Can ‘Rise of Skywalker’ reach great heights?
I couldn’t believe it didn’t leave me wanting more.
I fully expected when the credits began to roll at the end of Rian Johnson’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” in December 2017 that I’d be dying to know what was to come next. How could I possibly wait another couple of years for the resolution of not just “the Skywalker saga,” which stems to 1977, but to the epic, Luke-I-am-your-father-sized cliffhanger I was sure was coming at the end of “Jedi.”
It didn’t come.
The movie left me cold.
I could wait.
I gave “The Last Jedi” a reasonably favorable review — Johnson is a skilled filmmaker, and there certainly are aspects of that work deserving of praise. If nothing else, it feels likely like any previous “Star Wars” film.”
But as a longtime “Star Wars” fan, I didn’t love it. And I’ve become more frustrated with it over time.
I take issue with the several story choices made by Johnson, who wrote and directed the film, as well as the direction he took with the character of aging Jedi Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill, who, nonetheless, is terrific in the movie).
However, my big-picture frustration is what “The Last Jedi” suggests about the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy — made under the umbrella of Disney after its purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012 and launched in 2015 with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” — as a whole: that it has not been well-planned out.
Following “The Force Awakens” — directed and co-written by JJ Abrams — the keys to this Star Destroyer-size property were handed to Johnson. All the evidence suggests little was dictated to him from higher-ups in terms of the story he would craft. This is shocking. I’m talking Luke-I-am-your-father shocking.
“The Force Awakens” and “The Last Jedi” — the seventh and eighth episodes in a nine-episode saga set to end with ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” landing in theaters Dec. 20 — do not feel like two cohesive parts of a whole.
That intense vision our heroine, Rey (Daisy Ridley), experiences in “The Force Awakens”?
Johnson obviously had little interest in exploring that.
And does anyone think what Abrams was setting up in the final scene of his film, when Rey hands Luke his old lightsaber — a moment dripping with drama and filled with “Star Wars”-ian implications — was a cheap laugh generated by a disinterested Luke tossing the weapon over his shoulder? Well, I don’t. That this third “Star Wars” trilogy — following the original from the 1970s and ‘80s and “Star Wars” father George Lucas’ prequels of the ‘90s and ‘00s — feels so aimless is especially surprising when you look at what Disney has done with another huge property, Marvel. Despite the fact that there are so many pieces to it, the Marvel Cinematic Universe seemingly has been meticulously arranged, with multiple phases leading to the massive two-part story told in 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War” and this year’s “Avengers:
Endgame.”
Look, I’m not saying powers that be should have had every last story beat worked out before the cameras rolled on the set of “The Force Awakens.” And certainly real life can get in the way of plans — look no further than the sad death of series star Carrie Fisher, aka Princess Leia, two years ago.
But Disney and Lucasfilm should have mapped out a compelling beginning, middle and end to this story several years ago.
Hey, maybe I and others will be proved wrong about this. If “Rise of Skywalker” — with Abrams returning as director and co-writer — brings home a film that really ties it all together, that will be something.
If you can’t tell, I’m not exactly optimistic.
I admire Abrams as a creative force. He’s helped make some really addictive television, to be sure, such as “Alias” and “Lost.” Plus, before getting his hands on “Star Wars,” he breathed new life into another beloved, decades-old science-fiction franchise with 2009’s highly entertaining “Star Trek.”
I couldn’t wait to see what he’d do with “Star Wars,” especially considering — like me — he cherished a galaxy far, far away growing up.
Not surprisingly, “The Force Awakens” also was very entertaining, a fast-moving adventure meant to please longtime fans and hook new ones by bringing back old characters while introducing us to a younger generation of heroes and villains.
However, you simply can’t escape just how much “The Force Awakens” has in common with the movie that started it all, what we now call “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope.” Abrams didn’t just hit some of the same major story beats from Lucas’ 1977 film — he bangs them.
Well, he and Disney have one more chance to get it right. Even if he falls short of making the trilogy feel cohesive, it would be wonderful if “The Rise of Skywalker” were both as fun as “The Force Awakens” and distinct like “The Last Jedi.”
Regardless of how it ends and despite its many missteps (Jar Jar Binks, a “yipple” -yelling little Anakin Skywalker, the special editions … and did I mention Jar Jar Binks?), this series of movies is well worth appreciation as it comes to an end.
Heroes, villains, romance, magic, duels, grand battles — it had it all.
Of course, “Star Wars” isn’t going anywhere.
It’s hard to know exactly when, considering “Game of Thrones” showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss departing a trilogy of films that was to begin in 2022, but there will be more theatrical adventures.
At the moment, “Star Wars” is taking over the small screen via streaming service Disney+. We are already about midway through “The Mandalorian — and, yes, “Baby Yoda” is crazy adorbs — and two more shows are on the way, one of which will have prequel star Ewan McGregor reprising the role of iconic Jedi master Obi Wan Kenobi.
And, as I’ve stated previously, my guess is we’ll see a 10th episode of the Skywalker saga several years from now, when Ridley likes the number of zeros attached to the offer, er, sees some fresh creative territory to explore with an older Rey.
Of course, it sure would help were we to find out she is, in fact, a Skywalker … We’ll see. In the meantime, perhaps I should have faith some kind of magical force is guiding this franchise home safely — that I should be more older, wiser Han Solo from “The Force Awakens” and less the younger, skeptical version from “A New Hope.”
I’ve largely stayed away from apparent plot leaks and other spoilers and generally have little idea what will unfold in “The Rise of Skywalker.” I have some guesses, but my guesses are often wrong.
So while “The Last Jedi” didn’t leave me wanting more, I’m nonetheless excited the final chapter is here.
May the Force be with it.