Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (TROS) can be summed up in five words: emotionally satisfying and highly entertaining.
Let’s start with this – it’s better than The Last Jedi and rights some of its wrongs (while taking a few shots at Rian Johnson’s film along the way – moments I loved).
This movie is the ninth episode, closing out the Skywalker Saga, and TROS does it very well. J.J. Abrams knows how to serve up “comfort food” for fans, and he does so many times throughout the film.
The movie is set about a year after the events of The Last Jedi, and it is clear that the main trio of Rey, Finn and Poe have developed quite a close-knit relationship. TROS answers several questions and clears up a few plot holes, but there is a lot to take in (I’m looking forward to seeing it again). Billy Dee Williams returns as Lando Calrissian and does a very good job. This is the Lando we know and love (he looks pretty good too).
Abrams does a good job of closing out this current trilogy while simultaneously doing so for the saga. The movie’s promotion has made it no secret that Emperor Palpatine has returned (I won’t say how), and that includes the first lines of the opening crawl. Kylo Ren (aka Ben Solo) is still obsessed with finding Rey (for several reasons) and the action doesn’t take long to get going.
Surprises and easter eggs are sprinkled throughout (I need to see it again to catch them all, I think). And Abrams does a very good job at mixing in unused footage of Carrie Fisher from The Force Awakens to include a final Leia performance.
Newcomers to the saga – Keri Russell as Zorri and Naomi Ackie as Jannah – are strong-to-quite-strong. Daisy Ridley continues to prove what a good job Abrams did in casting Rey for The Force Awakens, and this might be the best plot story placement for C-3PO since Return of the Jedi. Chewbacca is, as usual, greatness.
I’ve seen some official reviews by critics not be so kind to TROS, but fan reviews are generally high and that’s really what matters. This is a story made for the fans, and it has many good touchpoints. While the movie won’t be nominated for Best Picture, it is one of the better times a Star Wars fan will have in the theater.
My initial reaction to where any of these movies rank among the nine episode films after my first viewing is always something that can (and usually does) change over time and multiple showings. I’ll slot this one in a tie with The Force Awakens in fourth place – just behind the original trilogy. I’ll end up slotting one above the other eventually, but I’m going with that for now.
The emotional moments of these films are always the best part for me, whether it be an old callback of John Williams’ music, a character or moment from the past, or a combination of the two (this film has both types). The official “brought to tears” count for me was officially three (sue me, I refuse to grow up).
I’m excited to go see TROS again on Friday night in IMAX. These movies are escapes and a lot of fun. I’m a tad sad that this is the last time I will watch a (Skywalker) Star Wars movie for the first time. My introduction to Star Wars in 1977 with my dad will always rank as my No. 1 screening. I’ve sure had a ton of fun watching these movies over the last 42+ years, and this conclusion to the Skywalker Saga made me smile.
