When it's Time for "Netflix and Chill"

There are times when I like nothing better than getting lost in a new movie or series. Not only is it a break away from working in my day job (or on a story idea) but it's also relaxing as well.

Then again, I've lost count of how many times I was hoping to not think about my WIP for a while, and ended up with an idea. Sometimes that thing you're stuck on can come to you when you're trying to figure out a twist in a thriller. Or, when you're hoping the lovers will finally get back together before the end credits roll.

So, it's not really procrastinating, it's stimulating your creativity (at least that's how it's worked for me)! Here are some of the series in my Netflix queue at the moment:

Troy – Fall of a City 

Entertaining re-telling of the epic without being boring or predictable (because, if you’re familiar with the Iliad or the Odyssey, you know how it ends). Surprisingly modern with inclusive casting and new twists on the characters. The settings and costumes give the series a sometimes scruffy (and real) feeling.

The Stranger 

I'd first heard about this series on Twitter, then it popped up when I logged into Netflix (the video auto-play can be a good thing at times, it seems). Based on a book by, Harlan Coben, it twists and turns and reveals a bit here and there about the characters. Starting off with a husband's seemingly perfect life being shattered when a stranger tells him a secret about his wife, events spiral from then on.

I love stories with twists, and this one kept me up past midnight on a Sunday night. (Let's just say I did a lot of yawning on Monday.)

The Ghost Bride 

A paranormal about a girl who has been asked to be the bride of a recently deceased, heir to a fortune. It even has a "meet cute" between her and a heavenly guard, along with some dramatic and amusing moments. Ultimately, she'll have to help solve the mystery of who killed the heir, and there are quite a few suspects. I'm halfway through this one, and I'm anxious to see how it unfolds.

The Witcher 

I haven't started this one yet, but I've seen several interesting scenes on Twitter featuring Henry Cavill (one of the cast) without his shirt. So, I'm going to be sure to get to this one ASAP.

Luna Nera 

Just finished this after binge watching last weekend. It has everything – witches in 17th century Italy, a chosen one, and a mysterious organization that wants access to their magic. Lots of action, including witches who carry swords and free other women wrongly accused of witchcraft.

So far, I don't know if Netflix is giving this a second season, but I certainly hope so. The first season wraps up a major storyline, while leaving the door open for some other developments.

 I Am Dragon 

Not a Netflix movie, but if you have Amazon Prime, it was (for a time) available to members without the rental charge. Based on a Russian tale, this one has a dragon shifter, a very adventurous heroine and nice special effects. They don't have a "meet cute," but I was certainly rooting for them to get their HEA.

 Have any favorites that you've been watching lately?

3 Fantasy Shows I'm Currently Bingewatching

I have a confession to make. I am a TV junkie. Of course, I don't have time to watch nearly as much TV as I used to, but I still find time now and then to binge watch something I haven't yet discovered. Apparently I'm a teenager (or millennial?) trapped in the body of a grown woman because I regularly watch most of the shows on The CW — Arrow, The Flash, The Vampire Diaries (RIP), Supergirl, and Supernatural — but I also have discovered some shows on Netflix that aren't as well known that I absolutely love. I've already reviewed Stranger Things, but here are a few more Netflix shows I highly recommend if you're a fan of speculative fiction.

Sense8 — Netflix
It's not easy to describe the awesomeness that is Sense8 because there truly isn't anything out there to make a fair comparison to, but I'll try to do it justice. Created by the Wachowskis of The Matrix fame, the show follows eight characters, all from different countries/ethnicities/races/genders/sexual orientations, who are sensates who belong to the same cluster, meaning they are mentally and emotionally linked. They interact with one another telepathically while being hunted by a man called Whispers, another sensate who works for an agency trying to exterminate their kind. Once you get into it, it's one of those shows you can't stop watching. Plus, it portrays main characters who are transgender, homosexual, and non-white like normal human beings, and it weaves in some worthwhile social issues into its mythology. Season two just dropped this month and I watched it all in a weekend and am now anxiously hoping for a season three announcement soon. Are you listening Netflix?!?!

Black Mirror — Netflix
A British import, Black Mirror is kind of like a Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits for the digital age, with standalone episodes that feature well-known actors in fantasy stories that indicate that with too much technology we risk losing some (if not all) of our humanity. Granted, some episodes are kind of dark, but they're incredibly well-written and thought provoking. I recommend it if you want a show that you can watch an episode here and there without getting sucked into cliffhangers.

Mystery Science Theater 300: The Return — Netflix
I loved watching the goofy Mystery Science Theater shows when I was younger, so I wasted no time diving into the new show when it debuted on Netflix. Plus, Felicia Day, who I admire immensely, is a writer/producer/actress on the reboot. If you're not familiar with it (seriously?), each episode is about a man and his robot friends in space who are forced to watch terrible movies as an experiment, and they mock the movies while they play. Plus, they do funny skits instead of commercials. If you have a silly sense of humor, check it out. You are guaranteed to snort-laugh at least once during each movie.

