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DH took me out for a movie and dinner. And of course, I can't just watch, I have to comment. So here you go.
1) This was relatively entertaining storytelling. Quite diverting for the 2+hours of plot development. It did leave me with an itch to go watch the original again, as opposed to a desire to revisit THIS iteration, but still, overall, worth the ticket price. I mean, Denzel.
2) BIT OF A SPOILER. Pretty much a post-Trump fantasy of everyone joining together to support an abstract political ideal even though they are in different parties. Wait till the end, where the Democrats and Republicans (sorry, blue and red cohorts of the Roman army) all join together to cheer the vision of a Rome ruled BY the people and FOR the people. (See next objection.) Even though only, maybe, 40 of the 12,000 soldiers assembled on either side of the bridge were capable of hearing anything that the hero was declaiming, as he didn’t actually HAVE a microphone (theoretically). Which leads me to…
3) We’re going to be very kind and call this movie “historically adjacent.” There are some historical elements. That’s pretty much it in terms of relationship to actual history. The costumes were historical, sort of.
4) DRESSAGE RIDER RANT. I’m sorry, but WHAT WAS WITH THE RHINOCEROS? I can’t get my six-year-old purpose-bred dressage mare to canter in a straight line WITH a bit and some dude in a helmet is somehow making a RHINOCEROS do whatever he wants without any apparent connection to its head but, no, the rhinoceros is doing lovely trot-canter transitions and circling and doing diagonals. Did he raise it from a baby and feed it warm milk and let it sleep in his bed until they had a psychic connection? WHO thought that this was even a suspension-of-disbelief plot point??
2 weeks ago
But does the rhino have his lead changes?
i think someone should try to do dressage with a rhinoceros and report back...for research maybe they ARE really good at it
I had no intention of seeing this but you sold me with the rhinoceros. 🦏
Historical fanfiction? 😁
“Brothers, what we do in life... echoes in eternity” … I was hesitating to see Gladiator 2 because Gladiator 1 is such a family favorite. But now I see that it’s a must see.. as simply “rhino-rific”
All your other comments were enlightening, but the rhinoceros rant was the best!
Going to see it tonight. I'm not expecting it will be that accurate. The first one wasn't as far as I know, but it was more about the characters. Thanks for sharing the bit with the tame rhinoceros! Those of us not familiar with horse riding would still question anyone's ability to domesticate a rhino.
Ask any Mormon apologist about the use of a tapir in place of a horse. If they rode tapirs in Central America as they claim to have done, then they can ride a rhino!
Yesssss, of all the silly bits in this movie (which I quite enjoyed) the fact that no one would have been able to hear his big speech drove me NUTS. Maybe the first couple of rows? If that? Everyone else would have been elbowing their neighbor going, “What did he say??!!”
My mother's memorial service will be on Sunday, December 29, 3 PM, at Peace Hill Christian Fellowship (18101 The Glebe Lane, Charles City, VA).
Mom had so many facets to her life, but I think the one that touched the most people was her passion for teaching reading and, as an extension, advising young families about how to best turn their children into confident, interested, self-motivated learners.
So I'd like to invite you all, the wider community of parents and educators and learners who were touched by her work, to join in.
Of course you're welcome to come in person and share a few words about how her work affected you. We'd love to have you. But if you want to send your thoughts along in writing, I will share them at her service.
Send your RSVP or your memories along to [email protected] and I'll receive them. I hope many of you are able to take part.
2 weeks ago
Condolences to your family. You have had a profound impact on our family. I found The Well Trained Mind about 20 years ago. It was my introduction to homeschooling. Thank you.
When I am asked about accomplishments, I feel most accomplished that I was able to teach my children to read. Even though I never met your mother, she taught me that I could. I will forever be grateful.
Just a wonderful woman; so glad I had the chance to meet her and visit with y’all when you came to Charleston, SC years ago. You both encouraged so many.
Ah, her book, the ordinary parents guide was an absolute gift. It taught both my 3 year olds to read fluently. And I still can chant, b stands for b in b b bat, c stands for c in c c cat... very thankful for that book.
I love your Mom and Dad with all my heart. They were an incredible positive influence on me in my formative years and I treasure every moment that I spent with them. I so much look forward to seeing them again in God’s presence in heaven and worshiping and felloshiping with them. I grieve with you and your family but not without hope. May God wrap His arms around you and bear you up in His comfort.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. She was an inspiring woman. ❤️
Finding it difficult to express my pure gratitude of this selfless person. Imagine being a young busy mother of 3, home schooling those 3 young children, running a household, a farm, several Bible study groups, a doctors wife, caring for aging parents, mentoring other young adults and working me in to teach to read! How’d she do it? So much love…..1970…. Flash forward 2005, Aunt Jessie, will you teach my son to read. She said absolutely ❤️
What a shock but you know she is in heaven. Praying for God s comfort and sending my love, Grandma
So sorry for your loss. The book Well Trained Mind that you wrote together so impacted the education of our children. Forever thankful.
Oh, Susan, I'm so very sorry for your great loss. 💔 Your mother was an amazing woman. Through her wisdom and perseverance, and the fruit of her life and family, she changed the course of the home education world and beyond. We have all benefited from her remarkable legacy that will continue on for generations to come. May the Lord comfort your hearts in only the way He can. ❤️
I know you are grieving, but hope that you can be comforted in knowing how many lives she impacted for the better. Y’all inspired me, and helped me believe that I could homeschool my children, and what a different, and wonderful, life that has led to!
It was such a joy to use her materials to homeschool my children. Sending so much love and care your way during this time of loss.
I am so very grateful for the influence she had on you, Susan, because all the way over here in Australia, 20 years ago now, I became a confident homeschooling mum because of you.
I really want to come to this.
So sorry for your loss. We really enjoy the guidance of homeschooling our children. Thanks so much
So very sorry to read about her passing. Her books have been well-loved and well-used in our home. She helped me teach 5 of our 6 children to read and gave us the best introduction to English grammar. I was just thinking today about how we will be retiring these books very soon. I recommend them to all the young homeschooling moms nervous about teaching reading and grammar. Your mother made it so easy for so many of us.
Her legacy will outlive all of us.
Our family is so sorry for your loss. Thank you, God, for the great gift of her life.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Your mother's work (and yours) charted the course of homeschooling for so many of us. I am grateful.
I’m so sorry for your loss. She did change our lives with education, but she also changed yours in that way and so many more. Memory eternal.
Condolences to you and the whole family. Your mom’s work and yours have positively impacted my homeschool journey. Love and prayers from the Philippines 🙏🙏🙏
My sincere and heartfelt condolences. ❤️ What a difference you and your mom made in our family’s life! It is hard to find enough words to embrace the magnitude of her work!
It was because of her recommendations (and yours) that my children learned to read and understood grammar at a very early age. I will forever be grateful for the work you both put forth to help the homeschooling community
My deepest condolences 💐 and my great thanks for all she did
Please accept our deep sympathy and condolences for your family's loss. May you be lavished in His grace, peace, and comfort.