Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (J.J. Abrams, December 20, 2019) Movie • Page 295

Justice for Kelly Marie Tran goddammit

 

I don't completely agree w/ everything in this piece. Specifically, Rey taking the Skywalker name is something I've wanted since this film's promotional cycle began & is a big part of the adoption narrative that still works in spite of the Palpatine reveal. But, I also have spent most of my life having no more than an almost scientific curiosity about who made me because I've always been my "adoptive" parents' child, so my particular story might affect my engagement w/ where Rey ended up.

But, yeah, good piece. Really liked this: "Whatever was coded in my DNA wasn’t an unspoken destiny; it was just the usual human junk, filled with the same strengths and weaknesses as anybody else. Whatever powers I had were my own. Whatever story I wrote would have me as its author."

 

This was quite bad. :(

 

This was a fairly typical JJ Abrams movie in that I enjoyed it more or less while watching it* but as soon as I leave the theater and think about it, it all falls apart. It just hurts more that it’s the end of the trilogy.

* this doesn’t mean there weren’t multiple instances where I groaned or rolled my eyes in the theater

 

If I could hang out with Dominic Monaghan at a Resistance base on a tropical planet I totally would.

 

In the very final scene, how great would it have been if, when asked what her name is, she just says "I'm Rey." Finally accepting that after 3 films it's okay to not be beholden to a particular bloodline or legacy, realizing a name does not define who you are and that it's better to carve out your own place in the universe as the person you've always known yourself to be: simply, REY.

But noooope. "I'm Rey Skywalker." This movie is obsessed with using a name to define your personhood. I hate it.

 

I think it’s less about the name defining her and more that Rey wanted to continue the name in honor of Luke and Leia.

 

Updated ranking

V
VII
IX
IV
III
VI
VIII
I
II

 

The more I think about this movie the more I hate it. Almost nothing about it works on any level.

 

It’s frustrating because there are so many great things and ideas sprinkled in here that just fumble over the finish line. The “rise” part was so cool. All the imagery surrounding Palps and Exogul and the Sith Cult was so cool.

but damn give Boyega more than just screaming “REY!!” for the whole movie. Also wtf why did they need to throw in his feelings for her? Their first introduction was built on Rey being badass on her own. I feel like her character didn’t need any romance.

the kiss was cringe, but the Han seen made me tear up.

 

I don’t think Finn had feelings towards Rey. Or are you talking about any character having feeling towards her in general?

 

the whole “I need to tell you something” when they thought they were going to die in the pit

 

That’s what I thought while it was happening, but while leaving the theater I feel like he wanted to tell Rey he was force sensitive. It seemed heavily implied he could sense people through it. Maybe I’m wrong though

 

IV
VII
VIII
V
VI
I
III
IX
II

 

5 > 4 > 6 > 8 > 7 > 9 > Solo > Rogue One > 3 > 1 > 2

 

I had been wondering why they would choose to just completely ignore what George Lucas had been planning for the sequel trilogy when they really didn't have a story of their own...? I mean, he's the guy who came up with all of this stuff originally - how bad could it be?

I just read that Lucas' ideas leaned HARD on the whole midichlorian thing. Like real hard.

It's nice to have that question answered.

 

Lucas apparently came up with the ideas of having Luke retreat to an island and become a hermit, and with Han & Leia's children being the protagonist and antagonist of the sequel trilogy. Don't remember where I read that, but there was an article at some point about what he planned outside of the midichlorian lore.

 

Ben reviving Rey brought Palpatine’s conversation to Anakin about the dark side power bringing people back to life full circle. Since Ben did it I guess it’s now a Jedi power too?

 

Empire Strikes Back
The Last Jedi
Star Wars
Return of the Jedi
Force Awakens
Rogue One
Solo
Phantom Menace
Attack of the Clones
Revenge of the Sith

I haven't seen Rise of Skywalker yet, but everything I am reading is making me guess it'll either slot in right below the Disney era Star Wars Story films above the prequels, or if I am pleasantly surprised maybe it'll actually beat the offshoots and be below TFA.

I've read all of the plot details and it sounds like they've decided to do literally every single thing with this story and these characters that I had hoped they would not do, but I am actually a big fan of JJ Abrams as a director and think that he's perfectly capable of making a very enjoyable, solid movie that also happens to be really stupid and illogical and incompetent from a narrative stabdpoint.

 

I kinda enjoyed it while watching it, but the further away I get from the theater, the more annoyed with it I get. They really overcompensated for the last jedi.

Current ranking on how I am feeling:

Empire Strikes Back
The Last Jedi
A New Hope
Return of the Jedi
The Force Awakens
Rogue One
The Phantom Menace
Revenge of the Sith
Solo
Rise of Skywalker
Attack of the Clones

 

ESB
TFA
ANH
R1
ROTJ
ROTS
Solo
TROS
TPM
AOTC

 

Yeah, the thing I read was in no way definitive and could absolutely be just made up hearsay. I did not vet my sources for even a second haha. But him wanting to take a deep dive into the midichlorian thing made sense to me as to why they would just be like "oh hell no" and try to come up with literally anything else.

The drawback for me though is losing out on The Whills which is a term that I have absolutely no idea what it even means but has always sounded so cool and intriguing to me.

 

After sleeping on it, I don't think I can even say that this movie was "ok."

I love TLJ and will defend it until the end of time, but I don't think I can do that for this film.

 

Maybe killing someone doesn’t lead to the dark side. Maybe Anakin was just weak. We’ve seen Jedi kill plenty of people and not turn. Maybe Luke could have struck down the Palpy in Jedi and still had the will power to resist turning. It was just Anakin that was weak minded and emotional and helped kill Mace then was like fuck it I’m turning.