Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker – Review, Summary (with Spoilers)

Read our Editorial Guidelines regarding how posts are written and rated and our use of affiliate links.

In what is supposed to be the final film of the Skywalker saga, you get something casual fans may enjoy more than the hardcore ones who never liked this trilogy.

---

Directed By	J.J. Abrams
Written By	Chris Terrio, J.J. Abrams, Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow
Date Released (Theatrical – Nationwide)	12/19/2019
Genre(s)	Action Adventure Sci-Fi
Made For Those Who Like	Star Wars, But Not In A Pretentious Way Ray’s Journey Thus Far
Noted Cast
Emperor Palpatine	Ian McDiarmid
Rey	Daisy Ridley
Kylo Ren (Ben)	Adam Driver
Leia	Carrie Fisher
Han Solo	Harrison Ford
Poe	Oscar Isaac
Finn	John Boyega
Luke	Mark Hamill
Zorii	Keri Russell

Plot Summary/ Review (Spoilers on 2^nd Page)

With the discovery of Emperor Palpatine still being alive, thanks to machinery, there is a need to defeat him, once and for all, to bring an end to the empire. However, Rey and Kylo Ren have different reasons for wanting to kill him and different visions for how the world will be after that. Leading to them clashing, as we’ve seen them do in each film, especially as Ren holds over Rey the truth about her lineage.

And as Rey often boldly goes solo, it leaves her friends to handle the light work of handling star destroyers, stormtroopers and trying to unite as many groups as possible for the final battle.

Collected Quote(s) or .Gifs

Don’t tell me what things look like, tell me what they are.
— Leia

Highlights

It May Get You A Little Emotional

Believe it or not, the moment that will get you emotional will not be what you assume will be the last time you see Carrie Fisher as Leia. More so, it is the many other moments in which people triumph, make sacrifices, or as things come to an end. This isn’t to say this will send you to the levels Endgame did for the MCU, but you will get teary-eyed and maybe have a Denzel Washington in Glory teardrop.

Emperor Palpatine The Villain We Long Needed

Like many, I found Kylo Ren to be a bit of a lackluster villain, and with Snoke being taken out so easily, he was no better. Emperor Palpatine on the other hand, he was ace. He was the villain we long needed and his absence is perhaps part of the reason this trilogy has felt lackluster. For there was no equal to him or Vader this go around. Just a vulnerable child, in Kylo Ren, trying to prove himself and this thing that looks like the traitor from 300 with some decent plastic surgery, in Snoke.

Getting in-depth with it, what Palpatine does is tempt Ray, show no mercy, and bring about better fights by zapping people with electricity than the majority of the lightsaber duels or Poe and Finn fighting in ships. For there is just an intensity and caliber of acting that Ian McDiarmid brings to the role which is unmatched. If not harnessing George Lucas’ belief that Star Wars is more so a soap opera than an action/adventure with villains who are only suitable for one film.

You’ll Only Check Your Phone A Handful Of Times

While there is laughter, sweet moments, and others which are meant to mean something but don’t hit as they should, you won’t necessarily find yourself checking your phone every few minutes. You certainly will at least once, for there are times this film feels like it is dragging, especially during Rey’s journey to find Palpatine and the planet he is hiding out on – if not her fights with Ren. However, generally, there is enough action and big-budget moments to keep you entertained. It’s just when the film decides to get serious, without Palpatine on screen, it goes from lightspeed to that moment when everyone is getting their bearings after the jump.

On The Fence

It Holds A Good Mix Of What You Want, What You Expect, Yet Also Playing It Safe

Let’s be real, a franchise like this isn’t going to have a shocking end or anything which goes beyond the hero being triumphant. The only question is, who will be there after the dust settles? And, for the most part, you’ll be able to guess. After all, this whole trilogy has been less about moving forward and more about sucking at the teat of the past to reintroduce Disney’s canon Star Wars to present-day audiences.

So it is only natural there is fan service, in terms of some living and some not. Also, while we may not get the couples we wanted, we do see two women kiss, hinting queer folks do still exist in a galaxy far, far away. But, as for things that will shock you? That doesn’t exist in The Rise of Skywalker. I mean, the name itself pretty much gives away everything you need to know.

Overall

Met Expectations

This film did meet expectations in a good and bad way. As a casual fan of Star Wars, who isn’t privy to the huge amount of lore and really only knows about the movies and The Mandalorian, I enjoyed it. Did it feel long? Of course. Yet, you can tell there was a serious effort to make this an epic conclusion, and while it doesn’t make the final battle as bloody and traumatic as it could, it is good enough to push you to realize what was required for the empire to finally ending.

Would Watch Again?

It’s a one and done film. I don’t think I could even say, if I know a child interested in sci-fi, I could bring myself to watch this again for bad enough it is predictable on the first go around, but there isn’t much reason to watch this twice.

Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker Rating: Mixed (Divisive)

Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker is void of any real surprises and isn’t so much an epic conclusion as a satisfactory one. The kind that makes you hope Disney will retire making theatrical releases for the franchise for quite some time, especially that lead to, are during, or after the Skywalker saga.

Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker Ending Explained, Recapped, and Spoiled

So the reason for bringing Emperor Palpatine back seems to be the reveal that he is Rey’s grandfather, and the reason Rey was led to believe she was nobody was because they didn’t want Palpatine trying to mold her into a Sith. Well, not just a Sith, but someone who would eventually kill him, as Ben/Kyle killed his father, but instead of just killing him and gaining a title, she’d absorb his power and become a true supreme leader.

But, of course, Rey doesn’t fall for that. In fact, between Leia using her last bit of strength to return Kylo Ren to Ben, and an appearance from Han Solo, the two of them face off against Emperor Palpatine, and while they lose, after he does some Hocus Pocus work on them, and drains them of their life energy, he is ultimately defeated by Rey. How? Well, after meditating and trying to speak to the Jedi earlier in the film, they finally talk to her while she is at the brink of death. Leading her to defeat her grandfather at the cost of her life.

That is until Ben, who was sent hurling down a fissure, uses the force to heal Ren, and thus he dies – permanently. Making it so as Poe, Finn, and many others, take out what would have been the Final Order, led by Ben, if he killed Rey, or Rey, if she followed the plan, peace comes to the galaxy. Also, Rey, in possession of Luke and Leia’s lightsabers, returns to Anakin’s homeworld and buries both of them in the sand. Followed by, when someone asks who she is, she doesn’t use her true last name but takes on the Skywalker last name. Thus ending the saga.

Other Noteworthy Facts, Moments and Commentary

• Finn never reveals to Ray he is force sensitive and can sense her at times.
• While many may think Finn and Poe have something going on, the film makes it clear Poe likes girls as he pursues one named Zorii. As for Finn? He doesn’t get play from Rey or a newly introduced character. In fact, Rey kisses Ben, romantically, before he dies in her arms.
• All the members of the empire we’ve met thus far are either killed due to their own ego or else die in the final battle in such a way they couldn’t have survived.

Is A Sequel Possible?

Technically yes. With the empire thoroughly eliminated, so comes the question of whether a new intergalactic form of government will be made, who will lead it, and how will peace be maintained? For without a common enemy, what will keep these different races and planets from war? Never mind, while the main fleet was destroyed, there remain remnants of the empire throughout the galaxy. What to do with them?

All of which would be better dealt with in a show, than a movie, in our opinion

Follow, Like and Subscribe