Sunday, December 22, 2019

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker

Movie Name: Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker
Year of Release: 2019
Director: J.J. Abrams
Starring: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, Domhnall Gleeson, Lupita Nyongo, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Billy Dee Williams, Kelly Marie Tran, Billie Lourd, Ian McDiarmid, Shirley Henderson, Greg Grunberg, Dominic Monaghan, Alison Rose, Amanda Lawrence, Tanya Moodie
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
View Trailer

Synopsis and Review:
Prolific Writer/Producer and occasional director, J.J. Abrams is back to the "Star Wars" universe, following Colin Trevorrow's exit from the job. The film picks up after the events of the previous installment - the rebels are still dealing with the menacing empire, while Rey is coming to terms with her training under the tutelage of General Leia Organa. Kylo Ren in the meantime, uncovers that the root of the Sith power, actually lies with the long thought dead, Emperor Palpatine. The emperor, suspected gone since the events from "Return of the Jedi", is very much still alive, and has managed to create an army that threatens to destroy all opposition to the ambition of what he calls "The First Order". The only person standing in his path, is Rey, who carries with her the enigma of her past, which may itself be the solution to defeat the Emperor's plans. With the help of Poe and Finn, and their faithful droid companions, they set out to uncover the lair of the menacing Emperor, and put an end to his plans, before the deployment of the menacing squadron of ships.
"The Rise of Skywalker" is being hailed by the producing partners of this feature, and the studio where it hails from, Disney, as the final installment to the odyssey which started in 1977, with George Lucas's "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope". Specifically, the closing of the chapter surrounding the plot lines with Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo and the mythology built around those characters. The film, once again, proves that J.J. Abrams is a competent storyteller, if not an overly ambitious one. The film successfully ties the plot that started with "The Force Awakens", which in itself wasn't particularly engrossing and imaginative, but manages to close the arc on the narrative of the character Rey, who emerges as the final Jedi. It's a film that unlike the original trilogy, never manages to create a compelling foe to our trio of central heroes, who nonetheless travel, hop and meet all sorts of colorful (and discardable) characters on their quests. It's also a film where the lead characters are poorly defined in terms of motivations. The relationship between them is never truly clear, particularly the character of Finn, who started well enough in "The Force Awakens", only to be relegated to a footnote in the subsequent series (the writers never really understood what to do with him). The cast is competent, though uncharismatic, while the visual effects are stunning. Entertaining even if somewhat forgettable.

0 comments: