11 Jul Review: The Rise Of Skywalker (spoilers)
Did I enjoy The Rise Of Skywalker? Yes. Was it perfect and the most conclusive way to end the Skywalker saga? No. I’ll get straight to the point. Bringing Palpatine back as the main villain felt weak and unoriginal. Yes, he reared his ugly head in the expanded universe comic sagas after Darth Vader dropped him down the second Death Star reactor shaft in Return Of The Jedi, but when a new foe in Supreme Leader Snoke was introduced in The Force Awakens. I sensed a new adventure and a mysterious new heroine, Rey, in search of her origins accompanied by a rogue Stormtrooper, Finn, just as mysterious in origin, and the dashing, Poe Dameron. The rebellions quick witted pilot, ready to lead the way and take the fight to, Snoke and his First Order both of which seemingly rose up from the ashes of the Empire. What followed in The Last Jedi sold us short in killing off, Snoke and messing up the dynamic between, Rey and Finn. Bringing us no closer to the truth as who either one of them were or where they came from.
The Rise Of Skywalker had, Emperor Palpatine return, taunting Kylo Ren by stating that he created, Snoke and the voices he had heard in his head, Vader and Snoke, were his doing. Furthermore, Palpatine is, Rey’s Grandfather wanting her to strike him down so he can live through her as she takes the throne and rule throughout the galaxy. At that point I was hoping, Anakin Skywalker would make a return and aid, Rey and Ben Solo, formerly Kylo Ren after finding redemption, in defeating Palpatine once and for all. But it never happened. Instead we got some kind of Power Rangers style battle which simply didn’t give the Skywalker saga the conclusion it deserved. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t all bad. It was great to see, Lando back at the helm of the Falcon and I loved the fact that this saga paid homage to the original trilogies and expanded universe and introduced some interesting characters and pulled the emotional strings by bringing back, Han Solo in a truly touching scene with his son, Kylo Ren. Princess Leia sacrificing herself in order to save her son. But where it could have been truly spectacular, it just fell short. We never got to see, Rey and Finn truly connect which we all felt. Other characters such as, Maz and Rose were seemingly forgotten. So too The Knights Of Ren.
If the Skywalker saga truly does end here, it was great to see, Chewbacca, Leia, C3PO, R2D2, and Luke Skywalker, along with, Han Solo in one last outing. Sadly not together, but great nonetheless. The sense of adventure is still there as you’re taken to new worlds and meet new species and characters. This is what makes Star Wars truly special. I also loved how it saw, Rey make the trip back to Tatooine and seemingly set up home in, Luke Skywalker’s old residence before his own adventure to save the galaxy started with one final vision of, Luke and Leia through the Force.
The Rise Of Skywalker is a worthy watch, but just short of greatness which is reserved for – A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, The Return Of The Jedi, Rogue One, and Revenge Of The Sith. But I’d still watch it all over again because I love Star Wars.
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