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I Travelled Through Time And Space To Get To You

May 13, 2014 at 8:29 pm , by

3 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack,

People are fascinated by the concept of time travel. I can understand why.

Only God is not limited by time or space.

However, we as human beings are stuck in the 70 year lifespan we are assigned. No such thing as a re-do for even just one day.

We can at least learn from our mistakes, but we can’t go back in time to change our past in order to ultimately change our future.

Still though, I think I keep secretly hoping that one day I can. It’s stupid to think that, I know.

I could have been a much more knowledgeable, helpful husband and father and son and brother and friend if only I knew then what I know now.

Not being able to time-travel puts us in an annoying situation where we have to make things right, ourselves- as people allow us, after the fact.

Saturday, Mommy picked up Frozen (more on that in the next letter) for you from Redbox and a movie called, About Time, for her and me.

When I saw the cover with Rachel McAdams, I assumed it was just another version of The Notebook.

I was wrong. It was more of a barely R-rated version of Marley And Me, without the dog, but with a plot line involving time travel.

It features the close relationship between a father and his adult son, as they both are able to time-travel to events in their own life in order to relive them for the better.

They eventually begin reliving each day, right after it happens, in an effort to catch all the subtleties they missed the first time.

There are those missed opportunities to smile at someone, to make someone laugh, or to just simply appreciate the otherwise uninteresting parts of life with the people they encounter.

The son begins realizing he no longer needs to go back and relive each day, as he sharpens his ability to truly appreciate those “lesser” moments. He begins enhancing the lives of his family, and strangers, in the process.

But I guess I don’t have to time-travel to learn that same lesson.

Actually, I feel that watching the movie twice over the weekend has actually helped changed my thinking for the better.

The movie points out that we are all travelling through time each day and it’s up to us how we manage that time the first and final time through it.

It just so happens, you and I are travelling through time together. You’re stuck with me, kid.

I loved that the theme song of the movie, which is featured throughout, is “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds. That was the song that Mommy and I had for “our song” at our wedding nearly 6 years ago.

“The Luckiest” points out how much it matters that two people are born in the same span in the history of the world so that they can know each other and be close.

Had I been born a hundred years ago and Mommy was born in 1981, as she truly was, then you wouldn’t exist. The three of us wouldn’t exist as a family.

But I believe we were meant to be together in this life in which we travel through time together.

This movie, About Time, helped remind me just how special and important  it is to be alive during the time I am… with the people I am here with.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Boys And Their Superheroes (Like Captain America, For Example)

April 5, 2014 at 12:50 am , by 

3 years, 4 months.

Dear Jack,

A few hours ago I was able to be among the first to see Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

As I was getting ready to leave after dinner, you sincerely asked, “Hey Daddy, can I go with you tonight to see Captain America?”

I wish I could have said yes…

But while you were definitely ready for The Lego Movie, I think Captain America is a bit much for a 3 year-old.

Again, I really wish you could have gone with me tonight. Let’s give it a few more years…

So I guess one of the reasons I write these daily letters to you is so that you can actually know your dad.

I don’t want to be a mysterious man to you.

With that being said, you need to know that Captain America is my favorite comic book character.

He was actually the first comic book action figure I ever had. That’s right- in that picture you’re holding an original 1984 Captain America from your daddy’s childhood.

I was three years old when that toy was made… you just happen to be three years old right now, as well.

Why do boys like superheroes so much, anyway? I’m sure there have been great books written and documentaries made regarding this very topic.

For me, I would say there is a subtle, understood message that boys (and men) have an alter ego in mind to help motivate them. They are looking for opportunities to be heroes in their world.

I’ve mentioned before that one of my roles in this life is that I am a reluctant leader. I think it’s interesting that many superheroes start out as average size, like me.

At 5’9″ and 142 pounds, I am clearly the epitome of what a superhero should look likebefore he gets his super powers.

But then, something awesome happens and the character in the story becomes larger than life and saves the day.

Personally, Captain America is my favorite because while he’s a bit old-fashioned, he truly cares most about doing what is right; particularly in regards to defending the freedom of America.

That’s why I loved Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

He realizes that the particular government agency he works for is so good at policing the world, that they actually become a threat to the liberty of the American people… in a 1984, Big Brother kind of way.

