REVIEW: “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (Spoiler Free)

StarWars95dae8bed21644Oh, Star Wars. Is it the curse of nearly every Star Wars film made after 1983 to be extremely divisive? While I wasn’t one of the people who abhorred The Last Jedi, I also wasn’t one of the people who adored it. There were some solid ideas (that, admittedly, weren’t executed very well) mixed in with some less-than-stellar ideas, and the movie didn’t really do a great job at setting up the final film in the trilogy – which, really, is the entire purpose of a trilogy’s middle film. So, in the wake of all of that, was it ever really possible for The Rise of Skywalker to actually be very good or remotely satisfying? I’d argue it wasn’t, which is exactly the mindset I went into this movie with. Somehow, I was still disappointed, though. In fact, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a deeply frustrating film. In trying to please everybody, it pleases nobody. It tries to cram too much plot, and too much poorly-thought-out fan service into too little a runtime to make something remotely interesting. (Very mild spoilers may follow; you’ve been warned.)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (written by J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio; directed by J.J. Abrams)
Lucasfilm and director J.J. Abrams join forces once again to take viewers on an epic journey to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the riveting conclusion of the seminal Skywalker saga, where new legends will be born and the final battle for freedom is yet to come.

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“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” – Episode IX Teaser Trailer Review

rise of skywalker rey

After what feels like ages of anticipation, the title of Star Wars: Episode IX has been revealed as The Rise of Skywalker. Today was the first day of panels at this year’s Star Wars: Celebration and, naturally, the whole shindig kicked off with a panel for Episode IX, complete with J.J. Abrams, Kathleen Kennedy, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Joonas Suotamo, and Naomi Ackie, where Stephen Colbert asked the cast and crew a bunch of questions about the film that none of them could really answer. The closest thing to any real information we got is that 1) some time passes between the ending of The Last Jedi and the beginning of The Rise of Skywalker, 2) Naomi Ackie plays a character named Jannah, and 3) The whole gang would be going on an adventure together. The really good reveals didn’t come until the last few minutes of the panel when the teaser trailer was finally shown, revealing the title of the film at the end of the trailer.

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If Only the Force Was With this Film (“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” review)

mv5bmjq1mzcxnjg4n15bml5banbnxkftztgwnzgwmjy4mzi-_v1_sy1000_cr006751000_al_I mean, it’s not the worst Star Wars film ever made nor is it the best. It’s better than Rogue One was, at least, though I didn’t much care for Rogue One, to be honest. It’s on the same level as The Force Awakens was, for me. Written and directed by Rian Johnson, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the eighth entry in the main series of Star Wars films. Picking up from where The Force Awakens left off, Star Wars: The Last Jedi follows the fledgling Resistance, led by General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), as they continue to wage war against the evil First Order, led by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) and his apprentice, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley) seeks help from Jedi Master (and hermit) Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) while First Order defector Finn (John Boyega) and low-level Resistance fighter Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) embark on a secret mission to aid the Resistance. (Mild spoilers follow)  Continue reading

REVIEW: Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Trailer #2)

Just a bit ago, a new trailer for the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi dropped, and I have some thoughts about it. Directed by Rian Johnson, Star Wars: The Last Jedi continues the story began in JJ Abram’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Picking up where The Force Awakens left off, The Last Jedi finds Rey (Daisy Ridley) having just found Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) on the planet Ahch-To. With Rey having taken her first steps into the larger Star Wars universe, The Last Jedi follows her as she continues her journey alongside Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac), and General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher). As always, further details on the plot are under lock and key, though this trailer seems to provide some more information on that front.  Continue reading

Lucasfilm Releases New Trailer for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”

It’s finally here! A trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi and HOLY CRAP. It doesn’t show much, but what it shows is all kinds of incredible. We, finally, hear Luke talk for the first time in these sequel movies, we see Rey doing some training in the Force, there’s a shot of Leia, a shot of what looks like Kylo Ren’s helmet shattered into pieces, some battle footage, some more of that flashback with the Knights of Ren (maybe?) and it all ends with Luke ominously saying, “It’s time for the Jedi to end.”

I mean, talk about a teaser trailer. I couldn’t be more excited for this movie right now. A+ to Disney and Lucasfilm for this trailer. It’s incredible and I can only hope that the actual movie is as good as this trailer looks.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is released in theaters on December 15, 2017.