Artax - The Oatmeal

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.

Is this from something known?

John Wick's beagle had even less screen time and yet everyone was ok with the ensuing bloodbath. Clearly the bond with Artax was implied well enough to scar thousands of childhoods.

You know, even as a kid...

Like, I get choked up by a lot of stuff in movies. It's not that I have a tough time forming emotional connections.

But I remember watching that scene as a kid, and thinking it was just....weird. Like, the horse is supposed to be sad, but... It didnt SEEM sad. It wasn't a sad horse thay needed to fight the sadness. It just seemed like a horse. A horse that was really confused why it was there, and in a bunch of mud, and etc.

Like, even at 8 or whatever I remember thinking "wow, I'm supposed to be sad here, but I really am not and neither is Artax"

And I feel the same way watching it since.

I get more choked up on stuff involving the luck dragon. Or maybe the rock biter talking about not being strong enough, etc.

People like horses.