The Rise Of Skywalker – A Short Review

By Conor Meenan

Warning: Spoilers

         Hello there! (That’s an inside joke for you Star Wars fans.) Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the final film in the Skywalker Saga, made $176 million in its first weekend. It was the lowest opening of the newest trilogy, with The Force Awakens raking in $247 million and The Last Jedi earning $220 million. The movie was not acclaimed by critics, who found the plot to be lackluster and full of holes. The movie received mixed feedback  by fans, who provided mostly mediocre reviews. The movie was decent, but did have some plot issues that did leave many viewers confused and dissatisfied. 

          One example of this was the return of Palpatine. This element was interesting to some, as it made Palpatine the overarching villain of the entire saga. But at the same time, the explanation as to how he returned never made it into the final story. There were a few throwaway lines about cloning and “secrets only the Sith knew,” but it’s never fully explained (although in revealing  the Sith Eternal, a cult of Sith loyalists with the goal of creating a Sith Empire, it has at least some value). 

           Another common complaint is that Rey and Kylo Ren’s force connection was not well explained. It appears that they can make contact with each other, but it is never made clear if they are actually there or not, or if they are visible to outside observers. The idea of force healing was also… interesting, to say the least. Transferring life force is a concept that could have some merit, but it appears to have no negative repercussions on the user unless they are pulling someone back from the brink of death, which lowers the stakes considerably.  Finally, there is the reveal that General Armitage Hux is the spy within the First Order. It would have been better if hints had been dropped throughout the movie, and Hux had been found out later. As it is, his reveal as the spy is sudden, and his death just as swift. 

          To note some positive aspects of the film, Leia being trained as a Jedi makes sense within the story. Leia would have been one of the only force-sensitive beings known to Luke as he attempted to rebuild the Jedi Order. It makes sense that she would train under him, to learn the ways of the Force. The final battle is also memorable, as it depicts the people of the galaxy rising up to fight back against the tyranny of the Sith. Of course, many will always view this final movie as poorly written; however, the legacy of the Skywalker saga will forever stand in cinematic history.