Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker Spoiler-filled Review
(Ed. Note: To check out the spoiler-free review by Byron D. Zero, go here.)
I liked The Last Jedi overall. If that’s enough of a reason for you to discount my opinion and call me a fake nerd girl, or tell me that I don’t get Star Wars because I’m a woman, fine. Anyway, on to Rise of Skywalker.
Can we all agree that JJ Abrams has never been great at endings? More often than not, he seems to avoid them when possible: not making the third installment of Star Trek, not finishing Lost, etc. Take a look at what he did finish – the fourth season of Felicity – which has time travel, for Pete’s sake; it was a will-they-won’t-they sitcom that didn’t need time travel. I was anxious when Disney announced Abrams would be directing after Colin Trevorrow bowed out. I was right to be. This movie isn’t high art. It takes no risks. But you will get what you come into it for.
If you enjoyed the character moments in episodes VII and VIII, I’m sorry to tell you; those have all been cast off to maintain the plot-heavy breakneck speed of this movie. This is a 4 hour movie wearing the skin of a 2.5 hour film. But if you’re here reading this spoiler-filled review, you’ve probably seen the movie already, so let’s get into it.
The biggest letdown is that Rey is not, in point of fact, a nobody who happens to be Force-sensitive, as Rian Johnson bravely chose to make her; she’s a Palpatine. The Force didn’t choose her at random; she’s part of a large legacy of Force users. Force-sensitivity, evidently, is stored in the physical makeup of the person. And I guess that means that Palpatine was getting it on during episodes IV, V and VI, so, you know, that. It also completely unravels much of the plot of TLJ, which seems to be a hallmark of JJ’s here. This not only undercuts Rey’s arc in TLJ and renders the film mostly pointless; it also means that Kylo Ren, for whom JJ seems to be attempting to manufacture sympathy as the movie progresses, has lied to Rey. This takes all of his power away, as it is implied that she is stronger than him. “You’re nobody, but not to me,” loses all appeal as a pitch to join the dark side. Step aside, Kylo – she has more claim to the dark side than you do.
While we’re talking about “Reylo” (the couple name of Rey and Kylo Ren), I guess we need to talk about that kiss. I like Ren’s redemption arc. I think it’s a nice illusion to the Skywalkers returning to the light, and it felt earned enough by the end of the film. I do not, however, feel that he earned Rey. There’s a moment in this scene that I find infuriating: the focus is on Ren’s face looking at Rey, who is clearly speaking, though the film is presenting it as though she is not. It’s lazy editing, sure, but it feels more like development that has been cut for time. Again. Adam Driver, by the way, giving an excellent performance of a character that he’s clearly growing tired of. I genuinely felt something when Ren (once again Ben) falls backwards after giving Rey all of his power.
Finn deserved better. Finn started the trilogy as one of the most compelling characters: a stormtrooper who may be Force-sensitive and is able to join the resistance. He forms a close bond with this series’ “chosen one”; he is then separated from her through all of TLJ and spends this entire film chasing after her. The biggest faux-pas, though, is Finn chasing after Rey for the duration of Rise and her barely acknowledging him. They never really address that he may be Force-sensitive, even though there are traces and whispers of it throughout the script. I can only hope it was cut for time, although frankly it felt like a conscious choice not to invest in Finn and to make Kylo Ren a co-protagonist, a choice that was hinted at in TLJ but was certainly confirmed here.
Poe Dameron is still not given enough to work with. Frankly, the “friendship” between Finn, Poe and Rey more often than not felt forced. His romantic “subplot,” while charming, ultimately amounted to very little and felt more like a plot convenience than character moments. JJ’s disdain for Rose is felt constantly as she’s been shoved completely on the backburner. I wish I could be more upset about this, but there’s no time for her to do anything. Leia is given a beautiful send-off. Luke’s scene, while ultimately pointless, is a beautiful reflection of Luke’s journey continuing in Rey. I felt that Lando was used to great effect in this film; the heart-to-heart he has with Poe is beautiful and one of my favorite moments in this film. This movie itself is also beautiful, the practical creature effects make the galaxy feel real and tangible. The costuming is fine. JJ’s continual use of Johnson’s bright red feels like a surface level attempt to continue aesthetic cohesion but there’s no time to explore it.
Kylo Ren’s turn, however, takes the cake for me in RoS. The tenderness and adeptness in this scene shows me that someone in this clusterf*ck of a movie wanted a story of redemption and struggle, homecoming and forgiveness. The conviction with which Harrison Ford believes in his son is breathtaking, and should be one of the two emotional centerpieces of this film (the other being the scene where all of the Jedi speak through Rey, which is a good enough scene that I don’t feel the need to comment further).
The lack of overall direction for the trilogy made this film feel like it’s playing catch-up while also going back through TLJ with a red pen for people who want only Star Wars to safely reflect their own nostalgia and childhood while taking no risks. This movie felt declawed and I don’t know whose fault that is. Personally, I enjoyed it as a jolt of nostalgia and emotion but it felt like the best they could do without Carrie Fisher and with plenty of company interference.
2.5/5
