"The Elephant Man"

Our family caught a little more than half of The Elephant Man on television Friday night. I had never seen it before. I suppose that's not especially surprising, considering it came out when I was in high school and lived out in the boonies, a hundred miles from anything resembling a movie theatre.

It was an awesome film. Main Man was actually heading out to do some errands after supper when the boys and I started watching it, and he stood with his coat and boots on at the door, entranced with the story. I bet he stood like that at least twenty minutes, unable to draw himself away. (Too bad it was on a no-commercial channel.)

What really amazed me about the experience of watching it with the boys, though, was their reaction to the way John Merrick was treated. #2 and #3 were particularly vehement in their contempt of the people who mistreated him.

After watching that famous scene in which Merrick shouts out, " I am not an animal! I am a human being! I...am...a man!", #3 spontaneously shouted out, "Good for you!" I actually think he had tears in his eyes.

It is extremely gratifying to think that my boys might actually "get it". You know, you work so hard to instill values, and you hope and pray that it might actually be taking hold. Sure is nice when a simple, unexpected time like this shows you that you might actually be on the right track.

"Music and Lyrics"

Watching the movie Music and Lyrics is like reading a Harlequin Romance while listening to really bad music.

I like Hugh Grant and I like Drew Barrymore. I even like them together. I just don't like them together in this movie.

Have you seen a commercial for this movie? If so, then you have seen all the good parts and you've heard all the good lines. Interesting, as I listened to the audience laugh, I noticed that they really only laughed at the lines that were in the commercial.

Sadly, as bad as the movie was, it still must have captured a small piece of my heart, as in the climax at the end - you know, the part where the Harlequin male lead truly captures the heart of the female lead by doing something totally romantic and unexpected (although everyone expects it) - I still shed a tear or two. I'm such a softy.

Streams of Consciousness II: The Return

Sunday...#2's first guitar recital. He's taken lessons for two and a half years, but his previous teachers didn't "do" recitals. I was so proud! He played a song he wrote himself. It sounded bouncy and Spanish, so he called it "Bouncing Ball", only he used the Spanish translation that he painstakingly researched on the internet.

Monday...Teachers' work day. It's what they call "Turnaround Day", the day between the first and second semester in the high schools. Students across the division get the day off, and teachers get to use it for catch-up or prep for the future. I call it "Breathing Day", and I worked hard. Still not caught up, but not quite as far behind now.

Tuesday...Went to see Babel. Wasn't nearly the profound film I was led to believe it would be. Left me depressed and sad. Didn't really make me think, just left me empty. Some have compared it to Crash from last year. Now that was a movie! It made me think and reflect. Although it had its moments full of sadness and despair, it ended with a resounding note of hope. If you are vexed in the future about just which DVD to pick up at the rental place, and Babel and Crash are in your hands, please go for Crash!

There's so much more to write, but so little time. Stay tuned for Streams of Consciousness III, coming soon to a blog near you.