Killers (2010)
I was told this was a cute little romantic comedy, but it was also a spy movie with a surprising amount of violence and death, for a cute little romantic comedy. The all-star cast tips the scale in its favor, but it's still a movie about a suburban couple who, after three years of wedded bliss, discovers that everyone is trying to kill them. Unsettling. Yet cute. Maybe a good compromise date choice. Not a pick, though.
Fracture (2007)
A little intense, but I enjoyed this for the acting, pitting Anthony Hopkins as a manipulative criminal against Ryan Gosling, ambitious prosecutor. You may remember this appealing younger actor from The Notebook. Did you know he was homeschooled?
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2011)
Rather than staying true to the book, this was a creative re-telling, blending events from the book into a new story line that worked well. I won't say the movie plot is better--it's tighter, but not as rich. I did love the ship, which was better than my imagination ever conjured! And the CGI for the dragon and the sea serpent were fabulous.
True Grit (2010)
This is my kind of Western, about characters with heart. The young actress who plays the main character was amazing. I read the book first and found the movie true.
To Save a Life (2009)
We actually watched this in 2010, but I forgot to list it. This poignant story is about a high school boy who commits suicide, and how his peers process his death and realize the ways they contributed to his despair. Yet it offers hope more than a guilt trip. Our teens really were touched by it. (Although this is one of those low-budget Christian movies, it contains mature situations like drinking, drugs, cutting, sex and teen pregnancy.)
Newsies (1992)
One of our kids’ all-time favorite musicals! It's "all-boy," with big dance numbers and a great musical score. It's one of the few Disney movies without a love story. It's also educational, based on the true story of the Newsboys Strike of 1899.
Bride and Prejudice (2004)
A Bollywood retelling of the Jane Austen story. Very Bollywood and fun.
1776 (1972)
One of my favorite musicals. The characterizations of the Founding Fathers are so believable; it humanizes their story and the drama of those days like no other book or movie I know. Our three oldest used to love to dress up and act out scenes from this movie--so many great moments in it! There are a few ribald jokes, but they go right over the heads of kids.
Tangled (2010)
Cute and fun. Maybe the build-up was too big, but it was not as refreshing and unique as I expected; it was still basically a princess movie, albeit with attitude. I really liked the horse.
The King's Speech (2010)
We thought this award-winning film deserved every bit of the critical acclaim it received for its excellence in portraying the true story of King George VI, who ended up as king after his older brother famously abdicated the throne for the love of Wallace Simpson. His leadership crippled by a speech impediment, he sought and received help from an unlikely source who became teacher, therapist and friend.
What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)
I wanted the Bantams to meet the young Johnny Depp, and they loved this well-crafted film. Gilbert Grape (Depp) is a teenager who’s been holding his family together since the death of his father. Their ramshackle house, which his father built, is falling down around them, his mother weighs so much that she never leaves home, and his younger brother (brilliantly played by a young Leonardo DiCaprio) has a mental disability that requires constant alertness and attentiveness. The story speaks to responsibility and love of family in difficult circumstances (There is a housewife that keeps seducing Gilbert; get ready to fast-forward through those parts.)
The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
This was an action/adventure movie with a twist about “maps” of people’s lives and angel-like characters who try to keep human beings on the route of their destiny. It was a little gimmicky and not that compelling of a story, I thought, but fine for what it was.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Two (2011)
This was such a satisfying end to the series. I loved it.
Doubt (2008)
Intriguing film about a priest who may or may not have abused a young black boy at his parochial school. An older nun, played by Meryl Streep, has suspicions but no proof, and a younger nun, portrayed by Amy Adams, wants to believe the best in the face of reasons to doubt. There is one scene with the boy’s mother which earned that actress a nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and at the awards ceremony they said she deserved her own movie…which she got in The Help! (Which I am eager to see on DVD.)
The Beaver (2011)
This was a strange movie. Mel Gibson plays a father who is depressed and about to lose his family and his company. He dons a beaver puppet on one hand which becomes his energized, non-depressed alter ego, and he will only relate to his family and employees through the puppet. Upset with his own dependency on the puppet, he cuts his hand off, and his depression is gone. It made sense to Papa Rooster as "a fable about idolatry and dependencies, even apparently therapeutic ones which seems to make us more useful to society but in the end are dangerous to our true selves. 'Better to cut off your hand than to lose your soul.' " But the kids and I just found it disturbing.
People Will Talk (1951)
This is a black-and-white Cary Grant movie that was pretty unremarkable and slow, we thought. But hey, it was streaming on Netflix.
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
All six of our children love this movie and quote from it. Now I know why. A delightful kids' movie in the Pixar mold.
Shine (1996)
With aspiring musicians and actors in the house, we decided it was time to watch this with our teenagers. Amazing acting and an incredible true story about David Helfgott, a brilliant but neurotic piano prodigy.
Des Hommes et des Dieux (Of Gods and Men) (2010)
This was a beautiful true story about French monks in Algeria who decide to remain in their monastery and serve their community during the Algerian Civil War (1996) despite the personal sacrifice it eventually costs them. Subtitled and slow, but moving.
Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
We watched this spoof after our boys played Merry Men onstage last spring. Not full of gay jokes, as you might think from the title, nor as bawdy as one might assume. I may not be remembering perfectly, but it seemed straight-up funny to me. And Robin Hood? He was played by Cary Elwes from Princess Bride ("As you wish")--all grown up and heroically humorous.
Soul Surfer (2011)
More well-done than I expected, still something lacking in the script and/or directing…but you couldn't help but appreciate the inspiring story.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Okay, I hear this is funnier if you’ve seen a lot of zombie movies, but it was my first, and I thought it was lame and disturbing. Blech!
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Just as funny as ever; more bad language than I remembered. But it’s a comedy classic.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert (2001 TV)
This dark musical is best appreciated as a morality tale about those who let their appetites (especially for revenge) control them. For our teens, this is like the musical equivalent of a horror movie; they love the 2007 Johnny Depp version. But this version—which is the full score and story acted out, but with minimal staging and props--is vocally amazing, they agreed. Sondheim’s brilliant score never sounded so incredible. Even without blood, it is intense. (Patti LuPone plays Mrs. Lovett, if you’re trying to look this one up.) Not for everyone!
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Year in Review--Movie Edition
It's a tradition with many of the lit bloggers to post their end-of-the-year list of books read, and I'm getting mine ready for Semicolon's Saturday Review of Books!
But awhile back, I also began to keep a list of movies watched. It's not comprehensive, actually--these are just the ones I remembered to write down. Some are good, some are duds; some are family-friendly, some aren't. Here's what I saw and what I thought it.
Schultze Gets the Blues
This is a 2009 view that I forgot to include in last year's list. It's a subtitled film about a German miner, forced to retire early, with nothing to do but play the polka on his accordian with others in the town music league. One day, entranced by a new type of music he hears on the radio, he begins imitating its Cajun blues sound, beginning a quest which brings him to America and ultimately the bayou, where he dies suddenly. The film ends with his friends in Germany celebrating his life and his quest. This is a subtle film, slow at times, sparse in dialogue, rich in imagery and moments of humor.
G-Force
This is an animated kids' movie about guinea pigs on special ops missions. The pigs are cute, but it's a pretty dumb movie.
Madea Goes to Jail
I guess there are a bunch of "Madea" movies, but this is the only one I've seen. The title character is a 6'5" black woman, played by a man, who is hilarious. Though she cusses a little, she's sort of a crazy "Church Lady" character, and there are some good messages to the movie, along with a whole lot of funny moments. Not for younger kids.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Now this was a special movie. Not one that I'd for sure recommend for younger kids, as several of the more colorful characters have poor morals, but the character you relate to and cheer for is the plain and deserving Miss Pettigrew. (Although Amy Adams is delicious as the delectable Delysia.)
Anne of Green Gables
Rewatched with our younger kids. Soooo delightful. I cry every time when Matthew dies.
My Father's Glory
Another re-watch, although we never got around to re-watching its sequel, My Mother's Castle. Like Schultze Gets The Blues, these are subtitled and a little slow, but so well-done. Fine for kids (that can read, of course).
Penelope
This was cute enough, about a rich girl cursed with the snout of a pig, and only true love can break the spell.
The Boys are Back
Now this was a more complex film, about a father struggling to raise his two sons after the death of his wife, their mother. Good acting and some real moments, but overall I thought it took too long to go not that far.
The Blind Side
Y'all saw this one, right? If not, climb out from under your rock and get thee to a video store. I loved the mother character played by Sandra Bullock (who won the Best Actress Oscar for this performance). How come bossy and controlling looked so good on her? Because she was right, perhaps, or because she's Southern? Ah well, it gives me hope.
The Hangover
Oh, shame and chagrin, I saw this. Spare yourself.
Neverwas
An intriguing story which plays with the line between reality and imagination. Not just a kids' movie.
Henry Poole is Here
Another special one. Here's why, and better than I could say it.
The Legend of 1900
This movie captured our imaginations like no other this year (though this is a 1998 film). A baby is born and deserted on board a luxury ship reminiscent of the Titanic. He's adopted by a boilerman, who christens him "1900" for the year he is born and raises him like a son, until his death. 1900 is discovered as a piano prodigy and soon he is tuxedoed and playing piano every evening for the ship's wealthy guests. Though he's never set a foot on land, his reputation spreads, and Jelly Roll Morton books a passage in order to challenge him to a piano duel (our absolute favorite part of the movie). (A close second is a scene where he plays the piano during a storm, as the piano and bench glide gracefully to and fro across the pitching ballroom floor--a fabulous touch of magical realism).
The end of the movie--in which the aged boat, now a mothballed hospital ship after the World Wars, is demolished with 1900 still aboard, imprisoned by his fear of land--is disturbing, unless you realize that the character 1900 is a metaphor for the bright hopes and dreams of that new century, dashed by war and industrialization. (Papa Rooster first saw this and it makes perfect sense of the whole film, but I just googled a bit and am amazed that so few reviewers seemed to recognize the metaphor, especially with the screenplay based on a Italian monologue called Novecento--or "Twentieth Century.")
Tim Roth plays the title character, looking ten years younger than he does in his current series Lie to Me. The soundtrack is haunting and award-winning. There is some bad language at the beginning in the boiler room scenes, and the ending could be disturbing for kids. Still, such a beautiful film, visually and musically. Our kids all loved it.
Up in the Air
This movie was a downer. George Clooney plays a businessman who's nearly racked up ten million miles with the same airline, because he travels so much. His job? He fires people. He likes it, he's good at it, and he never gets involved in relationships. But then he meets someone and takes some relational risks, which you so badly want to go right for him...but then it all goes wrong, and he's back to racking up the mileage, alone and apparently at peace again, up in the air. This movie made my own "road warrior" husband, who recognized so well the whole frequent flyer routine, cringe and shake miserably.
Leap Year
A cute romantic comedy, in which Amy Adams hops a plane to Ireland in order to propose to her selfish boyfriend of 4 years on February 29, as allowed by an Irish tradition. Mishaps abound, she ends up far from where he is, she hires a handsome Irish innkeeper to drive her the rest of the way...eventually dumping the loser boyfriend for those smilin' Irish eyes.
Sideways
We have friends who are Paul Giamatti fans, and we enjoyed watching this with them, but I can't recommend it for family viewing. However, if you like wine or movies about wine, this is about a trip through California vineyards, pursuing women and wine. Sales of Pinot Noir went up 20% after its release!
Cold Souls
Another Paul Giamatti film which raises excellent questions about what our souls really are, and what we might be apart from our souls. Cleaner than Sideways, but too slow and philosophical for kids.
Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian
I remember enjoying this movie. I remember Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart. Beyond that, I don't remember much. (Maybe I didn't see the whole thing.)
Secretariat
What a good true-life horse story, almost as good as Seabiscuit. It lacks the jockey/trainer/owner Depression-era drama of that movie, but the horse sure is a hero, and his owner is another strong mom that I just have to admire. This movie had me surfing the internet for original video footage of the finish of the Belmont, one of the most amazing sports moments of all time. (Which I remember watching live as an 8-year-old!)
Good Morning Vietnam
For some reason, I kept wanting to show my older boys this old movie. Partly for educational reasons--to at least put the Vietnam War on their mental radar. Partly to show them Robin Williams in his heyday, since they only know him as an old man (Night at the Museum, RV, August Rush) and they can't quite appreciate him as Mork on YouTube. They loved it. (Some bad language, but oddly, not as bad as it struck me back in the 80's...a sad statement of how much worse things have gotten!)
Toy Story 3
What fun! Do you think there's still room for future sequels, with the gang broken up? How about Woody and his new friends? Or some way that they all are reunited? We debated.
How to Train Your Dragon
Oh, ho! This one sure appealed to the Nordic blood in my children. We loved it.
