The Sanctified Nerd

Few lines in the Star Wars  prequels are as simultaneously iconic and confusing as Obi-Wan Kenobi's declaration to Anakin in Revenge of the Sith  that "It's over...I have the high ground." Memes galore (including many of my own making) and endless jokes have their genesis in this line. But why did Obi-Wan say it? Was it simply more of George Lucas's infamously bad dialogue? Possibly, but I want to argue otherwise. I think this is best accomplished by first seeking to understand all the reasons Obi-Wan did not say it for. First, I don't think he expected Anakin to be like "Dang it! You got me bro!" and put down his lightsaber. Nor did he actually believe the slightly higher elevation granted some kind of special advantage. It might help but it is hardly decisvie in personal, hand to hand combat. Obi-Wan was a seasoned warrior and knew better than to believe the high ground was the trump card. So why did he make a big deal out of his elevati...

Sci-Fi Movie Review: Destination Moon (1950) Destination Moon holds a place among the Cinematic Sci-Fi Elite in terms of importance, a small cohort of films that includes Le Voyage dans la Lun  ( Trip to the Moon , 1902), Metropolis  (1927) and Star Wars  (1977). These films each ushered in a new era of cinematic science fiction. A Trip to the Moon  started the ball rolling with (at the time) dazzling special effects and creative filming methods. Metropolis  set the standard again with visuals and music, and of course, Star Wars  not only took visual effects and music to another level but began en masse  the concept of fandoms for a movie. What about Destination Moon  though? First, a little background. Destination Moon  was directed by George Pal and written by Robert A. Heinlein, one of the greatest sci-fi writers of all time. The story is both simple and (for Heinlein) unusually bland. But the movie triumphed because of the visu...

Hello there. Welcome to the world of nerdiness about all things science fiction, presented from the perspective of a Reformed Christian The purpose here is simple: I'm a Christian, and I love science fiction. So I want to share my thoughts about the latter through the experience of the former. I'll write about a variety of topics in this vein, from Star Wars  theories to the morality (or lack thereof) in Star Trek's  Federation or whether or not Christian science fiction authors should include alien species in their stories. And much more. So hit that "subscribe" button and never miss a post. Live long and prosper, May the Force be with you, and Soli Deo Gloria . D. M. Gibson