Preface: Charlie, my 5.5-year-old son, is fascinated with "Spider-Man," though of course we won't let him see either of the movies (not because they're bad -- we own them both -- but because he's way too young.) The following is an actual conversation about "Spider-Man 2":
Charlie: Daddy, does Dr. Octopus die in the end?
Me: Yes, he does.
C: How come?
M: He drags his science experiment into the river so it won't blow up and hurt lots of people.
C: Why did he die?
M: Because that was the only way to stop the experiment.
C: I thought he was bad.
M: Yeah, but he turned good at the very end and decided to save all those people.
C: [thinks a moment] I guess Dr. Octopus had to spend a lot of time in inventory.
M: In what?
C: Inventory.
M: What are you talking about?
C: You know, the place where Jesus fixes you before you go to heaven.
M: Oh, you mean purgatory.
C: Yeah, purgatory.
M: Right, Dr. Octopus would probably have to go there.
