Zathura

[Tommy Martyn]

Went to the movies today. Saw Zathura. I have seen just about every kid movie released these last 3 years. From the highs of Finding Nemo (a fucking classic in my book) and Spongebob, to the lows of Madagascar. The movie today though, was the first time Henry watched a non animated feature in the dark of the cinema. The movie itself is happily daft. Some kids find an old game in the basement. The things that happen in the game become real. Consequently the house they live in is blasted into outer space and they battle robots and aliens and such. I hope I'm not spoiling this for any of you who are taking a long haul flight in the next couple of months.

The magic thing is that Henry is entranced. The music, the atmosphere, the experience. So big. So real. He's talking to the screen. He's gripping my arm. He's living the movie. At one point in the proceedings alien beings, that look a lot like dinosaurs, invade the house. The smallest kid has to retrieve something from the basement and is sent down to the basement in a dumb waiter. The suspense builds, Henry leans over half terrified and tells me, "I'm bored, we can go now if you want."

We were still talking about it as he drifted off to sleep tonight.

I know I'm a sad old cunt who can't handle his ale anymore and hasn't got the latest Kate Bush (Masterwork/washing machine tribute album - delete as applicable) but it was a great day to be me.