JJ Abrams’ second run with the beloved franchise delivers on what the brand promises fans, but a frustrating lack of closure still leaves a lot to be desired.
When the overwhelmingly negative feedback of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker came in earlier this week, I almost didn’t want to believe it. However, at this point in the saga, polarized views for any new entry into the Star Wars canon is almost inevitable. Following 2017’s highly controversial The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker had no easy task in drawing disgruntled fans back to the light side. Rather than continuing to push Star Wars forward and provide a meaningful last chapter in its saga, The Rise of Skywalker is a heavy-handed attempt to simply seek out fan approval.
The Rise of Skywalker begins with news of Emperor Palpatine’s (Ian Mcdiarmid) resurgence in one last attempt to rule the galaxy. Facing their final challenge, Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe (Oscar Isaac) must lead the Resistance to victory. Once again, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and a host of First Order brigades stand in their way. They promptly begin on a fast-paced mission while leaving character development in the dust. However, many actors do the best with what they have. Adam Driver is fascinating as Kylo Ren and Oscar Isaac’s Poe steals the show yet again as the “Han Solo” of the new crew.
If a distinct vision is a defining trait of Jedi and a crucial part of Star Wars lore, then The Rise of Skywalker fails from the outset. Its reactionary, scattered plot seems almost improvised throughout its runtime. The story starts at a rapid-fire pace, giving the audience no time to process a large dose of exposition that is crammed with unexplained content. It seems based off of a sequel that was never made. Choppy editing gives the audience no time to ponder on any interesting questions that occasionally come to the surface. While critics of The Last Jedi may dislike its treatment of Star Wars material, it was a well-paced film. On the other hand, this movie is 2 hours and 21 minutes of what feels like one never-ending scene.
The Rise of Skywalker isn’t all bad. Despite stooping to an abundance of lows, The Rise of Skywalker has some magnificent highs. Director JJ Abrams provides some truly memorable scenes in his attempt to assuage fans by pulling on the heartstrings of devoted and casual viewers alike. In this light, many fans will find its ending satisfying, as it manages to answer any previously unclear questions about the main characters. Even the new characters pull their weight by adding an element of warmth to the movie that only augments its well-executed humor.
It’s impossible to view this film without looking at all of the films that came before it. This is not because The Rise of Skywalker is in fact the last one, but because it feels less like its own story and more like a convoluted ending to Star Wars as a whole. One movie cannot effectively summarize eight others that came before it, but that doesn’t stop Abrams from trying. In some ways, this film is no ending at all. There is actually some comfort in closure, even if it is from one of Hollywood’s most beloved stories, but in an age of endless sequels and TV spin-offs, it seems that the film’s underutilized characters and storylines only exist for the possibility of future content. If nothing else, The Rise of Skywalker—and Disney’s entire attempt to revive Star Wars—proves that some things may be better off dead.
BY: Jack Muraika
1 comments
It was very good. Thank you
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