Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: An Under The Lens Review

Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse. Minor spoilers will be included in this review.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is an action-adventure picture from LucesFilms, Directed by J.J Abrams, and starring Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley. It functions as the end of the Skywalker Saga, and the conclusion to not only the original trilogy, but also the prequels and now sequel trilogy. The narrative follows Kylo Ren and Rey as they fight each other and also seek to find the reason for the mysterious return of Darth Sidious.

Under The Lens: Pacing and Payoff

Pacing: Rise of Skywalker is a long picture at two and a half hours, however, it did not feel long enough for the tale being told. At times it felt like a whole trilogy being told at the same time, the picture was forced to reintroduce Darth Sidious, answer the question of Rey’s past, Kylos future, wrapping up Luke and Leia’s story and also bring the 1000 year struggle of the Sith and Jedi to a conclusion. J.J had his work cut out for him, and sadly as a whole, the picture fails. Because there are so many plots to follow and resolve, the picture moves at breakneck speed, almost never letting up. We move from planet to planet, and character to character, get clue after clue and revelation after revelation. In all honesty it’s exhausting.

Payoff: This picture is one made up almost entirely of payoffs to story beats sadly they are almost all payoffs that are not earned. A character’s final confrontation with a villain is meant to be a glorious and emotional moment, however, we feel nothing because the previous pictures kept their past and character in the dark, leaving the audience little to connect to, yet we are now supposed to care. Kylo Ren and Rey are given a very tender moment near the end, however again with little build-up, its an emotionless moment that due to the pacing is swiftly swept over to advance the plot. Even the ending which features a character taking on a legacy feels hollow as there was barely any interaction between them and the Skywalkers which makes their inclusion by the Skywalkers and the whole of the dead Jedi order strange and unearned. About the only payoff that was wonderful was the duel between Rey and Kylo on the old Deathstar, it was well shot and full of emotion, this was a confrontation that was two pictures in the making and well earned.

Highlights

The picture has some truly beautiful imagery, from the stormy seas of the Deathstar II, to the calvary charge on a Star Destroyer.

Luke’s very brief return was nostalgic and full of wisdom, abet too shot.

Adam Driver has always been a highlight of this trilogy and here is no exception, he shines and further proves why HE, not Rey should have been the hero of this story.

Something to think about

What were your expectations going into this picture? Will you be disappointed if those expectations are not met?

Conclusion

Overall Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a disappointing end to the Skywalker Saga, lauded as the end of the 9 picture narrative, it mostly fails as a conclusion to the Skywalker family tale, and as an end to the new generation of heroes. Packed to the rafters with exposition and endless action, viewers are left dazzled by this ocean of content that is only an inch deep. If one is a fan of the sequel trilogy there is much to like, even though flawed, however, followers of George Lucas’s Star Wars will likely feel betrayed and ignored. This picture was ambitious in its scope but in its effort to offer something for everyone it offers little value to anyone.