I think it’s already fair game to write about “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” now that it’s been more than three weeks since its release on theaters (not counting the week it was pulled out to give way to the local movies for the Manila Film Festival). If you haven’t seen it and is still planning to then feel free to skip this post. Otherwise, let me talk about what I feel about the movie in general.
Being a long-time Star Wars fan, I’ve always told people of my unpopular opinion on how they shouldn’t have carried on with Episodes VII to IX. The last three movies have the same concept as the original trilogy: They’re back to being the rebels again trying to defeat the Empire (or in the case of the newer movies — the First/Final Order).
For me at least, the Star Wars saga should have ended with Return of the Jedi. If Disney wants to continue with the Star Wars universe, it should be for the non-canonicals.
Because I didn’t watch The Rise of Skywalker in the first few days of its release (It’s the Christmas week—I was so busy), I went on reading the online reviews. Maybe I’m no longer an ardent fan of all the movies that came after, that I didn’t care what the reviews spoil.
Most reviews were bad, almost harsh. Some even put this movie behind the worst among the prequels. But then my brother (a bigger Star Wars fan than I’ll ever be) said it was actually good and that I should not mind the reviews. I have also read some FB friends’ posts saying the same thing.
So what, the critics hated it but the fans loved it? It looks like it.
Special effects-wise, I love it. I watched this in 4DX and since there was a lot of flying, space battles and light-saber fighting, this geek who once secretly daydreamed to be Jedi was just too happy to finally “getting the feel” of it.
One of the common criticism this movie received is how JJ Abrams veered off from Rian Johnson’s aim on The Last Jedi. I think Rian’s intention was to develop character arcs and storylines so as to gain younger fans that would usher the franchise to a new era. Remember when Ren told Rey to “Let the past die”? As if he’s saying that we—the passionate fans of the original movies, should also let go. I even remember writing a lengthy Instagram post accepting that The Last Jedi concluded the Star Wars that I have grown to love all my life.
But in this final installment, Rose Tico was sidelined, with only less than two-minutes screen time. Finn’s character was also not as strong as I would have expected after The Last Jedi. Here, I even noticed how they turned Poe into a less-charming version of Han.
You can call it reckless abandonment of everything Rian wanted to do.
***
In the first minutes of the film with the all-too-familiar Star Wars opening crawl, it already revealed that Palpatine is alive. How did that happen when we all know he was tossed down the Death Star shaft by Vader? Magic. To be specific — Sith magic. Fans knew the Palpatine line that we can all deliver it in unison: “The dark side of the force is a pathway to many abilities, some considered to be unnatural”.
It was this movie that finally explained why Rey was so strong with the force, for it was revealed that she’s Palpatine’s granddaughter. Now, this is just great because I simply cannot accept a nobody having such Jedi abilities. I just can’t. I mean, Rey has to be of a significant bloodline. This revelation (aside from her being possibly a Skywalker), is the most plausible for me.
In this movie, we also saw that Leia was, in fact, a Jedi. We saw her training with her twin brother Luke, then later on training Rey, and finally appearing as a force ghost in Tatooine right by the end of the movie. There was some closure for me at that, as it was something I always wondered about as a child.
Another major criticism is how it doubled-down on the fan service. I guess it made the entire franchise — spanning nine movies, a bit exclusive to the fans of the original trilogy.
The movie did make ‘older’ fans giddy because of the cameos of the characters from the original franchise. The appearance of Lando Calrissian made it seem like I’m seeing a long-lost friend (after all, he’s one of my favorite characters from the original trilogy). Then there’s the ghost of Han Solo talking to Ren (I wasn’t expecting this). I almost missed Red Squadron pilot Wedge Antilles on the final battle, but it did make me happy to know there are still some of the original empire rebels left (after killing off Admiral Akbar on The Last Jedi). There’s the Ewoks looking up from Endor reminiscent of that scene from Return of the Jedi when Death Star II exploded.
The fan service isn’t just with the appearance of our beloved characters, I admit to getting nerdy-excited seeing Luke’s old X-Wing Fighter. Even the Millennium Falcon fitted with a new radar dish delights me (remember this was knocked-off at Return of the Jedi as Lando was racing out of the Death Star).
This movie also toyed with our feelings. We thought that fuzzball Chewie would be a casualty in this film. Also, from the trailers, I thought that C-3PO will die (with his touching speech), but the adorable Babu Frik only erased his memory—nothing that my favorite droid R2 can’t fix.
The warm fuzzy feeling continues on some of the scenes; the familiarity was almost like déjà vu.
Just like what he did to Luke, Palpatine challenged Rey to strike him. In a true Episode VI fashion, the undead Sith Lord shows her the assault above, and how he said he can easily wipe out the resistance should she refuse.
The climax was another fan service. While Rey lies on the ground, Palpatine brags he carries all the Sith with him. Just as when all hope’s lost, we suddenly hear familiar voices in support of Rey: Luke, Leia, Anakin Skywalker, Qui Gon, Obi-Wan (both Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor), Mace Windu and Yoda. As expected, she beat her evil lolo’s ass.
The last scene shows Rey on Tatooine just right by the house of the Lars, burying Luke and Leia’s lightsabers and telling an old woman she’s a Skywalker (by affiliation, obviously). Rey and BB-8 looking at Tatooine’s twin suns; a callback to Luke’s scene from A New Hope.
Maybe this is the very reason why a lot of people generally find die-hard Star Wars fans annoying, for some have this illusion of exclusivity. That if you’re someone who only loved the franchise only through The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker will somehow make you feel an “outsider”. There are too many inside references and catchphrases only an old fan would get and appreciate.
I do agree that the movie was rushed and has so many things going on, leaving some details ambiguous. I admit that there were scenes that made me go, “Huh?” because the scenes jump from one plot to another. One moment Finn is ready to confess his feelings to Rey, and that was just abandoned as the movie went on. The details in locating Exogol through the Wayfinder was a bit confusing to me, that I had to sit up straight and listen. There was no backstory on how the wrinkly Palpatine sired a son (and with who?) or explain the massive number of black-hooded Sith.
And what the hell is a spice runner?
***
While I understand where the critics are coming from, I don’t think this movie deserves nasty reviews and ratings. It didn’t get me all nerdgasmic as I was when I watched Endgame, but there were fantastic, highly-entertaining moments.
You may think that the reason why I liked the movie is that it pleases the old Star Wars fan in me. Perhaps it even cashed-in on my emotions—but was it so wrong that it appeals to nostalgia?
Liking this movie is something I won’t even apologize for.
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