SPOILERS BEWARE! (Avoid comments section if you haven't seen the film and don't want it spoiled)
Well, here we are. The end of a saga that has spanned 42 years, culminating in a finale that will surely be long discussed, debated and revisited for years to follow. Following on the heels of the most divisive of all the Star Wars films, THE LAST JEDI, the final entry, STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, has a tall mountain to climb, even with the clout that comes with the name. Many fans were miffed by creative decisions made by director Rian Johnson and have been turned off the series as a result, while others are anxious to see if THE FORCE AWAKENS director JJ Abrams' return will honor Johnson's groundwork or walk it back. Either way, things are coming to a close, one way or another, and fans will likely be ravenous to see how it all unfolds.
Thus far, it sounds like Abrams' finale has created more division, at least amongst critics, most of whom loved THE LAST JEDI, so there's that to contend with. It'll be interesting to see how the general audience reacts, though. Certainly if pre-sales are any indication, folks will be turning out for the film, but for how many times is up for grabs. Our own Matt Rooney enjoyed the film, but with some serious reservations, saying in his 7/10 review, "What RISE OF SKYWALKER does prove, undoubtedly, is even when STAR WARS is not at its best, and even damn near frustrating at times, there’s still loads to fall in love with and be swept up by, with the potential for enormous heart to shine through." We'll have a second take from Chris Bumbray tomorrow to see if he feels similarly, but ultimately the it will be up to the legion of fans to decide (and likely debate) if it succeeds in closing out the epic saga.
Click the image below to check out all the trailers, spots, featurettes and more for STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER!
And with that, now it's your turn! We want to hear what YOU thought of the film! Naturally, we'd prefer you to comment only if you've seen the film as that's the point here, but do what feels good. Just don't get mad if you get trounced for trolling or posting blatant spoilers in headlines. Healthy debate, genuine thoughts, and respectful interactions is all we ask.
Does RISE OF SKYWALKER close out the Skywalker saga succesfully or has it all gone to the dark side?
Rotten Tomatoes: 339 critic reviews at 57% Rotten and 11,815 Verified Reviews with an audience score of 86%.