Sleuth
Uck. If you enjoyed the original Sleuth, with Michael Caine as the young man, DO NOT watch this remake with him as the old man. This version is perverted and disturbing. Uck, I say.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
I sure am glad Bantam15 remembered that he and I never got around to seeing this when it came out. And it's a good thing we watched it before we went to see #7 in the theater. I'm afraid I would have spent most of the movie snatching at filaments of memory, trying to fill in!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
I'm glad they split the last book into two movies; so much more character development was possible in this one. A great continuation of the series.
Inception
This intriguing movie reminded me of The Matrix in how it plays with our ideas about reality.
Nanny McPhee Returns
Alllmmmmost as good as the first one. Missed the first one? Nanny McPhee comes when children don't want her but need her; when they want her but don't need her, she has to go. Emma Thompson is wonderful, as always, as the authoritative Nanny McPhee, and this sequel also stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, who I just like, as the mother.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
This was good! The main character is played by the same actor who does the voice for Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon. What an appealing nerd.
Four Christmases
How a selfish couple who planned on a tropical vacation end up spending Christmas with all four of their (divorced/remarried) parents and find the true value of family and relationships. Probably not okay for the whole family, but not terrible.
Step Up 3
Upbeat dance numbers with a loose plot tying them together. This urban, street-dance style of hip-hop was interesting and kinda cool, but overall too mechanistic--almost industrial--for my taste. Still, a fun dance movie.
Salt
This was sort of a James Bond movie with Angelina Jolie as the double--no, is that a triple?--agent, and the Russians as the bad guys again. It was good. But I hate when a film asks me to suspend disbelief too many times, and this one stretched me further than I appreciate.
Lie to Me, Psych, Chuck
Okay, these are TV shows, not movies, and I didn't see every episode. But these are family favorites.
How about you? I got some great recommendations from commenters last year (Penelope, Neverwas). Any recommendations for me?
But awhile back, I also began to keep a list of movies watched. It's not comprehensive, actually--these are just the ones I remembered to write down. Some are good, some are duds; some are family-friendly, some aren't. Here's what I saw and what I thought it.
Schultze Gets the Blues
This is a 2009 view that I forgot to include in last year's list. It's a subtitled film about a German miner, forced to retire early, with nothing to do but play the polka on his accordian with others in the town music league. One day, entranced by a new type of music he hears on the radio, he begins imitating its Cajun blues sound, beginning a quest which brings him to America and ultimately the bayou, where he dies suddenly. The film ends with his friends in Germany celebrating his life and his quest. This is a subtle film, slow at times, sparse in dialogue, rich in imagery and moments of humor.
G-Force
This is an animated kids' movie about guinea pigs on special ops missions. The pigs are cute, but it's a pretty dumb movie.
Madea Goes to Jail
I guess there are a bunch of "Madea" movies, but this is the only one I've seen. The title character is a 6'5" black woman, played by a man, who is hilarious. Though she cusses a little, she's sort of a crazy "Church Lady" character, and there are some good messages to the movie, along with a whole lot of funny moments. Not for younger kids.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Now this was a special movie. Not one that I'd for sure recommend for younger kids, as several of the more colorful characters have poor morals, but the character you relate to and cheer for is the plain and deserving Miss Pettigrew. (Although Amy Adams is delicious as the delectable Delysia.)
Anne of Green Gables
Rewatched with our younger kids. Soooo delightful. I cry every time when Matthew dies.
My Father's Glory
Another re-watch, although we never got around to re-watching its sequel, My Mother's Castle. Like Schultze Gets The Blues, these are subtitled and a little slow, but so well-done. Fine for kids (that can read, of course).
Penelope
This was cute enough, about a rich girl cursed with the snout of a pig, and only true love can break the spell.
The Boys are Back
Now this was a more complex film, about a father struggling to raise his two sons after the death of his wife, their mother. Good acting and some real moments, but overall I thought it took too long to go not that far.
The Blind Side
Y'all saw this one, right? If not, climb out from under your rock and get thee to a video store. I loved the mother character played by Sandra Bullock (who won the Best Actress Oscar for this performance). How come bossy and controlling looked so good on her? Because she was right, perhaps, or because she's Southern? Ah well, it gives me hope.
The Hangover
Oh, shame and chagrin, I saw this. Spare yourself.
Neverwas
An intriguing story which plays with the line between reality and imagination. Not just a kids' movie.
Henry Poole is Here
Another special one. Here's why, and better than I could say it.
The Legend of 1900
This movie captured our imaginations like no other this year (though this is a 1998 film). A baby is born and deserted on board a luxury ship reminiscent of the Titanic. He's adopted by a boilerman, who christens him "1900" for the year he is born and raises him like a son, until his death. 1900 is discovered as a piano prodigy and soon he is tuxedoed and playing piano every evening for the ship's wealthy guests. Though he's never set a foot on land, his reputation spreads, and Jelly Roll Morton books a passage in order to challenge him to a piano duel (our absolute favorite part of the movie). (A close second is a scene where he plays the piano during a storm, as the piano and bench glide gracefully to and fro across the pitching ballroom floor--a fabulous touch of magical realism).
The end of the movie--in which the aged boat, now a mothballed hospital ship after the World Wars, is demolished with 1900 still aboard, imprisoned by his fear of land--is disturbing, unless you realize that the character 1900 is a metaphor for the bright hopes and dreams of that new century, dashed by war and industrialization. (Papa Rooster first saw this and it makes perfect sense of the whole film, but I just googled a bit and am amazed that so few reviewers seemed to recognize the metaphor, especially with the screenplay based on a Italian monologue called Novecento--or "Twentieth Century.")
Tim Roth plays the title character, looking ten years younger than he does in his current series Lie to Me. The soundtrack is haunting and award-winning. There is some bad language at the beginning in the boiler room scenes, and the ending could be disturbing for kids. Still, such a beautiful film, visually and musically. Our kids all loved it.
Up in the Air
This movie was a downer. George Clooney plays a businessman who's nearly racked up ten million miles with the same airline, because he travels so much. His job? He fires people. He likes it, he's good at it, and he never gets involved in relationships. But then he meets someone and takes some relational risks, which you so badly want to go right for him...but then it all goes wrong, and he's back to racking up the mileage, alone and apparently at peace again, up in the air. This movie made my own "road warrior" husband, who recognized so well the whole frequent flyer routine, cringe and shake miserably.
Leap Year
A cute romantic comedy, in which Amy Adams hops a plane to Ireland in order to propose to her selfish boyfriend of 4 years on February 29, as allowed by an Irish tradition. Mishaps abound, she ends up far from where he is, she hires a handsome Irish innkeeper to drive her the rest of the way...eventually dumping the loser boyfriend for those smilin' Irish eyes.
Sideways
We have friends who are Paul Giamatti fans, and we enjoyed watching this with them, but I can't recommend it for family viewing. However, if you like wine or movies about wine, this is about a trip through California vineyards, pursuing women and wine. Sales of Pinot Noir went up 20% after its release!
Cold Souls
Another Paul Giamatti film which raises excellent questions about what our souls really are, and what we might be apart from our souls. Cleaner than Sideways, but too slow and philosophical for kids.
Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian
I remember enjoying this movie. I remember Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart. Beyond that, I don't remember much. (Maybe I didn't see the whole thing.)
Secretariat
What a good true-life horse story, almost as good as Seabiscuit. It lacks the jockey/trainer/owner Depression-era drama of that movie, but the horse sure is a hero, and his owner is another strong mom that I just have to admire. This movie had me surfing the internet for original video footage of the finish of the Belmont, one of the most amazing sports moments of all time. (Which I remember watching live as an 8-year-old!)
Good Morning Vietnam
For some reason, I kept wanting to show my older boys this old movie. Partly for educational reasons--to at least put the Vietnam War on their mental radar. Partly to show them Robin Williams in his heyday, since they only know him as an old man (Night at the Museum, RV, August Rush) and they can't quite appreciate him as Mork on YouTube. They loved it. (Some bad language, but oddly, not as bad as it struck me back in the 80's...a sad statement of how much worse things have gotten!)
Toy Story 3
What fun! Do you think there's still room for future sequels, with the gang broken up? How about Woody and his new friends? Or some way that they all are reunited? We debated.
How to Train Your Dragon
Oh, ho! This one sure appealed to the Nordic blood in my children. We loved it.
Sleuth
Uck. If you enjoyed the original Sleuth, with Michael Caine as the young man, DO NOT watch this remake with him as the old man. This version is perverted and disturbing. Uck, I say.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
I sure am glad Bantam15 remembered that he and I never got around to seeing this when it came out. And it's a good thing we watched it before we went to see #7 in the theater. I'm afraid I would have spent most of the movie snatching at filaments of memory, trying to fill in!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
I'm glad they split the last book into two movies; so much more character development was possible in this one. A great continuation of the series.
Inception
This intriguing movie reminded me of The Matrix in how it plays with our ideas about reality.
Nanny McPhee Returns
Alllmmmmost as good as the first one. Missed the first one? Nanny McPhee comes when children don't want her but need her; when they want her but don't need her, she has to go. Emma Thompson is wonderful, as always, as the authoritative Nanny McPhee, and this sequel also stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, who I just like, as the mother.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
This was good! The main character is played by the same actor who does the voice for Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon. What an appealing nerd.
Four Christmases
How a selfish couple who planned on a tropical vacation end up spending Christmas with all four of their (divorced/remarried) parents and find the true value of family and relationships. Probably not okay for the whole family, but not terrible.
Step Up 3
Upbeat dance numbers with a loose plot tying them together. This urban, street-dance style of hip-hop was interesting and kinda cool, but overall too mechanistic--almost industrial--for my taste. Still, a fun dance movie.
Salt
This was sort of a James Bond movie with Angelina Jolie as the double--no, is that a triple?--agent, and the Russians as the bad guys again. It was good. But I hate when a film asks me to suspend disbelief too many times, and this one stretched me further than I appreciate.
Lie to Me, Psych, Chuck
Okay, these are TV shows, not movies, and I didn't see every episode. But these are family favorites.
How about you? I got some great recommendations from commenters last year (Penelope, Neverwas). Any recommendations for me?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Movies Watched in 2009
These are the movies that I personally watched, with various combinations of our family members. That means, no, our younger children did not watch all of these with us!
Miss Potter--delightful movie about Beatrix Potter, the author/illustrator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit and many others. Inspiring.
Behind the Mask-- At A Hen’s Pace review here. The Merchant of Venice—we watched this because it’s Shakespeare, and we had just read Lamb’s version. The acting was good, but there was too much nudity and a homosexual subplot that isn’t in the Bard’s tale. Yech.
Lars and the Real Girl—now this was an interesting movie that all my therapist friends need to see! Lars is a repressed Scandinavian (a household joke to start with, since Papa Rooster is 50% pure Norwegian) who has issues to work through, so naturally, he orders an inflatable woman friend to work through them with. Sounds perverted, of course, and that's what everyone thinks until they realize otherwise, and then this becomes the story of a small town that humors and loves Lars to health. I wouldn't mind seeing this one again.
And that's it! If you have movie recommendations for our 2010 list, let me know in the comments!!
Miss Potter--delightful movie about Beatrix Potter, the author/illustrator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit and many others. Inspiring.
Behind the Mask-- At A Hen’s Pace review here. The Merchant of Venice—we watched this because it’s Shakespeare, and we had just read Lamb’s version. The acting was good, but there was too much nudity and a homosexual subplot that isn’t in the Bard’s tale. Yech.
Mulan—had to watch this one, since our theater group is putting this on as our next show! She's not my favorite Disney princess. This one's more of a boy's movie, with soldiers, battles and comedy provided by a horse, a cricket, and a dragon (voiced by Eddie Murphy) that kept my younger two giggling all the way through.
Slumdog Millionaire--if you missed this one, you need to see it. There is a torture scene at the beginning that is hard to watch, but get past that, and this is a wonderful movie on so many levels. Blondechick17 claims it as her favorite ever.
Lars and the Real Girl—now this was an interesting movie that all my therapist friends need to see! Lars is a repressed Scandinavian (a household joke to start with, since Papa Rooster is 50% pure Norwegian) who has issues to work through, so naturally, he orders an inflatable woman friend to work through them with. Sounds perverted, of course, and that's what everyone thinks until they realize otherwise, and then this becomes the story of a small town that humors and loves Lars to health. I wouldn't mind seeing this one again.
Jerusalem—we watched this with friends who love and own this movie. It’s long, it’s slow, and it’s subtitled, but it is achingly beautiful. It is based on the true story of a group of Norwegians who sold everything and followed a compelling preacher to join a commune of American immigrants in Jerusalem. It examines aspects of faith in those who left everything, and in those who stayed behind. Beautiful and moving.
