My exciting weekend

[oloriel]

New Felix accomplishments!
He learned two new words this weekend - "deich" (gleich, "forthwith"-- it's a lot more common in German than "forthwith" is in English, but that's the immediate equivalent), and "pipi" ("wee-wee").
He also now proudly announces when he has filled his diaper with poo. So he notices that it's happening, and he can put a word to it! The next great step in that direction is, of course, noticing it before it's happening so he can use the potty or even the toilet; but I don't expect that to happen that soon. For now, it's adorable when he comes walking and very earnestly declares that he's made "A-a".

- - -

We had friends over for a movie night (which means, dinner and one movie... aren't we tame and boring at our ripe old age). I made samoesas and we watched Snow White and the Huntsman. I think that movie is perfectly suited for a study of the differences and overlaps between fantasy and fairytale (in contemporary perception), but I can't be arsed to do it. On the whole, I found it enjoyable, and it was certainly fun to see what you can make of a traditional, popular fairytale. I think this is a great example for how effective fanfiction can be - adding a new twist and painting a more vivid picture than "canon". I also liked the various shout-outs to other films of the same or related genres (for instance, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, or the Narnia adaptations), while Jörg found them slightly irritating. Charlize Theron played the part of evil queen (but with undisclosed backstory? Oh well, I see there will be a sequel) pretty well. I was less impressed by Kristen Stewart as Snow White - the acting was ok, but her perpetual "lost bambi" look and especially her inability to close her pouty lips (seriously, the only time she had her lips closed was during the "death" scene! No, I am not using a spoiler cut on this one, I expect you're all familiar with the basic fairytale). I suspect someone told her, and other young women, that it is sexy when you always have your mouth slightly open, but I'm sorry, it also makes you look slightly stupid. Also, she's not really pretty enough to make Charlize Theron believably worry about her beauty, but that may just be me.

The fairyland/White Stag scene was also waaaay over the top. Look, I only recently watched The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and the Arslan scene was less painfully unsubtle than this one was, and that's saying something. Although it did make me laugh (unintendedly, I'm sure) when later on the Huntsman tells Snow White that she'll be with the angels in heaven and I thought "After having been blessed by a heathen deity in fairyland? I HAVE MY DOUBTS".
Well, and in the end it was extremely PURE GOD VS. PURE EVIL. But then, it's a fairytale after all.
(I still think the climatic battle between Snow White and Ravenna could've been handled less clumsily. Also, is she really still so pure and untainted if she's driven by hatred and revenge? LUKE SKYWALKER WOULD BEG TO DIFFER.)

Still, entertaining, and I guess sometimes that's just got to be enough.

Comments

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

Yay, Felix, all these new words and skills! The developmental phase he's in now is so fascinating; one can practically see the language-acquisition programs of the brain mapping in.

Is gleich used to mean, like, "let's go" or "c'mon" in English? I never thought of forthwith as being a baby-word, but I could see how a little guy might have a lot of use for a word that means "hurry up and do the thing I want"... if that's how it is used?

Snow White and the Huntsman: I thought it was okay; very pretty to look at, and with some interesting fanfic-type changes and additions to the original tale, but nothing to write home about. I must agree, Charlize Theron has no reason to feel threatened beauty-wise by the likes of Kristen Stewart.

Living as I do on the Olympic Peninsula, I'm so heartily sick of everything Twilight-related that seeing Kristen Stewart playing another slack-jawed Little Lost Idiot was a bit of a groaner. My daughter and I called Snow White "Bella Snowflake" all through the movie, and were definitely rooting for the Evil Queen, even though we knew she was doomed.

Have you ever seen Snow White: A Tale of Terror, with Sigourney Weaver as the wicked stepmother? Now THAT is some real acting; also, the magic in it is a lot more plausible, and thus much scarier. Nothing in Snow White and the Huntsman had any plausibility to it - not the magic, not the architecture, not the motives or relationships of the characters - it was very pretty, but it had no depth.

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

You really can! Funny thing is, he wants us to tell him what things (on pictures, in his books etc.) are called, but never repeats the words. Then he'll pick up a totally random word he overhears in conversation and use it endlessly - that's how he learned gleich, and also bitte (both "please" and "you're welcome")!

Gleich is used in the sense of "in a minute" or "at once", yes. So that's why it's relevant to him!

Yes, okay and interesting, that's about it. I think it could've been more, though, which is maybe why I was disappointed.
Never seen Snow White: A Tale of Terror as far as I recall, but I'll take a look at it when I get the chance. Sigourney Weaver, yay!

[meril.livejournal.com]

I suspect someone told her, and other young women, that it is sexy when you always have your mouth slightly open, but I'm sorry, it also makes you look slightly stupid.

Ya seriously, just do an image search for Tom Gorzelanny and/or John Lackey, two of Major League Baseball's main offenders at never closing their mouths.

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Well, at least both sexes do it, then. XD

[gaharr.livejournal.com]

"I suspect someone told her, and other young women, that it is sexy when you always have your mouth slightly open, but I'm sorry, it also makes you look slightly stupid."

That is something I find extremely annoying I have to admit. When I see women like that I always imagine them to be heavy mouth-breathers.
Kills all traces of sexy, if there ever were any.

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

XD Polyyyyypen!