The Lego Movie, Warner Brothers We finally saw The Lego Movie! Hooray! Yeah, we are a little behind the eight ball, but, at least we saw it while it was still in theaters which is somewhat of a miracle. I always have great movie plans, but, somehow, the old, "We will see it on DVD" excuse gets in the way. Ryan was thrilled that this time, Mom actually opted for the $30 movie experience versus the $1.20 Redbox experience. Ryan was so excited that he didn't even complain (too much) that he was forced to take a shower on a Saturday. After cleaning himself up, Ryan grabbed our movie theater coupon book, his wallet (for the games and vending machines) and out the door he went, smiling from ear to ear. Unfortunately, the smile didn't last long.
Once we parked the car and entered the theater, I informed my delighted son that the coupon we had, afforded him a free drink with a purchase of a large popcorn, which he would have to share with me...the woman who gave birth to him. Clearly, nine months of gestating him, had no impact on his desire to share popcorn with me. "I am NOT sharing. I want my OWN!", Ryan grumbled...loudly. I have to be AWEnest, I didn't really want to share either. Even though Ryan had just showered, I was still less than thrilled at the idea of his frequently chewed on fingers digging in my popcorn bag, but, I also didn't want to spend $20 on freaking popcorn. After trying to reason with Ryan and reminding him (again) how big his head was upon his delivery into this world, I gave up and told Ryan that if he could not be a "flexible thinker" than he would need to buy his OWN popcorn with his OWN money. Ryan begrudgingly pulled a $5 bill out of his wallet and got his popcorn. About half of his coveted OWN popcorn, which he assured me would be eaten in it's entirety, got tossed in the trash the next day.
We eventually got to our seats just in time for the previews and all was right with Ryan's world, until I pulled out a can of Diet Coke that I had stuck in my purse before we left the house. You see, our coupon did not allow for two sodas, and yes, I'm that cheap. Ryan knows the "no outside food permitted" rules because he saw it on a sign, and Ryan follows directions, instructions and rules without fail...ever. So, the poor boy nearly had a stroke when he heard the "pop" and "whoosh" of my soda tab opening. Mom did not read the "no outside food or drink sign". Mom was not following the directions. Mom was breaking a rule. It wasn't until the movie started that Ryan finally stopped looking over his shoulder, waiting for the movie police to cart me off to movie prison. Movie prison truly doesn't sound too bad. As long as I can bring my own soda and do not have to share popcorn with my germy, finger chewing, cell mate.
I want to issue a spoiler alert for those of you who may not have seen The Lego Movie. I'd hate to make you pay $300 for movie tickets, popcorn, and soda for you family and have me blow the ending. I have to be AWEnest, I can't believe I went to see this movie. I can't believe that I am blogging about this movie. Most importantly, I can't believe how much I loved this movie. I had zero interest in seeing The Lego Movie, in fact when I saw the preview months ago I laughed and thought how ridiculous it looked. Now Director Adam McKay is laughing and spitting in my popcorn as he finds various ways to spend the $224 million dollars the movie has made thus far. The movie, in one word was AWEsome. There was adult humor, a great cast, and a beautiful story. There was also the sound of giggles and munching popcorn from my finally satisfied, happy son.
As I watched the movie, I couldn't help but think, Ryan would probably love to live in Lego World. Where all the pieces have their place and everything fits together just so. Piece number 685 always fits together with piece number 686. In the instructions, page 10 never comes before page 9, there are visual cues for each step and their is semblance to the world. Such order, such instruction following is how Ryan survives the world and how Ryan builds with Legos. I couldn't help but compare Ryan to the lead character Emmet, who like Ryan, follows the instructions down to the very last brick and struggles with the creativity needed to become a "Master Builder". Ryan struggles to think beyond the Instruction Manual, to occasionally bend the rules. Skipping ahead from page five to page seven for Ryan is like sneaking in a .22 Diet Coke instead of paying $4 for one at the snack bar. If Ryan had to do it, if he had to build section 29 before section 27, he could, but, he'd be horribly uncomfortable, and he would keep an eye out for the Lego Police.
Just like Ryan, Emmet, the protagonist of The Lego Movie, followed the instructions. Emmet didn't think there was any other way to build. There was no need to be creative, to be a "Master Builder" when everything you needed to do was laid out right in front of you in the instructions. This was never a problem for Emmet, he thought this was how the world worked, how everyone in Lego World operated, until one day he was told that it wasn't. Until one day, Emmet was told that he was was The Special. The Special was a unique, one of a kind builder foretold to the Lego people by the wizard Vitruvius who was suppose to save them from the evil Lord Business. The Special was suppose to be....special. Once the Lego people discovered that Emmet had to follow the instructions, that he couldn't think outside the box, they decided Emmet wasn't so special after all. Emmet just blended into the background, people at work didn't notice him, his neighbors didn't notice him and this was all because Emmet followed the instructions, he went through life following the rules, not standing out. Following the instructions, living his life, "by the book" seemed boring to the other Lego people. In fact, they no longer thought Emmet was The Special, because in their minds, "special" had a very distinctive meaning.
