Non Civil War Books and Movies

[MattL]

If fiction is included in the topic, I've been reading "Star Wars: Thrawn" by Timothy Zahn. My oldest daughter and I are both fans of the Star Wars prequels and the animated Clone Wars and Rebels series, so she picked up this book about the imperial officer Thrawn after he was the big bad in seasons 3 and 4 of Rebels. It was one of those "dad, you'll enjoy this, you should read it", so I have. My impression of the character is that he's Sherlock Holmes in space, an alien officer in the xenophobic Imperial Navy, who rises through the ranks by observing details and putting together deductions that most others miss and by adopting unorthodox methods to solve problems. It's an entertaining book and I've enjoyed it, and there's the bonus of being invited to share in something that interests my teenager, so that alone makes it worthwhile.

I was a huge fan of Timothy Zahn's original Thrawn books (some of the earliest books I read as a teenager that got me in to reading actually) and have a kindle copy of that one, been really excited to read it. Thrawn has always been one of my favorite characters. Been meaning to read some of his older award winning non-Star Wars stuff.

A big fan of the Clone Wars and Rebels series too. Despite being very kid-ish in ways honestly felt like they had better writing than a lot of the main Star Wars content.

 

[Andersonh1]

I was a huge fan of Timothy Zahn's original Thrawn books (some of the earliest books I read as a teenager that got me in to reading actually) and have a kindle copy of that one, been really excited to read it. Thrawn has always been one of my favorite characters. Been meaning to read some of his older award winning non-Star Wars stuff.

A big fan of the Clone Wars and Rebels series too. Despite being very kid-ish in ways honestly felt like they had better writing than a lot of the main Star Wars content.

I thought both series really captured that sense of adventure that I get from the original Star Wars movies. Yeah, some bleak things happen, but larger than life heroes fight loathsome villains against a epic backdrop, and it's the type of escapism that just really appeals to me. And I can watch it with my kids without worrying about the content, so that's a bonus.

 

[Viper21]

I thought both series really captured that sense of adventure that I get from the original Star Wars movies. Yeah, some bleak things happen, but larger than life heroes fight loathsome villains against a epic backdrop, and it's the type of escapism that just really appeals to me. And I can watch it with my kids without worrying about the content, so that's a bonus.

I'll never forget waiting in line for hours, to see the first Star Wars in a theater. 1977 I believe.... In my opinion, it was a quantum leap in cinematography. Not to mention, to this kid, a mind blowing experience. My Mom asked me as we were walking out, "Did you like it..?" My response was, "Can we get back in line, & watch it again..?" Haven't felt that way about a movie since. Though, there are plenty I've watched dozens of times.

 

[MattL]

I thought both series really captured that sense of adventure that I get from the original Star Wars movies. Yeah, some bleak things happen, but larger than life heroes fight loathsome villains against a epic backdrop, and it's the type of escapism that just really appeals to me. And I can watch it with my kids without worrying about the content, so that's a bonus.

Yeah, exactly. A surprisingly good balance of some pretty dark content but plenty of that positive escapism. Some excellent voice actors. Clone Wars actually made a version of the characters I liked! As a random aside the voice actor for Padme (which does a way more compelling version than the prequel movies) voiced a key role in what is in my opinion the best Star Wars game made, KOTOR - Knights of the Old Republic (a truly masterpiece RPG with great voice acting and dialogue) which takes place thousands of years before the original Star Wars movie (so they get the freedom to do what they want without conflicting).

What was great with Clone Wars and Rebels as well is they pulled from the extended Universe of Star Wars content. When Disney relaunched Star Wars they made all those old books (and there were tons, not all good of coruse) and content and made them no longer canon. Clone Wars and Rebels are canon however so they pulled in content from the extended universe (like Thrawn) and made it Canon. Some of the best of the Star Wars content. As a fan of some of that content I have a lot of appreciate for their respect for that content.

QUOTE="Viper21, post: 6712, member: 12"]I'll never forget waiting in line for hours, to see the first Star Wars in a theater. 1977 I believe.... In my opinion, it was a quantum leap in cinematography. Not to mention, to this kid, a mind blowing experience. My Mom asked me as we were walking out, "Did you like it..?" My response was, "Can we get back in line, & watch it again..?" Haven't felt that way about a movie since. Though, there are plenty I've watched dozens of times.[/QUOTE]

Not just you, it's still considered as being a massive leap forward in special effects alone. Still the best Star Wars movies.

 

[Viper21]

Not just you, it's still considered as being a massive leap forward in special effects alone. Still the best Star Wars movies.

We are in 100% agreement here. None of the recent ones come close in my opinion.

 

[Viper21]

(some of the earliest books I read as a teenager that got me in to reading actually).

The first book I read, of my own choosing (teenager): Tarzan - Edgar Rice Burroughs. At one time, I had the entire series. Loved those books.

 

[O' Be Joyful]

The first book I read, of my own choosing (teenager): Tarzan - Edgar Rice Burroughs. At one time, I had the entire series. Loved those books.

Figgers',

...

o/c I'm being a...

 

[Matt McKeon]

Slacks and Calluses

This is an account by an English teacher in 1943, who with a friend, responds to an appeal by an aircraft manufacturer to work on the line producing B-24 bombers during their summer vacation. Its a funny account of working in the bowels of a vast factory, basically putting together a bomber by hand. She fastened seat belt holders and later the de-icer system, jobs that required simple tasks, in sequence, in very small spaces, over and over again.

