Film review: «Star Wars – The Rise of Skywalker» is the worthy ending to a saga
18.12.2019
Translation: Eva Francis
«Star Wars – The Rise of Skywalker» is the last episode of the Skywalker saga. It’s overwhelming in its length and emotional force – it’s action-packed but never dull. It’s ending you were hoping for.
Let me get one thing straight: there are no spoilers in this review. I’m not going to talk about anything that isn’t mentioned in the trailers.
That's it. Over and done. Now that's what I call an ending. «Star Wars – The Rise of Skywalker» is all I hoped for and nothing I feared. It ranges from wonderfully playful and adventurous to deeply emotional and moving. All in all, an almighty piece of great art that never loses sight of its characters.
Is it a worthy ending to the Skywalker saga?
Absolutely.
If you didn’t like «The Last Jedi», you’ll love «The Rise of Skywalker».
Star Wars – Episode IX
The Resistance in the galaxy isn’t over yet. It’s led by General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher). Her best fighters include Stormtrooper deserter Finn (John Boyega) and star pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac). A spy who has infiltrated the evil First Order sends a message to the Resistance: A new darkness has emerged in the unknown regions of the galaxy – a darkness that's bigger and more powerful than the First Order and the Galactic Empire combined.
Source: Walt Disney Studios
Meanwhile, Rey (Daisy Ridley) is immersed in the Jedi books hidden on Ahch-To, exercises and explores the ways of the Force. Far away from the fights, she prepares for the ultimate confrontation with Ben Solo aka Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), who now leads the First Order. Rey is the last Jedi and the only one who can stand up to the rising evil.
She's the galaxy's last hope.
A strange first act
It's still dark when John Williams' iconic music plays for the last time while the final credits are shown. I feel empty. Overwhelmed. «Star Wars – The Rise of Skywalker» has just ended. My mind is racing.
I'm happy – happy that the last episode of the Skywalker saga isn't just convincing, but emotionally even more satisfying than I ever dared to hope. And I'm sad – sad that adventures of the Skywalkers have come to an end. Forever.
Source: Walt Disney Studios
Yes, «The Rise of Skywalker» provides answers. Answers to questions that were asked in the first part, «The Force Awakens», and weren't followed up in «The Last Jedi», the second part of the trilogy. We learn about the true origin of the Supreme Leader Snoke. At last.
However, it's a somewhat rocky road that takes us there. There’s too much going on in the first act. It seems rushed and superficial. All it does is entertain. That's great, its «Star Wars» at its finest, but it doesn't feel like an epic ending to the saga that began over 40 years ago. Not yet.
Why? About 80 percent of what the trailer shows happens in this first act. Yes, that's how much happens in it. In less than an hour, our loved characters experience adventures and visit three or four planets. New characters appear and disappear again. It's a bit like in «The Mandalorian», the Star Wars series on Disney+.
The first act feels like a different movie. It's not as alien as the Canto Bight scene in «The Last Jedi» and certainly not boring, but it doesn't really fit in with the rest.
Everything else, however, is convincing: the locations seem so real that it's hard to tell if they were shot in the studio or at outdoor locations. Despite a lot of CGI, «The Rise of Skywalker» rarely looks like a computer game – this was a major flaw of the prequel trilogy.
Source: Walt Disney Studios
Instead, every shot of the film shows how much time and effort was put into the settings, costumes, masks and robots or droids. Rarely has the Star Wars universe seemed more real.
And, indeed, used. In 1977, «Star Wars» pioneered the «used future» look. «The Rise of Skywalker» remains true to this concept.
Source: Walt Disney Studios
I love it. I could spend hours in this distant universe – and never wish to return.
The rest is perfection
The second act. It’s short but emotional. Hand me a handkerchief, would you?
What follows is a third act that Anakin Skywalker couldn't have described better in «Revenge of the Sith»: «This is where the fun begins.»
I’m not saying I haven’t enjoyed the movie so far. However, the story has now finally reached the point it's been navigating towards from the very start, but didn't quite know how to.
Every second of the third act is pure Star Wars bliss.
