Are We Alone?

Want to know what we learned by watching this film with our kids? Here are our buttery bits of wisdom:

• We recommend this film for kids over the age of eight who can handle a little nail-biting along the path of this imaginative journey. However, the middle of the film is less compelling than the extended opening and the final 45 minutes. Feel free to use the fast-forward button from the time Richard Dreyfuss gets obsessed with his mashed potatoes to when he arrives at Devil's Tower, Wyoming.
  
• Red Flags: A three year old is taken from his mother's house by aliens in a scary, but not overly hysterical, scene. And Dreyfuss gets so obsessed that he essentially abandons his wife and kids. While this is upsetting, see if the kids can get inside his head - can they imagine what they'd do in his position?
  
• Want to know more about the title of this film? There are three types of encouters with aliens: in the first, there is merely a report of a sighting, in the second some type of physical evidence is left over, and in the third humans make contact with aliens.
  
• COOL FACT: French film director Francois Truffaut plays the head of the international team of scientific experts.

Want to know how to talk to your kids about this film? Here are some conversation starters.

• Music is used as a means of communication between aliens and humans. Ask the kids why the filmmakers chose music as the aliens' calling card?

• Richard Dreyfuss gives up everything he knows to get on the spaceship. Ask the kids if they could imagine making such a sacrifice. What do they think will happen to him?

Want to know more about how to tour the Griffith Observatory with your family? Here are our buttery bits of wisdom:

• You MUST have reservations: www.griffithobservatory.org or 888-695-0888. It is worth the effort to introduce your kids to a spectacular venue which has been called the 'hood ornament' of Los Angeles. But don't visit without seeing the star show (see below). Also, be warned that crowds traditionally flock to Griffith Park during December to look at the holiday lights.
  
• Sprint to the Planetarium Ticket Line: Visiting the Griffith without seeing a show in the new Samuel Oschin Planetarium would be a shame, but visitors have to fight to get tickets once atop the hill. You can't reserve tickets in advance, so our advice is to bypass the long line at the entrance to the Observatory and head to one of the automated ticket machines (credit card required). We chose the one next to the gift shop and got the show we wanted.
  
• Don't miss the Planetarium: Our kids loved the live narrarator who tells the story of how humans interpret the universe and explains Earth's place among the galaxies. With cushy, reclining seats and a smog-free view of the night sky, it was -- literally - awesome. Parents of kids under 5 beware: little ones will be admitted only to the first show of the day (10:45 on weekends, 12:45 on weekdays), so plan accordingly.
• The Shuttle is a necessary evil: It's the only way up (unless you hike or bike) until the crowds thin, but it does add travel time to your day. Be sure to get a seat on the bus - they fill to capacity, which means plenty of folks stand during the 1/2-hour ride to the park.
  
• After Dark: The Zeiss Telescope remains open for public viewing. If you plan your visit to extend past dusk, you'll get a chance to gaze through it.
  

Want to know a little bit more about Griffith Observatory's place in Los Angeles history?  Here are some tidbits we have gleaned:

• With over two million visitors annually, the Griffith Observatory is the most visited public observatory in the world. The Griffith Observatory was closed for 4 years (since January, 2002) and cost about $93 million dollars to renovate.
  
• The original building, a premier example of Thirties Moderne architecture, has been lovingly restored to its original grandeur.  Old favorites, like the Foucault pendulum, remain and the original exhibit halls have been cleverly updated to help kids understand basic principles behind phenomena like tides and eclipses.
  
• COOL FACT: Several films depict the Griffith in all it's glory, most notably Rebel Without a Cause (look for a bust of James Dean on the western side of the lawn) and Rocketeer.
  

• Wolfgang Puck's The Cafe at the End of the Universe serves fresh, yummy food and even features a kid's menu. But watch out for long lines. If it's just a quick snack you're after, a different line is available.