Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

Release Date: December 20, 2019

Watch Date: June 29, 2024

“Lucasfilm and director J.J. Abrams join forces once more to take viewers on an epic journey to a galaxy far, far away with STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. Experience the riveting conclusion of the landmark Skywalker saga, in which new legends will be born-and the final battle for freedom is yet to come.”

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   We did it. Somehow, we managed it. I was really worried we were getting down to the wire there, but then the kids got really into Star Wars and it all just seemed to work.

   Wanna know a fun fact that I didn’t know until about three days ago? Bob’s never watched this movie.

   He knows the plot. He’s seen clips. He knows the outrages with the fandom. But I guess he watched one line about stormtroopers flying and decided this wasn’t the film for him. So, and I would like this on record, until last night, I had actually watched more Star Wars films than my nerd of a husband. It was me. I was the fan all along. Who knew?

   So with my vastly superior Star Wars knowledge, what did I think of this film?

   It’s much better if you know the world, and you’ve seen the movies, and you’re invested in the franchise. If you’re just a casual fan, or someone whose watching the newer trilogy because it’s something to watch, the impact of all the fan service moments just aren’t going to hit you as hard, and that’s half the fun of this film. Lando back in the Falcon. Luke’s X-Wing. C3PO just killing it. All of the Jedi talking to Rey. Rey visiting the Skywalker homestead, cause she can’t really go to Alderan. A force ghost of Luke. A memory of Han. Doing the best they can with Leia. Chewie getting a medal. It’s all very good, and every time it happens it just hits differently.

   Now the biggest controversy of this film is, obviously, the final line. Bob is still up in arms about it, but it just doesn’t bother me that much. The entire franchise, I think, besides being an epic adventure, is trying to tell the story of choosing who you want to be. Do you lean in to the darker side of yourself, or the lighter. You, ultimately, get the choice of what kind of person you want to be. Despite training. Despite blood. You get to choose. And, ultimately, Rey chooses who she wants to be. The inheritor of ultimate evil choosing to be the inheritor of ultimate good.

   Besides, no one wants to attend ‘Rey Palpatine’s Jedi Academy’ okay? I’m sorry, they just don’t.

   Unlike in the other films of this trilogy I’m not as bothered by the Kylo Ren/Rey-ness of it all. It seems much more natural, and the chemistry has built up. Ben and Rey make a good couple, and Ben turning away from his Kylo persona feels well earned after the two other films and how much we know that he’s been struggling with it.

   Palpatine is properly creepy, though a part of me worries they’ll still find some way to bring him back. I’d like to watch a Star Wars movie without knowing that Palpatine is out there pulling the strings. The Star Wars universe could use a new big bad.

   Maybe it’s just because I was never involved in the “Star Wars Legends” canon, or maybe it’s because I’m a newer fan, but I think this film is a really solid finale for the Skywalker saga. As long as this is the finale. I don’t think they could pull it any farther, and I think they’d ruin what they managed to do if they tried. I’m not saying don’t make any more Star Wars films. I’m saying this epic overarching plot found a landing point, and it needs to stay landed. It’s a good balance of comedy, with Finn and Poe just killing it on the bromance level, a C3PO doing what all good droids do and, honestly, carrying the movie for me. I like D-O, and it was fun to see him because Bob and I have been playing the Lego Skywalker Saga and couldn’t figure out who that droid was on the main menu. There’s heart felt moments, Palpatine is a serious threat, the action is good, the dialogue is probably the best it’s been in this trilogy, everyone feels comfortable in their characters.

   It’s just a fun movie, and if you know Star Wars, and are willing to let old canon lie, it’s a good ending.

   But maybe I’m totally wrong, I know a lot of Star Wars fans would probably disagree with me. But, that’s alright. Because I still had watched all the Star Wars movies berfore Bob had. So, clearly, I know just a little more than he does, and that’s the only Star Wars fan I need to win against.