Movie nights, Learning Opportunities and Wise Wizards

Movies can be so special.

In our family, we don’t watch a lot of television. But we do have frequent ‘movie nights’, which we all love.  Late in the afternoon after a busy day my youngest child, who is 10, sometimes asks “Can we have a movie night Mum?”

Last weekend, he and I were the only ones home and he was feeling a little bit low, so I suggested an afternoon movie. What a treat! We popped some popcorn and snuggled together on the couch. We’d watched the Home Alone series the weekend before, so what to watch now?

It was a toss up between Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. Harry won.

After that first afternoon, we watched our way through all the (released) Harry Potters over the course of the week… with and without other members of the family. And had great discussions about important life stuff as a result.

Watching movies with our kids can give us some great opportunities for those little chats, can't they?

It's not all about wands and spells, the magic lies in the wisdom and life lessons... Here's a few of my favourite magical Potter-y gems:

It is not our abilities that show what we truly are, it is our choices
    -    Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Now is the time that we must choose between what is right and what is easy
    -    Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends
    -    Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live
    -    Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Working hard is important, but there’s something that matters even more - believing in yourself
    -    Harry in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

We have all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the power we choose to act on. That’s who we really are
    -    Sirius Black in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

What is your favourite quote from a movie?

Has a movie changed your life?

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                     This has been a contribution to our theme for May - Learning from the Movies! 
Post author, Karen Wallace believes that wizards are very wise beings indeed. Coming from a muggle family, she loves to learn from those wise and magical beings who can see straight to the core of the matter. You can read more of her search for magic, and love of quotes, at The Clearing Space and at the online magazine The Calm Space.

You can get published on Joyful Jubilant Learning too! ~~~ May Details here

 

Comments

[Steve Sherlock]

Karen, ah yes, there is special magic in Harry. JK Rowling has created quite a story.

This is a good set of quotes. Thanks for sharing these Karen!

[Joanna Young]

Thanks for sharing this moment and these wise wizardly words Karen. And for pointing me towards Reel Wisdom a few weeks back - now one of my favourite entries in my in-box!

Joanna

[Karen Wallace]

@Steve - Thanks! Even though we have watched the movies many times now, I always seem to find something new, something that makes me think, at each watching. And when the books come back around to me (the movies spark a queue to reread them in this family) I am sure I will have more discoveries.

@Joanna - Reel Wisdom is a great site, isn't it? Thank you.

[Dwayne Melancon]

Awesome post - and we must watch the Harry Potter movies a gazillion times a year at our house. We tend to quote things more like "Gerrrof" and "Wotcher 'arry" instead of anything pithy.

Some of my favorite quotes - there was an old movie (1947) called "Life with Father" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039566/) that has some great quotes. For example, when the main character (played by William Powell) was interviewing for a maid, this came about:

Maid Service Proprietor: Sir, before I can let any girl go from this establishment, I must know the character of the home in which she will be employed.

Father: Madam, *I* am the character of my home.

Classic. And we quote Napoleon Dynamite and Raising Arizona prodigiously, as well.

[Rosa Say]

Karen, the first movie quote that comes to mind for me is from Master Yoda in Star Wars: It’s a great one for coaching contexts of all sorts!
“Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.”
--- Yoda

It also may be because of the way you just pulled at my heart in speaking of your son, for my son was absolutely nuts about Star Wars and those were all the quotes to be heard in our house at the time… including the sound effects, just like Dwayne mentioned with his “Gerrrof” and “Wotcher ‘arry”

Back to Yoda, I think it was pretty brilliant the way that the writers of the Star Wars trilogy made him so quotable simply with the switchbacks in the way his sentences were constructed, like a language learned literally instead of melodically... which kid wants their grammar to be right when it can be cool instead?
http://www.quotemountain.com/quotes/yoda_quotes/

[Karen Wallace]

@Dwayne - thank you!

I tried to relate the more 'meaningful' quotes I found in the movies, but I know what you mean about "Gerrrrof" etc. My kids are very strong on those... and 'Oh Mithter Wilson!' from Denis the Menace (where Walter Mathau plays Mr Wilson - classic!). I find it interesting that movies become interwoven with our story of who we are as a family.

I don't recall ever seeing Life With Father - another movie to add to my list.

@Rosa - sound effects and Star Wars. Yes! Light sabers have been a staple in the toy box for more years than I care to recall. I often find myself like Yoda speaking when I am trying a wise point to make. You can the movie buffs tell by the grins or puzzled looks. ;)

"Do or do not, there is no try." Yes, great for coaching and for children raising...