A Specification Of Animated Traditions

I grew up in a family of all boys. So I would be lying if I said it wasn't a huge desire for Alisa and I to have a little girl to shower our affections on. The second I heard that Alisa was pregnant I began a conversation in my head that went something like this: "Man, I hope we're have a girl... But I'd love a boy to, a chip of the old block... Yes, but girls are so sweet and cute!... Well, your son will be to (winking face... yes I probably did wink) and you can teach him how to be a ladies man like his papa... But I want a to make my little girl a Disney Princess... Yes, but every girl needs an older brother..." That thought came from Alisa, not me. She is a lot smarter than me! 

Two weeks ago, we finally found out the gender. Nope, you're not going to find out yet, every good story teller knows you have add tension as much as possible. Leading up to the ultrasound Alisa began a week of preforming every old-wives tale in the book about how to guess the gender. As time got closer, I began having a really excited feeling for a boy even though I was hoping for a girl at first. Pretty much from our first year of marriage we had decided if our first child was a girl we were going to name her Lily. If we had a boy we were going to name him David Everest but refer to him as Everest (similar to his daddy's name). The second I learned the gender, I started referring to our baby by name. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to say that in about 18 weeks we will be welcoming David Everest Virgin into the world! If you thought I was excited before, it's incomparable to now. I can't stop thinking about what he'll love to do. What kind of man will he grow up to be? How much will the ladies love him? ;) But mostly how can I make sure he's as happy as possible? There are so many stories I want to share with him.

Last week I discussed my hopeful plans for family traditions. Now that I know were having a boy, I can be more specific in the movies I'd like to share with my boy. If heard one of the hardest parts or raising kids is the terrible shows they like to watch... like The Backyardigans and The Wiggles. Well, I'll naively believe that I may be able to block that with some classic animated movies. What follows is a list of the top ten animated movies I hope my son will love. Disney is excluded because (1) they would rule the list, (2) I understand some boys think Disney is girly, and (3) I've been repeating myself a little in these blogs so this is my attempt to stop that. Some of you may also notice the glaring absence of movies like the Land Before Time and  An American Tale. Don't get angry, I was a huge fan. I'm the guy who had both a Fievel and A Little Foot stuffed animal as a wee lad. But it's time to realize that age may be past. At least our generation will always love them! Anyway, Let's begin!

1. How To Train Your Dragon

Most Quotable Line: "Thank you for nothing, you useless reptile."

There are not enough words to praise this movie. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first watched it, but I was not expecting anything close to how incredible it was. It competes with the best Disney movies of all time. The story is a perfect match for kids and adults. The humor has perfect timing and intelligence. The casting is spot on. And the score... I'm going to say its the best score for an animated movie I've ever heard. I hope our boy loves this movie as much as I do. And maybe we can get him to talk in a Scottish accent!

2. Kung Fu Panda

 Most Quotable Line: "There is no charge for awesomeness, or attractiveness." & "Skadoosh!"

 This one is right in line with How To Train Your Dragon. And not just the first one, the second was just as incredible. When this movie came out it kind of ruined all other movies for me that came out that summer. I think I cried from laughing in the theater. Plus I love the message: there is no special ingredient to make someone special, you just have to believe in them. I also had an extremely powerful insight about the negative effects of parental pride. (I won't explain here for times sake.) That is an incredible feat for a kids movie.

3. Ice Age

 Most Quotable Line: "You calling me a liar?" "I didn't say that." "You were thinking it." "I don't like this cat. He reads minds." 

Oddly enough when this first came out, I thought it was overrated. And I HATED the Scrat scenes. It wasn't until I got back from my mission that I appreciated them for how funny it really is. The second one didn't do much for me but I loved the third almost as much as the first. I even enjoyed the Scrat scenes in the third one! If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and go watch! I hope I'm not tempted when our little man is born and the doctor says "It's a boy" to say "That's it's tail." If you're laughing, you're a true fan. ;)

4. Arthur Christmas

 Most Quotable Line: "Arthur! Christmas is not a time for emotion!"

