Review of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker

A poor edited and inconsistent story that is a depressing end to the story. The movie creates inconsistency to the story the first two films awesomely created. The editing was awful. There are times when you can see a character's mouth moving but no words come out like they cut the dialogue or cut scenes together. There are times hand placement is off and hair length or style off. A lot of this made the rumors of the script and story constantly changing while filming look true as does the rumors of the release of the Visual Guide Book and Kylo Ren comic being pushed back because they chopped the story together and changed it at the last minute. It's like they chickened out, listened to outside interference and changed the trilogy outline. The final film had a lot of plot holes, inconsistent story and horrible dialogue. The message of the force is for everyone was kicked out the window and Rey having to be from a bloodline was created instead of her being just Rey was enough. While the characters of Finn and Poe got more screen time in this one it just lacked character growth and purpose. Finn, Poe and Rey had more scenes together then in the previous movie but the connections were off. They lacked chemistry and emotion. They didn't feel like a found family or even "the trio". Finn really lacked a character arch other than action and yelling another character's name. The Finn and Poe connection was off. It's like the connection was off so they wouldn't have to address the chemistry fans saw and to appease viewers or critics they had two background same sex characters embrace. Chewie with the medal should have been a great moment but unlike the dice scene in previous films lacked the symbolism and felt like a cheap nod. The saving aspects of the film are the action and Adam Driver's performance. He might not have any lines in second half of the film but he is a very expressive without words. The conflict and turmoil his character goes through is beautifully played. He continues what the force awakens and Last Jedi started which is: a man struggling with the abuse and manipulation he suffered in childhood that caused him to turn dark but the light in him won't die. The most emotionally satisfying scene is between Han and Ben and it's wonderfully played by Driver and Harrison Ford. Driver is impressive as Kylo Ren but he is even better as Ben Solo. The few minutes we get to see him as Ben Solo is everything you would want and expect from an offspring of Han and Leia or a "Solo" movie. The other bright spot and one consistent thing in the trilogy is the magic of Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley onscreen together and connection and balance of their characters together. Kylo/Ben and Rey are truly stronger and better when together. The true balance of the force and there is a balance between the light and dark. Their fight scenes were like a dance. Rey as the aggressor doing the attacking and Kylo/Ben dodging and defending. Their teaming up is something the movie needed more of. Other than that the movie was messy. It lacked creativity, and hope. The ending was depressing. Three generations of Skywalker men neglected, given up on, manipulated and abused to eventually turn those things around only to have the entire family wiped out. It's like the sacrifice Han and Leia made was for nothing. The ending lacked balance. I thought these trilogy would not end like original that it would be its own ending with balance in the force and actual growth but it didn't. But unlike original trilogy this one felt empty and was not hopeful. It was unsatisfying and depressing. The end of the trilogy deserved better and more maybe there should have been a fourth to fix this or give more time to tell the story because this ending was unsatisfying I'm still waiting for someone to yell April fools or tell me I got punked.