What are you binge-watching? Summer is here, so I need suggestions. Give me yours in the comments!

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Angela Campbell is the author of the psychic detectives series from Harper Impulse. Learn more about her and her books at www.AngelaCampbellOnline.com. 

5 movies to watch (or not) on Netflix

I'll fess up. I forgot I was supposed to post here today until, like, right this second, and because my brain is the consistency of oatmeal right now thanks to the flu, cold, plague, or whatever the heck I've been battling for a couple of weeks, I'm falling back on my standby — a listicle!

Yes, in addition to being a reader, I watch a lot of movies. Got the FILM NERD t-shirt and everything. Not even kidding. And the only slightly positive thing about being sick is Netflix, because it requires you to move no further than pressing the Netflix button on your remote, and it requires no thinking. None. Okay, well maybe some, but still. Here's a list of five movies I've watched while I've been sick. Disclaimer: Note that I might have been feverish when I watched some of these, so take my choice of movies and my opinion of them with that in mind.

1. "In Your Eyes": I'll admit I perked up for about five seconds like a puppy being offered a treat when I saw this was on Netflix. Written and executive produced by Joss Whedon, it turned out to be a nice little hidden gem amongst Joss Whedon's more well-known works. It's a romance-fantasy film that follows a man and a woman, Dylan and Rebecca, who discover they can see through each other's eyes and can communicate telepathically from across the country, without having ever met. Timid, the affluent Rebecca is unhappily married to a successful doctor while barely-scraping-by Dylan is an ex-convict trying to straighten up his life. It's a very subtle, quiet love story from the man who brought us Buffy and Firefly and The Avengers. If you like fantasy blended with romance, this is a good movie. Unfortunately, it's hard to snark at it while watching it though.

2. "Knights of Badassdom": I sooo wanted this to be good-good, because it had Ryan Kwanten, Summer Glau AND Peter Dinklage in it being LARPers — that's some serious geek cred right there. Unfortunately, it was pretty bad-good, as in your inner monologue will snark throughout the entire thing just to justify the fact you keep watching it and to up the entertainment meter. Netflix says this for the description: "Venturing into the woods to act out a medieval fantasy, three friends face a real-life struggle for survival after inadvertently conjuring a succubus." It's labeled under fantasy comedy and fantasy horror. Granted, it had its moments, and I could stare at Ryan Kwanten for hours, which I did since he's the main guy in this. But overall, it wasn't nearly as funny or even as scary as I had hoped. My verdict: Meh.

3. "Mr. Nobody": Oh, Jared Leto, we need to have a talk. Mainly, I need to talk to you about what the hell this movie was about, because it's as confusing and complicated as statistics are to a journalist. A straight up sci-fi/fantasy, the movie's description is: "The last mortal in a world of immortals, Nemo Nobody begins reviewing his life at the age of 120, trying to determine if he made the right decisions." Basically Nemo, as a 120-year-old in the future, recounts his life to a reporter, but his story changes minute to minute. One second he's married to this woman, but oh wait, no, he says that was a lie and he was really married to this woman. Then his memories begin blending and ... my brain hurts remembering it. So confusing. Still, it's interesting if you're into overly artsy, abstract movies that seem like they have a poignant message, but they're so artsy and abstract, you don't know what the hell it was supposed to be. Plus, Jared Leto!

4. "Roborex": Don't judge. When I saw that this family film had Ben Browder of Farscape fame in it, my brain said, 'well, hello Roborex!' and my finger pressed PLAY before I could stop it. This movie is about a cute-but-nerdy-scientific kid named James whose only friend is his dog, Rex. His widowed dad (Ben Browder!) is a policeman who doesn't know how to deal with James, so he basically lets the kid roam all over the place, which is how James ends up finding a meteor that turns out to be—wait for it—a robot cat! And then later, a robot dog FROM THE FUTURE comes to James to protect him because the robot cat wants the rare crystal on a necklace that belonged to James' mom. I swear, it's not the fever talking, that's the actual plot of the movie. And maybe it was the fever, but I really enjoyed this. Because how can you NOT enjoy a movie that has both a robot cat and robot dog in it?

5. "The Machine": I don't know. I just kind of clicked on this one and thought I'd see what it was about since it had both Toby Stephens and Caity Lotz in it. The description: "During a cold war, Britain's Ministry of Defence steals the first-ever self-aware cyborg and trains it to become a brutal fighting machine." This is your standard dystopian "Wait, is this machine conscious? Holy crap, when will it kill us all?" trope, but it tells that trope with a cool, kickass female cyborg and a hot scientist guy who wants to help her. It's not particularly violent, and some might say it's a little boring at times because it's shot in such a smart, sophisticated way that relies more on characters and story than action, but I liked it.

