It's kids' prerogative to change their minds, right?

After explaining we weren't going to see Ice Age 3, we ended up going as we got an invitation, and suddenly when asked by a friend, it became a lot more attractive to Sparky!

It was on the scary end for a preschooler though - lots of bad stuff that almost happens. Everything turns out Ok of course.

Trailer below.

Museum over movie

Well you know Sparky and I love movies. And we had decided to go to one every holidays. But there are no G movies this holidays except Hannah Montana, which he declares is too girly. He also reckons that the PG rating for Ice Age 3 Dawn of the dinosaurs is probably warranted - "because even the title scares me mum" so we are thinking we won't go to that.

So our movie substitute is the Powerhouse Museum, which has a special school holidays exhibition for children called the Odditoreum which looks interesting, showcasing curiousities from their collection with stories written for each by the children's writer Shaun Tan. I hadn't realised the museum is so reasonably priced ($5 for over 4, $10 for adults, and we have a voucher). Scout can come too, unlike a movie.

May Movies (yeah, yeah I can always hope I get time out, right?)

As an addendum to my previous post on films I was hoping to see this year, 2 further movies out this month in Oz have caught my eye.

1. Samson and Delilah, an australian film, was given 5 stars by Margaret AND David. This is virtually unheard of, and makes this unmissable I think. Since they moved to the ABC, it has only happened once, for Brokeback Mountain (which I confess I still haven't seen.)

2. Synecdoche, New York. A Kaufman film - directing this time. It looks ambitious, intriguing, maybe annoying?

And I've gone off the Boat that Rocked - it looked fun on paper but the reviews have said it is disappointing. One for the DVD player.

So, in the movie of your life

Who would play your family?

My eldest Sparky would be Thomas Sangster when he was younger - who is that? see the clip below from Love Actually



My husband would be Jack Davenport - see clip below. Love the song title ;). Edit: my apologies, the song has some swearing - can tell I wasn't listening when I watched. If that's a problem, turn the sound off)Edit 2: Seeing as how I myself read blogs with my small kids around, I've changed the clip!



I have just asked my husband who would play me (feeling unequal to the task of working out myself). He reckons either Cameron Diaz or Helena Christensen, switches to acting and dyes her hair blonde (OH, ok say I, and also manages to get a shorter frame with a more normal BMI....) Gotta love the husband's eye view!

Here's a picture of both of them pointing out how similar they look

I can't think of anyone for the cute Scout though. That would have to be one seriously cute child actor :D.

So, your mission should you choose to accept it: who would play you and yours?

Our Big but Thrifty day out

Sparky and I had our regular holiday movie day yesterday. After the horrors of the Easter Show cost last week, I went looking for bargains....double pass from ebay: c $16. snacks and water from home during movie: $?? not that much. lunch at a food court (Sparky's choice) c$10. train travel c$7. I figure at $17 each we did well.

We saw Monsters vs Aliens. It was PG which we usually avoid, but there were no G movies (in school holidays!) It was a little scary for 4, but he still enjoyed it. It was quite funny too, so something for the parents there. Though, as usual, the funniest lines had been used in the trailer.

Note to self : don't take son for his haircut on your fun day out. Yes, it was convenient. No, it wasn't worth it.

Easter holiday plans

1. Remembering, reflecting and thanking. I have been speaking more to Sparky about Easter and Jesus this year, and he told me he finds Easter sad and happy. We have talked about when sad is good sad.
2. Sparky's first Easter Show. I am staying home with Scout and Bhaer is taking him. Is it just me or is the show ridiculously expensive? Pity I have lots of childhood memories of it I want my kids to share. I also have memories of my parents being stingy with showbags. Now I understand.
3. So, instead I'm taking Sparky to see Monsters vs Aliens. Some debate over this, as it is PG - where have all the school holidays G films gone? But after consulting Kids in Mind, decided to give it a go. We can always leave if too scary. We will stick with 2D I think, for a 4 year old.

piccie from freefoto

Wild thing, you make my heart sing..

Trailer for the movie of Where the Wild Things are. Now, if only the movie lives up to its promise

cheekiness and slumdog millionaire

AS I said I saw this movie this week with Mim. (It was so good to get out Mim!) So much to say, and considering the plethora of Oscars, everyone else has already said it probably.

Thought I might share one thought, though. I was struck by the contrast between the subdued (though resilient) grownup Jamal and the cheekiness of the very young Jamal. Cheekiness is a quality hard to maintain in the face of horror and hardship.

