Catholic Skywalker: 13-Year Anniversary

    

(5/31/25: Feast of the Visitation)

Once again, this milestone snuck up on me.

Over the course of 12 years I've made over 2,814 posts to this blog.  I'm sure there are many who would call this a waste of time.  Other would call it an incredible waste of time (apologies for stealing a Conan O'Brien joke).  But I have found a great sense of satisfaction from my writings here.  

I hope I have been insightful, witty, and interesting.  If I have failed in this department, I do apologize.  I do write with you, Dear Reader, in mind.  You take the time to read this blog when you could be doing anything else, so I want to honor that sacrifice of time that you make by giving you something worthwhile to read.  

Much has happened in the last 13 years.  Since beginning this blog:

-my mother and both of my remaining grandparents passed away (God rest their souls)

-my father-in-law  and mother-in-law passed away (God rest their souls)

-my wife and I weathered some rough employment situations

-I broke my back and have surgery 4 times.

-I became a godfather

-I was asked to write for NewEvangelizers.Com

-I've produced 9 more movies

-I've written, directed, and produced two plays and one musical.

-I'm just got a second Master's Degree

-I finished my second year of Diaconate Formation (I will find out later if the Church has discerned whether I should return)

This last one has taken up a good deal of my time this past year, the result of this is that I have written less here this year than in years past.  I hope to be able to find the proper balance to keep writing, if that is God's will.

And there may be new possibilities on the horizon.

All of this occurring during the tumultuous times we've lived through like COVID.

Through it all, I tried to write here regularly.  And now after 13 years, I've produced:

-375 Film Reviews

-125 Essays

-299 New Evangelizers Articles

-13 Years of the Best and Worst of Movies, TV, and Comics.

Together we raised money for charity.  We've prayed together.  And hopefully we also laughed together.

Thank you again, Dear Reader, for taking this journey with me.  I pray that we will continue to walk this path of faith, film, and philosophy for many years to come.

God Bless You All!

Catholic Skywalker - 2025

Memorial Day 2025

    

(repost from 2019)

Today is the day that we honor those who fought and died for our country.  I doubt that I can add any deep, universal insight into the meaning of this day that has not already been given by those more eloquent.

I do have some friends who are cautious about the elevated status we give those in the armed forces.  They worry about the glorification of war or that it trains citizens to put too much trust in their government agents.  There are some arguments to be had there.  To be sure, while war may make soldiers into martyrs, it does not always turn soldiers into saints.

But in this moment I will not speak for them.  I will speak for myself and why this day is especially reverent for me.

Some answered the call to fight for our nation.
I did not.

Some left spouses and children to enter into violent conflict for their country.
I did not.

Some lost their innocence, their friends, or their health in the crucible of war.
I did not.

Some gave every last measure of devotion down to their lives for our country's freedom.
I did not.

I write this not as some kind of admission of guilt.  Being a soldier is not my calling.

But some did answer the call.  Some paid a price higher than I have had to pay.  I am in this present moment enjoying the fruits of their sacrifice.

Winning and preserving freedom is a bloody business.  I do not want to be in a blissful bubble where I treat my freedom too casually, not remembering that it was purchased at a price of blood.

Today as we rest from our labors, let us remember the fallen martyrs of our freedom.

Let us pray for them and for our country.

Sunday Best: Memorial Day Movies (repost)

     There are many ways to honor our fallen heroes this Memorial Day by attending parades in their honor, donating funds to their memories, and praying for their souls.

One way that I like to remind myself of their heroism is through the art of movies.  Understanding that the dramatic representation of their experiences is nothing compared to the reality, I find that I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude when I see the price of freedom presented on screen.


Here are the best Memorial Day movies to watch.

1.  Saving Private Ryan

Spielberg won his second directing Oscar for this movie and I believe it was primarily for the Normandy invasion scene.  What I saw was ordinary men doing extraordinary things in horrific circumstances.  Not only was I riveted by the awful violence faced, I was moved by acts of courage and compassion, like seeing a priest hearing a dying soldier's confession amidst gun-fire.  They paid in blood the freedom we enjoy.  And I always think of the line in the final moments of the film: "Earn this!"  That echoes with me on Memorial Day and reminds me that I have to use this dearly bought freedom to make the world better.

