SF/Fantasy fans: Your opinion (re: Darth Vader's "redemption")

[DerekG]

RETURN OF THE JEDI is the only SW film I can't watch. I tried two years ago, after having seen SITH, and couldn't get through it; what's more, I actually left a recent saga marathon party as soon as the last of EMPIRE's credits rolled. Until now, I'd chalked my aversion to the bad performances, recycled plot elements, Jabba's Muppet Show, and the Care Bears adventure on Endor. On reflection, this shouldn't have done it: Episode I exhibits some of the same flaws, yet I've been defending the prequel film for almost a decade. Clearly, there was something else going on here. Something primal. And by Jove I've got it. Here's a question...


Your father has a rather interesting history. He's slaughtered monks, freedom fighters, and toddlers. He strangled your mother, killed your mentor, tortured your sister, and severed your hand. And to top it all off, he assisted Peter Cushing in destroying a planet full of pacifists.

You have two courses of action

1. Play Beatrice to his Dante, weep over his corpse, and smile sheepishly at his partying, astral-form self.

2. Watch all three SAW flicks, take detailed notes, and invite Daddy over to the Planet-of-Abandoned-Warehouses for "Sunday brunch."


How should this little family reunion really have played out?

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Revenge is the sissy, easy way out. Redemption, forgiveness take courage.

It's a better story for it.

[DerekG]

2. It's all a bit hollow, though

In all seriousness, the film should have revolved around Luke's flirtation with the Dark Side, leaving it up to Leia to pull her brother from the abyss of vengeance and nihilism.