“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” —Lando Calrissian
Today’s quick review: Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. Tracking the source of an ominous, galaxy-wide broadcast, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) locates a hidden planet where a shadowy figure offers him unlimited power. Meanwhile, the Resistance receives word that the First Order is planning a major offensive. Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe (Oscar Isaac) must travel across the galaxy to put a stop to the First Order’s plans.
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker is a sci-fi action adventure movie and the final film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Episode IX tackles the monumental task of not only wrapping up the stories of Rey, Kylo, Finn, and Poe but sending off the eleven-movie franchise. Episode IX leans heavily into the series’ sense of adventure and raises the stakes for the finale. However, this comes at the cost of the film’s pacing and sense of proportion.
The Rise of Skywalker’s greatest strength is its sesne of adventure. The film dives right into a galaxy-spanning journey that moves quickly, shows off new corners of the universe, and gives its characters plenty of time to interact. The combination of likable characters, a rich world, big-budget CGI action, and Easter eggs and shout-outs for fans of the series make The Rise of Skywalker a fun ride for anyone who’s willing to buy into its plot.
The Rise of Skywalker also does a great job with its character dynamics. Finn and Poe are the glue that holds the movie together, a pair of heroes with excellent banter and plenty to do. The rivalry between Rey and Kylo reaches its climax, with new revelations and further development for both of them. But the dark horse of the film is C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), who steals the show with some of the best comedic moments in the history of the franchise.
In terms of story, The Rise of Skywalker is a jumbled attempt to wrap up not only a trilogy but an eleven-movie saga. The movie takes drastic measures to get the story where it needs to go, including explicitly walking back some of the narrative decisions made in The Last Jedi. The moves it makes are not elegant, but they are effective. The Rise of Skywalker is a definitive ending for the Star Wars saga that accomplishes most of what it needs to.
The Rise of Skywalker has to pay a heavy price for all of this. The shift in tone and direction from The Last Jedi is extremely jarring, with a few lines that will rub salt in the wound for fans of the previous film. Many of The Rise of Skywalker’s key plot points come from nowhere as the movie tries to make a new conflict from whole cloth. The movie also has to rush to fit everything in, leading to a breakneck plot with little time to breathe.
There are other issues with The Rise of Skywalker, namely its sense of scale and relation to other Star Wars movies. The conflict is almost too large for its own good, throwing away logic and proportion in favor of rasied stakes and spectacle. The film is transparent in its reliance on nostalgia and borders on sheer pandering in a few places. The script also feels somewhat strained, especially surrounding the posthumous appearance of Carrie Fisher.
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker is a maelstrom of competing goals and influences. How much you get out of the movie will depend heavily on your tastes and expectations. For the wrong viewer, The Rise of Skywalker will be difficult to watch. Fans of The Last Jedi will dislike almost all of its plot and character decisions, while Star Wars fans in general may find that it tries too hard to cash in on nostalgia for the original trilogy.
On the other hand, those who enjoy Star Wars for the action, adventure, and humor will find The Rise of Skywalker to be a wild, enjoyable ride with clear flaws but plenty of strengths to make up for them. For the right viewer, it’s a jam-packed love letter to the franchise that tries to make the most of the hand it’s dealt. Those who are willing to temper their expectations and roll with the punches will end up having a fun time.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for likable characters, lots of action, and a contentious story; your score will vary drastically depending on your expectations for the film.