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A Book and a Movie

Fragile Things
Fragile Things
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What's not to love about Neil Gaiman? He is outrageously creative, spunky, writes with elan and a certain verbal swagger that has readers hooked, and from the photos on book jackets is totally hot. Fragile Things is a collection of short stories ranging from the fantastical to the ghostly to the macabre. 100% entertainment. I love how with each story Gaiman offers the reader an original perspective on things.

Across the Universe
Across the Universe
As for Across the Universe -- I know this movie has received rave reviews from varied quarters but I have to say, I found it trashy. They've butchered most of those wonderful Beatles songs (honestly, some things are sacred and NOT to be messed with) and the storyline is horrendous. What a tacky picturisation of Dear Prudence, for example -- a girl called Prudence sitting at a window and crying because she feels lonely while everyone around her couples up. Geez. Evan Rachel Wood is self-righteous and irritating. Jim Sturgess and Joe Anderson are cute but bland. Not worth your time or money, I'd say, especially not if you love the Beatles' music as it is, and don't want it to be jazzed up.
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Waterbaby
Interesting ... and I was looking forward to seeing it *because* of the music.
TheFiercestCalm
Plew! I am so glad that someone else didn't like it too. I was beginning to feel like a freak because it seemed like I was the only one. I couldn't even finish watching it. It was so cringeworthy. I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Don't mess with The Beatles!
Steve Betz
I really liked "Smoke and Mirrors", another collection of short stories from NG, but I haven't yet read "Fragile Things". The only thing I didn't like about S&M (wait, that sounds funny...) is that my very favorite strory was the first, so every other one was little tiny let-down.
Lightchaser
That's how I was lured, too :O
Lightchaser
Aha. You know, I think we need to get together and bitch about the things (and people) we don't like. It'll be so much fun, lol.
Lightchaser
Heehee. S&M is next on my list! ;o) My aim is to own the whole Sandman series someday.
Waterbaby
I am officially unlured.
Patricia Volonakis Davis
It's so interesting, but we just met two Beatles afficionados who loved that film and tried to cinvince us to see it. It seemed suspect to me on a few levels. So thanks for the 'heads up.'
greywolf
NG books are always among my favourite. Good stuff.

I actually enjoyed the movie though. It uses the songs as the base for the movie but they don't compare to the originals and I try not to compare covers to originals. In general I prefer a cover tune that has its own take on the sound rather than a mere copy. Walrus and Mr Kite are among my favourites and the covers are still off the wall.
sarahism

I don't understand why Across the Universe got such great reviews. I'm not even that big of a Beatles fan and I felt the music was butchered. Not to mention the story line was the most horrible piece of dribble I've ever sat through. What the hell was up with that whole circus scene. That movie is a movie for the sake of being a movie, total crap!

And um... I should read more Gaiman...

Halahblue
I love Gaiman. This has been on my to-read list. I got Good Omens for Christmas and haven't jumped into it yet. Neverwhere is in my topd 3 favorite books of all time though. Gaiman is amazing.
Lightchaser
Good Omens is hilarious! It's sure to become another all-time favourite of yours -- it had me in splits throughout, very intelligent humour which is the natural outcome of a collaboration between Gaiman and Pratchett.

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