And Captain America doesn’t like that, so he rounds up enough people to do something about it.

In other words, it’s pretty much the most Libertarian movie I’ve ever seen; definitely more so than The Lego Movie or Ghostbusters.

Here in a few years, you will be getting old enough to enjoy watching comic book superhero movies with me.

I so look forward to that. And Star Wars too.

We are wired to be the underdogs that save the day; even if it’s just Mommy’s day instead of the entire world’s.

Boys and their super heroes. I totally get it. We’re going to have a great time in a few years with this stuff. But I’m not rushing you.

You’re three years old. Right now, I want you to enjoy the benefits of not being age appropriate to see a PG-13 rated movie.

 

Love,

Daddy

 

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Everything Is Awesome! (The Meme Of The Lego Movie)

February 14, 2014 at 10:09 am , by 

3 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

It is no secret by now that The Lego Movie is what all the kids on the playground are talking this week.

Well, actually, with it being so cold, I guess it’s what they’re all talking about as they’re inside… playing with Legos.

I catch myself singing the theme song, “Everything Is Awesome” as I’m driving you to school in the morning.

You protest, “No, Daddy, no!”

Then you immediately sing the song under your breath instead.

I feel like “Everything Is Awesome” is becoming a meme:

A meme (/ˈmiːm/; meem)[1] is “an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture.”[2] A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures.[3]  

-Wikipedia

Anyone who has seen The Lego Movie can hear another person sing those three words and automatically, they just have to laugh…

Because that means that both of those people are “in the know.” It’s as if to say, “Hey, you were at the movie theatre last weekend with your kid too, for the same reason as me.”

Granted, there is the other hugely popular kids’ movie still at the theatre: Frozen.

More relevant is the sing-a-long edition.

Well, the plan is, actually, now that you’ve proven you can handle sitting through 23 minutes of movie previews, then a 90 minute movie, we’re planning on taking you to see Frozen this weekend while Nonna and Papa are in town.

I learned two things from our experience last weekend when I took you to go see The Lego Movie:

Number one: At 38 inches tall and weighing 33 pounds, you’re not quite big enough to sit in the movie theatre seat, without your legs hovering to the level of your face. So after the previews were over, you sat in my lap.

With being said, it has been established (by you) that you want to switch between sitting on Nonna and Papa’s lap for Frozen this weekend.

So in other words, when looking for seats in the theatre, I don’t have to look for a seat for you. And as we both know, even though we were there early last week, we just barely found seats.

Number two: Though the matinee started at 5:00 (5:23 after previews) and therefore, you got to bed later that night than usual, the matinee was worth the change in your normal schedule. The matinee was basically half the price it would have been for any other time.

So what I am saying is, I’m not opposed to us going to the movies more often, if for the two us, it only costs a total of 10 bucks.

Seriously, the older you get, the more fun parenting is becoming. I like this groove.

I’m starting to believe, that truly, everything is awesome!

 

Love,

Daddy

 

 

 

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The Lego Movie: My Son’s First Time To A Movie Theatre

February 9, 2014 at 9:03 am , by 

3 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

Three months ago, I wrote you a letter entitled, “Do You Want To Go See The Lego Movie With Me, Son?”

In it, I proclaimed to you that if I hadn’t yet taken you to the movie theatre for the first time by February, that I would take you to see The Lego Movie.

Well, that’s exactly what happened.

I’m going to go ahead and say something that may sound melodramatic, but I mean it with all of my heart:

Taking you to go see your first movie in a theatre is officially one of the top highlights for me as a parent.

It was very special to me.

Again, this part may sound overly emotional as well, but here’s how I feel.

Despite being the one to drive you to and from school each day, for a round trip of over an hour a day, I feel a little bit starved for quality time with you.

Mommy gets bath and bedtime duty most nights, as I take care of the dishes.

It’s really important to me that you and I see it as a normal thing to hang out together… just as boys.

The dynamics are so much different when it’s just you and me.

You see Mommy as the main emotional provider; and I totally get why you are so clingy with her.

By no means do I envy that part of your relationship with her.

