This movie takes a massive dump on Return Of The Jedi

Rating: 6/10 (21 December 2019)

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker.
A movie that is so hard to love because it makes no sense but is still marginally enjoyable if you give in to your inner stupid and turn down the volume on your expectations.
It certainly is a good looking movie with fine cinematography, class leading special effects and sumptuous set design but the less said about editing and pacing the better.
This film has many serious issues.
That said there is spectacle aplenty and great performances by all.
Particularly by Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver who do their best with what script they have to work with (and boy oh boy it's not much).
Both actors have become genuine movie-stars but sadly they can't save this movie.
It is now painfully and sadly obvious that Disney had no clear plan for this trilogy before they went ahead with production on the first film.
Continuity and reason are certainly in a galaxy far far away from this new trilogy.
Like Dr Ian Malcolm once said "They were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
Disney saw dollar signs after acquiring their new hot property and rushed in.
The three films in this new trilogy don't gel. They feel disconnected from each other.
All stories good or bad must have a beginning, middle and an ending.
This is basic story writing.
This trilogy seems to have been made up as they went along. A collection of ideas from different people that don't come together.
Each episode palmed off onto a new director who have their own vision but failed to collaborate with the director of the film that went before.
There simply is no cohesion between instalments resulting in the most inchoate trilogy in cinematic history.
In many ways this last instalment takes a massive dump on the original movies, particularly 'Return Of The Jedi'.
It undoes the triumphant finale of episode six and dishonours all the achievements our original heroes accomplished.
"Why and how?" you may ask.
Well unless you've been living on the Hoth planet for the last six month you'll be aware that Emperor Palpatine is back!
It's no spoiler. He's in the trailer and his ugly mug is even on the poster.
It's never really explained how or even why.
Palpatine just turns up out of nowhere and we the audience are supposed to accept this.
Sure there's a feeble attempt to explain why but it's pathetic and laughable.
Snoke snuffed it so a new villain is needed.
Abrams and his writing team must have scrambled around in desperation trying to come up with a solution and this is what we get!
It's all convoluted and disrespectful to the original trilogy.
Bringing Palpatine back spoils the ultimate sacrifice Darth Vader made at the end of
'Return Of The Jedi'.
I do believe that Director JJ Abrams was painted into a corner after the direction Rian Johnson took 'The Last Jedi' in.
What could Abrams do to get the franchise back on track and appease all those furious fans?
"Let's bring back all that the fans want and love!"
I can imagine these words been mistakenly proclaimed out loud in a Disney boardroom meeting.
What the fans want and would love is a fresh and engaging story set in the universe that George Lucas created.
We did start to get this with 'The Force Awakens'
but by the time this third movie arrives all hope has been lost.
I was never a fan of Lucas's prequel trilogy but at least George tried to do something new.
All this new trilogy has done is kill off a bunch of characters that we love and grew up with.
The thought of seeing Luke, Han and Lea together again on a new adventure was the ticket seller. Did we get this? No!
I admit it I loved 'The Force Awakens' and looked forward to what would come next.
Hoping to see my beloved childhood heroes team up with the new blood and save the day.
Abrams cannot solely be blamed for 'The Rise Of Skywalker's' failings.
He set up an interesting story with episode seven only for Johnson to derail it with episode eight.
It's plain to see that Disney have tried to bury most of the things that happened in Johnson's film and revert to fan service in this final episode.
But say what you will of Johnson's 'Last Jedi' at least like Lucas with his prequels, Rian Johnson tried to do something original.
Even if he did butcher the character of Luke Skywalker!
The problem with this new trilogy is that there has been no communication or collaboration between the creators of the individual films.
If one chef starts to make a cream cake only for the second chef to come along take over and ditch the fresh cream and decide to use mince beef instead. The cake's not going to turn out well!
Abrams has to then come along and apply the icing to complete the cake.
'The Rise Of Skywalker' is like that icing on the cake! But not icing in a good way.
Let's bombard the audience with sweet sugary fan service and hopefully they won't notice that underneath this film and the trilogy in its entirety makes absolutely no sense.
Like that cream cake, it's going to leave a bad taste in your mouth. Especially since everyone has been invested in this since 2015!
The first two movies were so disconnected from each other that Abrams is left with 2hr 21mins to try and get the franchise back on track with a meaningful, pleasing and coherent closure.
He and more importantly Disney have failed and failed miserably with The Rise Of Skywalker'.
Sadly no amount of icing can save a mince beef flavoured cream cake!