Review: The Rise Of Skywalker. Not The Worst Star Wars Movie

Movie Review: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Rating: 6.5/10

J.J. Abrams’ The Rise of Skywalker marks the end of the Skywalker saga, promising to tie up nine films’ worth of galactic drama, generational trauma, and Force-fueled prophecy. While it delivers spectacle and nostalgic resonance, it struggles under the weight of expectation, sacrificing coherence for fan service.

Music – ★★★★☆

John Williams, returning for his final Star Wars score, does not disappoint. The music is one of the film’s strongest aspects—lush, emotional, and brimming with callbacks to themes established decades ago. His orchestration elevates even the most disjointed scenes, offering a sense of continuity that the script often lacks. The soaring motifs in the final act do much of the emotional heavy lifting, especially when the story falls short.

Costumes – ★★★★☆

The costume design remains impressively consistent with the Star Wars aesthetic—functional, iconic, and character-defining. Rey’s simple, white robes subtly nod to Jedi purity and Luke’s original garb, while Kylo Ren’s repaired helmet reflects his fractured identity. New designs like Zorii Bliss’s sleek chrome helmet add flair, though some secondary characters feel visually recycled or underused. Overall, it’s classic Star Wars style, with polish.

Acting – ★★★☆☆

The cast delivers with what they’re given. Daisy Ridley (Rey) carries the emotional burden well, showing impressive range, particularly in her scenes of inner conflict. Adam Driver (Kylo Ren/Ben Solo) remains the trilogy’s standout—his physicality and nuance hint at a far deeper story than the film allows. Oscar Isaac and John Boyega try their best, but both are sidelined with thin dialogue and underdeveloped arcs. Some returning legacy characters are reduced to glorified cameos or exposition machines.

Writing – ★★☆☆☆

The writing is where The Rise of Skywalker falters most. The script feels like a hurried patchwork of course corrections and retcons, especially in reaction to The Last Jedi. Dialogue is often clunky, laden with exposition, or worse—quippy for the sake of it. Key developments, such as character resurrections or major reveals (Palpatine’s return, Rey’s lineage), are handled with frustrating vagueness or hand-waving logic. Emotional beats are telegraphed rather than earned.

Story – ★★☆☆☆

The story attempts to be everything to everyone, and in doing so, satisfies few. The return of Emperor Palpatine, while initially intriguing, is neither adequately explained nor organically integrated. The breakneck pacing prevents any real stakes from developing—characters hop from world to world chasing MacGuffins with little time to breathe or reflect. The film shies away from meaningful risks, relying on nostalgia and symmetry to force closure rather than achieve it.


Final Thoughts

The Rise of Skywalker is visually stunning and occasionally stirring, buoyed by John Williams’ phenomenal score and committed performances. Yet, it’s burdened by messy writing, a bloated plot, and a fear of creative boldness. While it may entertain, it rarely resonates—and for a saga about destiny and legacy, that’s a missed opportunity.


Let me know if you’d like a review for a different Star Wars film!

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