In a way, the heroes of this sequel trilogy -- Rey, Finn and Poe -- were always at a disadvantage, since we've only been living with them for four years, while just a line from Billy Dee Williams' rich baritone as Lando can give me goosebumps.
Additionally, this new trilogy didn't have the benefit of a singular creative force behind it. Even if George Lucas didn't direct every episode, he conceived the story arc for Episodes IV-VI and that's part of why their is a comfortable synergy between the three installments.
The Rise of Skywalker has an almost impossible task that I wouldn't envy. Director J.J. Abrams had to reconcile his buoyant and reverent The Force Awakens with Rian Johnson's riskier, more polarizing The Last Jedi. And while fans were divided over those entries, critics weren't. They were light years ahead of the prequel trilogy in terms of writing, craftsmanship and acting. And even though they were part of a money making franchise operation, there was enough creative spark there (and fresh performances from the likes of Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley) to justify their existence.
This film almost inevitably is a bit of a clumsier affair. The criticism that is overstuffed is not wrong. The way Leia's character is handled (Carrie Fisher died before shooting her role, so the filmmakers used some camera trickery and old footage to cobble together a performance) is respectful but distracting. Whether you liked her or not, the Rose character has been Jar Jar Binks'd --relegated to the sidelines in a way that's arguably a bit disgraceful.
And some of the film's revelations -- particularly the villain's existence --are confusing (at least upon first viewing).
And yet there is so much to enjoy here. Some genuinely funny laughs (C-3PO almost steals the movie), some fantastic set pieces (including perhaps the most epic space battle in the history of the series and it's surprisingly emotional, maybe more than its two predecessors.
That is certainly in part because this does feel like an ending, both a fitting and a welcome one. As much as I've enjoyed these films, the story of Skywalkers had to end eventually if for no other reason because it was and is in danger of becoming redundant and creatively bankrupt. The Mandalorian has demonstrated that the can be new world building within the framework of Star Wars and I'm curious to see how much these films can remain viable without links to its iconic past. But I think it'll be interesting to see what Disney cooks up next.
I for one have been largely happy with the work they've done to really redeem this brand. With all do respect to George Lucas, who was enough of a genius to create all this, but he has clearly lost the chops or the ambition to make movies that weren't simply a technical exercise.
These films were invested with real heart -- when some of the heroes have a long embrace towards the end of this movie, you feel it, because these characters had real relationships -- unlike say Obi-Wan and Anakin in the prequels, who were only friends because we were told they were.
It'd be impossible to please everyone -- from fanboys to casual viewers to the critics -- and third installments are always burdened with having to tie up too many lose ends. And Abrams does himself no favors by introducing and then not really resolving a few. I won't be surprised if this film becomes the Return of the Jedi of this series, imperfect but still beloved. The audience I saw it with sure liked it -- and so what if you wanna call it fan service. This whole sequel franchise was fan service from the very beginning.
This all doesn't deserve to be taken so seriously. These are movies not films. They are supposed to be rousing, exciting, a little hokey, funny and ultimately escapist. And this film achieved all those goals for me. I am a little curious who this whole series would have come together had the vision been singularly Abrams' or Johnson's, or if Fisher had lived long enough to fully inhabit her role in this third one. In the same way Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a bit of a mess but I still love it, and I love this one too.
Come at me bros.
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