After decades of following the Star Wars saga, the latest movie The Rise of Skywalker will be the epic conclusion to this long journey. The very fact that we have a female protagonist in Rey and a lot more diversity in the cast shows how far the franchise has come as it continually evolves with today’s sensibilities. It’s also the last film where we get to see unused footage of the late great Carrie Fisher as General Leia. It truly is an end of an era!
The Plot: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
After the events of The Last Jedi, Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) join forces to embark on a wild scavenger hunt that will reveal a possible solution to bringing down the oppressive First Order for good. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) has taken over as the supreme leader for the bad guys... with a little help from a past villain in the Star Wars franchise who returns with a vengeance.
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What you'll love about The Rise of Skywalker
1. Star Wars nostalgia overload!
With the Star Wars franchise spanning decades, the love for the sprawling space opera has likely been passed down from generation to generation making it one big family affair. The Rise of Skywalker is full of throwback references to the Original Trilogy and Prequel Trilogy that’s sure to delight everyone who grew up with the films. Your eyes may light up in recognition upon seeing some old familiar faces (hint: Rebel Alliance), structures, and locales. Hearing the iconic John Williams score alone will give you the nostalgic chills!
Kylo Ren wants to put a stop to the rebellion and he's determined to make Rey join his side.PHOTO BY courtesy of DisneyADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW2. Cool new characters that positively scream, “This is my next Halloween costume!”
The new Star Wars films gave little girls women with prominent roles in the universe to look up to. Aside from the ultimate icon Princess/General Leia in the original movies and Padme Amidala in the prequels, we’ve got our female protagonist Rey leading the way in the new films. We also got a glimpse of other Resistance members such as Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) and Amilyn Holdo (Laura Dern) in The Last Jedi.
In the final film, we have more amazing women in the form of Zorii Bliss (Keri Russell), a rogue who dons a blinged-out helmet, and Jannah (Naomi Ackie) a former Stormtrooper-turned-rebel. Both women have their fair share of action scenes. There are also male characters who exude high levels of swag (even though they are villains) such as the Knights of Ren. Kids are going to have a blast choosing these character as their Halloween costumes.
CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch now3. Say hello to new planets and places!
As the main trio scour the entire galaxy in search for answers, they visit some beautifully rendered planets never seen before. Some of the locations feature a very vibrant locale drenched in saturated colors, interesting new characters and immersive environments where high-adrenaline action take place.
4. An adorable creature that could rival Baby Yoda’s appeal.
Baby Yoda from the Mandalorian series quickly rose to fame in the past few months thanks to cute antics that made us want to adopt him for our own. The Rise of Skywalker introduces a new character named Babu Frik, a teeny-tiny technician with an aww-worthy voice. This amusing critter will definitely cause a shopping craze once the merchandise hits stores.
There’s also another contender in the droid department named D-O, a very jumpy ’bot that accompanies BB-8.PHOTO BY courtesy of DisneyADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW5. The movie's message provides a real learning experience.
There are obvious elements from the Star Wars franchise that have gotten us hooked through the years. Who can resist the draw of dueling with flashy lightsabers, using the Force, and piloting impressive spaceships? However, the real takeaway from these films are the lessons that ring true in the real-world context.
Hope reverberates throughout the entire Star Wars franchise. To quote a line from Rogue One, “Rebellions are built on hope.” This word anchors every positive message delivered in this particular film. There are many wonderful scenes illustrating strength in numbers and camaraderie by featuring the Resistance hard at work.
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The very characters involved are inspiring themselves because they don't let their past define them. Rey was a scavenger without any knowledge of her origin, Finn was a Stormtrooper from the First Order, and Poe Dameron was a rogue who did some shady business. But they left that all behind once they joined the Resistance for a greater cause. There are many instances when the characters in the film are remorseful of their mistakes and go on a redemption arc to do better as people.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWPerhaps the most poignant message is how to deal with a loved one passing away. As the trailer states, “No one’s ever really gone.” And though we don’t have Force ghosts in real life, our deceased friends and family shall live on through us as we commemorate them moving forward. (Expect the General Leia scenes to move you to tears due to the real-life implications of Carrie Fisher’s absence.) Watching it all unfold onscreen gives us hope and encourages us to never give up because there is still good in this world.
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