2.  Glory

Very few movies underscore the importance of valor in combat like Glory.  These men ran into the jaws of death with little hope of victory, but it was their courage that made all of the difference for the larger war in front of them.

3.  We Were Soldiers

Not only is this a harrowing war film, but this is one of the best Memorial Day movies that reminds us of the sacrifice that the families of soldiers must also endure during war time.

4.  13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

This story is important because it reminds us what Memorial Day is all about: we must remember those who sacrificed.  Unfortunately, this story is such a political football that people forget that it is primarily about soldiers who put their lives on the line to protect others even with no help in sight.

5.  American Sniper

A friend of mine has said that there are a lot of bad things about Chris Kyle's life that the movie glossed over.  I have not had a chance to investigate those claims yet.  Nevertheless, the film is the best one that Clint Eastwood directed and it focuses so much on the cost of fighting evil on not only the lives of our soldiers but on their souls.  And I finish the movie with a much deeper appreciation of the heroic fight against our enemies but also the fight to regain a normal life.


6.  Hacksaw Ridge


Everything that is ideal in a soldier is displayed in Desmond Doss.  He is valiant and compassionate.  He placed himself into harm's way to help others while not condemning those who used violence to defend us.  And all at the same time he witnessed to his faith in God as his guiding light while suffering through the hell of war.

7.  Midway (2019)

The thing that strikes me the most about this movie is the absolute commitment of some of these sailors and pilots like Dick Best who gave everything they had for the opportunity to keep fighting.  In one scene, a pilot is clearly injured and could take a break.  Instead, he pushes himself so that he can take the fight to the enemy.  This is a level of bravery that moves and inspires me to no end.

8. Greyhound

One of the best things about this movie is how it isolates you into the perspective of the head battleship of a convoy making its way from America to Europe.  Like the men on the boat, you have no idea where the next crisis is coming from and you cannot see where the enemy is or how many are out there.  But you have to push through and protect as many as you can.  Once again, you see amazing, sacrificial courage on display.

Film Flash - Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning

 

15 words or less film review (full review to follow soon)

Like Avengers: Endgame, a bit too long and indulgent, but an exciting, satisfying film finale.

 

Wednesday Comics: Los Monstruos

 

I am a gigantic fan of James Robinson.  And I had no idea that he had a new comic on sale from Dark Horse called Los Monstruos.

The plot feels like a typical 1950's, film noir, PI mystery.  Except this time, the story takes place in a city populated by monsters.

Perry Cutter is a former cop and private investigator.  He also happens to be a werewolf.  We first meet him has he is tracking down a kidnapped vampire child who has been taken by a merman.  If all of that sound strange, it is.  But I have to say that Robinson and artist Jesus Merino make it work.

Back in the 1990's, Robinson wrote a series for Malibu comics called Firearm about a PI named Alec Swan.  He was a regular guy who constantly got pulled into cases with people with superpowers.  Reading Los Monstruos, I got the flavor of that comic once again.  Robinson has a knack for creating engaging environments and leading us through a main character's inner monologue.  

From what I have been able to piece together from the exposition, people like these classic monsters helped FDR win World War II.  As a reward, they were given a city of their own where they wouldn't be disturbed.  And here they built a civilization that seems very normal except for their supernatural traits.  This reminds me of one of my favorite Alan Moore comics: Top Ten, where the entire city was made up of superpowered people.  

The main story of this 4-issue mini series seems to revolve around a case that Perry gets from an old human who comes to Los Monstruos.  His story is that when he was young, his girlfriend was a pretty vampire girl who wanted to turn him.  But he turned her down.  Now that he is old, he wants Perry to track her down so he can have closure.  As with any good mystery, I'm sure there is more to the story, which is something I find intriguing.  

Robinson only has four issues to world-build and tell a compelling character narrative.  But I think he can do it.  This type of story is definitely in his wheelhouse.  Merino's art compliments the 1950's aesthetic and makes me want to spend time soaking in the details on the page.

