Movie night with the Short Bunch.
The Short Bunch is currently in the middle of the Star Wars saga, and tonight Return of the Jedi was on the cue. It may seem strange given how big Star Wars is in our family, but the littlest three have never seen all the movies.
Like a dutiful fan of the Original Trilogy, we started with Episode IV and are working our way through the movies as they were made to be viewed. Jedi was always my least favorite of the original trilogy. Though I certainly loved it when it came out, Jedi hasn't aged well. I suppose it was all of thoseloose ends Lucas tied up so neatly with what seems like many forced connections (e.g. - Luke and Leia). It certainly doesn't have either the carefree immediacy of the original Star Wars nor the dark suspenseful tone of Empire.
As we watch these now classic movies unfold with my three youngest, I'm struck by how engrossing the stories are, especially to these little ones. Last weekend, they learned that Darth Vader was Luke's father--absolutely mind blowing to them. As Empire was finishing up, Little Vic was already asking about the next one and ecstatically discussing what Jabba the Hut would be like. I have to say, watching these movies again with three sets of fresh eyes and innocent minds has helped me understand why these movies meant so much to me, and millions of others.
Great fun on a Saturday night with the Bunch!
