REVIEW: ‘Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker’
Photo: Daisy Ridley stars as Rey in Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Olley / Copyright: 2019 Lucasfilm Ltd. & All Rights Reserved / Provided by press site with permission.
Director J.J. Abrams returns to the Star Wars franchise with its ninth installment in the canon: The Rise of Skywalker. Undoubtedly his inclusion on this expansive project brings the overall picture some much-needed energy and enthusiasm (let’s call it that tried-and-true Abrams pizzazz, lens flares included), righting the ship after the wobbly Episode VIII — The Last Jedi. Still, the new movie is far from perfect, leaving too many storylines incomplete and unexplored.
Rey (Daisy Ridley) rightfully takes her spot in the center of the narrative, and it is her arc that proves to be the most interesting and poignant for the saga. Taking the newfound role once immortalized by Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Rey is the Jedi whose training in the school of hard knocks is almost complete, and the conclusion of her transformation couldn’t be more timely because the Sith, headed by a newly resurrected Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), is about to make a last-ditch play at survival and galactic domination.
This central conflict, which includes the malleable soul-musings of Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the wisdom of Leia (the late Carrie Fisher), makes the cinematic project a worthy endeavor and one that deserves to be included and respected with the previous eight episodes.
The problem lies with what Abrams and his writing partner Chris Terrio decide to do with the many supporting characters, including the chivalrous Finn (John Boyega), the heroic Poe (Oscar Isaac), the valorous Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) and the nostalgic Lando (Billy Dee Williams). These characters, plus Naomi Ackie as Jannah and Richard E. Grant as General Pryde, don’t receive enough screen time and hardly any missions to accomplish. So, after episodes VII, VIII and IX, one begins to wonder what they were doing in the overall fabric of the story in the first place — especially, and most disappointingly, Finn, Poe and Rose.
One can only hope a future trilogy or offshoot movie will let Finn expand into the hero the audience knows he can be, or let Poe turn on his full Han Solo-esque demeneator, or maybe let Rose wrestle with the unique issues of her backstory.
There are also a few moments in Abrams’ film in which new ground rules dictate important plot points, and that is beyond annoying for fans who have devoted so many hours to learn the inner-workings of this galactic world. The point of reference is the ultimate, and inevitable, battle between Rey and Palpatine. At this late hour, a new quirk presents itself, one that may keep the emperor alive forever and Rey in a state of flux — but luckily (for the story, which is racing toward an end) or unluckily (for the audience who are trying to piece everything together) that new rule is largely forgotten and sidestepped. After all, the crowd needs its dazzling finale when good triumphs evil.
This is not to say The Last Skywalker is not enjoyable. It is — very much so. And there are several moments, including the final scene, that dutifully capture the energy of George Lucas’ initial vision. There are many inside jokes and fangirl/fanboy references, all of which make the experience something of a catharsis for dedicated fans, those people who have watched these Jedi antics as if they were a soap opera (which, of course, they are).
Still, Star Wars should be more than entertainment, more than nostalgia. The franchise built up an impressive canon, one that spills into TV shows, comics, stand-alone books and video games, and for the true believers, there needs to be more commentary and consideration on the mythology of the saga, on the deeper lessons of humanity and conflict, on the possibility of the future and the learning of the past.
On these more profound thoughts, The Last Skywalker largely fails. It’s an action movie that uses thematic material to service the plot, and that’s a shame because Star Wars has mostly staked its claim on being the reverse: letting the themes dictate the adventures.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Directed by J.J. Abrams. Written by Abrams and Chris Terrio, with the story by Abrams, Terrio, Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow. Starring Daisy Ridley, Carrie Fisher, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, Richard E. Grant, Domhnall Gleeson, Lupita Nyong’o, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Keri Russell, Kelly Marie Tran, Billy Dee Williams and Ian McDiarmid. Running time: 142 minutes. Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action. Rating: 
