THIS IS NOT A REVIEW OF THE RISE OF SKYWALKER BUT THERE MAY BE
SPOILERS FOR OTHER STAR WARS FILMS.
I've been keeping away from
writing about Star Wars as I think it would turn into a rant or it wouldn't be
a rant and end up being a series of short venting posts about Star Wars and the
fanbase and the fact that TLJ was really good and there some idiots out there
that are being too precious about the films so I'll just go with this.
Having invested many hours and
devotion to SW, I’m really worried this final film, as they’re calling it, in
the saga, will disappoint. There have been stirrings that it will end up going
the way of Game of Thrones. An amazing television show that completely lost its
way in the final series. Everyone felt cheated. This time, it’s different in
how the final instalment was conceived, in the wake of the backlash of ‘The
Last Jedi’. It was either loved or hated and for the latter, they moaned and
whinged about everything they could. These self-serving fanboys could
potentially, only potentially as I haven’t seen The Rise of Skywalker, have
ruined what could have been a great finale. What would have been superb is if
Disney had listened to those who praised the film because there was just as
many of those fans as there were doubters. As Rian Johnson said ‘catering to
fans rather than challenging them, is a mistake’ and my gad, he’s right.
Bringing back Star Wars after the
Prequels almost squashed and killed the memory of the originals, using CGI
everything, was a very big risk. There may be a fanbase ready-made but as all
comic book films can go by, these fans are demanding and if you disappoint them,
they will try to take the system down. ‘The Force Awakens’ was a brilliant thrill
ride that introduced new characters as well as providing nostalgic moments and
paying homage to the originals all over the place. The story, the characters,
the premise is set up and gets you ready for the adventure complete with a cliff-hanger,
this is the perfect first film in a trilogy. ‘The Last Jedi’ is a perfect second film.
Looking back at trilogies, planned or otherwise, they serve as a turning point
in the story or as a filler with the tagline ‘the journey/adventure continues’.
‘The Last Jedi’ is the turning point which fanboys should have seen coming. The
story continues but along the way, there are casualties, there are revelations
and again there are new developments and new characters because that’s what happened
in the previous Star Wars films at this stage. If we had let the saga run the
way it was meant to we could have a fantastic end but with the negative fanboy
petty reactions I fear we are heading for a fan service trap. Early reaction
also have me thinking this. As soon as the title of the final film was
announced my heart sank to the bottom of the Sarlacc pit, ‘The Rise of
Skywalker’ aka, what the ‘fans’ demanded. But true Star Wars fans don’t want
fan service, they want to a story. The descriptions for the TROS have just had,
Rey and friends continue their fight or something along those lines. THAT is not
a final film plot, that’s a filler! TLJ set up the final film so well it’s
ridiculous that this has happened. At this point I’m just hoping for decent
enough.
I’m seeing the film on Friday with
my best friend who loves Star Wars probably more than me, so hopefully we have
something ‘decent enough’ to review. If not… may the force be with us all at
this rate.