Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Movie Review

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
By Lynn & Kat 

Every December since 2017, Disney has produced a new Star Wars movie. Since their takeover of the Star Wars franchise, Disney has killed off quite a few beloved characters (Han Solo and Leia), raised a new villain (Kylo Ren), and given us a similar saga of space fights and underdogs. However, in the newest movie, fans believe they will be resurrecting an insidious past villain. At Rossview High, we have a few teachers and students who love the franchise, and we want to see what they think of the finale to the newest trilogy. 

QUESTIONS
How do you feel about the return of Palpatine?
Do you feel as if a company other than Disney could have done better? Which one and why?
What are your feelings about the new trilogy?
What do you like about the recent trailer? What do you dislike?
Based on the trailer and other promotional materials, what/who do you expect to see in the movie?
What would you like to see happen?

Ryan Vinson
Latin I-III and AP Latin Teacher
How do you feel about the return of Palpatine?
Vinson: We don’t need no Palpatine! I feel like bringing him back might just be trying to rake in those nostalgia dollars, but there’s some precedent for it in the old Extended Universe (now Legends) where Palpatine cloned his body and transferred his soul repeatedly.

Do you feel as if a company other than Disney could have done better? Which one and why?
Vinson: Disney’s got the biggest name, and therefore the most clout/power to bring in big names. So I don’t know if anyone would’ve done better.

What are your feelings about the new trilogy?
Vinson: I like the new trilogy so far. The Force Awakens was basically A New Hope redone, but I really loved The Last Jedi. I know that’s an unpopular opinion but I’m right and you can’t convince me otherwise. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

What do you like about the recent trailer? What do you dislike?
Vinson: I’ve actually avoided the trailer so that as much as possible is new to me!

Based on the trailer and other promotional materials, what/who do you expect to see in the movie?
Vinson: It looks like maybe they’ll be returning to Kamino, what with all the rain? That would tie in with Palpatine cloning himself since that’s where the clone troopers were created! And I’m sure Rey will face a strong temptation to fall to the dark side, while Kylo may redeem himself.

Gavin Gabrysiak
12th grade
How do you feel about the return of Palpatine?
Gavin: I hope they don’t make it where he “just so happened to survive” because that’s realistic. I hope he comes back as a force ghost instead. It’s more of a cash grab on nostalgia from the old movies. It's kind of a cheap attention grabber.

Do you feel as if a company other than Disney could have done better? Which one and why?
Gavin: Definitely. The first problem is that George Lucas isn’t writing these. They’re just trying to make money off it. If anyone should’ve done it, it should be Lucas Films. 

What are your feelings about the new trilogy?
Gavin: It has a lot of Disney characteristics (cute characters), but other than that it’s a good story. I like how they brought the old characters back.

What do you like about the recent trailer? What do you dislike?
Gavin: It’s aesthetically pleasing. I don’t hate it, but it has no plot.

Based on the trailer and other promotional materials, what/who do you expect to see in the movie?
Gavin: Resolutions on the old characters, maybe a few deaths.

What would you like to see happen?
Gavin: A definite ending to the saga.

Madison Kovsky
12th grade
How do you feel about the return of Palpatine?
Madison: I think it’ll be interesting, I’m really excited. The trailer gave me chills. 

Do you feel as if a company other than Disney could have done better? Which one and why?
Madison: I think Disney has actually done a really good job, although episode seven was better than episode eight.

What do you like about the recent trailer? What do you dislike?
Madison: There’s nothing I dislike, but I like seeing Kylo Ren. Actually, I don’t like that the saga is coming to an end.

Based on the trailer and other promotional materials, what/who do you expect to see in the movie?
Madison: Other than Palpatine, nothing shocking or really unexpected. You never know what they’ll throw at you.

What would you like to see happen?
Madison: I’d like to see the Jedi’s come out on top. I don’t want it to end, but I’d like a happy ending.

John “Cooper” Holt
11th Grade
How do you feel about the return of Palpatine? 
Cooper: It doesn’t seem very original. It feels like they ran out of ideas and didn’t know what else to do.

Do you feel as if a company other than Disney could have done better? Which one and why?
Cooper: I feel like Paramount could’ve done better, because all of the Indiana Jones movies were from them and so was the first Iron Man. They have all of these classic series’ to their name. 

What are your feelings about the new trilogy?
Cooper: I like to think of the trilogy: The Force Awakens was on top of a ledge and then The Last Jedi is when the trilogy yeeted itself off the cliff and fell down and The Rise of Skywalker is when it faceplants. 

What would you like to see happen?
Cooper: Something new that I haven’t seen before. 


    Opinions on the newest trilogy are mixed. Even more so for the latest movie. Some love it, others hate it. But no one can deny the effect Star Wars has had on pop culture, along with all of the references that stem from it. 
    Whether you’re hyped or waiting in dread for the upcoming Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker remember that there’s always The Mandalorian to fall back on.