 I'm really going to go out on a limb with this one and say that this is probably one of the top five best Christmas movies I have ever scene. Alisa and I saw it last Thanksgiving, (because she had always wanted to see a movie on a holiday in the theater) and I was shocked how fast it put me in the Christmas spirit. Not only is it funny and exciting, but has a truly important spiritual undertone. In the movie, Arthur steals Santa's sleigh because one child got missed. He goes through an extremely long and difficult journey just so that no child is forgotten on Christmas. Catch the spiritual undertone? Good! Now rent the movie when it comes out! I hope my little guy will realize how important he is after growing up with this.

5. The Prince of Egypt

Most Quotable Line: "Let my people go!"

This one isn't new, but it is a classic. All I remember when this movie first came out is that there were like five different soundtracks to it and everyone was obsessed with a least one of them. Now I grew up watching The Ten Commandments every Easter when it came on TV. It was the one movie my parents ever let me stay up to finish. But this movie broke my childhood loyalty to Mr. Heston. It's just that good! The casting it so huge. I've never seen this many big names in an animated movie before. Treat yourself and your kids tonight and watch this one as a family. I can't wait to share it with my boy! Oh and cool fact! Did you know that Uncle Phil from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air did some of the singing voices for the movie!? Well, you do now.

6. Shrek 2

 Most Quotable Line: "Whatever happens... I must not cry. You cannot make me cry..." 

 I think... yes... this was the last time I left the movie theater with a sore stomach from laughing so hard. (Things are just a lot funnier as a teenager.) I was never a big fan of the first Shrek and I hated the third, but this one will always be a classic for me. I suppose my son will have to watch the first one to understand the second, but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.... I should probably be checking to make sure it's okay with Alisa that our kids watch this many movies. She does like the Backyardigans after all.

7. Madagascar 2

 Most Quotable Line: "I like um Chunky!"

This one is in the exact same boat as Shrek. Not a huge fan of the first, but I loved the second one. Probably because of two words: Moto and Moto ("So nice, you say it twice.") The plot was more family oriented, the music was better, and the conclusion at the end just makes you feel a whole lot more warm and fuzzy. Only concern: Alisa has been wanting to make a music video for "Chunky" for over three years now. I'm convinced that I will come home from work one day to find poor Everest dressed up like a hippo surrounded by my sister-in-laws dancing while Alisa records and the song blares from our stereo. Wait, did I say concern? I meant best hope to fulfill my goal of being a YouTube video sensation. 

8. Surfs Up

 Most Quotable Line: "A role model? No. But I do consider myself somebody that everyone should look up to. Kids should try to pretend that they're Tank. I mean, they should try. Good luck, kids!"

This is probably the least know movie on here. I, however, was a huge fan from my first viewing. I love that this is one of the few animated movies that is filmed like a documentary. It's got some really big names in it. Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel, James Wood (Hades from Disney's Hercules for those of you who don't know) and Napoleon Dynamite! This movie beats its Disney equivalent of Lilo and Stitch by a long shot. I may also be partial to this movie because I thought surfing was the coolest thing in the world when I was growing up.

9. Despicable Me

 Most Quotable Line: "IT'S SO FLUFFY!!!"

Some of you may be shocked that this is so low on the list but consider the awesomeness of it's predecessors! Plus I really think Vector (the point-dexter in the bright orange jumpsuit) was super annoying. If I heard "Oh yeah!" one more time, I was going to punch him... through my TV. Anyways, every time I think about this movie I remember a story about my nephew Austin. Apparently my family (minus me and Alisa) were watching this at a Christmas gathering. You know the creepy looking dog in movie? Well it would seem that it terrifies my nephew because the second he saw it, he started yelling "Ooo! Ooo! Ooo!" and ran out of the room. I really hope my boy inherits those same nerves of steal that apparently run in the Virgin family! ;)

