How is it that movies and news stories and books can evoke such strong emotions in people, especially me? I have always been a more emotional soul. I'm a sympathetic crier, I cry at the saddest stories, and the sweetest commercials can bring tears to my eyes. I've been noticing this more and more lately, and I have no idea if it is due to the fact that I'm so stressed out over not finding a job, or something else.
Just recently, I saw the movie Fred Claus for the first time. It's a nice, funny, christmas movie, filled with laughs and adventure and climax, just like any entertaining movie should. But the first ten minutes brought bitter tears to my eyes. The movie itself is about two brothers, Fredrick and Nicholas Claus, Nicholas eventually turns into Santa Claus. The first ten minutes show how St. Nick came to be. Fred is the older brother, and the day Nick is born, Fred promises to be the best big brother ever. A few years later, Nicholas is still a boy and already he is showing how wonderful he is by giving all of his birthday presents to the orphan boy down the road. And thus starts the bitter rivalry. Fred is mad because Nick is giving away his heartfelt, homemade present, but when he complains, his mother says "Why can't you be more like Nicholas?"
More and more stories are shown like this, Fred being a good kid, but always being outshone by his younger brother, and always being reminded of it by his mother, who constantly asks the same question, "Why can't you be more like your brother?" As Fred continues to grow, he grows to resent his brother more and more with each passing day. At one point, you see Fred in a tree, talking to a bird, saying the bird is his only friend. Suddenly the tree falls, Nick pops up, saying how he noticed Fred loved the tree and decided to take it into the house so everyone could enjoy it with him, but now the bird (Fred's only friend) has flown away, never to be seen again. Fred becomes angry with his brother and stalks off, leaving a confused but loving Nick behind. Still later, Nick is gathered at the fire with his mother and father, with Fred sulking in a corner. Fed up with his brother, Fred chucks an apple at Nick's head, hitting the back of his skull. His mother notices Nick turn to look at his brother, asking if something is wrong, but with an extrememly mournful and hurt face, he's says nothing is wrong, and turns back to the fire to play.
Now I don't know if this child is just a really amazing actor, or if I was simply pmsing, but I started bawling when I saw this scene. I'm crying now, retelling it. It's not like I had this type of relationship with my sisters, far from it. My parents never made the horrible mistake of saying "why can't you be more like her?' thank goodness, but I am so incredibly moved by this short ten minutes of film! Why is that? It's just so sad. Nick tries so hard to show his love for his brother, and for everyone else, but somehow his brother grows to hate him, even though deep down Fred truly does love his brother. Thankfully, later in the film, the brothers reconcile, after Nick gives Fred a last minute gift of a birdhouse with a note that says "Sorry I cut down your tree," which just brought more tears to my eyes. There is still some bitterness at the end, and the mother never learned her lesson, but you can tell their relationship was much better than before.
A few days before that, I was watching Doctor Who (an amazing BBC show, watch it if you don't already), the second season finale. This episode ends tragically, and even though I have seen it before, I cried throughout the last fifteen minutes of the show. Rose, the Doctor's traveling companion for the last two seasons, has been sucked into a parallel world, and has to say goodbye to the man she loves. He is able to project his image to her so that they can have a brief farewell, but it is only an image. They aren't able to hold hands, or hug, or even kiss each other goodbye. They are only able to speak to each other. Rose asks if she's going to see him again, and what will happen, and ends by telling him "I Love You!" In the few heartwrenching seconds before the show ends, the Doctor, finally resigned to saying the words that have been so difficult for him to say to anyone, finally works up the courage to say it back. He says something along the lines of "well, I suppose, if it's the last chance I have to say it, Rose Tyler-" then the tiny window they have been speaking through closes up, and they can suddenly not see each other, never will see each other again. Look, more tears on my end, by simply remembering the words said!
And then there are books. Don't even get me started on books. The Harry Potter series, even though I've read it multiple times since it was released, has caused my trashcan to be filled with wet tissues. I mourn for characters when they mourn, rejoice with them when they rejoice, laugh when they laugh.
I'm crazy. I must be. How can I react so strongly to things that aren't even happening to me? And the thing is, I think these things are so beautiful. And i have to read them again, even though I know I'll sob and sob. When I watched Fred Claus the other night, when the movie was over, I actually rewound it and found those parts that made me cry so hard and cried all over again. Why is that? Is it some strange release I have? I am just sadistic? Who knows?
On a side note: still haven't heard from the internship people yet. I sent thank-you notes last Friday, and then another note yesterday, saying I'm still interested in the job and I look forward to hearing from them. I know I've done everything I can to get this job, and now I just have to sit and wait. It could lead to so many good things if I get this. I feel like Rory in the last few episodes of Gilmore Girls. Hopefully my next update will be filled with joyful news. Pray for me please.
