Night at the Museum/ Battle of the Smithsonian

Hello all!
I'd like to share with you the latest movie I watched.  Night at the Museum/ Battle of the Smithsonian.  It was silly, of course, a fantasy about stationary objects coming to life.  But it was so well done.

Ben Stiller does such a wonderful acting job in this movie.  He and Owen Wilson keep me laughing with their characters and reactions in the movie.  The little cowboy part is just so perfect for Owen Wilson.  And Ben is perfect for someone to get lost in a world no one else would believe exists.  I'll bet he had some pretty vivid dreams as a child, even though this is only a character part for him.  I always felt there has to be a bit of the character in the person for the part to fit so well.

My son's favorite part in Night at the Museum/ Battle of the Smithsonian was when the statue did the gun show part with his muscles!  How cute. 

Something that helps make movies great for me is the type of voices used.  The voice can make or break the character.  A viewer needs that link to connect them with the character.  The voice of Abraham Lincoln in this movie was a great fit. 

I think this movie and the first movie about Night at the Museum are perfect ways to help a homeschool child connect with history, too.  It helps fuel their imaginations and see the history in a fresh and interesting, as well as fun, way.  Every great teacher knows that if the imagination and fun can be sparked, the student is sure to learn easier.

Homeschooling shouldn't be dreary, and movies can help break the monotony.  So why not use those movies to help your child connect with the learning experience?  Integrate them into your class work.  Go out and check your local library if you can't afford to rent a movie.  Our hometown library will rent a movie for free as long as you return it on time, and there are several days given for the patron to have time to watch the movie without being rushed.

I suggest Night at the Museum/ Battle of the Smithsonian if you have a student who thinks history is boring.