Its most interesting to the modern reader is her portrait of how differently she was treated, in her coveralls, then in her usual dresses: a lot worse outside the plant. She had a deft touch in vignettes of her supervisors and coworkers, mostly poor women fresh out of the Depression, who thought this assembly line job was the best they could ever hope for.

 

[Andersonh1]

I have just bought the first two volumes of the seven volume biography of George Washington by Douglas Southall Freeman. I thoroughly enjoyed Freeman's biography of Lee and "Lee's Lieutenants", so I am confidant that this biography will be well researched and well written, and I'm looking forward to getting started. I had wanted to purchase the entire set, but it's always pretty expensive, so it looks like I might end up buying this a bit at a time.

 

[Matt McKeon]

Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories

A quiet series about a taciturn owner of a bar/food counter on a Tokyo back alley, that's open from midnight to seven am. He only offers one dish, but will cook to order anything you want, if you bring him the ingredients or he has them on hand. People come in and have problems, either their love lives, or other challenges.

 

[Matt McKeon]

Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories

A quiet series about a taciturn owner of a bar/food counter on a Tokyo back alley, that's open from midnight to seven am. He only offers one dish, but will cook to order anything you want, if you bring him the ingredients or he has them on hand. People come in and have problems, either their love lives, or other challenges.

He doesn't try to solve problems, that's not the point. Its a fascinating look for an outsider on Japanese mores and customs.

 

[Jim Klag]

I've started re-reading my collection of Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels. I love these books and the characters like Spenser and Hawk make fun reading. You can read each one in just a few hours (even with my frequent pee breaks) and there are a million of them. So, I should have a good winter of reading.

 

[5fish]

of my own choosing (teenager): Tarzan - Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote one of my first paperbacks I read "The Land That Time Forgot," ... I did not know it part of a three-volume set at the time. I never read the other two books because it was decades later when I learned about the other two books...lol

This volume assembles all three of Edgar Rice Burroughs' science-fantasy "lost world" novels, "The Land That Time Forgot," "The People That Time Forgot," and "Out of Time's Abyss."

Here is a link to the complete set in one book...

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Lan...2KFNPYKX46R&psc=1&refRID=FM1QMBZX02KFNPYKX46R

 

[5fish]

I'll never forget waiting in line for hours, to see the first Star Wars in a theater. 1977 I believe.... In my opinion, it was a quantum leap in cinematography.

I agree I saw this Star Wars movie five times in the theater when it was released...

 

[Matt McKeon]

Come From Away
On Sept. 11, 2001, US airspace was closed, and the Canadians followed suit, diverting dozens of incoming flights to air force bases or remote airports.

This musical is about the small town of Gander, Newfoundland. 38 jetliners were diverted, carrying over 6500 passengers and crew, to a town of barely 10,000.

For a week, the people of Gander showed astonishing hospitality, generosity, and kindness to the 'plane people," which included travelers from all over the world. They opened their homes, fed and sheltered unexpected guests for five days. The general "feel good" tone is darkened as some passengers turn on Muslim passengers, and the extend of the losses in the USA became known.

Newfoundland has a drinking culture. There was considerable drinking involved.

A wonderful show, the opposite of cynical.

 

[Matt McKeon]

Jojo Rabbit
A young German boy in an unnamed town in 1944-5 experiences the destruction of the Third Reich. An enthusiastic member of the Hitler Youth, or possibly an organization for preHitler youths, the ten year old an imaginary friend: Adolf Hitler himself.

The surrealistic elements sit uneasily with the general atmosphere of increasing deadly tension. Worth seeing.

 

[O' Be Joyful]

Jojo Rabbit
A young German boy in an unnamed town in 1944-5 experiences the destruction of the Third Reich. An enthusiastic member of the Hitler Youth, or possibly an organization for preHitler youths, the ten year old an imaginary friend: Adolf Hitler himself.

The surrealistic elements sit uneasily with the general atmosphere of increasing deadly tension. Worth seeing.

I want to see this. Ever since I saw the previews over a month ago.

I love so-called..."black-comedies" that have an underlying and "deeper" truth, which this movie appears to have. If am wrong in this impression Matt please advise.

 

[Matt McKeon]

I want to see this. Ever since I saw the previews over a month ago.

I love so-called..."black-comedies" that have an underlying and "deeper" truth, which this movie appears to have. If am wrong in this impression Matt please advise.

From what you've posted, I think you would like this one.

 

[O' Be Joyful]

From what you've posted, I think you would like this one.

Indeed. But, so far I am disappointed that there are no apparent nazi cranberry bogs, where jack-boots are flooded....and nature takes its course to sink them down to purgatory or the further lower regions.

 

[Matt McKeon]

Indeed. But, so far I am disappointed that there are no apparent nazi cranberry bogs, where jack-boots are flooded....and nature takes its course to sink them down to purgatory or the further lower regions.

Hmmmm….
One theme is fathers. The boy's father is away at war, "missing in action" Imaginary Adolf, who is supportive and empathetic is a substitute father figure. A wounded army officer interested in Jojo's mother acts in a fatherly, protective way. Even his mother at one point smears ashes on her cheeks to simulate beard stubble and dresses in the father's army coat and does an impression of Jojo's dad for the boy.