Bullets Over Broadway--this is one of Woody Allen's best, I think. The first line is "I am a writer"; the last line is "I am not a writer." It explores the question of what it means to be an artist, and to what extent humans should sacrifice for the sake of art. Thought-provoking in many ways. However, a lot more language and innuendo than we remembered, and I don't think our teens got enough good out of it to offset the bad.
My Cousin Vinnie--I can't help it; I love this movie despite the language and a few other problems. It's about a couple of New Jersey boys who get arrested in the deep South and wind up accused of murder. They call in cousin Vinnie Gambini, who just passed the bar exam (finally) and has never tried a case before, to defend them. Marisa Tomei won an Oscar for her role as the gum-smacking, New Joisy girlfriend whose knowledge of auto mechanics wins the day; her 80's fashionista outfits are a hoot! She's the main reason I like to rewatch this.
Clockwise--this is another one we love to rewatch, and it's perfectly fine for the whole family. John Cleese plays the always-prompt, planned-to-the-minute headmaster of a British public school. He's been invited to a conference to receive an award and give a speech, and once he leaves his own school, everything goes horribly, hysterically wrong as he tries to get to the conference on time.
The Curse of the Were Rabbit (Wallace and Gromit)--silly, clever, funny!!
Seven Pounds--Will Smith's character feels so guilty for causing 7 deaths in an auto accident, that he makes amends by killing himself, after selecting 7 deserving people who will be organ donor recipients. Well-done, but morbid and depressing. Christians know the message is wrong--there IS forgiveness available--but this movie is a powerful example of what happens when we set ourselves up as the arbiters of justice, instead of God.
The Importance of Being Earnest--oh, such a satisfying blend of wit, comedy and propriety. I could watch this over and over--and have! Oscar Wilde at his best.
A Christmas Carol--this was the most recent musical version, a Disney production with Kelsey Grammar as Scrooge. We love the old Scrooge, the Musical (with Albert Finney in the title role), but this one was really good too, a little lighter and happier.
The Godfather--our teenage sons have asked so many question about the Mafia lately, that it seemed time to watch this with them. Bantam18 found it so disturbing he couldn't finish it; "this is evil!" he exclaimed vehemently. And it is, pure evil exposed for what it is. The chilling part is to see how one choice leads to another and another until a good man, determined to walk apart, becomes the murderous godfather of a mob family empire. (Here is a commentary on what Christians can gain from watching this movie.) I think it was good timing for B14.
GI Joe--Eh. Kinda fun, in a way, but too violent, with not just shooting and explosions, but multiple stabbings. And the violence was non-stop. I was disappointed that it wasn't more kid-friendly.
And that's it! If you have movie recommendations for our 2010 list, let me know in the comments!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Julie & Julia
We waited a long time for this movie to come out on DVD--and it ended up being perfect timing for us to watch it yesterday, on our anniversary!Julie & Julia is two true stories of real women: Julia Child, in 1949, before she was famous, searching for "something to do"; and Julie Powell, in 2002, a young woman without purpose who settled on the project of cooking through Julia Child's 5oo-something recipes in 365 days, and writing a blog about it. (Which became a book and eventually, the movie.)
In both cases, their husbands were their biggest fans, though it required sacrifice on their parts (which reminds me of my own husband, who is the number one fan of this blog and willing for me to neglect other things in order to do it!). It was refreshing to watch a current movie that painted such a positive picture of matrimony. Both marriages were portrayed as fresh, dynamic relationships (not stale and stagnant) with--yes--healthy s*x lives. (These were quick, cute, romantic scenes for the most part, though my teenagers groaned at the thought of Julia Child and her husband in bed--but that was another refreshing aspect of the movie, that it showed romantic attraction in a physically-mismatched, middle-aged couple--not your stock Hollywood image.)
The acting and cinematography were wonderful. Meryl Streep was incredibly perfect as Julia Child--we couldn't think of another actor/actress alive who can so completely lose her own identity in a character. Delightful Amy Adams (the princess from Enchanted) played the younger Julie as a complicated but winsome character, and the two husbands were great in their supporting roles. The 1949 scenes in Paris were a visual treat--every scene had a building, a window, a car that was just a delight to view. And of course, the food scenes made you hungry and curious--how did they eat all that rich food and not gain weight??
I hate cooking. But this movie almost made me want to spend a little more time in the kitchen, and it reminded me how in love I am with my husband. Yes, I recommend it!
Rated PG-13 for strong language (just a couple times) and some sensuality.
Writer/director Nora Ephron also wrote the screenplays for You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and When Harry Met Sally!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Off-Beat Movie Recommendation
Found this looking back through my draft file! We watched this movie six months ago....
We just watched a wonderful movie that we probably never would have chosen, except my fabulous mother-in-law lent it to us and insisted we watch it before we return it!
It's called Behind the Mask, which Bantam18 and I do not think was a good title choice, and it was a 1999 made-for-TV movie. It's about estranged fathers and sons.
Yawn.
But as the movie unfolds, it begins to slowly dawn on you what a fine bit of screenwriting this is, what amazing performances the actors are giving and what poignant themes are being so beautifully handled.
Without giving away the plot, let me just mention some of the themes that are developed:
--the deep longing of any man or woman for a father or father figure
--the beauty of all human beings, including the physically and mentally disabled (there is a diverse group of disabled adults portrayed in a touching and tender way; one is a remarkable main character, played by Matthew Fox of Lost)
--a black church is portrayed in an appealing and positive light, as a loving and encouraging force in the lives of the handicapped adults
--faith is portrayed as a positive, healing force
--the tension between relationships (son and wife) vs. career is thoughtfully explored
--marriage is portrayed as a relationship with a certain fragility, requiring investment, but rewardingly worth it
--it's never too late to start over, to admit your whole life was focused on the wrong things, and change course
--forgiveness and reconciliation
Though this would never go on a list of their favorite movies, our four oldest were really drawn into the story in spite of the "made-for-TV" aura that initially underwhelmed them. One of them actually watched it twice. So--something to look for next time you are perusing Netflix for a good family movie!
We just watched a wonderful movie that we probably never would have chosen, except my fabulous mother-in-law lent it to us and insisted we watch it before we return it!
It's called Behind the Mask, which Bantam18 and I do not think was a good title choice, and it was a 1999 made-for-TV movie. It's about estranged fathers and sons.
Yawn.
But as the movie unfolds, it begins to slowly dawn on you what a fine bit of screenwriting this is, what amazing performances the actors are giving and what poignant themes are being so beautifully handled.
Without giving away the plot, let me just mention some of the themes that are developed:
--the deep longing of any man or woman for a father or father figure
--the beauty of all human beings, including the physically and mentally disabled (there is a diverse group of disabled adults portrayed in a touching and tender way; one is a remarkable main character, played by Matthew Fox of Lost)
--a black church is portrayed in an appealing and positive light, as a loving and encouraging force in the lives of the handicapped adults
--faith is portrayed as a positive, healing force
--the tension between relationships (son and wife) vs. career is thoughtfully explored
--marriage is portrayed as a relationship with a certain fragility, requiring investment, but rewardingly worth it
--it's never too late to start over, to admit your whole life was focused on the wrong things, and change course
--forgiveness and reconciliation
Though this would never go on a list of their favorite movies, our four oldest were really drawn into the story in spite of the "made-for-TV" aura that initially underwhelmed them. One of them actually watched it twice. So--something to look for next time you are perusing Netflix for a good family movie!
Friday, January 02, 2009
Movies Watched--2008
These are the movies that I personally watched, with various combinations of our family members. That means, no, our younger children did not watch all of these with us!
The Trouble With Harry
The trouble with Harry is that he's so inconveniently dead! If you like old movies, this is an Alfred Hitchcock comedy--a rare combination--that you must watch.
Finding Neverland
Well-done, touching.
Three Days of the Condor
Robert Redford caught in the middle of a suspenseful spy story. Has held up well, for a movie shot in the 70's.
Across the Universe (fast-forwarding through a couple scenes)
Because our teens like the Beatles. Not much plot.
Oliver! (the musical, of course)
I was afraid the scene where Bill Sykes kills Nancy was too scary for our little kids, but they loved watched this movie while we were rehearsing for the theater production. Bantam3's first attempts at singing were from this movie. "WHO WILL BUY?" he demanded, over and over.
Digging for the Truth (all seasons, from the library)
Our boys loved Josh, the totally cool historian host in the Indiana Jones hat, and all the cool historical mysteries he delved into. His honest debunking of the Da Vinci Code myth was a fun episode; most of his mysteries were grounded in more facts than this one!
Bleak House (BBC)
At A Hen's Pace review here.
Evita
Not for younger kids, but wow, did this powerful film generate discussion with teens! (Who were Evita, Che Guevara, Madonna? We ended up checking facts on Wikipedia.) A lesser-known Andrew Lloyd Weber musical that illustrates the lust for power and fame, the lengths people will go to to get it, and the sobering fact of mortality. Raw, negative examples and an intense musical score.
Prince Caspian
At A Hen's pace review here.
David Copperfield (BBC)
We enjoyed this 1974 version, which seems to be well-thought-of by reviewers. Not as good as Bleak House or Our Mutual Friend, though.
Be Kind Rewind
Dumb, dumb, dumb.
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Pretty good, but too scary for young kids. I thought the ending, where the old woman becomes a little girl again and disappears with her father into the limbo-land where he's been hanging out all her life, was disturbing.
Love Comes Softly
A delightful movie version of the Janette Oke book.
The Inheritance
Diane at A Circle of Quiet cited this movie as a rare exception: When the movie is better than the book. Since I had read the book--Louisa May Alcott's first novel--and thought it pretty amateurish, I expected to agree, and did. Somewhere I read a reviewer who thought that the screenwriters edited just as a mature Alcott would have done, had she ever gone back and revised her own book. This was a nice Hallmark production.
Speed Racer
We would have enjoyed this more if the action weren't so frenetic! But I loved the casting. It was like seeing the old cartoons come to life.
Leatherheads
Kind of a fun period film about the early days of football, before it went pro. Not for younger kids.
21
A group of students are trained to count cards and win big at blackjack in Vegas. But at what cost? A couple scenes to fast-forward through.
Iron Man
A well-done superhero movie. I really liked Robert Downey Jr. in the title role. (He barely looked older than he did in the 80's!)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The old man still has it. Entertaining.
Twilight
My thoughts here.
Bella
A beautiful story of tragedy and redemption.
Mean Girls
My thoughts here.
Get Smart
We like Steve Carell. We like Anne Hathaway. We still laugh at Dwayne Johnson running into a wall in the first scene.
Scrooge, the Musical
Starring Albert Finney, from the 1970's. This film has it all--British accents, wonderful musical numbers, romance, a crippled boy soprano and a marvelous message. We watch it every year.
A Christmas Story
Laughs all around, of course, but several of us recalled why it's just not our favorite Christmas movie.
Dark Knight
Wo! Intense.
Return of the Pink Panther
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
Starring Peter Sellers. We also watched the new one, The Pink Panther, with Steve Martin, earlier this year, but kept telling our kids, "Oh, he's just not Peter Sellers!" They won't all admit it, but they laughed harder at the old ones.
The Bishop's Wife
The old one. Haven't seen the new one.
Ladyhawke
We watched this with friends and enjoyed the story very much--but we all agreed it needs to be re-released with a new soundtrack! The current one is totally 80's synthesizer music. (And Matthew Broderick looked just like he did in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which was distracting!) Still, worth watching.
There were more, that I forgot to write down. There were more, that some family members watched, but not me. There were more, that our kids watched without us.
For better or worse, movies are the shared cultural experiences that span generations!
Tomorrow: "Speaking of Movies..."
The Trouble With Harry
The trouble with Harry is that he's so inconveniently dead! If you like old movies, this is an Alfred Hitchcock comedy--a rare combination--that you must watch.
Finding Neverland
Well-done, touching.
Three Days of the Condor
Robert Redford caught in the middle of a suspenseful spy story. Has held up well, for a movie shot in the 70's.
Across the Universe (fast-forwarding through a couple scenes)
Because our teens like the Beatles. Not much plot.
Oliver! (the musical, of course)
I was afraid the scene where Bill Sykes kills Nancy was too scary for our little kids, but they loved watched this movie while we were rehearsing for the theater production. Bantam3's first attempts at singing were from this movie. "WHO WILL BUY?" he demanded, over and over.
Digging for the Truth (all seasons, from the library)
Our boys loved Josh, the totally cool historian host in the Indiana Jones hat, and all the cool historical mysteries he delved into. His honest debunking of the Da Vinci Code myth was a fun episode; most of his mysteries were grounded in more facts than this one!
Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theater)
Fabulous.Mansfield Park (Masterpiece Theater)
Ditto.
