At some point in the last couple days, I crossed a threshold: I have now spent more time reading articles about The Rise of Skywalker than I did watching the actual movie, which clocks in at 2 hours, 22 minutes. I’ve absorbed hot takes, canonical references, fanboy screeds, thought pieces, a four-panel comic strip — no YouTubes, thank you — and a couple insider guides.
And I have to say: This movie that they’re writing about sounds a lot better than the one I watched a couple weeks ago.
Understand, I am a true fan going all the way back to 1977, when I was in second grade and A New Hope changed the trajectory of all our lives. And I liked The Rise of Skywalker. Sure, I did. It’s just…
the Force heals people now? Hux has been a mole the whole time? And Palpatine, for crying out loud?
Come on.
After we watched it, my son and I just sat in the car for a moment, trying to understand how a sequel could so thoroughly undo the film that came before it.
But then, through my aftermarket research, I descended into the particulars in the text. Yes! I see how Rey’s lightsaber is significant. I understand why Lando Calrissian came back into the storyline. I now know which ewok that was, jumping celebratorily on that one moon of Endor. I see all those loose ends director JJ Abrams was trying to tie off. I get it. I think I get it, anyway.
You know, back in 1977, I never got to see the original Star Wars because I was at my grandparents’ house while the rest of my family went to see it. I had to wait until VCRs came out to finally watch it in full.
Until then, I had to osmose what I could from the cultural artifacts around the movie: toys, games, comic books, trading cards, that ridiculous Christmas special and the like. Not that these things were any substitute for the actual movie, but I pretty much got the gist.
When I finally watched the whole thing — 1982, maybe? — it felt a little like going to church. I sat through three screenings before I tired of it.
The Rise of Skywalker is not that. This one’s a little better on paper.
Join the First Amendment Society, a membership that goes directly to funding TCB‘s newsroom.
We believe that reporting can save the world.
The TCB First Amendment Society recognizes the vital role of a free, unfettered press with a bundling of local experiences designed to build community, and unique engagements with our newsroom that will help you understand, and shape, local journalism’s critical role in uplifting the people in our cities.
All revenue goes directly into the newsroom as reporters’ salaries and freelance commissions.
Leave a Reply