Fesmire

Shooting Modes, by Joshua Darrow

TerrorForm, by Juam Jocom

The Curse, by Jude Reid

Throwing Eggs, by K E Olukoya

Fly, by Kayleigh Sky

The Keep, by KC Burn

Zulu Finds a Home, by Kevin Klehr

The Risks and Advantages of Data Migration, by Kim Fielding

Irreversible, by kim gryphon

Looner, by Krishan Coupland

The Essence, by L.M. Brown

Our Song, by Lauren Ring

O Human Child, by Lisa Hamill

Goodbye Marghretta, by Lou Sylvre

Choices, by LV Lloyd

Endangered Species, by M Joseph Murphy

Planet Retro, Unplugged, by M. X. Kelly

Elemental, by M.D. Grimm

To Wish on a Love Knot, by Margaret McGaffey Fisk

Firebirds, by Marita M. Connor

Breeding Season, by Mary Newman

Kooks at Home, by Matt McHugh

Spring, by Mere Rain

Into the South, by Mindy Leana Shuman

Not How We Planned It, by Minerva Cerridwen

What Is Left Behind, by Monique Cuillerier

How Far Would You Go for the One You Love?, by Nathan Alling Long

Innocence, by Nathaniel Taff

Heart and Soul, by Nils Odlund

Tides, by Patricia Scott

Killer Queen, by Paula McGrath

Genesis, by Pelaam

If Pigs Could Fly, by Penelope Friday

Click, by R R Angell

Be Kind to Strangers, by Raina Lorring

Altball, by RE Andeen

Far From Home, by Riley S. Keene

Hope for Charity, by Robyn Walker

Night Comes to the Bea Arthur, by Rory Ni Coileáin

MIG Ration, by S R Jones

Going Back, by Sacchi Green

World Behind and Home Ahead, by Sara Testarossa

The Call of the Suet, by Sarah Hadley Brook

Research & Development, by Shaina Phillips

Into the Void, by Shannon Brady

The Silkie's Dance, by Shannon West

Seal Hunt, by Shirley Meier

Shrimpanzee FIRST IN BOOK, by Sionnain Bailey

The Woman With No Name, by Siri Paulson

Memories of Clay, by Spencer Mann

Simulacrum, by Steve Carr

The Experience, by Steve Fuson

Flight, by Steven Harper

Birds of New Atlantis, by Stewart C Baker

Lurching Forward, by Sydney Blackburn

Spores of Retribution, by Tray Ellis

Skin Hunger, by Treasure Nguyen

Elvira, by Trevor Barton

Ever After, by Warren Rochelle

Into the Light, by Wart Hill

Dryads, by X Marduk

Stream of Consciousness, by Ziggy Schutz

Giveaway

Queer Sci Fi is giving away a $20 gift Amazon certificate with this tour – enter via Rafflecopter for a chance to win:

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