Camp S activities continued apace yesterday. We went to the park for a picnic, but we were pretty much run out by an invasion of flies at the picnic area. I guess our peanut butter sandwiches just looked too delicious!
During McKid's naptime, my niece and I played a really fun card game that the Zman had gotten in his Christmas stocking but we had never played:
We're a big believer in all sorts of games around here. We don't disdain the video or computer game, but all of us love the board game. And we are pretty rabid card players as well. It's given us hours of family enjoyment and fun.
Anyway, back from the family moment there, Blink is a very fast-paced (each game less than 5 minutes), highly addictive little game. Like Set in a way, you are trying to match and play cards based on the attributes of number, color and shape. No turns, you just rush to the finish, trying to play all the cards in your stack. Easy to handicap for play with a younger child (just deal yourself more cards than you deal them) it's a perfect game for 2--and I think those are hard to come by. And for less than $5 for the game? It's a steal! Highly recommended by the Camp S campers and counselor!
After naptime, it was swimming, swimming and more swimming. Fun for all, including ME!
Then last night, one of the big events of the week:
We went to see the new Harry Potter movie: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I thought this book would be the hardest to adapt into a movie--it's a lot of planning and talking. And the idea of a Grand Inquisitor of sorts for Hogwarts? I didn't see how that would play well.
But we all enjoyed the movie. Really, though, I think people go to HP movies to see their vision on the big screen. It's exciting to see Quidditch played right there before your eyes. It's fun to see what Hogwarts looks like. Most of the people who go to the movies know what the plot is, and they don't really go for that. So I don't know if the movie is a good movie on its own terms or if you haven't read the book.
That said, I do think there were a couple of stellar performances in the movie. Imelda Staunton, who plays Dolores Umbridge, is genius. She gave us a lot to talk about on the way home: how evil doesn't always LOOK evil in the beginning. And here is this little lady in pink suits and shoes who turns out to be the most vile person. And a person who does things wrong in the name of "helping" you. She was not what I had imagined as I read the book, but in this case, the moviemaker's and actor's sense was better than mine.
And Helena Bonham Carter rocks the portrayal of Bellatrix LaStrange--escaped from Azkabahn. She's not in the movie for long, but she steals every scene she's in. If being in Azhabahn drives a person crazy, she's the spot on example.
And Fred and George Weasley's final act at Hogwarts? Spectacular.
The movie focuses down on just a few characters this time. If you wanted to see much of Draco, or Ginny, or Percy, or any of the teachers, this isn't the movie for you.
At any rate, the four of us spent an enjoyable 2 1/2 hours at the movies. But then, my niece and nephew are Potterphiles. Your mileage may vary.
...all the while i was sitting in "live free or die hard" for smockdaddy's birthday. it's the ultimate *ahem* male-flick.
We're BLINK fans, too. I keep the cards need the dining room table because it's the perfect game for when you have just a little time for fun - I still like board games like Monopoly but it's not as easy as it used to be to commit to a marathon game session. And as much as I like the computer I want to encourage the boys to play games in the real 3-D world - even if it is just a tangible card game.
(May I also recommend the Bedlam Cube for 3-D entertainment? We have the multi-colored Bedlam, which my brilliant son-in-law managed to solve, so I'm thinking of getting him the solid white for his birthday, just to raise the bar a bit.)