There was a lot crammed into that first issue, but it definitely has me excited to see what happens next.

New Evangelizers Post: Pope Leo XIV - What’s in a Name?

                   

I have a new article up at NewEvangelizers.com.  

Less than two weeks ago, I was in the same boat as all of you: watching our new Holy Father present himself to the world for the first time. Cardinal Robert Prevost introduced himself to his Church as Pope Leo XIV.

The choice of a new papal name has a long tradition in our faith. This choice is important for many reasons, among which is that it is the first communication of his pontificate. For example, After Pope St. Paul VI died, there were many who were wondering if the new Holy Father would continue on with the reforms of Vatican II or if he would pull back from them. When Albino Luciani was elected, he took the name Pope John Paul I. He had chosen the names of the two popes who presided over Vatican II: Pope St. John XXIII and Pope St. Paul VI. By doing so, he told the world that he would be a Vatican II pope. His successor took the name John Paul II to continue that tradition. Pope Francis chose his novel name in part to show his desire to be something new and different and (as he loved to urge us) to “shake things up.” He also named himself after St. Francis of Assisi to show his great love of the poor.

So what can we learn about Pope Leo XIV? What message is he trying to communicate?

It is helpful to look back at some of the previous Leo’s. In the history of the Catholic Church, only two popes are given the honorific “The Great.” One of them is Pope St. Gregory the Great.

The other is Pope St. Leo the Great.

The most famous story about Leo the Great is that after the fall of the Roman Empire, Atilla the Hun came to sack Rome. But Leo went out to confront him. After their encounter, Atilla ordered his armies away. Perhaps Leo XIV looks at his pontificate as one that stands up to the violent powers of the world. He is the one must stand in the breach to intercede for peace. In the first few days of his Pontificate, Leo XIV has already made very public calls for an end to the violence in the Ukraine and in the Middle East. At his behest, Vice President Vance and Ukrainian President Zelensky sat down to continue their dialogue. Looking at Pope St. Leo the Great as a model, our current pope is signaling that he is not afraid to directly engage with the powerful of the world to create unity.

But the pope that had the most influence in the name choice was the previous one to have the name: Pope Leo XIII.

This was the Pope that lead us into the 20th Century. He was a momentous figure who helped the Church come to grips with the modern world. Those like Pope Pius IX, who called the First Vatican Council, appeared to be more skeptical of the general liberalization of the modern world (“liberal” here in the classical sense, not the modern political sense). Leo XIII saw how quickly the world was changing and he saw the need of the Church to bring the light of Christ. His momentous encyclical Rerum Novarum helped outline how the Church was to engage with the changing landscape of the world. Pope Leo XIV makes explicit reference to this:

“I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor.”

Leo XIV does a few things with this statement.

The first is that he points to the Church’s tradition. He refers to the “treasury of [the Church’s] social teaching…” Much of the economic and political strife we have has already been addressed by previous popes and great thinkers of the Church. Leo XIV is reminding us that we do not need to reinvent the wheel over every new problem.

The second is that he is forward-looking. Right now the Church does not have a well-developed moral theology regarding things like artificial intelligence. But Leo XIV sees his pontificate as not only looking to the past, but also having enough wisdom and foresight to look to how the future is developing. He believes that the technological revolution of AI is something that will have a lasting impact on the world and so it must be confronted and/or embraced head-on

Third, he highlights things that were central to Rerum Novarum: “human dignity, justice and labor.” Already Pope Leo XIV has made the subject of human dignity a point of his pontificate. He said, “In addition, no one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike.” Like Pope Francis, Leo XIV appears to be a champion of the Church’s teaching on justice. And like Pope Leo XIII, he emphasizes the value of human labor.

You can read the whole article here.

Trailer Time: Superman (2025)

Ok.  I have some thoughts.

First of all, I think the visuals are beautiful.  The last half of the trailer gave me chills.

My favorite part was how Ma Kent said she had Clark's boots ready.  There was something so grounded and motherly about that which warmed my heart.

I also loved that one moment with Guy Gardner slinging his ring.  I think they are going to get this character perfectly (at least the 1980's version of the character).