10. Quest for Camelot

Most Quotable Line (in rhythm): The song 'The Prayer'

Did anyone out there actually know that the song 'The Prayer' came from this movie? I bet not, because it probably isn't familiar to any of you that weren't processing adolescence in the early '90s. I used to be obsessed with this soundtrack growing up. Yes, the music does drastically overshadow the plot, but it is still a fun one for the family to watch. At least it used to be. Humor might have evolved beyond this flick by now (I haven't seen it in a while, so I can't say for sure.) Still, it's about Camelot and what little boy isn't fascinated by knights when they are younger?! Plus it's got The Dread Pirate Roberts in it! Anyone? Bueller? ;)

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Honorable Mentions

The Adventures of Tin-Tin

OK, this one would be in the top three hands down except for the fact that like I said I'm trying to avoid repetition. If you'd like to know my thoughts on it you can read what I wrote before.

My Redtail Recompense 

The Road to El Dorado 

 Most Quotable Line: "You fight like my sister!" "I've fought your sister. That's a compliment!"

This movie is also from the '90s and a little more adult but still pretty good. The reason that it doesn't make the above is because, like I said, it's got some pretty adult (and demonic) things that I don't want to expose my little tike to until he's older. Oh, well!

A Family of Traditions

Let's be frank (Never met him... hope this is a good impression.), sometimes when I write a blog it's because I'm so excited about a story that I just want to share it with the world (or sometimes warn people to avoid it like the plague). However, acts as an outlet for my thoughts and things going on in my life. I hope all of you are lucky enough to have a metaphor you can use to throw yourself out to the world. As for me, clearly that metaphor is books and movies. However, with this blog I'm just going to bluntly come out and say what's on my mind.... I CAN'T FREAKING WAIT TO BE A DAD!

I think more than anything I just want to be the best dad I can possibly be. (Luckily I have a great example from my own dad and my brothers, even the ones that aren't dad's yet.) But what kind of dad will I be? Naturally I want my kids to know the rules and to do their best to live by them so that they stay safe and happy. But if you can't tell I may have a small itsy bitsy Peter Pan complex. (Better than a Captain Hook complex!) ;) I want to be the type of dad that gets down and plays with my kids! I want to build forts with them, color with them, take goofy pictures, go camping, beat them at Disney Scene-It on a regular basis, and just join them in being kids (along with my lovely wife.) I just want to make the time count.

No, I'm not going to force them to like books and movies the way I do; I want them to follow their own passions... But I will try to influence them at an early age. Sometime I just sit and imagine my future family doing a weekly tradition of cooking dinner for the lovely Alisa every Friday night and than cozying up for a game and movie night. Man, that sounds like my idea of paradise... So much so that I have taken the liberty of making another list. The top ten family films I want to share with my kids. Now naturally these aren't all my favorites because there are just so many out there. I'm going to do the list a favor and leave out animated films cause otherwise most of these wouldn't make it (I'll get to that list next week.) So here's the deal: if your favorite isn't on the list, leave it in the comments so I can add it to mine. I mean, there are a lot of weekends to plan for since I intend on making my kids do this til they're.... 21 or so ;)

Finding Neverland:

My original idea this week was to write a blog on the seven best Peter Pan adaptations like I did with Snow White. Sadly, most people didn't seem to enjoy that one so I cut out the idea of doing it again. Luckily this movie (which would have topped the list) gets on here. I'm not going to lie, I cried like a baby in the theater with this one. I'm not going to even bother explaining why I think my kids will love this. It is, in short, a phenomenal movie. I love that it teaches everyone, even adults, the importance of imagination. Plus, it's just good clean fun for the family (didn't that used to be on like every VHS cover?) I can only hope it'll give my kids a healthy Peter Pan complex!!

