Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars Episode IX: 

The Rise of Skywalker

Starring Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac

Directed by J.J. Abrams

The great storyteller Aesop once told a tale about a miller, his son, and the ass (donkey for the uninitiated) they planned to sell at market.  As they walked down the street they didn't get on the donkey so as to keep his value high, but they run across some travelers who mock them for not riding the donkey.  The miller then let his son ride, until they run into merchants who mock the boy for riding while the older man walked, so they switched.  Upon arriving on some women, they mocked them again for allowing an old fool to ride while the child was forced to walk.  They both decide to ride the donkey, until they're again ridiculed for both riding the poor donkey, so they decide to carry the donkey together.  Finally the donkey, fed up with people mocking him for being carried, kicked and brayed until the ropes gave way and he tumbled into a river.  The man and son then went home dejected, without their ass, and learned that by trying to please everybody, they had pleased nobody.

So what does this have to do with "The Rise of Skywalker?"  Ever since Disney acquired the long-beloved franchise from George Lucas, there were naysayers who felt they would drive the franchise into the dirt - I still remember an old meme depicting a scene from "Star Wars," but instead of Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, and Harrison Ford it was Zac Efron, Selena Gomez, and Justin Bieber.  Early on people had their doubts about the new direction, and the release of "The Force Awakens" did little to quell that fear, despite it earning enough to be the highest grossing domestic movie of all time.  People - particularly "Star Wars" fans - either loved or hated the film, but pretty much all agreed it seemed like a re-telling of the first "Star Wars."

Taking their grievances into account, Disney brought in Rian Johnson to direct "The Last Jedi," and made a whole new "Star Wars" story that was entirely, completely, unabashedly different from any other "Star Wars" movie before - and fans were outraged.  They felt "The Last Jedi" did a severe disservice to the franchise they've grown up with (even Mark Hamill had his issues), and it seemed like nothing was going to please these diehard fans - but Disney was set on proving them wrong.

They brought back Abrams (who was the safe choice, as even with their detractors, "The Force Awakens" was still a fantastic "Star Wars" addition, if not solely for the nostalgia) to direct the third - and final - installment in the Skywalker Saga, "The Rise of Skywalker."  Hopes were undoubtedly high, and the results were - mixed, to say the least.  Critics based it, it was on several lists as one of the least liked in the entire franchise, but the audiences generally seemed to enjoy themselves (something different than "The Last Jedi," which was praised by critics but demeaned by audiences).  Personally, I really enjoyed this final chapter, even with its faults, but I couldn't help but feel a continued sense of tension throughout the film that had nothing to do with the literal story.

Much like Aesop's fable, I felt that Disney and Abrams were the miller and son carrying their ass (their most prized possession, which was the new "Star Wars" franchise) to the market in hopes of producing a lucrative payout, and the final result is the ass's own kicking that sent him tumbling into the river.  Throughout the film I felt that they really wanted to appease the fanbase, and almost broke the fourth wall continually by seemingly asking the audience if they were enjoying themselves - "did we have enough callbacks to the originals?"  "Did you enjoy that last light saber fight?"  "We know you don't like Rose, so we relegated her to a very supporting character now, are you pleased?"  "We brought Palpatine back, do you like that?"  "We pretty much forgot 'The Last Jedi' exists and totally retconned several aspects of that film, does this please you?"  While they weren't blatantly obvious in doing this, I felt that "The Rise of Skywalker" tried to play itself too safe, and ultimately ended up failing in trying to please everyone, but at least they managed to please many - so that's a plus for them.

"Skywalker" follows the exploits of Resistance leaders Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe (Oscar Isaac) - along with fan favorites Chewbacca and C-3PO as they  embark on an adventure to find a MacGuffin that'll give them access to Palpatine's secret base, all the while fighting the First Order and the new Supreme Leader Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).  Their adventure sends the group throughout the galaxy, all the while maintaining the relationship between Rey and Kylo, both of whom struggle with their past and who they're supposed to be.

Coming from a complete non-"Star Wars" fan (I never saw the originals until after seeing Episodes 1-3, which every time I tell someone that it makes me feel like I'm the only person in the world who actually watched the films in chronological order) I found myself entertained throughout the film, as there really wasn't a dull moment, and the characters worked very well off one another.  Each planet brought new dangers, new locales, and new friends and enemies, and there wasn't a stagnant moment in its two and a half hour runtime (which, somehow, felt even shorter than it was).  The visuals, as per usual, are "Star Wars" bread and butter, and the final epic battle was truly epic, heralding a long-awaited battle over forty years in the making.

The entire cast performs admirably, but its Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver who really drives the narrative as Rey and Kylo, who represent the two sides of the Force, and who share an unbreakable bond that's viewed throughout as a means of communication between the two.  Both actors play their parts as flawed, broken people (heightened by the fact that Kylo repairs the mask that he once broke, but it too bears the marks of brokenness) who equally want to face their past and run from it, and also equally want to embrace their future and run from it as well.  You can really sense a disturbance in the Force with these two, and their constant battles and arguments are the strength of the film.

Likewise John Boyega and Oscar Isaac are given more to work with here than before, and they give it their all, but the other main highlight is in the original cast, including Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, and the welcome return of "Star Wars"'s big bad, Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine, along with the additional welcomed return of Billy Dee Williams and his iconic role of Lando Calrissian.  Yet it's the posthumous performance by Carrie Fisher who gives heart to the film, having used unused footage from "The Force Awakens" to add her into the story without using CGI and giving her a proper sendoff along with the franchise as a whole.

On top of all the action, there's deeply emotional moments as well, something you'd expect from the end of a franchise that's over forty years old, spanning several movies, television shows, cartoons, video games, and comic books.  On more than one occasion I found myself tearing up, both in excitement and sadness, and yet the film didn't feel like it was the last - there were more questions than answers by the end, and it seems that while this was the final chapter, there's an epilogue that's still going to be written - Disney can't completely kill off its cash cow just yet.

Offering one final story in the epic Skywalker Saga, "The Rise of Skywalker" serves as the ultimate fan service to its generations of loyal followers, while providing enough action-packed pieces and tender moments that'll make even the most uninitiated feel like they're part of the group.

The Score: A+