And while we're at it...

[mapsedge]

Michelle is on her way with Jami to the Urgent Care office at Children's Mercy North - a far cheaper alternative to the emergency room. He's on round two of this head thing-y, and round 2 is always worse. We just figured that it would be better to get him in, get some meds, be pro-active, rather than waiting until Monday for the regular doc and keeping him miserable for longer than is strictly necessary. Of course, by that same action, we're also avoiding the risk of another eardrum blowout, which is always a good thing.

He's an unhappy boy, but at least what he suffers from now isn't rare or life-threatening, a far cry from two years ago.

We watched Wall-E this afternoon. Heavy handed and preachy, but all in all an amazing movie. If I felt better I'd have cried like a baby at the end when Eve rebuilds him and...

Well, don't want to spoil it for you, if you haven't seen it. We'll be adding it to the collection.

We also watched the Patrick Stewart version of A Christmas Carol. I know I'm in the minority on this, but I find Stewart to be a one-note actor. He plays the note well, but he's not particularly exciting to watch. He did far better work on ST:TNG. The movie was boring, the directing ham-handed, and the cinematography was flat. (And whose idiotic idea was it to give the Ghost of Christmas yet to Come glowing eyes but human hands? He's like a seven foot jawa...) The only standout in the cast was Bernard Lloyd, in the role of Jacob Marley, onscreen for too brief a time.

Comments

[brotherwilliam.livejournal.com]

I AGREE!

See if you can find "Scrooge" of 1970 era staring Albert Finney and, Alec Guinnes.

IMHO it serves the tea the best of them ALL.

brother william
who has seen all but the Bill Murray version.

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

The Bill Murray version is okay, though I find Murray's desperate comedy a little taxing. He simply works to hard at being funny. The Ghost of Christmas Present is worth the whole movie.

We're big fans of the 1953 Alastair Sim version round these parts. I'll see if I can't find the one you mention.

[brotherwilliam.livejournal.com]

When you see it, Christmas Present is best viewed on the BIGGEST screen you have. It is a visual overload that is out of this world.

bw

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

There's some decent songs it the movie as well. It was worth it just to hear Finney sing "I Like Life."

[brotherwilliam.livejournal.com]

We are as different as 2 peas out of the same pod aren't we?

bw

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

Well... you are pretty tall and skinny and I am pretty short and squatly. But other than those similarities I'd have to agree with you.

to me...

[themadblonde]

the only moment worth watching in the entire movie was getting into the elevator w/ the ghost of Xmas Future. THAT was a good effect.

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

My favorite 'Carol' was the one with Alastair Sim, just because of the absolute joy he shows at the very end... and I have a fondness for black and white film. My second bestest is indeed the Albert Finney. I cried like a baby at the end of it, and credit that film for a major change in my life.

[jehosefatz.livejournal.com]

I'm with you (re: Alistair Sim.)

I have an obsession with a couple stories and tend to collect as many versions of them in cinematic form as possible. One is "A Christmas Carol." This supports my personal tradition of watching "A Christmas Carol" on Christmas Eve timing it such that it ends as close to just after midnight as possible. George C. Scott did a decent version. Oddly enough, Henry Winkler did a decent version back in the late 70s or early 80s. I'm not a fan of "Scrooged" with Bill Murray though. Alistair Sim is my Scrooge of choice. Patrick Stewart did a much better job when he did it as a one-man play.

The other story-object of obsession is "Cyrano de Bergerac."

- Jeho

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough, Henry Winkler did a decent version back in the late 70s or early 80s.

See, people always think I'm crazy when I mention that. Nobody seems to remember it but me. And, it appears, you. I've not seen the George C. Scott version all the way through, just the end, but it looks like it would be good.

My favorite Scrooge - after Alastair Sim - is Michael Caine in (please contain your horror) The Muppet Christmas Carol. His Scrooge is so honest, so uncontrived, that his graveyard contrition speech brings tears to my eyes every time.

But that's a whole 'nother movie review, right there.

[jehosefatz.livejournal.com]

"An American Christmas Carol" -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078764/

Actually, a lot of the muppet stuff was very, very well done and I do like the muppet "Christmas Carol". I also happen to like Michael Caine. From what I've seen of him in interviews and the like he's got a very craftsman-like view of acting (as opposed to artist-like) that appeals to me.

- Jeho

I remember the American Xmas Carol w/ Winkler

[themadblonde]

I thought he did pretty well, though the whole thing was a bit dumbed down for an American audience. I loved the bit about picking up the sticks- what a paeon to imagination.

I have...

[themadblonde]

@ least a dozen different Old Time radio versions of Xmas Carol. Hoping to get a chance to listen to some of them this year.

[hutson.livejournal.com]

Glad your boy's OK. Nasty business that.

I thought the same thing about Wall-E. You need to see Bolt though. It's fully awesome.

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the well wishes :) He's a tough little boy, and already been through a lot. His biggest concern was if they'd have "rolling beds" - gurneys. He's been on more than his fair share of those for someone of his age.

He'll bounce.

The short that came with Wall-E - about the magician with the magic hat and which title I can't remember - had me laughing hard enough to hurt. Totally manic, but with the control that only animation can lend.

I'm looking forward to Bolt. The pigeons in the preview have me sold.

LOVED the short

[themadblonde]

Really did not care for Wall-E.

is he ok?

[jogreen.livejournal.com]

How's your little guy? We have had our share of serious illness around here. My second home was the Ronald McD houses near in 3 different cities for awhile. Hope he is doing ok.

Hope you are feeling better too.

Re: is he ok?

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

Thank you. He's doing okay for a kid with a bad cold.

Through about his third birthday, we've had to deal with all sorts of mysterious illnesses. I remember remarking to Michelle one day, "Just once I'd like to hear a doctor talk about my son's health, and not use the word 'rare.'"

He was born with pectus excavatum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pectus_excavatum), something we'll have corrected when he turns nine. It doesn't really affect him at all right now, but would once he hit high school and started sports (decreased lung capacity.)

The worst was right before his second birthday. He also suffers from ITP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiopathic_thrombocytopenic_purpura), a disorder where the body's immune system turns against it's own red blood cells. Thankfully, he's grown out of that.

Detailed here (http://billthetailor.livejournal.com/76899.html).

Now, though, he's just a kid with a bad head cold. Just like his old man. We'll both be right as rain by Wednesday.

glad to hear...

[themadblonde]

it's not more serious. Hope you're both feeling better soon.