Children's movies.

[icebluenothing]

Caught a glimpse of a couple children's movies while I was out running errands today.

The first was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, playing on a television in the electronics section at Costco. I nearly turned around and walked right back out of the store.

No, I'm not exaggerating. Almost anyone who knows me can tell you of my aversions and phobias of this movie. Everyone seems to regard this as a harmless little classic that every child should see, but Jesus this movie creeped me out as a child and still does to this day.

Yes, yes, the horror writer is scared of Willy Wonka. I'll pause a moment while you finish laughing. Go ahead, I'm quite used to it.

So this time, I see the movie on the screen and freeze, ready to bolt away, but I make myself stay and watch it for a moment; I keep meaning to make myself sit and watch the whole thing someday, as a means of facing my fears. (I have read the book, at treebyleaf's instigation, and found it very comforting -- the book actually shows you, at the end, that the children who have been punished by their own greed and Wonka's machinations are, at the very least, still alive, a trivial little detail the movie neglects to mention.)

Anyway. So I try to make myself stand there for a minute and watch the damn thing. What's that he's singing? I step a little closer to listen:

Not a speck of light is showing
So the danger must be growing
Are the fires of Hell a-glowing?
Is the grisly reaper mowing?

Yes, the danger must be growing
For the rowers keep on rowing
And they're certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing

Charming! A wholesome and delightful film for children of any age! Jesus! No wonder this movie scarred me for life!

I quickly wandered away when I noticed that the door the characters were about to step through had a sign that mentioned "Oompa-Loompas." No way was I about to subject myself to those creepy little fuckers.

(Wow, I'd forgotten from last night -- I was cheerfully consuming Pixy Sticks when I noticed that the package said they were made by Wonka. Now, I know, you see, I know that Wonka brand candy is just a corporate name, a gimmick, but I sure as hell superstitiously avoid eating it -- but now here I was, caught. In a split second of absolute terror, I was sure that I was claimed, now. That I was his, and I would shortly be spirited away to that goddamn factory. It wasn't anything quite as bad as the fear I felt months ago when wendolen purchased a Wonka chocolate bar -- whose wrapper claimed it contained a freakin' Golden Ticket, no less -- but close.)

Anyway. That's more than enough of that.

Later, while wandering through my local Hollywood Video, I noticed that they were starting to play Labyrinth.

God, I love this movie. It started my fascination with David Bowie. Jareth has been a role model for me ever since I first saw it. The creatures, the world, the music, the fun -- I had to force myself not to just stand there in the store and watch the entire thing.

Since there wasn't anything else I wanted to watch, and since I couldn't see paying good money to rent it when I've seen it a hundred times, I walked out empty handed. But happy.

Comments

[wendolen.livejournal.com]

of COURSE Wonka is a creepy motherfucker! Of COURSE you were scarred for life!

Thing is, it started *my* lifelong fascination with Gene Wilder. *silly grin*

[ilion.livejournal.com]

He was the best part about the little prince movie.

The oasis scene however....

[wendolen.livejournal.com]

*squick*

Agreed!

[windbourne.livejournal.com]

Rather so. O_O I love Gene Wilder; he's vastly amusing...though...I'll admit that Willy Wonka is a scary film. I was a beastly little child and loved it, initially. It wasn't until later that I realized how scary it could be.

And as a comment to Six, how do you feel about The Dark Crystal?

Re: Agreed!

[wendolen.livejournal.com]

The Fox in The Little Prince, and particularly as played by Wilder, is one of my near-and-dear media archetypes, though, make no mistake.

One of the only scenes in cinema to reliably make me weep. And now (thanks to dandelion-head over there :P ) I get to get all sniffley about the idea of wheat fields, myself.

I *heart* <i>The Dark Crystal!</i>

[icebluenothing.livejournal.com]

"When single shines the triple sun / What was sundered and undone / Shall be whole, the two made one / By Gelfling hand, or else by none .... " (And yes, that was from memory .... )

I have to give Labyrinth the edge, though, for the whole David Bowie thing. :)

Re: I *heart* <i>The Dark Crystal!</i>

[ilion.livejournal.com]

I went to see the Dark Crystal in the theatres when it first came out.

I got a terrible ear ache and had to leave. :(

Labrynth is definitely a lighter movie in tone.

I used to do a pretty good Ludo imitation. I have a friend named Sarah.

Re: I *heart* <i>The Dark Crystal!</i>

[windbourne.livejournal.com]

^_^! For me, it's The Dark Crystal, just because that's the one I saw first. ^-^ *drifts off into memory-land* Yep...many was the night in preschool that me and my best friend would watch The Dark Crystal and shiver ourselves to sleep. A lovely time. ^___^ This was, of course, when we weren't watching either The Last Unicorn or the My Little Pony movie (the first one, with the dragons...) *grin*

I didn't see Labyrinth until 3rd grade or so, and by that time, the Chamberlain's snivelling voice had integrated itself into my fond memories. ^^;;

Though, well...David Bowie...yeah...^.^! Me, too.