Thank you, all of you who sent messages or positive thoughts out my way for my birthday. I feel very blessed this year with all of the well-wishing, calls, emails, messages, and visits I received for this day-and-a-half birthday/movie marathon. I think I will keep my marathons more limited in the future, but I still really enjoyed the entire experience.
Watching the Star Wars series was a blast this year. This was especially true with Rowen who did not remember, but really enjoyed, the prequels. He didn't sit through all of the movies, but would often run off to play with Star Wars toys, or bring in lightsabers and blasters to make the movies more interactive.
I actually enjoyed the prequels more this time around. I suppose that I've given up a bit of the toxic "it-could-have-beens" and started to accept the movies for what they are. I think part of that might be watching just how destructive "fans" have been online and some of the results of such bile. Sure, there are still some parts that are coarse, and rough, and irritating ... but it's not like they get everywhere.
I also absolutely loved watching the newer parts of the franchise from Disney. I think that The Force Awakens in particular might have moved up a step or two into my favorite movies of the series. In truth, I'm having difficulty ranking them at the moment.
I was also struck by just how insidious Darth Sidious truly is. The guy has wormed his way into absolutely everything. He runs the Senate and the Courts. He leads the fight against corruption and is the corruption. He is behind the Trade Federation and behind sending the people to stop the Trade Federation. He is part of the political faction against raising an army and supports raising the army. He leads both the Republic and the Separatists who are fighting the Republic. Even when Emperor, he is behind Darth Maul who is leading the Crimson Dawn, a crime syndicate that steals from the Empire. Palpatine really does play all sides masterfully.
I noted a number of tie-ins between these movies and the recently released The Rise of Skywalker, making me want to see that movie again soon (which has been part of the plan). I still have to write my observations about that film, but I think that I will wait until I see it again.
Star Wars has always been a big part of my identity, so watching it this way on my birthday seemed quite fitting. It did help me feel a bit younger for the time being.
Watching the Star Wars series was a blast this year. This was especially true with Rowen who did not remember, but really enjoyed, the prequels. He didn't sit through all of the movies, but would often run off to play with Star Wars toys, or bring in lightsabers and blasters to make the movies more interactive.
I actually enjoyed the prequels more this time around. I suppose that I've given up a bit of the toxic "it-could-have-beens" and started to accept the movies for what they are. I think part of that might be watching just how destructive "fans" have been online and some of the results of such bile. Sure, there are still some parts that are coarse, and rough, and irritating ... but it's not like they get everywhere.
I also absolutely loved watching the newer parts of the franchise from Disney. I think that The Force Awakens in particular might have moved up a step or two into my favorite movies of the series. In truth, I'm having difficulty ranking them at the moment.
I was also struck by just how insidious Darth Sidious truly is. The guy has wormed his way into absolutely everything. He runs the Senate and the Courts. He leads the fight against corruption and is the corruption. He is behind the Trade Federation and behind sending the people to stop the Trade Federation. He is part of the political faction against raising an army and supports raising the army. He leads both the Republic and the Separatists who are fighting the Republic. Even when Emperor, he is behind Darth Maul who is leading the Crimson Dawn, a crime syndicate that steals from the Empire. Palpatine really does play all sides masterfully.
I noted a number of tie-ins between these movies and the recently released The Rise of Skywalker, making me want to see that movie again soon (which has been part of the plan). I still have to write my observations about that film, but I think that I will wait until I see it again.
Star Wars has always been a big part of my identity, so watching it this way on my birthday seemed quite fitting. It did help me feel a bit younger for the time being.
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