Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
After immense backlash from the fandom for The Last Jedi, J.J. Abrams had another daunting task ahead of him after delivering with The Force Awakens. He now has to complete one of the most beloved franchises in cinematic history, yet delivering a satisfying ending to 40-plus years’ worth of sagas. While there is fan service within The Rise Of Skywalker, it also is an incredibly-satisfying and emotional ending to a Franchise that has held major cultural significance since it debuted in 1977. Chris Terrio and Abrams deliver one hell of a final punch, turning over the final stones from the latest Trilogy and tying everything together perfectly. Fandom be damned, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a fitting, well-executed and powerful Finale.
Without giving away any spoilers, The Rise of Skywalker has the final members of the Resistance fighting against the First Order again, in the ultimate battle of Jedi vs Sith, Good v Evil. New threats arise and our heroes must push themselves harder than they have had to ever before to ensure the Resistance does not fall.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is all heart. The performances delivered by the entire Cast are truly mesmerizing, but it’s the character development that we see in Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Poe (Oscar Isaac) as well as Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) that are the driving force behind some of the most powerful scenes here. Alas, we cannot forget about the remaining Carrie Fisher footage seen, as she truly reminds us how much of a loss her passing has been. Ridley goes through the most in her character arc, and her performance from Force Awakens to here is one of the most fulfilling and heartfelt journeys that’s been presented on a silver screen in sometime. As well, Isaac’s progression from The Last Jedi to The Rise of the Skywalker comes full circle, the raw emotion and humanity that he conveys is truly powerful, and its rare to see something like that, especially in a Franchise. Moreover, Driver has delivered powerhouse performances all year long and continues to show us the true force that he is. While his arc with Kylo Ren is no different here with one of the most conflicted personal battles in the Franchise, he is just simply incredible. The entire Cast come together to deliver collectively and Fans will be delighted.
Star Wars not only has impacted the way Films are made, but also Pop Culture at large. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a visual feast that begs for repeat viewings. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a brilliant conclusion, absolutely gratifying.
Walt Disney Studios Canada release STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Thursday, December 19, 2019.
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