So, I finally go around to this recently, and rather than plow on to the TLJ thread, I have thoughts.
3/5
It was ok, the only reason it gets a positive rating is the Kylo/Ben and Rey stuff is just so strong. 2 amazingly talented actors just giving this story more work than it deserves. I think going in with lowered expectations helped a lot.
The rest of the cast is meh. John Boyega is basically absent any character, basically anyone other than Kylo/Rey have no room for dialogue or character moments. It is all one big chase scene for them. This movie just has no downtime to breathe.
CG is good though, looking at the more recent Marvel slate, it was refreshing to see what a real budget and time can do.
The weird love storyline for John Boyega took a turn making the previous 2 movies seem like a waste of time for that character development, as there is no real payoff. I think that the removal of Rose Tico from the main crew was a bit overblown. I think her character works fine as a one-off for TLJ. Abrams would have mis-used her anyway.
There is just no time for lore in this movie. It is frustratingly all action, of which, admittedly, is well shot and choreographed, but it all loses its impact since there are no slow moments to counter it.
The plot with palpatine not being dead isn’t bad on its face. He was the one who was preaching about Darth Plauegis (lol lucas name) the wise and extending life beyond death etc. So, it makes sense he would not be dead. But it comes out of left field in the story so hard, as there is no real allusion to it in the previous 2 films. If they were planning this from the start, it would have made more sense.
Having Rey’s character related to palpatine serves no narrative purpose at all, other than “i’m scared, my powers are scary!” and maybe an explanation as to why she is so talented. I guess we got about 30 seconds of screen time for Jodie Comer? It just didn’t need to be connected for the plot they were trying to tell to make sense. And by the end it doesn’t matter anyway. Maybe if they had hinted at her “sith” bloodline in the previous films, it could have worked, but they didn’t.
I don’t buy all of the insane terrible fan chatter about Rey being overpowered. It makes narrative sense, the force seeks to balance itself, and without a proper equal to Kylo Ren, the force grew quickly in Rey. I mean c’mon, this is the exact story of what happened with Anakin (just that he grew in power quickly to counter the Jedi). That happens a bit more drawn out over 3 films, but would you expect Abrams to pace anything correctly? He just did it too fast.
The fucking final battle is so stupid too. Oops all death stars? C’mon. C’MON! Really? REALLY? And they are all super vulnerable too?
JFC
4th time’s a charm.
That was the most disappointing part to me. I was thinking maybe they would pull a bluff and only have 1, and use the fear (which is a theme of the film) to keep the resistance down. But no, there were actually like 100 death star guns.
Also, the logistics of this was baffling. So, that sith phantom zone was only accessible by a wayfinder (or not, everyone made it there in the end) and I am expected to believe that they got 100 or so star destroyers fully staffed and trained in the couple years these movies take place?
A Star Destroyer, according to wookiepedia has about 40-50k staff.
So, there were like 500,000 dudes just chilling and training in the phantom zone? And nobody found out about this until the fleet was fully built? There is a throw-away line early on, about how they need to increase their “recruiting” by conscripting more people, but c’mon now. I did enjoy the General Hux betrayal, only because it led to Richard Grant ruthlessly murking him out of nowhere. Hux’s reasoning makes sense, as he would betray the order if it meant Kylo Ren failing. There is clear animosity and history there.
The final battle/moments with Kylo/Rey were very good though. The final moments with Ben were genuinely touching. Seeing Han again brought on genuine emotions. Adam Driver brought his A game to this. I also loved the touching sendoff to Luke and Leia on Tatooine, as well as the “Rey Skywalker” line, which kind of ties into Rian Johnson’s idea of Rey being able to be whoever she wants, and she doesn’t need to worry/be tied down by bloodlines. This would have made sense even if she wasn’t related to palpatine.
Again, at least it was a conclusive ending. The core storyline of Rey and Kylo at least was good, everything else was nonsense, but at least it looked good.
I hope whatever new trilogy they do is completely un-tethered to the “Skywalker” saga. As one of the best lines in the best sequel trilogy said “Let the past die, kill it if you have to”