I've always known that Rachel Brosnahan would be perfect as Lois and she proved me right.  She is strong and smart and she didn't give Superman an inch of wiggle-room.

To my surprise I really like Nicholas Hoult as Lex.  He has this air of confident genius with the right mixture of madman.  He perfectly delivers the line about Superman being an "it."

This brings us to Superman himself, David Corenswet...

This may sound petty, but I really hated the way he was chewing gum in the beginning of the trailer.  Maybe this is to show him as a regular, folksy guy.  But when talking about important issues, he comes off as callous.  And then when he sighs in exacerbation over Lois' questions, it makes him seem arrogant and dismisive, something that Superman isn't.  Say what you will about Zack Snyder's Superman, but he didn't appear like that.

To be fair, this scene did a great job of showing how Lois is his match in personality.  She has journalistic integrity and won't be pushed around, even by Superman.  And in the end, she digs enough to get at the core of Superman: he is someone who doesn't want to see anyone die.

I am still cautiously optimistic, but for the first time in this process I saw something I did not care for.  But I am open-minded enough to wait to see the whole context.

Thoughts?

Film Review: Thunderbolts*

 

Sexuality/Nudity Acceptable

Violence Acceptable

Vulgarity Acceptable

Anti-Catholic Philosophy Acceptable

The key to enjoying this movie is to understand what it is.  The Avengers were the A-list, best-of-the-best elite of the MCU.  But the Thunderbolts are the underdogs, the Bad News Bears, the Dirty Half-Dozen of the MCU.  DC tried to do this with both Suicide Squad movies.  But Thunderbolts is able to do it better.

The movie centers around Yelena (Florence Pugh), who is in a malaise as she continues to try and find purpose in her life by doing missions for Valentina (Julia-Louise Dreyfuss).  Her pseudo-father Alexi/Red Guardian (David Harbour) provides no real guidance.  So she agrees to one more mission, where she encounters John Walker/The US Agent (Wyatt Russell), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and the mysterious civilian Bob (Lewis Pullman).  I won't spoil the context in which they encounter each other, but together, along with Red Guardian and the Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), they get pulled into a mission to potentially save the world.

Does the movie match up to the pre-Endgame MCU?  No.

But for post-Endgame, it is very enjoyable.

Unlike the Avengers, these Thunderbolts all have messed-up pasts that they are trying to run away from.  There is a reason why they are not the A-Team of Marvel.  But the story leans into this and explores how broken people try to move forward and be good.  Some have labeled this movie depressing.  But it is simply looking at heroism from another perspective.  Steve Rogers was always quintessentially good.  Tony Stark wasn't proud of his past, but he never felt villainous.  Natasha Romanov had a bleak past, but we never saw it.  With these characters, we see how they messed up and so we intuitively understand their redemption arc.  This is also one of the things that makes this better than the Suicide Squad movies: we come into this movie with a history with most of these characters.  To be sure, some of that history is small (I remember very little about Ghost), but it is still something to build upon.  Another thing that this movie has over its DC counterpart is that these characters really are on a quest to become better people.

This theme is very potent.  As someone who works with young people, I've noted a growing sense of self-hatred over the years.  So many of them cannot get free from their mistakes in the past.  This movie speaks to that and shows a way forward.

One of the interesting things about this movie is that it treats the character of John Walker the same as in Falcon and the Winter Soldier with the same results.  What I mean is that he is constantly put down by the other heroes as a "jerk" (I cannot write the vulgar term they usually use for him).  And yet he is by far my favorite character in the movie.  I think the movie wants to make him the toxicly masculine butt of the joke, but I think he is the closest thing to a Han Solo character in the movie.  

The performances are very enjoyable and the group, for the most part, has really good chemistry.  Pugh has to ground the entire film as someone caught between apathy, guilt, and goodness.  You can see that she is constantly at war with her nurturing and violent natures.  Russell swaggers into every scene as Walker in a way that I always enjoy.  In his head, this is not a Thunderbolts movie, but a US Agent movie and it actually makes him pop on the screen better.  There is a wonderful moment of empathy and connection between him and Pugh that is only a few seconds and has no words.  But in that space, the characters seem to understand each other.  Harbour plays Alexi as broadly comedic, but that works for what the movie needs.  Stan plays Bucky with a world-weary reluctance as always.  