Harry Houdini (A & E Biography)
I figured this was a must-see for two boys learning magic tricks!
Ditto.
Harry Houdini (A & E Biography)
I figured this was a must-see for two boys learning magic tricks!
State Fair
A fun Iowa-flavored musical, with little-known actors and a little-known score, but several Academy Award nominations. I always wondered what musical "It Might As Well Be Spring" was from.
A fun Iowa-flavored musical, with little-known actors and a little-known score, but several Academy Award nominations. I always wondered what musical "It Might As Well Be Spring" was from.
Our Mutual Friend (BBC)
At A Hen's Pace review here.
Evita
Not for younger kids, but wow, did this powerful film generate discussion with teens! (Who were Evita, Che Guevara, Madonna? We ended up checking facts on Wikipedia.) A lesser-known Andrew Lloyd Weber musical that illustrates the lust for power and fame, the lengths people will go to to get it, and the sobering fact of mortality. Raw, negative examples and an intense musical score.
Prince Caspian
At A Hen's pace review here.
David Copperfield (BBC)
We enjoyed this 1974 version, which seems to be well-thought-of by reviewers. Not as good as Bleak House or Our Mutual Friend, though.
Be Kind Rewind
Dumb, dumb, dumb.
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Pretty good, but too scary for young kids. I thought the ending, where the old woman becomes a little girl again and disappears with her father into the limbo-land where he's been hanging out all her life, was disturbing.
Love Comes Softly
A delightful movie version of the Janette Oke book.
The Inheritance
Diane at A Circle of Quiet cited this movie as a rare exception: When the movie is better than the book. Since I had read the book--Louisa May Alcott's first novel--and thought it pretty amateurish, I expected to agree, and did. Somewhere I read a reviewer who thought that the screenwriters edited just as a mature Alcott would have done, had she ever gone back and revised her own book. This was a nice Hallmark production.
Speed Racer
We would have enjoyed this more if the action weren't so frenetic! But I loved the casting. It was like seeing the old cartoons come to life.
Leatherheads
Kind of a fun period film about the early days of football, before it went pro. Not for younger kids.
21
A group of students are trained to count cards and win big at blackjack in Vegas. But at what cost? A couple scenes to fast-forward through.
Iron Man
A well-done superhero movie. I really liked Robert Downey Jr. in the title role. (He barely looked older than he did in the 80's!)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The old man still has it. Entertaining.
Twilight
My thoughts here.
Bella
A beautiful story of tragedy and redemption.
Mean Girls
My thoughts here.
Get Smart
We like Steve Carell. We like Anne Hathaway. We still laugh at Dwayne Johnson running into a wall in the first scene.
Scrooge, the Musical
Starring Albert Finney, from the 1970's. This film has it all--British accents, wonderful musical numbers, romance, a crippled boy soprano and a marvelous message. We watch it every year.
A Christmas Story
Laughs all around, of course, but several of us recalled why it's just not our favorite Christmas movie.
Dark Knight
Wo! Intense.
Return of the Pink Panther
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
Starring Peter Sellers. We also watched the new one, The Pink Panther, with Steve Martin, earlier this year, but kept telling our kids, "Oh, he's just not Peter Sellers!" They won't all admit it, but they laughed harder at the old ones.
The Bishop's Wife
The old one. Haven't seen the new one.
Ladyhawke
We watched this with friends and enjoyed the story very much--but we all agreed it needs to be re-released with a new soundtrack! The current one is totally 80's synthesizer music. (And Matthew Broderick looked just like he did in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which was distracting!) Still, worth watching.
There were more, that I forgot to write down. There were more, that some family members watched, but not me. There were more, that our kids watched without us.
For better or worse, movies are the shared cultural experiences that span generations!
Tomorrow: "Speaking of Movies..."
Monday, December 01, 2008
Thanksgiving Interlude
I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving holidays!
We certainly did. It was especially refreshing to Papa Rooster, I think, because since Joel preached on Sunday, PR got a REAL break! (Thanks, Joel!!) We actually hung pictures together on Saturday, which is one of those rather time-consuming projects I had despaired of ever getting his attention. But yes, many pictures were hung--and it's only six months post-move!
The best part of the break, though, was spending time with PR's parents, his brother, his wife and their daughter, our niece. They all came about noon on Thursday and stayed overnight till Friday, and it was so enjoyable to spend that kind of relaxed time together. It's a blessing to be so close to them (they're both about 1.25 hours away), yet one downside is that visits are always overshadowed by the need to leave before it gets too late. So it was fun to stay up late watching a movie and laughing together.
The highlight of their visit was on Thursday afternoon after the meal (which was quite good, thank you; my turkey was the best I'd ever made, thanks to this article).
Since our kids have auditions this Friday and could use the practice in front of others, they each performed their one-minute song and dance routines for an appreciate audience of their parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousin. Then Aunt urged Uncle to get out his guitar and share some music he's been working on (he's a songwriter and recently has been writing "soundtrack" type music for live theater plays). Next, Uncle played guitar while Grandpa sang all the verses of "Oh, the Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night," and then Grandpa and PR rustily made it through a duet they used to sing together called "She'd Be Far Better Off With You," from Andrew Lloyd Weber's little-known Aspects of Love. Then Blondechick let herself be persuaded to sing Eva Cassidy's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for the group. Uncle played a little more for us on the guitar; then Bantam13 asked Uncle to teach him to play a pop song on the guitar, and things wrapped up after that.
It reminded me of a quote from the CD cover materials of one of our favorite Christmas CD's, John Doan's Wrapped in White. Its songs "are presented on an assortment of authentic instruments that speak of the innocence of music making just for the love of it that fueled amateurism across America at the turn of the century and brought delight to many homes. Back then, people were each other's greatest asset in passing the time, and what seemed to matter most was that they shared part of themselves when they played music together." (bold type mine)
I'm not anti-technology--our older kids have iPods and we enjoy watching movies together--but it sure seems like a good thing to teach our kids to find people entertaining, too, and to practice "sharing part of ourselves" in that way. Our family agreed that we should do this again at Christmas--even preparing some songs for performance then. Your family may not be so musical, but how about story-telling, or poetry recitation, or giving a reading with expression and animation? If you're really ambitious, stage a scene from a play! And don't just ask the kids to do it--let them see the adults getting into it. Do it "just for the love of it" and kids will enjoy it because you do. It's harder with teenagers, I know, but it's worth trying to engage them.
Still, we sure had a good time "passing the time" together watching a few movies these last few weekends. We saw the recent remake of Get Smart, which was highly amusing...we saw Iron Man, which was a well-done superhero movie, and I really liked Robert Downey Jr. in the title role. (He looked only a little older than he looked back in the 80's!) The most recent Indiana Jones movie was entertaining, too. Our whole musical-loving extended family re-watched some of the musical portions of Sweeney Todd, which I reviewed last year...but the best thing we saw was Bella on Sunday night, with just our kids. If you missed it when it was out in theaters, like we did, don't miss it on DVD. What an amazing story of tragedy and beautiful redemption.
Oh, and we have had a long-standing holiday tradition which we discovered is also a tradition of another family at Light of Christ, so we did it together this weekend--watching the 1970 movie musical Scrooge. If you're not familiar with this delightful film starring Albert Finney, then treat yourself this holiday season! This film has it all--British accents, wonderful musical numbers, romance, a crippled boy soprano and a marvelous message. We never tire of it.
So our Thanksgiving was indeed a most refreshing break--one to be very thankful for.
Now go forth and sing or read or act or recite together. And check out Wrapped in White. And Bella. And Scrooge!
We certainly did. It was especially refreshing to Papa Rooster, I think, because since Joel preached on Sunday, PR got a REAL break! (Thanks, Joel!!) We actually hung pictures together on Saturday, which is one of those rather time-consuming projects I had despaired of ever getting his attention. But yes, many pictures were hung--and it's only six months post-move!
The best part of the break, though, was spending time with PR's parents, his brother, his wife and their daughter, our niece. They all came about noon on Thursday and stayed overnight till Friday, and it was so enjoyable to spend that kind of relaxed time together. It's a blessing to be so close to them (they're both about 1.25 hours away), yet one downside is that visits are always overshadowed by the need to leave before it gets too late. So it was fun to stay up late watching a movie and laughing together.
The highlight of their visit was on Thursday afternoon after the meal (which was quite good, thank you; my turkey was the best I'd ever made, thanks to this article).
Since our kids have auditions this Friday and could use the practice in front of others, they each performed their one-minute song and dance routines for an appreciate audience of their parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousin. Then Aunt urged Uncle to get out his guitar and share some music he's been working on (he's a songwriter and recently has been writing "soundtrack" type music for live theater plays). Next, Uncle played guitar while Grandpa sang all the verses of "Oh, the Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night," and then Grandpa and PR rustily made it through a duet they used to sing together called "She'd Be Far Better Off With You," from Andrew Lloyd Weber's little-known Aspects of Love. Then Blondechick let herself be persuaded to sing Eva Cassidy's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for the group. Uncle played a little more for us on the guitar; then Bantam13 asked Uncle to teach him to play a pop song on the guitar, and things wrapped up after that.
It reminded me of a quote from the CD cover materials of one of our favorite Christmas CD's, John Doan's Wrapped in White. Its songs "are presented on an assortment of authentic instruments that speak of the innocence of music making just for the love of it that fueled amateurism across America at the turn of the century and brought delight to many homes. Back then, people were each other's greatest asset in passing the time, and what seemed to matter most was that they shared part of themselves when they played music together." (bold type mine)
I'm not anti-technology--our older kids have iPods and we enjoy watching movies together--but it sure seems like a good thing to teach our kids to find people entertaining, too, and to practice "sharing part of ourselves" in that way. Our family agreed that we should do this again at Christmas--even preparing some songs for performance then. Your family may not be so musical, but how about story-telling, or poetry recitation, or giving a reading with expression and animation? If you're really ambitious, stage a scene from a play! And don't just ask the kids to do it--let them see the adults getting into it. Do it "just for the love of it" and kids will enjoy it because you do. It's harder with teenagers, I know, but it's worth trying to engage them.
Still, we sure had a good time "passing the time" together watching a few movies these last few weekends. We saw the recent remake of Get Smart, which was highly amusing...we saw Iron Man, which was a well-done superhero movie, and I really liked Robert Downey Jr. in the title role. (He looked only a little older than he looked back in the 80's!) The most recent Indiana Jones movie was entertaining, too. Our whole musical-loving extended family re-watched some of the musical portions of Sweeney Todd, which I reviewed last year...but the best thing we saw was Bella on Sunday night, with just our kids. If you missed it when it was out in theaters, like we did, don't miss it on DVD. What an amazing story of tragedy and beautiful redemption.
Oh, and we have had a long-standing holiday tradition which we discovered is also a tradition of another family at Light of Christ, so we did it together this weekend--watching the 1970 movie musical Scrooge. If you're not familiar with this delightful film starring Albert Finney, then treat yourself this holiday season! This film has it all--British accents, wonderful musical numbers, romance, a crippled boy soprano and a marvelous message. We never tire of it.
So our Thanksgiving was indeed a most refreshing break--one to be very thankful for.
Now go forth and sing or read or act or recite together. And check out Wrapped in White. And Bella. And Scrooge!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Thoughts on Prince Caspian
Our family saw the movie Prince Caspian today, for Father's Day. I loved it.
No, it didn't perfectly copy the book. They left out some of my favorite lines and added several goofy ones. I had heard enough to be prepared for most of the changes, and they mostly weren't bothersome. But I wasn't prepared to be deeply moved by this movie--and I was.
The sight of ruined Cair Paravel affected me.
Caspian's plight was more desperate and more noble than I remembered. The temptation to be like his wicked ancestors was more real; the higher good at stake seemed more emperiled by the temptation.
I was struck by the task given to the four children--summoned to help fight in a great battle, but without clear directions given. Had they been quieter, been better listeners, been able to put themselves aside, like Lucy, they would have seen Aslan too, and followed his guidance. Instead, they plunged into fruitless battle, doing what they thought they should do, what needed doing. So like me!
Though Caspian and Peter were tempted by the power and beauty of the White Witch, I loved that it was Edmund--the one who had once served her and been redeemed out of her bondage--who was able to see clearly and break the spell of Black Magic which had conjured her.
I remembered that Lucy, the gentle, the one who listens, who sees Aslan when no one else does, is also a healer.
She helps summon the trees to life. The line that has struck me most in the whole movie was hers, as she grieved, "They used to dance." I felt it again when she spoke, longingly, the word "Awake" to the trees. Though they seem "dead," she, in faith, speaks life in them.
