General discussion - Mom and Dad Esq.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Atticus Grinch

Are you kidding? The part where {spoiler alert} Charlie's dad loses his poverty wage job through redundancies at the toothpaste cap factory is the very best part!

The great thing about that book is that it's the only "perfectly miserable ordinary kid discovers he's a _________ (wizard, alien with magic powers, princess)" story that every frustrated kid wants to fantasize that isn't an accident of birth, but a result of patience and Boy Scout honesty. It makes kids believe that they can be made special through something other than mistaken parentage.

Oh, I agree completely. It's a wonderful book and I read it many times as a kid. And I think he'd love the book now. It was just too much at age 4-5.

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

I'm looking for a few chapter-books to read to the Siddette. She's 4.5. We just read Fantastic Mr. Fox (the copy I had as a kid), which is really perfect for that age -- short chapters, good story, etc.

The Siddette has a little trouble focusing and concentrating. In contrast to her older brother, who would lay on the couch while I read to him even if the house was burning down (which, of course, could be a problem too). Reading a longer book to her is good for this, I think -- it has helped her to focus on a single story-line. But I don't have any great ideas for our next book.

Thoughts, please!

Richard Scarry has a big story book, with a title that is something along the lines of Richard Scarry's Big Book of Stories, that has short stories that Princess loved as a girl about Siddette's age. It was also a winner with the Monster.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

I'm looking for a few chapter-books to read to the Siddette. She's 4.5. We just read Fantastic Mr. Fox (the copy I had as a kid), which is really perfect for that age -- short chapters, good story, etc.

The Siddette has a little trouble focusing and concentrating. In contrast to her older brother, who would lay on the couch while I read to him even if the house was burning down (which, of course, could be a problem too). Reading a longer book to her is good for this, I think -- it has helped her to focus on a single story-line. But I don't have any great ideas for our next book.

Thoughts, please!

There's a similar discussion going on over at Edge of the American West right now.

ETA: I think that the first Ingells Wilder book, Little House in the Big Woods is probably appropriate for age level. I devoured the whole series shortly after discovering it.

[Oliver_Wendell_Ramone]

Originally Posted by Replaced_Texan

There's a similar discussion going on over at Edge of the American West right now.

ETA: I think that the first Ingells Wilder book, Little House in the Big Woods is probably appropriate for age level. I devoured the whole series shortly after discovering it.

Recently tried Big Woods with our youngest, who is almost 5. She was bored with it (and it was coming after James and the Giant Peach, which she dug and paid attention to). We've also had success with My Father's Dragon, Wizard of Oz, and Charlotte's Web.

[Fugee]

Going to take the nieces (6 and almost 9) to the movies tomorrow. A quick look gives me the following options:

Up (3D or regular)
Ice Age 3 (ditto)
G-Force (ditto)
Night at the Museum

I've been wanting to see Ice Age because I liked the first 2. One of the nieces saw it at a kid bday party but is willing to see it again. Haven't heard anything about the G-Force one.

If you've seen any of these, is it worth seeing in 3D even if it means driving farther to a theater that has it in 3D?

Am I missing anything?

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Going to take the nieces (6 and almost 9) to the movies tomorrow. A quick look gives me the following options:

Up (3D or regular)
Ice Age 3 (ditto)
G-Force (ditto)
Night at the Museum

I've been wanting to see Ice Age because I liked the first 2. One of the nieces saw it at a kid bday party but is willing to see it again. Haven't heard anything about the G-Force one.

If you've seen any of these, is it worth seeing in 3D even if it means driving farther to a theater that has it in 3D?

Am I missing anything?

I've seen Up (3D) and Night at the Museum (IMAX at the Museum of Natural History here in Houston). Up was lovely in 3D, and I was really impressed with how it added depth to the movie without being overwhelming or headachy. I don't know necessarily if the 3Dness added anything to the experience, but I remember thinking that it wasn't all that bad at all.

I saw the first half hour or so on IMAX of the Harry Potter & THBP in 3D (on IMAX) also, and that had a lot more "pop out at you" effects. I was sort of glad when the movie switched over to regular format. The previews for both Ice Age and G-Force aired before UP, and they seemed like movies specifically created for this new 3D experience. Lots of rodents flying around directly at the viewer's head. I expect kids rather like it a lot, though I'm not sure I would have handled it very well.

Had Night at the Museum been playing anywhere else, I probably would have just waited to see it at home. But it was sort of fun to wander around our own museum first and then watch the movie. I thought that the first one was better done, and Hank Azaria bugged the shit out of me. But Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart was awesome. Hillary Swank has some sassy shoes to fill.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Going to take the nieces (6 and almost 9) to the movies tomorrow. A quick look gives me the following options:

Up (3D or regular)
Ice Age 3 (ditto)
G-Force (ditto)
Night at the Museum

I've been wanting to see Ice Age because I liked the first 2. One of the nieces saw it at a kid bday party but is willing to see it again. Haven't heard anything about the G-Force one.

