Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker Reactions: SPOILERS

[Wendy Pleakley]

I saw the movie a second time today, in IMAX.

I still really like the movie. I'm glad I'm able to enjoy these movies for the fun rides that they are. I'm happy to critique where they fell short, but I don't focus on the negative. This movie is a lot of fun with some great moments. Seeing people continue to obsessively rant about The Last Jedi seems unhealthy to me.

I like the final shot of the heroes celebrating in the woods. So much better than the awful end shot in Return of the Jedi of the cast posing like they're having their family portrait taken.

I still wish there were more shots of the galaxy rising up. Three moments felt insufficient.

The final space battle could have been longer.

The arrival of the fleet and the theme kicking in is awesome. It's moments like these that let me overlook any flaws the movie has.

I missed some music cues the first time, like the reprise of Jedi's Luke/Vader battle. John Williams has elevated all of these movies far beyond what they would be otherwise. He's a legend. I've listened to the new score many times and it's fantastic.

I really like Richard Grant in this. He's a smarmy Imperial office but not quite cartoony the way Hux is.

Many people were unhappy that we never learn what Finn wanted to tell Rey. There are multiple moments in the film that hint he is force sensitive, so the consensus that this was what it was makes sense.

There has been talk about healing, and why didn't we see it before? Theory: healing is a dark side power, one of those unnatural abilities Palpatine speaks of. Rey healing the sand worm is the first hint she has dark powers in her, followed by the lighting. This is why the Jedi never healed anyone before. And yes, I'm aware of the implications this theory could have for another beloved Star Wars character.

I don't understand why Palpatine tells Rey that if she kills him, he will join her body and they will rule together. That's not a selling point.

My IMAX theater was a bit too loud. Also, whoever allowed thirty (thirty!) minutes of commercials and previews before the movie deserves a force lightning bolt to the chest.

 

[The_Jobu]

It wasn't cast with all white people, and had more female characters

Yah, but no. That's not what most people didn't like. That's just strawmaning. No need to open that can in this thread though.

Except Luke DID fight back against Vader and had to stop himself.

Stop himself after defending himself from the most powerful Sith vs murdering his nephew in his sleep. Nah, I can't just hand wave that away as new twist on the character.

The Holdo maneuver was freakin' great btw.

Come now. I think we can rise above "It LoOkeD CoOL!". It breaks continuity.

I think JJ played it a little too safe, stuck to all the things people liked. Rian went new for new sake and missed the timbre of the franchise (as well as kneecapping JJ's 'mystery boxes'), then JJ was given a lame duck to get over the finish line. The trilogy needed better leadership to oversee a collective story and vision. Not "you go make your movie, you go make a totally different movie, oh uh give the finally back to the first guy I guess".

We're just going to have to agree to disagree.

And as a Star Trek fan, I want to welcome all the Star Wars fans to the "JJ done us dirty" club. We've been waiting for you.

 

[TROR]

Stop himself after defending himself from the most powerful Sith vs murdering his nephew in his sleep. Nah, I can't just hand wave that away as new twist on the character.

You're gonna be mad at Luke for having an invasive thought at 2 in the morning that he immediately was disturbed by? Like you've not been there before...

 

[Professortango1]

You're gonna be mad at Luke for having an invasive thought at 2 in the morning that he immediately was disturbed by? Like you've not been there before...

God forbid out heroes have flaws to overcome, right?

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Yah, but no. That's not what most people didn't like. That's just strawmaning. No need to open that can in this thread though.

No straw man. Responding to a question about the movie being “woke”.

Not saying people didn’t have criticisms that had nothing to do with this, but there is a contingent who reacted negatively to the diversity of the new films.

Having a diverse cast isn’t necessarily a result of trying to push an agenda, as many have accused, it’s just the new normal.

Someone out there went to the trouble of making an all male cut of the film.

 

[erasure fan1]

Johnson did some really cool things in taking Star Wars out of the same repetitious rut. Then JJ needlessly shoved it back.

We can argue about last jedi forever. And realistically people will debate it for decades to come. I think Johnson did do some cool things as well. Unfortunately he did more lame things in my opinion than good. I don't think JJ needlessly shoved anything back. I actually thought JJ was going to retcon things a lot more than what he actually did. There was no real winning scenario in this situation. I think JJ did what he could, with the pieces that were left. Again I don't blame either film maker. That falls on Kennedy and above for not having a unified vision. It's what happens when you play pass the potato on a multi billion dollar franchise.

 

[The_Jobu]

You're gonna be mad at Luke for having an invasive thought at 2 in the morning that he immediately was disturbed by? Like you've not been there before...

I mean, I'm not a highly trained stoic monk like Luke was at that point, but.... yeah.... no hovering over sleeping relatives with a knife. Maybe they're all doing it to me while I sleep?

 

[The_Jobu]

No straw man. Responding to a question about the movie being “woke”.

Someone out there went to the trouble of making an all male cut of the film.

That cut was very tongue in cheek though, or at least, thats what I heard, I haven't actually seen it. The guy that made it is a Mexican film editor. Some people resented any identity politics message being added to a broad appeal everybody franchise. I didn't think it was that bad, but I can sympathize with people with some of the stuff KK said (and wore). There's a huge difference between something that makes you think, vs something that tells you what to think. Subtlety makes all the difference in the world, see old Trek vs NuTrek.

And even with trolls, I dont think I've ever seen one person complain that there were non-white people in the movie.

I think what people should really be upset about is now the force is apparently just magic and can do anything the director needs at the time.

 

[The_Jobu]

God forbid out heroes have flaws to overcome, right?

That's a "flaw" to you?