The real standout is Pullman.  He has to play someone who at times is as innocent as a child and then as dangerous Thanos.  His emotional swings are unpredictable and wild, but he manages to pull all of them off with sincerity and intensity.  In the space of a few seconds with the simpliest change in body language and facial expression, he can go from funny to terrifying.  I think that if any actor will benefit the most from this movie, it will be him.  The rest of the cast does decently.  Dreyfuss is funny and charismatic, but she lacks the deadly screen presence that Viola Davis had in Suicide Squad.  

The script by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo is decent by post-Endgame standards.  Everyone since the original Avengers has tried to capture Joss Whedon's voice, but no one has quite cracked the code.  There contrivances and plot-holes galore (e.g. Valentina talks about her evil plans in front of her limo driver), but they only become problematic if you stop enjoying the movie.  The advantage of having pre-stablished characters is that the movie can move right into the action.  But this means that to really enjoy the film you have to do your MCU homework.  But because of this, the film moves on and does a lot in its two-hour run time.

The writers want to focus more on the theme than the plot, which accounts for some of the weakness.   Some of the characters (especially Ghost) do not feel nearly as fleshed-out as they should be.   However, I thought that some of the things they explore thematically were very rich.  I was surprised how they explored the Jungian idea of the shadow self.  Jung said that this darker side of our personality should not so much suppressed in us, but instead it should be appropriately woven into our personality.  If we suppress it, we can make it stronger.  We see this happen visually in the film.  

As a Catholic, I love how the movie focuses heavily on redemption.  Each of the characters has a reason to give into despair.  But in finding this community, they are able to help each other.  I love the quote: "The Church is not a museum of saints, but a hospital for sinners."  In finding each other, they help heal the broken parts in them.  

Director Jake Schreier does a good job with the action set pieces and the quieter moments.  Knowing Pugh is actually jumping off the building at the beginning of the movie made it more thrilling.  The visual representation of the main antagonist is something I haven't quite seen in a movie and it was incredibly interesting.  I couldn't help getting the feeling that his budget kept getting slashed.  For example, there is a sequence where Yelena has a flashback on what is clearly a soundstage.  Schrieir wisely doesn't try to hide this fact, but instead uses the artificiality for a specific effect.  Sometimes this works very well and sometimes it doesn't quite work.  But he does a good job with what he has.

I know that many of you have not been fans of the post-Endgame MCU.  But this might be the best of those movies since Spider-Man: No Way Home.  Because as they say:

Every underdog must have his day.

Happy Mother's Day 2025

(repost)

 Happy Mother's Day!

My prayers and well-wishes go out to all mothers today.  You shape the lives of your children in ways that no one else in the world can or will.  Today is a day when we honor not just what you do but who you are.  

I was reflecting today on how I no longer have any earthly mothers.  My mother, mother-in-law, and all of my grandmothers and great-grandmothers have gone home to heaven.  And yet, they are all still a part of me.

I pray for them every single morning, and I make special note to tell my mom and my mother-in-law that I love them still.  I know I had many failings as a son (and son-in-law), but I know that my relationship with them has not ended nor will it ever.

CS Lewis once wrote, "Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. "  Every great physical work of man will one day come to dust.  But the souls of men and women are immortal.  

Mothers: your work is the work that lasts.  Your work is the work of immortality.  Long after the Mona Lisa has turned to dust, the masterpiece you crafted in your children's hearts and souls will last for all eternity.

May God bless all of you mother today through intercession of our Most Blessed Mother Mary!

Film Flash: Thunderbolts*

 

15 words or less film review (full review to follow soon)

A better Suicide Squad than both Suicide Squad movies.  The Bad News Bears of Marvel.

New Evangelizers Post: The Conclave – What Happens Now?

                  

I have a new article up at NewEvangelizers.com.  

On Wednesday, May 7th, the cardinals of the Catholic Church will gather for the conclave to choose our next pope.

So what exactly happens?

