let me just say...

that I think the quality (and cultural pertinence) of children's movies (i.e., cartoons/animation/whatever) has increased dramatically since I was a kid. I'll admit it: this evening, Mike and I have watched both 'Megamind' (yaaaay!) and 'Shrek 4' (booooo!), and I've heard, at various points, the musical intonations of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Guns 'n Roses, and the Beastie Boys. Among others. Um, yesssssss. Listen, children, to the musical heritage of your American culture, and partake. Absorb. Learn. Awesome. I know, I'm a little overexcited about this, but you have to admit, it's a far sight better than the strains of whatever transient, meaningless nonsense they piped through the 'Benji' sequels and 'Pete's Dragon,' and all the other Disney (and Disney-related) movies from my childhood. Which, frankly, were fairly terrible, including the original 'Tron' (listen, people, it wasn't that good!) and 'The Fox and the Hound' (nearly as traumatic as 'Bambi'!) Anyway. All of this to say a giant "yaaaaaaaay!" for relatively current children's movie producers (despite the fact that the actual movies may, or may not, be crap) and their musical choices. In all seriousness, way to go, gang. Record-breaking debt, crushing economic crises, global warming, ecological destruction: at least we're getting the music right...! My kids, should they ever exist, will at least be able to recognize proper music. And I thank you, Hollywood, for that, if for nothing else. Except for maybe 'Dumb and Dumber' and 'The Nightmare before Christmas.' Lasting quality, there.