First of all, it is extremely rude that this movie that came out when I was in high school is 20 years old. Second, golly did I not expect it to make me feel so many things right now. It always makes me cry and in buckets but tonight was a whole new viewing experience.
This is one of my very favorite Pixar films. The world is so rich, the characters so clearly and fully realized. I have *no idea* how old Sulley and Mike are supposed to be but they've always felt relatable. I cannot imagine living with your work partner but they seem to make it work (though I worried(?) about Sulley on this viewing upon thinking that Mike would move out when he married Celia and that's not a worry I anticipated having). There's something really very Millennial about Sulley's devotion to the company and wanting to protect it and work extra hard for it to succeed. But what are they paying you, man?
It's a testament to the design and direction that I wholly buy Monstropolis as a place and all of its myriad denizens. I hope the animators had the Best Time thinking up all those different configurations of monsters. I love their various designs so much, it almost makes Sulley a little boring. George is the best though. Hooray for George.
This is my favorite Randy Newman score by far. So jazzy and loose and joyful. The opening credit sequence and music have informed and inspired a lot of theatrical choices I've made over time.
And then there's Boo. I don't have a lot of experience being around young children. I was, regrettably, a very absent aunt for my nieces and nephews, and most of my friends are child-free. But Boo feels very real. I obviously have no memories of myself from that age but I would like to imagine I was that brave and engaged and darling. Her fear of Randall and many feelings about Sulley just gripped my heart this time around. The way she beats the absolute crap out of Randall in order to save Sulley. I felt proud and I found myself wondering throughout what it would be like to have a little girl of my own. After a massive ovarian cyst wreaked havoc on me when I was 25, I was told I couldn't have children without spending a lot of money. Between that and being convinced I couldn't be a decent mother with my mental health and family issues, I kind of just accepted it. Embraced it even. But now, as I age out of any possibility of natural child bearing, and I'm doing the work in therapy, and I'm in the best relationship I've ever known (for myself or those around me)... suddenly I find myself wondering. And just the wondering is so bittersweet, I'm struggling to even examine it in myself. Maybe I'll erase all of this. Anyway, lots of feelings.
I've never seen Monsters University. Is it worth it? Part of me is fine with just this little slice into that world.
"King Itchy"
Polymer clay, eyelash yarn, foam, moss, glue, paint, thread, tiny leaves for basing minis, porcelain & glass cloche.
Takeaways:
-This was inspired by a throwaway line from the Yeti: "Take my buddy Bigfoot. When he was banished he fashioned an enormous diaper out of poison ivy. Wore it on his head like a tiara. Called himself "King Itchy"." It was also inspired by lots of Bigfoot talk with our friend, Grant.
-I really like doing miniature and sculpture work. This turned out surprisingly close to what I intended. I should have gone a little shorter to fit the cloche better but meh.
-I spent so much time examining the famous "Patterson" video of Bigfoot walking for this. I'm almost a believer. Almost.
-I "furred" the sculpture myself. Sculpted a little naked Bigfoot and then bit by bit glued chunks of fur looking yarn to him. I watched a video on youtube for how to do it and that nice Scandinavian lady made it look SO MUCH EASIER than it was. It took me awhile to get a rhythm and understanding of the directionality of it. Between that and a rough week at work, it took a long time to finish, I was getting so disheartened. But I finished! And what's more, I like it!
-I wish it was clearer that the headpiece is a diaper. Ah well.
Okay! A buzzer shot finish means that TONIGHT we watch my next movie which I actually squealed about when I rolled. Alien. I had been regretting not including it in the Halloween roster but now I get to watch it so YAY!
Have a wonderful week, friends. And if you need to, be like Bigfoot and disappear into the woods for awhile. We'll be here when you get back and we'll tell tall tales about your adventures when you come back.