As I was pondering the symbols of ruined Cair Paravel, the bound-up trees, Talking Animals who had become dumb, and Narnians in hiding for their lives, God led me to this Scripture passage, which I imagine must have informed C.S. Lewis' imagining of this story:
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath ...sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. (from Isaiah 61)
Is this not what all Christians are called to do? Not in our own strength--like Peter--but by listening for the still, small voice, by watching and waiting--like Lucy--for the Lord's leading and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. In that power, we can speak the words, pray the prayers, minister the message that will free those trapped in sin and call into life those who are spiritually dead. We are called to be agents of healing, of bondage-breaking, of life, of ruin-rebuilding--and when neccessary, of battle.
It's a high calling!
No, it didn't perfectly copy the book. They left out some of my favorite lines and added several goofy ones. I had heard enough to be prepared for most of the changes, and they mostly weren't bothersome. But I wasn't prepared to be deeply moved by this movie--and I was.
The sight of ruined Cair Paravel affected me.
Caspian's plight was more desperate and more noble than I remembered. The temptation to be like his wicked ancestors was more real; the higher good at stake seemed more emperiled by the temptation.
I was struck by the task given to the four children--summoned to help fight in a great battle, but without clear directions given. Had they been quieter, been better listeners, been able to put themselves aside, like Lucy, they would have seen Aslan too, and followed his guidance. Instead, they plunged into fruitless battle, doing what they thought they should do, what needed doing. So like me!
Though Caspian and Peter were tempted by the power and beauty of the White Witch, I loved that it was Edmund--the one who had once served her and been redeemed out of her bondage--who was able to see clearly and break the spell of Black Magic which had conjured her.
I remembered that Lucy, the gentle, the one who listens, who sees Aslan when no one else does, is also a healer.
She helps summon the trees to life. The line that has struck me most in the whole movie was hers, as she grieved, "They used to dance." I felt it again when she spoke, longingly, the word "Awake" to the trees. Though they seem "dead," she, in faith, speaks life in them.
As I was pondering the symbols of ruined Cair Paravel, the bound-up trees, Talking Animals who had become dumb, and Narnians in hiding for their lives, God led me to this Scripture passage, which I imagine must have informed C.S. Lewis' imagining of this story:
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath ...sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. (from Isaiah 61)
Is this not what all Christians are called to do? Not in our own strength--like Peter--but by listening for the still, small voice, by watching and waiting--like Lucy--for the Lord's leading and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. In that power, we can speak the words, pray the prayers, minister the message that will free those trapped in sin and call into life those who are spiritually dead. We are called to be agents of healing, of bondage-breaking, of life, of ruin-rebuilding--and when neccessary, of battle.
It's a high calling!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Delightful Dickens
So while we've been sick, we watched all 8 episodes of this:
...because we enjoyed this so much back in February:
And as I was searching online for a picture, I discovered this more recent version:
...which we're now eager to check out! (--after we move, and preferably when we aren't sick)
Between the two we've seen, the kids liked Our Mutual Friend better. Since it was more recent, the production quality was higher; also, the story has more likable characters. Papa Rooster and I thought the acting was so well-done in both.
We had to force the complainers to hang in there for the first few episodes of both, but soon they were nonchalantly asking when we were going to watch another episode.
Highly recommended.
...because we enjoyed this so much back in February:
And as I was searching online for a picture, I discovered this more recent version:
...which we're now eager to check out! (--after we move, and preferably when we aren't sick)
Between the two we've seen, the kids liked Our Mutual Friend better. Since it was more recent, the production quality was higher; also, the story has more likable characters. Papa Rooster and I thought the acting was so well-done in both.
We had to force the complainers to hang in there for the first few episodes of both, but soon they were nonchalantly asking when we were going to watch another episode.
Highly recommended.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris
Not much news on either house. The owner of the one we hope to buy is out of the country, but his realtor thinks she'll reach him by Friday. The realtor for the people who looked at our house twice say that we're on their Top Three list.
But I have this movie review ready to go...
But I have this movie review ready to go...
***
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris is one of the most delightful films I've seen in a long time. It is a simple story that is rich in truth for all ages.
An elderly English charwoman sees two Dior dresses in her employer's home. They are the most beautiful things she's ever seen in her life, and she decides that before she dies she's going to buy herself a Dior dress. Never mind that her friend, another char woman, thinks that she's crazy. Never mind that it takes her three years of scrimping and saving. This thing of beauty is worth walking instead of taking the bus!
An elderly English charwoman sees two Dior dresses in her employer's home. They are the most beautiful things she's ever seen in her life, and she decides that before she dies she's going to buy herself a Dior dress. Never mind that her friend, another char woman, thinks that she's crazy. Never mind that it takes her three years of scrimping and saving. This thing of beauty is worth walking instead of taking the bus!
She goes to the Dior salon, where she is treated as unworthy of entrance, let alone of being fitted for one of their creations. The story of how she gets her dress is also the story of how one life can minister hope and healing to everyone she meets, and how one good person who is willing to make a few waves can have a ripple effect on others' lives that continues long after she is gone.
I haven't told you the best part. The old lady is played by Angela Lansbury. "I can't help it," Bantam12 explained during the movie after an unmanly giggle escaped his nearly teenage lips, "she makes me laugh." As anyone who's ever seen her knows, she does make you smile! And in this movie, she gives one a fresh perspective on the elderly. Angela Lansbury herself is an inspiration, with a career that has not slowed down with age. "Mrs. 'Arris" is a well-drawn and appealing character with a full past and an energetic present, who, despite her age, still has hopes and dreams for the future. This film would make any child look at the elderly with more appreciation and imagination--and maybe any adult too.
I haven't told you the best part. The old lady is played by Angela Lansbury. "I can't help it," Bantam12 explained during the movie after an unmanly giggle escaped his nearly teenage lips, "she makes me laugh." As anyone who's ever seen her knows, she does make you smile! And in this movie, she gives one a fresh perspective on the elderly. Angela Lansbury herself is an inspiration, with a career that has not slowed down with age. "Mrs. 'Arris" is a well-drawn and appealing character with a full past and an energetic present, who, despite her age, still has hopes and dreams for the future. This film would make any child look at the elderly with more appreciation and imagination--and maybe any adult too.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Movies Watched in 2007--Part Two
(Here's Part One, with necessary caveats and qualifications!)
The Fantastics
We loved this film version of the long-running musical, though I guess devotees did not. Bantam8 really, really wanted to do the song "Abductions, abductions, theatrical abductions..." for an audition, but for an 8-year-old, we thought it not quite appropriate. (Try to imagine him, though, those of you who know him, if you watch it!)
High School Musical 2
See High School Musical.
Facing the Giants
For a low-budget Christian movie with non-professional actors, this was great. Our boys especially loved this football story.
The Bourne Ultimatum
What I expected--a great action/adventure movie like the other Bourne movies. No love interest in this one, though, to keep me caring.
Hairspray
We like musicals. (Have you noticed?) This one was fun.
Hot Fuzz
An off-beat British comedy with some hilarious moments.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
"Anyone, anyone..." remember this movie? Papa R and I say that to each other so often, we thought we should let the older kids in on the joke.
Waiting for Guffman
A "mockumentary" (by the producers of Spinal Tap, Best of Show, and A Mighty Wind) about community theater--musical, of course. Christopher Guest is hilarious as the self-important gay director.
The Ultimate Gift
This is a high-quality Christian movie with a great message. The concept struck me as a little gimmicky to begin with, but I was won over by a good story, and that heartbreakingly adorable little girl. Christians get a lot of pressure to support this or that "Christian" film, but you'll feel great about this one.
The Last Sin-Eater
Another high-quality Christian film (directed by Michael Landon, Jr.), about a Welsh community in the Appalachians with dark secrets. Worth watching for the excellent performance by the young girl who stars, but also for a Christian story line that is truly compelling, not preachy.
Next
An action/adventure flick starring Nicholas Cage. He can see two minutes into the future, and the FBI wants him to help prevent a nuclear attack.
Yawn. (Can you tell this isn't my favorite genre? They're all alike.) Not squeaky clean, either.
Arsenic and Old Lace
Now this was more my style! It was easy to see why this film is a classic. My kids groaned when they first saw black and white, but they were hooked after the first five minutes. It's ghoulishly hilarious, with dead bodies popping up here and there and Cary Grant looking pleadingly into the camera for help in dealing with his batty old aunts. I enjoyed this play on the stage, but the movie was even better. I'm eager to see it again!
Vertigo
Another Alfred Hitchcock suspense classic that our kids loved.
Glory Road
In a long tradition of inspiring basketball stories, this is one of the best. It's a true story about a coach from a little-known school in the South who builds a championship basketball team by recruiting black players in an era of prejudice. Our kids were shocked, educated and inspired by this film.
Sweet Land
A slow, sweet romantic "art film" about a mail-order bride in 1920's Minnesota. She and her fiance end up in an ethical dilemma when they fall in love, but the local authorities won't grant them a wedding license because she's German. (There's an excellent plot synopsis here.) It's a visually beautiful film, and the dialogue is minimal and poetic, especially since neither of the lovers speak English as a first language (he's Norwegian). There is no easy answer to their dilemma, which ends in common-law marriage. A good discussion movie with teens.
Beowulf
Ugh. I let Papa Rooster talk me into seeing this one at an IMAX theater, in 3-D, because from the previews, I had hopes that this film would be a good introduction to the literary classic (and besides, I had twisted his arm to see Hairspray on his birthday, so I owed him). But unfortunately--because it was good in many ways--it was way, way too violent. It was a great morality tale of how lust corrupts whole families, and surprisingly, the Angelina Jolie monster was very well done--enticing yet revolting at the same time, just like lust.
Amazing Grace
I love the actor who plays William Wilberforce in this powerful movie about the struggle to abolish slavery in England. (He was also Horatio Hornblower.) It didn't entirely hold our kids' interest, though.
Enchanted
You know we loved this one.
Here's Frederica Mathewes-Green's review if you want excellent commentary.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Our oldest son brought this one home from the library, and everyone enjoyed this gentle sci-fi movie, which I missed back in my high school days. We couldn't get over how ADORABLE the 3-year-old boy was--and how much he looked like Bantam2! (Here's a link to his picture.)
Stranger Than Fiction
This is a unique film about an IRS agent with a monotonous life who suddenly starts to hear an author's voice in his head, narrating his life as he lives it. In the book he's in, he's the main character who will die in the end, and he must search out the author to convince her to change the ending. (I told you it was unique.)
Emma Thompson plays an uncharacteristic role as the chain-smoking, tormented authoress and Will Farrell is amazingly funny as the straight man/IRS agent. What I most enjoyed about this movie, though, was the young pastry chef he audits and falls in love with; I think this fresh-faced gal is my new favorite actress. Her sparkling blue eyes make me happy. And those dimples just...speak to me. (They say: Smile, darlin', smile.)
Ratatouille
Ah, you know we loved this one too.
If you don't have kids, this is another wonderful Pixar film; this one's about a rat with the nose and instincts of a great chef.
Once
We (and I mean the older kids too) loved this off-beat, low-budget, bare-scripted story in which real-life singer/musician non-actors play the lead roles of an Irish singer/guitarist and a Czech pianist who team up for a weekend recording session. Slow-moving but engaging in an artsy way. Full of music. Some language, of the Irish idiom.
Stardust
Sort of a Princess Bride wanna-be but without quite the genius. Too violent for younger kids; still, worth an adult rental for Michelle Pfeiffer’s most excellent icky witch portrayal and Robert Duvall’s winning Captain Shakespeare. The two lesser-known leads are charming, and once I got over my horror at the family tradition of fraticide, I even enjoyed the comic relief of the dead brothers’ ghosts. Not for everyone, but a fresh fairy tale for some.
Sweeney Todd
We loved this, but were so disappointed--we can't recommend it because it is just too disturbing and bloody.
But oh, the music is beautiful and brilliant. Yes, it's a musical, this story of a mad, vengeful barber who slits mens' throats and then shoots their bodies off to the kitchen to be made into meat pies by his shopkeeper accomplice. It's a very dark morality tale of how revenge eats away at the soul, causing men even to destroy even those they love. It's a picture of man eating man--literally.
Although we generally don't miss musicals, we might have drawn the line at this one...except that my husband has loved the music from this show ever since he saw the original Broadway production when he was a young boy. He got to go backstage and meet Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury, because his parents, former Broadway performers themselves, had connections. Ever since I've known him, Stephen Sondheim's glorious melodies from this show have been some of his favorites to listen to and to sing.
So we had been anticipating it for months--and if one knows what one is getting into and can overlook the blood, it's a brilliant adaptation for the screen. The acting is superb; the singing is consistently good (though not great), and the cinematographic vision of the film is...something to see. There is one little boy in it who sings like a choir boy angel--heartbreaking!
I just kept thinking what a tragedy it is--the story, and also that you have to view such disturbing images to enjoy the musical genius of this show.
