Tried to do too much!

Rating: 7/10 (19 December 2019)

Hi Simon and Mark,
I went to see The Rise Of Skywalker yesterday with my wife, 19 year old son and 13 year old autistic son. We are all massive Star Wars fans and were so excited that the movie had finally arrived. Are overall feelings were that it was about a 7/10 and very much a missed opportunity. They simply tried to cram far too much into one movie probably as they were committed to ending the series on the 9th episode. This meant that the film felt like a series of set pieces rather than a story unwinding. It also meant that many new entries into the Star Wars world just didn't have the time to settle into the film. i.e. D-0 and Zori Bliss, they just appear without any introduction and the director assumes we will just add them to the clan without complaining. The acrobatic jump that Rey does in the desert is far more thrilling in the trailer and the moment when C-3PO says goodbye to his friends is also much sadder in the trailer, work that one out. The incredibly dangerous journey across the skyscraper sized waves could and should have been far more exciting and thrilling but once again it was skipped over like it was a walk in the park... and the second time we don't even see it! I know this is a spoiler but the appearance of Solo IS by far the highlight of the film and it says everything about the stature and charisma of Harrison Ford that apart from Daisey Ridley and Adam Driver nobody else comes near for movie presence in this move although I have to admit Richard E. Grant is very good. The climatic ending just about saves the film mainly down to the performances of Ridley and Driver. The one huge negative was the same sex kiss mainly because it stood out like a sore thumb and took us all out of the moment like great big alarm bells announcing the obligatory politically correct moment! If it's set in an undefined time in the future why does it have to relate to Earth in 2019? Surely that's the point of Sci-fi isn't it? For eight movies the Star Wars universe has been securely anchored and now you tell me that lesbianism has just come into fashion? They could have saved it for the next franchise and left the nine intact but I suppose they couldn't help themselves. Shame.
Malcolm Middleton.