One of the things I miss most from my pre-parent days is going to the movies - we used to go three or four nights a week. Now I'm lucky if I see four a year. We've got a pretty great home theater setup, but it's not the same.

When they get a little older, Jess, you can go back to the movies. It just won't be the movies you want to see.

On AVClub they're interviewing Randy Newman about specific songs he's written. The interviewer's lead-in to a particular song seemed apt...

*****

AVC: There are two kinds of people: People who weep during the “When She Loved Me” montage, and people who lie about it.

AVC: When you’re dealing with a moment like that, where the movie essentially stops and the music takes over, how specific is the assignment? Is it “There’s a two-and-a-half-minute piece that needs music,” or is it “Write us a song and we’ll—”

RN: “She’s gonna be telling about her life and her disappointment with her relationship with her owner as a child, and they grew up.” That was the assignment. I knew what the length of it was, and I knew a girl had to sing it.

AVC: Did they have a girl in mind at that point?

RN: Yeah. John Lasseter’s a tremendous fan of Sarah McLachlan. She was terrific. She did very well.

AVC: Do you write differently when you’re composing for a voice like that?

RN: Yeah. It’s like writing for a different instrument. I have a blues-oriented voice. That’s what I sound best on. She has a different kind of contralto, or whatever the hell she has. Soprano. It’s a voice that can hold notes, so I can write with that in mind. I think I can sing it, but it’s funny.

OK, I have never seen any of the Toy Story movies, so I just googled, and now I am weeping like a little baby! Why did I do that!?!

Oh, Sophia, no. Someone should have prepared you.

From a couple of days ago:

Somebody mentioned Labyrinth and I don't think I've ever watched it all the way through so I put it on and whose name do I see? Kevin Clash! (He's Elmo).

Laga, you need to see the Elmo/Kevin Clash documentary. It's currently making the festival circuit, but I'm sure it'll get distribution in theaters or TV soon.

Oh, Sophia, I'm so sorry. That song is such a cry-point for me that I start sobbing about a minute BEFORE the song starts.

BRB, must go hug Clovis very tightly.

When I went to "Sicko", at the end, the whole theater applauded. Mostly, though, my theater experiences have been...less than magical. I would miss them if they went away, but it's been ages since that "gotta see it!" feeling.

Just started watching The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. What a fabulously irritating Eustace.

I think Eustace was pretty much the only good thing about that movie. Okay, and maybe Caspian's pants. And the fact that Lucy got to use a sword without comment.

Well, okay, it was in general fairly pretty. Just it made no sense.

But the kid who plays Eustace is awesome. I'm rather disappointed they're not going right into The Silver Chair: reports are that they're going to make The Magician's Nephew next--maybe they have to use Tilda Swinton immediately?

Someone should have prepared you.

Ahem!

AVC: There are two kinds of people: People who weep during the “When She Loved Me” montage, and people who lie about it.

Yeah, but that's not enough. You need hand-holding. And a squishy toy.

Suela, I pretty much agree, though that's weird about Magician's Nephew. They obviously needed a plot, since the book doesn't have much of one, but they didn't quite get there.