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The conclusion to Star Wars’ nine episode saga is finally here and, according to the critics, it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
No franchise comes close to the juggernaut that is Star Wars.
Starting with George Lucas’ first entry A New Hope in 1977, the series has grown into a $65 billion money making machine, spawning countless games, films, toys, and just about any marketable product you can think of. Nothing else is quite as iconic or well engrained into Western pop culture like Star Wars.
Yet, the excitement for Rise Of The Skywalker is uncharacteristically apathetic. Ever since Disney acquired LucasArts in 2012 the franchise has been in overdrive, chucking out mainline sequels, spin offs, games, and countless additional lore details that’ll make your head spin. In many ways it’s been too much to keep up with and saturation levels are at their peak.
That’s all before you even consider the divisive reaction to 2017’s The Last Jedi which polarised opinions amongst long-time fans. Many are going into this latest entry with wearily low expectations, and it seems critics are mostly on the same wavelength.
What are the critics saying about the latest film?
In typical fashion, Rise Of The Skywalker has stirred up both praise and derision from a wide scope of critics, but the overall consensus seems to be a resounding ‘meh’. The film promises to wrap things up in an appropriately bombastic and over-the-top way, but several reviewers such as The Wrap have noted that it feels a little formulaic and ‘straight from a spreadsheet’.
Jeremy Jahns, popular YouTube movie reviewer, was particularly harsh. He criticised the overreliance on nostalgic pandering and admitted there was ‘very little’ that he truly enjoyed, concluding that it’s now his least favourite film in the entire series. That’s a big statement considering the widespread disdain for Lucas’ prequel trilogy released in the late nineties and early noughties. You can watch his full review below.
On the other hand, though, some top publications including The Guardian have given the film a glowing evaluation, rewarding a full five stars in its spoiler-filled rundown. Writer Jordan Hoffman praised the concluding beats that ‘snap together like a jigsaw’, though he did admit that some may not like the rapid pace and occasional farfetched plot point.
The majority of opinion pieces flooding the web today have awarded the film three stars, praising some areas of the film’s pacing and writing, but finding little to get truly excited about. If impressions are to be believed, expect Rise Of The Skywalker to be an explosive but underwhelming experience, one that gives a climatic send-off with little to keep you coming back to in subsequent viewings.
But, of course, it’s all down to personal opinion – especially when it comes to Star Wars films.
