The Rise of Skywalker Appreciation Thread (film & score)

[Jurassic Shark 12,080]

You know the drill.

[Chen G. 3,949]

I like the score! I do!

 

It has more original material than The Last Jedi, and you can actually watch the movie and manage to hear the music, unlike The Force Awakens... The things Williams does to the motives associated with Rey and Kylo are a stroke of musico-poetic genius.

 

As for the movie... I mean, it looks pretty. 

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

I really enjoy this one. Not all makes sense, but the visuals are fantastic.

 

I actually really loved seeing Palpatine again and his power at the end of the film is really cool. And I thought the saber fight between Ren & Ray was great

[Jay 37,369]

Rey

[TheAvengerButton 175]

The Rise of Skywalker is my second favorite Star Wars film behind Return of the Jedi if that tells anyone anything.

 

Love the score, though I don't know if I especially like it over the score for The Last Jedi--and by that I mean I think there's equal pros and cons to both.

 

The Force Awakens might STILL be my favorite of the sequel scores though. But I'm not a Star Wars hater. I love all the new Star Wars content that's coming out so I'll gladly contribute to Appreciation threads and enchantment threads.

[Smeltington 1,440]

I liked the movie, I don't ever mention that because I don't want to argue about it, but I guess I can say it here. It had a lot of fun elements of adventure, I liked that Rey developed an altruistic Jedi-like attitude (helping children and animals), I liked Palpy even though he had no reason to be there, Exegol was cool, and not to mention John Williams was in it.

 

I LOVE the score, I feel like Williams was inspired. The new themes are cool, and the sound world of the score has lots of great nuances to it that give it a little more personality than the TLJ score for example. I almost lost my shit the first time I heard the Anthem of Evil track on the OST with the wonderfully understated vocals - a new angle for the Sith, quietly menacing, with the one big outburst to remind you that they'll still fuck you up. I like the uplifting themes in the title track, highlighting some of the more noble ideals our heroes have been fighting for as the fight comes to an(other) end. In the film I liked how much the Knights of Ren theme asserted itself, and always in a little bit different guise. Speeder Chase and A New Home are highlights as well.

 

 

[Chen G. 3,949]

Oh yeah, that's the other nigh-indespensible aspect of it: it put the creator (Williams) IN his work.

[Giftheck 916]

I don't think it's a good movie, but I still have fun watching it. Seeing Ian McDiarmid get to chew the scenery when nobody ever thought he would get to do it again was just pure fun. The saber fight between Rey and Kylo Ren was pretty good. And I do like the score.

 

Also, the John Williams cameo at last after 9 movies.

[Smeltington 1,440]

1 hour ago, Chen G. said:

Oh yeah, that's the other nigh-indespensible aspect of it: it put the creator (Williams) IN his work.

 

By this metric, Rise of Skywalker is the BEST Star Wars movie!

[Fargo 297]

It’s the only SW movie I’ve never seen multiple times, right behind Last Jedi which I saw twice. I’m sure the acting was fine, but the plot was nonsensical. Music was great though. 
 

I give it 5 out if 5 bags of popcorn. 

[Tom 4,665]

7 hours ago, Jay said:

Rey

No, it was Ray.   

[Romão 2,274]

I love the score, specially when dissociated from the movie. I found the treatment of the music in the movie and the demand for constant rewrites to be insulting and demeaning for JW, which had to accommodate the insecurities and indecisiveness of far less talented people in supporting a movie that is frankly,  beneath him.

 

And that is all I'm going to say about the movie,  since this is the wrong thread for it

[Nick1Ø66 4,718]

While it's a major lost opportunity, TROS is not as bad as it's been made out to be. And while I'm not a fan of Abrams, I do wish he'd have ended up directing all three of the sequels. Perhaps then we might have ended up with a somewhat coherent storyline, rather than trying to salvage a decent finale out of the mess Rian Johnson made of things with that unwanted stepchild, TLJ.

 

TROS may not be a great film. But if it failed, unlike Rian Johnson's apostasy, at least it failed as a Star Wars film. 

 

 

[mrbellamy 6,287]

My best friend 

 

 

One thing that makes me soft on Rise of Skywalker besides who did the music is that it does have a little cameo by pretty much everyone. That'll mean more over time. 

 

In general nerds will figure out how to take the sequels in stride, like they have with the prequels (which if anything are overrated these days, but better than reading "George Lucas raped my childhood" every day.)

[TheAvengerButton 175]

The thing I appreciate most about The Rise of Skywalker is that it affirms a big theme of the entire series that was established all the way back in The Phantom Menace--the idea that you can't and shouldn't always rely on a governing body to take care of all of your problems for you. Queen Amidala learns that the thing she was putting all of her hopes in--the Republic--was never going to be able to help her rescue her people. So what did she do? She did it herself. Her sin through the rest of the trilogy was that she didn't learn from that experience--instead of continuing that independence of thought, she bought into the Republic wholesale foolishly hoping to change it from within. This lesson is continued in a big way with the Rebellion--despite their mission being to restore the Republic, which is still an admirable position to take. The Rebellion was an alliance of different rebellions and when Jyn Erso learned that she couldn't rely on the Rebellion to help her take the Death Star plans she formed her own coilition to take them herself, and in doing so she inspired the rest of the Rebellion to shed their fear and make a move.

 

In The Force Awakens, it is Leia who forms her own breakaway organization--The Resistence--after she learns that she can't rely on the Republic to save itself from the threat of the First Order. And the Resistance struggles to inspire the free peoples of the Galaxy to stand up for themselves instead of living in fear--until the final moments of The Rise of Skywalker when the Resistance does what Leia did, what Jyn Erso did, what Padme did before them--they showed the Galaxy through their leadership that evil could be stood up to without having a crutch and relying on a power that is unwilling to help itself.

 

Whether this was intentional (and on some level, it is because it's baked into the story, but what I mean by this statement is 'whether this is a call back to the specific ideas brought up in the Prequels and the original films/Rogue One') remains to be seen, but it works so well as the conclusion to a thematic arc that starts all the way back in Episode I.

[Andy 4,138]

Don't expect anything profound here.  My posts usually aren't.  Or maybe they are?   But here goes.

 

"We Go Together"

Bucking the ESB trend of splitting the heroes into two or more storylines, TROS keeps the gang intact.  And it's way more fun this way.  These actors were well cast, and it's sad that they never got to shed the baggage of the Legacy characters and truly have their own adventures.  This is as close as they got to having a story of their own.  With a little help from Williams, the actors are giving us camaraderie and warmth that just feels good to be part of.  They look like they're having fun, so I'm along for the ride.  There's no side trip to Canto Bight here, and the simple trajectory has me more entertained.  That beautiful shot of Rey glancing at Chewie in the copilot seat with Finn and Poe in the back of the Falcon cockpit warms my heart.  By the time the trio of humans embrace at the end, it is earned.

 

"You Didn't Say My Name, Sir, But I'm Alright"

C-3PO is fucking brilliant in TROS.  In fact, he hasn't been this well written since Return of the Jedi, maybe even Empire.  He is absolutely hilarious without the groaner puns of AOTC.  TROS is C-3PO at his funniest and, well, Threepoist.  He is finally himself again after what feels like a long time. It's not just Anthony Daniels reading the lines this time.  Goldenrod has a role to play, and for the one for whom Star Wars was supposed to be through his eyes, we get a glorious swan song for the character.   And just the little things like saying calling Rey "Mistress Rey", or saying "Sir" to his superiors.  "Terrible job, Sir!"  This is the Threepio Owen told to shut up.  AND THEN... he voluntarily wipes his consciousness to help his friends.  Can you imagine if you could only save your family by having all memories of them removed from your head?  "Taking one last look, Sir... at my Friends."  I'm not crying, you're crying.  Of course, they bring him back but we also get....

 

"Babu Frik?  He's One of My Oldest Friends"

If there are people who don't like Babu Frik, I don't want to know them.  It's even fun to say Babu Frik.

 

"Somehow Palpatine Returned"

JJ's mystery box writing often leaves viewers disappointed that there's no satisfying explanation or outcome.  I actually don't need to know how we got here.  Don't care, really.  They rolled the dice, and brought back the baddest villain for the final movie, to thread the first and last episodes of the saga together.  Wanna know whey they probably brought him back?  Because this is a goddam comic book episode.  It's Dark Empire, but done with more Star Wars style fun and cinematic action.

 

Zorii Bliss is cooler than Mando, Boba, and Jango

Zorii Bliss is an old-fashioned 2 dimensional, paper thin Star Wars character.  She looks cool, acts cool, is a fine foil for Poe.  But best of all, she never takes her helmet off.  They cast a big name like Keri Russell and they stick to their guns and never show her face.  That's the mystery writing I happen to like.  Sorry Boba, but they neutered your coolness over years of stripping away the mystery.

 

"Hallway Shooting"

There are some things that are just part of the SW visual vocabulary.  I don't need huge set pieces with hundreds of Mandalorians.  Instead give me that awesome scene of Poe, Finn and Chewie blasting through that corridor of Stormtroopers, and I'm back where I need SW to take me.

 

"The Knights of Ren.... Ghouls"

Who the fuck are this guys?  Who cares?  This line tells me everything I really need to know.  Leave it to the novels and comics to play with if they want, but I like not having all the dots connected.  SW is imagination fuel.  That's why I like having questions that are left unanswered.

 

"Hey Kid"

Rey and Ren are resolved really well in this movie.  Their force link saber duel is cinematically gorgeous.  Their team up and sacrifice at the end is properly emotional in a SW way.  I don't know what else really to say, but his redemption felt well earned.  I mean, we knew he was a Solo and had it in him to become one of the Good Guys again.  There was no "well that escalated quickly" in his redemption the way there was with Anakin's rapid descent in ROTS.  And the vision with Han Solo' just shreds me every time.

 

"There Are More of Us"

TROS brings back Lando Calrissian.  And he seems himself.   And it's beautiful.  He gets the "bad feeling about this" line which is nice.  It's just really really nice to have Lando back.  Of course the cavalry scene with the Falcon and the fleet is appropriately jaw dropping and deliriously heroic.   If I could've changed one thing to that scene... I'd have added aged Jar Jar Binks piloting some sort of organic looking Gungan starfighter.  And with that, I've confused all of you on what emoji to give this post.  But I would've loved to see Jar Jar thumb his nose at the haters and help out here.  Hey, Wedge was there so why not?

 

The Score 

Is really, really, really, REALLY good.  Sometimes I try not to listen to it too much and risk wearing out the emotional impact it has on me.

 

And that's all I got right now for specifics.  My appreciation for this movie isn't complicated.  Simply stated, it's just a really FUN movie.    I'm sad that more people don't like this movie, but it doesn't spoil it for me.  I was totally enchanted by this movie, which seems to exist simply to entertain and delight the young at heart.  That's basically why I love TROS, and you should too.

 

 

 

[michael_grig 472]

Wait, why does everyone like TROS now xD? I thought I was all alone lol.

[Bellosh 3,419]

The film:

 

i still have not seen it.  maybe one day.

 

only clips i've seen are Kylo turning good and killing all those enemies, like a cocky Han Solo-Jedi.  So....wow, we get teased his coolest traits for like 2 minutes?  He's the best thing about the ST yet still somehow so underdeveloped.

 

every character is underdeveloped. 

 

OT trilogy should be shown in film school for it's creativity

PT trilogy should be shown in film school to show that wild concepts mean nothing without proper execution

ST trilogy should be shown in film school to show how to NOT write characters

 

Oh....and the Lando Arrives scene (only for the music)

 

The score:

 

is phenomenal and I love how warm it sounds.

 

I could do without the Imperial March on the end credits, but shit, once it kicks in i'm usually digging it.

 

On 16/01/2024 at 6:55 PM, Fargo said:

I give it 5 out if 5 bags of popcorn. 

 

spotted a gregg head

[Not Mr. Big 4,639]

It's got big colors, great music, and funny moments

[mrbellamy 6,287]

6 hours ago, michael_grig said:

Wait, why does everyone like TROS now xD? I thought I was all alone lol.

