In a world without children, the normal expected way to enjoy a movie can take place. You watch it, decide if you enjoyed it or not, and move on with life. Maybe you see it again at a friends place or see it running in a store. Perhaps this changes your opinion, perhaps it doesn't. You make your choice like a well informed consumer. Post children, it's an entirely different ball game. You usually see the movie the first time as a treat for your children, and as a means of getting a break. Because often, as a parent, movies and television are the only moments of stillness you receive. Children are little bundles of endless energy. And their bodies are continuously bobbing about like rolling waves. They crave touch. Even before they can really talk, they babble at you and hand you things and climb on you. Which is adorable. But a movie becomes a moment to recoup (or clean, or shower). And regardless how a parent feels about a movie, the #1 thing that matters is how the child responds. If it doesn't draw them in and calm them, there's no point in it. It's useless. Sometimes for background noise, and for the parent to have on something appropriate to watch, because all visual stimuli becomes potentially repeatable behavior. #2 for me is "would I want my child behaving this way." This is why I hated Hanna Montana for my daughter. I felt like I was always saying "no! She should have gone to her dad and told the truth! That was a bad idea! That's not safe!" Even though it was stupid and unrealistic. It was humorous, just more of a 'how not to act' guide. Kids are little sponges. They love to repeat their favorite lines and catch phrases. A classroom of children will chime in a three second bit from a commercial as if on repeat. This, too, can be absolutely adorable. But only if it's appropriate and not too grating on the nerves. Then comes #3, do I enjoy the movie. Often, not at first. But those moments of stillness are precious. I'd love one a day if possible. I'm all for leaving the tv on all day. Silence is weird. And the zeitgeist of our times is to fill our mind body with electronic entertainment. Who am I to fight that? I'm a product of super NES, cable television, Disney movies. Why should I deprive my children? But that's another issue all together. In any case, my now 12 yr old was little, she'd throw both arms up in the air and happily cheer "yiun keen" until I pressed play on the lion king on our VCR. And when it ended, she'd throw those cute chubby little baby arms back up and shout "yiun keen! Yiun keen!!" With an eager little smile until I pressed play again. She didn't sit still the entire time, she played toys and talked to herself. But she'd dance to the music and cheer for more when it was over. Who can resist that?? And as for the parent, it's like the 'pocket full of sunshine' card clip from the movie "Easy A." (http://youtu.be/NYTS7NBDKKU) The decision of liking the movie didn't come from within, it overcame you like a Dementors kiss. I should point out that some movies or shows only become more annoying the more you watch them. Do not ask me to watch Ice Age with you. The grating lisp of 'Sid' and the endless fart jokes fill me wth the rage of Rosanne Bar in the Movie SheDevil. I might not seem bothered now, but I could potentially be plotting a house fire.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
June 2016
Categories
All
|