Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker - in review (Part Two).

Welcome back to my jumbo analysis of JJ Abrams’ ‘Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker’, released late in December 2019. In the first part of my review, I detailed all those parts of the movie which I picked out as negative (please go and read it if you haven’t already done so). Thus, in this, the second part of my review, I have the more pleasant task of discussing the bits I liked in this film; I'll also be giving the film it’s long-anticipated Jude Reviews Score - finally.  Without further adieu, I shall begin (no one wants a repeat of the Irishman review, after all).

In contradiction to popular opinion (popular Star Wars nerd opinion), I would say that one of this film’s greatest strengths was its plot; Abrams succeeded in salvaging the story he had begun in part one of this trilogy, which was scuppered by Rian Johnson in the film prior to this. In order to drag the trilogy back onto his terms as such, Abrams felt it was necessary to wedge an exceptional amount of plot-development into this film - which I liked; and whilst many other critics disliked the speed at which the story moved, I felt that it kept the film engaging and exciting - a positive. The pressure on the director and screenwriters to produce a satisfactory plot for this film would’ve been immense, I imagine, as this was the last episode in a saga with the world’s most sensitive fans - not to mention the fact that they had to tie up ‘The Last Jedi’s’ loose ends, as well as finding a way to incorporate The Emperor into proceedings. In my opinion, the film’s creators navigated these pressures and difficulties commendably, even if this meant cramming two films’ worth of plot into one picture. A good plot is a mark of a good film - and so, ‘Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker’ will be healthily rewarded when it comes to the Jude Reviews Score.

Another major positive I identified in this movie was it’s cinematography. Director of photography Dan Mindel exceeded in creating a delightful visual spectacle out of the Star Wars universe. Star Wars films have a rich history of stunning shot construction: Mindel paid fine homage to this (especially in re-creating the famous binary suns shot in the movie’s final scene). We were treated repeatedly by Mindel’s visions throughout the course of this picture: the lightsaber battle on Kef Bir was cinematographically brilliant (as I mentioned in part one of the review), as was the sequence between Rey and Kylo on the sand planet Pasaana. Indeed, I recognise now that Mindel’s cinematography was incredibly effective in giving the battle between good and evil a unique visceral edge in this film. I must mention too that there was barely a scene in the film left untouched by the score: most of Mindel’s stellar visuals were, at least in part, made so powerful by the film’s soundtrack. The excellent quality of cinematography and score on show in this film ensured that it was at least a fine spectacle: this is enough for a healthy review score, in my opinion.

So far, the positives I’ve identified in this movie have been large, infrastructural pieces of the picture, like plot, cinematography, and score. All I have left to praise now, then, are those smaller, more inspired touches present throughout the movie; the moments that got my hairs standing on edge. The newest Star Wars trilogy, the one this movie concludes, has been remarkably efficient in delivering such spine-tingling snippets of cinema - truly, the Last Jedi was probably saved by such moments. JJ Abrams, in this latest instalment of the trilogy, most definitely furthered the saga’s capacity to exhilarate in this regard, through a raft of carefully crafted, arresting, visual developments - the finest examples of such coming towards the film’s end, in the form of the Emperor’s sonic lightning boom, and Rey’s Jedi awakening (featuring the voices of Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor). Yet, above all, was the climax of the dualism between Rey and Kylo, which was possibly the best moment in the film: through the power or their telekinetic link, Rey beamed her extra lightsaber onto Kylo’s back, which he received with a classic Han Solo-ism (see the headline photo). Such deft details in the film conspired to entertain and amuse me - I paid for entry into the picture hoping to be entertained and amused, and so, JJ has done his job. 

I have now said everything I wanted to say in praise of this film, and so, taking into consideration part one of this article also, it's time for me to conclude my review of ‘Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker’, and give the movie a Jude Reviews Score. As I said in Part One, I did enjoy the film, mostly because of its quality as a spectacle in the cinema - the engaging story, combined with stunning cinematography and an excellent sound track should comfortably be enough to guarantee an excellent review score; however, as I am a Star Wars nerd - a star wars nerd who loves lightsaber battles - I can’t escape the sense of disappointment I have about the lack of a show stopping lightsaber duel in this movie, particularly as it’s the last episode in a saga that’s run for decades (a saga famous for lightsaber battles!) I expected much more in these circumstances, and, whilst this particular criticism can be brushed away as trivial in the grand scheme of the film, the same cannot be done for that ridiculous “Rey Skywalker” moment, which, in its unfortunate timing, spoiled my ability to savour the film. As such, I am limited to giving JJ Abrams’ ‘Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker’ a Jude Reviews Score of 7 (out of 10).

Thank you for taking the time to read my jumbo review! I hope you enjoyed it.

If you haven’t already done so, please read Part One too. Thanks.

Please share your thoughts on the movie, and on my post, with me on Twitter: @TheMondayMusing, or @Torpaldo

Thanks!