Sorcerer's Apprentice:

This, ladies and gentlemen, is Disney live action at it's finest! First of all, the casting for this movie was beyond perfect. Second, the concept is just plain cool; and thirdly, "I got a date with a girl cause I'm aweesommme!" The movie is just plain funny. I remember the first time I watched it, and they had the Star Wars dialogue, "You don't need my identification card." I was thinking to myself, Talk about rip off until they said exactly what I was thinking while watching the movie. I hope my kids get the concept that in order to do great things in life, the most important thing this is to believe in ourselves. Furthermore, no one is ever born perfect at anything; it still takes hard work and determination to become incredible. Now kids, let's apply that and get to work on the lawn... "To the South! Quick march!"

Jumanji:

I'm actually surprised that Robin Williams doesn't appear more on my list; the guy was born to make family films. This movie is a great idea because it may scare my kids out of playing board games and push them to a stronger desire to read with dad. ;) In all seriousness, this one is not just fun for all, it's also an important reminder to let kids grow up individually.
Who knows, if I'm not careful I may someday push my child to do something he doesn't want, and the next thing ya know he's sucked into a board game, I have monkeys in my kitchen, creepy vines all over my library and a lion in my bed room.
Alisa would never forgive me for the mess...

National Treasure:

All jokes aside with this one. As a guy looking to get a masters in history, I want my kids to learn that history is exciting! And this movie does just that! (I'm even willing to excuse the fact that Nicholas Cage looks way to old to be preforming some of those stunts.) The reasons I love this movie are two fold: first, I love history. History is nothing but the story of people with the boring stuff cut out. ;) So what's not to like? Secondly, we've entered an age where being patriotic is no longer a good thing. I hope that my kids realize that is a stupid fade. Not to be cheesy, but, well, here it goes. The true treasure in this movie isn't the gold they find at the end, it's the principles contained in that role of paper they carry around with them. 

Secondhand Lions:
This is the first movie I ever saw my dad cry during. And who can blame him? This movie is just as touching as it is exciting. Not only is it incredibly written but is then made even better by adding Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, and that kid who sees dead people! The monologue Duvall gives is one of my favorites ever! I might as well quote it directly, "Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money... mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love, true love never dies... Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in." Man, that's good stuff! 
 

Sky High:

How many people actually remember this movie? It's one of Alisa and my favorite. It takes the superhero narrative to a whole new level, like Harry Potter meets X-Men. (Yes, I'm pretty sure the VHS had that on the cover too!) I don't know how Disney does this almost every time. They can take a story and make it funny, dramatic, exciting, and compelling all at the same time. And they seem to be able to do it almost every time. It must be magic. ;) This one teaches good lessons to my kids and me at the same time. (I know I keep mentioning me, but Alisa doesn't need lessons, she's already perfect! ;) For me, I learn not to put pressure on my kids to become what I want them to be. For my kids, they can learn that it takes time to reach their full potential.

Hook:

Yes, this was indeed the runner up in my Peter Pan list. Alisa and I watched this the other day for the first time in a while, and I was shocked at how many of the lines I still quote today without realizing that I got them from this movie. And I mean, come on, how many of you out there haven't grabbed someone's face, mushed it up, and said "Oh, there you are Peter!" Yes, Alisa does hate when I do that to her... Regardless, this movie is a classic. Great humor for the adults and equally great humor for the kiddos. The story of Peter Pan all grown up... now THAT'S an incredible idea for a story. How come Hollywood can't deliver stuff like this anymore?

Newsies:

Guys, don't try to be tough, almost everyone loves this movie. I still remember on my mission driving with a fellow missionary when we heard this song and instantly started sing the words together (If you're reading this you know who you are, and you're awesome!) I remember seeing this for the first time and thinking that I can do anything that I set my mind too. Hopefully, my kids will learn that too. Then we can spend the rest of the night before bedtime singing and dancing to the songs! One thing has always bothered me though: I still don't understand how the main character grew up to be Batman... hopefully they'll make the movie explaining that soon!

