We took Malcolm to see the movie, Ponyo, last night. 
We had a bit of a long weekend, with a few late nights and some short naps. Instead of working extra hard at parenting, we took him to the theater. He has only been to a handful of movies, and the experience of going to a theater is pretty exciting for him. I am pretty sure that if he got to sit in his mommy’s lap and eat popcorn, he would watch Sophie’s Choice in the theater.
I don’t really know what to say about Ponyo. It is extremely bizarre. I think I really liked it, but when it ended, I had a feeling similar to watching six smiling old men in leotards throwing cotton candy at each other. What did I just see? It is fantasy, in all its splendid glory, and while you never really know where the movie is going, it is a treat to watch.
Let’s start with the visuals. It is a visually stunning movie. The movie is definitely a step away from modern cartooning, seeming to revel in how good a greeting card illustrator can make the world look. The colors are brilliant, reminding the viewers all along the way that the movie has been well thought out and masterfully designed. The movie looks and feels like a child’s mind, a perfect way to tell the story. (By the way, the story is about a 5 year old kid who falls in love with a fish and how they love ham. Talk about a feel good movie!)
Tina Fey plays a mom, Liam Neeson plays a weird dad who looks like a cross between Howard Stern and Willie Wonka, Cate Blanchett plays a hot wet blanket, and Matt Damon is in the movie, but totally unnoticeable. You can hear Betty White in the movie and you want her to be your grandma.
I like this movie because it creates a challenge for kids to watch, without stupid violence. There are a few cheap laughs, but, for the most part, it is a long story about love and courage. It creates a journey,and the journey involves being true to yourself, loving your family, and eating lots of ham. Combine that, a large bucket of popcorn, and a kid our your lap, and you have one great movie night. Go see it!
Tags: Movies
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Hard to go too far wrong with anything by Miyazaki.