Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker

Back in 2005 we thought we might have seen the last Star Wars film even as the animated TV shows and games continued the franchise. That all changed in 2012 when creator George Lucas sold the rights over to Disney which caused fans worldwide to wonder where the series might go next; will Disney create something entirely new like some of the video games or continue with its established characters as the TV series was already doing.

The decision was to pick-up many years after the original Luke Skywalker trilogy and in 2015 we saw J.J. Abrams' nostalgic The Force Awakens, which was both a crowd-pleaser and a minor disappointment for some as it practically mimicked the original 1977 Star Wars film beat-for-beat. Regardless, it was a massive success for Disney and the inevitable sequel of this new trilogy released in 2017 with the hugely divisive The Last Jedi. Director, Rian Johnson, wasn't afraid to go against the grain with a film that was one part his own subversive experience, while also jarringly part of the Disney machine with its own plans. Fans were divided and it left the studio in a tricky spot as they hired and fired directors before bringing Abrams back to find balance in the force and conclude the trilogy on a positive note with Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker.

Abrams had seemingly set the stage for Disney with The Force Awakens as they would go about creating this new trilogy but, after the twists and turns created by Johnson, the director looked as if he had a lot of storylines to wrap-up and with only one film left to be sucessful. The biggest twist last time was the death of Snoke, the big baddie, and the film begins with Kylo Ren going in search of his mentor's history which we quickly learn (it's in the opening credits) to be a resurrected Emperor Palpatine. The resistance have also caught wind of this and now it's a battle against time for Rey, Finn and Po to stop Kylo, and defeat the First Order once and for all.

The Force Awakens was a strong start for the series but Abrams has been known for his effective set-up, take Lost for example, while not always delivering a satisfying conclusion. This would be the director's true test and a chance to prove everyone wrong, and The Rise of Skywalker begins swiftly answering many of the questions left by Johnson all in the first act. This would make-or-break the film for many fans but, as for this one, I was hooked from the start and enjoyed almost every moment in thanks to the film's stunning visuals, John Williams' fantastic score, its strong cast and Abram's sentimental use of nostalgia in his direction as he aims for a crowd-pleasing adventure.

Nostalgia can be a dangerous thing, a get-out-of-jail free card, but fortunately Abrams has proven to be a master in this field and manages to bring about an engaging experience. Granted this does away with some of the intriguing themes about the Jedi which Johnson raised, but what we get is a fair more satisfying edition to the franchise. Rey (Daisy Ridley), for example, now feels like a fully-formed character which had been gripe in the past. Adam Driver is still one of the best things this trilogy has to offer as the baddie Kylo and the rest of the supporting cast, particularly a menacing Ian McDiarmid, are all on fine form. I should add due to Carrie Fisher's tragic passing, her appearance is made-up entirely of archive footage in what was meant to be a central role but Abrams again manages to use what he had at his disposal to ensure her character is used effectively. 

This isn't to say that The Rise of Skywalker is without its faults. There are some plot points which were either incredibly out of the left-field and needed a bit more explaining, the occasional odd character decision and moments that just lacked the impact they deserved. For example, Abrams brings the anticipated Knights of Ren back to the series but end result is somewhat lacklustre and underutilised in an already busy film. However, I can't deny this was a highly entertaining experience with just the right amount of drama, action and comedy to keep the story rolling nicely. Ii was a surprise when I saw the negative reviews from critics who claim this was a disappointing end to the trilogy. I would say this series has been a bumpy ride with Disney having to learn a lot along the way but this was a good an ending as we could have hoped for.

The final in this trilogy could have been stronger but what Abrams has achieved given the difficult circumstances of a key cast member passing away and also having a troublesome sequel to follow-up with is still remarkable. I didn't go into this with high expectations given my mixed feelings about The Last Jedi but there is so much to enjoy here that it easily outweighs any minor complaints, and it will surly bring balance both to the force and Disney's bank account given what it cost them to acquire Star Wars. This might be the end for some of its cast but don't kid yourself, there will be more from this franchise as the mouse always wins.