Photo by Agnieszka Kowalczyk on Unsplash
Door's Howl Review: Star Wars Episode IX: Rise of Skywalker
A spoiler alert: I have tried to write this review without any specific spoilers, especially of movie plot lines. However, I do reference generalized thoughts and directorial decisions which may be viewed by some as spoilers. Therefore, move ahead under caution.
Synopsis
It is the last of the Star Wars main story arc movies. Faced with outrage from the Episode VIII poor performance (at least to purists), J.J. Abrams returns as director. The movie is fast paced with typical humor inserted elements for which Abrams is known. It pays homage to past characters, past battles and even revisits planets and scenes from previous movies.
As I said, it is fast paced. The movie is 2h21m, and doesn't let up in action all the way through. At times it feels squeezed and everything is being crammed into a predetermined time limit. It possibly could have benefitted from an extra 20 minutes. We follow the resistance across the galaxy as they fight the First Order and once again we see the two sides of the force at war.
I found the movie choppy and rushed and personally didn't think it was good. On the other hand, my family all loved it and thought it was great. Perhaps this is what happens with a movie arc that is 42 years long. Star Wars is a movie for kids, and the kid within us. It's fantastic, spectacular and amazing, but when you engage your disbelief, it kind of fails. Perhaps my own joy would have increased with a more emphatic audience (no cheers, no celebration, no shock, just...silence...even at the end with a muted smattering of applause led by one of my own children, which never went further than that). Maybe, it is better than I thought. You be your own judge.
There was one phrase, that repeats throughout the movie that seemed to be a prophetic challenge to the ordinary person: there are more of us than they want you to think there are. We are not victims and at the mercy of armies, tyrants and leaders...we have power...together. This was a moment worth cheering for in the movie (but alas...our audience was quiet)! I found this little piece of commentary on our times well done and powerfully displayed. We can always resist evil, and there are more good people than bad...we just need to realize we are not alone.
Perhaps I need to see it again to get a better experience!
As IMDB stated for the plot line: the resistance faces the First Order in the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga.
That sums it up quite well.
I hope you go and enjoy it!
P.S. I am sure Lego will make another small fortune off the figures and models from this movie...there are tons!
Score
Episode IX scores a New Moon.
Scoring System
Wolves are thought to commonly howl at the moon. So, the better the moon, the greater the howl. Description of scoring system below.
Full Moon - best you can get, must watch and must own
New Moon - great movie, worth seeing and buying
Crescent Moon - average to above average, good to watch, but may want to wait for DVD
Sliver Moon - below average, not worth seeing and only get it on DVD when you have nothing better to do, like having a root canal
Moonless Night -not even worth mentioning - avoid at all costs!
No comments:
Post a Comment