Marathon Weekend 2027

[MissLiss279]

SAFD:
Lion King

If it was a different Star Wars, I may have made a different choice, because I do really like Star Wars! For some reason, Empire was my least watched of the originals growing up - so I haven’t voted for it a single time. I should probably watch it again, since it has been a while.

 

[Barca33Runner]

When I introduced my oldest daughters to Star Wars a few years back, our watch order was 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6, which I stand by to this day. You get the big reveal in Empire, the "how did we get here" of the prequels, and then the conclusion with Jedi.

This is my preference. I didn’t want to get caught up in the minutia of explaining the pros and cons of 456123 and 451236, when the primary point was that 4 and 5 have to be watched before 123 for it to be Star Wars rather than “A Chronological Retelling of the Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire (From a Certain Point of View)”.

 

[Disney at Heart]

SAFD: Although I think it is proper that an animated feature will likely win, as animation is the foundation of Disney, The Empire Strikes Back is the superior film and probably my third or fourth most watched movie (behind Raiders and Back to the Future and even with A New Hope). So, Empire gets my vote.

I’ll take a moment to address something odd with the Star Wars franchise that I’ve seen in recent years, the endorsement of or even advocation for watching the films in chronological order for first time viewers. I think this is pure insanity and can only be done by those with complete ignorance to the power and intention of storytelling or hatred of Star Wars. We are meant to meet all of the characters in A New Hope as fresh faces about whom we have no prior knowledge. I’ll avoid spoilers (even if it’s probably unnecessary) but there are things that happen in A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back that fall completely flat if you’ve watched 1/2/3 first and things in 1/2/3 that don’t carry nearly the emotional weight if you haven’t seen 4/5 first. After the first time through, knock yourself out, watch them in any order you want; but to do the movies any degree of justice, they must be watched 4/5/6/1/2/3 the first time through (or 4/5/1/2/3/6 which also works great narratively). <rant over>

Anyway, Lion King is a movie made by Disney that exists and is therefore a perfectly cromulent winner.

As a retired high school Literature/Writing teacher, I love your analysis of narrative structure and characterization, as well as the vocabulary you use to express it! I’ve always thought I’d love to meet you, but I understand that social anxiety keeps you from meetups. I think that is a loss for the rest of us! Maybe one day?

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: Lion King FTW!

As a completely unnecessary aside - it is a travesty that Disney never made a LK attraction before now. I'm glad Paris is getting one and hopefully it will be replicated elsewhere (cough AK cough). I LOVE the Festival of the LK but Simba deserves a ride!

 

[Novatrix]

Seconding @Disney at Heart, @Barca33Runner.

Also, in case you ever wanted to dip your toes in, the annual mini golf outing is usually ~2 hours before Hurricane Hannahs. There's usually around 10 people who participate, and the groups are further split into 4/5 people to go around the course. None of us are the next Tiger Woods, and sometimes it takes the pressure off to have something active to do when meeting new people.