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The Rise Of Skywalker — Official Review and Opinions Thread — Page 6

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This movie was schlock and I kind of loved it. The story is fun but incomprehensible and purposely never stops long enough for the audience to think about any of it. There were a lot of chuckles and a lot of eye-rolls, but I was always with it. The worst part for me was the kiss, making it two Star Wars films in a row where a kiss was easily the worst part of the movie.

I feel that each film in this trilogy stands on its own well enough and has its merits. But as a trilogy, as three pieces of a larger whole it fails miserably. I don’t know what else to say. This whole thing feels like a failed, poorly planned experiment, but one that I got a lot of enjoyment out of.

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I LOVE this movie. The entirety of TFA and TLJ felt like they were holding on so much. Like they couldn’t cross a line. And then this movie says fuck it!

I went into this movie hoping for the best and prepared for the worst. I hadn’t seen the leaks but knew of the lackluster RT score. But how bad could it be, I said?

After literally 30 minutes of trailers (I checked with my phone - the last trailer got booed) those iconic words Star Wars appear on the screen… followed by…

“It is a period of civil war”?

“Luke Skywalker has vanished”?

“Turmoil has engulfed the galactic republic the taxation of trade routes is under dispute”?

No. Instead we have the dead speak!

And my friends and I start laughing, surrounded by all these Star Wars fans trying to salvage the wreckage of a crawl and get prepared for what must be their perfect movie.

And that’s when I realized this movie was going to be pure entertainment. It’s not here to lecture you like The Last Jedi or speak in mysteries like The Force Awakens. Just fuck it. Have fun.

Poe, Finn, and Rey have so much chemistry! I had liked them in TFA but grown bored of everyone in TLJ. This made me love them. The first half was just a crazy adventure. And then the second half became a genuinely emotional conclusion. Rey isn’t a Mary Sue anymore and Ben getting his redemption early subverted my expectations in a positive way.

The plot was massive but streamlined. It’s a simple stop Palpatine story. It doesn’t give you a moment to consider Palpatine’s return… he’s just back and we gotta deal with it. The action was imaginative. A fleet of Death Stars? Why not!

Now, it wasn’t perfect - this movie in many ways feels as if it should have been two. It was too rushed, but if it means telling this crazy story than sure. Thanks to this, I like the Sequel Trilogy.

8.5/10 my third favorite Star Wars movie.

Maul- A Star Wars Story

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I thoroughly enjoyed this as did my 11-year-old son (9/10 for him), my brother, and my 10-year-old nephew.

The thing about the ST is that it made me “feel” something with Star Wars again. I know it’s fan-service, nostalgia, and “member-berries”, but I really did enjoy the ST (well…most of it). I truly cared about the characters this time around. I think that’s the ultimate failure of the PT for me. The ideas are cool, but the execution was so bad that it didn’t succeed in making me care.

Cue Luke…“Well, I care.”

ROS rights the two big wrongs from TLJ for me. Finn and Poe are not Laurel and Hardy anymore. They’re back to being the characters they were in TFA. This made much of the film way more enjoyable for me when compared to TLJ (which has great moments and very bad ones).

Yes, it’s at a break-neck pace and there are issues all over the place. But, the ST feels like Star Wars again. This is something the PT failed to do for both my brother and me.

Hoping to see this again very, very soon.

And last…I love Star Wars. I always will. But if I’m being honest with myself, there are only two great films (SW77 & ESB) surrounded by varying levels of good to awful (looking at you, AOTC).

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OutboundFlight said:
Just fuck it. Have fun.

I have a feeling those were also the last words Abrams heard after leaving the final meeting just before shooting.

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OutboundFlight I think you have the right idea, for better or worse this is the drinking buddies movie!

“The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.” - DV

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This is definitely a movie you have to turn your brain off to enjoy, that’s for sure.

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Hmm…the last 6 posts or so seem to suggest that Star Wars has become the brainless entertainment it’s critics always claimed it was.

And we fans are happy to settle for this now. Can’t wait for Michael Bay to direct the Sequel-Sequel Trilogy!

“It is only through interaction, through decision and choice, through confrontation, physical or mental, that the Force can grow within you.”
-Kreia, Jedi Master and Sith Lord

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theprequelsrule said:

Hmm…the last 6 posts or so seem to suggest that Star Wars has become the brainless entertainment it’s critics always claimed it was.

And we fans are happy to settle for this now. Can’t wait for Michael Bay to direct the Sequel-Sequel Trilogy!

