Well, at present I am.

With Dad Windu off relaxing at his brother’s house, it was just Padawan Learner and I hanging out this afternoon and evening so we decided to have a Star Wars [...]]]> Princess Leia: “Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf-herder.”
Han Solo:          ”Who’s scruffy-looking?”
Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back

Well, at present I am.

With Dad Windu off relaxing at his brother’s house, it was just Padawan Learner and I hanging out this afternoon and evening so we decided to have a Star Wars movie marathon in the basement. We ran through Episodes I, II and IV. For some reason PL decided to skip III, which surprised me, but perhaps it was just to be kind. I think he knows that’s my least favorite one.

As any self-respecting movie marathoner knows, that means nothing more pulled together than comfy pants, piles of pillows and blankets, and those fine lunch/dinner/snack combos of What’s in the fridge? and What’s left in the cupboard? and Do we have any extra Christmas goodies still in the freezer?

I hope you all had a good weekend, too.

Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

Any Harry Potter Fans in Your House?

If your family, like ours, have been waiting with baited breath for [...]]]> General Grievous: “But the loss of Count Dooku?”
Darth Sidious:         “His death was a necessary loss. Soon I will have a new apprentice, one far younger and more powerful.”

Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

Qui-Gon Jinn passed this Star Wars/Star Trek/The Matrix/Harry Potter are all the same movie link on some time ago and I’ve been meaning to point you all in its direction. It briskly runs to the same conclusion as Joseph Campbell in The Hero’s Journey. [...]]]> “There is… another… Sky… walker.” – Yoda, Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi

Qui-Gon Jinn passed this Star Wars/Star Trek/The Matrix/Harry Potter are all the same movie link on some time ago and I’ve been meaning to point you all in its direction. It briskly runs to the same conclusion as Joseph Campbell in The Hero’s Journey. It lacks Campbell’s depth, wit and largess, of course, but were he still alive I believe Campbell would be smiling as he read it.

Dad Windu and I have been on a movie kick lately. We’re pretty much working our way through the DVD section at our local library, in fact. Dad Windu is a big fan of [...]]]> [Luke has proposed to bargain for Solo's life]
“Bargain rather than fight? He’s no Jedi.” - Bib Fortuna, Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi

Dad Windu and I have been on a movie kick lately. We’re pretty much working our way through the DVD section at our local library, in fact. Dad Windu is a big fan of seeing new movies right away, while I usually can wait to see something after it has hit the cheap theater or comes out on DVD. If given the choice, I prefer the cheap theater – what is it about movie popcorn – but there really aren’t too many movies that I simply have to see on the big screen to fully enjoy. 

This past weekend I saw a couple of great movies (The Good German and The Quiet Man) and a piece of fluff (Because I Said So). The Good German was interesting less for its placement in post-WWII occupied Germany than for its scraping at the underbelly of corruption that necessarily follows war. My great-grandparents (my mom’s grandparents) were stationed in Germany following the war and it was also fascinating to see the urban landscape as she had described it. Several of the things she talked about came back to me as the movie unfolded.

I’m going to just say it. I don’t like John Wayne movies. It’s true; I don’t. Except for this one, that is. I just love watching The Quiet Man. I know as a mom, a descendant of the Celts and a woman, I am probably supposed to get my panties in a twist about lots of things in this movie (i.e., the need to fight to preserve one’s honor, the stereotypical drunken depiction of the Irish, the way Sean treats Mary Kate in the end and the manner in which she responds), but The Quiet Man has me laughing almost from beginning to end every time. I love this movie and had a grand time introducing Padawan Learner to it.

The mental fluff (every movie weekend seems to need one, right?) was Because I Said So. Intrusive mother tries to marry daughter off. Daughter finds different, perfect guy. Mother tries to push her choice on daughter. Disasters and gratuitous sexual references (and partial scenes) ensue. Completely predictable fluff. Time could easily have been spent in a better manner (such as flossing my teeth, washing dishes, staring at the wall), but at least I got a ton of rows knit on the new sweater I’m making in the round – knit top down. The best part was seeing one of the side characters holding Aunt Beru’s fabulous wedding shoes in the middle of the movie (1:55 in, if I remember correctly).