DISNEYIf balance in the Force has seemed
elusive lately, things looks all the more
odd given that The Last Jedi and The Rise
Of Skywalker are not irreconcilable. For
starters, both pivot to variably flawed/
successful ends on presumptions about
fan expectations. Johnson’s mission to
subvert expectation wobbled between
lore-building ingenuity and bathos,
while Abrams’ all-blasters-firing aim
to satisfy expectations oft resembles
a weaponised ‘greatest-hits’ package.
Yet both are reasonable angles to
take on a trilogy’s mid/end parts,
which is where Abrams’ pay-offs-at-
lightspeed approach works. As news ofPalpatine’s (Ian McDiarmid) revival
emerges, a team-on-a-mission plot
lends focused momentum to a story
that could have made heavy lifting of
fan service. Chewie, Han, Lando and
Leia (Carrie Fisher’s final scenes are
welcome) receive lovely resolutions.
Meanwhile, Luke’s pay-offs can be read
as developments from TLJ rather than
about-turns, as can the revelations
about Rey’s powers. But the engine for
Rise’s speeder-thrust pitch is the
reunion of The Force Awakens’ leads,
bringing the trilogy full circle.
True, a pre-Awakens failure to map
out the trilogy more thoroughly showsI
n some fans’ minds, a mighty Star Wars ruck has been unfolding off
screen. In one corner is J.J. Abrams, doling out fan service like Force
lightning as Rian Johnson Holdo-manoeuvres towards him,
undercutting expectations with laser-guided quips. Meanwhile, Colin
Trevorrow watches from the (Y-)wings, waiting to confuse matters further...DISC
OF THE
MONTHin some expediencies of plotting. As
Rise hurtles between MacGuffins to
cover the tracks, narrative motion
sickness is incurred.
Yet once Rise hits its stride and
lightspeed-leaps towards its multi-level
climax, the flaws are answered in surges
of euphoric emotion and grandeur,
boosted by peak-form leads. While
Daisy Ridley’s Rey crackles with
charisma, Adam Driver dredges up
basso-profundo reserves of gothic
power-sulk intensity as Kylo. Between
them, the face-offs brim with
elemental force. And even if Palpatine’s
return is rushed, his way with a cackling
monologue bears repeating.
So too does most of the nine-
episode cycle (well, perhaps not Attack
Of The Clones), now packaged in a
covetable Skywalker Saga boxset. Rise is
in good company in its imperfections,
yet it’s also fully operational as an
intermittently thrilling, rousing
adventure, paced for breathless
entertainment. Eight years, five films
and much fan bile since Disney’s
Lucasfilm purchase, Star Wars needs to
catch its breath before we see more
films. But we’ll be united in anticipation
once someone goes digging in the
Tatooine sand again. Kevin HarleyTOTAL FILM | APRIL 2020 SUBSCRIBEATWWWTOTALFILMCOM/SUBSunited force
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