Comments on: Friday doll blogging: Wes Anderson and nostalgia as a limitlessly renewable resource

By: Historiann

Historiann — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:46:30 +0000

Always happy to help. I had forgotten about them myself, until sometime in the 90s when a friend of ours used to chant, “space food sticks! space food sticks!” I would have thought you were a little young for them, though–maybe you found them in someone’s old fallout shelter stash?

Indyanna–good pun on doll/Dahl. I can’t believe I missed it myself!

By: Geoff

Geoff — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 06:26:19 +0000

Wow. I always remembered eating something like chocolate space food sticks but never got any confirmation – including queries to my mom – until seeing the ad attached to the link above. I loved those things. Thanks, Historiann!

By: Indyanna

Indyanna — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:15:46 +0000

I was thinking about just this subject (the need for a little high-end “Dahl blogging,” not sibling rivalry) today as I drove East into what looks like a huge snowstorm at dawn tomorrow. I never heard of this work, but I did grow up thinking that Roald Dahl was one of the more interesting names I had ever heard of. For me, though, the legendary “Chicken Hawk” episode on “Lassie” defined and still defines the terrifying possibilities of the kid-predator interface. Not really nostalgia, but remembering it does provide a kind of limbic shiver, even to this day.

By: GayProf

GayProf — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:50:29 +0000

Barbies sound more interesting.

By: Historiann

Historiann — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:51:33 +0000

I wouldn’t mind seeing it again on DVD to try to take in more of the meticulous detail of the sets and costumes, which are especially impressive in the first half of the movie, I think. (But, I wouldn’t pay admission again in the theater for it.)

Bill Murray does the voice of the main badger, Mr. Fox’s attorney–funny!

By: squadratomagico

squadratomagico — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:49:16 +0000

Really, there’s badgers? That’s a plus!
I’ve never found Wes Anderson terribly compelling, even though I’m squarely in the demographic you cite, Historiann. I often find his attempts to construct eccentric characters to be strained and unconvincing. But I have heard good things about Mr. Fox, so maybe I’ll give it a whirl.

By: Another Damned Medievalist

Another Damned Medievalist — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:32:38 +0000

I loved it — mostly because it included lots of Dahl’s gruesome stuff. And the three baddies were wonderful. And there were Badgers, which makes anything worthwhile.