As a mother coping with a child who is cheekiness personified (Scout, if you haven't worked that out already) I suddenly found myself hoping for a life for Scout which will retain that cheekiness to some degree in his grown up self.

Trailer below.

Movies coming soon - a non exhaustive list

Here are a list of up coming movies this year I am interested in. Very probably there are some great ones coming up that I ignore here because it is hard to tell from a plot synopsis how good something is, but here we have ones that have piqued my interest so far - and by the way, no links - come on people, use google for those you are interested in ;)

March:
slumdog millionaire - all those oscars and a feelgood tone...I think I will take myself for my birthday.

April
inkheart - based on book by Cornelia Funke. Read this recently. Fantasy based on children's books.
the boat that rocked - rock n roll film with bill nighy, rhys ifans phillip seymour hoffmann. kenneth branagh, director richard curtis. Looks fun

July
harry potter - how can I miss this?

september
fame - oh yeah, remember the tv series? remember, remember FAME! ahhh, I'm going to see this even if it's bad....

october
julie and julia
(streep, amy adams and cooking. Better go with a full tummy.)

december
where the wild things are - with Sparky? as long as not too scary?

late 2009 or early 2010:
Nine - a musical with daniel day lewis, judi dench, nciole kidman, mariona cotillard and more....you have to check out this cast list.

away we go: sam mendes, allison janney, maggie gyllenhaal.

so we bolted....

Sparky and I went and saw the movie Bolt. We both liked it more than the last movie we saw (Beverly Hills Chihuahua).

Pros:
It is a G movie (but see cons below)
Not too long.
It has some good things to say, such as:
loyalty is important
even ordinary people can be heroes
the ordinary pleasures in life are important too - of home, family, friends, enjoyment of creation
It has humour that involves adults, while still being clean. The hamster is hilarious.

Cons:
It does have a few scary scenes - most of these take place as part of a TV show, and so no "real" (in the world of the movie) people or animals get seriously hurt.
There is reasonably frequent popping back and forth between the make believe of tv and the real world. This is confusing for little ones - Sparky is a 4 year old who is pretty good at this distinction, but he struggled with this, and so there was lots of questions on his part as we watched the movie - hopefully not annoying to the other patrons.

Sparky and I have decided to go to a movie every school holidays so if anyone ever wants to join in just say the word.

holiday movies for kids

I am starting to think through our holiday activities. I am going to take Sparky to a movie, but at 4, it is hard to find appropriate ones.

Kris (see sidebar) put me on to a great website, Kids in Mind. It tries to be as objective as possible, simply rating each movie on possible issues for kids and leaving it up to you what you do with that information, based on your values and kids.

I am considering Bolt, which opens here in January. It is about a dog who is a superhero. Sparky loves dogs and heroes so he should be like a cow in clover. My only concern is some violence which takes place in a TV show context in the movie, but I think we should be able to talk about it together.

What about you? what are you going to go see, with your kids or otherwise?

movie meme

1. One movie that made you laugh

The Wedding Banquet – I was slapping my thighs. I saw it with 2 friends who despite protesting in one case that she would never have a chinese wedding banquet (she’s chinese) and the other that he wouldn’t get married at all – ending up marrying each other (weren’t going out when saw movie) and having their very own wedding banquet!

2. One movie that made you cry

It would be easier to state a movie that didn’t make me cry. Sophie’s Choice comes to mind for the sheer agony of her choice. Cried buckets in that. (Also my favourite movie Life is Beautiful)

3. One movie you loved when you were a child

The Sound of Music – yep I sang along. My husband used to deride me for ages about this, until I made him watch it – as he cried during the hiding from the Nazis scene – he admitted he quite liked the movie…

4. One movie you’ve seen more than once

See above. Also Grease (musicals bear repeated watching because you can sing along). And for Nicole who tagged me – I watched Room with a View multiple times as a teen too – especially certain scenes…

5. One movie you loved, but were embarrassed to admit it

I’m not embarrassed by what I like. Perhaps more generally, I have a high tolerance for romantic comedies, even if they are pretty B grade – though that doesn’t really embarrass me.

6. One movie you hated

Titanic – overwrought emotion.

7. One movie that scared you

Silence of the Lambs – I saw it with my cousin when we were home alone together at her place as uni students – we slept with the lights on that night.

