After another two long years waiting for the conclusion of the most recent Star Wars trilogy, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hit the theaters on Dec. 20. To the pleasure of many fans, the film was a big improvement coming off of the disappointing Star Wars: The Last Jedi. We’ll look to give a review by breaking down the film into various aspects. Given that the film has been out for a month, we’ll assume most readers have already watched it. If not– spoilers ahead.

Plot

The plot of the film was satisfying and well written. The story came full circle, answering various questions, such as who main character Rey’s parents are, and tied up the ends of many character’s storylines. Filled with heartbreak and death, many fan-favorite characters of the series reached an unlucky fate. Personally, the death of Kylo Ren was extremely upsetting, considering that him and Rey had finally joined together in the resistance, and in love. More than less, the movie was pleasing, sending the fans on a roller coaster of emotions, and ending with potential for more movies to come in the future. Even though Lucasfilms called The Rise of Skywalker the final movie of the saga, there could still be some hope for a new movie. Rey ended off the film burying her lightsaber in Luke Skywalker’s old house, hinting there could still be a new generation of Jedi to come along and uncover the weapon. The door is 100% left open for a new film. For more casual viewers, the movie could be easily misunderstood by someone who hasn’t watched the most recent films. For example, Rey’s connection with Kylo Ren can be confusing to some, being that the two are able to communicate and see each other through the force, but for people who know the story, the new Star Wars is a hit.

Cinematography, Visuals, & Effects

The cinematography of the film was astonishing. The visuals and camera work throughout the entire film were extremely well done. The final battle scene had great camera work when Finn and company were raiding the star destroyer that made it feel as if you were in the fight. The scenery throughout the film always made it exciting. Specifically, the slow motion shot of lightning coming from Palpatine and the final shot of Rey on Tatooine really made it feel like Star Wars, something that The Last Jedi was missing. Lastly, the effects were great as usual. All of the CGI was stunning and the fight scenes looked realistic. Overall, a lot of compliments can be given to the staff for a job well done in giving the “Star Wars” feel to the movie.

Acting

The two performances that really stuck out to me were Adam Driver as Kylo Ren and the return of Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine. In a film that needed Kylo Ren to prove himself worthy in returning to the lightside, Driver not only convinces the audience of his switch but also makes it an emotional and exciting journey. Looking at McDiarmid’s performance, the movie would not have been nearly as effective had he not convinced the audience of Palpatine’s return, and how twisted he was.

Rating

“Star Wars was an amazing movie and it was truly special to see it in theaters,” senior Massimo Sasso said. “The start of the movie was a bit boring and quick but the ending was a perfect way to end the saga.”

As Sasso said, the movie was special to see as it rounded out one of the most popular franchises of all time. With a combination of a satisfactory plot, breath-taking cinematography, and memorable acting, The Rise of Skywalker was overall a solid movie. Most likely rounding out the saga, the movie pleased viewers across the globe, earning a rating of 4/5. If you haven’t watched the film yet, you’re definitely missing out.