Heh

Exactly. SW for me has always been awesome popcorn movies. Get lost in the spectacle and exhilaration of it for a couple of hours. The only reason I have such strong emotions of it are due to the time I first saw ANH (12 years old) and how that grew as time went on. I’m in my 50’s now and TROS honestly had be so nostalgic for that first viewing and how I felt then that I was tearing up…powerful stuff that Abrams knows how to create for those of us like me. If I had just seen the OT recently or my first exposure was the PT I wouldn’t have felt the same I think.

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SW for me was always more than just simple popcorn movies. The fact that that’s what we ended up with is kinda sad (especially because you can see hints of something more in TROS, that are ultimately squandered).

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DominicCobb said:

SW for me was always more than just simple popcorn movies. The fact that that’s what we ended up with is kinda sad (especially because you can see hints of something more in TROS, that are ultimately squandered).

I agree completely.

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Cthulhunicron said:

DominicCobb said:

SW for me was always more than just simple popcorn movies. The fact that that’s what we ended up with is kinda sad (especially because you can see hints of something more in TROS, that are ultimately squandered).

I agree completely.

Me too…

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Creox said:

theprequelsrule said:

Hmm…the last 6 posts or so seem to suggest that Star Wars has become the brainless entertainment it’s critics always claimed it was.

And we fans are happy to settle for this now. Can’t wait for Michael Bay to direct the Sequel-Sequel Trilogy!

Heh

Exactly. SW for me has always been awesome popcorn movies. Get lost in the spectacle and exhilaration of it for a couple of hours. The only reason I have such strong emotions of it are due to the time I first saw ANH (12 years old) and how that grew as time went on. I’m in my 50’s now and TROS honestly had be so nostalgic for that first viewing and how I felt then that I was tearing up…powerful stuff that Abrams knows how to create for those of us like me. If I had just seen the OT recently or my first exposure was the PT I wouldn’t have felt the same I think.

Star Wars is Lightning in a Bottle - that happened twice (or three times, depends how you feel about ROTJ). It should have been silly…but it wasn’t. It should have just been meaningless fun…but it ended up saying something important that resonated with millions around the world. We should be surprised that it ever was so great, not scratch our heads trying to figure out why it is so mediocre now.

“It is only through interaction, through decision and choice, through confrontation, physical or mental, that the Force can grow within you.”
-Kreia, Jedi Master and Sith Lord

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DominicCobb said:

SW for me was always more than just simple popcorn movies. The fact that that’s what we ended up with is kinda sad (especially because you can see hints of something more in TROS, that are ultimately squandered).

Just because I call them that does not mean they aren’t important. The fact that they make me feel the way they do even to this day is testament to that.

I agree with you in regards to what could have been with TROS…I imagined a different movie if Johnson had been at the helm to finish off his vision set in TLJ.

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Might just be a rumor but I recall hearing Kennedy asking Johnson to do IX before Abrams. Johnson wanted to do Knives Out though.

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Creox said:

DominicCobb said:

SW for me was always more than just simple popcorn movies. The fact that that’s what we ended up with is kinda sad (especially because you can see hints of something more in TROS, that are ultimately squandered).

Just because I call them that does not mean they aren’t important. The fact that they make me feel the way they do even to this day is testament to that.

I agree with you in regards to what could have been with TROS…I imagined a different movie if Johnson had been at the helm to finish off his vision set in TLJ.

I was chatting with my wife about the definition of a “popcorn movie” and I confess I was using the term incorrectly. I just meant that it was an exhilarating ride…not to diminish it as art or a great movie.

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RogueLeader said:

Might just be a rumor but I recall hearing Kennedy asking Johnson to do IX before Abrams. Johnson wanted to do Knives Out though.

I read that as well…

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theprequelsrule said:

Creox said:

theprequelsrule said:

Hmm…the last 6 posts or so seem to suggest that Star Wars has become the brainless entertainment it’s critics always claimed it was.

And we fans are happy to settle for this now. Can’t wait for Michael Bay to direct the Sequel-Sequel Trilogy!

Heh

Exactly. SW for me has always been awesome popcorn movies. Get lost in the spectacle and exhilaration of it for a couple of hours. The only reason I have such strong emotions of it are due to the time I first saw ANH (12 years old) and how that grew as time went on. I’m in my 50’s now and TROS honestly had be so nostalgic for that first viewing and how I felt then that I was tearing up…powerful stuff that Abrams knows how to create for those of us like me. If I had just seen the OT recently or my first exposure was the PT I wouldn’t have felt the same I think.

