Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

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Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) – J. J. Abrams

It is tempting to compare what director J. J. Abrams has delivered in this final instalment of the Star Wars saga to what could have been – and you would invariably be disappointed (as many or most viewers were).  Instead, it may be more fruitful to think about the pleasures that the film does offer.  So, if, like me, you saw the first Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) when you were 9 or 10 years old, what would you be hoping for now? If you were the director, what would you include?  Abrams (born 1966) probably found himself exactly in this situation.  So, when he directed Episode VII: The Force Awakens, he set about recreating the plot of the 1977 film, albeit with new protagonists (Daisy Ridley as Rey is the new Luke etc.) but also bringing back the original actors from the first trilogy to play key cameo roles in the new film.  I enjoyed that “remake” myself.  But now, in his second go at Star Wars, could Abrams really use the same formula again?  The answer is yes.  So, we do see some older actors returning to reprise their roles (surprises included) and we get some nods to the past (Luke lifts his x-wing out of the swamp…finally) and some retreads (what! Another bar with aliens in it?).  The Rebels have to fight the Empire/First Order/Final Order all over again – and guess what? They win.  (Sorry for the spoiler).  As in the earlier films, generational conflict is the main subtext – we know that Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is the son of Han Solo (Harrison Ford, appearing as a force ghost) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher appearing in footage found on the cutting room floor from Episode VII sadly repurposed).  He’s turned to the dark side and wants to take Rey with him – but will he prevail?  And what about Rey’s own family tree?  In this film, we do discover her lineage.  However, and here’s where we shouldn’t be tempted, not much tension or even exploration is made about these discoveries and conflicts.  They are just another cog in the plot mechanics, which, it must be said, move swiftly from one action sequence to another.  Truly, the art direction and special effects look amazing (the wreckage of the original Death Star!).  But, but, but, the result feels hollow inside (nowhere worse than the nonresponsive Carrie Fisher slotted into interactions with live actors), with the schematic plot structure designed only to connect the action sequences and to allow Abrams and his team to slot in the various required memes (“I’ve got a bad feeling about this”, death of pivotal characters, etc.).  I say this as someone for whom the original trilogy was something special (and who mostly skipped the prequel trilogy or forgot about it) – but how would children growing up now feel about these films? Would they love the new characters played by Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, and Daisy Ridley, as much as we loved Han, Leia, and Luke? I suspect not, but hey, it’s Disney’s franchise now and they certainly know how to make a buck.