Based upon characters and situations created by George Lucas
Story by Derek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow and Chris Terrio & J.J. Abrams
Screenplay Written by Chris Terrio & J.J. Abrams
Directed by J.J. Abrams
**** (four stars)
RATED PG 13
Enthralling, extravagant, enormously entertaining, explosive, exhilarating, excessive and exhausting, we have reached the conclusion of the story, 42 years in the making, set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
I vividly remember the year 1980, the year in which I was 11 years old and was already salivating with anticipation for the release of what was then the second "Star Wars" film, "The Empire Strikes Back." It was within the corresponding TIME magazine article, written and published just before the film's release, where I (and therefore, everyone) discovered precisely what series creator George Lucas had in mind regarding the further adventures of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo and their friends as they continued their battles against the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader.
The article revealed that Lucas' plans were essentially delivered within that film's opening text crawl as we would all see the words, "Episode V." At that time, George Lucas announced that his vision for "Star Wars" would consist of three different trilogies, a whopping nine films overall, and that we were (then) currently viewing the middle trilogy, with Episodes I-III focusing on the times before Luke Skywalker and Episodes VII-IX focusing on our central triumvirate at their advanced ages. That news blew my mind apart, just as it did for all of my friends, and, as I would presume, everyone of my generation whose lives were forever transformed by the original, inaugural 1977 film. It also made me perform some serious mathematics at the time because if each film took three years to make and then, there were obviously seven more films to go, then I would be...32 years old when the whole thing was said and done in the year 2001?!
It just felt so impossible, so inconceivable and still so incredible to behold, I was ready to spend my life taking this ride into this cinematic universe that had so enraptured and enveloped me from that very first film on its' opening day, no matter how long it took to play out and however old I was once the finish line had been reached.
As of this writing, I am 50 years old and the "Star Wars" saga has taken its fair share of twists and turns over these past 42 years, with all manner of stops and starts and even Lucas' self-removal from the creation of the films altogether. But, here we are, Episode IX, fully graced with the title "The Rise Of Skywalker," is finally in the world and as advertised, it is indeed the epic conclusion to the full story of the Skywalker family, which, by no small feat whatsoever, has been valiantly brought to us by Director J.J. Abrams.
"The Rise Of Skywalker" is indeed a terrific film, as it is resoundingly well made, furiously presented and in complete reverence to the universe George Lucas built. But that being said, the film is not quite as smooth of a ride as Abrams' "Star Wars: Episode VII-The Force Awakens" (2015) or Writer/Director Rian Johnson's polarizing "Star Wars: Episode VIII-The Last Jedi" (2017), which, in my opinion, absolutely soared, nearly redefining what a "Star Wars" movie could actually be.
But any struggles have got to be evident when any filmmaker has taken up the intense, immense challenge of completing a nine chapter story that they never even began in the first place. Yet, once those final end credits began to pepper the galaxy of stars, my heart was profoundly full and yes...my face was flush with tears.
"Star Wars: Episode IX-The Rise Of Skywalker" opens one year after the events of "The Last Jedi" as the decimated forces of the Resistance, still under the steady guiding hand of General Leia Organa (the late, great Carrie Fisher), are preparing to make their last ditch effort against the fascistic First Order and Supreme Leader Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
As our heroes Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and BB-8 gear up for what will essentially be the Resistance's last stand against galactic tyranny, Rey (Daisy Ridley), more advanced than ever in the ways of the Force will also come to the fullness of terms with her identity, history and legacy, as well as her connection with Kylo Ren.
But even greater (and not a spoiler, so do not worry), is the orchestration of all of the events by the nightmarish influence of the resurrected Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid, clearly relishing every moment), and his Final Order, which threatens to engulf the galaxy in 1000 generations of the Sith forever.
I have to say at the outset that I do not envy J.J. Abrams one bit because when conceiving of an ending, how does one even begin? I really began to house these feelings even more as I have re-watched "The Last Jedi" several times over these past two years, and what continues to strike me so powerfully about that film is its sense of completeness. Yes, there are the obvious plot threads that are left open at that film's conclusion, but what Rian Johnson grandly accomplished for me was to deliver a "Star Wars" movie that was so full, in and of itself, that by its final shot, we had a vision that encapsulated the entirety of the "Star Wars" experience so thoroughly that I literally wanted for nothing and if the films ended there, I would have been sated.
Rian Johnson's "The Last Jedi" was the singular "Star Wars" film that simultaneously honored, celebrated and most importantly, challenged its own legacy and existence, therefore, allowing whatever that followed the freedom to be potentially anything at all.
Now, we now that these films were not created in their respective vacuums, so to speak as both J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson were aware of what each other was doing within their respective films. Even so, I can only imagine how daunting it must have been to take up the mantle to finish the entire saga, especially after Johnson's idiosyncratic definitiveness. Yet, I can also imagine that one cannot be tentative about something like this and one just needs to get to the business of the thing and make the movie. Or as Yoda once said long ago, "Do or do not. There is no try."
With "The Rise Of Skywalker," J.J. Abrams hits light speed from the film's first moments and does not let up for a solitary second. Trust me, this is not hyperbole from me. Abrams' pacing is white lightning as he propels us from one moment to another with such whiplash inducing alacrity that it is almost counter productive to the entire proceedings.
