Hey guys, it is me again.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!! AND A HAPPY 2020!!!
Right now, I am going to do something different. This time, I am going to make another review of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but with spoilers. And boy… Do I have a lot of say!! Because despite I consider it a good Star Wars movie, I don’t think is the best way to culminate the sequel trilogy.
Remember. I said the sequel trilogy.
And in this review, I will explain my reasons of why is that. And of course, this review will… you know… Have spoilers of the movie.
But before that… I hope you guys are in good health and prosperity. If you are, then I am happy.
Now. On to the review.
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
Taking place one year after Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the Supreme Leader of the First Order, Kylo Ren, arrives to the planet Exegol, where we finds out that his former master, Supreme Leader Snoke, is a clone of Emperor Palpatine, and the latter orders him to kill Rey. Personally, despite being so excited about the «resurrection» of Palpatine, I have so many questions, like:
How did Palpatine survive being thrown in the abyss by Darth Vader?
More importantly:
«How did he survive the destruction of the second Death Star?»
This might look like a small problem, but it cracks away many important elements that we believed were conclusive from the original trilogy.
Speaking of which, on their way to Pasaana, Finn, Rey, Poe Dameron and C-3PO act all the time like brothers, and I mean family; Arguing, treating with confidence, working well together, like the cast from the original trilogy. Personally, I love this moment between all of them; that is, until that critical side of me awoke and put this in question, because, for those who remember, Finn, Rey and Poe Dameron separated throughout The Last Jedi, and barely bonded during Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And yes, I know they worked together to bring the location of Luke Skywalker to the Resistance. But one thing is to work together, and another is to properly establish a bond, especially in movies.
Case in point. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1 & Vol 2. In the first movie, Peter Quill, a.k.a., Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Groot and Rocket Raccoon started as a group of outlaws, gathered together by unfortunate circumstances. At the beginning, they do not stand each other, but they create a bond step by step; knowing each other, knowing their respective pasts, learning more about themselves and being honest one with another, especially Quill and Gamora; fans and moviegoers learn about the team, thanks to the events of the movie; that its members are united by one purpose, save the Universe from Thanos and his minions, becoming what they are now: The Guardians of the Galaxy. And by the second movie, those bonds, perfectly explored in Vol. 1, are strengthen more, especially when.
1. We know of who is Star-Lord’s father.
2. We are given more details about the troubled relationship between Gamora and Nebula.
My point is that, in terms of character relationships, neither The Force Awakens nor The Last Jedi do a good job with its main characters, and by the time we reach to The Rise of Skywalker, is impossible to believe they became that close. Perhaps they did off-screen, but for the audience, this does not have the same impact as in Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
Speaking of characters. What is the issue with Zorii Bliss and Poe Dameron? The movie states that she was betrayed by Dameron at some point, just to practically disappear afterwards; sure she helps Dameron and his friend escape The First Order from Kijimi. And when she returns in the epic battle of Exegol, nothing else happens. Well, after the victory of the Resistance, Poe Dameron apparently invites her to… go a place, and she says no. Could the movie at least made her take her helmet off? And I mean her helmet. Not just her visor!
Remember what I said in my non-spoiler review of The Rise of Skywalker where I mention SHOW, DON’T TELL. This is what I meant.
Finally. What about Rose and Finn? Yes. I know that many Star Wars fans hated them together in The Last Jedi, but that doesn’t excuse The Rise of Skywalker to discard them just like that, let alone discard Rose out of the plot. If she was not going to return, then at least the movie could justify that she was watching over Leia, or that she had to prepare the Resistance for the final assault. But no. Rose barely has any dialogue, or involvement with Finn. This is mere speculation from me, but I would say that both J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio did that for the fans, not to make them angry and convince them to watch the movie; in other words, pure fanservice, and since Rose is there practically as background, all the more reason.
I don’t know you guys, but if I was the writer of Episode IX, and they asked me to get rid of Rose, at least I will try to give her a proper demise, or a small part in which she says goodbye to Finn.
Okay. Not everything regarding character development is disappointing. There are also very good things. Like the relationship between Kylo Ren and Rey.
If there a thing we must really praise The Last Jedi, is the deep conflict between these two characters. Rey successfully intensifies the inner turmoil of Kylo Ren, and Kylo Ren, through his interactions with Rey, inspire us to want know more about her past. The chemistry between them is wonderful. Like I said in my non-spoiler review, they hold The Rise of Skywalker together, and at the end, they have this entertaining lightsaber duels; they are not perfect, but sure they are very enjoyable, especially the second one, in which Rey «kills» Kylo Ren, while she «frees» Ben Solo.
