Morning, Christy and FDLers.

Every year, my sister and I watch the Muppet Christmas Carol when I come home for winter. I can practically recite that thing, and it STILL never gets old.

Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum. A sure-fire laugh-out-loud combo.

Wonderful old English comedies with Alistair Sim, Peter Sellers, et al. “The Mouse That Roared.” “Belles of St. Trinian.”

Okay. And Tina Fey doing her Palin thingie.

One of the movies that can just make me giggle is the Japanese version of “Shall We Dance” – the US one is great(I’m a big Stanley Tucci fan) but the japanese one is wonderful. And, speaking of Stanley Tucci, a great film is “Undercover Blues” – he is hilarious.

And “Chariots of Fire.” I’ll shut up now! Born to fill blank spaces and silences in conversations. Urgh.

I lied. I’m back. Jasper Fforde’s series about Thursday Next. Boffo!

Morning all — the coffee is finally brewed…ahhhhh!

We can do that, too — I just love the singing veggies and the cute little mice. But especially the rats that work with Kermit at Scrooge’s office. hehehehe

MiniRieszette was scared shitless by ET when she was 3 or 4. She started shrinking back into the couch. We still laugh about that.

Barbara — have you read any of the Agatha Raisin mysteries that M.C. Beaton writes? They make me collapse with laughter, and take me about a day to read. Whenever I need a serious giggle break, I pick one up…

LOL Yeah, I think at 3 or 4 that would have frightened The Peanut, too. Now she’s just glued to her seat watching the magic unfold.

Morning Christy, et al. I agree that the Alistair Simms version is the best, but I will watch every version of the Christmas Carol that comes on during the season. Also, the Bishop’s Wife. For non-Christmas fair, on my “old movies” list are Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. (Yes, I’m very sappy.) Other than that, almost anything with Tom Hanks in it.

Good morning, pups. [yawn] I slept late! Today it’s Collins and Herbert. Ms. Collins gives us “A Political Manners Manual,” and says that with all the stories about people doing happy dances in the street after Barack Obama won, we have overlooked the dark side of the postelection mood. Mr. Herbert says “Take a Bow, America.” He discusses the fact that we still have two wars to deal with and a severe economic crisis. But we should not lose sight of the profound significance of this week.

http://mgpaquin.wordpress.com/

The coffee, tea and hot chocolate are ready, and I’ve got waffles with Vermont maple syrup this morning. We’re looking forward to howling over The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. And I second (third?) the vote for A Muppet Christmas Carol. Have a great day.

Good Morning Christy and Firedogs,

yeah, definitely time to exhale and relax a little

TobyWollin – Tucci is fabulous in another film no one has heard of – Big Trouble. lots of good actors and great characters. although The Devil Wears Prada . . .

Good Christmas movies for kids:

Home Alone, Christmas Vacation and Earnest Saves Christmas.

Earnest Saves Christmas is an uplifting story about a troubled teen girl, if you can deal with an hour and a half of Earnest’s outrageous brand of humor.

No, I haven’t! A new treasure trove of giggles. Booyah!

Oh, I love The Bishop’s Wife — Loretta Young and Cary Grant are just perfect in that!

Good Morning all !

“It’s a Wonderful Life” … everyone watches it, from my folks to the 3 year old and the final scene makes the young ones erupt in laughter …

Beaton also rights a series set in Scotland starring a detective named Hamish MacBeth which is also pretty funny. But the Agatha Raisin ones make me laugh out loud. I literally cannot read them on any public transport without people thinking I’m a loon…last time I took one on a plane, I’m positive the person sitting next to me thought I desperately needed medication and feared for his safety.

Hi — I’ve been gone a while, but on this Saturday morning, couldn’t think of a place I’d rather be…

Obvious for this time of year is A Christmas Story. Which always reminds me of The Sandlot.

And I think that The Peanut is old enough… If you don’t know it, check out Millions. It’s my current favorite kids/adults movie. The accents (working class British, one of them a piping high boy’s voice) are a little tough at the beginning, but it’s worth sticking with. Reading Roger Ebert’s review first would also give you hints about what you’re hearing.