And other than listening to It's a Wonderful Life while I prepared food for Christmas Day, that was the last movie of 2007.
Here's to more good films in 2008!
The Fantastics
We loved this film version of the long-running musical, though I guess devotees did not. Bantam8 really, really wanted to do the song "Abductions, abductions, theatrical abductions..." for an audition, but for an 8-year-old, we thought it not quite appropriate. (Try to imagine him, though, those of you who know him, if you watch it!)
High School Musical 2
See High School Musical.
Facing the Giants
For a low-budget Christian movie with non-professional actors, this was great. Our boys especially loved this football story.
The Bourne Ultimatum
What I expected--a great action/adventure movie like the other Bourne movies. No love interest in this one, though, to keep me caring.
Hairspray
We like musicals. (Have you noticed?) This one was fun.
Hot Fuzz
An off-beat British comedy with some hilarious moments.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
"Anyone, anyone..." remember this movie? Papa R and I say that to each other so often, we thought we should let the older kids in on the joke.
Waiting for Guffman
A "mockumentary" (by the producers of Spinal Tap, Best of Show, and A Mighty Wind) about community theater--musical, of course. Christopher Guest is hilarious as the self-important gay director.
The Ultimate Gift
This is a high-quality Christian movie with a great message. The concept struck me as a little gimmicky to begin with, but I was won over by a good story, and that heartbreakingly adorable little girl. Christians get a lot of pressure to support this or that "Christian" film, but you'll feel great about this one.
The Last Sin-Eater
Another high-quality Christian film (directed by Michael Landon, Jr.), about a Welsh community in the Appalachians with dark secrets. Worth watching for the excellent performance by the young girl who stars, but also for a Christian story line that is truly compelling, not preachy.
Next
An action/adventure flick starring Nicholas Cage. He can see two minutes into the future, and the FBI wants him to help prevent a nuclear attack.
Yawn. (Can you tell this isn't my favorite genre? They're all alike.) Not squeaky clean, either.
Arsenic and Old Lace
Now this was more my style! It was easy to see why this film is a classic. My kids groaned when they first saw black and white, but they were hooked after the first five minutes. It's ghoulishly hilarious, with dead bodies popping up here and there and Cary Grant looking pleadingly into the camera for help in dealing with his batty old aunts. I enjoyed this play on the stage, but the movie was even better. I'm eager to see it again!
Vertigo
Another Alfred Hitchcock suspense classic that our kids loved.
Glory Road
In a long tradition of inspiring basketball stories, this is one of the best. It's a true story about a coach from a little-known school in the South who builds a championship basketball team by recruiting black players in an era of prejudice. Our kids were shocked, educated and inspired by this film.
Sweet Land
A slow, sweet romantic "art film" about a mail-order bride in 1920's Minnesota. She and her fiance end up in an ethical dilemma when they fall in love, but the local authorities won't grant them a wedding license because she's German. (There's an excellent plot synopsis here.) It's a visually beautiful film, and the dialogue is minimal and poetic, especially since neither of the lovers speak English as a first language (he's Norwegian). There is no easy answer to their dilemma, which ends in common-law marriage. A good discussion movie with teens.
Beowulf
Ugh. I let Papa Rooster talk me into seeing this one at an IMAX theater, in 3-D, because from the previews, I had hopes that this film would be a good introduction to the literary classic (and besides, I had twisted his arm to see Hairspray on his birthday, so I owed him). But unfortunately--because it was good in many ways--it was way, way too violent. It was a great morality tale of how lust corrupts whole families, and surprisingly, the Angelina Jolie monster was very well done--enticing yet revolting at the same time, just like lust.
Amazing Grace
I love the actor who plays William Wilberforce in this powerful movie about the struggle to abolish slavery in England. (He was also Horatio Hornblower.) It didn't entirely hold our kids' interest, though.
Enchanted
You know we loved this one.
Here's Frederica Mathewes-Green's review if you want excellent commentary.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Our oldest son brought this one home from the library, and everyone enjoyed this gentle sci-fi movie, which I missed back in my high school days. We couldn't get over how ADORABLE the 3-year-old boy was--and how much he looked like Bantam2! (Here's a link to his picture.)
Stranger Than Fiction
This is a unique film about an IRS agent with a monotonous life who suddenly starts to hear an author's voice in his head, narrating his life as he lives it. In the book he's in, he's the main character who will die in the end, and he must search out the author to convince her to change the ending. (I told you it was unique.)
Emma Thompson plays an uncharacteristic role as the chain-smoking, tormented authoress and Will Farrell is amazingly funny as the straight man/IRS agent. What I most enjoyed about this movie, though, was the young pastry chef he audits and falls in love with; I think this fresh-faced gal is my new favorite actress. Her sparkling blue eyes make me happy. And those dimples just...speak to me. (They say: Smile, darlin', smile.)
Ratatouille
Ah, you know we loved this one too.
If you don't have kids, this is another wonderful Pixar film; this one's about a rat with the nose and instincts of a great chef.
Once
We (and I mean the older kids too) loved this off-beat, low-budget, bare-scripted story in which real-life singer/musician non-actors play the lead roles of an Irish singer/guitarist and a Czech pianist who team up for a weekend recording session. Slow-moving but engaging in an artsy way. Full of music. Some language, of the Irish idiom.
Stardust
Sort of a Princess Bride wanna-be but without quite the genius. Too violent for younger kids; still, worth an adult rental for Michelle Pfeiffer’s most excellent icky witch portrayal and Robert Duvall’s winning Captain Shakespeare. The two lesser-known leads are charming, and once I got over my horror at the family tradition of fraticide, I even enjoyed the comic relief of the dead brothers’ ghosts. Not for everyone, but a fresh fairy tale for some.
Sweeney Todd
We loved this, but were so disappointed--we can't recommend it because it is just too disturbing and bloody.
But oh, the music is beautiful and brilliant. Yes, it's a musical, this story of a mad, vengeful barber who slits mens' throats and then shoots their bodies off to the kitchen to be made into meat pies by his shopkeeper accomplice. It's a very dark morality tale of how revenge eats away at the soul, causing men even to destroy even those they love. It's a picture of man eating man--literally.
Although we generally don't miss musicals, we might have drawn the line at this one...except that my husband has loved the music from this show ever since he saw the original Broadway production when he was a young boy. He got to go backstage and meet Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury, because his parents, former Broadway performers themselves, had connections. Ever since I've known him, Stephen Sondheim's glorious melodies from this show have been some of his favorites to listen to and to sing.
So we had been anticipating it for months--and if one knows what one is getting into and can overlook the blood, it's a brilliant adaptation for the screen. The acting is superb; the singing is consistently good (though not great), and the cinematographic vision of the film is...something to see. There is one little boy in it who sings like a choir boy angel--heartbreaking!
I just kept thinking what a tragedy it is--the story, and also that you have to view such disturbing images to enjoy the musical genius of this show.
And other than listening to It's a Wonderful Life while I prepared food for Christmas Day, that was the last movie of 2007.
Here's to more good films in 2008!
Friday, January 04, 2008
Movies Watched in 2007--Part One
I've debated about whether to post this list. I started it alongside my list of books read, but it's interesting how different it is to review or recommend movies, partly because there are so few movies without any potentially objectionable elements. In books, you don't have to worry about non-verbals like how the characters are dressed or what kind of music they are dancing to--but one adult I know disapproved of exactly those elements in a movie I really enjoyed (Step Up).
People have very different standards for movies, and especially different positions on what they'll let their kids watch, and at what age--and whether it's your firstborn or the baby of the family makes a big difference as well! Some adults won't watch anything they couldn't watch with their kids, and of course, some will let their kids watch anything, and I don't know where my readers fall on the spectrum.
So this is just a record of most of the movies I saw last year (I forgot to write some down). They weren't all great, and the ones that I really liked, I wouldn't necessarily recommend to everyone. I have tried to note how tame or objectionable these films were, but please do your own previewing and online research since my memory may be faulty. (You know there are websites that tell you everything from the plot of the movie to how many times they use the "d" word; just google on "Christian movie review of...[name of movie]").
Readers may assume that because Papa Rooster is a priest and because we homeschool, we are very conservative about our movie choices. But I'm not sure we are, compared to many other homeschoolers, or compared to families with younger kids. More and more, our choices are driven by our teens, their interests and their friends--for better or worse! And while we're careful, we're not hyper-vigilant that they never see or hear anything inappropriate, especially at home, with us, on a small screen, with the fast-forward button at the ready. It's all fodder for discussion.
So when I say "our kids thought ...," I usually mean our three oldest kids, who were 16, 14 and 12 last year--and often our very mature 8-year-old joined us as well. (If it's not a "family movie," we put on a different movie for our younger kids, or put them to bed.) And if you don't like musicals, I apologize in advance.
So here's the list, in the order I/we saw them in:
Step Up
We really enjoyed this dance movie about a classically trained female modern dancer and a hip-hop male dancer from the streets. The love story is clean, the music grooves and and the dancing rocks!
High School Musical
A squeaky clean Disney offering with high-energy dance numbers and a feel-good message. Fun.
Fearless
At A Hen's Pace review here. A great boy movie.
The Storyteller
These episodes by Jim Henson (of Muppets fame) are beautifully-crafted and riveting. Some are familiar Greek myths, some are lesser-known stories, some are twists on old tales. All have an aura of grim legend and mystery, often with a redemptive twist, told in a mesmerizing voice by "the storyteller." For more flavor and high recommendations, read the reviews here.
Enjoyed by all ages in our family, though they could be a little spooky for the very youngest. Start with the non-Greek myths.
Jesus Christ Superstar
I had a Christian high school teacher who passed out the lyrics and played songs from this musical every day of Holy Week, called it history and got away with it. Since then I've always had a soft spot in my heart for it, as I do for all Andrew Lloyd Weber's musicals, I admit.
Since my kids are into musical theater and since the 70's are "back," I figured my kids would enjoy this. Filmed on location in Israel, it is filled with intentional anachronisms--the disciples wear polyester leisure suits and sport afros, the Roman soldiers carry Uzzis and wear hard hats--and everybody sings with great intensity. The kids loved it.
Flyboys
The boys loved this based-on-a-true-story about World War 1 combat pilots. It's not my favorite genre, but it was enjoyable for what it was. Not quite squeaky clean.
The Illusionist
I LOVED this movie. It's a puzzle, a dramatic illusion. Don't miss it.
Seussical the Musical
Our library managed to obtain a community theater production's performance on video so we could view it before our kids auditioned for this wonderful musical, which you should enjoy live if at all possible.
Gone With the Wind
Our study of American history would not have been complete without this screen classic. The kids were riveted.
Glory
Eh--not so riveting, they said. And then the hero dies at the end? Why did you make us watch that, Mom?
(I didn't preview this Civil War movie.)
Zoom
This Tim Allen comedy about space school was really stupid, I thought. Sky High (last year's review here) was muuuuch better.
Annapolis
A military movie my oldest son brought home from the library. Too much language and violence (boxing and boot camp intensity) for me to recommend it.
The Pursuit of Happyness
Ah--but I can recommend this excellent, based-on-a-true story, inspirational drama. Will Smith is just great and so is his son. We all loved it.
Charlotte's Web
Although this fresh retelling of the children's classic was delightful, Papa Rooster and I really missed the musical dimension of the old animated musical by the same title, which we also watched as preparation for auditions. The younger set loved them both.
Dreamgirls
Papa Rooster, Blondechick 15, Bantam12 and I loved the incredible singing in this musical loosely based on the story of Diana Ross and the Supremes. Not squeaky clean but still recommendable.
Deja Vu
An action/adventure movie with Denzel Washington. Kind of intriguing but kind of boring at points, I thought.
Rear Window
It was time to introduce our kids to Alfred Hitchcock. They loved this.
Marie Antoinette
Blondechick15 and I watched this one alone together as a follow-up to a research paper she wrote on this historical figure. I feared a heavy period movie filled with gratuitous ravishing of females, but this was a light and fresh approach with little objectionable content. It sympathetically portrayed Marie as a young adult surrounded by other clueless young adults, trying to escape the pressures of court life, her foreigner status, and her fishbowl marriage. Highlighting the timeless and universal quality to their youth was an intriguing approach. Kirsten Dunst was perfect in the title role, and the costuming and cinematography were impressive. (Very brief female nudity.)
Come back tomorrow for Part Two!
People have very different standards for movies, and especially different positions on what they'll let their kids watch, and at what age--and whether it's your firstborn or the baby of the family makes a big difference as well! Some adults won't watch anything they couldn't watch with their kids, and of course, some will let their kids watch anything, and I don't know where my readers fall on the spectrum.
