I watched Gone with the Wind, one of my favorite movies the other week (other than Star Wars), and I began to think about those people in our lives who are irresistible. I believe that at some point in our life, we all meet this one person who we are insanely attracted to and they can be summed up in one word: dangerous.

It was while watching Gone with the Wind that I began to observe Rhett Butler. I have read the book too and in the book it is made clearer that Scarlett O'Hara is insanely attracted to him though she doesn't realize it. The reader, of course, understands immediately and grins because while Scarlett thinks she is an impenetrable fortress, even she is wooed at times by Rhett. Rhett is a suave gentleman who is always laughing at you on the side. He's a smooth talker and it is so clear that one can become absolutely addicted to him.

While thinking of all this, I made the comparison to Han Solo. He is self-assured, cocky, and at times you just want to slap him for his insolence. (As a side note, this blog is written completely from a feminine perspective so I have no idea how men view Han Solo.) I love watching how the relationship between him and Leia progress over the movies.

In ANH, we see Han Solo as the smuggler who is only out for his own good. The only other "thing" we could see him sticking up for is Chewbacca. Leia is sarcastic with Han in this movie and refuses to be taken in by his games as shown in this great example: "You know, sometimes I even amaze myself." Leia's response: "That doesn't sound too hard." Go Leia. I imagine Han as being the type of man that can win over any woman. Though he is just a lowly smuggler, he has the charm oozing out of his pores to win over any woman in his way. Yet Leia presents a challenge. Not only is she royalty, but she is smart, strong, confident, and a straight-to-the-point woman. She doesn't have time for games because she has bigger things to worry about (namely the Rebellion) and I think this throws Han off a little.

Well, ESB...hmmm, isn't this a juicy movie in regards to Han and Leia? Their banter is delightful to watch and you see the smooth talker actually being taken in by a woman. Not only has the smuggler joined the princess' cause but his frustration with her is beginning to show. As a viewer, we see Leia's fear for him when they shut the shield doors at night on Hoth while Han and Luke are still out there. Yet when she sees him again in the medical center, you get no clue that she was worried, especially when she calls Han a scruffy-looking nerf herder. Throughout the movie, I wonder why Leia puts up such a fight against Han. He is clearly taken by her. Does she not want to have love get in the way of her cause? Or is she still afraid he might have some "bad boy" tendencies lingering? Perhaps she thinks that once Han gets her, he will move on, leaving not only her but also the Rebellion. And of course, the most agonizing part of the movie is when Leia reveals at the end that she loves him. Instead of responding with the normal, "I love you too," Han says, "I know." Now, I know we all love that line but at times I want to slap him for that. He could die, Leia just revealed her love for him, shouldn't she have something to remember him by in case they never meet again? How hard is it to tell her that he loves her back? Han Solo: the smooth talker, even on the verge of death, does not reveal his love for Leia.

Of course, in RotJ, a relationship between them both is finally formed. The games between Leia and Han leave but Han is still cracking jokes and you see the wild man he used to be pop out in parts. I like how Leia seems to give him some stability in this movie. One of my favorite scenes is when Leia finds out that Luke is her brother and Vader is her father at the Ewok village. Han asks her what's wrong and when she won't respond he almost walks away in exasperation. But then he turns around and says "I'm sorry," and he holds her so protectively. I don't know, I just love that part. It's a scene where you can see how much their relationship has progressed and change.

I feel like we have all met someone like that, someone who could just sweep us off our feet but we put up walls to test them and to see if they really want us and are willing to work for us. I saw many similarities between Rhett Butler and Han Solo while I was watching Gone with the Wind. Of course, I think the women in their lives are different but both men are charming, shrewd, and someone to be wary of. Both are the bad boys but in the end get taken in by the women they have fallen for.

I mean, don't you think it's ironic that one of the Empire Strikes Back movie posters is based off of the famous Gone with the Wind poster?