I love every movie with Gregory Peck and Cary Grant.

It’s easy to unwind with movies from Bollywood … cartoon characters all, even the ’serious’ ones …

For out and out laughter, the “Carry On” movies are my fav !

Also, I have to watch Meet Me In St. Louis every year to get sniffly at the scene with Judy Garland and Margaret O’Brien singing “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

I’ve always been an avid reader but haven’t read a truly great novel in years. I saved ‘The DaVinci Code’ for vacation the year it came out. Shelled out for a hardcover. Needed to read some great fiction. Awful, I just hated it. I’m still searching. Has anyone read anything really great?
My faves in recent years are Amy Tan’s books, Fried Green Tomatoes, Presumed Innocent, A Staggering Work of Heartbreaking Genius and The Accidental Tourist. I felt like I was in heaven. Everything I picked up was wonderful. Now, not so much. I’m in a serious drought.

Have been trying to introduce The Peanut to the joys of musicals — we’ve started with Sound of Music, which she loves, but also the original Willy Wonka movie with Gene Wilder and a bit of Singin’ In The Rain. She loves music, so I’m trying to bring her along bit by bit on these…we’ll have her singing show tunes in no time. *g*

I remember loving the music in Roger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

in my unsolicitied opinion, Angels and Demons is a much tighter, better told story than DaVinci Code. Digital Fortress is a better escape as well (NSA and Glaciologists, who knew ?)

You might want the mods to edit #20.

No big — folks know her name. I just don’t use it publicly these days for obvious reasons.

I had completely fogotten about that one — the one with Leslie Ann Warren, right? Have also been thinking about trying to find a copy of the original Dr. Doolittle with Rex Harrison…

Given Obama’s victory this week, and his first presser yesterday, I think I’ll gather all the little ones and watch “Richard Pryor — Live on the Sunset Strip”

It teaches so much about race relations and the ability to laugh at one’s self.

I love R&H’s Cinderella too. But for big splashy musicals sure to delight a child, give me The Music Man! Ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-rion! Madame Libra-a-a-a-a-a-rian!

“The Story of Edgar Sawtelle”

“The Princes of Ireland” Edward Rutherford

“How Doctors Think” Jerome Groopman (MUST non-fiction reading for anyone who has been, is, or ever might be a medical patient or someone caring for same)

Solai:

The Shadow of the Sun by Ryszard Kapuscinski (First “S” and “N” have ‘ onum)
Peeling the Onion by Günter Grass
The Sum of Our Days by Isabel Allende

all should provide drouth relief.

Best movie ever for watching with kids (9 and 12?) is “Born Yesterday” with Judy Holliday playing a corrupt businessman’s moll who is taken to DC and given some “polish” by a progressive newspaperman. Hysterically funny it contains lines like “you fascist!” and “its a Car–tel!” when she figures out just how her lover’s corrupt business works. It makes you totally fall in love with Washington DC and the idea of the people and democracy.

aimai

Christy, I came upon a food site that you & peanut may like: foodietots.com
Not just for tots. Shopping for local food, recipes & more.

yes!

♪…In the arms of my love I’m flying . . .♪

forty+ years later and my sister still carries a torch for Stuart Damon -lol

I’m so sorry — as I said, I’ve been gone a while, and obviously missed some things… Please forgive (and feel free to modify or delete my comment).

No, really, it’s no big. I just stopped using her name because, frankly, the world is full of crazy people. *G*

For something entirely political, “Yes Minister” will provide hours of relief.

just about time to watch Home for the Holidays

“Wag the Dog” and “The Mouse that Roared” (political flicks)

Off to the hospital I go . . . which is a far place from SouthernDragon’s cesspool.

My grandniece at two and a half fell in love with the old movie “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”. I had to tell her preschool teacher that if this two year old, who still had her lisp, talked about it or sang the songs that she knew by heart, please PLEASE know that this little one was singing the words CHITTY CHITTY Bang Bang …not …what they would think they heard. Now she is 3 and a half and still loves it. No more lisp tho (sigh)

Cat In Seattle

And safe home with good news, please doG.

