Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

This was great in IMAX. The space spectacle of the year, with a blistering pace, amazing (digital) locations, delicately busy camerawork and nostalgia, supported by unexpected appearances of old characters. In the final confrontation, I felt the force, almost like in the final rebellion against Sauron. And finally, I liked Daisy Ridley. Unveiling the new identities of the re-established characters didn’t make much sense to me, but since I don’t remember exactly what happened in the preceding episode, I didn’t care (I don’t consider this trilogy to be part of the beloved STAR WARS; it’s just commercial parasitization). However, a second screening on a significantly smaller screen, where it was no longer possible to not notice the (dis)honesty of working with viewers in telling a meaningful story, diminished my impression of the film. The Rise of Skywalker is merely a disposable rollercoaster ride, an attraction in the new Star Wars section at Disneyland. (12/24/2019)

The curse of this trilogy is that obviously none of the bigwigs knew exactly what they wanted to achieve. Of course, the seventh episode elegantly ironed out the kinks after the second trilogy and told a similar story to the new generation as the original trio of films. Then Johnson came and, believing that he needed some courage at Disney, began making radical decisions and shifts. But a wave of hate swept over him and Abrams is returning to help out. This time, however, his bet on certainty did not work out for him. The film has a frantic pace and suffers from the complete absence of logic and an excess of "I do it because I am inspired to do so" moments. It's almost absurd how the screenwriters deal with each problem through a narrow escape with unclear motivations (then you just sadly watch the Knights of Ren wander the galaxy like a bunch of idiots with oversized weapons) and the revelation of some of the old canonical figures, who have to approve every fart of any of the incompetently-acting new characters. The film purposefully killed Rey, who was given a surprising twist by Johnson, and he has no idea what to do with the supporting characters at all. Without Kylo Reno, the trilogy would bring absolutely no benefit and no dramatic arc. Yeah, it's filmed competently and it’s nice to look at. But the magic is gone. And it's not just the result of fan service. Abrams didn't do that well, either. It's the result of the fact that no one knows what this trilogy was supposed to do. Other than the fact that it was supposed to make billions. (12/20/2019)

An undeniable roller coaster, where you jump at such a speed throughout this universe that I don't even have time to stop, admire, or absorb the atmosphere of the new location or the old one. At the same time, this naturally means that there's nearly two and a half hours of shooting, fighting, or explaining, and you never get a chance to catch your breath. Fortunately, what you learn in between the jumps works for me. I've had a weakness for Reylo from the very beginning, so I swallow up the development of their relationship and abilities with enthusiasm, and I would like to see even more. More than ever, the rest are just a supporting cast for this couple, but fortunately, they are truly funny and imaginative, especially Poe, because it's clear that Oscar Isaac is really enjoying this role. I was most afraid of the return of the old familiar villain, who has had enough presence throughout the entire saga, but luckily his presence makes sense in tying it all together with the new generation of heroes, and in the end you see that with his involvement, the going gets more than just tough, and if the plan fails, it will be the end of everything. And while things sometimes work out too conveniently or quickly, or the main characters are helped out by chance (the Force), that's how it is in fairy tales sometimes, and Star Wars has been a fairy tale with princesses, knights, and swords for over forty years – and it saddens me that those who call themselves true fans, unlike me, have forgotten this beautiful fact. Fortunately, the dreamer J. J. Abrams has a noticeably better memory. (12/23/2019)

So I've been kicking it around in my head and I’m going to stick with the highest rating. I got everything I'd expect from a new Star Wars installment, the original atmosphere wasn't compromised, and actually the whole thing was enjoyable to watch. I can understand diehard fans being annoyed that the filmmakers are accommodating the viewer so much, making the legend more readable for those who only come to the film by chance. But isn't that kind of a logical step? We can debate whether it's right or not. For me, it's a weaker 5 stars. (12/18/2019)

The interesting thing about the Star Wars franchise is that I'm not into it on its own, but if a spin off (Solo) or a series (The Mandalorian) comes out, I'm downright excited, which is pretty weird. Again, I wasn't entertained at all, I didn't care about the characters, I didn't like the action or the practical effects, so I suffered through the classic two hour martyrdom. Story**, Action**, Humor*, Violence>No, Entertainment*, Music***, Visuals***, Atmosphere**, Suspense*. 2/10. (03/19/2020)