this post was submitted on 03 Apr 2025
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https://theoatmeal.com/comics/artax

I saw the thumbnail and thought "Oh no, I can't handle this!"

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[–] [email protected] 31 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Right?

It’s like killing the dog. And yet there it was, in a children’s movie.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

and the real monster of the film was the idea of "the nothing" ... there is nothing more freaky of an idea to a child than to suggest to them that there could be an absolute, all consuming, eternal "nothing" ... to some people, it was a thought worse than death itself. As a kid who didn't understand how to process philosophical ideas or even begin to fathom them, it was a terribly scary thought. Not that I understand complex philosophical ideas as a grown adult, I still don't understand lots today ... but as a kid who had no clue or guide to any of this, it was like being taken to a desert, dropped off alone and told to figure it out on your own.

I love that film and I loved the fact I saw it as an unaware kid when I was young .... it sparked so many ideas and thoughts in my life that affected me in positive ways ever since.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I was terrified of the Nothing. Some people are afraid of the Gmork, but to me it paled in comparison.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

I'm in my 40's and still have nightmares about G'Mork sometimes.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Wow. What did Seinfeld do to you?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago

Hard to say, but Jerry Seinfeld definitely preyed on a high schooler

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

It’s a book. The movie was only half the book.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

And the latter portion of the book was even darker.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

I haven't thought of the book in years ... I knew a long time ago that the film was based on the book, I just never had the time or the awareness to think of reading it.

Now you've renewed my interest and I think I'll be reading the book soon. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Is this from something known?

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago (5 children)
[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 days ago

Early millennial, saw that movie a dozen times growing up. Some TV broadcasts, and an overused, quite damaged home-recorded VHS.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago

i saw it over a dozen times (never liked the second one at all though) and im gen z lol

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago

That movie was out just in time for millennials.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

there's still time. it's a good film regardless of the difference

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Just don't watch the "extended" version. The only scene added was a janitor walking into Bastian's hidden reading space and complaining.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

I'm the younger end of millennial - I did watch these as a kid but I was young enough that I don't remember much. Don't remember artax.

I wanna say there was a big big chill mammal thing but when I try to remember more I just picture Oppa from Avatar