“Star Wars,” the beloved franchise that has defined pop culture and set the sci-fi movie standard for generations to come, sold out to Disney in 2012 for $4.05 billion. Disney has since capitalized on its purchase with the release of 2015's “The Force Awakens” and a new movie every year since. The latest in this onslaught of films is “The Rise of Skywalker,” which is set to be the last movie of the sequel trilogy. Multiple trailers have been released so far and they’ve gotten a lot right. A wide range of locations are revealed, some fan-favorite characters have returned and the music is truly worthy of a finale. But despite these aspects, the chances of this movie being decent are appallingly low. The first movie of this new trilogy broke some of the series’ consistencies, though it kept a very similar plot to the original made in 1977. This left dedicated fans displeased and casual viewers with an OK, but hardly innovative film. Nostalgia played a huge role in the box-office success. Due to varying issues, the second movie took the disappointment to a whole new level and turned out to be a total disaster. All of the problems with the first were amplified, but “The Last Jedi” lacked any of the nostalgia of the original films or even the remnants of a working story structure, relying on the “Star Wars” brand to promote sales. Because of the second installment’s many problems and the first installment’s “safe” approach, we are now left with a shaky base for the final installation, which hits theaters Dec. 20. The characters starring in “The Rise of Skywalker” have had no drastic growth, making them feel two-dimensional rather than well-developed. This is especially true of the protagonist, Rey. Rey is able to overcome any obstacle she needs to. So no matter what new challenges the trailer teased, it all feels like another opponent for the “good guy” to trounce. She also lacks moral depth, leading her to always make the “good” decision. To exhibit the problems that arise from this development, “The Last Jedi” tried to introduce the seemingly most powerful obstacle and internal conflict at the same time. But because Rey is so perfect, the opponent was disposed of in a matter of minutes, along with the emotional baggage. It led to a cheap payoff after multiple movies of buildup. In a film where the narrative is shaky and the characters are dull, what is there left to enjoy? Visuals could be one thing. The locations and special effects indicate there will at least be some eye candy to accompany the boring plot. The title “Star Wars” is really what keeps bringing viewers back, and that’s what’s at the core of this issue. Disney doesn’t understand “Star Wars.” They borrow from previous iterations or use similar story points. And while this has actually made for two pretty good films, in the end it’s just recycling. When it comes to making their own mark on this bastion of dorkdom, the company falls flat, and this is mostly because of its emphasis on money. Their new series “The Mandalorian” is a prime example. Though conceptually meant to have a darker tone, the show isn’t able to come through on that idea because it has to be viewable by as many consumers as possible. To be appealing to other audiences, it includes a cute “baby Yoda” and just a few scenes of lethal violence, despite being marketed as a grittier take on the franchise. The fall of this brand will come when it oversaturates the market and degrades in quality. We’re well on our way there. In an attempt to make “Star Wars” inclusive, Disney has lost what made it a force in the first place. DISCLAIMER: This story was assigned and edited by the really cool folks at nighthawknews.com so please go and take a look at their website!
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AuthorMcRae Walker, an 20-year-old writer and lover of many dorky topics. Archives
September 2022
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