Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

This movie started out with a lot more action than the previous one did. We start out rescuing Han from Jabba the Hut, in a plan that clearly relied more on luck than skill. After they all nearly die, we move into a plan to destroy the Death Star Part II. That's right, the Empire built another Death Star, and it didn't bankrupt the galaxy. Which begs willing suspension of disbelief. Apparently the Empire learned something last time, and the shields are external on a moon. This leads to the question of how they are ever going to move the thing if they need to use it, but, clearly the rebel forces needed to be divided in half, so, external power for the shields it is.

So, Darth Vader learns he has a son and 2 years later he saves his life from the emperor, thus somehow negating all the evil things he has done and turning him into a good guy, good enough that he becomes a light-side ghost with Obi-Wan and Yoda, and gets to return to his old body. I don't buy it at all. He's killed far too many people for one action to redeem the character.

This movie had more fun than the previous ones, bringing in Ewoks to hilariously take on the empire's finest with sticks and clubs. So it was a little lighter toned, and I enjoyed that take. It also featured Leia in a slave girl costume killing Jabba the Hut, which I appreciated because I'd kill anyone who made me dress like that, too.

Overall I give it an A+ and I think this was my favorite of the 6 Star Wars movies we've seen to date.

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

This is the second installment of the Star Wars series. We start out on an ice planet, where Luke has managed to get captured by a yeti. He proves his faith in the force is strong by getting his lightsaber out of the snow to get himself down from the first of many times Luke is upside down in this episode. Then Han proves himself loyal once again by going to find Luke and saving his life. The show took a while to start going, in other words. 

There are fewer action scenes, but there are a few including one where Luke figures out he has to trip a robot that is shooting at his allies. Then Luke steals the rebellion's ship, and takes off to find Yoda. He finds Yoda, but is a complete jerk to him. Although, lets give R2D2 the real jerk points in this scene. He knows Yoda, but chooses not to say anything to Luke when they find him. So R2D2 lets Luke make a fool of himself, like a jerk. But Luke makes a fool of himself and Yoda tries to refuse to teach him. Ben comes back as a ghost, and convinces Yoda to train Luke, something which they both must regret when Luke takes off at the end of the movie to find his friends instead of finishing his training. 

In the Big Reveal, we learn that Darth Vader (which literally means Darth Father in German) is Luke's father. Luke screams, then loses his hand in a fight with Vader.  Vader has many opportunities where he could kill Luke, because Luke is still not good with a lightsaber. But instead he allows him to live and merely disarms him (literally). Vader just found out he is a father, and he wants to give his son the empire to control, but his son doesn't want it. Father of the year material here. 

Overall I give it an A. 

Shawshank Redemption

I started watching this movie because it was IMDB's top movie of their top 250 movies. I have decided to watch them all, as best as I am able. As the top movie of all time, I had built up a lot of hopes around this movie. I was not disappointed. The movie starts watching Andy (Tim Robbins) take the blame for a crime he didn't commit. He then moves to prison where he eventually makes friends with both the criminals and the wardens as he steals money for them.

The piece clearly follows the friendship of Andy and Red (Morgan Freeman) as they go from prison to freedom, and remain the best of friends. It was beautifully done, and I deeply cared for both characters before the movie was over. One of the best scenes was when they murdered the man who knew that Andy had not committed the crime. You could see how dishonest the judicial system really is in just that one moment.

One thing that bothered me was why the law would not follow through and look into the city on the postcard that Red got, though. That was their best lead, and they acted as if it did not exist.

The movie also provided a look at institutionalization, a psychiatric condition that exists in prisons and mental institutes. Two of the characters, Red and the librarian have this condition. The librarian kills himself, but we see hope that Red will overcome it in the end. It was also interesting because it took place from the 1940s to 1960s, and there was an interracial cast of characters, and the two men who become closest of friends are interracial. This was an interesting choice, and I wonder if it was done on purpose in 1994 when the movie was made to make a point about the time it was about, or whether in the 90s they just didn't think about that much anymore.

Overall, I give the movie an A.