When you really think about it, it’s so bizarre that something as silly and harmless as Star Wars could inspire such a high level of hostility, expectations, and importance in the modern studio landscape and fan culture. But I suppose these things have a way of evolving in ways nobody ever expects, I’m sure George Lucas thought the same. Look, I love the original trilogy as much as the next guy, they were very much an informative experience for me, but it’s also important to recognize that the Brand™ has never been perfect. It’s like we forget that the second Star Wars thing to ever be unleashed to the public was the infamous Holiday Special, which came out only a year after the first film.
So, when I say that the third film in the new trilogy (and supposed end to the nine film Skywalker saga), Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker isn’t particularly great, understand that it isn’t the end of the world. The film will undoubtedly be divisive among fans, likely even more so than The Last Jedi, but I feel like a lot of the reaction will be people projecting ideas onto the film, which I don’t think is very fair to J.J. Abrams, who returns as director and co-writer, along with Chris Terrio. I’m sure many of the choices they’ve made will be seen as ways to throw Rian Johnson and his choices from The Last Jedi under the bus, which is simply a ridiculous to look at the film and the people involved.
The issues that plague The Rise Of Skywalker are honestly far less interesting than the word-of-mouth might lead you to believe, and frankly, not all that surprising considering how much of it stems directly from a lot of Abrams’ typical storytelling instincts. The story on a basic level is simple. Rey (Daisy Ridley), Poe (Oscar Isaac), and Finn (John Boyega) are trying to find a map that will lead to Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) – sorry if you consider that a spoiler, but that is literally the first part of the opening crawl, and it’s not treated like a surprise. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is trying to find Rey. However, piled onto that basic premise is a lot of McGuffin chasing, planet jumping, meeting of new characters, and frenetic action.
Abrams has never been a graceful storyteller, and that couldn’t be more evident here. Seemingly simple actions are made complicated for reasons that don’t make sense, information is withheld without motivation, and reveals are made that should be more significant than the way the characters are treating it. There is so much stuff going on, and while I wasn’t necessarily lost, it was easy to see spots where the convoluted nature of it got in the way of an efficient flow, and in certain instances, it made the emotional beats land with an underwhelming thud.
But I ultimately can’t say it was a complete loss because I still had fun with plenty of moments in the film. It helps that Abrams’ strongest skillset as a filmmaker is his ability to create propulsive sequences with effortlessly likable and engaging characters. It’s so strong that his whole career is practically built upon. He knows how to intrigue you with a compelling setup, and pull you in for a wild ride with some fun characters, and any of the inevitable story issues don’t really hit you until after the film is long finished and you’ve had a chance to catch your breath.
Thinking back on watching The Rise Of Skywalker, there are some weird choices that I certainly didn’t care for. And while it’s easy, especially from someone who loved The Last Jedi, to just assume that he’s trying to course correct or take a jab at Rian Johnson or whatever other conspiracy nonsense you read online, it really is just Abrams being Abrams. The only difference between this and The Force Awakens was simply the time given to prepare things. If anything, it does paint Disney and Lucasfilm’s lack of creative oversight and planning on this trilogy seem that much more strange in hindsight.
The actors are still very good. They are charming, they can deliver the hell out of a one-liner, and they can bring emotional resonance to moments that may not have felt earned on paper. New players like Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell make a strong impression with the time given. The way old footage of Carrie Fisher is utilized is actually well done and pretty seamless, though I can’t say the same for a brief flashback sequence involving Leia. The dynamic between Rey and Kylo is still compelling, and because the actors work so well together, it sells the arc better than it would have on the merits of the script alone.
I’m not sure what else I can really say about The Rise Of Skywalker because like I said, whether intended or not, much of your reaction to the film will be based on whatever baggage you bring to it, and what standard you’re holding it to. Anyone trying to sell this as a disaster is overblowing it. It’s not bad, but it’s also not great. It’s fine, and at times pretty damn good. Sure, it would have been great if the saga ended on a perfect note, but it’s not like the franchise had the best batting average anyway. Abrams clearly tried really to please everyone, and his attempts are earnest, but it just doesn’t come together as cohesively as he hoped. And while I do wish the film was willing to take more risks, and not rely too heavy on fan service, the franchise has survived much worse. Star Wars isn’t going anywhere. It will be back soon enough, and when it does, I hope it brings back the imagination that the original film inspired back in 1977.