May not be a “family film” but Soap Dish goes down as an all time favorite as well as Princess Bride…(can watch both with older children).

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang…

We agree with you on Galaxy Quest…and yes,tbogg cracked me up too this week…

My older kids love the old Pink Panther movies. And to back you up, Kung Fu Panda was a real treat for us. Very unexpected and worth adding to our collection.

Our kids love the Wallace and Gromit movies. Although, some of the images in them may be best for slightly older children. A Grand Day Out is safe for any age.

Movies for kids and others:
The Princess Caraboo (1994) — a charming parable. Jim Broadbent. Phoebe Cates. Kevin Kline. John Lithgow. and the wonderful Stephen Rea.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988) Japanese animation, by the great Miyazaki. The dream garden scene, the rain scene, are exquisite.
And, as long as we’re thinking of Japanese movies, let the kids watch at least a couple of the scenes in Dreams, by Kurasawa. especially the fox wedding.

And, has everyone forgotten about the Babe movies? they are great, too.

Muppets Take Manhattan. “Peoples is peoples. Is Frog one? Yes.”

For a great combo of laughs (and brilliant writing), I always love “Animaniacs”. Spielberg insisted there be one original song in every episode and some of them are truly memorable. It’s got something for everyone, adults and children.

About two-thirds of the series’ 99 episodes are available on DVD.

A slightly OT question — a variation of Christy’s. My daughter mentioned that my 7 y/o granddaughter (2nd grade) is very excited about being able to read a MAGAZINE and not just books. Apparently she attaches some status to that achievement. That grandchild has a birthday in early January, so I thought one gift for either Christmas or birthday might be a magazine subscription.

My daughter mentioned Highlights, and I am familiar with Cricket (which probably would be my first choice). Do any of you have other suggestions?

We took our oldest to see Babe at age three. When the farmer dig a jig, our little guy (at the time) jumped out of his seat and began to jig in the isle. Cracked the whole theatre up.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, I loved that as kid and completely forgot about it. I just smiled so wide when I read that. Maybe I’ll rent that today and relive some memories.

Thanks!

Now, as for books:
Mr Pip, by Lloyd Jones, is a great read. Amusing, moving. it will also encourage everyone to revisit Great Expectations. Teenagers can read this, too, though it gets horrific.

My kids love Ranger Rick and National Geographic World.

National Geographic – without a doubt

Thanks for the book suggestions. I’ve been over at amazon.com. I think I’ll try “The Shadow of the Sun”.

That’s wonderful! Thanks for the thought! I think that dance is one of the best filmic moments of an epiphany.

Zoobooks

I read Gary Jennings’ Aztec a few years ago. It was lurid, but enthralling and informative about Aztec civilization before and during the conquest. Of course taste differs for each individual.

I have been corrected. My kids just informed me it is now called National Geographic Kids.

here’s a link:

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

I remember that because we were subscribers when I was growing up. But my memories are of a thick magazine with lots of photos of exotic places and things and very dense text. My older grandkids (10, 12, 14) might like it, but I’m not sure about a 7 year old who is just getting good at reading.

But maybe my memory is faulty or the magazine has changed (or there’s a version made for younger readers)?

Zoobooks are really good too. A regular writer for Zoobooks lives in Columbus. He does super writing workshops for young kids too. Great suggestion. He’s come to our kid’s school as a visiting author a few times too

Another book:
Timothy: Memoirs of an Abject Tortoise. Verlyn Klinkenborg. a meditation on nature, in the first person — a tortoise imagined from the natural history reflections of an 18th c. English clergyman. Doesn’t sound exciting? Sounds slow? Yes, read it slowly, a few pages at a time. Beautiful.

