Toy Story 3

We made it to the cinema yesterday, after our failed attempt on Tuesday, to see 'Toy Story 3'.
We all enjoyed it and had a great discussion over lunch around waste-disposal, the rise and maintainance of dictatorships, whether a character damaged by rejection can be described as evil and the nature of mercy.
I was expecting a proper tear-jerker and had ensured that I had a good supply of tissues in readiness for the ending, having heard tales of the final scenes making grown men cry. It was not, however, the final parting of teenaged boy and his faithful toys that moved me, but the near destruction of the gang as they battled to reach their owner. Despite knowing that this would not be the end (after all what kind of kids' film climaxes with the heroes incinerated?) I had to wipe away a few tears.

"We should pay close attention to the things that make us cry, for
there we are not far from the heart of God or our own." ("Running
on Empty" Fil Anderson)

So, in a moment of unexpected prickling in my eyes, I ask myself, what is it about this that is moving me? In this case, deep friendship, trials endured, victories won, growing up, real connections, acceptance of the end? Stuff close to my heart.

Some Mothers

I went to see ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ last night, by myself, at the cinema – what a treat! Although it was somewhat distant from Jodi Picoult’s original book, sweetened and simplified for film goers, I did enjoy it in the having-a-good-cry kind of way. While I was wiping my tears away and hoping that no-one would notice, there was a chorus of sniffs from around the theatre.
One of the things that pulled my heart-strings was the nature of the mother, effectively played by Cameron Diaz. I found it hard to be sympathetic to her, despite the agony of her having a dying child, because she did not mother her other children very well, but at the same time I found myself wondering: ‘Am I like that?’ I don’t have such an extreme circumstances within my own family, but do I get the distribution of energy, attention, interest and money, balanced correctly between my children. Do I hear them? Do I trust them? How much of our life together is played out to my agenda?
Another mother to whom I compare myself is the Robbie, Peter and Phil’s mother in ‘The Railway Children.’ She is calm and stoical, so much so that her children know something is badly wrong when they suspect that she may be crying. My children know that tears may mean that I’ve stubbed my toe or I’m fed up with the housework and I blub my eyes out at the end of ‘Apollo 13’ every time. She is uncomplaining, gracious and writes for a living. I struggle when sharing a packet of chocolates with my child not to sneak a few extra when he’s not looking! I resent missing something I want to do to see my child in a end of term celebration. I don’t earn a penny.
In my favour, I guess, is the fact that my children aren’t out playing on a railway line all day!

High School Musical

I have been a little slow on the uptake, but on Friday afternoon I sat down with the children to watch High School Musical. Having recently watched 17 Again, I was interested in seeing more of Zac Efron (what's not to like?) and my daughter had received a High School Musical related gift for her birthday and I was at a loss to explain to her who the people on the stickers were so I ordered the film from our DVD service. I had little idea what to expect and my sons both told me that they would rather do maths. We agreed that they would watch the first half hour and then they could go if they weren't enjoying it. They stayed to the end and, although they both rated it less than 5 out of 10, when I watched it with my little girl again yesterday, they were both there on the sofa!
The plot was straightforward, if a little predictable and cheesy, and the music excellent - of course, this is all obvious from the style and success of the film. My daughter was enchanted, although high school, basketball, scholastic decathlons and auditions took some explaining. My sons laughed at plenty and were keen to inform daddy of the upcoming funny bits during Sunday's reprise. I have had the tunes in my head all night and have just printed off the lyrics on "We're all in this together' for my daughter's weekly copywriting.
What I loved most of all was the message of the film: who you are is more that what other people see, or how you may have been labelled. As I chatted with my boys about this, expanding on the idea by my suggestions that it was possible to be a artist footballer or a race-car driving ballet dancer, they seemed to think this was obvious. And I was happy that they know that they can be who they want to be!

17 Again

My parents-in-law visited this week and this is my pass for an afternoon out. I indulged myself with a bag of pop-corn and a fun film at the cinema. Zac Efron is very easy on the eye and it felt good to have some time out!

The Phantom Menace

"Star Wars" fever has been gripping our family, or at least my children, of late. I am regularly asked questions such as "Who is your favourite Darth" (there's more than just Darth Vader?) or "What do you think Kit Fisto's voice will sound like" (Kit who?)
Yesterday we watched "The Phantom Menace" and I have to say that I enjoyed it a lot more than the first three (or the last three, depending on how you view them. We opted for production order, rather than chronological order. The purist in me prefered this, and it puts off the decision about "Revenge of the Sith" which is a 12 certificate.) The more I learn about the Star Wars films, the more complex I discover they are, (although I'm sure countless other places you could read up on this.) Anakin was conceived by Virgin Birth - remind you of anyone? However, Anakin turns well and truly bad, (I'll say no more just in case there is anyone reading this who doesn't already know) and I found an added sadness to the film about this adorable boy with such strength of character, knowing as I do the destruction he will eventually wreak.
I have had some interesting pre-film debate with my middle son as to what the Phantom Menace itself is. Perhaps the boy Anakin? The double-crossing senator? Or the fear in Anakin's heart which will eventually open him up to the Dark Side?

