I went to see Monsters, Inc. for my 9th birthday. My friends and I sat in the front of the theater. We were too young to realize that the front row is always a poor life choice. But despite our indiscretion, I loved the film and have always loved it.
Almost 12 years later, Monsters University, the “prequel” to Monsters, Inc. came out. My roommates and I went to see it the other week.
It was a very different experience the second time around. For one, we sat in the middle of the theater, because 12 years has taught me that the middle is the ideal place to sit. It also wasn’t my 9th birthday, we didn’t eat at CiCi’s Pizza before the movie, and no one gave me any gifts. And rather than being the target audience like I was for Monsters, Inc., I was a good 12 or more years older than the majority of the theater.
Once I noted how much older I was than the rest of the audience, I realized, These children weren’t even born when Monsters, Inc. came out. They weren’t even a thought in their parents’ minds. Were their parents even married? I felt so extremely ancient in that moment.
And then, the most glaring atrocity passed through my brain: HAVE THEY EVEN SEEN THE FIRST MOVIE? And if they had seen the first movie, will future children watch Monsters, Inc. first, before Monster’s University, or will they watch them in “chronological” order?
That is a travesty of the highest magnitude. Who would even do such a thing? How would that ever make sense?
And then I remembered that time I thought, I think I’ll watch Star Wars episodes I, II and III first, since they will tell me the back story.
I wish someone had up and slapped me in that moment.
So, Star Wars generation, I now know how you feel. Children are so naive and ignorant, aren’t they? Though I will say the crime of watching episodes I, II and III before the originals is WAY WORSE than watching Monsters University before Monsters, Inc.
And with that, I feel like a crotchety old man.
Ce n’est pas aux vieux singes qu’on apprend à faire des grimaces,
Emily
La Vie, Selon Emily 