Jupiter: ***** 1 star. No, I tricked you. Google stars. My favorite part was when he went out on the wire.James: ***** 5 stars. My favorite part was when Phillipe Petite first stepped out on the wire.
Popi: **** The kids are still at a point in life where a dream, a movie, a story and reality all have the same power. So I'm not completely sure they understand the difference between a documentary and a dramatic feature, especially when the documentary has fictional recreations, but they seemed intrigued by the idea, especially James, who kept asking, "Is this real? Is this part real?" I'm a documentary fanatic and love the power of nonfiction. But I understand it's hard to compete with kid candy, like The Spiderwick Papers. Still, James being the oldest, asked all day, how tall were the twin towers, what happened to the twin towers and he did seem curious about a movie that existed in his real life, rather than real life that existed in a movie. "Is this hill we're on taller than the World Trade Center? Is the World Trade Center taller than Mount Everest?" It was a sweet movie. It could have been 20 minutes shorter. Lots of chatting and prep, and frolicking in French fields, but that's all the footage they had. It would have been nice to hear soem New Yorkers experience of it, but obviously the film crews didn't get that.
Mama: ***** This documentary was really, really gripping! It combines interviews, ("Mama, when will that guy quit talking?") real footage, still shots and reenactments. Normally Adam and I cringe at documentary reenactments, but it was completely necessary with kids. And the story really is marvelous: Phillipe Petit brings his mad, passionate vision into a reality and walks on a tight rope between the World Trade Center. When we are so used to the most amazing CG effects, and seeing Spiderman crawl up walls, it remains amazing, thrilling and beautiful to watch what Phillipe Petit does. I particularly loved seeing what a group effort it was for him to pull this stunt off. He manages to attract disciples who are dedicated to helping him pull off his fantastic dream. The documentary takes a surprising and poignant turn at the end, when we find out the effects Phillipe's walk between the towers has on his relationships with the friends who helped him. I found this moving, on more than one level.
But ultimately, I always judge a Family Night movie by how it lives in the imaginations of the kids. This one stirred James even before we watched it. Based on the book "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers," he taped pieces of paper together to make 3 ft. twin towers, drew a cityscape at the base of the picture, and then a man on a tightrope at the top. That was the day before the movie. The day after seeing the movie, he tied various sashes and shoelaces to toys and strung a makeshift highwire, the likes of which only a Bionicle could cross, between the two sofas. And then, today, while walking in the Yerba Buena Gardens, he balanced himself on a hand rail, and walked along it. That makes for a smashing success on Family Movie Night. Even though Justice fell asleep in the first ten minutes.
Oh, and if you're wondering about the PG-13 rating (James is obsessed with ratings) it's a gratuitous sex tableau at the very end when Phillipe Petite cheats on his girlfriend. James, who believes that PG-13 ratings are given because of the fear factor, said, "That's why it's PG-13? What's scary about a naked lady?"
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