Sit in the car, don't touch nothin'
Holidays aren't fueling any pearls of wisdom for the Lismeister. Had planned on catching a midnight movie, but alas, my movie going pal (or Ginnie as she has been called) bailed and went to sleep after only being awake for 28 hours, what a lame-o. Eh, I've watched about five other movies today and a cinema going experience is promised for tomorrow... so I guess I can go without. We have HBO after all, it's the next best thing - as long as you don't mind watching Harry Potter or the same two episodes of Sex and the City that come on every 2 1/2 hours. But since it is Christmas, a holiday that always announces its arrival with the triumphant repetition of the best cult movie ever made, A Christmas Story. This year, TNT is giving loyal viewers a special treat - between commercials, members of the ACS cast are chiming in with anecdotes or reflections about the success of the ACS phenomenon. Ralphie bears a strange resemblance to Jason Dane. Just the same, I am interested to get some behind the scenes info of rich cultural iconic tradition.
Well, now I am lapsing into the scary depths of winter break boredom, everyone knows that ACS is not the best American cult film to date, although it is still a seasonal favorite. Although its Americanness wanes and waxes with its apparent Britishness, wy vote goes toward Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a perennial favorite that could have been found, the edited for TV version that deletes scenes like the trippy boat scene and the "snazzzburrries taste like snazzzburrries" wallpaper, on the Fox Family channel just 'round dinnertime last night. My sister and I were of course moved to sing the praises of this fine film. It's really a lesson in Greek philosophy, you know, posits Kristin, it speaks to man's greatest faults and how they will destroy him. Yes, I say to Kristin gesturing with a finger into the six o'clock air, the oompa loompas teach the lesson of moderation. Just the same, more praising and chattering later, we find ourselves on imdb, finding out what ever became of Charlie Bucket?? So what became of the forthcoming impoverished good lad, pray tell wise oracle? After turning down a five-picture contract after CATCF in 1977, he never again made a picture. He actually moved to upstate New York and became a veterinarian. If you are curious, mapquest says the exact location is about 4 1/2 hours from South Windsor and he's not listed in whitepages.com.
With all this useless knowledge you should be surprised to learn how inept I was at answering questions in the new trivia pursuit (20th Anniversary Edition, it focuses on 1980-now) I received this evening. Just the same, I guess I am truly becoming an adult now - this is a resonating image from childhood. Mom and Dad have a party and the next day you come down to wineglasses everywhere and trivia pursuit in the blue box left out on the kitchen table. You don't quite know what the game is about, but it is hard and definitively adult-like, and you also note that this edition was the "genius" edition, a mistake you've made in haste and only slyly realize around age 13 that "genius" is actually "genus." You realize you're guilty of the oversight and to this day, I still have no idea what "genus edition" means. God dammit, I love useless information, I get off on trivia, hell, and I actually love it more than practical wisdom.
So yea, Merry Christmas. I obviously have important things to tend to now.
posted by lmjasinski at 10:45 PM