If you've seen any of these, is it worth seeing in 3D even if it means driving farther to a theater that has it in 3D?

Am I missing anything?

take them to see Whatever Works, let them learn about creepy older guys chasing young women. it's timely. I mean, the one is only a few years outside of Woody's dating sweet spot.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Going to take the nieces (6 and almost 9) to the movies tomorrow. A quick look gives me the following options:

Up (3D or regular)
Ice Age 3 (ditto)
G-Force (ditto)
Night at the Museum

I've been wanting to see Ice Age because I liked the first 2. One of the nieces saw it at a kid bday party but is willing to see it again. Haven't heard anything about the G-Force one.

If you've seen any of these, is it worth seeing in 3D even if it means driving farther to a theater that has it in 3D?

Am I missing anything?

See Up. The rest is crap, IMHO based on the previews and reviews alone. (Ice Age 3 is maybe just borderline crap.)

3D is not essential, I think. I saw it in 3D. Siddette didn't like the glasses and so left them off (even though it made the movie blurry). She still talks about the movie all the time.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

See Up. The rest is crap, IMHO based on the previews and reviews alone. (Ice Age 3 is maybe just borderline crap.)

3D is not essential, I think. I saw it in 3D. Siddette didn't like the glasses and so left them off (even though it made the movie blurry). She still talks about the movie all the time.

Roger Ebert hates 3D with the passion of a thousand burning nuns and will always prefer the 2D projection of the same movie. His main point is that a conventional 2D movie, properly shot and (just as importantly) properly projected is a much more immersive experience than 3D. He has me convinced, but I haven't seen any of the new-gen 3D movies to compare, and I suspect few people go from a 3D showing to a 2D one to gain a perspective (ha!).

[Fugee]

Originally Posted by Atticus Grinch

Roger Ebert hates 3D with the passion of a thousand burning nuns and will always prefer the 2D projection of the same movie. His main point is that a conventional 2D movie, properly shot and (just as importantly) properly projected is a much more immersive experience than 3D. He has me convinced, but I haven't seen any of the new-gen 3D movies to compare, and I suspect few people go from a 3D showing to a 2D one to gain a perspective (ha!).

I saw Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D last summer and thought the 3D added some fun to an otherwise so-so movie. With animation, it seems like it should be interesting.

[Paisley]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Going to take the nieces (6 and almost 9) to the movies tomorrow. A quick look gives me the following options:

Up (3D or regular)
Ice Age 3 (ditto)
G-Force (ditto)
Night at the Museum

I've been wanting to see Ice Age because I liked the first 2. One of the nieces saw it at a kid bday party but is willing to see it again. Haven't heard anything about the G-Force one.

If you've seen any of these, is it worth seeing in 3D even if it means driving farther to a theater that has it in 3D?

Am I missing anything?

My 7 and 4 years olds both loved Up and G-Force in 3-D. Haven't seen the other 2.

I think it's worth it to upgrade to the 3-D showing. The effects are fun, and the kids get really in to it.

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Going to take the nieces (6 and almost 9) to the movies tomorrow. A quick look gives me the following options:

Up (3D or regular)
Ice Age 3 (ditto)
G-Force (ditto)
Night at the Museum

I've been wanting to see Ice Age because I liked the first 2. One of the nieces saw it at a kid bday party but is willing to see it again. Haven't heard anything about the G-Force one.

If you've seen any of these, is it worth seeing in 3D even if it means driving farther to a theater that has it in 3D?

Am I missing anything?

Up is wonderful and in 3-D is really cool. There is a sad element to it though. If the kids are prone to be maudlin, it may take some of the fun away. If they can accept that sometimes life is sad and move on, they will enjoy it.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by taxwonk

Up is wonderful and in 3-D is really cool. There is a sad element to it though. If the kids are prone to be maudlin, it may take some of the fun away. If they can accept that sometimes life is sad and move on, they will enjoy it.

I bet you're cute when you get weepy at movies.

[Fugee]

Originally Posted by taxwonk

Up is wonderful and in 3-D is really cool. There is a sad element to it though. If the kids are prone to be maudlin, it may take some of the fun away. If they can accept that sometimes life is sad and move on, they will enjoy it.

What about when the aunt is prone to be maudlin?

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Fugee

What about when the aunt is prone to be maudlin?

I think you can handle it. The part that is sad is also very sweet, and extremely well done.