 

It's been four years so I'm convinced it's early signs of what happened to the prequels. There's nothing wrong with thinking the movies suck. But what we need is the most persistent bunch of these people to finally get tired of lambasting the movies as outright cinematic failures and/or ridiculing the people involved. You want them to be as tired as the people who have to wade through it, because their comments get the upvotes, their posts get the shares, their videos and reels clutter up the algorithm. Once this fades away, it allows people who think the movies are "Really fun, 4/5" or "Dumb but not bad, 3/5" or even "Brilliant, 5/5" to be more easily heard and taken seriously. 

 

The negativity also crosses a threshold where even for the haters, they gotta just have fun with it. Because even putting aside the Episode IX of it all, it's not like a Star Wars movie that features all these cast members with music by John Williams is gonna go away or get a do-over. 

 

And I say this as someone who doesn't even really belong in the Rise of Skywalker Appreciation Thread but people need to chill already.

 

I know there's no politics allowed on JWFan, but vote for Babu Frik 2024. He understands the working man.

 

 

[Faleel 5,357]

Fun family movie 3.5/5.

[Andy 4,138]

It's not that everyone suddenly likes this.  I don't think opinions have changed much on either side.  This is an appreciation thread, so here are a few people that like it enough to say so.

 

There's fun debate, and then it gets tiresome.   I don't necessarily think that people really soften their stance or change their minds on anything, and if they do, it seems like human nature to want to go from liking something to liking it less or hating it.  I don't think the Prequels have changed people's minds over time, I just think we're seeing appreciation that was always there from those who liked it as kids who are now internet debate age, joining their voices with those who always enjoyed the Prequels.  There's still plenty of hate for the PT along with disinterest and exhaustion from saying all there is to say about them. 

 

People rarely change their minds.

 

At my age, with more than half my life likely behind me, I wish I could get back all the time I spent arguing on the internet that Episode I was a fine movie.  

 

 

[Mr. Hooper 1,793]

I think some fans who gave Lucas a hard time for the prequels have come to reconsider their opinions based, in part, on their dislike for the Disney era, and sequel trilogy in particular. Also, time has a way of softening hearts.

[crocodile 8,017]

To be honest, I wouldn't call any of the Disney movies terrible as such. They are all competent and solidly made for the most part. It's the lack of focus and imagination that's the problem. They didn't ruin anyrhing for me, just made me shrug at their worst.

 

The scores I all like. It's quite amazing how much energy. There's some really good material in the third score and I hope we get to hear the rest of it some day.

 

Karol

[A. A. Ron 1,742]

I actively sought out TFA, R1 and TLJ. I only saw Solo because my best friend invited me shortly before moving across the country. Similarly, I only saw TROS because my brothers-in-law wanted to see it.

 

For me, TFA is the only decent film out of the lot, but I still at least had fun watching R1, Solo and TROS. In the case of TROS, it definitely helped that I was expecting a complete shitshow after TLJ, but as others have said both of those films have strong score highlights and are at least pretty to look at.

[midgemania 54]

On 20/1/2024 at 2:21 PM, Andy said:

  I don't necessarily think that people really soften their stance or change their minds on anything

 

 

FWIW, I’m one of these people. When I first saw TROS in the cinema I had a strong, almost visceral, dislike of it. It felt cynical, rushed and corporate and like a microcosm of all of modern Disney’s worst instincts - an unfortunate but predictable end result of all of my concerns with TFA and TLJ. 
 

I’ve watched all 9 films again recently, in release order, and I have to say that I greatly enjoyed the sequel trilogy far more than I expected to. When taken as an episodic conclusion to 9 films of a great cinematic saga, TROS works much better. Most crucially, for me at least, it feels like a Star Wars movie - with all the positive and negative connotations that implies. 
 

Some of the major set pieces in TROS are right up there with anything else in the Star Wars canon, and the film never looks anything less than superb. I’m happy to say that I have mellowed in my strong dislike of it, and look forward to enjoying it more in years to come.