A lacking finale that damages the saga

Rating: 6/10 (23 December 2019)

A lacking finale that damages the saga
As made evident from critic reviews and some of the fan base, Rise of Skywalker fails to act as a satisfying close out to the sequel trilogy and overall 9 part saga.
George Lucas always intended Star Wars to be a 9 part story and without his involvement the sequel trilogy comes off as an unnecessary add on to the 6 part saga by Lucas. Kathleen Kennedy as a producer has failed to guide this trilogy in a compelling and consistent way. Each episode although two directed by JJ, all feel like they contradict one another. Kennedy failed in having a game plan which shows and feels like each one that followed from Force Awakens was made up as they went along.
In terms of the movie itself overall I felt it was a poorly made film in terms of writing, direction, score sadly (Sorry John) and visual fx. As a Star Wars movie it disrespected what came before it. There were some positives for me but mostly negatives. Shame to be said for such a franchise. This is not a Rian Vs JJ debate if anything J.J. tries to complement some things from the last Jedi as well as rewrite. Not all together ignore it as some have pointed out.
Now let's look into the movie itself...
First off Palpatine. We've known his returning but Abrams fails to tease us or build up to Palpatine within the movie. His execution is terrible. From the start of the movie he is handed to us in plain sight. His the big bad, his back and his been behind everything with a done now let's move on with the rest of the film attitude. For me it felt like an episode from a TV show, cramming in what they could like a "previously on Star Wars", too much like a montage opening with Kylo Ren obtaining the way finder and meeting Palpatine, teasing Rey, showing off his new Sith army and revealing Snokes origins. The reveal of Snoke was a nice little touch for me and worked well tying him to Palpatine. One of a few positives found with the film. Palpatine within this film does come across as such an evil and creepy, disturbing villain ever more than he has in previous episodes thanks to Ian's performance and the surrounding he is put in. Palpatine's inclusion bob aids the film and hinders it. The biggest gripe for me is the reveal of his son, making Rey his granddaughter. This does not add up for me as none of this has been hinted at, nor mentioned in previous films and when would have Palpatine had a child and who with doesn't add up. I'm ok with Rey being a palpatine but it would of worked better for me if she was a distant relative, more of a niece than direct descendant as a granddaughter. It just raises too many questions that will remain unanswered. It comes off as a lazy reveal to Rey, creating Palpatine with a family blood line. As well as tying in the Skywalker family too with palpatine also being Anakins father, thus making Rey and Kylo Ren related.
Now to our Heroes. Enter the millennium falcon which thanks to modern technology has become a CGI cartoonish prop for J.J. Abrams. Like In Force Awakens he uses the Falcon in over the top ways and like in Rise of Skywalker is obsessed with crashing the dam thing. Only for it to be perfectly flyable again. The light speed skipping makes no logical sense in the opening tie fighter pursuit. Tie fighters do not light speed, unless they were caught up in the light speed skip with the falcon? But as mentioned In the original trilogy doing such as thing could result in ending up anywhere and crash. In cliche style our heroes have near misses that result in the enemies being destroyed as they follow.
I hated everything about this action sequence leaving a bad taste in my mouth.
Now to Rey. Rey training under the tutelage of Leia. This felt like a natural relationship between these characters and to know that Leia once trained as a Jedi was a great addition to her legacy. How they handle Leia is magnificent throughout this film and you almost forget that Carrie Fisher was not around to shoot for this film. Unfortunately and this is where I thought it was unnecessary her character dies, making a fourth wall nod to Fishers untimely passing. I don't think the character needed to end this way. She could have lived on in my eyes and survived the fight, or even better self sacrifice herself In the battle against the Emperor in some way. The on screen death didn't hit me emotionally as I think it should have. If anything it felt confusing connecting her to Kylo Ren in his fight against Rey. So did Rey kill Leia in order to free Ben Solo of the dark side?
