MOVIE TITLE: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker [Ultra HD]
RATING: PG-13
LENGTH: 2 hours, 21 minutes
Movie Review Mom GRADE: A
IN A NUTSHELL:
I always feel overwhelmed by the weight of reviewing a movie in a franchise as epic as Star Wars. Fans are so passionate about it that I want to make sure I get it right, especially because I’m a fan myself. I remember watching the very first Star Wars: A New Hope
I think people love it so much because we all want to believe that we have something special inside us and that we could be a hero in someone’s eyes. We love it because we love to dream of the impossible and do something big, important, and meaningful with our lives. It allows us to escape and imagine a different kind of world where people live among the stars…in a galaxy far, far away. It allows us to be kids again, eat buttery popcorn in a theater and be amazed at the magic of film.
This final movie left me satisfied and teary eyed. There were quite a few catch-your-breath moments. It’s truly stunning and gorgeous to look at. I don’t want to give you a lot of details because I don’t want to spoil anything for you, but I loved it. There needs to be a special category for movies like this that wrap up a monumental franchise that has been so significant in society, right?
TIPS FOR PARENTS:
- Disney sent messages out to theaters to post warning signs that there would be some scenes with flashing strobe lights, something that can induce seizures.
- High body count. You see a little bit of blood sometimes, but no gore.
- TONS of destruction and violence.
- Some “mild” profanity and name calling
- Two women kiss
- Some cleavage
THEMES:
- Hope
- Teamwork
- Memory
- Connection
- Standing for something
- Family, blood, ancestors
- Mentors
THINGS I LIKED:
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- Security was so tight during the filming of the movie that actor Mark Hamil said it was like being in the C.I.A. The good news is that I had read any spoilers before seeing it, so everything was a fun surprise for me. Try not to tell others too much about the movie so they can experience the joy of the unfolding too!
- This is the 9th and final STAR WARS movie composed by the incredibly talented John Williams. The music is so good, as expected.
- As each new episode in this epic saga introduces new characters, we also lose some of our favorites. When George Lucas originally designed the series, he said that C-3PO and R2-D2 would be the only characters to appear in all 9 movies. That’s actually turned out to be true. Anthony Daniels, who voices C-3PO, is the only person to appear in all 9 STAR WARS movies.
- Sadly, actress Carrie Fisher died in 2016, so they had to do some rewrites and ultimately decided to use some unused footage from The Force Awakens (Star Wars)
and Star Wars: The Last Jedi
. I thought it was clever how they were able to digitally add grey hair and re-purpose those scenes and use them in this film. She even gets top billing this time.
and 
. I thought it was clever how they were able to digitally add grey hair and re-purpose those scenes and use them in this film. She even gets top billing this time.- It has been 36 years since we have seen Lando Calrissian in a Star Wars movie. Actor Billy Dee Williams wanted to be in this one and I’m so glad they let him join the cast.
- Fans are so passionate about the STAR WARS franchise, so I love it when I hear heart-warming stories about how the film team gives back. There was a huge Twitter campaign to help a terminally ill boy in London that resulted in his getting a private screening of this movie last month. Sweet!
- Soooo many cool surprises!
- I loved the kintsugi imagery of Kylo Ren’s repaired mask. Adam Driver is so good. I’m such a fan. Kintsugi is a Japanese custom of repairing broken vessels with a kind of gold glue, illustrating that even broken things have value and can be made new again. The scars represent where you have been and what you have learned. Have you seen him in the Netflix movie MARRIAGE STORY? He is BRILLIANT! I loved his performance in that soooo much and am thrilled that he recently earned a Golden Globe nomination for it. It was his best performance to date.
- The fantastic cast includes Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Domhnall Gleeson, Billy Dee Williams, Ian McDiarmid, Lupita Nyong’o, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, and Naomi Ackie.
- By the way, Daisy Ridley is great too. She is appropriately intense and exactly what we need from her.
- Some fantastic action scenes are gorgeous to look at.
- Director J. J. Abrams has done a phenomenal job directing classics like Star Wars and Star Trek. It’s a huge undertaking to provide something new to a beloved franchise while keeping fans satisfied and happy. I was grateful that there are plenty of respectful nods to past episodes, and especially to the very first Star Wars: A New Hope
- Those horse-looking creatures looked so real! There are also some other fun, new creatures.
- Great cinematography, creative camera angles, and clever transitions.
- Light-speed jumping! Cool!
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:
- Hard-core fans are probably wishing that George Lucas’ original 12-part movie series hadn’t been cut down to only 9. Still…9! What a legacy this franchise has delivered.
- The story line is a bit complicated, requiring a lot of explanation.
- Zorii Bliss, played by Keri Russell, kept switching how she felt about things and people that it was annoying.
FUNNY LINES:
* “They fly now?” – Finn (John Boyega)
- This isn’t the afterlife, is it? Are droids allowed in?” – C-3PO
- “Bones…never a good sign.” – C-3PO
- “Never underestimate a droid.” – Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher)
- “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” – Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams)
INTERESTING LINES:
- “Some things are stronger than blood.” – Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)
- “We’re not alone. Good people will fight if we lead them.” – Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac)
- “They win by making you think you’re alone.” – Zorii Bliss (Keri Russell)
- “The dark side is in our nature. Surrender to it.” – Kylo Ren (Adam Driver)
- “How did you do it…defeat an empire with nothing?” – Poe Dameron “We had each other. That’s how we won.” – Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams)
- “Rey, never be afraid of who you are.” – Princess Leia
OTHER MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
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