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

[Sirwalterraleigh]

No. SirWalterRaleigh is dead accurate on that "feel" point.

IF your principal point of reference/context are the Originals, THEN Rogue One should be considered the best/closest in feel of the new films... by miles. If your point of reference is the Prequel/Sequel trilogies or TV shows, then no - your baseline is a different style of Star Wars.

And this parroted notion of thin characterization in R1 is bonkers, IMO. Padme had three films to develop a character/audience empathy, but Portman's performance was so atrocious and her dialogue so terribly-written (ditto for Anakin) that none of that screentime mattered: no one batted any eye by the time she got choked out and died giving birth. In contrast, Rouge One had actual performances: the single scene where Jyn sees the hologram of her father is more emotive & moving than any scene by any actor in the Prequel or JJ trilogies.

**
Let's take a look at the differences in style/level of script & performances:
R1:


New Trilogy:


One monologue is brilliant popcorn filmmaking, the other made me embarrassed to be in the theater.

**
And agree with above comment about the ridiculous choice of having Admiral Holdo wearing a gown instead of uniform on the bridge of her warship (she wasn't just called away from a cocktail party), designed to accentuate feminity in the film at the expense of visual storytelling. Strengthening its feminine appeal has been the M.O. for the entire Star Wars brand for a decade or so, as often boasted by Kennedy.

And I didn’t even think they did that well in R1, Macho King...

But at least Edwards got the concept of the feelings right...

The only three sequences where I thought they got the pacing, emotion, score and story right since 1983...honestly...

Were:
Order 66
When bail organa walks out of the shadows in the briefing room in R1
And Radus after the Death Star blast.

Some other have some of that...the Vader sequence...obiwan leaving anakin behind...the Leia/luke hiding at the end of sith...

But beyond that...it’s like it’s rocket science. They just can’t write it, pace it, and act it right

I actually think pacing is the worst...including abrams who is clueless...thinks the corniness of ANH was the way to go...not the proper pacing in empire and Jedi.
Rookie mistake.

I actually was tremendously disappointed with the score - all rehash and not in a good way - and pacing on 9. Blame to go around there

 

[Mike S]

I mean, that’s a bit unfair. Blade Runner 2049 is the best science fiction film since Terminator 2.

I’d say something like Interstellar from Christopher Nolan goes with it but I guess for different reasons. I’m also partial to The Martian from Ridley Scott but Alien: Covenant
was total crap though.

Either way I’d very much take something new in the Star Wars universe with that type of scale to it. It would be a hard sell like Blade Runner was but maybe not with the Star Wars name attached. That type of movie seems made to delve deeper into the Sith and exactly how corrupting the dark side is. Not a Vader movie though. Show us an older Sith Lord from way before the Skywalkers.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I didn't care that Luke died... I just found his story in VIII to be freaking lame.

The greatest hero should have gone out like the greatest hero...that’s what everyone (who matter) wanted from the sequel trilogy since 1985....

If they missed the 90’s window...which they did...then luke had to be a wise teacher and have a fitting martyrdom.

Emo beard missed BIGTIME on both. Like Dave kingman on a slider.

I can’t believe there are so many highly paid, highly stupid people in California??
Who can’t watch 3 old movies and identify what the appeal was?

 

[erasure fan1]

I didn't care that Luke died... I just found his story in VIII to be freaking lame.

In the bigger picure his story didn't bother me that much. It was how they executed it that was my issue. The problem I had with it was, as I've said before, they dwelled on crotchety Luke way too long. He should have been out of that in the 2nd act. I don't mind that they killed Luke off, I just don't think 8 was the movie to do it. Especially after Carries passing.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

In the bigger picure his story didn't bother me that much. It was how they executed it that was my issue. The problem I had with it was, as I've said before, they dwelled on crotchety Luke way too long. He should have been out of that in the 2nd act. I don't mind that they killed Luke off, I just don't think 8 was the movie to do it. Especially after Carries passing.

Fisher was a HUGE mistake...she was not up to it...didn’t resemble the character at all.