The cardinals, those in charge of Church government, will be the ones to vote. Only cardinals under the age of 80 can vote for the next pope. These are known as “cardinal electors.” Currently there are a total of 252 cardinals, 135 of which can vote in the upcoming conclave. Of these electors, there are representatives from 72 different countries.

For the past few days, the cardinals have been gathering for prayer and discussion about the needs of the Catholic Church today. These meetings are called the “General Congregation.” This is an important part of the process, because the needs of the Church may be different today than they were when the last pope was elected. For example, we currently have a major military conflict in Europe and in the Middle East. These may be factors in deciding who would be the best pope to promote peace. I am not saying that this will be an integral factor, but these may be some of the topics that the cardinals bring up.

On Wednesday, all of the Cardinals will go to St. Peter’s Basilica. There, they will celebrate Mass together and as that the Holy Spirit be with them in their discernment.

The cardinals will then enter the Sistine Chapel. When they enter, each cardinal will place his hand on the Gospels and swear to uphold the secrecy inside of the conclave.They will not have access to the internet, phones, television, radio, or anything else from the outside world. They will remain in the Sistine Chapel, their dorms, or eating areas until the conclave concludes.

There will be four rounds of voting a day. The cardinals write on a paper ballot “Eligo in Summun Pontificem” (“I elect as the Supreme Pontiff”) and then the person’s name. The ballots are counted by three selected cardinals. A two-thirds majority of the conclave must agree in order for a pope to be elected.

If there is no two-thirds majority, then the ballots are burned with a special chemical to produce black smoke. This will indicate to the outside world that no one has yet been elected.

How long with the conclave last?

No one knows. In the Middle Ages, there was a conclave that lasted three years. However since the election of Pope Pius XII in 1939, the conclaves have averaged about two days.

When the cardinals confirm a two-thirds majority, the person elected is asked if he will accept the office. He does have the choice to refuse. Joseph Ratzinger, on seeing that he was getting the most votes, asked the other cardinals not to vote for him. However, one of his friends asked him if he would refuse the office that God called him to. So Ratzinger accepted the election and became Pope Benedict XVI

Once he accepts, he chooses a new papal name. This usually has a significance that he wants to convey to the world. Pope Francis named himself after Francis of Assisi, especially focusing on his love for the poor. Popes John Paul I and John Paul II named themselves after the two Vatican II popes, thus showing they would continue with the reforms of the council.

The ballots are once again burned, but this time, white smoke comes out of the chimney to indicate to the world that a pope has been chosen. The faithful then gather outside of the papal balcony waiting for the announcement. The senior cardinal deacon declares “Habemus papam!” which means “We have a pope!” He will then announce his name. The new pope will then present himself to the Church and the world. and offer his first papal blessing.

So now that you know, what can we the faithful do?

You can read the whole article here.

Sunday Best: Top 10 Greatest Star Wars Deaths

 May the Fourth Be With You!

Happy Star Wars Day!

There has been a great deal of debate in the fandom (when has there not been) about the state of Star Wars.  Many people have been saying things like "Star Wars is dead."  

I am not here to debate that point.  But the two concepts got me thinking: death and Star Wars.

So while it might sound morbid, I thought I would make a list of the Top 10 Greatest Star Wars deaths.

By "greatest" I mean the most impactful emotionally.  But that doesn't always mean that the emotion is positive or negative.  In fact, I find one of the deaths consistently funny.  But here, it has to make a lasting emotional impression.  For that reason, I can imagine that these will be highly subjective.  Feel free to disagree or debate me on these points.  

Be warned:  SPOILERS FOR ALL STAR WARS MOVIES AND TV SHOWS BELOW.

10.  Greedo (A New Hope)

This scene is amazing for a number of reasons.  You learn so much about Han Solo in this scene: he plays like he a cool guy, quick with his wit.  But beneath the surface, he has such lethal intent.  The version where Han shoots first emphasizes this point so well.  Even though I know this death is coming, I am constantly drawn in by how Han feigns relaxation only overtake his enemy.

