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Lately, all the rumor roar is about the upcoming Dark Knight Rises movie that’s set to come out…next year. Photos of sets, actors, and scenes are leaking onto to the internet little by little and everyone is speculating about the plot. Admittedly, as something of a Batman junkie (he was my favorite hero growing up) I’m eating this all up. But then I realized: this is stupid.
It’s not the movie that’s stupid. On the contrary, I’m pretty excited about the movie. But all this rumor mill stuff is dumb. Why? Because if i intake it all, I’ll probably be disappointed about the movie. I know this from experience. Last year, as Toy Story 3 came nigh to release, I ate up all the trailers, behind-the-scenes featurettes, reviews, previews, and press releases. Thus when I saw the movie in theaters…i already knew most of the movie, including the ending. I felt very foolish and most of my friends thought so too.
So I actually want to enjoy the Dark Knight Rises and so I will quit scouring rumor sites and youtube videos (I don’t need to be wasting my time on ‘em anyway). Yes, I hate surprises and I hate waiting. But I’d rather take in a good movie unspoiled, than take in a movie that I already know everything about.
(for those wondering if there was anything serious about this post…there was not. File this under “NERD”)
Like this:
There were at least 4 franchises that had a great impact on my childhood and imagination: Thomas the Tank, Batman, Pokemon, and Toy Story. That last one especially had a great impact as I began to see toys in a new light. What if they could really come to life? What if they risked all to follow me to school? what if they really had their own little community? How great would that be? My imagination couldn’t be put at ease. It kept throwing my toys into various adventures (mostly incoherent and lacking a good plot,but adventures nonetheless).
Today (Memorial Day), my oldest nephew was over and playing with some old toys of mine. A part of me writhes in agony when I watch him misuse a toy, call it by the wrong name, or find some cherished piece of my childhood broken. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not necessarily blaming him. After all, they’re not his toys and he has no sentimental attraction to ‘em. But I can’t help shaking my head,wondering if this could somehow be better.
I can probably blame the Toy Story series on this (which is tearfully coming to an end this summer). Thanks to those movies, certain toys retain a special value to ‘em. Maybe this was the point of the Pixar movies…to cherish our childhood and the things, and people, who made it so memorable. I may never be able to sit down with those toys and enjoy them in all the boyish tenacity that i once had..that imagination has long since died off and has been replaced by a more “mature” one.
So on this Memorial Day,which is already passing by, let us first and foremost remember and applaud those who gave so much so that we may enjoy everything, including trivialities such as toys. But let us also remember those toys that spared us a moment’s boredom and took us to creative places. Here’s to you, Woody, Buzz, and the gang!
This past week was fall break (yes,the entire week). On Monday I met up with friends to see Toy Story 1 and 2 in 3D. I almost cried during the opening credits of the first movie because it brought back so many childhood memories. Then on Thursday night I was “kidnapped” by some other friends and ended up reliving more of my childhood memories by playing NES games–especially Ninja Turtles the Arcade game! My friend and I gave our best shot but we failed in the end…about halfway through the game…but it’s allright,we’ll improve our Ninja Turtling skills and return to do something we had never accomplished during our childhood..actually beat the darn game.
So the break was something of a “blast from the past,” to borrow an overused cliche. Coming off the break was different. I think I’ve gotten over the whole going home and feeling weird only to adjust and return to Boyce and feel weird again only to readjust. The transitions are smoother. But when I did return this time I suddenly realized all of the projects, assignments, and papers yet to be done. Suddenly I didn’t have time. Time has become such a problem this semester. It’s not that I’m not trying to stay ahead of the game, it’s just that I have more on my plate and so I’m running out of time before I get a firm grasp. It’s like I began the semester on the wrong foot and now I’m stumbling my way through the rest.
It’s a topic that’s been hit on before, but I want to take a moment to relate childhood and time. When I was young, I had so much time. So much time to play video games, watch TV, play with toys, let my imagination run wild. Now my schedule is cramped and overwhelmed. Oh to have that time again!
“In time, to wonder where the days have gone.In time, to be old enough to wish that you were young.”- Jars of Clay, “Boys”
“When I do count the clock that tells the time,
And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;
When I behold the violet past prime,
And sable curls all silvered o’er with white;
When lofty trees I see barren of leaves,
Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,
And summer’s green all girded up in sheaves
Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard;
Then of thy beauty do I question make,
That thou among the wastes of time must go,
Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake
And die as fast as they see others grow,
And nothing ‘gainst Time’s scythe can make defense
Save breed to brave him when he takes thee hence.”-Shakespeare,”Sonnet 12″
“But wherefore do not you a mightier way
Make war upon this bloody tyrant, Time,
And fortify yourself in your decay
With means more blessèd than my barren rhyme?”-Shakespeare, “Sonnet 16″
