Rating of
3/4
Return of the Fanservice is sloppy bu serviceable
Indyfreak - wrote on 12/19/19
J. J. Abrams concludes the Skywalker saga in suitably epic fashion. The duels are more elaborate, the Force powers are more bizarre, and the space battles are grander than previously seen. It looks expensive and epic, with some impressive visuals and action set pieces. However it’s merely adequate.
That’s almost entirely thanks to the cast. They’re not slouching through it. Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver are the standouts as Rey and Kylo Ren. The returning characters like Finn (Boyega) and Poe (Isaac) are a welcome addition to the adventure.
I’ll try to review the movie without specific spoilers. Since he’s on the poster and used in advertising, I think it’s safe to say Palpatine is definitely back. Both he and Kylo Ren is vying for supremacy over the tyrannical First Order. But the main 3 heroes journey from planet to planet in search of a means to thwart the villains.
It’s been widely reported that the movie was made by Abrams in a way to retcon The Last Jedi due to fan backlash. Unfortunately it shows. Exposition and plot points emerge to serve as a quasi-apology for that film which is so unnecessary. I always felt The Last Jedi got too much hate.
As a result the film does feel disjointed and messy in the first act. The second half is admittedly a much better paced story the climax is exciting. The cast truly does elevate the film and their sense of camaraderie feels genuine.
The ending for the trilogy was decent but still it felt safe. There’s nothing offensive or terrible about it necessarily but it feels like they didn’t want to go further. For a finale to a franchise like Star Wars, that’s a shame. But considering the idiosyncratic nature of the sequel trilogy, coupled with the fans’ obnoxious attitude, it’s inevitable.
