Rise of Unanswered Questions

The entire movie was a montage. It was obvious to see that the pacing was rushed, and that the plot could’ve easily fit into two movies. 

The director of the first movie in this trilogy, JJ Abrams, returned to direct the final installment. When directing Episode 7: The Force Awakens, he set out a roadmap for the subsequent movies to follow, as to finish the arc in a cohesive way. But when he didn’t return for the second movie, the newly hired director Rian Johnson decided to make his own plan. This led to the whole fandom being split on whether the movie was a masterpiece or a master-mess. So when watching this third installment, it’s easy to spot all of the obvious jabs that Abrams takes at the previous movie.

But creative differences aside, it is safe to say that a lot was riding on this movie.

We open into Kylo Ren casually murdering tons of people on Mustafar (where Anakin Skywalker was killed and Darth Vader emerged), and then walking among the wreckage to find a glowing green *thing* called a “Wayfinder.” (This is a prime example of how throughout the movie, plot points happen without explanation as to how.)

He is then led to the Sith planet of Exegol, on which he enters a cave that speaks in voices of Sith Lords before him; like Darth Vader, Snoke, and finally Palpatine. The formal all-powerful Sheev Palpatine is now a cloaked shell of a man, who is… mounted on a crane? 

Anyway, Palpatine goes on to say how he has died before, and how he now has the ultimate weapon: a fleet of star-destroyers. All Kylo has to do to obtain this fleet and begin “The Final Order” (Come up with better names?) is kill Rey. (Also, did anyone notice the tube of Snoke juice??)

Again, the question arises: How? Where is the explanation for this? How did Palpatine get these ships? And consequently, the idea that drives the plot is now tinged with questions of legitimacy.

But even leaving that, my one major problem with this movie is the disservice done to Anakin’s legacy. If he is the chosen one & the one who will bring balance to the force, then how is Palpatine back? Was his sacrifice for nothing? And then does that mean that Rey becomes the new “chosen one?” When the voices called to Rey, to give her the strength to come back, Anakin should’ve come back as a Force Ghost. He should’ve been there to do the deed himself. He should be the one who is behind the final blow. 

Where Are the “Why’s”

I can go on and on; but apart from that, I just have a list of questions I’d like answers to:

1. Why did Hux go from “Hitler-esque” to a whiny little boy?
2. Why are so many deaths undone? We get moments of true sadness and loss, because that is what war means, but just a few scenes later, we see that they are fine. It stops becoming a twist when it happens over and over in the span of 2.5 hours. (Chewie, C3PO, Kylo Ren, Babu Frik)

   

3. Where did Rose go? She was a main character in the last movie, and is now reduced to such little impact, you could just make a cardboard cutout of her and move it around. She once was the voice of rebellion and the hope that ignites the Resistance itself. 
4. What happened to the bromance? Finn & Poe’s relationship was one of a true connection, just between two people. But throughout the movie, their dialogue seemed unlike their characters, and almost like there were more scenes that we didn’t see because they were eliminated from the final cut? In the end, they make up, but even that is not shown through emotional and character growth, but as just a thing that should happen for the sake of happening. 
5. Is Finn force sensitive? And if so, why was it cut out? It would tie in the first movie, explaining why he could so easily stand his ground again Kylo Ren in the first movie. 
6. WHAT IS FORCE HEALING? If this is something that has always existed, then why couldn’t our favorite characters be resurrected? How is it something that is only limited to Rey & Ben? (Disney, honey. What’s your game here?)
7. WHAT IS A FORCE DIAD? It’s cool to look at, I’m not denying that. Smashing Darth Vader’s helmet and the red beads spilling everywhere were an awesome way to connect them, and was also one of the only continuations from the previous movie that worked for me. But again, where did this come from? And if Palpatine is behind Snoke, why would he tie them together if he wanted her alive, but then also saying he wanted her dead?
8. Why are the Knights of Ren so useless? They literally do nothing at all for the plot. It was a waste of time, and a callback that could’ve been executed in later movies, with more space for explanation
9. Is the medal that Maz Kanata gives Chewie actually Han’s medal? Or is it just another piece of fan-service?
10. Is Captain Phasma gone for good? Because for being so extra-shiny, she wasn’t that hard to defeat.
11. Rey Skywalker? Ok…

    

12. Where did Ben get his lightsaber from, once he turns to the light side again? How did he get it so fast?
13. (I’m just not going to talk about the Reylo kiss, I don’t even know how I feel about it, to be honest.)

Final Verdict

I do not hate this movie. I do not think it’s a masterpiece, either. It was an enjoyable movie, but one that does not stand high enough to be an end-piece to a 9-part saga. It didn’t have the normal “JJ touch” that the director normally brings.

The most enjoyable parts were the ones that were most underrated. Babu Frik stole every scene he was in. The little family of droids that had formed by the end of the movie was a nice touch. Adam Driver’s performance was impeccable; he did phenomenally with what he was given. And the Sith choir on Exegol, was priceless. It probably wasn’t supposed to be funny, but the idea of the souls of the Sith serenading to Rey’s ascension is hilarious. The CGI work in posthumously edited scenes of Carrie Fisher’s character was seamless & looked natural.

Seeing Rey’s saber at the end was a really uplifting moment. Her yellow saber, evident of her being the protector of the Jedi teachings, was perfect. It gave me hope, that the Star Wars Canon Universe has some good content on the way. With projects to the likes of the Mandalorian & The Obi-Wan Kenobi TV show, maybe the Disney Era will be in good hands. Maybe.