So relaxed you could pour me like butter!
What an incredible week.
Told "Idgy" Friday, during coffee and chat, that it went so well I am scheduling the week before Christmas from now through forever as My Week Off.
Made fudge, wrapped packages, read, cooked and ate- a lot like this
Long candle-lit bubble baths...and a mid-week massage.
And the Snicker's Fudge...ready to go!
Yes...the third week of December is going to be MY New Tradition.
****SPOILER ALERT ***
If you have NOT seen The Force Awakens...do NOT read past this point...
SERIOUSLY!
For the rest of us...
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Was that, like, the BEST film ever?????????????
My youngest, Chris, stopped by with Croissants this morning and asked if I would like to see it on the early showing when the crowd was non-existent. He had already seen it just after it opened.
I saw The Original Star Wars in 1977 in the Lafayette Square Theater at 17 years old.
How could I possibly say "No"?
Back in the day
[which sounds so much better than 38 years ago]
it was the pinnacle of Special Effects.
Now with CGI...they have taken it to a whole new level.
The 10 AM showing was sparse...and of those in attendance several were close to my age and it was obvious that they were remembering that amazing night in 1977 that cinematographically blew our minds .
When the screen started scrolling the Prologue a cheer went up and applause. And I have to think all of us who were in that darkened theater in 1977 were flashing back [without any acid at all] to that moment George Lucas first took us to that Galaxy Far Far Away...and smiling a little.
I know I certainly was.
Remembering my [late] husband-person telling me his story about Star Wars.
He had been raised Strict Southern Baptist. Among things verboten in his world was Motion Pictures. He was 15. Snuck out with friends to see the first theatric release of his entire young life. Come on over to the dark-side; we've got MOVIES!
Not a bad way to start, eh?
And I had to smile when my son asked after we sat watching the credits if he could have a bit of his dad's cremains to accompany him when he and the group go to the IMAX together to see it in 360 degrees later this month. I completely understand. Posthumously, sneaking back into the cinema. He would certainly have approved.
Anyway...back to the film.
Quite possibly perfect. A great assembly of not only the old cast but wonderful new fresh faces...and the blend was seamless and often funny. There were throw-away bits that you would only get if you had seen the original.
When Hans Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca show up early on there is another spattering of appreciative applause...and by the time Princess Leia (Carrie Fischer) now General Leia, appears...along with C3PO and R2D2 we are all getting a bit misty eyed.
And I am looking at the graying actors wondering
"When the HELL did we all get so damn OLD"
You, too???
Many parents have that rebellious child...that one that drives them to distraction.
So do Solo and Leia, it appears.
Only THEIRS is hell-bent on destroying the Galaxy.
"Ward, honey...the Beev Blew Up the Dairy-Queen..."
Enter Kylo Ren.
A product of both sides of The Force...with a bit of an Anger Management Problem. I blame Grandpa Vader, personally.
Loved the interaction of Solo and Leia as the wayward boy's parents, and as aging partners. Funny, relative and oh-so-real.
So...off for a new Adventure as they try to Find Leia's Gone Missing Brother (Luke) and bring the troubled son home...and restore some peace to the galaxy. There...doesn't that make your Christmas to-do list seem almost simple in comparison.And Ren proves you really can't go home.
The additions of a conflicted, defecting storm trooper...a tough but tender female Scrapper love interest (who also happens to be now in possession of Luke Skywalker's old light sabre which called to her)... wonderful CGI creatures...and many many flight chase scenes, explosions and light sabre duels are sure to keep even those who are too young to know the first film from the theater entertained.
And the collective
"Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo"
in the theater as Ren coldly runs his loving father (Solo) though with his light sabre on the sky-bridge, and we lose part of our own childhood forever, as we watch him tumble endlessly down. WTF? They killed off Hans Solo... That just doesn't seem right!
Of course The Resistance Wins...they HAVE to...
And a question is implanted in our brain as the tough young female scrapper/turn pilot (Rey) shows throughout the film her own abilities with The Force...unanswered but strongly hinted at...
Until at last she flies off with Chewie to return Skywalker's lost (or is it?) light-saber to its rightful owner.
Enter Luke (Mark Hamill)
who, real-life motorcycle accident and facial reconstruction aside, now makes all of us geezers who saw it in 1977 gasp a bit and realize
"We really ARE that god-damned old!"
~laughing~
And we all make a mental note to stop in the wash-rooms on the way out and do a mirror-check.
And a sigh of relief "I'm not as heavy, lined (or gray) as Carrie Fisher"
So there is that...
Beautiful beginning and ending.
And who else but Williams will EVER be able to give any of the Star Wars their Score?
Incredible music.
The ending with Luke and our mystery girl, which I speculate is his daughter, leaves a sequel a much anticipated given.
One a scale from 1-10...this film is definitely an 11...
More anon...the Democratic Debates are starting soon...making this quite possibly the Perfect Day!
"WTH are they on about now???"