Princess Booka
Just recently, I saw the movie Fred Claus for the first time. It's a nice, funny, christmas movie, filled with laughs and adventure and climax, just like any entertaining movie should. But the first ten minutes brought bitter tears to my eyes. The movie itself is about two brothers, Fredrick and Nicholas Claus, Nicholas eventually turns into Santa Claus. The first ten minutes show how St. Nick came to be. Fred is the older brother, and the day Nick is born, Fred promises to be the best big brother ever. A few years later, Nicholas is still a boy and already he is showing how wonderful he is by giving all of his birthday presents to the orphan boy down the road. And thus starts the bitter rivalry. Fred is mad because Nick is giving away his heartfelt, homemade present, but when he complains, his mother says "Why can't you be more like Nicholas?"
More and more stories are shown like this, Fred being a good kid, but always being outshone by his younger brother, and always being reminded of it by his mother, who constantly asks the same question, "Why can't you be more like your brother?" As Fred continues to grow, he grows to resent his brother more and more with each passing day. At one point, you see Fred in a tree, talking to a bird, saying the bird is his only friend. Suddenly the tree falls, Nick pops up, saying how he noticed Fred loved the tree and decided to take it into the house so everyone could enjoy it with him, but now the bird (Fred's only friend) has flown away, never to be seen again. Fred becomes angry with his brother and stalks off, leaving a confused but loving Nick behind. Still later, Nick is gathered at the fire with his mother and father, with Fred sulking in a corner. Fed up with his brother, Fred chucks an apple at Nick's head, hitting the back of his skull. His mother notices Nick turn to look at his brother, asking if something is wrong, but with an extrememly mournful and hurt face, he's says nothing is wrong, and turns back to the fire to play.
Now I don't know if this child is just a really amazing actor, or if I was simply pmsing, but I started bawling when I saw this scene. I'm crying now, retelling it. It's not like I had this type of relationship with my sisters, far from it. My parents never made the horrible mistake of saying "why can't you be more like her?' thank goodness, but I am so incredibly moved by this short ten minutes of film! Why is that? It's just so sad. Nick tries so hard to show his love for his brother, and for everyone else, but somehow his brother grows to hate him, even though deep down Fred truly does love his brother. Thankfully, later in the film, the brothers reconcile, after Nick gives Fred a last minute gift of a birdhouse with a note that says "Sorry I cut down your tree," which just brought more tears to my eyes. There is still some bitterness at the end, and the mother never learned her lesson, but you can tell their relationship was much better than before.
A few days before that, I was watching Doctor Who (an amazing BBC show, watch it if you don't already), the second season finale. This episode ends tragically, and even though I have seen it before, I cried throughout the last fifteen minutes of the show. Rose, the Doctor's traveling companion for the last two seasons, has been sucked into a parallel world, and has to say goodbye to the man she loves. He is able to project his image to her so that they can have a brief farewell, but it is only an image. They aren't able to hold hands, or hug, or even kiss each other goodbye. They are only able to speak to each other. Rose asks if she's going to see him again, and what will happen, and ends by telling him "I Love You!" In the few heartwrenching seconds before the show ends, the Doctor, finally resigned to saying the words that have been so difficult for him to say to anyone, finally works up the courage to say it back. He says something along the lines of "well, I suppose, if it's the last chance I have to say it, Rose Tyler-" then the tiny window they have been speaking through closes up, and they can suddenly not see each other, never will see each other again. Look, more tears on my end, by simply remembering the words said!
And then there are books. Don't even get me started on books. The Harry Potter series, even though I've read it multiple times since it was released, has caused my trashcan to be filled with wet tissues. I mourn for characters when they mourn, rejoice with them when they rejoice, laugh when they laugh.
I'm crazy. I must be. How can I react so strongly to things that aren't even happening to me? And the thing is, I think these things are so beautiful. And i have to read them again, even though I know I'll sob and sob. When I watched Fred Claus the other night, when the movie was over, I actually rewound it and found those parts that made me cry so hard and cried all over again. Why is that? Is it some strange release I have? I am just sadistic? Who knows?
On a side note: still haven't heard from the internship people yet. I sent thank-you notes last Friday, and then another note yesterday, saying I'm still interested in the job and I look forward to hearing from them. I know I've done everything I can to get this job, and now I just have to sit and wait. It could lead to so many good things if I get this. I feel like Rory in the last few episodes of Gilmore Girls. Hopefully my next update will be filled with joyful news. Pray for me please.
Princess Booka