oloriel | My exciting weekend (Reply)

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".

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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.