watership down

Just watched the classic movie WATERSHIP DOWN with the kids tonight. This used to be one of my favorites when I was their age. I must have watched it end to end a dozen times, impressing it's images and story deep into my early childhood memories. It's blood, visions, and constant allusions to the mystical entranced me.

What makes WATERSHIP DOWN so intriguing is it's danger and peril. In fact, the ending would not hold much redemptive weight if there was no comprehensible experience of the dangers and losses the main characters face on their journey to get there. True, smart, cunning peril seems to be lacking in modern day children's movies. If there is no sense of loss or weight of danger, their is no true sense of hope in return. Children's stories are powerful when they help the child mature in sober wisdom rather than massage the common ethos or try to flashdance with cleverness.

So bring on the peril! Next time you tell your children the story of David and Goliath dont forget to include David cutting off Goliath's head, sticking it on a pole, and dancing a victory dance over his body!