8. One movie that bored you

Hey Dude where’s my car. I went with a bunch of guys from the single men’s block at Morling College when I lived on (as a married). They loved it, I was bored witless. Though, the funny thing was that my twin brother managed around this time to forget where his car was and became known as the Hey Dude where’s my car guy around his office.

9. One movie that made you happy

One I remember that had a real joie de vivre was Much ado about Nothing (Kenneth Branagh version).

10. One movie that made you miserable

One time when I was little, we tried to go see Lassie with my Dad. But we accidentally went into Ginger Meggs instead, which none of us liked the FIRST time we saw it, let alone a second time. So we all went home without seeing a movie. Pretty sad at about 6 or 7.

11. One movie you weren’t brave enough to see

Romper Stomper – I went with Margaret Pomerantz over David Stratton and decided not to see it.

12. One movie character you’ve fallen in love with

The main character in Dead Poets society – and he meets such a tragic end too. I have to say, the present day Robert Sean Leonard in House doesn’t do much for me.

13. The last movie you saw

On DVD, Nurse Betty. Disturbing – kinda funny, but in the end a dubious morality I thought – you are meant to accept the professional killer as providing the message . At the movies, Juno – I very much enjoyed this.

14. The next movie you hope to see
Anything at the movies!!!! I just want to get out…………..Love in a time of Cholera starts soon, and I just read the book, so maybe that.

I was tagged by Nicole. I tag Kaylene, Kristen and Mim (see sidebar for links).

oscar and cate

She may not have won an oscar this year .. but she is my pick for best dressed. And pregnant too - I just look like a round ball by that stage of my pregnancies (hmm being borderline 5 foot has something to do with it). Ok, I am a major Cate fan. If I could choose who I looked like, Cate would be the one. And if I could choose whose wardrobe I raided, Cate again.

Juno

We finally went out for our anniversary. We saw the movie Juno. It was good - the young actor who plays the title role is, as all are saying, very good. Without giving away the ending, I found myself very strongly wanting her to keep her baby and bring the baby up. Since becoming a mother I find the idea of someone other than myself raising my child one that causes me great distress. not because they woud do a bad job, but because I want to do it. quite apart from other considerations, this feeling is what keeps me from taking on full time work at the moment. I want to be their port in the storm, and the person who lights up their eyes when I enter the room.

What I'll be watching

2 things have me thinking about what I'll be watching.

One, non ratings period is about to finish. At the start of ratings period every year, I always get very excited about new programs. This is despite the fact that usually about 3 weeks in, I decide only about 1 of these new programs are worth watching, and the others are only "new" in the most superficial of senses. But hope springs eternal.

Two, Owl having reached the advanced age of one, we have already gone to more movies over the holidays than we did in the preceding year (2 as opposed to 0). We hope to see more this year. This hope may have a better chance than the first.

So, without further ado -

New TV I wish to try:

ABC - see here for new stuff

documentary In the company of actors tomorrow night

drama series East of everything - great cast

jane Austen Fourplay - 4 Austens!! billy piper as fanny price? intriguing or bizarre?....(see piccie above)

10 - see here

not thrilled with anything so far - will check out latest reality offerings such as biggest loser, idol.

May try Back to you with Kelsey Grammer - preview I saw only so-so

9

pushing daisies - I wasn't that keen, but then I watched the preview. Worth a go.

may try Cashmere Mafia - or this may really really bug me. But aussies in it (Frances O Connor and Miranda Otto) mean I will give it a whirl.

7 whats new

may try Samantha Who - not sure

SBS - will have to wait as I couldn't get on to website.

Films I wish to see: see next post!

Top Christmas movies meme

I have never participated in one of these before. But here goes. See the original post by John.
My top 4 Christmas movies (I have stretched the definition to allow Tv specials)

I hope these qualify as movies but I love the old rankin bass kid's ones - 2-4 are those:
4. the little drummer boy - always made me want to lay my gift before the king - in fact probably still has that effect!
3. santa claus is coming to town - who knew Santa started off as a cute red head Like the one below, both are about having open generous hearts.
2. It was a year without a santa claus - fantasticly camp music numbers
1. Its a wonderful Life Yes, it is sentimental but in the best of ways. Like the idea that each person can have an amazing difference in the lives of others.

Here are the rules:
Write down your four favorite Christmas movies in descending order.
Tag the first ten people who respond in your comment section saying they want to participate. (I doubt I will get ten!!!)
(Optional) Include a link to this post (John see above) and encourage others to place a link to their completed meme in the comments section of this post so we can keep track of the meme.