Please, never come to my sleepover parties. You've set the bar way too low mate.

 

[TROR]

I mean, I'm not a highly trained stoic monk like Luke was at that point, but.... yeah.... no hovering over sleeping relatives with a knife. Maybe they're all doing it to me while I sleep?

Monks are humans, too.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Maybe they're all doing it to me while I sleep?

Let Pleakley and Flik clue you in (NSFW)...

 

[flynnibus]

Having a diverse cast isn’t necessarily a result of trying to push an agenda, as many have accused, it’s just the new normal.

Except... the producers acknowledging they were concious choices

 

[Professortango1]

That's a "flaw" to you?

Please, never come to my sleepover parties. You've set the bar way too low mate.

The man who set the galaxy right sees what can be the destruction of all and considers the easy solution. You're saying if you went back in time and saw teenage Hitler you wouldn't even think about it for a second? Saving so many lives by damning your own soul? Please.

 

[The_Jobu]

Monks are humans, too.

Okay friend, ok...

Not only would I not think about killing him, I'm not related to him, which is huge. And even then I wouldn't do it in his sleep. And that's visions vs time travel. Time travel would be punishment for deeds committed, but in reverse. Not visions of what could be. And he's a Jedi Grandmaster! He's at one with the force, master of the light, they're not assassins, they dont even kill in battle. And on top of all that, he's Luke Friggen Skywalker! He's one of cinema's greatest heroes!! He's not supposed to have "bad days" where he premeditates family murder. Its Star Wars, good vs evil, light vs dark, no room for edgy grimdark greyzones. No, you know what, the more I think about this, the more upset I get. No.

We're not gonna meet halfway on this. Peace be with you.

Let Pleakley clue you in (NSFW)...

I grew up on KITH. Good times.

 

[LSLS]

Let Pleakley clue you in (NSFW)...

Lol, I still to this day squish people's heads.

 

[Professortango1]

We can argue about last jedi forever. And realistically people will debate it for decades to come. I think Johnson did do some cool things as well. Unfortunately he did more lame things in my opinion than good. I don't think JJ needlessly shoved anything back. I actually thought JJ was going to retcon things a lot more than what he actually did. There was no real winning scenario in this situation. I think JJ did what he could, with the pieces that were left. Again I don't blame either film maker. That falls on Kennedy and above for not having a unified vision. It's what happens when you play pass the potato on a multi billion dollar franchise.

JJ could have continued the ideas. Kylo wanting to destroy the past and end the days of good vs evil; the force spreading across the galaxy, the legend of Luke Skywalker resonating, Poe now carefully considering decisions as he assumes command and having learned from his hotshot ways. One of the few good ideas was Hux turning against Ren now that Snoke is gone, but then it didn't pay off to anything. The Knights of Ren were wasted. But hey, we got to see Lando laughing as everyone was fighting to death. Yay...

 

[TROR]

Okay friend, ok...

Not only would I not think about killing him, I'm not related to him, which is huge. And even then I wouldn't do it in his sleep. And that's visions vs time travel. Time travel would be punishment for deeds committed, but in reverse. Not visions of what could be. And he's a Jedi Grandmaster! He's at one with the force, master of the light, they're not assassins, they dont even kill in battle. And on top of all that, he's Luke Friggen Skywalker! He's one of cinema's greatest heroes!! He's not supposed to have "bad days" where he premeditates family murder. Its Star Wars, good vs evil, light vs dark, no room for edgy grimdark greyzones. No, you know what, the more I think about this, the more upset I get. No.

We're not gonna meet halfway on this. Peace be with you.

Your heroization of Luke is why you're bitter, not because Rian Johnson's depiction of a human look is bad.

 

[The_Jobu]

Your heroization of Luke is why you're bitter, not because Rian Johnson's depiction of a human look is bad.

A-am I being trolled? You serious about you just said? That's your understanding of the situation?

I dont even know where to begin.

First off, I didn't "heroize" Luke, George Lucas did, when he made him one of the century's greatest heroes. And he's not a human, he's not Larry from apartment 12c. He's a Jedi Grandmaster. He's gone through the full heroes journey archetype. It makes literaly no thematic sense to have that character, attempt to do those acts, at that point in his life. Just, please, I mean... come on now.

I just got trolled didn't I? I dont even know what's real anymore on the this forum.

 

[Professortango1]

A-am I being trolled? You serious about you just said? That's your understanding of the situation?

I dont even know where to begin.

First off, I didn't "heroize" Luke, George Lucas did, when he made him one of the century's greatest heroes. And he's not a human, he's not Larry from apartment 12c. He's a Jedi Grandmaster. He's gone through the full heroes journey archetype. It makes literaly no thematic sense to have that character, attempt to do those acts, at that point in his life. Just, please, I mean... come on now.

I just got trolled didn't I? I dont even know what's real anymore on the this forum.

Because people never lose faith. Once they've been hastily trained and stopped themselves from murdering their father, they are 100% perfect and would never ever fall from grace after a tragedy.

 

[TROR]

A-am I being trolled? You serious about you just said? That's your understanding of the situation?

I dont even know where to begin.

First off, I didn't "heroize" Luke, George Lucas did, when he made him one of the century's greatest heroes. And he's not a human, he's not Larry from apartment 12c. He's a Jedi Grandmaster. He's gone through the full heroes journey archetype. It makes literaly no thematic sense to have that character, attempt to do those acts, at that point in his life. Just, please, I mean... come on now.

I just got trolled didn't I? I dont even know what's real anymore on the this forum.

The Jedi are perfect beings, hence why Sheev was rooted out and the Republic never fell. Oh wait, no, Jedi are people, too, and thus have faults and struggles.