The action scenes are visually stunning. It's all or nothing. The galaxy is at stake. It's about good versus evil. And all major characters gather for the big get-together of Star Wars legends. Without exception. Very attentive «Clone Wars» and «Rebels» fans will even recognise Ahsoka Tano – I mention this deliberately, as it's almost impossible to notice their guest appearance if you don't know about it.
Source: Walt Disney Studios
It is a third act which, in its almost superhuman dimension, reminds me of the final battle in «Avengers: Endgame». And just like its Marvel counterpart, this final act doesn’t neglect its emotional core: its characters. Anyone who gets through this entire movie without shedding a tear has a heart made of Beskar.
The spectacle is captured by cameraman Dan Mindel who's proved to have a calm but skilful touch. He's filmed two of the three new «Star Trek» movies and «Star Wars – The Force Awakens». There's hardly a movie by «The Rise of Skywalker» director J. J. Abrams that didn't rely on Minel's camera work.
Speaking of J.J. Abrams: this man deserves a statue.
J. J. Abrams and the thing about «The Last Jedi»
I mean what I said about the statue. Abrams didn't just direct this movie, he also wrote the script. Not for the first time: in 2015, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy hired him to direct «The Force Awakens», the first part of the new trilogy. In doing so, she handed him the keys to the «Star Wars» franchise, which had long become iconic and extended its reach far beyond cinema to books, comics and video games.
The most important of these stories is the Skywalker saga.
Source: Walt Disney Studios
The saga began in 1977 with a young farm boy (Mark Hamill), written by George Lucas. Four decades, three trilogies and nine films later, it's J. J. Abrams who ends the saga. Not an easy undertaking, especially as the Star Wars fan community is a critical audience: «The Last Jedi» was celebrated by critics, but left fans upset.
Abrams seems to agree with the fans. He hardly ever picks up on story elements that were introduced by «The Last Jedi» director Ryan Johnson. Having said that, Johnson didn’t either when he took over Abram's role as director for the second part.
In fact, «The Rise of Skywalker» feels like a sequel to «The Force Awakens». For better or for worse.
Here's an example: the concept of the Knights of Ren – Kylo's personal warrior squad – is reintroduced. To my delight. I like the Knights of Ren, even though they don't have much to do in «The Force Awakens». Ryan Johnson cut them out of «The Last Jedi» because he wanted to play with the expectations of the fans – to the point where he didn't just surprise but also upset them with twists.
Director Abrams has reverted this.
Source: Walt Disney Studios
No, he doesn't disregard the connecting movie that fans hate so much. Not really. But he doesn't build on it either. Instead, he makes corrections. They are noticeable because some of the character developments aren't in line with what happened in «The Last Jedi». It's impossible to go into more detail without giving too much away. Let me put it this way: If you didn’t like «The Last Jedi», you’ll love «The Rise of Skywalker». Even – or especially – in scenes that seem to have been created to apologise to angry fans.
Halfway through the movie, there's a scene that can only be interpreted as subbing «The Last Jedi». As a member of the «The Last Jedi» fan community, small though it may be, I didn't like this, but I couldn't help but smile.
I was, in fact, smiling during the entire 142 minutes.
The Force is strong with this one
«Star Wars – The Rise of Skywalker» is of a spectacular and almost overwhelming scale and yet, it has an emotional significance that matches the action. It's an emotional roller coaster that, despite a somewhat unmotivated yet entertaining first act, is largely satisfying and deeply moving.
What seemed laboured to me, however, were the obvious efforts to correct «The Last Jedi», making it fall out of place in the trilogy. This seemed almost apologetic – like a peace offer to the angry fans. «Star Wars – The Rise of Skywalker» fulfils many of the hopes fans had for «The Last Jedi».
Source: Walt Disney Studios
In spite of everything, I love «Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker». I enjoyed every second of it, shed tears and applauded its best moments.
And now that the journey has ended, all that’s left for me to say is:
Skywalkers, I'm gonna miss you.
Luca Fontana
Senior Editor
Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.chI'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.»
