I agree with this wholeheartedly, but I think there is a feminine corollary to it. Young women are continually told by culture that marriage and family are snares that will wither away their potential. I understand the desire to not settle, but the reality is we are all making our way along a hard road, beset with tears, trials, shortfalls, and loss. Only the determination to forgive and serve one another will fix this. Yes, the boys need to man up... but the girls need to be taught there is so much strength they can bring to that battle. A young man should be doing everything he can physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to be a haven for a young lady. Likewise, she should let him know she's got his back. Neither of us are enough alone.

Same!

You touch on something I mentioned in my related post. I have great memories of watching my kids grow up with this trilogy, and when I settle into the good that is there, and the themes that were obviously a labor of love for Lucas, it's a lot easier to overlook the flaws in those first two.

Great word.🙏

Yep.

Probably more accurate.

"And who, by worrying, can add one hour to his life?"

1, and that's being generous.

Agreed. Kylo's story was the only one that really had that kind of weight. I honestly think Adam Driver was the only one who really saw it, despite the scripts he was given. You still get hints of that potential in his performance.

Thanks, Jeffrey!

So... I'm gutted.

Yeah, I was still in HS, and the review was for a small newsletter, but I've always remembered it. I agree... the RomCom has fallen on hard times. Very few even get made these days and the ones that do are often deeply confused about men and women and meaningful relationships. I can't write comedy to save my life, but I at least try to write romance well, if for no other reason than to offer hope to the younger generations.

I have only signed a handful of books for people and in almost every case I was so nervous, the signature looked terrible. 😅

Thanks, my friend.

One of the first movie reviews I ever wrote, way back when it released.

Yeah... I feel that pain.

I find myself in that strange place of knowing nothing about Dune other than the preceding two films, and thus anticipating this movie as such, while fully realizing readers of the books are like, "What the?"

Inching closer to 50 ratings/reviews. I'm not sure if this particular reader is here on X, but I am very grateful for the time she gave to Travel By Star.

I don't think they're that bad. Clunky for sure. Definitely some glaring weaknesses in execution, but the core narrative us sound. I'm also older than Millennials, so this has less to do with nostalgia and more an appreciation for what Lucas was trying to say, even if he came up short.