Fear causes anger, anger causes hate, and hate causes suffering.

This struck me as a profound truth. I know that much of the time, when things are not going well, as they haven't this week, I notice that a lot of my reactions are caused by fear. What if the children don't learn maths, manners, anything? From this, I find my temper is easily lost and I certainly act in a hateful way. While I don't like the idea that I cause my children suffering, I have certain caused tears this week.
Which is why spending Friday afternoon with then, a good film and a bowl of popcorn was such a good thing to do!

National Schools Film Week

National Schools Film Week is on in October. I discovered this last year and was amazed to find that you can just go along to the cinema, with your children, for free! We saw Laura's Star and The Ant Bully last year. This year I'm not around for the week in question but my husband is taking the children to their grandparents and I've found The Spiderwick Chronicles and Dr Seuss's Horton Hears a Who for them.

We had quite an adventure last year and we piled out of the house to get in the car to go to the cinema to discover that my husband, with my full knowledge, had taken the car to work! I'd just completely forgotten that we needed it! Thanks to my great neighbour and a local taxi firm we made it there and back and I'm sure the drama made the journey as exciting as the film!

Prince Caspian

We should pay close attention to the things that make us cry, for there we
are not far from the heart of God or our own.

Fil Anderson

I went to see Prince Caspian at the cinema yesterday. It was a stunning and gripping film and although it wandered far away from the narrative of the book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. At the end of the final scene, as the Pevensie children emerge in an underground station in war-time London, I found tears streaming down my face. Less and less do I dismiss such tears as silly and more and more do I remember the above quote and ask myself what has resonated in my heart and brought tears?

How would it be to discover that you were really a king or queen, capable of great courage and leadership, to have witnessed and partaken in momentous events, to have been gifted with and earned authority and power, only to find yourself once again a school-child? I was filled with the sadness of a passing glory. If it were me, I would want to shout it out that I was no ordinary child, but a Queen of Narnia, that I had led troops in battle, that I was not what I seemed.

Reflecting more on this, I began to wonder if such self-belief, such personal authority, such tried and tested integrity would be a hoard of secret treasure, of internal resources and produce a deep sense of specialness. Perhaps if we knew what we truly were and were truly capable of, rather than regretting the passing of one adventure, we would be relishing the next in the ordinariness of our every-day lives.

The Cave of the Yellow Dog

I belong to one of those online DVD rental services. It started as a free trial and then we signed up for just 2 discs a month and then it grew to unlimited discs, 2 at a time so I could run one list for my husband and me and one list for the children. I select which films I'd like to see and I get sent them in a random order. It is possible to label some as high priority, but I like the element of surprise. Most of the films on the list are just films I think will be fun to watch. Occaionsally I get a bit 'worthy' and start putting 'classics', 'gritty' or 'educational' films on the list. When they land on the doormat, I tend to feel slightly disappointed and have to make the effort to watch them.. One such film was 'Ocean's 11' : not the one with the gorgeous George Clooney, which I have seen and loved a number of times, but, in an effort to improve my film-buff rating, the 60s version with Frank Sinatra.

So, it was with a wry smile that I told the children that the latest DVD to arrive by post was a Mongolian film entitled 'The Cave of the Yellow Dog'! Yes, Mongolian! I cannot remember where I saw it recommended, but I was taken by the fact that it was made by the same people who made 'The Story of the Weeping Camel'. This I saw a while ago in a tutorial when I was still training as a Breastfeeding Counsellor. At the time I really could not see the point of it, but I have been surprised how often it has come back to mind and I have pondered what I saw. 'The Cave of the Yellow Dog' was a beautiful film and the children were absorbed. Although there was little dialogue, I did have to summarise the sub-titles occasionally for my not-yet-reading daughter. She, in particular, was engrossed in the story and in tears when the dog was left behind (but that was not the end ...) It was a fascinting insight into a lifestyle so utterly removed from our own in a gentle and engaging way and the narrative was satisfying, with climax and ending, enabling a brief resume of plot basics. The family portrayed were completely natural and although some scenes were clearly 'acted', much, I imagine, was spontaneous. Disney it was not, but I think this comment on 'Weeping Camel' sums up 'Yellow Dog' perfectly too, 'This spare film provides a visually enchanting and unique learning experience.' And, I would add, a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon with the family.