Magpie
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2007
- Messages
- 10,615
Surprisingly, there IS a connection. 
Last night my mother and I got into a fierce battle over the Martian Child. It's a movie that really spoke to her on a deep level, apparently as a mother of a, erm... undeniably Martian Girl. I haven't seen it yet, but I said I didn't like the fact that they made John Cusack's character heterosexual.
Ultimately, we ended up in a knock-down drag out brawl over the phone in which I accused her of having her head up her... Okay, I was MUCH politer than that. But I did stomp all over her sweet and innocent movie, and there were bad feelings all around.
I thought about this overnight, and ended up writing this little piece. It's about Winnie the Pooh. It's about Disney turning Christopher Robin into a girl. And it's about our fight. It occurred to me that some of the folks here might appreciate it, especially if you've gotten into similar arguments.
Winnie the Political
Two friends meet on the street one day and begin to discuss the new Winnie the Pooh film out in theatres. It doesnt matter where they came from or where theyre going. The only thing we need to know about these two is that the first has seen the film but never read the book, while the second has read the book but never seen the film.
You have to see this film, says the first, enthusiastically. Its heartwarming. I know youll love it!
I dont know, replies her friend. Ive heard that they turned Christopher Robin into a girl.
So? The film isnt about Robin. Its about a bear, and his friends, the lessons they learn about friendship.
If the film isnt about Christopher Robin, then why did they have to turn him into a girl? Why couldnt they have just left him a boy? He frowns, suspiciously. You know what? I think the filmmaker thought people wouldnt go and see a film about a little boy who plays with stuffed animals.
Youre missing the point. Robin was hardly in the film at all. It was a story about Winnie the Pooh, and how he and his friends worked together to build a house for Eeyore.
Christopher Robin was an important character in the books! The first story starts with him asking for a tale about his stuffed bear, and the last story ends with him going off to school. The books are about that magical brief time in childhood before the real world intrudes.
Thats not what the film is about at all! The film is a sensitive and nuanced portrayal of the power of real friendship. I didnt even think once about whether Robin was a boy or a girl. Its irrelevant. The films message is universal.
I dont know why they couldnt have just left Christopher Robin a boy, especially if the film isnt about him anyway.
You cant dictate the directors artistic vision! Films arent word for word the same as books. Theyre a visual medium.
This directors artistic vision is telling me that Im not welcome as a member of the audience for this film. Hes telling me that my experience growing up as a little boy who played with stuffed animals isnt acceptable for the mass market. You know what? The more I think about it, the more offended I am by this film!
Well, Im offended that you think the difference between boys and girls is SO important that youd reject a beautiful message about friendship, just because the protagonist happens to be a girl! Why do you have to make everything so political?
Because it IS political! If it wasnt political, Christopher Robin wouldnt be a girl! He wouldnt HAVE to be a girl! He could be a boy who plays with stuffed animals and no one would care!
By now our two friends are yelling at each other in the street. The one is frustrated that she cant get across what the movie was really about. She feels shes not being listened to, and shes hurt that her companion doesnt appreciate her well-intentioned movie recommendation. The other feels like his precious childhood memories have been stomped on by this movie, and hes offended that she cant acknowledge the legitimacy of his point of view.
Meanwhile passersby are watching in amazement. Having neither seen the movie, nor read the book, they cant understand why everyone cant just agree to disagree.
After all, isnt it just Winnie the Pooh?
~end~
Last night my mother and I got into a fierce battle over the Martian Child. It's a movie that really spoke to her on a deep level, apparently as a mother of a, erm... undeniably Martian Girl. I haven't seen it yet, but I said I didn't like the fact that they made John Cusack's character heterosexual.
Ultimately, we ended up in a knock-down drag out brawl over the phone in which I accused her of having her head up her... Okay, I was MUCH politer than that. But I did stomp all over her sweet and innocent movie, and there were bad feelings all around.
I thought about this overnight, and ended up writing this little piece. It's about Winnie the Pooh. It's about Disney turning Christopher Robin into a girl. And it's about our fight. It occurred to me that some of the folks here might appreciate it, especially if you've gotten into similar arguments.
Winnie the Political
Two friends meet on the street one day and begin to discuss the new Winnie the Pooh film out in theatres. It doesnt matter where they came from or where theyre going. The only thing we need to know about these two is that the first has seen the film but never read the book, while the second has read the book but never seen the film.
You have to see this film, says the first, enthusiastically. Its heartwarming. I know youll love it!
I dont know, replies her friend. Ive heard that they turned Christopher Robin into a girl.
So? The film isnt about Robin. Its about a bear, and his friends, the lessons they learn about friendship.
If the film isnt about Christopher Robin, then why did they have to turn him into a girl? Why couldnt they have just left him a boy? He frowns, suspiciously. You know what? I think the filmmaker thought people wouldnt go and see a film about a little boy who plays with stuffed animals.
Youre missing the point. Robin was hardly in the film at all. It was a story about Winnie the Pooh, and how he and his friends worked together to build a house for Eeyore.
Christopher Robin was an important character in the books! The first story starts with him asking for a tale about his stuffed bear, and the last story ends with him going off to school. The books are about that magical brief time in childhood before the real world intrudes.
Thats not what the film is about at all! The film is a sensitive and nuanced portrayal of the power of real friendship. I didnt even think once about whether Robin was a boy or a girl. Its irrelevant. The films message is universal.
I dont know why they couldnt have just left Christopher Robin a boy, especially if the film isnt about him anyway.
You cant dictate the directors artistic vision! Films arent word for word the same as books. Theyre a visual medium.
This directors artistic vision is telling me that Im not welcome as a member of the audience for this film. Hes telling me that my experience growing up as a little boy who played with stuffed animals isnt acceptable for the mass market. You know what? The more I think about it, the more offended I am by this film!
Well, Im offended that you think the difference between boys and girls is SO important that youd reject a beautiful message about friendship, just because the protagonist happens to be a girl! Why do you have to make everything so political?
Because it IS political! If it wasnt political, Christopher Robin wouldnt be a girl! He wouldnt HAVE to be a girl! He could be a boy who plays with stuffed animals and no one would care!
By now our two friends are yelling at each other in the street. The one is frustrated that she cant get across what the movie was really about. She feels shes not being listened to, and shes hurt that her companion doesnt appreciate her well-intentioned movie recommendation. The other feels like his precious childhood memories have been stomped on by this movie, and hes offended that she cant acknowledge the legitimacy of his point of view.
Meanwhile passersby are watching in amazement. Having neither seen the movie, nor read the book, they cant understand why everyone cant just agree to disagree.
After all, isnt it just Winnie the Pooh?
~end~