However, I do deem it extremely important for us to be close, as father and son… in our own ways.

And watching a “guy’s movie” together was a perfect way to do it.

(Mommy gladly went shopping while we were at the movies.)

I was so impressed with The Lego Movie!

A quick Google search of “Lego Movie reviews” shows that everyone agrees this is a solid, creative, stand-alone movie.

By no means was it simply a 90 minute Lego commercial.

Instead, it was a movie about the importance of owning your individual creativity and questioning the norms of society; that “being normal” might be a sign your living life by the (Lego) instructions.

I’m so glad I got to be there for you to see your first movie in a theatre.

Not to mention, I’m also very relieved that it was actually a really good, meaningful, and yet hilarious movie.

And, I hear there’s a sequel in the works…

Needless to say, the moment we got home, you asked me to build a spaceship like the one in the movie.

You played with it before dinner, during dinner, after dinner, during bath, and to bed.

Priceless.

 

Love,

Daddy

Have a movie night with your kiddo with one of these 50 great movies for kids.

4 Comments Posted on movie reviews, reviews, Uncategorized

Disney’s Planes: Fire & Rescue- A Family Friendly Review

Today my wife and I took our son (age 3 years, 8 months) to his 2nd movie in a theatre: Disney’s Planes: Fire & Rescue.

Review Of Disney's Planes: Fire & Rescue

As expected, he loved it. Though, strangely, when I asked him what his favorite part was, he answered that it was when Dusty Crophopper crashes.

I personally definitely enjoyed this sequel more than the original.

Whereas the first Planes movie seemed more like the “plane version” of Cars, Planes: Fire & Rescue actually serves more as a spin-off of the first Planes movie.

I appreciate that Planes: Fire & Rescue picks up with the protagonist Dusty Crophopper moving on in his career. He leaves behind his career as a racer and decides to pursue obtaining his certfication to become a fire and rescue plane; in the majestic setting of the very fire-prone woodlands of northern California.

(As I learned from sitting through the movie’s ending credits, actual fire and rescue officials from Sacramento were consulted for the making of this movie.)

I felt the characters and the plot line in this sequel/spin-off were much interesting and original. It sort of reminds me of the difference between the two Captain America movies.

While the concept of death is not typically addressed in the Disney Cars/Planes universe, it definitely is in this movie.

They don’t shy away from that theme; as heroes of the fire and rescue team, they must be willing to sacrifice their lives for others. Death is not simply alluded to in Planes: Fire & Rescue, it’s very much a present concept throughout.

I believe that part of the reason it is rated PG instead of G is because of the undeniable theme of life and death; even though there are no shown “deaths” throughout the movie; they are only referenced.

Language and sexual content are not an issue. There are of course “vehicle-related” substitutes like “Chevy” being used as a curse word, for example.

Also, one scene features an “oil and gas bar” named Honkers, in which the sign contains the headlights of a car lit up, as to parody Hooters; though there are no “topless” waitresses, as suggested in the original Cars movie in which race fans “flashed” the race cars by turning on their headlights.

But obviously, only adults would even recognize those brief references. I can’t see any of those examples actually being perceived as offensive.

Review of Disney's Planes: Fire & Rescue

So in other words, Disney was clever enough to splice in a few subtle references to make sure that Planes: Fire & Rescue had just enough “oomph” to earn a PG rating.

By now, it should be common knowledge that PG rated kids’ movies make a lot more money than G-rated kids’ movies; likewise, PG-13 rated non-kids’ movies make a lot more money than PG rated non-kids’ movies.

(That explains why nearly every PG-13 rated movie contains its one token “f-word.” It ensures that more profitable PG-13 rating.)

In summary, our family loved seeing Disney’s Planes: Fire & Rescue on opening weekend. We had a great time! I seriously doubt your family will be disappointed either.

As you can see from the photo collage above, my son and I spent this morning building planes out of Legos in preparation for seeing the movie today. And of course, he had to take his two Planes toys with him to the theatre.

Thanks for reading my family friendly movie review of Disney’s Planes: Fire & Rescue. About a month from now, I plan to review the new (PG-13 rated) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.

Will it be suitable for my son? Let’s find out… next month.

2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie theatre