Holes:

I still have never read this book and it's been on my list for like six years now. I remember seeing it for the first time just because it has Lewis from Even Stevens in it. (BEST SHOW EVER!) This is fun movie and I can't wait to share it. Additionally, this is a twofer. Not only will it scare the pants off my kids at the idea of breaking the law, but it will also teach them, as a famous animated explorer has said, "Adventure is out there!" However, it goes counter to my ambition of having them share my eternal hatred of onions. Oh well, ya win some, ya lose some.  I hope you guys realize I'm just kidding most of the time here, other wise you probably think I'm going to be the most manipulative dad out there...

Night At The Museum:

This one is a lot like National Treasure. It let's my kids understand that learning can be fun and sometimes it can save your life. For instance, if they didn't know that the T-Rex had the qualities of the family dog, they would probably run around screaming for their life if one ever came around. Hahahaha... rookie mistake. ;) And hey, this brings Robin Williams up to three  movies on this list. Not bad at all. What would make this night even better is if I could somehow get my kids excited to read about some of the historical figures mentioned in the movie afterwards. Yes, I'm NERDY! This movie if fun, exciting, and most importantly clean. It kind of has that Indian in the Cupboard feel... Wow, can I get a shout out from anyone that actually remembers that book or movie?
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Of course, I realize that by the time my family is old enough to have these there will be a lot of great new movies to watch, but one can never forget the classics! Now I just have to hope my kids like movies. Oh well, what's important is the time I spend with them, not what we do. Happy tradition making!

Documenting Politics Al La Cinema

Do you know who the first President was to receive such harsh criticism and attack that he strongly desired to leave office? That's right, el Presidente numero uno. Washington was used to criticism as a General of the Continental Army; heck, some of his people tried to sabotage and replace him. But it wasn't until he became the first President of the United States that he really got hit in a way he never expected. It's odd to think since he is a lot of peoples favorite present today. Lincoln is the only other one that really gives him a run for his money. The funny thing is that Lincoln was even more hated while in office than Washington was. Washington at least at his supporters. Lincoln had detractors everywhere! So if you are a person who believes ludicrous, over-the-top attacks on the President are a new thing. Please try reading a Presidential biography! Any of them will do. 

As a guy with a degree in political science, I often wonder what it is about politics that causes people TO LOSE THEIR FREAKIN MINDS! There are probably several people out there who completely avoid the topic because they can't express an idea without someone jumping down their throats. It's surprising that not even religion can cause this kind of debate. I almost believe we all could search the world over and not find a single person that agrees with us on every single issue. And while some of us realize we have no right to hate someone just because of the way they look, we still haven't realized we can't hate someone because of the way they think. Unfortunately, hating the way someone thinks makes it even more contentious; there is an element of choice to our thoughts that cause us to be more defensive of them. 

Recognizing a perceived wrong is no good unless you can recommend a possible solution. Lucky for me, I have read biographies on both Washington and Lincoln in the past year, and I can offer their example as the solution. This is my challenge to you: if you come across a person that strongly differs with your political ideals, focus on the common ground! You WILL solidify a person in their ideals if you insult them for it, NOT change their mind. No one understands that better than Lincoln, and if he could have a meme to throw out into the world wide web today, I think it would be "Unite! Addition is easier than division" (That last part was all me. Pretty catchy, huh? ;) Then from a common ground, you can have an honest, respectful, intellectual conversation about your differences.

Batten down the hatches, I'm about to discuss a political documentary. Here's how this is going to work: Everyone is more than welcome to comment, but if you are one of those people incapable of civil discussion just go back to your coloring book and let the big kids talk. If anyone says anything rude, not only will I delete your comment, I will than add a comment saying "So and so was too ignorant for civilized conversation, he/she will return when he/she graduates to pull-ups. 'Mommy, wow!'" As for me, I probably won't respond beyond this post because hopefully I'll have said all I desire too. Isn't it sad I needed that long disclaimer?