So this is just a record of most of the movies I saw last year (I forgot to write some down). They weren't all great, and the ones that I really liked, I wouldn't necessarily recommend to everyone. I have tried to note how tame or objectionable these films were, but please do your own previewing and online research since my memory may be faulty. (You know there are websites that tell you everything from the plot of the movie to how many times they use the "d" word; just google on "Christian movie review of...[name of movie]").
Readers may assume that because Papa Rooster is a priest and because we homeschool, we are very conservative about our movie choices. But I'm not sure we are, compared to many other homeschoolers, or compared to families with younger kids. More and more, our choices are driven by our teens, their interests and their friends--for better or worse! And while we're careful, we're not hyper-vigilant that they never see or hear anything inappropriate, especially at home, with us, on a small screen, with the fast-forward button at the ready. It's all fodder for discussion.
So when I say "our kids thought ...," I usually mean our three oldest kids, who were 16, 14 and 12 last year--and often our very mature 8-year-old joined us as well. (If it's not a "family movie," we put on a different movie for our younger kids, or put them to bed.) And if you don't like musicals, I apologize in advance.
So here's the list, in the order I/we saw them in:
Step Up
We really enjoyed this dance movie about a classically trained female modern dancer and a hip-hop male dancer from the streets. The love story is clean, the music grooves and and the dancing rocks!
High School Musical
A squeaky clean Disney offering with high-energy dance numbers and a feel-good message. Fun.
Fearless
At A Hen's Pace review here. A great boy movie.
The Storyteller
These episodes by Jim Henson (of Muppets fame) are beautifully-crafted and riveting. Some are familiar Greek myths, some are lesser-known stories, some are twists on old tales. All have an aura of grim legend and mystery, often with a redemptive twist, told in a mesmerizing voice by "the storyteller." For more flavor and high recommendations, read the reviews here.
Enjoyed by all ages in our family, though they could be a little spooky for the very youngest. Start with the non-Greek myths.
Jesus Christ Superstar
I had a Christian high school teacher who passed out the lyrics and played songs from this musical every day of Holy Week, called it history and got away with it. Since then I've always had a soft spot in my heart for it, as I do for all Andrew Lloyd Weber's musicals, I admit.
Since my kids are into musical theater and since the 70's are "back," I figured my kids would enjoy this. Filmed on location in Israel, it is filled with intentional anachronisms--the disciples wear polyester leisure suits and sport afros, the Roman soldiers carry Uzzis and wear hard hats--and everybody sings with great intensity. The kids loved it.
Flyboys
The boys loved this based-on-a-true-story about World War 1 combat pilots. It's not my favorite genre, but it was enjoyable for what it was. Not quite squeaky clean.
The Illusionist
I LOVED this movie. It's a puzzle, a dramatic illusion. Don't miss it.
Seussical the Musical
Our library managed to obtain a community theater production's performance on video so we could view it before our kids auditioned for this wonderful musical, which you should enjoy live if at all possible.
Gone With the Wind
Our study of American history would not have been complete without this screen classic. The kids were riveted.
Glory
Eh--not so riveting, they said. And then the hero dies at the end? Why did you make us watch that, Mom?
(I didn't preview this Civil War movie.)
Zoom
This Tim Allen comedy about space school was really stupid, I thought. Sky High (last year's review here) was muuuuch better.
Annapolis
A military movie my oldest son brought home from the library. Too much language and violence (boxing and boot camp intensity) for me to recommend it.
The Pursuit of Happyness
Ah--but I can recommend this excellent, based-on-a-true story, inspirational drama. Will Smith is just great and so is his son. We all loved it.
Charlotte's Web
Although this fresh retelling of the children's classic was delightful, Papa Rooster and I really missed the musical dimension of the old animated musical by the same title, which we also watched as preparation for auditions. The younger set loved them both.
Dreamgirls
Papa Rooster, Blondechick 15, Bantam12 and I loved the incredible singing in this musical loosely based on the story of Diana Ross and the Supremes. Not squeaky clean but still recommendable.
Deja Vu
An action/adventure movie with Denzel Washington. Kind of intriguing but kind of boring at points, I thought.
Rear Window
It was time to introduce our kids to Alfred Hitchcock. They loved this.
Marie Antoinette
Blondechick15 and I watched this one alone together as a follow-up to a research paper she wrote on this historical figure. I feared a heavy period movie filled with gratuitous ravishing of females, but this was a light and fresh approach with little objectionable content. It sympathetically portrayed Marie as a young adult surrounded by other clueless young adults, trying to escape the pressures of court life, her foreigner status, and her fishbowl marriage. Highlighting the timeless and universal quality to their youth was an intriguing approach. Kirsten Dunst was perfect in the title role, and the costuming and cinematography were impressive. (Very brief female nudity.)
Come back tomorrow for Part Two!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Return to Children's Theater
Unsure if we were going to sell our house, we've been noncommittal about whether we were going to do children's theater this fall. But with no buyers in sight--indeed, where all the lookers?--we at last gave the kids permission to audition for Charlotte's Web. We figured that even if we sell our house this week, we'll probably won't close the deal till around the time of the last performance, so we should be okay.
Then the kids' agonizing back-and-forth began. Bantam12 really wanted to play soccer and do theater, as he managed to last fall, but this year's game schedule required him to choose one or the other. Blondechick14 had been asked by the director of the other theater group (that we did Narnia with, this summer) if she would be a junior director for their fall play, The Story of the Nutcracker, a very enticing opportunity--but she also would have to choose one or the other.
When they both chose to join Bantam8 in doing Charlotte's Web, Papa Rooster and I had another tough decision to make: Do we let Chicklet4.95, who's too young to do CW, do Nutcracker? She had such fun being a Ballerina in Narnia, she would love going to rehearsals, and she was so eager to be a Snowflake with her little friend in the Nutcracker play. But it felt like dividing our family too many directions...so once again, Charlotte prevailed.
Whew! I'm glad that's settled. Auditions are this Thursday, callbacks are Friday, and by Saturday afternoon, the cast list will be up.
(Thank you, everyone who's been praying for us--see that prayer request over there in my sidebar, for decisions about fall activities for our kids? I'll be taking that one down soon, but thank you.)
Bantam8 and Blondechick14 are doing the same auditions they did for Seussical, since we didn't give ourselves much time to prepare new ones: "I'd Do Anything for You" from Oliver and "My New Philosophy" from You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. But Bantam12 was bound and determined to do a Beatles song this time, if he died trying to find one. Did you know you can download karaoke versions of many songs on iTunes, for $.99 a song? We listened to bits of sooooo many Beatles songs that were too high, too low, too fast, too slow, before laying down our dollar on "Good Day, Sunshine."
But how do you choreograph a one-minute audition for a song that keeps repeating the same inane phrase over and over? We were scrambling for easy dance moves--Bantam12 isn't much of a natural mover--when one of us thought of a prop. Sunglasses! During the building beats of the introductory music, he breathes on the glasses, wipes them on his shirt, places them on top of his head and spreads his arms wide just as he sings the first, "Good day Sunshine." Then he pulls them down over his eyes and sings the next "Good day, Sunshine" into an imaginary microphone. For the final repetition of the phrase, he pulls them off his face with a big flourish, then folds and pockets them for the short verse. Then we're back to "Good day, Sunshine" three more times (sunglasses remaining in the pocket), accompanied by the couple of rock-star moves he can swing passably well.
He's such a handsome dude, he can pull it off.
What? You didn't know Charlotte's Web was a musical? Then get thee to a library and request this 1973 version. Don't expect much of the animation (it's of the 70's Saturday morning cartoon variety; though it does have a charm that today's clean-lined cartoons lack), but the music and the voices make the movie. It's been a preschool favorite here since we went into the baby business.
Debbie Reynolds is wonderful as the voice of Charlotte (apparently she volunteered for the job, drawing no salary, because of her love for the book), but the best thing in the show is Paul Lynde as Templeton, the Rat. If you're too young to remember Paul Lynde on Hollywood Squares (one of my distinct preschool memories), then you NEED an introduction, though chances are that you have heard his distinctive speech before.
My first comment after we saw the recent movie version of Charlotte's Web was, "That was delightful...but I miss the music so much, I think I still prefer the cartoon version!"
The children's theater version should be fun. I'll keep you posted!
Thursday, August 09, 2007
The Patronus Charm
I received some nice comments about my post Choosing Joy. It sounds like I'm not the only one God is working on in this area!
It wasn't so hard to choose joy while I was visiting family in Ohio. It was so good to be together, and there were 4 babies around (if you count a 2-year-old as a baby still--and Bantam2 is most definitely still my baby) to continually delight my eyes and soul. My nieces are all so lovely too, and my children enjoyed them so much. It was a thoroughly delightful time.
But since I've returned...it seems like all my anxieties are waving their hands frantically at me, urging me to worry about them. The PODS sits on my driveway calling, "Fill me, fill me! Think of how much I cost every month! Think of all the things buried deepest in me that you will be needing if your house doesn't sell before winter!"
My house, of course, is jumping up and down with excitement, ordering, "Look at all the fresh marks on my newly-painted walls! Look at the spots on my carpet. Look how full my closets and attics are--shouldn't you be packing more of this stuff up? Get busy, woman!"
My homeschool curriculum bursts off the shelf to shout at me, "Shouldn't you be planning/ordering/choosing alternate books/ordering Algebra 1/making a schedule/STARTING SOON???"
My computer calls sweetly, "Wouldn't you rather be blogging?" And my kids, of course, are loudest of all. "Mom, I need you to take me to Target for...." "Mom, I want to get together with..." "Mom, when can we go to...." "Mom, we're out of...." "Mom, we're hungry!"
So my anxiety level has been rising as I try to decide which concerns to tackle first, and oh my word, it's mid-August for pete's sake and how am I going to do everything by that still-undetermined date in late August when we begin school?
Sorry to pull you into my panic attack...
But this morning, God planted this thought in my brain as soon as I awoke: "Expecto Patronum!"
Harry Potter fans will understand immediately. This spell is the only one that works when one is fighting Dementers, those soul-sucking, happiness-draining, life-stealing fiends. In order to cast it, one must muster up all the most powerful feelings of joy, hope and love of life that one can. When performed properly, a full-bodied animal of silver mist bursts forth from the end of the wand--an animal of power or beauty or whimsy, and one of personal significance to the caster. Its presence dispels despair and darkness and drives Dementers from that place.
My favorite scene in the fifth movie (the one that's out now in theaters) was the one where they learn to cast patronuses. These silvery animals were running and flying through the air in such a joyful way, it just delighted me. It was also delicious to see what animals erupted from the wands of the various characters. If I had a wand, I'm pretty sure mine would be a horse, or possibly an antelope. (Anybody else want to tell theirs?)
Expecto Patronum: I expect, or I await, a guardian, a protector. The Wikipedia article suggests that the spell is based on hope and faith. (In the French version, the spell is Spero Patronum, which is translated "I hope, or I await.")
As characters in Harry Potter learn, it is difficult to muster feelings of hope and joy in the presence of the Dementers' spell of despair. The best way to do it is to focus on a person one loves or who loves you, or on a memory that brought great joy. What a great depiction of the inseparable nature of the greatest of all virtues--faith, hope and love--and their indisputable link with joy!
So this morning, I choose joy. I am focusing on those blessings that make me happiest and fill my heart with love--my children, my husband, my home, my Lord. Though it is a battle not to dwell on earthly cares, I will "set my mind on things above."
In the face of fear and anxiety, I expect joy. I await its protection. I hope--in the most Christian sense of the word.
Tonia and I are on the same track again. I loved this proverb she quoted today:
For the despondent, every day brings trouble;
for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
It wasn't so hard to choose joy while I was visiting family in Ohio. It was so good to be together, and there were 4 babies around (if you count a 2-year-old as a baby still--and Bantam2 is most definitely still my baby) to continually delight my eyes and soul. My nieces are all so lovely too, and my children enjoyed them so much. It was a thoroughly delightful time.
But since I've returned...it seems like all my anxieties are waving their hands frantically at me, urging me to worry about them. The PODS sits on my driveway calling, "Fill me, fill me! Think of how much I cost every month! Think of all the things buried deepest in me that you will be needing if your house doesn't sell before winter!"
My house, of course, is jumping up and down with excitement, ordering, "Look at all the fresh marks on my newly-painted walls! Look at the spots on my carpet. Look how full my closets and attics are--shouldn't you be packing more of this stuff up? Get busy, woman!"
My homeschool curriculum bursts off the shelf to shout at me, "Shouldn't you be planning/ordering/choosing alternate books/ordering Algebra 1/making a schedule/STARTING SOON???"
My computer calls sweetly, "Wouldn't you rather be blogging?" And my kids, of course, are loudest of all. "Mom, I need you to take me to Target for...." "Mom, I want to get together with..." "Mom, when can we go to...." "Mom, we're out of...." "Mom, we're hungry!"
