DARN!!! Well, that's what happens when curiosty kills the cat and you don't read ahead for the spoiler warning! I was looking forward to seeing that movie. It's been playing every few days on TNT I think. So, another "Sixth Sense" I'm really good at ruining movies with in the first 20 minutes, but I never saw that coming. (Sixth Sense) oh well, I'm going to watch it anyway!
Libra

Dear Marvin,

Nicole Kidman played the part of an idiot. Any idiot can get mad and be in denial for days on end. Any idiot can get tangled up in a contest of wills in trying to punish a youngster.

The acting that more intrigues me, I think, is that of Bertha Mills and Mr. Tuttle and Lydia. Bertha Mills is a kindly person, who is trying to guide Grace to discover Grace's denial of being dead. Mr. Tuttle tries to do his part in an awkward way. I certainly can identify with being awkward and making people angry, who really don't know.

Knowing that everyone is dead in the movie, except for a short scene with a few living persons, called Intruders, takes the mellow dramma out of it, yet the actors and children are screaming and yelling excitedly, but really about nothing. The actual violence took place before the start fo the movie, and we never see the act of a violent double murder and suicide.

The movie is really an illustration of the factors that led Grace to treat her servants in a manner that they felt justified in leaving without notice, and the righteous frustration of Grace. leading to her "Madness" which resulted in her smothering her children with pillows. Killing her children seemed also out of frustration with their father, her husband, having voluntarily gone off to war.

Set against the background of reading passages from the Bible. I find a certain instruction in parenting skills from the gentle comments of Mrs. Mills. As a parent, it is easy for me to fly off the handle, more than occasionally. I find the patience displayed by the servants to be instructive, and inspiring.

I personally could use more calming approaches when facing uptight people in tense situations.

Dear Marvin,

I should concede your being correct that Nicole Kidman brings charm to the character of Grace.

The movie brings up a few questions:

Is it a good idea to teach children to read Bible verses in some literal menaing context? Or is it better to encourage a discussion of possible meanings and present day ramificatins, to develop judgement for today?

Is it a good idea to punish children with punishments lasting days, or are shorter punsihments or loss of privileges better?

Is it a good idea to with drw privileges in anger or better to have things spelled out in advance?

Is it a good idea to keep changing the rules as you go for children, as your mood changes, or is it better to settle on a set of rules, and change only carefully?

What is the after life, and how will we experience ourselves and others?

When there is something that is annoying us, is a shotgun the best method of expression?

How should we judge trustworhtiness of character?

These are some of the questions that the movie answers in some form, but indirectly and not clearly.

Will we be able to offer someone a cup of tea in the afterlife?

I still enjoy re-watching the movie as something to go comforably to sleep with.

Thanks for your replies.