I am usually pretty hesitant with documentaries in general. There are some crazy stuff people trying to prove themselves out there. My brother-in-law recently told me about one he'd watched that tried to convince people that Paul McCartney died in the '60s and the man pretending to be him now is a fake. But as a conservative guy who likes to keep up with politics, I felt kind of obligated to go see 2016: Obama's America. Going in, I was actually a little hesitant. But I was actually surprised by how reasonable the movie was. I would definitely recommend it to all my conservative readers.

For those of you who haven't heard about it, it's a film that traces Obama's history and applies his history to suggest he is anti-colonialist. In the attitude of unbiased fairness, there are three points that I scratched my head over. First of all, one of the instances that Mr. D'Sousa uses to explain Obama's actions in office is the fact that he returned a bust of Winston Churchill back to the British government. His point is that this action is proof of his anti-colonial tendency. However, after the movie I did a little research and (can I just say) it is dang hard to get to the truth of even small things in Washington. The best narrative I can give is that the Brit's offered to let Obama keep a bust they lent to Bush, but he refused and sent it back. However, the argument becomes a little weak when you realize there is almost an exact replica somewhere in the White House that's still there. Conclusions... I'm confused by the whole thing and came to the conclusion that it doesn't matter.

Second, D'Sousa visits Obama's half-brother (George) in Kenya to prove the similarities between Barrack and Barrack senior. While there, he brings up that George lives in extreme poverty and the President won't send any aid. But the thing that stood out to me here is that George doesn't blame President Obama for that. He says in essence that Barrack has his own family and nation to take care of and as a half-brother he isn't owed anything. In my mind, if George doesn't attack Obama for this, then no one else has the right to. It is interesting that with a little research I found George did ask D'Sousa for money a few months later because he was desperate.

Finally, the only idea presented in the movie that I disagree completely with is the idea that if Obama abandons Israel to the Middle East than a United Muslim Nation will arise. I'm sorry, but it's going to take A LOT longer documentary to convince me that the Sunni's and Shiite's will ever agree enough to form a joint government. One could reasonably argue an absences of U.S. influence in the Middle East would make a strong Muslim community but not that they are suddenly unite just because they get to kill of the Israelis. However, for an hour and a half of documentary, only seeing one substantive flaw is way WAY above par.

Now for the reasons you should go see it. First of all, it is so refreshing to have a critique that can't be labeled as racist. I can't stand that accusation anymore, that anytime someone says something negative about the President the accuser has to be racist. Do I really need to remind everyone that every single President has been attacked (most of them harshly) since number one and it had nothing to do with race?! The movie brings up a quote from Jesse Jackson (if I remember right) where he says that racism is still around. It's just not overt anymore and is therefore more dangerous. ..are you kidding me?! The racism that used to lynch poor innocent boys is more dangerous than the kind that allowed an African American to become the President?! So stop calling me a racist just because I disagree with the President's fiscal policy.

Furthermore, this documentary is more scholarly than most I've seen. It takes Obama's biography and applies it as an explanation for his current actions. I had to do that EXACT assignment in one of my Poli Sci classes. (Well we could do it for any President. I choose Jefferson. ;) It's hard to argue with half the things said in the film because half the movie consists of direct quotes from Obama's autobiography. It's hard to say Obama wasn't influenced by his radical left wing father when he says, "I was really influenced by my father. In fact, here are the dreams I got from my father." (No, not a direct quote.) What's more I actually felt an element of... dare I say sympathy for the President. Mr. D'Sousa shows that this poor guy was dragged all over the place and had very few consistent role models (all of them left-wingers) in his life. As a result, he idealized his father whom he never really met and later found out was not such a nice guy. Towards the end of the film D'Sousa suggests (based on Obama's on words) that he is reconciled with his father based on shared ideals. It's an extremely compelling narrative, but one that definitely makes you question the Presidents current motives. 

