Finally here is the conclusion of this generation’s Star Wars trilogy. Star Wars has been a big piece of pop culture and film history since the first film came to cinemas in 1977. As a millennial, I have not before been exposed to the excitement of seeing a Star Wars film in the cinemas until I went to see Force Awakens with my dad. I have never been a big Star Wars fan but as he has always been a follower of the franchise, we went to see it. This was five years ago and I must admit I was anticipating Episode IX along with millions of other die hard fans. This review is spoiler-free so feel free to read if you are planning to watch in the future.
I watched The Rise of Skywalker in a cinema abroad with subtitles but this did not hinder my viewing at all. I hate watching films with subtitles on Netflix if they are in the same language as the audio but as English is not the first language where I am for the holidays, there was no other option.
Now to the actual film. I have heard a lot of noise on the grapevine about The Rise of Skywalker being a redo of Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, Episode XIII in the franchise. I am definitely not an expert so I don’t feel I have the knowledge to comment on this controversy having only seen both films once each.
I thought the film was excellent. Star Wars has a certain flavour of teamwork, rebellion, adventure, final showdowns and lasting friendships that other popular franchises haven’t really accomplished. I enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the film and accompanied with John Williams’ score, the adrenaline was pumping. Having been in the last two films the new trio of Rey, Poe and Finn have settled into their roles in the films. Rey is finding herself as a Jedi, Poe has a position of leadership and Finn has found his own place in the Rebel alliance as a former Stormtrooper.
The film starts, of course, with a mission that leads the trio to ending the fight between good and evil. We get new characters, ships, planets as well as all the old friends, foes and gadgets. The original trio of Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa all make appearances despite Luke and Han perishing in the previous films and Carrie Fisher sadly passing away in 2016.
There were a few things I didn’t understand not having brushed up on my Star Wars trivia or having seen the original films but I knew enough to be shocked at demises and thrilled at successes.
Seeing Star Wars at the cinema is a must-do, the spectacle demands the big screen and surround sound but I also had the added benefit of seeing it in a special screen with leather recliners and lots of space. I believe that the place determines one’s enjoyment of a film. There are films I would have enjoyed more if I wasn’t surrounded by noisy children or in a tiny screen but there are also those films that it doesn’t matter where you are, the excitement can override the discomfort.
Overall, I really enjoyed the film and apart from an epic conclusion to a nine film saga spanning over forty years, it was a great adventure in space. 4/5.