Star Wars is Lightning in a Bottle - that happened twice (or three times, depends how you feel about ROTJ). It should have been silly…but it wasn’t. It should have just been meaningless fun…but it ended up saying something important that resonated with millions around the world. We should be surprised that it ever was so great, not scratch our heads trying to figure out why it is so mediocre now.

Nothing lasts forever and I think going nine movies was a mistake but since they did I was quite happy to watch them…the ST was a fun trip down nostalgia lane for me even if they don’t compare to the OT. I really enjoyed TROS at any rate regardless.

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Some of you here really feel the same way about ROTJ dropping the ball, and though I don’t care much for any of the sequels I finally understand. At the end of the day I still think ROTJ holds it together better but that may be by default. TROS is a regressive echo, I feel that pain for those who dislike the finale of the OT, now we’re living it again.

New theory: did TROS sacrifice itself to save Star Wars? We are back to square one again, maybe if this trilogy was some LOTR masterpiece all filmed at once and planned ahead we could never escape it or the Skywalkers. The future is up in the air but I guess failure is the greatest teacher, better luck next time?

“The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.” - DV

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act on instinct said:

Some of you here really feel the same way about ROTJ dropping the ball, and though I don’t care much for any of the sequels I finally understand. At the end of the day I still think ROTJ holds it together better but that may be by default. TROS is a regressive echo, I feel that pain for those who dislike the finale of the OT, now we’re living it again.

New theory: did TROS sacrifice itself to save Star Wars? We are back to square one again, maybe if this trilogy was some LOTR masterpiece all filmed at once and planned ahead we could never escape it or the Skywalkers. The future is up in the air but I guess failure is the greatest teacher, better luck next time?

Right now, I think Abrams had clear direction from up above that TROS had to not replay TLJ as far as fan response is concerned. In that he succeeded if you go by the verified audience scores so far. Total mirror opposite of TLJ.

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But at what cost!?

“The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.” - DV

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act on instinct said:

But at what cost!?

As one who loved TLJ and the risks it took, I would say the cost was caving into fan service over originality. I really liked a lot about TROS but an extension of what Rian started would have been a lot better imo.

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Creox said:

act on instinct said:

But at what cost!?

As one who loved TLJ and the risks it took, I would say the cost was caving into fan service over originality. I really liked a lot about TROS but an extension of what Rian started would have been a lot better imo.

Just rewatched TLJ and have to agree, it is pure magic and imo easily the greatest Star Wars.

“Vader! Hologram, now!”

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Peter Pan said:

Creox said:

act on instinct said:

But at what cost!?

As one who loved TLJ and the risks it took, I would say the cost was caving into fan service over originality. I really liked a lot about TROS but an extension of what Rian started would have been a lot better imo.

Just rewatched TLJ and have to agree, it is pure magic and imo easily the greatest Star Wars.

That’s saying something…seriously. I rank TLJ number three (or four depending on what day you ask)

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Creox said:

Peter Pan said:

Creox said:

act on instinct said:

But at what cost!?

As one who loved TLJ and the risks it took, I would say the cost was caving into fan service over originality. I really liked a lot about TROS but an extension of what Rian started would have been a lot better imo.

Just rewatched TLJ and have to agree, it is pure magic and imo easily the greatest Star Wars.

That’s saying something…seriously. I rank TLJ number three (or four depending on what day you ask)

I rank it at the bottom. For me it fundamentally clashes with the story and characters Lucas envisioned. I really don’t like the meta approach to Star Wars, even if I don’t think it is a bad film when viewed in isolation.

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DrDre said:

Creox said:

Peter Pan said:

Creox said:

act on instinct said:

But at what cost!?

As one who loved TLJ and the risks it took, I would say the cost was caving into fan service over originality. I really liked a lot about TROS but an extension of what Rian started would have been a lot better imo.

Just rewatched TLJ and have to agree, it is pure magic and imo easily the greatest Star Wars.

That’s saying something…seriously. I rank TLJ number three (or four depending on what day you ask)

I rank it at the bottom. For me it fundamentally clashes with the story and characters Lucas envisioned. I really don’t like the meta approach to Star Wars, even if I don’t think it is a bad film when viewed in isolation.

I can agree that TLJ greatest assets don’t have much to do with the rest of Star Wars.
Nonetheless I love it, with every viewing it keeps unfolding new ideas like no other SW does to me.

“Vader! Hologram, now!”