Another thing I liked is that the conclusions D'Sousa draws can't be argued with either. He argues three things will happen if Obama is re-elected. First, Israel will lose support from the U.S. allowing for a more dangerous Middle East (Israel has been snubbed more times than I can count by Obama.); second, our nuclear arsenal will be reduced to below average (Obama has already signed the treaty that no one else is following. At the same time there's a quote in the movie in reference to Iran where he says no country has the right to control the nuclear program of another.); and third, overwhelming debt that goes unheeded until the system fails. (Do I really need to point out that this is happening?) Furthermore, it's hard to argue with the films message that Obama will be more aggressive in his second term when: a. most Presidents are, and b. we have him on tape, when he wasn't expecting it, telling a Russian ambassador that he would have more room to do what he wants after the election. That's a little scary after we've seen what he's done with his first term.

Finally, what I actually loved most was a statement Mr. D'Sousa gives at the beginning of the film. He says when he came to America, he was excited to live in a country where you can construct your own life and not have it constructed for you. (Being from India, he knows a lot about that.) It is so true. I love this country. I love the liberty that I have here. I love that I am able to construct my life and that often means if I make a mistake I have to learn from my own consequences. I fear that ideal is slipping away. I can't one hundred percent for sure say who President Obama is but this film makes a very compelling argument that he's willing abandon people's right to construct their own lives in the attempt to make everyone in the world equal. I don't want that. But I guess everyone has a right to "construct" their desires.

The cinematography is beautiful, the music is great, and the is narrative compelling. If your interested, please go see this movie and than ask the honest questions.

The Tragedy of Trilogies

Can I get an "amen" from all the poor folks in the audience? As a young married couple expecting a baby, sometimes we just don't get everything we want. Alisa doesn't get to have all the clothes and make all the crafts she wants, and I don't get to buy all the books or go see all the movies I want. But really who needs those distractions when your so in love? ;) I wouldn't trade what I have for all the movies and books in the world! Sadly, that means I can't keep you guys as informed as I'd like in your movie choices. Alisa and I saw Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted this weekend in the cheapies, and by this point most of you don't even care. Regardless, you will still get my opinion on the movie. However, while I was watching it my thoughts also turned trilogies. Why is it so hard to make three exceptional movies in a row? Stay tuned for the answer ;)

OK, Madagascar 3. Let me explain... No time, let me sum up. ("Buttercup is set to marry Humperdink in little less than half an hour.") Overall, I was actually impressed by the film. I've said it before, Disney needs to watch their back because Dreamworks keeps coming out swinging and this movie was no exception. I liked it more than the first but not as much as the second. It was fun, light-hearted, and, well, cheesy.  There were, of course, a few things that bothered me. First of all, they don't even bother to mention any of the new characters introduced in the second movie. As a result, the four main characters only desire is to suddenly find a way back to New York. Secondly, the whole indestructible-women-as-the-bad-guy thing is getting kind of old. I thought it was a little much with the old lady in the second movie, and it was even worse in this one.

However, I did love one underlying message that they were able to bring across in the end. Throughout the whole movie, the four main character only desire was to get back to their zoo in New York. (They tie up the trilogy with this point, which would be true if the second movie didn't end the way it did.) When they finally get there, they realize they really don't want to go back. They are no longer the same and no longer satisfied with their old comfort zones. Some of you out there may be wishing you could return to something or some time from the past. But if your living life the right way, you'll never be satisfied going back. Life is an adventure, and adventures are designed to change you for the better. Don't spend your time wishing for the past. It's a lovely message. I'd recommend at least Redboxing this one. If you have kids, it's a must.

You'll notice that both my negatives and my positives deal with the movie as the end of a trilogy. I think the most difficult task in Hollywood these days is writing an effective narrative over three films. So, here are the lessons you need to learn if your planning on making one yourself anytime soon.

