Some books are just too creative for their own good. The original story craft that comes out of some people's minds just amazes me. Hollywood does a great job of making some of those stories come to life as well. Some examples come to mind, Harry Potter, Wizard of Oz, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. I have read a few of the stories from the Series of Unfortunate Events and I love the film. It has crazy sets, great costumes and makeup, and wonderful acting. I am usually not a fan of Jim Carrey and his wackiness. But he is so perfect in this role as Count Olaf. His hair and eyebrows are just perfect. I really love his Tyrannosaurs impression too.
The story here is all about three Baudelaire orphans and their adventures finding a guardian that loves them and is not going to try and kill them all while running away from the evil Count Olaf. They are some smart cookies too, getting themselves out of all sorts of jams. Coincidentally they are smarter than all the adults in this movie. Series is a bit of a sad story but the children and their combined talents make you root for them and realize that there might be hope for them as the minutes move forward. It is odd that there is so much "heavy" in a children's series. I suppose there is research out there that says we do not allow children to grow up as they should and shelter them from things that they should be exposed to. This movie must be working single handedly to catch everyone up on that sheltered business.
Aunt Josephine is my favorite in this film. I think there is a little bit of all of us in Aunt Josephine. She cares about grammar, is afraid of the fridge falling over and crushing people (I mean who isn't?), she does not turn on the stove because she is afraid of it bursting into flames. I think at times I have irrational fears but I am normal compared to this woman. Sunny says it best when she describes Aunt Josephine as Mayor of Crazytown.
Between the star studded cast and unpredictability of this movie, students would be just as fascinated with this film as I am. When RAs put together some thoughts about how to put this movie into a program I hope they are as creative as the story in this movie! Time management is one theme that could be taken from this film. Working through the game of life and "what ifs" can be peppered with outrageous but realistic scenarios that could throw a student off track and teach them to plan for those moments. Maybe things like Lachrymose Leeches are not realistic as obstacles for college students, but pop quizzes, flat tires, computer freezes, chicken pox, those are things that could interrupt a perfectly planned semester and make things harder to manage.
RAs could make this game and as residents were playing it they could also have the RHD come in with some natural disasters to make things even worse. But in the end they can tie their hair back, think back to what they learned in their books, and chew something to fix it all and have a happier ending. Students could learn a lot from the resilience and ingenuity of the Baudelaire children.
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