Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

[epilogue]

They did seem to have a connection in TLJ, maybe even a brief romance. But clearly not in TROS.

I always thought Rose was way more into him than he was into her, even in TLJ. I think it makes total sense that they aren't together in TROS. I also really love the juxtaposition between them, the way she is able to not only show him but to tell him that she loves him. However, Finn is unable to do the same (for Rey). I think that's really cool parallelling and tells us a lot about each of their respective characters.

Yes, good post.

I'm so happy you and I agree a lot abou TROS. I always love your takes and your insights. And though it makes for interesting conversation, I always kinda hated that we didn't see eye to eye on TLJ. It's nice to approach the conversation from the same side, too.

[epilogue]

Anyone else think Ben and Anakin should have joined Luke and Leia at the end?

I thought FOR SURE Ben would be there. I was kinda surprised that he wasn't. Anakin probably could have been, too and I'd have been fine with it. But since Rey herself has no connection to him, I'm okay with him being absent. Ben though...?

Maybe we'll get a Special Edition one day.

Yes, with everything that happened it would have been logical, but I think they didn't want it to be controversial, with a former villain there at the end.

I agree. I think it was a specific choice made for that reason. But I personally would have liked to see him there. It also could have reinforced having young Anakin appear at the end of RotJ. Because Ben outliving Kylo Ren perfectly parallels Anakin outliving Vader.

[Strat]

Anyone else think Ben and Anakin should have joined Luke and Leia at the end?

I thought FOR SURE Ben would be there. I was kinda surprised that he wasn't. Anakin probably could have been, too and I'd have been fine with it. But since Rey herself has no connection to him, I'm okay with him being absent. Ben though...?

Maybe we'll get a Special Edition one day.

Yes, with everything that happened it would have been logical, but I think they didn't want it to be controversial, with a former villain there at the end.

Well it is now cannon - thanks to GL - that Vader shows up at end of ROTJ. So it shouldn’t he controversial if Ben showed up. Alas, Star Wars fans.

[Anders]

They did seem to have a connection in TLJ, maybe even a brief romance. But clearly not in TROS.

I always thought Rose was way more into him than he was into her, even in TLJ. I think it makes total sense that they aren't together in TROS. I also really love the juxtaposition between them, the way she is able to not only show him but to tell him that she loves him. However, Finn is unable to do the same (for Rey). I think that's really cool parallelling and tells us a lot about each of their respective characters.

Yes, good post.

I'm so happy you and I agree a lot abou TROS. I always love your takes and your insights. And though it makes for interesting conversation, I always kinda hated that we didn't see eye to eye on TLJ. It's nice to approach the conversation from the same side, too.

I'm happy about that too, and that we both enjoyed the movie so much. It comes down to JJ for me, I put my trust in him, and I think he really came through.

[Anders]

Anyone else think Ben and Anakin should have joined Luke and Leia at the end?

I thought FOR SURE Ben would be there. I was kinda surprised that he wasn't. Anakin probably could have been, too and I'd have been fine with it. But since Rey herself has no connection to him, I'm okay with him being absent. Ben though...?

Maybe we'll get a Special Edition one day.

Yes, with everything that happened it would have been logical, but I think they didn't want it to be controversial, with a former villain there at the end.

Well it is now cannon - thanks to GL - that Vader shows up at end of ROTJ. So it shouldn’t he controversial if Ben showed up. Alas, Star Wars fans.

I agree, I think Ben got redeemed in a very similar way to his grandfather.

[epilogue]

They did seem to have a connection in TLJ, maybe even a brief romance. But clearly not in TROS.

I always thought Rose was way more into him than he was into her, even in TLJ. I think it makes total sense that they aren't together in TROS. I also really love the juxtaposition between them, the way she is able to not only show him but to tell him that she loves him. However, Finn is unable to do the same (for Rey). I think that's really cool parallelling and tells us a lot about each of their respective characters.

Yes, good post.

I'm so happy you and I agree a lot abou TROS. I always love your takes and your insights. And though it makes for interesting conversation, I always kinda hated that we didn't see eye to eye on TLJ. It's nice to approach the conversation from the same side, too.