IMHO the best Christmas Carol is Patrick Stewart’s but I have to agree with Christie that it’s time to take a break from politics 24/7. Thanks for the reminder that there is a lot more out there than elections. However, we do have to keep an eye on BushCo for the next seventy days.

The Peanut gets a National Geographic magazine for kids and she looooooves it.

apparently I wasn’t alone in listening to more musicals as Tuesday drew closer – all the songs from Funny Girl are over at youtube

hi christy and pups
haven’t read all comments yet, but saw the chitty chitty bang bang ones, yep, was hooked on it, and the book…….

the book charlie and the chocolate factory–with movie willie wonka, gene wilder version.

my best friend’s eldest watched ‘the muppets take manhattan’ over andover and over.

the youngest watched ‘rock a doodle’, an elvis-like rooster, over and over ….hilarious, everyone should see this one..

charlotte’s web. book and movie.

when she’s a little older, pippy longstocking.

just watched ‘my big fat greek wedding’ again, always funny.

and tbogg cracked me up the other day, too.

and then when you are ready to fight for the good again, and need motivation to save the world, the constant gardener, warning–intense….

I have to say, the Patrick Stewart versionis my second favorite, with Bill Murray in Scrooged coming in close behind. You have to love a movie in which Carol Kane plays a wickedly gooberish role…

I apologize for miss-spelling you name, Christy, must have more coffee…

Thanks! I will give my daughter the links to Zoobooks & Kids National Geographic, and let her decide among those and Highlights or Cricket. Since there’s also a 5 year old in the house, I could get different subscriptions for each, since they’d probably share.

One of my favorite musicals is Pirates of Penzance, the version with Kevin Kline as the Pirate King, Linda Ronstadt as Mabel, and Rex Smith as Frederick, and the amazing Angela Landsbury as Ruth. The Police Seargent, whose name I can’t remember is an absolute stitch.

Monsters Inc. taught more spiritual lessons than most “gurus” I’ve met.

Shark Tale & Finding Nemo also have great messages, told in a way that holds a child’s attention. Anyone who’s tried to teach children about meditation, or anything else, can appreciate that.

Old faves are Chitty Chitty Bang Bang & Jungle Book … “Look for the Bare Necessities …”

Speaking of magazines… A delightful magazine for grownups (and maybe adolescents)is Mental Floss. http://www.mentalfloss.com/ The subtitle for the mag is Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix. I ran into this magazine at my vet’s office (where I spend a great deal of time, unfortunately). It’s crammed full of little stories from string theory to lettuce-eating crickets. Written in bite size pieces for the non-technical among us. Just wonderfully yummy!

And, if you haven’t gotten around to Botany of Desire: a Plant’s Eye View of the World, by Michael Pollan, get around to it. A chapter each for apples, tulips, marijuana, and potato.

I’m working my way through the Miyazaki films I haven’t seen. I find “My Neighbor Totoro” enhanting and watched it three or four times, once for the story, then for the details of Japanese country life and the precision and artistry of renditions of flowers, then for the beauty of a countryside which has not been ravaged by malls and developments.

“Kiki’s Delivery Service” is a more “urban” tale, but there also, after watching the film for the story, I went back to look at the details of the setting — some imaginary Middle European coastal town. Is it Bulgaria? Is it Germany? A street sign on a building flashes by: Birger Jarls Torg; that’s in Stockholm.

They are kindly films, and the children blend adventure with intelligence and courtesy.

yes ! to Scrooged. and I still choke up every time in the final scene with the little boy

and I think Ghost of Christmas Future perfectly embodies the GOP

Yes, Patrick Stewart is the best Christmas Carol. Even when he reads bell-clanging noises, it’s exquisite.

Exactly–the kindness and courtesy in the relationships. yes.

There’s always Night at the Museum

I miss TRex!

our kids were too cool for animated films by the time The Incredibles was released, so I’ve only seen it recently . . . about a thousand times. stunning

Oh Jungle Book!

I’ll second Monsters Inc, Shark Tale and Finding Nemo.

I’ll add, Beauty and the Beast.

