This year for the first time in recent memory I did not watch the Oscar ceremonies on TV or participate in an Oscar Pool. While it is true that I did not see many of the nominated films and performances this year, that is true most years. I did not tune in this year because I felt as though the outcome for many of the top awards was a foregone conclusion, and I did not agree with those conclusions. Will we remember the silent black and white film "the Artist" that took home three top honors in 10 years... let alone next year? I think not.
In my opinion, "the Descendants" was by far the best film of the year. George Clooney is my favorite actor, and he always excels. However, he played a very different character in this film- a man faced with a comatose, near-death wife who was having an affair and who is faced with the prospect of having to raise his young daughters alone. Nothing in his life prepares him for this situation and for a large business decision he must make on behalf of his extended family. However, his character comes to learn during the course of the film that his history, his experience, and his family make clear what he must do. There is no happy ending, but there is comfort in the knowledge that his character, like us, is not alone in this world. Isn't that what great films, like great books, help us to realize?
There are causes greater than ourselves. There are tales that must be told. Yes deeds matter, but so do words. "The Artist" could learn more than a few things from "the Descendants."
Monday, February 27, 2012
THE BOY WHO LOVED
We recently completed a two month long odyssey watching the Harry Potter films. They were amazing! At first, they started out rather simple and sweet. However, the subject matter and themes quickly grew more intense.
While we watched the films, at least one part of Nicholas' body was in contact with mine. If I tried to leave the room while the movie was playing, he quickly rose to his feet and followed me. When I asked him why he did not want to be alone/could not be alone, he simply said he wanted to be close to me. Thus far, there have been no nightmares. Thank goodness!
Cate got in on the action, too. Not to be outdone, she began casting spells and matter- of-factly said her favorite wizard was Voldemort. The video below shows young Cate in action.
Do not worry. Cate skipped the last few movies, which were quite a bit more intense than the earlier ones.
During the last film, at one point I recommended to Nicholas that we turn it off and re-visit it in a few years because I was concerned about the turn the story might take. He protested and said that he wanted to see what happened. He made the case that he had come this far and that he loved traveling on the journey with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I tried to explain to him that that was the precise reason that I wanted to turn the movie off, but we forged ahead. I will not spoil the ending for you in case you have not seen the films, but it was quite a conclusion.
Despite the fact that the movies are all done, our interest in Harry Potter has not waned. Every other night, he and I read "The Sorcerer's Stone." He reads one page, and then I read five to ten pages. We should be done in the next few months at which point we will move on to the next one.
While we know how things will end, rediscovering the written story seems fresh and lively. I hope that we find other such treasures to share in life, and I hope they bring us closer together... even if that closeness is just to keep the bad guys away!
While we watched the films, at least one part of Nicholas' body was in contact with mine. If I tried to leave the room while the movie was playing, he quickly rose to his feet and followed me. When I asked him why he did not want to be alone/could not be alone, he simply said he wanted to be close to me. Thus far, there have been no nightmares. Thank goodness!
Cate got in on the action, too. Not to be outdone, she began casting spells and matter- of-factly said her favorite wizard was Voldemort. The video below shows young Cate in action.
Do not worry. Cate skipped the last few movies, which were quite a bit more intense than the earlier ones.
During the last film, at one point I recommended to Nicholas that we turn it off and re-visit it in a few years because I was concerned about the turn the story might take. He protested and said that he wanted to see what happened. He made the case that he had come this far and that he loved traveling on the journey with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I tried to explain to him that that was the precise reason that I wanted to turn the movie off, but we forged ahead. I will not spoil the ending for you in case you have not seen the films, but it was quite a conclusion.
Despite the fact that the movies are all done, our interest in Harry Potter has not waned. Every other night, he and I read "The Sorcerer's Stone." He reads one page, and then I read five to ten pages. We should be done in the next few months at which point we will move on to the next one.
While we know how things will end, rediscovering the written story seems fresh and lively. I hope that we find other such treasures to share in life, and I hope they bring us closer together... even if that closeness is just to keep the bad guys away!
A WHALE OF A GOOD TIME
Nicholas is currently learning about animal migrations in school. This section finishes up next week. However, it ends with a study of whales, which have become quite the hit around here.
Last week, the children in Nicholas' class had a whale-themed bake sale. They raised over $200, and the proceeds will go to a whale museum in Washington State. For math, they sort whales and count the teeth in the tooth whales. For writing, they write about whale adventures, and for reading they study whale-themed books. All of this integration surely captivates the kids' attention, and I am quite certain that they do not even realize they are learning.
How much fun is Nicholas having in school? Well, today, he had a dentist appointment during the day that finished up around 1:00PM. Even though his class is dismissed at 3:00PM, he asked Kathleen to drive him all the way back down to school from our neighborhood. She gladly obliged. Who could refuse especially after seeing his passion for the current whale section and for school evidenced in his drawing below?
Here's to Nicholas!
Last week, the children in Nicholas' class had a whale-themed bake sale. They raised over $200, and the proceeds will go to a whale museum in Washington State. For math, they sort whales and count the teeth in the tooth whales. For writing, they write about whale adventures, and for reading they study whale-themed books. All of this integration surely captivates the kids' attention, and I am quite certain that they do not even realize they are learning.
How much fun is Nicholas having in school? Well, today, he had a dentist appointment during the day that finished up around 1:00PM. Even though his class is dismissed at 3:00PM, he asked Kathleen to drive him all the way back down to school from our neighborhood. She gladly obliged. Who could refuse especially after seeing his passion for the current whale section and for school evidenced in his drawing below?
Here's to Nicholas!
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