Two Recommendations: A Book and A Film

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Nov 25, 1998
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I went to see "The Incredibles" last weekend and enjoyed it thoroughly. Without giving too much away, it is about a husband and wife who were retired superheroes, except that they had to come out of retirement along with their three kids. It is very funny and quite clever. No blades, though.

The book is Neil Gaiman's Stardust, a lovely fantasy profusely and lushly illustrated by Charles Vess. Do not think of a comic book or of a graphic novel here. This is a genuine, real live novel, but with profuse and beautiful illustrations, kind of like a Celtic manuscript. The story is of your basic "coming of age" quest, but Gaiman is such an imaginative writer that it is in the details where he shines, and the illustrations only make those details even better.

I heartily recommend both of these. I also recommend watching for the new Mustang advertizement. It starts out with a guy driving what appears to be a reaper through a cornfield, only to have it turn out to be a road paving machine and he is making a road through his cornfield. He then brings out a new Mustang and, as he is about to climb into the driver's seat, he sees someone walking out of the corn. It is Steve McQueen in the 'Bullitt" role from the 1968 movie. McQueen/Bullitt climbs into the car and takes it for a couple of hot laps and then climbs out and disappears back into the corn, all very like the film, "Field of Dreams". "Build it and he will come." Hah! :)
 
I got to sit in both of the Mustangs that were used in the movie.A bud of mine was General Manager of Larry Stocker tire in "the City".Car was getting tires changed to Firestones.Cool cars and cool movie.The prick wouldn't let me drive it though.
The ad is one of the coolest I have seen.
 
Hugh,
if you're such a Gaiman fan, have you read Neverwhere?
How about Good Omens, written with Terry Pratchett?
 
PWork said:
American Gods and Stardust are good, but Neverwhere is GREAT!!! ;) :D :cool:

Paul
Neverwhere was the best novel I have read in quite awhile, and no matter how good Gaiman is, he's gonna have trouble topping that one.
 
NV, I cannot get the link to work. Are you sure of the address?

To you others, I have read all of the Gaiman stories that I can find except Good Omens and Last Temptation, the first cowritten with Terry Pratchett and the second with Alice Cooper. I have never been able to "get" Terry Pratchett's other work, so Good Omens has not interested me and I simply do not like Alice Cooper. I am still seeking Mr. Punch.

Of all of Gaiman's work, I think that I liked the Sandman Series and American Gods best. I cannot comparatively rate those two as they are just too different in format. It would be apples and oranges. They are each absolutely great in their own ways.
 
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