When our granddaughter was 3-4, her favorite musical was Singing in the Rain. i never got tired of it, either.

I’ll see you and raise with The Hunchback of Notre Dame ! *g*

When the kiddies were younger, we’d have an “Opposites Day” every month …

Cocteau’s Beauty & the Beast. 1946. gorgeous. maybe not for kids — black & white & expressionism all over.

Charles Laughton’s Hunchback! 1939– the great film year.

Good morning all! I personally loved the Albert Finney version of Scrooge, the songs are a big hit in my house. I actually saw the stage version of a Christmas Carol this past week with my daughter’s class. It was pretty amazing and we sat in the front row.

As far as other kids movies go, my kids loved “Hoodwinked”, about Red Riding Hood. The Barbie musicals are actually pretty well done, and the music is great. Muppets Treasure Island is hilarious, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is good but the Child Catcher scared the living shit out of me when I was a kid.

I am not sure if this book is even findable but one of the best books I read, out of print even then 30 years ago, was Anthony Adverse as well as The Egyptian. I just looked them up on Amazon and by golly Anthony Adverse was there! I found a synopsis of The Egptian on Wikipedia. They made a movies of both books, which I have never seen. I will tell you however, those old historical novelists knew how to create memorable characters. I still remember them vividly 30 years later. And they also tell you that political intrigue is much the same through time. I was fortunate enough to have had a history teacher once who told us that remembering dates was not as important as what the times were like that led up to eras and incidents. He recommended reading good historical novels if one wanted to understand why certain things happened when they did.

Here are the links to those books:

Anthony Adverse:
http://www.amazon.com/Anthony-…..0030284007

The Egyptian:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Egyptian

Anthony Adverse is (I think) about 1700 pages long. But it is a book worth your time if you want to know about the birth of America and if you want to savor good character development and absorb what was happening in those times. The Egyptian will tell you that political intrigue is all about the times and who leads that can influence entire civilizations in astonishing ways. Plus you will not get any of these characters out of your mind for the rest of your life, at least that is what I have experienced.

Cat In Seattle

I miss TRex!

I Am TRex

Thanks to Lion King, my kids learned “Stand By Me” and opened them up to enjoying all my Drifters, Platters, etc. collections.

I think I need to read that. Already captivated.

I saw it on a big screen in the Ohio Theatre when I was in high school. It was wonderful on a big screen and in a classic restored theatre —just perfect.

Oh! come on over to my house!! I’ve already seen it once this month. First time I could get my spouse to sit down through the entire film. He didn’t understand what the appeal was, but I explained to him that every family is mirrored in Home for the Holidays, and it was like a holiday family reunion without all the green Jello salad and the hassle of panty hose to watch it. Once he grokked that, he enjoyed it.

Almost everybody has a goofy aunt Gladys (or uncle) or a gay family member who’s loved but not always embraced fully, an over-wound anal-retentive perfectionist, a grumpy codger longing for the old days (that would be my mom, and in my spouse’s case, his dad), a dingy but generous and loving mom/dad…it’s universal in its depiction of family archetypes.

Maybe in the same way that The Breakfast Club (which I watched with my 14 year-old and 10 year-old this morning) depicts universal archetypes as well. Was fun to watch with them, see it fresh through their eyes.

Christy — if you don’t have it in your collection, I recommend Babe. I still sniffle at the end every time I watch it. After hundreds of viewings with my kids, it still has the capacity to touch me. Fun for all ages.

Speaking of historical novels. I enjoyed reading most of the John Jakes Bicentennial series (The Bastard etc.). Hmmm, maybe I’ll re-read those.

OK – now I have to put this in: “1776″ – great songs, solid history.

Good morning everyone! Am I the only one who is sleeping with my ass in the air and my head stuck to the pillow from drooling because I’m sleeping so soundly now that the election is over? Wow. I slept to 9am this morning…a rarity!

During Christmas, our family happens to fall on old favorites…White Christmas, Holiday Inn and It’s A Wonderful Life…Charlie Brown Christmas…A Christmas Story…

Yes, Kay – the National ’sleep on the edge” is now over.

