moviethon.

Today was Dave's first day off after working or travelling for work for the last two weeks straight. We made it decadent. We slept in, eventually rose to check e-mail and have a quick bowl of oatmeal, then decided to hit the movies. Because the day was ahead of us, and there was still time for matinees, we decided to pull an old trick and sneak into a few different movies. Beowolf was up first, then we snuck into August Rush.

Beowolf: Ok. I know I read this book back in 10th grade English or something, but after watching the movie I can safely say I had forgotten every single point of its plot. And I agree with Cynematic: I remain unconvinced and unwonover by CGI. Sure, it's cool that CGI artists have managed to make their art this convincing, but . . . there's still a way to go. Call me crazy, but why not just make movies with good old-fashioned actors and actresses doing the things their bodies and special effects and stunt people humanly allow them? I have nothing against a little CGI slipped in to create things that don't really exist (dragons and the like), but for human characters, well . . . we do still have actual humans that could be used for more than just their voices. Call me crazy.

But I'll admit it . . . I was just going to see the movie to see how naked Angelina Jolie really was. And uhhh. Yeah. She was naked alright. I read some entertainment news site that said even Angie ended up embarassed by how naked she felt and how "realistic" CGI was . . . further fueling the dreams of adolescent boys and women with latent lesbian fantasies everywhere. Ha.

After Beowolf got out, we did our usual sneak-into-another-movie tactic, which basically involves making sure to hold onto our now-empty soda, slipping into the restroom, and nonchalantly coming out of the bathroom and heading down the opposite hallway. Usually I put on my coat like I've just come in from the cold. Silly. Honestly, those employees get paid pretty near minimum wage, so I honestly don't think they care half the time, but it still gives me a nervous thrill to see 2 or even sometimes 3 movies for the $10+ entrance fee!

August Rush: I loved every single minute of this film. In general, it is a lovely storyline, with pretty and good-natured and talented people such as Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyer, and, well, who doesn't like a touching movie about orphans right around the holidays? (see also Martian Child, another holiday season heartbreaker).* And okay that kid--Freddie Highmore, of Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fame--is cute too (although I privately think he's going to be a spectacularly uncute adolescent, so he best be riding his fame while he can).

But my particular and private enjoyment of August Rush probably had a lot to do with the fact of the cello being prominently featured, and how that instrument will always remind me of schoolgirlish crushes, of first falling in love with Dave, back in high school, back in orchestra class where he was first chair and I was pretty near last, back before love between us seemed possible. All of this sounds so very romantic and tortured, so very Romeo and Juliet, but really all it took for us to get together was that I relearned to speak in the English language around him rather than becoming a prelinguistic fool. I've now forgotten how to play that instrument better than I ever actually played it. It's been so many years that I can't even tell you the name of the different strings. Dave, I believe, actually remembers the strings' names,** but sadly he plays about as often as I do--that is, never.

After August Rush got out, we strolled back to our car, talking about the movies and culminating in the following exchange:

Dave: Didn't that inspire you to play cello again?

May: No, not really. How about you?

Dave: Me neither.

May: [punches Dave--lightly, lovingly] You should play again! It's sexy! That was the whole reason I first fell in love with you!

Dave: I guess my ploy worked.

May: [slaps*** Dave but also starts laughing] You're not a player, you're a ployer.

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* Cassie totally liked it too.

** They are C, G, D, A starting from the most bass string.

*** After rereading this exchange, I had to check with Dave whether I was abusive. I did indeed hit him twice, but neither time hurt! I swear! And yes, he did walk into a door and fall down some stairs . . . ok, I know, so not funny.