Saturday, June 18, 2022

Kids and Movies and Reality, OH MY

As you may know, I've been spending a lot of time watching movies with my kids lately. Some are old, some are new, some are in-between but there is one thing that's become clear through all of them: My kids are very confused about reality.

I really thought we were getting past this. I expect my 5 year old to still get confused, but the 8 and 10 year olds? I'm certain we've gone over this multiple times, and yet, we still have some strange, confusing conversations during movies. 

It doesn't matter if it's Jurassic Park or a fabulous Judy Garland movie, the conversations are shockingly similar. They go something like this:

 

Child: Mom, is this real?

Me: No, it's a movie.

Child: Ok, but did this really happen?

Me: Well, no, dinosaurs never existed at the same time as people. (Or, no, people don't break out into song in the middle of random conversations. Or, no, there's not money buried under a giant W. Or, no, there's not an eccentric man living in a submarine getting attacked by a giant squid.)

Child: Ok, but are the people real?

Me: The characters are made up.

Child: Ok, but are they real people?

Me: Well, the actors are real people.

Child: So did the people actually DO this?

Me: Well...the actors...acted it out...yes.

Child: So this is real?

 

And don't even get me started on movies that are based on a true story.

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Old Movies With Kids: In the Good Old Summertime

In honor of Judy Garland's 100th birthday, I made the family watch In the Good Old Summertime. I've written about this movie a number of times, but it had been some years since I've watched it. 

This one just never disappoints. It has humor, songs, romance, excessive arm flapping.  What more can you ask for?

It's also right in the middle of one of the best trifecta movie remake series...es in history.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. The kids were lukewarm on it. It unfortunately is missing some of the bigger song and dance numbers we get in most Judy movies, except for the arm flapping in I Don't Care which always made me laugh as a kid and did the same for my own kids!

From the Kids:

10 year old girl: 3 stars

8 year old boy: 1 star

5 year old girl: 4 stars

As usual, my son did not enjoy this movie as he is determined to reject ALL old movies except Singin' in the Rain.

The girls liked the songs, especially the one when Judy plays the harp.

They also got a kick out of Van Johnson's made-up unattractive Newspickle fellow.



Thursday, June 9, 2022

100 Years of Judy Garland

In case you haven't heard, Friday, June 10, 2022 is Judy Garland's 100th birthday! I will likely be celebrating by forcing my husband and children to watch a Judy movie. Perhaps Summer Stock. Or In the Good Old Summertime. Or Harvey Girls! It's going to be hard to pick.

I was pleased to see the Gene Siskel Film center is showing a number of Judy films this summer. I'm debating if it's worth it to spend the time and money to get downtown to catch a showing but how often do I get the opportunity to see these movies in a theater?? It's tempting for sure!

In Judy's honor, here's a roundup of past posts:

How will you be celebrating Judy's 100th birthday?