"Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" Was Not That Bad.

Another Rise of Skywalker take?

This past Saturday on our quarantine date night my wife and I watched "Star Wars 9". That is what I am going to call it, I know it has an extended title, but from here on out, it will be known as "Star Wars 9" to me.

First off, I enjoyed the movie. Sure it isn't as good as "Star Wars" 4, 5, 7, 8 or "Rouge One". But, I still liked what I saw. There was cool action scenes, I liked the stuff with Kylo Ren and Rey, I liked how they got footage of General Leia in the movie, I enjoyed the relationship with Finn, Poe and Chewbacca. I liked it all pretty much. I am a novice as you all know. I only saw all the movies within the last four years, after my daughter was born. I liked the original three, I have enjoyed these last three and I do not like the prequels. That is my rating. Also, my favorite of any "Star Wars" movie has been "Rogue One". So, take that as you will. I watched these without the fanaticism, without a love for the characters, I knew who to root for and against, but that doesn't mean I didn't like some of the bad guys. I watched all of them because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I wanted to know why this is such a cultural phenomenon. I wanted to get a sense of why people love this as much as I love "The Simpsons". And I feel like "Star Wars 9" was one of the six straight up "Star Wars" movies that was good. Oh, another thing I liked too was the return of Lando. That was dope.

What I really want to talk about today, or ask for the day, why all the hate for "Star Wars 9". I have heard RD explain why he doesn't like this movie. He is a super fan, so the reasons he gives usually go over my head because I am not all in on the whole world of "Star Wars". RD had the toys, he adores Yoda, he has gone to the theaters to see most, if not all of the movies. He is a true fan. So when he gets deep into why he dislikes "SW 9", I am usually at a loss. I also listen to a lot of comedy podcasts that are hosted by self pronounced dorks. They are hosted by people who have openly talked about their love for this series of movies. Some of them even try and defend the prequels which is total nonsense. But while listening to these pods when this movie was out, and hearing RD crush it, I just don't get it honestly. Why is this one so much worse than the first two prequels? I think the third prequel is the worst of the bunch, but defenders will still say that one is better than any of the new three. What is the big deal? Are people mad that Rey, a female, is the strongest person in this made up universe? Are they ticked off because she was revealed to be a Palpatine? Do they not like the cameos and subservient nature to lifelong fans? Do they just want to be insufferable dorks that try and act hip and think that dissing the new "Star Wars" will make them seem popular? I don't really know.

Again, I thought this movie was fun. I liked it. I was intrigued by the story, and how it all unfolded. I was sad when Leia died. I really liked Kylo Ren realizing he was a good dude when he saw a vision of his dad. I thought the fight scene between him, Rey and Palpatine was kick ass. In fact, I really liked the last act of the movie. I thought it was a solid war/action sequence. I have no problem if people don't like the movie. There are plenty of movies the masses like that I am not a fan of. I don't like "Avatar" or either "Frozen" movie. But I also don't go online the very next day and trash the movie, saying things like "this ruined my childhood", or "I will never forgive George Lucas for letting JJ Abrams take over", which are real fan reviews on Flixster. I mean, it is just a movie. A movie that takes place in "a galaxy far far away", and, "a long long time ago". None of this is real. It is science fiction, and for me, it was done very well.

I like "Star Wars 9", and I feel like people going online and saying horrendous things about it are just nerds still living in their parents basements hiding behind screen names. "The Simpsons" said it best when Comic Book Guy trashes "Itchy and Scratchy" when they bring on Poochie, and Bart says to him, "what do they owe you? They have given you hours and hours and hours of free entertainment". Comic Book Guy's only response to Bart, after he is owned, is "worst episode ever". I just want all the people out there trashing this movie to know that when they go on a rant like this, all I see or hear is Comic Book Guy. "Star Wars 9" is good.

Enough said.

For another point of view from someone who only lives in the basement when his wife kicks him out of the bedroom for snoring, check out RD’s views on “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The Sin of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"

Oh great, another hot Rise of Skywalker take

This Article Contains Spoilers for “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

What is the point?

