Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (J.J. Abrams, December 20, 2019) Movie • Page 276

A lot of these issues probably stem from not having at least an outline of where this was going. Was it always up in the air where things were going?

 

Yeah, but we’re totally gonna get a story someday about Rey training a new generation w/ guidance from everyone’s favorite Force ghosts. With the kid from TLJ as the main character. Who will be revealed as the great great grandson of Dooku.

 

Yeah, this really seems to be the main issue. They should have gone in with a story arc ready to go.

 

I feel like a trilogy based around the Yuuzhan Yong war and Darth Caedus would have been really cool. I would have loved to have seen that.

 

Salt on the wound

 

Just got out of this.

First impression is that I fucking loved it. Few things felt off, and by no means is it perfect. So many arcs I loved, and a few moments of "Okay why?"

Overall, I feel as though J.J did it. Being that he was never gonna win. He was up against an insufferable toxic fanbase, and had to follow a movie that was widely criticized for going off formula. He had it tough from the start, and with that, he did a fucking amazing job in my eyes.

It made me cry in parts, and smile in others. I was entertained and my 12 year old niece next to me was enamored with Rey the entire time. Star Wars in a nutshell.

 

The Star Trek reboot never felt like Star Trek outside of it sharing characters. Even those never felt like their OG counterparts. Its a different film for a different audience. I had a lot of fun with two of the films, but kinda distance them from their legacy.

 

First impressions, SPOILERS BELOW. SPOILERS SPOILERY SPOILERS.

AGAIN, SPOILERS.

Biggest highlight for me was seeing Han. I cried, and that scene was incredible. Ben's turn felt earned.

Hux's arc was my least favourite thing in the whole movie. Useless, and wasn't needed. This one's nitpicky though.

Rey Rey REY Rey. Loved her in this. She earned taking the Skywalker name, and her rise moment where all the great Jedi were calling her to fight was beautiful.

Leia was handled perfectly based on the footage J.J had, and her sendoff again brought the tears.
Some of it was a slap in the face to The Last Jedi, but there were moments where J.J acknowledged the film in a respectful way. These reviews don't know what they're talking about.
I'll need probably 2 more viewings, but this was wonderful IMO. I went in neutral, and I'm so glad I did. I love Star Wars. Again, it wasn't perfect, but the fanboy in me is grinning.

The Force Awakens > The Rise Of Skywalker > The Last Jedi, and that's just based on initial thoughts. I love all 3 films, and am not a TLJ hater, but that's where my ranking is after viewing number one.

 

From reading the reviews, it kinda felt like the biggest problem in all of this is Disney trying to do a connected trilogy of films without anyone actually doing the connecting

TFA was a great, fun film that did an excellent job of revisiting the nostalgic beats of original trilogy while still giving it a fresh new look but doesn't leave a ton of great pieces setup for followup

TLJ puts a great, unique take on the whole star wars universe but its hurt a little by where TFA leaves things. Rain made the most of trying to work off another directors vision, but it did make going from 7->8 a bit disconnected.

And now TROS has the exact same problem of trying to piece together a complete story after the fact.

Across the board, I feel like Disney's best work with Star Wars has been when they are simply trying to tell new stories in the universe rather than tie in pieces of the previous films. Which makes sense. MCU works because you can have one vision from the start. But the scope of Starwars had already expanded well beyond one person's vision before Disney even took over.

 

My least favourite thing about Star Wars, is that a good chunk of people have already made up their mind about this movie before seeing it.

Fair enough, I've done that too with the Transformers and Fast & Furious franchise. The difference is I don't spout negativity online and actually go about trying to ruin the experience for those who might enjoy it, or people who it might mean something special to. I shut the fuck up and don't buy a ticket. Easy done.

Disney for me are 5/5 for films. Yes, there's issues. Especially with the saga films in regards to like you said, overarching or an established story. It's tough, and you can see it in these films. Disney's saga films are like Blink's Neighborhoods. Mark and Travis are J.J, and Tom is Rian Johnson. 2 different visions and styles, all together in one place making one cohesive piece. Feels disjointed, but enjoyable overall, and something to love if you're a fan.

I loved this movie. It's gonna get crapped on, analysed, misunderstood and called to remake.

But it will also get praised, applauded, talked about, and pave the way for young kids to have new heroes.

Star Wars forever.

 

Hm

 

I hope it’s two gungans kissing

 

Agreed. The whole somewhat recent trend of fandoms uniting around a shared hate of a product instead of a shared like is one of the shittest parts of society. Its just such a spiteful way to channel your energy. It works to some extent, because it does make enjoying the product more exhausting for other people. But I'm just like... why. Why spend so much time pouring so much negativity into the world. Don't like a film? Don't watch it.

 

how do you know you don't like a film until you watch it

 

I read this as Gundams and now that is all I want.

 

Twitter and Reddit decide what is good for me. They’re like my internet parents.

 

I think the worst thing about it is exactly what you said, it makes enjoying it more exhausting for others. Confirmation bias can be evil when you read 100 comments saying a movie's gonna suck (before it's released) and 30 saying they can't wait to see it. Your mind starts going to the "It's gonna suck." thoughts because that's where the majority is. The loudest voices carry the most weight, even if they're misinformed or unnecessarily negative.

Shitty Star Wars fans lead the pack when it comes to the "Can't wait to see this trainwreck..." camp. Don't they see the irony in them paying for a ticket to something they already despise?

Again, I loved this. And my niece did, and to me that was far more important.

 

The PS4 subreddit told me Death Stranding is amazing and I haven’t played it yet. It’s my game of the year.

 

Also one more thing to everyone who's worried about the reviews, and feeling a bit apprehensive about the film based on the "retcon" of The Last Jedi.

Below has no actual spoilers or plot details, but I'm tagging it just incase. Again, no plot details, spoilers or anything of the sort.


There are respectful and subtle nods to The Last Jedi throughout this movie. J.J didn't throw away Rian's film. He acknowledged it where he needed to, and it was done gracefully. Those reviews are trying to get people talking, but they don't know what they're talking about.

 

Hideo Kojima told me it’s good and that is good enough for me

 

youre bringing back my hype haha

 

Good. You should be hyped. You love this franchise right? Don't let some negative reviews, which are essentially opinions make you forget that. Your own mind is the best critic the second the credits start rolling.

 

This is really awesome to hear.

 

You know what? Star Wars has and always will be this weird entertaining mess with baffling choices that not everyone will agree with. All 3 trilogies have flaws (yes even the original and Empire are flawed in their own way)

Regardless of this one's quality, years from now when we have all 9 episodes from the skywalker saga on disney + to rewatch or show our children for the first time, there's good stuff to be found in all of these weird movies. At this point, it's an American myth that is kinda bigger then the movies themselves.

 

I don't put JJ Abrams on the same level of filmmaker as Rian Johnson, but I do think he's an absolutely phenomenal director sort of in the old school sense. His directing is top notch and he has an uncanny knack for incredible casting.
His writing and overall story decisions leave a lot to be desired in my opinion, but everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.