June 09, 2005
Surrender To The Bleat Side You Will
Lileks on ROTS:
Didn’t see all the political overtones, perhaps because I wasn’t in a mood to look for them. Expecting pithy pointy political insight from Lucas is like reading transcripts of Spongebob episodes to learn about perils and stresses on the marine ecosystem. But before the fight on the Molten Lava Planet – where any metal object exposed 24/7 can nevertheless be firmly grasped without incident – Darth says to Obi:“You’re either with me or you’re my enemy.”
Obi sighs. The sun is behind him, so we know he’s in the right here. “Only Siths deal in absolutes,” he says.
Well, Obster, you’re not with him, right? And you’ve come to kill him, right? So Darth has a point. One might say that the Jedi failure to deal in absolutes, such as make absolutely sure Vader is absolutely dead instead of leaving him to bake like a tater tot left overnight in the broiler machine, might have served everyone well.
Overall, James liked it. Go read the rest.
UPDATE: Oh, I meant to mention that since the eldest Llama-ette has now finished what in the non-Montessori Universe is called First Grade, I think I'll finally give in this weekend and let her watch the original Star Wars. I'll let you know how it goes.
Posted by Robert at June 9, 2005 02:45 PMThe first Star Wars should be pretty age-appropriate. It was made in more civilized times.
Which I never thought I would say about the 1970s, but there you go.
Posted by: The Colossus at June 9, 2005 04:16 PMAh, the Montessori Universe.
Every Montessori child I've met holds on to that innocent childlike gleam in the eye much longer than other children.
Television is a pleasure, but it kills that gleam.
Posted by: WitNit at June 9, 2005 04:21 PMI let Villainettes watch the original SW a few weeks ago. They loved it. But I felt guilty letting them watch it on DVD. There is a little more graphic violence than in the version I know and love from youth. The bloody arm on the floor of the cantina. Uncle Owen. Aunt Beru. Burning piles of dead Jawas.
The Villainettes didn't seem to mind. Although my older one said some parts were "gross" and "freaked her out." My younger one (who in some ways is more mature) thought nothing of any of it.
All in all it went well. In fact they want to see Empire now. I told them they'd have to wait three years... Just like I did...
Posted by: The Maximum Leader at June 9, 2005 04:48 PM