I am actually surprised that I am making this kind of an observation but there were points where I wanted him to actually slow down. Of course, the urgency of the film's plot dictates the pacing to a degree but mostly, "The Rise Of Skywalker," as least for much of its first half, felt like an orchestra of ideas, plot points, revelations, confrontations and surprises that all arrived with the same fever dream intensity and therefore, without much nuance and the result undercut its own sense of awe from time to time.
Yes, J.J. Abrams flies so fast that he nearly careens off of the rails. This film has marked, for me, the very first time that I have had the odd sensation of watching Abrams struggle as a storyteller as he throws so much at us so rapidly that at best, it carried the "we-have-so-much-to-get-through-in-just-so-much-time" effect, and at its worst, it felt like the first time a "Star Wars" movie was trying to sneak something past me through the sheer...ahem...force of its own velocity.
No matter what has ever occurred within the previous eight chapters and two stand alone features, I always have felt that, for better or for worse, George Lucas believed in his own material. That other filmmakers within this expansive saga believed in their own material. With "The Rise Of Skywalker," J.J. Abrams blinks a little, (or mistakenly allowed the voices of the fan community get in his ear) as if he doesn't quite believe the revelations he is unveiling, as the film seemed unwilling to take a moment of pause to allow its story to resonate fully.
As you can see from my personal star rating, I have awarded the film with my highest posting of four stars but as I have often expressed on this site, star ratings are arbitrary and not all four star movies are the same. In the case of this latest, final trilogy in the Skywalker saga, "The Rise Of Skywalker" falls a tad short from its two predecessors, but that being said, once the film settles and allows itself to grow quiet, to meditate within itself, to bring its core themes to their fullest fruition, man does this film RISE!!!
All of the action sequences, costumes, set designs, visual effects are the pinnacle of their dazzling wonderment. Jedi Master Composer John Williams should receive a special award celebrating the unparalleled skill and beauty to which he has told the entirety of this nine chapter saga musically, where all of his signature themes are felt within every synapse and nerve ending. But it is through J.J. Abrams' entire cast, all of whom work wonders, thus ensuring our connection to these characters remains paramount amidst all of the pyrotechnics, interstellar dogfights, shoot-outs, predicaments and escapes and most certainly, the whirlwind lightsaber duel set atop the ruins of the fallen Death Star in a howling sea storm.
Daisy Ridley has taken her three film arc in the odyssey of Rey, from desert scavenger to Jedi Knight, and has performed brilliantly, making this journey of mythological self-discovery succeed as equally as it is a story of empowerment and independence. Her determination pulsates and radiates from the screen resulting in one of the richest acting performances within the entire series. To that end, Adam Driver is molten lava! He remains as outstanding as ever as his raging internal conflict, combined with his intimidating physicality and presence, has made Kylo Ren the saga's most turbulent member of the Skywalker clan as well as its most compelling and magnetic. When he is on screen, you hardly look at anything else.
Carrie Fisher...
Of course, to again witness the sight of the late Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa, who passed away in 2016 after the filming of "The Last Jedi," is fraught with a tremendous bittersweetness. In a film that already possessed considerable cinematic mountains to climb, I do give great credit to Abrams to did execute some striking movie magic through the insertion of unused footage from "The Force Awakens" in a creative, inventive and story driven fashion, allowing us to luxuriate in her gravitas and allow her a proper farewell.
And of course, I would be more than remiss if I did not express how wonderful it was to witness the smooth as the silken cosmos Billy Dee Williams in his grand return as Lando Calrissian. It appeared that he was as thrilled to be back in the cape as well as in the seat of the Millennium Falcon as we are to see him again. And in the spirit of the film's finality, just regard the strength of his performance as he wordlessly observes all around him. He captures the poignancy and poetry of the character, the fullness of the story and most importantly, our relationship to all we have seen and experienced throughout this entire journey.
In his review of "Return Of The Jedi" (1983), the late, great Roger Ebert took notice of a throwaway yet profound moment that occurs after Luke Skywalker has escaped from and vanquished the fearsome Rancor while trapped in the bowels of Jabba The Hutt's lair. It is a moment when the Rancor's keeper comes upon the creature's lifeless body and then breaks down in sobs as this was his pet. Ebert remarked that within the "Star Wars" universe, everyone loves someone.
Despite its flaws, J.J. Abrams' "The Rise Of Skywalker" is indeed a testament to the love that flows throughout the entire saga within all of the characters and it is because of that purity of heart, the notion that the act of love towards one another is the only thing that will save us from the end is a core theme and message that permeates from fantasy into our very grim realities of the 21st century.
As tyranny rises and fascism knocks louder and louder upon our doors, the film, through the Resistance and their battle against the Final Order, passionately expresses that we are only as alone as we may think. Part of what makes such evil succeed is to convince the masses that their numbers are greater than they actually are so how do we combat something that feels insurmountable?
Well...in the case of "Star Wars," all we need to do is to look at the all of the misfits, outcasts, loners and cast aways who all found each other, banded together and found the drive within themselves to become unlikely heroes, all standing upon the shoulders of each other as well as all who came before themselves. With "The Rise Of Skywalker," we have reached the culmination of this journey and it is the love that J.J. Abrams clearly holds for "Star Wars," a love that mirrors the love we hold for it ourselves and which shines as brightly and as powerfully as the most luminous lightsaber through one exquisitely presented grace note after another.
J.J. Abrams' "The Rise Of Skywalker" certainly shakes the theater walls with copious excitement and several stand up and cheer moments. But, the sheer emotion of the film is staggering as it fully earns any and all tears we may happen to shed as we experience and remember and know so completely that The Force will be with us...always.
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