They would have been better having her be a source of “tragic conflict” in a flashback or something...could have strengthened 3 other characters off the top of my head and be used to justify the farcical first order/republic/resistance nonsense that was handled with hams

 

[Tony Perkis]

I’d say something like Interstellar from Christopher Nolan goes with it but I guess for different reasons. I’m also partial to The Martian from Ridley Scott but Alien: Covenant
was total crap though.

Either way I’d very much take something new in the Star Wars universe with that type of scale to it. It would be a hard sell like Blade Runner was but maybe not with the Star Wars name attached. That type of movie seems made to delve deeper into the Sith and exactly how corrupting the dark side is. Not a Vader movie though. Show us an older Sith Lord from way before the Skywalkers.

I’m a little lesser on The Martian because I love the book and, while it’s a good adaptation, it could have been better.

I forgot about Interstellar. Yes, that was a fantastic film.

 

[erasure fan1]

Fisher was a HUGE mistake...she was not up to it...didn’t resemble the character at all.

And to think the plan was to have her movie the one to close out the saga. I love Princess Leia, but you are right, it just never felt like her character.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

And to think the plan was to have her movie the one to close out the saga. I love Princess Leia, but you are right, it just never felt like her character.

It was just Carrie Fisher...I had post the clips from the late 90’s where she looked like a ‘mature” Princess Leia...before...but I won’t do it again

20 years later...all the history - and awful plastic surgeons - ruined her for the part.

Get appalled...I don’t care...not gonna dodge the issue here.

Reminder: she had 4-5 hard core drugs in the coroners report.

She lived an interesting life and gets a lot of respect for her ingenious writing and amazing work to destigmatize mental struggles...

...but abrams and Kennedy and Disney were wrong to try and push back time on her. It didn’t work.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I’m a little lesser on The Martian because I love the book and, while it’s a good adaptation, it could have been better.

I forgot about Interstellar. Yes, that was a fantastic film.

There have been some good sci-fi entrys in recent years...

I feel like that’s gonna continue as the streaming services are willing to pay the bill to develop sci fi content like the Expanse and Mando

 

[Tony Perkis]

There have been some good sci-fi entrys in recent years...

I feel like that’s gonna continue as the streaming services are willing to pay the bill to develop sci fi content like the Expanse and Mando

Arrival is great as well.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Ouch...some people here might need a tissue and a bag to breathe into before they read this one:

‘Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker’ Was So Bad, It Sparked A Conspiracy Theory

Disappointed fans came up with their own story.

www.google.com

 

[choco choco]

I haven't seen ESB in awhile, so I might be wrong here... did Luke really rescue his friends though? I believe they already had an escape plan... if I remember correctly(again could be wrong) I thought he really only encountered Vader and hardly any storm troopers. Now if he drew Vader away from his friends, then yeah he saved them.. but I'm not so sure he even really cared for them. Remember Vader did all this for the purpose to draw out Skywalker, cause he knew he wasn't strong enough in the force to NOT rely on his feelings for his friends. Again I could be way off base here

No, Luke did not really save them in that instance. The entirety of ESB is the heroes taking loss after loss. That's why the ending is so inspirational, so awesome. They've been hounded across the galaxy, maimed and battered...and yet after all the losses the ending is them looking out that window - defiant, alive - and the music is a soaring theme of hope, and you realize: the heroes refuse to lose. They are not giving up. They have each other and nothing breaks them. It is as upbeat an ending as you can think of.

Luke showing up is everything. It's the symbolic presence that makes all the difference. He knows he's not strong enough to take on Vader. He knows it's a trap, everyone knows it's a trap. It doesn't matter to Luke; Vader will continue to make them suffer to get at him, and he's willing to sacrifice himself to end their pain.

He's got their backs, and it's that implicit thing to always stand by your friends, your family, to protect those you love, that Luke shoves back at Yoda's face. And because he (Luke) does this, everything changes: his friends, the resistance, people who are just watching, they get inspiration to take on the Empire in their little ways. It gives hope and strength and makes people believe. It does everything that Yoda's baloney, wrong-headed policy of "Jedi non-attachment" pretty much cannot do. Which is why Luke's choice is the centerpiece of the movie, the centerpiece (literally, in the exact middle point) of the trilogy...it changes everything.

