Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
Why, oh why, oh why did this turn out as bad as it did? Thematically, The Rise of Skywalker is one of my favourite films in the Star Wars franchise. The continuation of Rian Johnson’s push for an artistic angle was enough to make Episode IX at least mesmerizing to look at. I mean the white-on-white cloaks and backdrops of one fight, the captivating angles of establishing shots, and the like. Yet, for every good decision, there is a pandering to the masses that takes the film a few steps backwards. There are so many clear cgi effects simply to exploit the use of 3-D in this film. They feel almost like a sitcom without a laugh track: you awkwardly wait for this floating object to just go somewhere else, and you just know on bluray, dvd, or stream that this will be a waste of time. Oddly enough, it was another J. J. Abrams film that employed a similar brief-focus on the use of 3-D effects before backing down and making you realize you wasted a lot of money upgrading your ticket: Star Trek Into Darkness. That same feeling applies here.
However, stints with gimmicks are hardly why Episode IX is so disappointing. I’ve read that the film retcons a lot of what The Last Jedi sought out to do (oh, Johnson and his ambition to derail the franchise off of its conventional track). Concerning plot, I would argue Episode IX doesn’t really backtrack too much. But, aura wise, this film completely tries to leap as far away from its previous episode as possible. In order to discuss how, we’re going to need to talk about the story. If you don’t want to read ahead, just know that enough mindless decision making took place.
SPOILERS
In Episode VIII, Rey, Finn, and Poe hardly spend much time together. The film was trying to branch these tales out (maybe a bit too much, to the point where Finn’s portion was derivative). In IX, Abrams tries way too hard to keep all three characters attached by the ankles at all costs. Even in climactic battles, at least one of the other people of this trio has to show up in some sort of way. Is that necessary? These three went from lone wolves that can unite at any time, to being school kids afraid to separate on a field trip. I don’t recall the original three (Luke, Han, Leia) being this superglued to each other. Even George Lucas’s prequels had a bit more separation than this.
Unfortunately, it gets worse. General Hux’s twist revelation (that he was a spy within the First Order) is beyond forced. His death essentially nullifies his entire character arc this whole trilogy. He went from being a commanding threat (aside from the mysterious Snoke and the bad boy Kylo Ren) to serving as a weak plot anchor, quickly decimated by General Pryde (who is also grossly under-utilized here). Want to know what a good twist is? Rey discovering that she is related not to the Skywalkers, but to Palpatine (although his return makes little sense, but, what the hey?). This feels like the only authentically jarring narrative decision made here.
Everything else is half baked, or force fed (kind of like the grub they were serving on Jakku, am I right folks?). Kylo (or Ben) and Rey sharing a kiss, while an endearing symbol of enemies joining the same good side, is a fan service trope that absolutely has no right being here (and schmaltz-ing up the moment). Rey nearly dying (but—surprise—she doesn’t) with two lightsabers in hand as she fights granddaddy Palpatine (causing a shock wave that knocks out entire armies) is the corniest way this trilogy could have concluded. But, then, Chewbacca finally gets his medal (from the deceased Leia), and we are reminded that Episode IX actually has some tender, well constructed moments. There just aren’t many of these saving graces. Toss in promotional scams (really? So “Dark Side Rey” was just a projection to convince Rey to become evil? Come on), and you’ve got a film that is guaranteed to tick you off in some sort of way, Star Wars super fan or not.
END OF SPOILERS
Exactly who you’d expect to be here.
There is so much promise, and yet so many let downs. For the first time since Disney blasted countless Star Wars iterations into the stratosphere, we have a product that feels more fanfic than motion picture. Much of Episode IX feels like an aimless string of ideas, either as efforts to ignore The Last Jedi, or to offer fans cheap illusions: surprises that are mostly meaningless (including cameos). The Rise of Skywalker is not a film made by people that don’t care. This is evident by the special effects (which only continue to get better with each film), the occasional character arc that gets resolved decently, and the commitment of all involved.
It’s just painfully obvious that Disney — a major cooperation with all the money, time, and resources in the world — neglected to construct this sequel trilogy all at once. Somehow, these three films weren’t all figured out as one large piece (as they should have been: think Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings). The Force Awakens is super fun, yet it leans too heavily on the original trilogy. The Last Jedi tries to steer clear of the franchise too much. However, these two previous films at least are mostly enjoyable (excluding that casino subplot). The Rise of Skywalker is as much of a shrug as its less-than-stellar title. It continues neither previous film’s goals, and sets out to just make the fans happy. It sacrifices most of its story. The same stuff happens (but — get this — in different places each time!!!) for so much of Episode IX, that the screenplay feels like it was copied and pasted in sections. Some characters are treated much better than others. Many ideas are simply there, with zero support otherwise. The Rise of Skywalker is the sad collapse of a trilogy I was entirely behind until now. When it’s good, you will feel elation. When it isn’t, it becomes beyond irritating. Episode IX: you were the chosen one.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.