Thursday, November 13, 2008

Jack the Bear

Okay, this is really dorky of me but here it goes...



Has anyone seen "Jack the Bear"?? It stars Danny Devito. Now don't dismiss it but the star, it's a great movie. It's dark, disturbing and everything I love in a movie. Now granted, I have an eclectic pension for movies, but check it out.


It's funny that no matter how good or bad a movie is there can be one scene, one sentence, one expression that clinches it for you. My moment in this movie is as follows:


A boy and his grandfather are playing chess. The little boy has been taken away from his loving father by his grandparents b/c they think they can do a better job raising him and his brother. Here's the idea of the scene that wrenches my heart. Bear with me, here's the transcript, (btw, Jack is the boy):


The grandson is losing and becomes frustrated.


"Everything in L.A. was big and bright, except their house.


It was small and dark, and Grandpa smelled like it... or it smelled like him.


- Now, tell me why you did that


- To get away from your bishop


- Ah, but look You have to be on your guard every minute, Jack , The other guy always has a trick up his sleeve


- Checkmate


-Tell me why you did that.


-You don't know why?


-You just moved without thinking?


-Maybe you should let me win once


-Let you win? Why?What would that accomplish?


-I don't know


-I'll teach you to win, Jack I won't let you win, that would be wrong. You'd regret that later on.


-You know,what you moved into what is called the Devil's Crossroads. I would take this piece,and you've got yourself blocked here...


-Dad would let me win! I'm sure he would. He wouldn't be obvious about it, but I'd probably know he was doing it . He'd make a big deal out of it. He'd protest the game. He'd yell and moan about it. He'd tell everyone he was robbed and demand a rematch. It would go on for days. Then I'd like to play chess and I would have learned the Devil's Crossroads because of him."


Man I love this movie, Kids definitely always say it best, even if it's in the movies. This movie is worth watching just for the look on that kid's face when he recites these lines. Any movies move you like that? What are they??



Posted by at

1 comment:

CP~ said...

I can think of many movies that I have an emotional connection with or have some amazing scenes/quotes that I reference in my "real life". While I was reading your post the first scene that popped into my mind was from the Santa Clause.
Besides being full of many Daddy abandonment issues, similar to mine (his fault or not) and really all the child wants is to be with Daddy, it also has a great message about intangibles, which ironically my stepdad used to preach the same message to me.
Transcript: (Charlie is Santa's son and Neil is Charlie's stepdad)
Neil: What about the reindeer? Have you ever seen a reindeer fly?
Charlie: Yes.
Neil: Well, I haven't.
Charlie: Have you ever seen a million dollars?
Neil: No!
Charlie: Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I remember going to this movie with girlfriends my junior or senior year in high school. My friend Shannon and I had similar parents divorce stories and I remember we cried through the entire movie. I couldn't watch it again for years. I love it now...for the record though- I have an unhealthy relationship with Christmas movies...but I do still cry everytime.
I know this example isn't has poingnant as yours, but to me it is special and I can relate to that little boy like I have never been able to relate to anyone else in a movie.

November 14, 2008 at 7:07 AM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)