April 9th, 2006
Movie Night
At Christmas one of the gifts we gave the kids was a box full of movie size packages of candy, microwave popcorn and a $10 Blockbuster card that was finally redeemed on Friday.
First we watched ["Benji: Off the Leash!"][1] which was a bittersweet simple cute movie that would have been super kid friendly for every other child in the world, except for Jack Edward who in addition to being simply bigger than life, is also perhaps the sweetest six year old on the face of the planet.
The situation was so tough for the dogs in the movie, and Benji’s eyes were so sad, that at two or three points in the viewing Jack burst into tears. “Poor dogs, sad and alone and hungry. And that mean guy” were some of the words I could make out. Then dear Henry would join Jack in the lament. So there I’d be on the couch with two weeping tenderhearted little boys, telling them both, over and over, that the movie would have a happy ending. Then the next funny thing would happen on film and they would both be laughing.
The movie ended pretty much like I had hoped and promised and even though it was already after 10:00, Ken and I knew we had to at least start the next movie to put something different in Jack’s head. He might have spent another 15 over-tired minutes crying in his bed at the mental picture of that dog with the huge sad eyes.
Enter ["Swiss Family Robinson."][2] Wow, what a great movie! I remembered how cool their tree house was and little else. It was exciting and full of adventures in that lovely brilliant color photographed classic Disney style.
Of course we watched the whole thing, and to put a nice ending on this night they may always remember, we got them into bed just a little after midnight, with visions of an exotic animal filled South Sea island, Mongolian pirates, brave young men, and the ultimate-dream-tree-house, complete with gadgety amenities, dancing in their heads.
[1]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0315273/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxxPUJlbmppIE9mZiB0aGUgTGVhc2h8bXg9MjB8bG09NTAwfGh0bWw9MQ__;fc=1;ft=20
[2]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054357/