So my anxiety level has been rising as I try to decide which concerns to tackle first, and oh my word, it's mid-August for pete's sake and how am I going to do everything by that still-undetermined date in late August when we begin school?
Sorry to pull you into my panic attack...
But this morning, God planted this thought in my brain as soon as I awoke: "Expecto Patronum!"
Harry Potter fans will understand immediately. This spell is the only one that works when one is fighting Dementers, those soul-sucking, happiness-draining, life-stealing fiends. In order to cast it, one must muster up all the most powerful feelings of joy, hope and love of life that one can. When performed properly, a full-bodied animal of silver mist bursts forth from the end of the wand--an animal of power or beauty or whimsy, and one of personal significance to the caster. Its presence dispels despair and darkness and drives Dementers from that place.
My favorite scene in the fifth movie (the one that's out now in theaters) was the one where they learn to cast patronuses. These silvery animals were running and flying through the air in such a joyful way, it just delighted me. It was also delicious to see what animals erupted from the wands of the various characters. If I had a wand, I'm pretty sure mine would be a horse, or possibly an antelope. (Anybody else want to tell theirs?)
Expecto Patronum: I expect, or I await, a guardian, a protector. The Wikipedia article suggests that the spell is based on hope and faith. (In the French version, the spell is Spero Patronum, which is translated "I hope, or I await.")
As characters in Harry Potter learn, it is difficult to muster feelings of hope and joy in the presence of the Dementers' spell of despair. The best way to do it is to focus on a person one loves or who loves you, or on a memory that brought great joy. What a great depiction of the inseparable nature of the greatest of all virtues--faith, hope and love--and their indisputable link with joy!
So this morning, I choose joy. I am focusing on those blessings that make me happiest and fill my heart with love--my children, my husband, my home, my Lord. Though it is a battle not to dwell on earthly cares, I will "set my mind on things above."
In the face of fear and anxiety, I expect joy. I await its protection. I hope--in the most Christian sense of the word.
***
Tonia and I are on the same track again. I loved this proverb she quoted today:
For the despondent, every day brings trouble;
for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
Monday, April 30, 2007
A State of Dislocation
Who does not know how terrible are those preparations for housemoving;--how infinite in number are the articles which must be packed, how inexpressibly uncomfortable is the period of packing, and just how poor and tawdry is the aspect of one's belongings while they are thus in a state of dislocation?
I laughed out loud when I read this in Anthony Trollope's The Small House at Allington last night! (I am enjoying the book immensely, by the way; if you like Jane Austen, he seems to me to be a close cousin. )
That's what we're dealing with at our house: "a state of dislocation." Combing through our belongings for things to pack up and to get rid of has created a sort of domino effect: You eliminate one bookcase, one end table and one little desk, and you have to find new homes for many "articles," as Trollope would say, which means reorganizing other shelves, cabinets and rooms. It does seem an "infinite" number of steps in the process!
And in the midst of this upheaval, I had to have another little foot surgery on Friday. My doctor removed the four pins she put in in January, a minor surgery that still required me to be put under, and to sit around all weekend with my foot iced and elevated. I even have to wear the surgical boot again, though this time I was given a smaller, more lightweight version--the spring/summer model? Supposedly I only have to wear it a few more days, but we'll see. Things are still pretty tender down there--and swollen. Nothing like before, though, and she assures me I'll be back to normal in no time. At least I can limp around on it, on the heel--but it's more comfortable when elevated.
So things are in a shambles here--it's a good thing no has asked to come and see the house! We've had a couple of calls to ask our price, but we haven't done any advertising except for three signs and word of mouth. We're really not ready to show it. Our friend is planning to come next week, I think, to paint and repair some things first. And I'm so eager to be getting those rooms ready, and to box up all the stuff for whichever charity is coming Wednesday. It's so hard to sit around with so much to be done.
The problems I've had with my foot--for so many weeks out of this year so far--has been a real trial for me. It's hard for me to let things go, for my house to be in "a state of dislocation" --as it was in January and February, when we weren't moving, but Mom was pretty much confined to bed. I would even say it is "inexpressibly uncomfortable"!
But I learned, and was reminded this weekend, that we can still function happily in a messy house. I just have to make the right choices. I can try to get my family to do everything I would do if I were on my feet--a never-ending list--by ordering them all around from the couch, or I can ask for a few key things to be done, and then enjoy a movie with them, in the midst of the mess.
Saturday night, it was The Pursuit of Happyness; last night, it was Charlotte's Web.
(We thought Pursuit was just excellent. Charlotte was delightful, but both my husband and I missed the songs from the musical version!)
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Fearless
If you can handle subtitles and some movie violence with a great message, then I've got a movie recommendation for you: Jet Li's Fearless.
To some, the name Jet Li will immediately invoke the genre of this film: it's a Chinese martial-arts epic, like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. To me, the name Jet Li meant nothing, though I just realized (from the Wikipedia article linked to above) that he starred in one of the few other martial arts films I have seen (and enjoyed more than Crouching Tiger), Hero.
It's a genre hallmarked by highly choreographed fighting filled with grace and beauty, and occasionally defying belief (moments of flying, for example). Of the handful that I have seen, Fearless is my favorite story line. (My favorite fight scene--for sheer beauty--was in Hero.)
Huo Yuanjia, the main character, was a real-life hero in China in a time of national upheaval and threat by surrounding nations. The movie version begins with him as a brash, undefeated, well-known fighter who pridefully and foolishly picks a fight he spends the rest of his life regretting. He spends time in the country, in solitude and penance, before re-entering the arena (a changed man) to start a training center for young athletes. In the midst of a tournament in which he fights to raise money for the school, he is poisoned and dies during the fight (spewing blood from his mouth--the most disturbing scene of the movie), a death which is made most honorable and redemptive by his deeply respectful opponent, who declares the dying man the winner.
I think this is a great character-building movie for older boys (our mature nearly-8 year old loved it). But Blondechick14 and I really enjoyed it too. Do understand the genre--martial arts fighting scenes are a big (and breathtaking) part of the movie!
Friday, February 02, 2007
Arts Meme
My real-life friend Mary at Entelechy tagged me (long, long ago...sorry!) for this meme. It's a good one!
1. Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies.
How about I share the books that I purchased my own copy of, plus a lending copy? (I guess I've given most of these as gifts too.)
The Pace of a Hen, by Josephine Moffett Benton (of course)
A Return to Modesty, by Wendy Shallit
Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think--and What We Can Do About It by Jane Healy
The Surrendered Wife, by Laura Doyle (a title you have to hide, I know, and I don't agree with every word, but overall, it's the most practical book for wives that I've ever read, especially if you have any control-freak tendencies. It's a secular book too, despite the title.)
Gender: Men, Women, Sex, Feminism by Frederica Mathewes-Green
2) Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music.
Back in college, when I first met my husband, he was all excited about Andrew Lloyd Weber's Requiem. His father, a professional singer at St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in New York City, had recently sung in the world premiere of the piece, along with famous tenor Placido Domingo and soprano Sarah Brightman (of "Phantom of the Opera" fame).
My husband (then boyfriend) had a CD and the libretto, and he played for me several of his favorite sections of the requiem, including the heartbreakingly beautiful duet, "Pie Jesu," between Sarah Brightman and a boy soprano, and the stirring, contemporary "Hosanna," in which Placido belts out the melody, his voice soaring on the high notes above drums and the rest of the choir. I had not listened to much vocal classical music before, and this piece was a thrilling and emotional introduction.
3) Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue.
Enchanted April fits this description for me. It's a movie about love--many forms of it, but especially sacrificial love and the transformation of characters who choose it. I always feel like this movie calls out the nobler, less selfish me.
(At the IMDB link above, if you click on "other user comments" at the bottom, there are 5 pages of glowing reviews of this movie! It's a little slow for most kids, by the way.)
4) Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief.
I'm not too inspired by this category, but it seems like comedy is implied, if belief must be suspended. So Steve Martin comes to mind. I like him for his maturity, compared to many others I could name.
5) Name a work of art you’d like to live with.
Oh, can I only pick one? I'd love to rotate one a season, I think.
For this winter, I'd love to have Sunday on La Grande Jatte covering the largest wall in our great room. If you've ever seen this work at The Art Institute of Chicago, you know it is HUGE, and the colors are amazing. I think it would really pop in my living room, with all the windows and a southern exposure to maximize limited winter light. What a "view" that would be on a dreary winter day!
6) Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life.
Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss. This fictional diary of a Victorian-era mother has given me an entirely different perspective on life and death. Her grief-filled, yet accepting, musings at the loss of a child, a parent, and a brother made me realize how much more death was a part of life for millenia before the advent of modern medical practices. Life was more precious because it was more uncertain. Every day with a loved one, every life--no matter how short--was a gift. Most people experienced great losses, and heaven seemed a lot closer and more real to people because they had loved ones there. (This is exactly what a close friend who lost her 17-year-old son in a car accident told me: "The veil is much thinner now; during the Eucharist I can almost see into heaven.")
7) Name a punchline that always makes you laugh.
My husband has a little routine he has performed just for me for as long as we've been married. He steps out of the shower, dries off, wraps a towel around his waist and begins talking to himself in the mirror. Making a Stan Laurel face, he says, "Thank you. Thank you very much." He nods to himself and continues talking to himself, with frequent insertions of "Thank you. Thank you very much." I don't know how he can keep a straight face the whole time. I'm always cracking up!
I'm tagging...whoever wants to play along!
1. Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies.
How about I share the books that I purchased my own copy of, plus a lending copy? (I guess I've given most of these as gifts too.)
The Pace of a Hen, by Josephine Moffett Benton (of course)
A Return to Modesty, by Wendy Shallit
Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think--and What We Can Do About It by Jane Healy
The Surrendered Wife, by Laura Doyle (a title you have to hide, I know, and I don't agree with every word, but overall, it's the most practical book for wives that I've ever read, especially if you have any control-freak tendencies. It's a secular book too, despite the title.)
Gender: Men, Women, Sex, Feminism by Frederica Mathewes-Green
2) Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music.
Back in college, when I first met my husband, he was all excited about Andrew Lloyd Weber's Requiem. His father, a professional singer at St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in New York City, had recently sung in the world premiere of the piece, along with famous tenor Placido Domingo and soprano Sarah Brightman (of "Phantom of the Opera" fame).
My husband (then boyfriend) had a CD and the libretto, and he played for me several of his favorite sections of the requiem, including the heartbreakingly beautiful duet, "Pie Jesu," between Sarah Brightman and a boy soprano, and the stirring, contemporary "Hosanna," in which Placido belts out the melody, his voice soaring on the high notes above drums and the rest of the choir. I had not listened to much vocal classical music before, and this piece was a thrilling and emotional introduction.
3) Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue.
Enchanted April fits this description for me. It's a movie about love--many forms of it, but especially sacrificial love and the transformation of characters who choose it. I always feel like this movie calls out the nobler, less selfish me.
(At the IMDB link above, if you click on "other user comments" at the bottom, there are 5 pages of glowing reviews of this movie! It's a little slow for most kids, by the way.)
4) Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief.
I'm not too inspired by this category, but it seems like comedy is implied, if belief must be suspended. So Steve Martin comes to mind. I like him for his maturity, compared to many others I could name.
5) Name a work of art you’d like to live with.
Oh, can I only pick one? I'd love to rotate one a season, I think.
For this winter, I'd love to have Sunday on La Grande Jatte covering the largest wall in our great room. If you've ever seen this work at The Art Institute of Chicago, you know it is HUGE, and the colors are amazing. I think it would really pop in my living room, with all the windows and a southern exposure to maximize limited winter light. What a "view" that would be on a dreary winter day!
6) Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life.
Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss. This fictional diary of a Victorian-era mother has given me an entirely different perspective on life and death. Her grief-filled, yet accepting, musings at the loss of a child, a parent, and a brother made me realize how much more death was a part of life for millenia before the advent of modern medical practices. Life was more precious because it was more uncertain. Every day with a loved one, every life--no matter how short--was a gift. Most people experienced great losses, and heaven seemed a lot closer and more real to people because they had loved ones there. (This is exactly what a close friend who lost her 17-year-old son in a car accident told me: "The veil is much thinner now; during the Eucharist I can almost see into heaven.")
7) Name a punchline that always makes you laugh.
My husband has a little routine he has performed just for me for as long as we've been married. He steps out of the shower, dries off, wraps a towel around his waist and begins talking to himself in the mirror. Making a Stan Laurel face, he says, "Thank you. Thank you very much." He nods to himself and continues talking to himself, with frequent insertions of "Thank you. Thank you very much." I don't know how he can keep a straight face the whole time. I'm always cracking up!
I'm tagging...whoever wants to play along!
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