The magic of books often lost on big screen

“Because I Said So” column for The Commercial Appeal

April 16, 2009

One of my kids’ favorite pastimes is watching movie trailers online. We rarely go to the theater because it costs $832 for a family of six to see a movie, yet my kids know exactly what is coming out and when. They can quote2 minutes and 37 seconds of any children’s movie on its way to the big screen.

Even 2-year-old Genevieve has become a fan of the cinematic CliffsNotes and has her own way of describing plots. “I want to see the one about the big man and the little boy” means she wants to see the trailer for Disney Pixar’s “Up” for the hundredth time.

The kids were spellbound recently as I pushed play and the opening scenes of “Where the Wild Things Are” unfolded before their eyes. The story of Max and his time as king of an unknown land inhabited by wild things came to life right there on my laptop … (read more)