It’s that time of year again for fans of the critically acclaimed series Star Wars to get their tickets early to see the promising new entry in the series: Rise of Skywalker. Avid fans of the series will recall that newer iterations of the films (7-8) are not without their faults. Whether it may have been the portrayal of Luke’s character in episode eight or episode seven’s “uncanny similarities” to episode 4, it seems many fans love the new films or love to hate it. Regardless, this new entry is coming with a lot of hype.
Overall, the film was very fun and entertaining. The action sequences are at their all-time best in the series. It was especially exciting to see an improved Rei become stronger and more tactical with her combat. Intense lightsaber battles and force abilities invoke many characters to push themselves to their limits. All the while, space battles remained just as eye capturing as any other Star Wars. The movie is gorgeous too. I found myself captivated by the beautiful scenery.
Even though the film was entertaining, the plot contained some weak storytelling. Fans of the original trilogy will tell you how consistent the originals were because the actions of the characters remained consistent. However, they can not say the same for the most recent trilogy. The new protagonist, Rei, lacks the same qualities that made Luke a much better protagonist. Luke has lost. Since Rei has never been one to experience hardship from her quest, we never really see the weight of her risks. Rei is successful in most instances and when she fails, she is hardly punished. In contrast, Luke’s first battle with Vader goes terribly and Luke is punished for his reckless actions. He loses the duel with Vader and is brought to the brink of death. He was forced to evacuate. From there we know that Luke is not a Jedi yet. This adds so much more depth to Luke’s character growth. Rei does not have to experience a similar plotline, but it makes the “underdog” look less like an underdog when they never seem to experience true failure and punishment from that failure. These plot points make Rei less relatable and less enjoyable as a protagonist. We see her character grow somewhat over the course of the new trilogy but it seems that her character always gets out of situations that should not be in her favor. Rise of Skywalker does little to add to her character. My favorite aspect of the movie is the relationship between one of the main antagonists; Kylo Ren, and Rei. Their dialogue and constant clashing is easily the best part of the plot until it is ruined by a soppy Hollywood kiss. Other inconsistencies within the movie felt off-putting like Luke’s return.
In conclusion, the Rise of Skywalker is enjoyable for fans of the series, but it certainly shows its blemishes. Disney has yet to produce a truly intriguing storyline for the Star Wars series. Maybe one day they will.