Rey herself as a character has fallen false since last Jedi. Last Jedi was terrible for her as she only acted as a tool to further develop Luke, Fin and Kylo Ren as characters, having learned nothing or developing. Cut to Rise and she's an even powerful Jedi which I understand but she seems to reject the use of a Lightsaber? This has never been an issue for the character in the last 2 episodes and adds no weight to her rejection in Rise of Skywalker. Again she's the character that can do everything and anything to get through the story. The only interesting aspect of Rey as a character is her venerability and sense of belonging due to her past. In this movie once Reys parentage is revealed she then becomes an interesting character as she defines herself by her actions and not her heritage. Thus the rise of Skywalker. A mistake that Ben Solo made and Luke Skywalker.
For me the only two interesting character arcs across the trilogy have been Ben Solo and Fin. Fin ultimately becomes a far better resistance leader than Poe, whose character was well liked in force awakens and since then has got worse and worse as a character. Leaving me to ultimately dislike him. His terrible as a leader, his arrogance gets people killed and I just don't believe in him. I mostly blame the last Jedi for his character development but rise of Skywalker doubles up by making him a C3PO bully.
Thankfully 3PO is given a nice inclusion in the main story since Return of the Jedi. However I feel like he faces nothing but abuse In this film which is a disrespect to the character. I know his number played as that annoying know it all I told you so character, but the way his treated by the other characters is just unfair. Why the hate? I didn't understand it, I felt sorry for him. Although he had a bit to do his part In story made no sense to me when it comes to the Sith dagger.
So an ancient weapon installed with a compass based off of Death Star debris used to pinpoint the location of the way finder is nonsensical? Also what are the odds that when the death star blew up that the way finder survived? Why would the way finder be on the second Death Star? It was never a safe place, still being under construction? It would have made sense if the way finder was stored on courasant or some an ancient Sith temple not some nostalgia location. This whole plot point threw me out of the movie. One positive note is the final lightsaber battle on the Death Star debris with the crashing waves. A beautifully shot fight, the only decent action sequence throughout the movie.
So the mole subplot. It was so obviously Hux he hates Kylo Ren. At least have him hinder Kylo in some way but he never does he just addresses Palpatines return to the resistance. Again lazy writing for me we knew it would be him and they made it too clear. His death was a welcomed one. His one character I never quite got used to in force awakens. I feel an actor like Benedict Cumberbatch would have suited the role better.
The new characters. General Pryde was a welcome addition a cold and stern member of the first order. Someone focused on the task at hand. A no nonsense superior. Zorri looked the part and added weight to Poes character and that was all. D0 was actually quite charming didn't expect it. For the other characters they're forgettable. Biggest crime of all the knights of Ren. Literally all they do is peer round corners in a creepy way. A missed opportunity to recreate another last Jedi throne room fight. Why do they all of a sudden turn on Kylo when it seems they are loyal to him? Something I was surprised Abrams didn't build upon from their tease in force awakens.
Returning characters wasted. Lando underused and Wedges pointless.
Now for the final act. Death Star destroyers. What next storm troopers with Death Star laser eyes jumping around on pogo sticks. It sounded ridiculous and took away from the whole need of the Death Star. The size of it warrens that kind of power, as does star killer base. But to reduce it down to a canon that just doesn't sit well with me. Another ridiculous moment comes in the EMP knock out on the resistance ships from Palpatine. Yet no ship manages to be harmed or plummet to death. An over the top visual spectacle. Poorly executed action with too much CGI and lack of Sith troopers.
The highlight of the 3rd act is palatines true return to power. Ben and Rey teaming up and their self sacrifices for one another with Rey surviving Bens last right of his wrongs. A fitting conclusion.
While they get the Sith Jedi fighter right they fail with the resistance final order fight which is heavily overshadowed.
Thus Rey rises as a Skywalker and returns to where is all started. A great final scene to close out the film, however you somewhat feel yourself going did it have to end this way?
A conflicted mess that answers some questions, raises more, reshapes characters, defines characters, features some dumb plot points and reminds us that the original trilogy was the only high note your ever get from the series. Let all things end.