The message of the Jedi being obsolete, most likely from their own obtuse philosophy, is pretty much baked into the series from the very beginning.

And the heroes, what do they do after they've lost one of their number? Do they treat him as a loss and prioritize getting back at the enemy? No, they marshall everything they have to save him. The entire first half of ROTJ is them working to get him back. That's the first thing they do. Because that's how you win, silly, not by fighting what you hate, but saving what you love. (See what I mean, that film really get its)

 

[Joesixtoe]

I’d say something like Interstellar from Christopher Nolan goes with it but I guess for different reasons. I’m also partial to The Martian from Ridley Scott but Alien: Covenant
was total crap though.

Either way I’d very much take something new in the Star Wars universe with that type of scale to it. It would be a hard sell like Blade Runner was but maybe not with the Star Wars name attached. That type of movie seems made to delve deeper into the Sith and exactly how corrupting the dark side is. Not a Vader movie though. Show us an older Sith Lord from way before the Skywalkers.

Some of the better sci-fi movies are more story over action. 2001, Alien, Bladerunner list can go on and on.. so sadly it's hard to get these types of movies made when Bladerunner 2049 and Ad Astra did not do so well money wise, probably because the world has a hard time with their own attention spans.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Finally saw RotS. While it was a fun enough film and not as bad as I was fearing based on the leaks, I still found it a pretty unsatisfying end to not just the Skywalker Saga, but the ST itself.

Um, why is this post here? This is the thread for airing grievances about The Last Jedi (current topic that the basement dwellers are still upset about two years later: Admiral Holdo's dress). Please take your off topic "Rise of Skywalker" comments elsewhere.



Since we're so off topic, Solo would have potentially made a great Disney+ series. We didn't need Han to be riding space trains in big action set pieces or helping to form the rebellion. He would be suited to a Firefly-esque show where we see him engaged in different smuggling missions every week. The type of small scale stories on the Mandalorian would have been good for Solo as well.

Sorry to interrupt, please resume complaining about blue milk or space Leia or other trivial nonsense. You know, the things normal people had their opinion on at the time, but don't feel the need to complain about constantly for 740+ days straight.

 

[Joesixtoe]

No, Luke did not really save them in that instance. The entirety of ESB is the heroes taking loss after loss. That's why the ending is so inspirational, so awesome. They've been hounded across the galaxy, maimed and battered...and yet after all the losses the ending is them looking out that window - defiant, alive - and the music is a soaring theme of hope, and you realize: the heroes refuse to lose. They are not giving up. They have each other and nothing breaks them. It is as upbeat an ending as you can think of.

Luke showing up is everything. It's the symbolic presence that makes all the difference. He knows he's not strong enough to take on Vader. He knows it's a trap, everyone knows it's a trap. It doesn't matter to Luke; Vader will continue to make them suffer to get at him, and he's willing to sacrifice himself to end their pain.

He's got their backs, and it's that implicit thing to always stand by your friends, your family, to protect those you love, that Luke shoves back at Yoda's face. And because he (Luke) does this, everything changes: his friends, the resistance, people who are just watching, they get inspiration to take on the Empire in their little ways. It gives hope and strength and makes people believe. It does everything that Yoda's baloney, wrong-headed policy of "Jedi non-attachment" pretty much cannot do. Which is why Luke's choice is the centerpiece of the movie, the centerpiece (literally, in the exact middle point) of the trilogy...it changes everything.

The message of the Jedi being obsolete, most likely from their own obtuse philosophy, is pretty much baked into the series from the very beginning.

And the heroes, what do they do after they've lost one of their number? Do they treat him as a loss and prioritize getting back at the enemy? No, they marshall everything they have to save him. The entire first half of ROTJ is them working to get him back. That's the first thing they do. Because that's how you win, silly, not by fighting what you hate, but saving what you love. (See what I mean, that film really get its)

Qui Gon Jinn would share your sentiment. I agree with you in a lot of ways to be honest. Last Jedi had a good premise in part. Good guys gettin beat up, Snoke dying, Kylo is now Supreme Leader, Luke devastated over his nephew cause he felt like it was his fault.. learn the secrets of the force, jedi need to rough out some edges in their philosophy.. I'm down for all that.. wasn't executed very well Imo.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Um, why is this post here? This is the thread for airing grievances about The Last Jedi (current topic that the basement dwellers are still upset about two years later: Admiral Holdo's dress). Please take your off topic "Rise of Skywalker" comments elsewhere.