So, have you watched anything good on Netflix lately?

10 fantasy movies or shows to binge watch

Here in America, we just celebrated Thanksgiving, and now others are celebrating Black Friday. If you’re out there among the shopping hoardes, good luck, you crazy people. And then there are people like me — celebrating a long weekend at home, taking it easy with a movie, video game, or a good book. Obviously it’s hard to read a book when you have company, so let’s talk about movies.

Being an obnoxious movie fanatic in addition to a rabid reader, I thought I’d share some fantasy film options available on streaming services, for those gathered in front of a TV this weekend and looking for something fun to watch without having to leave the house.

1.  Marvel’s The Avengers – Sure, you’ve probably already seen this one (and if you haven’t, what is wrong with you?!?) but this superhero flick offers a whole bunch of awesome in one movie so it’s worth a rewatch. Hot guys with cool props, hot girls with kickass skills, and Loki. Need I say more? – Available on Netflix and Amazon Prime with subscription.

2. Galaxy Quest — This sci-fi comedy pokes fun at Trekkies while also honoring the genre they love. It’s flat-out hilarious and has Sigourney Weaver aka Ripley in it. It’s a good one for almost all ages, too, which is convenient if you have to be conscious of younger viewers. – Available on Netflix and Amazon Prime

3. Odd Thomas — This one is a little dark and has some horror elements, but if you can handle light horror, you won’t be sorry you watched this book-into-film adaptation. Personally, the book “Odd Thomas” by Dean Koontz is one of my all-time favorite books, and I thought the movie kicked booty, too. Anton Yelchin is so darn likable in the role of the small-town psychic, I could hardly stand it. – Available on Netflix

4. Stake Land — This one is for horror fans who love vampire movies. A lesser-known gem in the vampire genre, Stake Land does for bloodsuckers what The Walking Dead does for zombies. A few human survivors are fighting off hordes of vampires and the government has fallen to religious fundamentalists who are now trying to take control of all the remaining people. It’s gritty and a bit gory with good acting, and worth a watch if you like that kind of thing. – Available on Netflix

5. Cockneys Vs. Zombies — Yes, yes, I know. Another horror-ish addition, but this one is also a British comedy with a fun premise. A trio of bumbling cousins attempt to rob a bank to keep their grandfather's retirement home open, and wouldn't you know it, the zombie apocalypse happens in the midst of it. I love seeing some terrific pensioners given a chance to fight off zombies here. Because who wouldn’t? – Available on Netflix

6. Heart and Souls — This is a comedy from the early 90s that stars Robert Downey Jr. Need I say more? Fine. I will. It’s a cute kitschy movie about a creep who is forced to help four ghosts find peace to avoid losing his girlfriend. And did I mention Robert Downey Jr. is in it? – Available on Netflix

7. Live, Die, Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow — I mean, okay, this one stars Tom Cruise, but don’t hold that against it or you will seriously lose out on a movie that’s simply amaze-balls. This is, hands down, the best movie of 2014 that no one knows about, which is a real shame. Plus, Cruise gets killed. A lot. Seriously, he does, and it’s awesome because he keeps coming back to life to try to stop an alien race from conquering the world. Plus, Emily Blunt plays one of the best female characters in a sci-fi/fantasy film I think I’ve ever seen. Not even kidding. Watch it. Now. – Available for rent on demand, but totally worth it.

TV Show contenders

Some of you simply want to binge watch, so I’ve got you covered with some TV show suggestions, too.

1. Orphan Black — A BBC America original series, this show is ridiculously addictive, so be prepared to binge watch and then be left yearning for more (season 3 hasn’t aired yet). It’s hard to give a synopsis without spoiling the show, but let’s just say it involves clones, and they are awesome. – Season 1 is available for free with an Amazon Prime membership.

2. The Tomorrow People — Either you have never heard of this show and just went “huh?” or you know it was a remake and on the CW and expect it to immediately suck. Guess what? It doesn’t! Here’s the show’s description: “A group of young people with evolved powers battle evil using their special talents that include teleportation and telepathic communication.” It was cancelled, so there’s only one season, but it’s definitely worth binge watching. – Available on Netflix

3. Firefly — I have a hard time believing that anyone who is visiting this site hasn’t already seen the awesomeness that is Firefly, but just in case, it’s getting a spot of honor on this list. One, it’s from Joss Whedon. Two, it’s a western in space. Three, either Captain Mal as played by Nathan Fillion will become your new fantasy boyfriend or you’ll develop a serious girl crush on Kaylee or Zoe. So much to love. I can’t even. – Available on Netflix

Happy watching! And feel free to leave additional suggestions in the comments!

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~ Angela Campbell is the author of the psychic detectives series, featuring quirky heroines, sexy heroes and adorable pet sidekicks. Learn more about her books at www.AngelaCampbellOnline.com.