Good gawd, it feels so good to get a night of restful sleep. Even my eyes look better and aren’t so bulgy with panic, ya know? LOL

The long national nightmare is almost over and if anyone lays a finger on MY PRESIDENT I will never, ever, ever, ever forgive you for as long as I live! Hear! Hear!

It’s amazing, isn’t it? We are so totally fucked in every way yet I’m feeling hopeful.

First time I ever saw this film was in a rustic log cabin in northern Michigan with an old projector on a sheet hanging from the wall. Was enchanting.

I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving this year. I don’t care if our meal ends up being a small turkey and a can of carrots to eat, because I will be so thankful for the Obamas, the Bidens, and the wonderful Americans who voted them in to change the direction of our country!

This goes for Christmas too. I don’t care if there’s dust balls under the tree from the lack of presents (there’s not usually a lot anyways), because my mood is on high right now and not much can dampen it!

I’m a big fan of the old Disney animation. Dumbo has always been my favourite. It’s the first movie I remember seeing in a theatre. I never had children so I’m totally out of my depth when it comes to entertaining them.

Solai at 24. Try Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Avalon series. The Mists of Avalon is a new version of the Arthurian legend. The prequels and sequels are just as good.

(((Barbara))) Namaste

Hey Republics! Bring out yer dead! Bring out yer dead!

Can’t get to youtube right now, but if I could a little Python would be in order.

It’s important not to just sit back and expect Obama and the Dems in Congress to fix everything on their own. They need our activism, not just our votes. Imperative to stay active and continue applying pressure.

Put a sock in it. Barack Hussein Obama II was born to an American named, Madelyn Dunham (born in Kansas), who gave birth to her son in Hawaii, USA. Barack’s father named, Barack Hussein Obama SR., was married to Madelyn in Hawaii and they were divorced a couple years later and he went back to Kenya.

Get it moron? Whenever a United States of America gives birth to a child in the United States, the child is an American. Dumb dumb.

Barack’s father was born in Kenya. Stop confusing it.

By the way, McCain lost on Tuesday! Good news, huh?

[edited by moderator to remove the caps - it’s considered shouting]

1,820 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…

Citizen Hardin Smith and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:

Now that our kids are out makin’ a new generation of kids I reflect back on those “visual” stories and experiences that I think remain appealing, stimulating and important for children and parents of any age and the first one that comes up is “Fantasia”…my old 3 celled memory then siezes up and I sigh…oh what the hell that’s a good startin place.

Of topic but can anyone tell me how the Oxdown Gazette works and how dairies are selected for publication… I think that forum is terrific but a bit inaccessible for us technoligical Cro-Magnons.

And Raven, if yer out there…give me a shout, I think our little project about returning vets and the politics of reintegration might be put tagether fer Oxdown.

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, THE NEXT BATTLE HAS STARTED… THEY’RE TAKIN AWAY OUR 50 STATE ORGANIZERS!!

I’m with you on that. Christmas actually got a lot better for me when my family decided not to give gifts but to celebrate with food and decorations. Now that we have kids, it’s impossible, but it was great while it lasted!

Funny, in a word NO: I did the Sleep Study thing last night and feel, mostly, I guess, as if I went to a superannuated slumber party. You sleep, try to, with gunk etc in your hair and all over, are intermittently waked up, then sent home at the edge of dawn. I envy your lovely night’s sleep. But at least we wake up looking at the end of our national nightmare and new installments of the Palin saga. She’s become our Emelda Marcos, and that one did not turn out so well either.

new thready goodness upstairs, folks

A truly boneheaded move if it’s true.

Damn, I missed a troll? That’s what I get for gettin’ here late. I love givin’ it to fetid little willfully ignorant dipshits.

Two short children’s films, for adults too, are “The Red Baloon” and “The Man Who Planted Trees.”

‘Big Fish’ I think that was the name of the film. Loved it!