I'm happy about that too, and that we both enjoyed the movie so much. It comes down to JJ for me, I put my trust in him, and I think he really came through.

I'm so glad there's another person who posts here that doesn't hate JJ and his work within Star Wars.

[epilogue]

Welp. Was gonna meet up with a buddy after the screening later today. We were gonna chat about the movie and watch the Chiefs game together. But he has to make an emergency trip home (to KC).

Looks like I'll be on my own all night. I'm bummed but I'm also really looking forward to having the movie all to myself. And to let my thoughts run free without worrying about anyone else.

[Anders]

Will be interesting to hear if anything changes for you on your second viewing.

[epilogue]

Will be interesting to hear if anything changes for you on your second viewing.

I'm excited to see what changes for me. I'm sure it will feel different. These movies always do the second time around. The Last Jedi, for example, got much MUCH better for me on the second viewing.

[Got Some]

I loved seeing wicket and his son.

And the little porgs

You wouldn’t of liked the movie less without it imho

[bune]

fully team burt here. that was a travesty of story-telling and movie making all in one fell swoop.

[Anders]

I loved seeing wicket and his son.

And the little porgs

You wouldn’t of liked the movie less without it imho

I could do without the porgs, but Wicket was a nice throwback.

[McParadigm]

fully team burt here. that was a travesty of story-telling and movie making all in one fell swoop.

I hear there is a different color lightsaber

[BurtReynolds]

Finn was wasted this entire trilogy

Yeah.

It's a shame because the ex-storm trooper idea could have been really interesting, but it was never really explored.

It was the only creative idea in the Abrams movies, but he went nowhere with it.

[Monkey_Driven]

Just finished my second viewing. I liked it more but it still has some pretty big flaws.

[epilogue]

This was 3rd in my ST rankings after one viewing. The second time around all the emotions were still there. All the themes were clearer. The actors were somehow better. New things opened up to me.

This is definitely better than TFA. This movie is just fantastic fun. I love these characters. I love the themes being explored. I love the visuals. What a fun ride. I'm a weepy mess all over again.

[epilogue]

Didn't know that in canon the yellow/gold blade symbolized protection. It's the blade of the Temple Guards. Making Rey the "guard" the "protector" of the legacy. This marries perfectly with her adopting the Skywalker name. Just gorgeous.

Perfect harmony.

[digster]

Finn was wasted this entire trilogy

Yeah.

It's a shame because the ex-storm trooper idea could have been really interesting, but it was never really explored.

It was the only creative idea in the Abrams movies, but he went nowhere with it.

I'd agree with this; I remember the first teaser or trailer for TFA, where they offer the reveal that he's a storm trooper (or I just assumed), and I thought that was a real novel and simple way into a character for a new trilogy; I kind of felt surprised we hadn't seen that kind of arc before.

[VinylGuy]

They could have done so much better with Finn yeah. I remember i was exited about him being a storm trooper too. Besides TFA, his character is just awful. Boyega lifts him a lot with his acting, but its still...embarrassing.

Also, a lot of what JJ and Rian did thematically in all the trilogy is interesting. They really fucked up how to tell this story tough.

[epilogue]

Finn was wasted this entire trilogy

Yeah.

It's a shame because the ex-storm trooper idea could have been really interesting, but it was never really explored.

It was the only creative idea in the Abrams movies, but he went nowhere with it.

I'd agree with this; I remember the first teaser or trailer for TFA, where they offer the reveal that he's a storm trooper (or I just assumed), and I thought that was a real novel and simple way into a character for a new trilogy; I kind of felt surprised we hadn't seen that kind of arc before.

Watching this again I have to say -- my wife brought it up after our first viewing together and it wasn't something I keyed into, so all credit to her -- but they emphasise this SO Much in TROS. It really is a bummer that we don't see Storm Troopers "answer the call" and come to fight the Final Order with the Resistance.

There is so much setup and so much conversation/foreshadowing in this movie. It's a really missed opportunity.