Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
JJ Abrams is eager to give the Star Wars fanboys what they want, but it’s always on his terms
Legacy is at the heart of the Star Wars saga, and JJ Abrams, who returns to directing duties for the final instalment, knows it. As with The Force Awakens, The Rise of Skywalker pays homage to what came before, offering a safe but satisfying conclusion to the space opera that began back in 1977.
Given the ire directed by more militant fans at Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, Abrams’ approach appears to be to steer the ship in a direction that will not result in Reddit forums calling for his film to be struck from the canon.
To repair the perceived problems of the previous instalment, there’s an exposition-heavy opening. In a blur of short scenes, Abrams bombards us with numerous narrative threads, setting up a new adventure that has little in common with the previous episode. We soon learn that in the galaxy far, far away, breaking with tradition is not for this director.
*If you wish to avoid spoilers ignore the next paragraph*
From the opening scroll, we learn that Leia (the late Carrie Fisher) and the Rebellion are continuing the fight against the First Order. Rey (Daisy Ridley), meanwhile, is honing her Jedi skills until Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) tempts her to the dark side with knowledge of her heritage, after a message is transmitted across the galaxy purporting to be from a shadowy figure from the past.
As with The Force Awakens, the chief weapon in Abrams’ arsenal is nostalgia. Whether it’s familiar faces or trips back to iconic locations, Abrams uses every possible opportunity to hark back to George Lucas's original trilogy. Some of Abrams’ tricks are wielded as elegantly as a lightsabre; others are more like sporadic blaster fire, hoping to hit you in your heart.
The Rise of Skywalker is best when it’s at its most eulogistic. As a fond farewell to a story that began over forty years ago, Abrams succeeds in his mission. This is particularly true of the quieter moments that are less focused on the overly-packed plot, although at times the film does get bogged down in providing unnecessary answers or following the arcs of the previous films. Nonetheless, Abrams gives it one last epic push, delivering grand setpieces, derring-do duels, and a classic tale of good versus evil that ups the ante on every previous instalment.
Is there too much fan service? Perhaps. Abrams is eager to give fanboys what they want, but it’s always on his terms. His treatment of old favourites, like Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) provide some of the most heartwarming moments.
But it is the late Carrie Fisher as Leia who is best served. While initial scenes made up of filmed material from previous instalments are uneven, Abrams honours the legacy of her most famous character, showing that she is as worthy of the Skywalker name as Luke ever was, and perhaps even more so.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is released by Disney on 19 Dec