retro-family-movie-night

Title: Spaceballs

Debut: 1987

Rating: PG

Starring: Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis

Directed by: Mel Brooks

Summary: Planet Spaceball’s President Skroob sends Lord Dark Helmet to steal Planet Druidia’s abundant supply of air to replenish their own, and only Lone Starr can stop them. (Sound familiar?)

What we fondly remember: Ah, Spaceballs. I remember watching this in about 9th or 10th grade while hanging out at this older guy’s house. (I think he may have been a senior…gasp.) I thought he was the coolest, so I also pretended I thought Spaceballs was the funniest, though I honestly found it basically stupid. Charlie, on the other hand, loved it then (and loves it now), so maybe this is yet another ‘guy’ flick?

What was refreshing: I think the thing about Spaceballs is, you either love it or are simply blah about it. As I said, I fall in the latter category, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have redeeming qualities. It’s a great introduction to Mel Brooks’ movies, and it’s a great ‘first parody’ for kids who are familiar with the Star Wars series. It’s pretty clean, though my favorite part is also it’s most inappropriate (the lengthy a**hole discussion).

Kids’ Review: Another win in the kid column! The boys found it hi-lar-i-ous. It really helped that all of them, even Toby, ‘got’ the Star Wars parallels. Add in action, goofy characters, bad jokes, and clever dialogue, and every male in my house was a happy camper. Yours will be, too.

Want more after the credits roll? Catch up on past reviews here!

{ 0 comments }

Don’t you just love reading on winter afternoons? Especially when it looks a bit like this?

Don’t hate me because I’m warm. (Or was warm, rather. It’s all a distant memory now.)

As you can see, I’m deep into A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One, by George R.R. Martin. I’m not a huge fantasy fan (though I love Harry Potter like any sane human being), but this book falls into the can’t-put-it-down category. Beware though: it’s gory and dark and will make you want to immediately watch the new HBO series.

What Nate’s reading (age 12): Nate’s reading the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. I have to admit though; he’s only liking it, not loving it. I’d really like to get him into some classics that are age-appropriate. What say you: is 7th grade too young for Of Mice and Men? Or perhaps Call of the Wild? We tried Lord of the Flies…that was still a bit intense.

What Calvin’s reading (age 10): What isn’t Calvin reading? He reads so fast, I’ve been trying to convince him to buy a Kindle with his Christmas money, just to better keep him in books. He’s sailed through the Warriors series, the The Kidnapped series, Veronica Roth’s Divergent, Holes and its sequel, and is now reading something he randomly grabbed from the school library. Again, suggestions welcome.

What Toby’s reading (age 7): Toby is finally old enough to read the Magic Treehouse series and Junie B. Jones on his own, so naturally, he wants to fish in bigger waters. Therefore, I’m reading Collin’s The Underland Chronicles to him at night.

Charlie’s reading more crime mysteries; I have no idea what right now, as he reads as fast as Calvin. Also on our nightstands are Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption and A Discovery of Witches. And why yes, I am on GoodReads. Hope to see you there!

my read shelf:
Amy's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)

{ 12 comments }

Retro Family Movie Night: A Knight’s Tale

Title: A Knight’s Tale Debut: 2001 Rating: PG-13 Starring: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany Directed by: Brian Helgeland Summary: After his master dies, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, creates a new identity for himself as a knight. What we fondly remember: I’ve always thought this was [...]

Bathing

My grandmother is 87. She’s been needing help in her day-to-day life for a while now, but a few months ago, she fell and chipped a bone in her pelvis. It’s been a long, slow recovery. Since her fall, she hasn’t been able to take care of herself like she used to. She’s doing better [...]