The last episode in the Star Wars saga, The Rise of Skywalker wraps up nicely, and lives up to the hype. It is more than glorified CGI effects. It has a good storyline.
The most important thing about the George Lucas created franchise was the camaraderie. The second was the clear definitions of good and evil. In this film, both elements are present. The strong bonds between Rae, Poe and Finn are what allows them to come together, to fight the new/old evil in The First Order. It’s old because an old enemy, is still alive. That old enemy is the emperor, Palpatine, (Ian McDiarmid). He is kept alive by tubes in his body, and a burning desire for revenge.
Kylo Ren, (Adam Driver) has assumed Darth Vader’s old role as the face of evil throughout the galaxy. He has located the emperor, and meets with him. Palpatine promises him ultimate power, if he accomplishes a task. That task is to find and kill Rey, (Dailey Ridley), whose control of the force, is a threat to The First Order. Dailey Ridley in her performance in this movie, can give Mark Hamill a run for his money. It is mainly due to her character’s relationship, with a key character.
Kylo Ren, readily agrees to this, thinking he can do it. He doesn’t heed the emperor’s warning that Rae is not what she seems. He is able to track her, and even mentally battle her through his command of the dark side of the force.
There are others standing in the way of the first order. They are Finn, (John Boyega), Poe Dameron,(Oscar Isaac), and of course, the standard comic/heroic duo of C-3PO and R2D2. Poe has been promoted to general of the fleet, and has discovered an old girlfriend, Zori Bliss, (Keri Russell). Their back and forth banter throughout the movie, is slightly reminiscent of Han Solo and Leia, from episodes 4-6. Last but not least, are two very familiar faces, Chewbacca, (Joonas Suotamo), and Lando Calrissian, (Billy Dee Williams). The CGI image of the late Carrie Fisher, as Leia is holding down the fort.
Kylo Ren does find Rae, aboard an abandoned freighter, where they have a lightsaber duel. Rae gets the best in the duel, and leaves to find the emperor on the Sith planet. Kylo Ren, after his defeat, decides the dark side isn’t a good fit for him, after a discussion with a gone, but not forgotten hero. He goes to join Rae in her quest to defeat the emperor.
While this is going on, General Poe Dameron, leads a strike force against the heavily defended First Order’s base. The strike force is overwhelmed, and seemingly on the edge of defeat; when out of the sky appears a galactic fleet, led by Lando Calrissian. Of course everyone knows what happens.
Kylo Ren has caught up with Rae, and the show down with Palpatine is set. Ian McDiarmid is terrific at portraying a character, consumed by evil. He is supremely confident in his control of The Dark Side. It blinds him to the reality that good always triumphs, but villains are always one step behind the good guys when it comes to this.
CGI is always the star of this franchise. The effects shine particularly when the sky is filled with X-wing fighters and other craft. Also good is the final confrontation between Rae and the emperor. The scene with Palpatine sending his energy against the fleet while Rae is incapacitated, looks like a light show for the dark side.
J.J. Abrams has done the nearly impossible. He’s lifted this film out of the bleakness of the last one. The story and effects combine to make it look like George Lucas is still helming the story. Needless to say everything comes together, quite nicely. The only thing to be said, is that this is a fantasy. The Jedi force in this film is taken to the new level of resurrecting the dead. It happens twice. This stretches things a bit, even for pure fantasy. This insertion does show that the franchise is full of itself. It does have reason to be. It’s made a fortune for its creator and for Disney. A fan of these movies should see it, as well as any filmgoer, who wants to be entertained for a couple of hours.