Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – A Review
Hope Springs Eternal Thanks to This Remarkable Daydream of a Film
Prior to this evening, there were two special moments that, to me, defined Star Wars. Thanks to The Rise of Skywalker, I now have a third.
The first defining moment is obvious: Luke Skywalker, looking into the twin sunset of Tatooine, wanting to be anywhere else instead of his Uncle Owen’s farm.
The second is a little more obscure. However, close observers will remember a moment in The Force Awakens when Rey, silhouetted by the setting sun of Jakku, speeds off into the desert.
Of course, the young scavenger didn’t want to leave her adopted planet (and yet here we are).
The Skywalker Saga Will Endure
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
Daisy Ridley as Rey
Now, thanks to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, fans know they need never leave The Saga.
Thanks to J.J. Abrams, John Williams, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Issac, all we need to do is close our eyes, ignite our imaginations, and we can be wherever we want to be.
The possibilities are endless….
For me, that is the true worth of Star Wars. Of course, all of the films are fairy tales. Fantasy rather than science fiction; a pastime and a respite from all that we carry with us in reality. But, as all good fiction does, “The Skywalker Saga” challenges us. Now, I am not saying that watching Star Wars is like reading “War and Peace.” However, I believe it does give an injection of energy; explosive positive feelings most often affirmed in one word, hope.
And Rey, in all of her earnestness, embodies that one word.
In turn, she encapsulates ”The Saga” in all of her oh so earnest actions.
But what about The Rise of Skywalker?
It’s great. Not Oscar-winning. Not Citizen Kane. But great, nonetheless.
Sure, I’d recommend bringing the same mindset you brought to Showcase Cinemas back in 1977.
Or maybe you watched The Force Awakens in an IMAX theater? Or perhaps you first found Star Wars on the small screen via The Clone Wars.
Whatever the case, bring that inner child with you. As Master Yoda once said, “Unlearn what you have learned….”
Leave your expectations at the popcorn counter and simply have fun.
Sit Back, Relax, And Have Fun
Joonas Suotamo is Chewbacca, Oscar Isaac is Poe Dameron, Daisy Ridley is Rey and John Boyega is Finn in STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
That’s exactly what Star Wars is supposed to be, by the way. Fun.
Thankfully, I had ignored most everything “serious” reviewers said about the film. And I basically quit Twitter this past week. I’m grateful for those decisions because when I walked out of Regal Cinema’s on Thursday night, I was 10-years-old.
As such, I want to “Thank the Maker” for each and every person who has given themselves to the franchise. Whether it was the person who designed Rey’s dusty helmet for TFA or the artist who designed cloud city or James Earl Jones for giving a voice to the boogeyman – every one of those people contributed to making my life better. Even the guy in the stormtrooper armor who banged his head on the Death Star.
When I used to write about hockey as a profession, I decided that my M.O. was to give fans a few minutes of fun each day.
Today, I bring that mantra with me to MickeyBlog.com. I’m certain most people have similar sentiments at various times in their life. But as I sat, happy tears running down my face after the most OP, frenetic, and fabulous gobbledygook I have seen out of Star Wars, I thought: “Imagine how many minutes of fun George Lucas, J.J. Abrams et al have produced over the years.”
As I’ve written before, I am simply too close to Star Wars to properly critique it. And, of course, my adult brain kicked in several times to try and ruin the moment.
However, when the payoff came, and the third defining moment of my personal headcanon appeared, I was, predictably, awash in one wonderful thing: hope.
Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), Poe (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega), Rey (Daisy Ridley) and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) in STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER.