9.  Admiral Ozzel (The Empire Strikes Back)

I laugh every time I see this scene.  There is something so darkly humorous about all the elements.  First of all, Vader kills him over what is essentially a zoom call.  Second, Admiral Piett squirming as he steals glances at Ozzel while trying to keep his attention on Vader is incredibly funny.  Finally, when Ozzel does keel over, the technician in the background looks down and then at the camera and then back to work while Ozzel gestures to someone off screen to collect the body.  One of the funniest moments in the series.

8.  Darth Maul (Rebels)

This is not the seeming death found in The Phantom Menace, but the one we see in Rebels.  You expect a knock-down epic battle between him and Obi-wan. Instead, it is over before you know it and in the end you are filled with an overwhelming sense of sadness, despite all of the evil he committed.  Very well done.

7.  Qui-Gon Jinn (The Phantom Menace)

Arguably the most significant death in the entire series, since his loss leads to the tragedy of the the saga.  Everytime I watch it, I ams still on the edge of my seat.  Qui-Gon stood as the most heroic figure of this film and to see him fall has a big impact.

6.  Han Solo (The Force Awakens)

I know a lot of people cry fowl on this one, but I think this was a powerful death scene.  It is also one of the best scenes that JJ Abrams shot for either of his Star Wars movies, with the interplay of color, light, and shadow.  But what was powerful about this is the feeling of a father doing anything to save his son, even if the son is too far gone to be saved at this point.  And then even after that ultimate betrayal, Han's last act is to caress his son's face with love.

5. Yoda (Return of the Jedi)

The entire scene is filled with sadness. Almost all of the deaths in Star Wars are violent ones.  But this captures the feeling of losing a loved one to age.  It is a tender scene that is filled with a profound sense of loss, where the final parental figure is gone and Luke now has to stand on his own as a man.

4. Kanan (Rebels)

Whenever I think of Rebels, this is the first scene that comes to mind.  It was so shocking to watch, because there didn't seem to be anything in the set up that this scene would be anything other than a typical rescue mission.  But then when the moment arrives, you can feel the weight of the moment.  The visuals and music are perfectly done.  And it stirred me deeply that his eyesight was restored one more time so that the last thing he saw was a vision of those he loved.

3. The Ewok (Return of the Jedi)

One of the most profoundly sad moments in the entire saga is this death.  Two ewoks are running through the woods when laser fire explodes.  Both fall to the ground.  One gets up and grabs the hand of the other to keep running.  But the other does not stir.  The standing ewok shakes his friend, but he still does not move.  Realization comes over him and despite the danger around him, the living ewok falls to his knees and embraces his dead companion.  The scene is only a few seconds long without any words.  But to every child who saw it, it conveyed the horrors of war and how the good guys can die and have their hearts broken.

2. Obi-Wan Kenobi (A New Hope)

Watching this moment in the context of the prequels, Clone Wars, and the Obi-Wan Kenobi show, you can feel an even greater weight to it than when it was originally shown in the original Star Wars.  Obi-Wan's entire journey leads him to this moment.  And then while fighting with his best friend, he looks over and sees Luke and Leia together for the first time since they were born.  And in that moment, he knows that it is his time to exit the narrative.  That knowing smile he gives always fills me with sadness as he serenely raises his lightsaber and sacrifices himself so that there can be born a new hope.

1. Anakin Skywalker (Return of the Jedi)

Everything about this death is amazing. It brings Anakin's entire story to a close with his move to redemption.  He cannot live because he has to pay for his sins.  But he gets to die as a man and not a monster.  He sheds his Darth Vader persona to reveal the scarred and broken good man who had been hidden deep down all along.  Luke finally sees his father as he is: not as a legend or a demon but simply as a man.  And it sums up the beautiful themes of the series when Luke says he has to save Anakin, his father simply replies, "You already have."  Anakin learns the lesson that he failed to learn with Padme: ultimate salvation is not of the body but of the soul.  And then as he dies they play that Imperial March, but as individual strings plucked in gentle morning of a lost father.

Thoughts?

Film Flash: The Minecraft Movie

  

15 words or less film review (full review to follow soon)

"This movie was not made for me" applies perfectly here.  Dumb. dumb, dumb.