‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ is the conclusion to the Disney trilogy and the saga which began with George Lucas. That is an extremely daunting task for director J.J. Abrams. Rest assured, this will be a spoiler’s free review. I’m happy to report that it is highly entertaining. Many diehard fans have an impossible checklist of requirements for it to meet. What do these fans want? The bottom line is that the movie contains cool characters and amazing space battles. It is truly escapism at its finest. It has plenty of nostalgic fan service. That’s okay since it is done tastefully. “Never underestimate a droid.” Never underestimate the power of Star Wars. It’s a fun afternoon for the entire family.
From the opening crawl with the iconic John Williams’ score, we’re thrust into a galaxy far, far away. Rey (Daisy Ridley) is continuing her Jedi training. Poe (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega) have learned a terrible secret about the Final Order.. The friendship between Rey, Finn and Poe is terrific. It mirrors the chemistry of Han, Luke and Leia back in the day. It is nice to see the return of droids C-3PO, R2-D2 and BB-8. Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) behind the controls of the Millennium Falcon with the smooth-talking Lando Carlrissian (Billy Dee Williams) is cinematic gold. We also get to see Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) as a Force Ghost delivering advice to Rey like he received from Obi Wan Kenobi. These scenes never feel like they are pandering to the audience.
The action and visual effects are impressive. The lightsaber battles do not feel mechanically choreographed. Every time the characters swing a lightsaber, it is executed with raw emotion. Make no mistake about it, Daisy Ridley carries the weight of this film. Her performance is superb. She has a relentless determination to always do the right thing. There is one subplot that falters a bit. Finn is ready to reveal some information to her in one harrowing scene. It is abandoned so she never gets to hear what he wanted to say her. There is a criticism that too much is crammed into the movie. Too much exposition can hurt a film. The pacing was fast but it delivers the thrills and energy of ‘The Force Awakens.’ It’s difficult to complain about skipping from one adventure to the next in rapid succession. Star Wars has always been based on old serials that follow the same formula.
Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is back. The dynamic between him and Rey gives the film its emotional resonance. They both straddle the light and dark forces. Rey must grapple with her identity. It undoubtedly sends a powerful message regarding choosing one’s destiny. They have an epic fight scene atop the wreckage of a Death Star. It’s breathtaking to watch. If you’re worried that ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ will have the same tone as ‘The Last Jedi,’ you can breathe a sigh of relief. J.J. Abrams directed ‘The Force Awakens’ and gives fans what they have been waiting for in the final saga. It delivers the emotional stakes!
J.J. Abrams managed to steer the ship back into orbit. It’s never easy to try to please everyone. One thing is for sure, ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ is a crowd-pleaser. When I walked out of the cinema, I had a warm feeling inside. It was the same feeling that I had when I saw a George Lucas Star Wars movie. In the end, that’s all you can ask for.
