Disney, Disney, Disney... Why do they do this to us? First, they bought the dormant Star Wars franchise from George Lucas in 2012, then they rushed into announcing and making a trilogy, only to leave fans even more divided than they already were.
With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, it is hard to say what this trilogy will be remembered for, given the rich legacy of the franchise. The film repeats the overused formula of trying to capitalise on nostalgia that we saw in The Force Awakens (2015) and that was later dropped in The Last Jedi (2017).
The decision to bring back J.J. Abrams, who directed The Force Awakens, has largely undone Rian Johnson's 2017 magnum opus. The strong performances, visual brilliance and legendary soundtrack carry the film. But, these aside, The Rise of Skywalker is predictable in most parts, with an overdose of the past and a title that serves only as bait for loyal fans.
Resurrecting characters seems an easy cop-out for the makers. And, if you heard that evil cackle in the trailer, you know who is coming back to head the First Order. Or as he now calls it, the Final Order. It is now up to the band of rebellions led by Rey, Finn and Poe to find and fight the self-crowned emperor that wants to bring the galaxy under his thumb. Again.
The biggest disappointment of this film has to be the reversing of a finality that seemed to have been established in the previous film—that the lead character, Rey (Daisy Ridley), had no notable lineage. All along, the main Star Wars storyline has relied heavily on blood relations. The Force runs in the blood, apparently. But when it was revealed that Rey was a nobody, it was satisfying to know that you didn't need to be a Skywalker or a Solo to play decisive roles in the battle between good and evil.
Except that she isn't a nobody. I facepalmed hard in the cinema hall at this reveal, as many around me let out a groan. Some expressed their shock. Over and over again, we see or hear familiar faces and voices. A cameo here, a Force projection there, and oldies everywhere. Heck, we even hear Samuel L. Jackson's Mace Windu. Seems like there is no way that the saga would end without giving a nod to every major person from the last eight films.
Yet, if you push aside the historical baggage and dwell on what remains, The Rise of Skywalker manages to make for fairly decent viewing. It is fast-paced and has plenty of action, even as Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac play their hearts out. Driver has had an impressive year, with his performances inThe Report and Marriage Story attracting rave reviews. He does not disappoint in this film either.
It still feels like so much more could have been done with Rey's character. It must be said that it has been fun following her journey from scavenger to Jedi ever since The Force Awakens. She gets plenty of lightsaber action to go with the enthralling visual effects and John Williams' background score.
It was rumoured that The Rise of Skywalker would bring an end to the Skywalker saga that started back in 1977. But it looks like Disney is not done yet. The studio is waiting to see the response to this film, before Marvel Cinematic Universe's Kevin Feige takes over. The next set of films is set to have Christmas releases (again) in 2022, 2024 and 2026.
Until then, the only question will be whether Disney will continue to milk the same fandom or chart its own course to give this generation of fans something fresh. Commercial sense would point at the former. As long as J.J. Abrams does not helm it, it could still have potential.
The 87-year-old Williams, who scored the franchise since the beginning, has announced that this will be his last Star Wars score. He certainly has witnessed the property turn from an epic saga to one that seems to have been stretched too far. If the prequel trilogy disappointed fans, this sequel trilogy leaves them more divided than ever.
Film: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Director: J.J. Abrams
Cast: Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac
Rating: 2.5/5