Miracle on 34th Street

We don't watch many movies but we did indulge over Christmas break. One night we watched the old version of Miracle on 34th Street. We loved it. The budding romance was believable and the lawyering was clever. The next night we watched the new version. It was abysmal, nothing clever, nothing plausible - just a bunch of melodramatic sentimental hooey. Avoid it at all costs.

Fisher King

We watched Fisher King the other night, whilst my thoughtful sis and bro-in-law took the kids to a play. At first I HATED the movie and the only reason I didn't get up and go find something else to do was that I was too weary to crawl out of the easy-chair. I hated it because it was bringing a loud egocentric jerk and his yucky lifestyle into my living room. No thanks.

But then, it changed; it became a very enjoyable and thought-provoking movie. Aforementioned jerk gets thrown in with some crazy street people and (resisting every bit of the way) learns to care for someone other than himself. At some point he rants to Perry -- his now-catatonic crazy friend -- that Perry has it easy, all he has to do is lie there while Jack-the-jerk has to slog through his glam day and his glam relationship all the while wondering why he feels so empty inside.

And there's some romance and some humor and some Arthurian legend and some tragedy thrown in too. Robin Williams plays the crazy guy and does a quite nice job of it. I recommend it a mere 17 years after it came out. I don't watch many movies, okay?

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Dae Jang Geum

See these?

If someone offers to loan the Dae Jang Geum series to you, run. Because if you watch just one you will want to watch just one more and then just one more and so one. Each set has 6 3-hour discs and there are 3 sets!

The story revolves around the lives of the court ladies aka cooks in old Korea. The plot line is engaging, the costuming beautiful, and the cooking exquisite. Alas, it takes a toll on real life where I am over-tired (from staying up too late), my appearance is frumpy, and the cooking is not happening at all.

I sat down to watch them Sunday afternoon as I was fairly current on my housework and physically spent from stripping down and reconfiguring three rooms (bedroom, playroom, office) last week. I thought I'd take a little break. The break has lasted 3 days now.

As I said, run away.





:: this post is included in the Movie Monday roundup hosted by Missy Frye.
Dae Jang Geum

The Ultimate Gift

We watched The Ultimate Gift yesterday evening. What a great movie! A spoiled little trust fund kid gets an odd inheritance from his Grandfather: a series of gifts which serve to build character and industry and compassion and forgiveness in the heart of this otherwise materialistic and shallow young man. Very well done with many good discussion starters.



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Mighty Warriors of the Never-Ending Questions

We watched the movie Home Alone which may have been a lapse in judgment as the children have been discussing how they would protect and defend their castle if they were left home alone. I think they may have finally settled on a workable plan.

If they are home alone and burglars arrive, the kids will pester them until they go away. Here is a mere fraction of their arsenal:

What are you doing?
Why are you doing that?
When will you be done?
What will you do next?
When is Christmas coming?
Why do you wear black?
What are you going to do with that?
What time is it?
What is that tool?
What time is it now?
What time did you get here?
What time are you leaving?
How long until then?
Do you know that guy who took Christmas?
No, the guy with the dog who was a reindeer?
Do you work for him?
Are you the boss?
How much money do you get?
Where did you get that tool?
Did you steal that too?
How much was it?
Did you have to steal your breakfast?
Did you have to steal your underwear?
Do you steal dogs?
Are you a bad guy?
Why are you a bad guy?
Do you love God?
God can help you stop being a bad guy?
Have you been in prison?
How much did it cost?
Do you steal in prison?
Are you going to vote for Ron Paul?

Who needs dogs and home security systems when I can just sic the Mighty Warriors of the Never-Ending Questions on any stray burglar who hazards upon us?




parenting