Since we're so off topic, Solo would have potentially made a great Disney+ series. We didn't need Han to be riding space trains in big action set pieces or helping to form the rebellion. He would be suited to a Firefly-esque show where we see him engaged in different smuggling missions every week. The type of small scale stories on the Mandalorian would have been good for Solo as well.

Sorry to interrupt, please resume complaining about blue milk or space Leia or other trivial nonsense. You know, the things normal people had their opinion on at the time, but don't feel the need to complain about constantly for 740+ days straight.

Count with me...

7....8....9

Also count with me: $2 billion...$1.3 billion....900 million....

 

[Screamface]

JJ’s mystery boxes really weren’t appropriate for Star Wars. They’re not really part of the first six movies. Princess Leia’s need for assistance is a mystery for Luke and Obi-wan but not the audience. Darth Vader being Luke’s father was a big twist but wasn’t true in 1977 and is known by a new audience watching the saga in order. This though just goes to the big problem of not having a singular vision.

I feel the mystery box thing has been distorted, misunderstood and incorrectly applied to TFA. He started a story that had some aspects set up to be explained later in sequels that were definitely going to get made. There's nothing wrong with that.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I feel the mystery box thing has been distorted, misunderstood and incorrectly applied to TFA. He started a story that had some aspects set up to be explained later in sequels that were definitely going to get made. There's nothing wrong with that.

He’s known for three things:
1. Mystery boxes
2. Lensflare
3. Not closing

 

[Mike S]

No, Luke did not really save them in that instance. The entirety of ESB is the heroes taking loss after loss. That's why the ending is so inspirational, so awesome. They've been hounded across the galaxy, maimed and battered...and yet after all the losses the ending is them looking out that window - defiant, alive - and the music is a soaring theme of hope, and you realize: the heroes refuse to lose. They are not giving up. They have each other and nothing breaks them. It is as upbeat an ending as you can think of.

Luke showing up is everything. It's the symbolic presence that makes all the difference. He knows he's not strong enough to take on Vader. He knows it's a trap, everyone knows it's a trap. It doesn't matter to Luke; Vader will continue to make them suffer to get at him, and he's willing to sacrifice himself to end their pain.

He's got their backs, and it's that implicit thing to always stand by your friends, your family, to protect those you love, that Luke shoves back at Yoda's face. And because he (Luke) does this, everything changes: his friends, the resistance, people who are just watching, they get inspiration to take on the Empire in their little ways. It gives hope and strength and makes people believe. It does everything that Yoda's baloney, wrong-headed policy of "Jedi non-attachment" pretty much cannot do. Which is why Luke's choice is the centerpiece of the movie, the centerpiece (literally, in the exact middle point) of the trilogy...it changes everything.

The message of the Jedi being obsolete, most likely from their own obtuse philosophy, is pretty much baked into the series from the very beginning.

And the heroes, what do they do after they've lost one of their number? Do they treat him as a loss and prioritize getting back at the enemy? No, they marshall everything they have to save him. The entire first half of ROTJ is them working to get him back. That's the first thing they do. Because that's how you win, silly, not by fighting what you hate, but saving what you love. (See what I mean, that film really get its)

ESB did it far better. The Luke you just described is exactly the problem people have with TLJ. It’s not consistent with his character.

Also that line from Rose is total cringe. Not to mention the BS of the First Order just letting them both get all the way back to the base after that little stunt lol.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I feel the mystery box thing has been distorted, misunderstood and incorrectly applied to TFA. He started a story that had some aspects set up to be explained later in sequels that were definitely going to get made. There's nothing wrong with that.

Abrams hoped they would get explained. The answers were not committed to beforehand leaving the subsequent writer-directors to answer them however they pleased. Thus we get a nobody Snoke who is also somehow the most powerful person the Galaxy has known in the entire Saga until he is just a creation of the late big bad Emperor who was the most powerful along with Kylo Ren until they both were not in complete control.