9. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Similar to Solo, The Rise of Skywalker had a bumpy start upon take-off. The original filmmaker, Colin Trevorrow, reportedly had a conflicting vision versus what the studio had planned, so producers looked around before relying on The Force Awakens director, J.J. Abrams, to step back into the cockpit. After the success of his previous Star Wars endeavor, this seemed like a safe bet, unfortunately, the pieces never quite fell in place to make the final film in the Skywalker saga a sendoff to remember.
Too many plot points were questionably presented to movie-goers, such as the re-emergence of Emperor Palpatine after decades of being dead. Plus, Rey’s relationship with Palpatine didn’t land as a momentous revelation and the same goes for her decision to choose the moniker Skywalker, which is supposed to be the grand reveal for the hitherto baffling title. Then there was Finn’s short-changed character arc; the romantic seeds planted with Rose in the previous episode were stomped out before they had time to grow. And the hint that he had a deeper connection with Rey (whether that he loved her or that he was Force sensitive) did not pay off and did not transpire stimulatingly enough to leave us with a vital Star Wars mystery.
Despite these faults, The Rise of Skywalker is still the Star Wars timeline finale and is, therefore, essential viewing. It not only completes the sequel trilogy but also the Skywalker Saga, with all three of the original trilogy heroes now laid to rest. This movie further demonstrates Leia’s abilities while also highlighting her importance as her passing is approached both emotionally and respectfully; Carrie Fisher died years earlier and The Rise of Skywalker is her final feature film.
As far as the lead sequel trilogy stars, Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver complement each other wonderfully – both the reluctant interrelatedness and the opposing philosophies of Rey and Kylo Ren are explored thoughtfully. Driver’s Kylo is the pinnacle of the trilogy and The Rise of Skywalker; he is a complex antagonist who always seemed to be at odds with his place in the galaxy. Daisy Ridley is equally as compelling in Rey’s quest of self-discovery, with Rey’s emphatic “I am all the Jedi” line electrifying the movie’s climax, especially with the iconic Star Wars score blasting as she steps closer to Palpatine with her crossed double lightsabers.