Theatrical Sedatives for Kids

[Runesong]

DU'ers with kids.. do you find that "The Sound of Music", "Titanic" and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" are like sedatives for your kids?

My kids, and visiting young varmits are always enraptured and calmed-down by these movies. I think it's pretty cool that in this age of X-Box and short-attention spans, kids still respond to such simple, great stories, and break them out of the xmas hype a little bit.

Although somewhat less wholesome, our family really loves "Eight Crazy Nights". It's potty humor, but our kids are old enough to figure it out. My wife and I were really jazzed by the familiar landmarks. We both grew up in the Worcester area, as did Adam Sandler. It was a real trip to see the arched skating rinks, and even the familiar "G-shaped" door handles of the Galleria Mall :)

I plan on hunkering down in front of the TV with my wife and kids, with a chinese feast, opening some presents and watching "The Sound of Music".

For those of you homebound with immediate family tonight, how are you spending the evening?

[ChiefHappyButt]

1. Rent Whale Rider tonight

the kids will sleep, and the adults will ooh and ahh!

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. Yeah, Whale Rider is a GREAT movie

The lead character is so adorable it brings tears to your eyes just to see her.

"Lick Bush" Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[seventhson]

3. For adults, Kurosawa's last production "The Sea is Watching" is great

a beautiful film.

Dreams is my favorite. Kurosawa died before this was made, but his family made it happen, I believe.

Whale Rider is also an almost flawless and powerful film.

I kept thinking, "Boy have we (European colonialists) fucked up the people of this planet"

[eileen from OH]

4. a traditional Christmas Eve - for us, anyway

We've had the same people over for forevers - an older couple with no children. She's a Brit and finally showing her age a bit (and I do mean "a bit") and he's a darling who still gets his marching orders from her. Good buddy Ian who's Jewish and gay - our bittersweet memory tonight is of all the Christmas Eves past where his partner John was with us. We do a Christian blessing and he offers the Jewish version and then he MUST sing "Yonkel, The Yellow-Flamed Candle" to the tune of "Rudolph". (My kids used to literally fall on the floor laughing over this.) Another good bud, Bev, who is one of my very best friends and we love each other alot and get along tremendously well, despite the fact that we are incredibly dissimilar about everything. (It's a mystery to all who know us.)

Ian brings soup (this year it's Leek-Potato), salad with my super-secret dressing, Mr. Eileen's sweet herb whole wheat rolls, filet mignon (screw the Mad Cow) with bearnaise, twice-baked taters, broccoli, and Ian's dessert (this year it's pumpkin cheesecake.)

Can I say now that I love Christmas?

eileen from OH

[jmowreader]

5. You got the words to that Yonkel song?

Tried googling. No luck.