The Rise of Skywalker

THE RISE OF SKYWALKER:

MOVIE REVIEW

Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), threaten the galaxy once more, after transmitting a vengeful message. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), the First Order’s Supreme Leader, track down the mysterious message to confront the Sith Lord. Resistance fighters, Rey (Daisy Ridley), Poe (Oscar Isaac), and Finn (John Boyega) ready themselves for a final battle to defeat the First Order and the Emperor.

Directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams, The Rise of Skywalker, is the third film in the Disney’s sequel trilogy. The film is also the ninth and final in the George Lucas’ Skywalker Saga. J.J Abrams and co-writer Chris Terrio were tasked in forming the culmination of three epic space opera trilogy. The Original Trilogy started in 1977 with A New Hope was directed and written by George Lucas. In 1999, Lucas return with The Phantom Menace, first film of the Prequel Trilogy.

The Last Jedi directed and written by Rian Johnson was the sequel to J.J. Abrams’ The Force Awaken. Hardcore fans were displeased with many of the decision Johnson and Kathleen Kennedy made in the film, especially with the beloved character, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. Many of fans, myself included, felt Rian Johnson was the wrong choice for the Skywalker Saga, however also felt Johnson would have been better suited for a standalone film.

Given an unwinnable battle, J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio implanted enormous amount of fan services and nostalgia to win the hardcore fans back. This enormous amount may have the opposite effect in this case. Many of the fan services and nostalgia felt at time very unnecessary. Mostly through the dialogue, the team discard and retconned many the decisions from The Last Jedi.

The first act of The Rise of Skywalker is where most if not all of it faults lies. Before the audience has had a chance to catch up, Kylo Ren already been to his grandfather, Darth Vader’s castle on Mustafar and now confronting Emperor Palpatine. Rey, under the guidance of General Leia (Carrie Fisher), is training in the ways of the Jedi. While Poe, Finn, and Chewy are on a mission to receive information about the First Order. Using the same technique as Poe, the editors used lightspeed skipping to create the film. Resulting in a fast, unevenly pace, and rushed first half of the movie.

Despite the film’s faults and shortcomings, The Rise of Skywalker, proved to be a pretty good film. Many of fans has criticize J.J. Abrams for making The Force Awaken too closely to A New Hope. Some fan will also say The Rise of Skywalker is too closely to The Return of The Jedi. However, the film proved that J.J. Abrams was the rightful choice and should had directed all three films of the Sequel Trilogy.