Morning, Christy. I haven’t had coffee yet, but I’ve been watching the ten seasons of Stargate SG1.

He’s contesting the citizenship of Obama because the law regarding a child born to a single American parent and a non-American parent was not solidified until 1986, when Obama was 24 or 25 years old already.

This should be a non-issue. Schwarzenegger and Granholm are examples of government officials born outside of the U.S., to non-American parents, who are fully aware that they are not eligible for the presidency. In Obama’s case, having been born on American soil (and Hawaii was a state in 1961), to an American citizen who’d lived in the U.S. means that he would be a citizen under the 1986 law.

The assault on this nation we’ve endured for 8-plus years came from American citizens with a length American pedigree who felt that the Constitution was just a “gawddamned piece of paper.” These people are far more dangerous and insidious.

Amazing…I am quite sure all that was deeply scrutinized a long time ago, called the primaries. A very odd time to try to make the case. Sore losers, as we know.

Way late rising, and now I see epu-ed already…don’t miss Gene Shepherd’s Christmas Story and the forever wonderful Wizard of Oz.

National Geographic Kids — got it for my 5-yr-old grandson who loves animals.

Thanks Rayne. Barack is an American whether the bozos want to admit it or not. Schwarzenegger is a fine example of why the wingers (if they’re truly concerned about citizenship) might want to start with him before they start shooting their forked tongued lips off!

I bet the neocons are forming armed militias as we speak, because to them, armed militias against the US government is fine, but Bill Ayers blowing up statues is not. To them, Ayers is the scary one.

Good gawd I hate these people.

RevBev! Eventually you’ll sleep better! Tuesday night I didn’t sleep at all, of course, and was the walking dead all day Wednesday, but Wednesday night until today…..it’s a sleep extravaganza! I love sleeping now. ;-)

Thanks…and could it be that you hate these people because so many of them will do absolutely anything? I especially do not want to hear any more of their advice for Obama. Goodness, they picked and adored Ms Palin.

I’m finally sleeping better myself, which is why I’m here so late this am.
Christy – some of our family’s favorite lines are from Muppet Christmas Carol. Rats: Heat Wave!, How does he do that? and the singing veggies do rate.
Petrocelli: From Monsters Inc., we still say “You forgot to file your paperwork” when anyone here has fallen down on something they were supposed to do.
Great thread. Sorry I wasn’t here.

LOL RevBev. I’m thinking the same thing! I don’t give a flying rat’s behind what the neocons have to say anymore. I truly am sick of hearing their thoughts on anything. REAL CHANGE begins with ignoring these morons. ;-)

No. The very best version of A Christmas Carol is Scrooged with Bill Murray. I will go to the mattresses over it with anyone who disagrees.

My Sprout, almost 10, loves loves loves The Full Monty. I know it’s not exactly a kid flick, but he really gets it and feels the triumph of it all. I almost lost it at his school when, in the school show, the 3rd graders did a routine to one of the songs from the movie. The teacher is very young and had never seen it; she was mortified after she watched it.

He also loves The Cat Came Back and other Miyazaki films. New, just out in video, is Get Smart, for my money even funnier than the original. I love Steve Carrell.

For the parents and older kids, Once. The music is fab – won an Academy Award for title song – and it’s all about music.

For the grownups, one of my faves from way back is Into the Night with Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Pfeiffer, another great music movie (BB King) with a million cameos (Jonathan Demme as an FBI guy, John Landis as an Iranian). Did I mention the great music?

It’s a whole new world out there, guys. I feel like singing…

GREAT magazine, my best friend’s daughter turned me onto it.

really great.

Hey! Late to the thread, but just in case anyone comes a-looking, Salon has a series of GREAT posts on offbeat kids movies. Here, here, and here. Be sure to read the comments. Unbelievable lists. The Mooper (my 15-mo-old) will be making her way through these lists for years to come.

I love Thursday Next!
The Borrowers is a favorite, too. Books and movie.
Indian in the Cupboard. I have lots more.

aimai, that’s one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen. Thanks for reminding me of it.