I will not panic.... yet.

This was the plan:

Wednesday, Dec. 18 -- Daughter at Grandparents house with my Dad watching out for her. Husband curling. Me and my mom off to see TTT.

Note please the word WAS in that introduction.

My mom just called me up. It seems that they have the chance to go see Sammy Kershaw on the 18th. She also mentioned that, in the group that was going, would be all of the usual people whom I would be able to use to watch my daughter while I am at the movie. I will point out that my mom was quite willing not to go to the concert if I really, absolutely had to go see TTT on the opening night.

My thought: Are you out of your mind? Of course, I bloody well have to go see it on opening night. How could I possibly sit through an entire day, avoiding spoilers, not talking to my friends who I know will have seen the movie, waiting until Thursday to go see the movie. The Good Lord knows I like anticipation and suspense and often looking forward to something is fun and exciting... but... but... *whimper*

What I said: Why no, Mom, it will be no problem at all. I certainly don't see a problem waiting, I mean the movie is going to play for a couple of months. You definitely have to go see Sammy in concert. We can go later.

*snark*

The problem is not that I don't want to go see it alone. I have often went to movies alone. No the problem is: What do I do with Myr? She's nine and is dying to see the movie, but I will not take her to see it without seeing it first. I won't. It's not the "scary" ratio I'm worried about, it the emotional one.

I did take her to see Fellowship. But only after I told her the entire story and what was going to happen. As it was, she cried through Gandalf's death and absolutely wept when Boromir died. And she knew that was going to happen. Now, while I'm fairly sure that there is nothing like that going to happen in TTT, I need to know if there is anything I have to prepare her for in order for her to actually enjoy the movie.

So, as much as I would like to, I can't take her with me. And all the usual suspects for watching her are not available on Wednesday due to things like concerts and Christmas parties...

I need a plan.

What I really need is a midnight showing... that would solve my problems.

*whimper*

I found this interesting...

Time magazine featured The Two Towers in several articles that focused both on the movie and on fantasy in general.

After several paragraphs that covered the usual "Fantasy is childish and infantile and is a dangerously seductive and simplistic way to think" they end up on a more intelligent note than I would have expected. After all, it's a more acceptable and less challenging choice to simply dismiss fantasy as being a feckless desire for easy answers. I was surprised to see Time not taking that easy way out, but actually going through the effort to see LotR as not simply another children's story.

I really liked the ending thoughts:

And at its core, The Lord of the Rings isn't a story about frilly shirts and talking frogs; it's a tale about temptation. Frodo isn't a knight in shining armor; he's not even a wizard in a pointy hat. His only claim to fame, his sole superpower, is his uncommon ability to resist the seductive, corrupting temptation of the all-powerful Ring he carries. And as hard as he fights against that temptation, in the end he fails.

Is there a message there for contemporary America? As the world's only superpower, we're carrying the Ring on behalf of an entire planet, and our burden is every bit as heavy as Frodo's. Seen in that light, The Lord of the Rings looks like a very grownup story indeed, one that can't be told often enough. Frodo lives

Generally speaking...

Self-pity is more than a waste of time, it is a throw-back to an adolescent angst indulgence that does more to drive people away than to actually help the situation. You make your choices and, good or bad, you deal with them. The situation isn't they way you would like it to be? Well, too bad. (Obviously pity of any sort isn't my strong suit). Unless you live in a vacuum, the situation is never completely under your control. And unless you are some sort of egocentric SOB you have to take other people's feelings and desires into consideration. Angst is the ultimate in narcissistic behavior.

But there are times... times when it would be really nice to take that big sledgehammer of self-indulgence and beat people about the head and face. Point out one or two facts that they seem to be overlooking. Times when you would like to lay your lists of "This is what I do" and "This is what I give up" and "This is what I get in return" next to the other guys lists and point out that, HEY, what do you know, they aren’t exactly even.

...

Only I keep coming back to that first statement. And I hate angst. Even when I'm the one angsting. Or should I say, especially when I'm the one angsting. And comparing lists never works 'cuz all those other guys have more on their lists than you give them credit for.

So. Instead, I'll write cryptic LJ posts. No details will be forthcoming.

Thank you for reading.