I guess I'm a bit like the Lego People, not in my ability to have my head spin around, which it occassionally does, but, like the Lego People, I have a misconception of The Special. I have never been a fan of the term "special needs". Aren't every kids needs, regardless of a label or not, "special"? To many people, "special education" and "special needs" are not the same as, "special occasion dresses" or "special agent". In the former, "special" often has a negative connotation, and AWEnestly, when people say it about my son, I still kind of flinch. In The Lego Movie, the Lego People had an expectation, a misconception of what "special" actually meant. Their idea of "special" was some save the world hero who had unique and amazing abilities. Unfortunately, their vision, their definition of "special" blinded them to the abilities Emmet did have. Emmet was always "special", until one day, he wasn't...thanks to them.
You see, Emmet always felt happy, he always felt good about himself, he always felt...special in a "special agent" kind of way. Emmet didn't feel different from anyone else, but, once his differences were pointed out, once he recognized that he was suppose to be someone he wasn't, then and only then, did Emmet's happiness falter. Then and only then, did Emmet feel "less". Emmet may have needed the instructions to build, he may not have had the creativity to save the world, but, Emmet was special and it was his belief in himself, it was how he saw himself and not how others saw him that made him special. Once the Lego People discovered that "special" had various interpretations, various qualities, and various meanings, they finally started seeing Emmet and his different abilities as special too.
You see, Emmet always felt happy, he always felt good about himself, he always felt...special in a "special agent" kind of way. Emmet didn't feel different from anyone else, but, once his differences were pointed out, once he recognized that he was suppose to be someone he wasn't, then and only then, did Emmet's happiness falter. Then and only then, did Emmet feel "less". Emmet may have needed the instructions to build, he may not have had the creativity to save the world, but, Emmet was special and it was his belief in himself, it was how he saw himself and not how others saw him that made him special. Once the Lego People discovered that "special" had various interpretations, various qualities, and various meanings, they finally started seeing Emmet and his different abilities as special too.
Just like the Lego People, I have to change my views on The Special. The words, "special needs", "special education", "special accommodations" are no more negative than "special shoe sale". Those words can be harmful, when you fail to see what "special" really means. You see, ever since the day Ryan was born, I have told him he was "special". I have called him my "special" love, my "special" boy, and my "special" fella. Those phrases, those terms of endearment, those words all came before The A Word. The A Word did not diminish how special those words were, how special my love for Ryan was, or how heartfelt those words were when whispered in my boy's ear, but, how I started to hear them, how I began interpreting those words was a very different story. Like the Lego People, I had to see past my definition, to see past the "special" that I had grown up believing was something negative, something bad, something less, to see that Ryan really is The Special. I still tell Ryan he is "special" and it's not because he has an ASD, or because he has "special" needs, or "special" accommodations, Ryan is "special" because he is Ryan.
Ryan may not create the next Lego master piece, he may not save the world from Lord Business by freeing the Master Builders with his unique creation, but, Ryan is The Special. For some, Ryan's "special needs" may make him appear "less", but, if they remove the word "needs", the only word left is "special". Special means, "better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual". Yes, my boy is indeed The Special.
Like Emmet, Ryan follows the instructions right down to the last Lego block. Ryan lives in a world where directions, instructions and rules have a calming effect on him. A world that can be so confusing with it's subtle social cues, and "unwritten rules". After the movie ended, Ryan decided he was more like The Man Upstairs than Emmet. The Man Upstairs also built his Lego creations by following the instructions and he did not believe that you should ever build with Lego's any other way. In fact, The Man Upstairs was so rigid in his beliefs that he wanted to use Kragle (Crazy Glue) so his creations would always remain the same, so his creations could never be used in a different way. As we exited the theater, and I discreetly hid the potential rule breaking evidence of an empty Diet Coke can in my coat pocket to avoid prison time, I smiled to myself. Ryan may relate to the rigidity of The Man Upstairs and his Lego building technique, but, Ryan could never be The Man Upstairs, because using Kragle, aka, Crazy Glue, is not found anywhere in the instruction book.
Ryan may not create the next Lego master piece, he may not save the world from Lord Business by freeing the Master Builders with his unique creation, but, Ryan is The Special. For some, Ryan's "special needs" may make him appear "less", but, if they remove the word "needs", the only word left is "special". Special means, "better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual". Yes, my boy is indeed The Special.
Like Emmet, Ryan follows the instructions right down to the last Lego block. Ryan lives in a world where directions, instructions and rules have a calming effect on him. A world that can be so confusing with it's subtle social cues, and "unwritten rules". After the movie ended, Ryan decided he was more like The Man Upstairs than Emmet. The Man Upstairs also built his Lego creations by following the instructions and he did not believe that you should ever build with Lego's any other way. In fact, The Man Upstairs was so rigid in his beliefs that he wanted to use Kragle (Crazy Glue) so his creations would always remain the same, so his creations could never be used in a different way. As we exited the theater, and I discreetly hid the potential rule breaking evidence of an empty Diet Coke can in my coat pocket to avoid prison time, I smiled to myself. Ryan may relate to the rigidity of The Man Upstairs and his Lego building technique, but, Ryan could never be The Man Upstairs, because using Kragle, aka, Crazy Glue, is not found anywhere in the instruction book.
Such a rare occurrence for Ryan to build his own creation, that I took a photo of it a few years ago...when Lego's were still cool.
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