Rule #1

 Keep the Same Font:

It probably all started with Back to the Future... one second Marty Mcfly's girlfriend looks one way, pop in the next movie and suddenly she has transformed into Elizabeth Shue. Talk about killing the illusion! It's essential that if you want a good trilogy: LOCK YOUR FOLKS DOWN! I'm not a big Katie Holmes fan, but even I can't help feeling disillusioned when suddenly Maggie Gyllenhaal showed up in The Dark Knight. It kills the magic people. If you cast someone, keep them! Oh, and that goes for directors too! I know it's not a trilogy, but really five different directors for the Harry Potter series?! A little continuity, please ;)

Rule #2

Do No Copy/Paste:

Sometimes when a joke gets a lot of attention in the first movie, writers like to bring it back again in the next.... and again and again and again! I don't care how hard I laughed the first time, if I had heard one more "Why's the rum gone" joke in the Pirates of the Caribbean, I would have screamed! When the same elements of a movie show up over and over again, no one feels like the story is going anywhere.

Something I loved about the new Madagascar movie was the subtle hints at the first movie. Remember in the first movie when the main four characters are captured and shipped off to Africa and they wake up in their crates? In this third movie, they do the same thing with a bunch of Interpol police. I got it right away and laughed out loud; Alisa didn't remember, so it was like a special treat for me. On the other hand, here's another movie that breaks this rule. We watched the first Mission Impossible movie last night, and I realized Ethan Hunt gets disavowed in EVERY movie! I mean, the movie are still incredible (No, the second isn't included), but how much better would it be if they switched thing up? Let's stick to subtle reminiscence, not blatant copy/paste.

Rule #3

No Double Spacing (and watch your margin size ;)

This one is short and simple: if you're going to make a trilogy, don't wait ten years after the first movie and then shove two more movies down our throat in two years. I'll give you the best example why in three word; MASK, OF and ZORRO! The first movie was incredible! If they had made the sequel timely we could have gotten an incredible trilogy out of it. As it is, they waited til Antonio Banderas was old... "non-Zorro-y," the second movie tanked, and we didn't get a third. Other examples? Pirates of the Caribbean and The Matrix... and look how those ended up! The longer people have to remember how incredible the first one was, the harder it i to match it with two more films. I'm not saying Lord of the Rings is a perfect trilogy in this regard, but I would describe it as "the highest degree of proficiency, skill, or excellence, as in some art" (Yes, that is a dictionary definition of perfection.)

Rule #4

Have a Rough Draft:

There are basically three types of trilogies. The first kind is a perfect progression of narrative where the three movie move a long in seamless connection. Think of your Lord of the Rings or your original Star Wars movie. Then the three movies are completely unrelated that ensure something new and great each time. For example, the Indiana Jones trilogy (please don't ever mention the fourth one here... ever!) And finally there is your, "We made one movie and it was incredible so now that we made a lot of money lets make more and try to connect it all together." This usually results in a breaking of rule number 3. Can you guess which of the three I disapprove of? I worry because it looks like that is the way the Kung Fu Panda series is going. Either make all three movies a cliff hanger or not at all. I hate when the last two movies are perfectly connected (with a huge cliff hanger), but we didn't get that in the first. And so far I can't think of a movie where that turned out well.

Rule #5

Progression of Epic...ness

You know, I can only think of two trilogies where I liked the last movie most. (Indiana Jones and the original Star Wars... I guess that's true of the newer ones too, but in that case I refer to it a hating the least.) I either love the first movie most (i.e. Pirates, Back to the Future, new James Bond, Bourne Identity and Matrix (I watched it edited.)) or the second most (i.e. Lord of the Rings, The Dark Knight, Toy Story 2 and so on). I think it is more of a challenge to movie makers more than anything. It's hard because the first movie has to be good and each has to get progressively bigger and better. In the case of The Dark Knight, we got a great first movie, an incredible second, and then left with just a great third one when I was expecting mind-blowing. If the narrative expands in the second, the third feels small like it isn't bigger than the second. That's my challenge to you movie makers! Make me an epic trilogy of progression!