Review By Richard Schertzer (Washington DC)
Of Course, Visually Arresting but Still Somewhat Flawed
We close out year 2019 by finally-and I mean finally- saying goodbye to the Skywalker saga with hopefully a loud hurrah. Right? Well, not exactly. As you may have guessed by now, reviews have already been mixed about the latest Star Wars film, The Rise of Skywalker and I have to agree with them. I’ll do my best to state my case without any spoilers.
Let’s just get right to it. We start our story with Ren stealing a Sith wayfinder thingy with all the Sith haunting him including Sidious and Vader. It would have been so much cooler if they also used Plagueis but that wasn’t the case. Anyway, Ren meets up with Palpatine as he does his short monologue from Revenge of the Sith that should definitely wake up some fans. But that probably won’t be enough to stir up everyone’s confidence, especially after how disappointed fans were with The Last Jedi.
Rey is later seen training, Master Yoda style, with Princess Leia, who is also apparently a Jedi now, which might have actually made for a better standalone Star Wars film as the younger de-aged Princess Leia looks like a glossy, vaselined-up twenty-something. Anyhow, most watching the final chapter in the Skywalker saga will certainly get glimmers of nostalgia, that is if they can pick up on it without being reminded by their younger brother or older parent as the younger generation may not remember the original Star Wars films and the older generation may not care about the prequels.
While the film certainly has exhilarating action sequences, some of which were copied and pasted from maybe better Star Wars films, it undercuts its greatest strength that made people love Star Wars in the first place: the characters.
I’ll run through these examples without being portrayed as a cynical realist. Lando is on screen for ten or fifteen minutes, that is when he doesn’t have his helmet on; Leia is only there for emotional support before she–SPOILER ALERT– kicks the force bucket; Luke only does a walk-on for more moral support and a much better de-aged version of himself that actually looks so good I was almost convinced that they hired another actor for the part; a Kylo Ren that is being used more and more as a puppet with each sequel movie; and an Emperor Palpatine who could have drastically used more screen time–and skin softener.
J.J. Abrams tried his darndest to bring this saga to a close, but it seemed rushed for fans. For all appearances, the film is just gift-wrapped in holiday fashion for Christmastime, since that’s how all the new Star Wars movies decided to come out, with the exception of Solo.
People that hate this movie will be happy it’s over and people that love it will praise it’s nostalgia-filled vitriol, but the film may sadden rather than conclude and frustrate rather than entertain.
Rating: 2/5
Critics judge the story line as implausible and focused on minutiae that that has nothing to do with propelling the story along. They care less about the other elements that work: Finn, Poe and Rey’s chemistry and humorous interactions, especially Poe’s. It was a nice full circle from Palpatine’s Midi-chlorian manipulation to the Jedi Midi-chlorian force power (nerdy much?) in the prequels. Some tropes were annoying, the usual ones where last minute backup arrives for the good guys, but Finn and a ‘calvary’ disabling the ship was original. Some aspects could have been even pulled without hurting the story. Wish Abrams wasn’t so attached to unanswered questions, but overall, it was a really sweet, moving and satisfying movie.
ITS ORANGE NOT YELLOW!!! Holy crap why does nobody see this. Its obviously orange. Compare her saber to the orange and yellow saber colors in fallen order. Even in the clone wars the yellow saber is obviously yellow. And if it isnt yellow or orange its at least golden.
I also liked the comment from Zori (Poe’s former friend) when they are discussing the coded msg that was inside C-3PO (Sith language) and she asks him – Who were you hanging around with that speaks “Sith”??? LOL…would love to have heard Poe’s response…or the truth (assumed) explained as they do guard duty while C-3PO’s memory is revealed….
My favorite quote, and it is the core of Star Wars…
Poe Dameron: They will. First Order wins by making us think we’re alone. We’re not alone. Good people will fight if we lead them.
Where is the quote, something like, ‘evil will have you believe you are alone’.
I heard it twice in the movie, the second time was Poe reiterating it.
Please add and make reference to where it was… til I can get to see the movie a second time.
It was fabulous and J.J. Abrams did a great job in bringing the feelings
of the magic that Star Wars has brought to a vast audience around the
world. Good directing, stage and art setting with the flow of the music and
sound. great acting and Adam Driver and Daisy Ripley deserve an
honorable mention. To make this movie better, Anakin and Ben should have been added in the scene with Luke and Lea at the end..
Good job Mr Abrams.
B.T.
“Something’s are thicker than blood”
Never be afraid of who you are.
People keep telling me they know me- I’m afraid no one does.
This movie really crapped on the skywalker legacy Ben gets thrown down a shaft and had no part in fighting palps! Anakin does not appear at all in This movie as a force ghosts to help defeat palps we just get voices and Rey does it all alone many people are disappointed in the ending big time it could have been executed way better! The ending was BAD! Where the heck did Ben go he got shafted in this movie.
Love this movie as it had some memorable quotes including the one you shared about “good people will fight if we lead them”. This can apply in our own lives if we (leaders) “rise” up and “not ” stay quiet when “we” are getting “oppressed”.
The Rise of Skywalker was brilliant from beginning to end! After the disappointment of Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, my son and I were pleasantly surprised. JJ Abrams took everything we love about episodes 1-7 and wrapped them up in a beautiful bow. Superb storylines, emotional content, humor, surprises, action and great acting. A real feel-good movie. This just might be my favorite Star Wars movie ever!
What about: “Never underestimate a Droid”?
Yes there were so many lines – “Never under estimate a Droid” (twice- first by Leia, then by Rey…LOL).