And this could not make for a better ending. I mean, Palpatine is defeated by Rey with the deflection of his force lightning (Advice for you Sheev – DON’T USE FORCE LIGHTNING – ITS HAVE NEVER BROUGHT ANYTHING GOOD TO YOU.), she dies, buy then Ben Solo resurrected her, at cost of his own life. They kissed, Ben Solo smiles and dies. Bittersweet, yet satisfying, especially the part in which Ben becomes One with the Force. I wish his Force Ghost was included when Rey introduces herself as…
«REY SKYWALKER»
Also. This leaves wondering. What were Rey and Ben Solo at the end? They became a couple? They were in love with each other from the beginning? And…
«What was that thing Finn wanted to tell to Rey? I love you?»
Ok. Ok. I talked a lot about the characters already. Now it is time to move something that I can’t stop praising from The Rise of Skywalker.
It’s visuals
Like I said in my non-spoiler review, you can feel the beauty and the atmosphere of the planets through the visuals. When Kylo Ren arrives to Exegol in search of Palpatine, I feel dreaded, like I was in a real Sith homeworld. Honestly, I have never seen this claustrophobic atmosphere in a planet since the derelict in Alien, or Alien Isolation for that matter. It was amazing.
Before I continue, I also praise the beginning of the movie for citing the story of Darth Plagueis and his fight against death from Revenge of the Sith. This element add some aura of mystery to both Exegol and the lore of Star Wars. From my perspective at least.
Back to the visuals. I really liked Pasaana. Wadi Rum in Jordan, where the scenes from Pasaana were shot, has always been such a wonderful place for films that take place in the desert, and will always be. And I guess Pinewood Studios has billions of handful resources, I am saying this because Kijimi, despite not being the best set for a Star Wars movie ever done, it’s pretty convincing. And Kef Bir… Wow!! When I recognise that piece of the second Death Star… it really blew my mind. Sure. It can be done with CGI and modern technology, but that simple frame in which we see those remains was enough to impress me. And when Rey went inside, it really paid off. The sense of danger, the fear of the extinct Galactic Empire… The legacy of the Battle of Endor… Everything was there. Everything that made me relive that marvel that came from Return of the Jedi.
And when Rey meets her «Sith self» in the former throne of Palpatine… you know what I thought?
«This is what The Last Jedi should have done in the first place.»
My respects for the atmosphere. It definitely mixed up with the narrative, making the story more compelling.
On the other hand, is there any opportunity that we can see more about Jannah and her past with the First Order? She has a lot of resemblances with Finn; both deflected the First Order and joined the Resistance. This is one of those cases in which I consider a spin-off could work, one in which we explore about the past of Finn and Jannah, how they were trained inside the First Order, and how was life as a Stormtrooper.
Perhaps the first movie from Rian Johnson’s new trilogy can be centred on these characters.
And finally… The climax in Exegol.
Ok. I am not going to lie. I don’t think this is the best conclusion for the sequel trilogy. It was not a bad battle, but it could been bigger, more intense, especially because of the Sith Troopers. I was one of the millions who had very high expectations of these guys. How couldn’t I? But then, I realised they barely do anything, they are just Storm Troopers, but in red. And the same thing can be said about the Knights of Ren. Are these guys supposed to be too powerful? Also, I feel that the battle could arrived earlier. This was supposed to be the Epic End of both the sequel trilogy and the Skywalker Saga, Wasn’t it? Then this movie could have done something bigger, something timeless, especially since Palpatine almost killed the Resistance with his bare hands. It was nice to see starships blowing each other, but I think the battle in the Starkiller from The Force Awakens was far more impressive. Also, the editing in the climax from Exegol was not the best, so it does not really feel like all the Galaxy was there to stop the Final Order once and for all.
And when the Resistance defeated both Palpatine and the Final Order, I can’t stop but wondering… Does this mean that peace will finally come to the Galaxy? What happened to the New Republic? Is there going to be a New New Republic? (LMFAO) What was whoever Chancellor is in charge doing during this war?
At least the Resistance could have proclaimed something like:
«Time to reconstruct the Republic.»
But I liked Rey’s new lightsaber. That yellow looks beautiful, and so it does the handle, like a balance between good and evil.
CONCLUSION
Well guys. Thank you so much for sticking with me during my spoiler review of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. As you could see, there was so much to say, more than I could thought. And overall, the movie is not bad; its has its faults, and to be honest, every Star Wars movies has its faults, even the original ones. But the elements that are great really deserve universal acclaim; these characters, Finn, Rey, Poe Dameron and Kylo Ren came as interesting and compelling, to the point that they already got their places in our hearts, and we will continue remember them for the years to come.
Also, despite fans are divided regarding both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, I think they are solid movies, some of the best from Star Wars, and so it is The Rise of Skywalker. People will watch these movies, some will hate them, some will love them, but they will continue being a source of debate for very good reasons.
Probably Disney wanted this in a way, and they succeeded. It’s only my opinion. You guys will have a different viewpoint.
I guess that all I can is… see by yourself.
And for the matter.
«May the Force be With You.»