Charlotte's Web (my review)

Today my brother and I took the kids to see Charlotte's Web.


Ok, so as I sat in the theater, I was all excited because I wanted to *see* Fern and Wilbur. Then I started remembering the other characters, too, like Templeton and Gussy. I couldn't wait to see them all, and hear their voices. Completely lost in my selective memory, was the fact that one of the main characters was a spider. Yes, I am a complete idiot. Because I have Tivo, I hadn't even seen one preview, so I hadn't been reminded of the fact. My brother is the one who told me it was out, and invited us to go.

So, as I'm sitting there, it quickly dawned on me that I had mentally skipped over that particular detail. I think I always pictured the cover of the book, when picturing the words "Charlotte's Web" and kinda transferred the name to Fern, without realizing it. Anyways, it was a major *stupid moment* for me. As soon as Charlotte made her appearance, I knew I would miss half the movie. And I did. Every scene with her in it I had to look away. I watched the people in the theater, and was surprised that not many other people were disturbed by her. Actually, nobody else seemed bothered.

I must say, she looked horrible. Lots of hairs and realistic detail. Once or twice, in scenes where she wasn't moving, I watched her. I thought maybe her face would eventually seem warm, or easy to look at. Nope. Hideous. I was jumpy and on edge throughout the movie, and for a long time afterward.

As for the movie in general, it was very true to the original, and I thought it was done very well. It's been so long since I read it or watched the animated version, that I am not sure whether this movie favored one or the other, or even if the original was true to the book. At any rate, it was how I would have pictured it, minus the spider. *shudder* The kids should like it, and the parents too, providing spiders don't make you uneasy (or downright nauseous).

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Now, in other spider news, I live in Northern California, where as far as I knew, no tarantulas are supposed to live. Tonight I was told by DD that my cousin, who lives about 45 minutes away, has discovered that they DO live here. I immediately called her and she confirmed it. She saw something HUGE while driving along, and pulled over to see if it was really a spider. It was the largest tarantula she had ever seen, she said (and she's not the type that exaggerates). She's a tomboy who is not afraid of those kind of things. She said they stood over it while it crossed the road, and later she asked some locals (she lives in a tiny community on a lake) and they said they knew they were around, though they were not often seen (as if that makes it ok).

So, where can I go where there are no spiders? Alaska? Do they like cold climates?

Perhaps tomorrow I will share my fear that there are alligators on the nature trail I walk on. (and yes, I am very serious)