That is the question I asked once the credits started to roll on “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”.

That is not the question I wanted to ask.

I love Star Wars and would never let any group of critics dissuade me from enjoying a few hours in a galaxy far far away. I have defended “The Phantom Menace” for over twenty years now. I have watched all of “The Clone Wars”, even the awful feature film, I watched “Rebels”, I have started “Resistance”, and I am currently loving “The Mandalorian”. At 44 years old I am just a bit older than the Star Wars franchise, and my love has never wavered. These are my Star Wars fan credentials.

I stay with Star Wars because it tells new and interesting stories, stories I want to see. I like the characters, and I like to watch them fail and grow. Luke, Han, and Leia learned through failure and triumph. Obi Wan and the rest of the Jedi failed Anakin because of their absolute belief in their views being the only correct way. Ahsoka Tano became the most interesting Star Wars creation ever due to her questioning of what was the core of the Jedi and the Sith. Kanan, Ezra, and the rest of the Ghost crew found a family and challenged an empire. What did Rey, Poe, Finn, and Ben Solo do that was new and interesting?

That is The Rise of Skywalker’s greatest failure, it did nothing new. The Force Awakens was a retread, but there was hope for some new stories with these new characters. They were defined by the past but could forge their own futures. The Last Jedi started the trio on their path to individuality. Rey could be the balance that Anakin and Luke could never achieve. Poe could be the selfless hero by learning to fail. Finn could be the spark that allows those in the Empire, I mean First Order, to see the folly of the militaristic organization, and create a rebellion from within. 

None of that happened.

Rey was Luke but better. She defeated the Emperor on her own. Poe was Han Solo but better. His smuggling days were in the past, he was already the hero when The Force Awakens begins. And Finn, well Finn grew and understood the Rebellion, I mean Resistance, in The Last Jedi, he learned from Rose that they defeat the Empire, I mean First Order, together, and then he became a background character in The Rise of Skywalker. No growth, no forward storytelling, just a rehash of what we saw in Return of the Jedi. Pointless.

What is particularly frustrating about “The Rise of Skywalker” is that the movie had some great character moments surrounding Ben Solo/Kylo Ren. All of the actors do a great job, but this new trio of films belong to Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley. Unfortunately for Daisy, Adam was given the most nuanced material. The moment Kylo Ren becomes Ben Solo is touching and meaningful. His lost boy who regains his humanity through the parents who abbondoned him is great story telling. His rush to save Rey is inspired. I just wish a better, more original, movie was built around the Ben Solo story.

That is how this new sequel trilogy should have played out, make Ben Solo your main character. George Lucas tried to show the fall of Anakin in the prequels, and it did not quite work until the very end. “The Clone Wars” cartoon told the story of Anakin’s fall much better than the prequels. JJ Abrams and Disney could have taken a new stab on showing a good persons fall to the dark side, and his redemption, instead of retelling Star Wars 4 and 6. The only original film in the new trilogy was The Last Jedi because it focused on new ideas, mainly Ben Solo’s fall. That is why The Last Jedi will be remembered more fondly than The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker. 

The fact is that any new Star Wars is going to be worth my time. I have already seen the movie two times because I am that guy, i.e. Comic Book Guy. The issue I have with the Rise of Skywalker, and to a lesser extent The Force Awakens, is how pointless the storytelling was. I saw this story in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. I enjoyed the hell out of the story. I celebrated for decades the victory of Luke, Han, and Leia. I went all in on the problematic prequel movies because I loved experience new parts of a galaxy far far away. I walked into each of the sequel trilogy films with a smile on my face and high anticipation. I walked out of The Rise of Skywalker feeling like the story was pointless and a waste of time. That is the biggest sin of The Rise of Skywalker.

At least I have The Mandalorian to feed the appetite for new and exciting stories in the Star Wars world I love so much.

RD

RD Kulik is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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