Monday, February 26, 2007

Take it to the Bridge


This weekend the family went to watch Bridge to Teribithia. This was at the bequest of my youngest who was convinced by all of the ad time on Disney Channel that she wanted to see it. The rest of us like fantasy movies and things that are marketed to 7 year olds so we agreed. If you don't want any spoilers then stop reading now. I myself have never read the book that the movie was based on. I remember hearing of it, but had some recollection that the book was girly. I don't know why I had that in my head, but I did. Well we weren't prepared for what was coming. The movie got heavy pretty quick. From the depressing life that Jess lived, to some relatively deep talk about God and Christianity, to the unexpected death of the main girl and Jess' only friend in the movie. In the end, we walked out feeling like we needed some sort of grief counseling. My little girl said that she didn't ever want to go to the movies again, because "it was too sad". She just didn't understand why the girl had to die or why they'd put that in the movie. My son was sad as well, but mainly because I think he had been expecting to see Ghost Rider.

I had to spend the rest of the night trying to cheer everybody up. That meant comfort food and trying to find a movie that would make us laugh. Being the good dad that I am I got us some burritos and nachos from Taco Bueno. Then I popped in one of the movies that I remember having several funny moments in it from when I was a kid. So we sat to eat and watch Stand By Me. Although the movie does have a lot of funny parts, I forgot that the whole trip the boys were going on was to see the body of a dead boy that had gotten hit by a train (Oops. Not helping). I also forgot that the character of Chris Chambers (the best friend) is reported at the end of the movie to get stabbed in the throat and killed (definately not helping). My little girl who was having a pretty devastating weekend at this point let me know that although she was sad that she knew it wasn't real and that she knew the actor was still alive. I decided to keep quiet about the fact that River Phoenix wasn't making any more movies.

15 comments:

Cyber D said...

Did your comfort bood include cheese? On the subject of pick-me-up movies... you should have popped in My Girl. That's a great movie about child friendships and appreciating nature.

Cyber D said...

food... I meant to type food... not bood.

Dagromm said...

We haven't viewed My Girl, but if you're recommending it then we'll check it out.

mist1 said...

I took a six year old date to this movie. I cried my eyes out and he gave me candy. Best date I've had in a long time.

Nate said...

I loved the movie, but I had read the book as a kid and knew what was coming. I kind of felt sorry for the all the parents of 5 year olds in the audience who came in expecting a light fanatasy romp.

Nate said...

Dagromm, be sure to rent Whale Rider for the kids this weekend.

Cyber D said...

Ummmm, I just re-watched My Girl. Maybe better take a rain-check on that one, unless you want them to appreciate the killing power of bumblebees.

Dagromm said...

Funny enough, I think Mist's suggestion has been the best advice yet. I'll get her some candy. My daughter, not Mist. Sorry.

plug said...

We went through a period of about two years where I would bring home a great "family movie" in which somebody (usually a kid, always a lovable character) dies. It's now a running joke at our house - "not one of mom's [finger quotes] family movies!" They were all good though, just melancholy. Try Stolen Summer, Pay it Forward, and Little Women to start.

Q said...

My favorite family movie was always "Easy Riders #14", a family-get-together staple in the Q household. You might want to check it out, I give it an A-...

Cyber D said...

If you like Easy Rider #14, try Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man. No better movie ever made staring Mickey Rourke and Don Johnson!

Q said...

Dude I have seen that one and it is the duo involving D.J. short of Miami Vice.

fringes said...

Your family will love Rabbit-Proof Fence.

Also, Simon Birch, based on A Prayer for Owen Meany, is wonderful, but Simon does die at the end. Maybe rent that one in a month or so.

Dagromm said...

I think he lives. It's been a while since I've watched Simon Birch. I've never seen or heard of Rabbit-Proof Fence so i'll have to look for it. It sounds like a band name.

fringes said...

He dies. Trust me.