Movie review

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Production companies: Lucasfilm Ltd., Bad Robot Productions

Worldwide distribution: Disney

Producers: Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, Michelle Rejwan

Screenplay: Chris Terrio & J.J. Abrams, story by Derek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow and
Chris Terrio & J. J. Abrams

Production design: Rick Carter, Kevin Jenkins

Editing: Maryann Brandon, Stefan Grube

Cinematography: Dan Mindel

Music: John Williams

Main cast: Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar
Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Lupita
Nyong’o, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, Ian McDiarmid, Billy Dee
Williams

There are two reviews for this movie, read both of them. Based from what you have read,
complete the tasks given.
Review 1:

Following the events of ‘The Last Jedi’, the Star Wars saga continues with Rey (Daisy Ridley), Poe
Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega) as they battle Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the First
Order. ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ is the last chapter in the Skywalker line of stories in the ‘Star Wars’
franchise.

The biggest challenge faced by the new trilogy is that it intended to bring closure to the original
beloved characters – Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and Leia Organa
(Carrie Fisher) while adding new characters to the lore. Since then, the plots and storylines raised
more questions than they addressed. This film has the task of answering them well enough to satisfy
its passionate fans while paying homage to the mythology that began 42 years ago. It’s a daunting
mission, and for all those reasons, this film could become equally, if not even more divisive, than its
immediate predecessor.

To begin with, what works – John Williams delivers yet another fantastic background score that
uplifts some scenes by adding more emotional heft. Similarly, the technical departments fire on all
cylinders, with gorgeous set design, vivid cinematography and a striking combination of visual and
practical effects. But, the film’s plot and story-line move quickly with a lot of ground to cover. This
means some aspects are grazed over; there’s no time to allow the weight of certain events and
revelations to sink in fully.
A lot of the narrative hinges on Kylo Ren and Rey. Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley put in solid
performances to carry that weight. The scenes with them together continue to be the most
engaging. John Boyega and Oscar Isaac also get more time to build on the bromance with Finn and
Poe respectively, lending some humour, and yet, there’s not quite enough of them. Original trilogy
darlings Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO and Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) get their moments, but
they often don’t feel as earned as they deserve to be. That notion extends further to some fan
service that may or may not work for everyone. Some new characters are intriguing, but they don’t
do enough to matter eventually. Fortunately, the action set-pieces are immense and are often
rewarding.

Eventually, the film certainly wraps up the new trilogy, but it becomes evident that its overarching
narrative wasn’t clearly outlined, and it shows.

Complete these tasks:

What are the elements of a movie reviewed? An example is given to you, look for other elements.

Movie element Details

e.g. Sound John Williams delivers yet another fantastic background score that
uplifts some scenes by adding more emotional heft.
Visual The biggest challenge faced by the new trilogy is that it intended
to bring closure to the original beloved characters
Plot answering them well enough to satisfy its passionate fans while
paying homage to the mythology that began 42 years ago
charatestic Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley put in solid performances to carry
that weight.
identity Original trilogy darlings Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO and Lando
Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) get their moments, but they often
don’t feel as earned as they deserve to be.

What tenses are used to write the reviews?

Tense Sentence from the text

e.g. Simple present tense John Williams delivers yet another fantastic background score that
uplifts some scenes by adding more emotional heft.
Review 2:

Identity is at the heart of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, a film that doesn’t have much personality
of its own beyond frequent call-backs to previous instalments, a liability that only highlights what is
lacking in this tepid, oddly disjointed sequel. Daisy Ridley continues to be the latest trilogy’s most
dynamic character — the searching young Jedi Rey who will finally unlock the mystery of her lineage
— but for a picture which is meant to cap the so-called Skywalker saga, Rise doesn’t have the
emotional resonance or superb action sequences that have made this franchise so indomitable over
the last 42 years. What we get instead are echoes, nostalgia and a frustrating sense of déjà vu.

After the divisive fan reaction to The Last Jedi, ambitiously written and directed by Rian Johnson who
slyly subverted some of the franchise’s mythos, Rise feels like an attempt to deliver a more
straightforward and muscular action-adventure film. Learning that the evil Emperor Palpatine, who
supposedly died at the end of Return of The Jedi, is still alive and building an unstoppable army, the
brave Resistance (led by John Boyega’s Finn and Oscar Isaac’s Poe) must try to thwart his plans.
Meanwhile, Rey (Ridley) knows that she will once again have to confront Kylo Ren (Adam Driver),
whose nefarious First Order will be joining forces with Palpatine to form this frightening new Empire.

Yet for all the lightsaber battles and other Star Wars minutiae, Abrams’ new movie doesn’t possess
much of the DNA of George Lucas’ original vision. Instead, it’s a fairly standard and overstuffed
blockbuster — sprawling but impersonal — that just so happens to reference plenty of lines and
incidents from earlier Star Wars films.

Rise is where this most recent trilogy’s newest characters really take centre stage — Han, Luke and
Leia from the original trilogy are all dead or on the side-lines — and they largely fail to bring the
same charisma and depth as their predecessors. Rey’s tortured journey to learn where she came
from has some resonance — and she’s a gripping figure in the heat of combat — but neither Boyega
nor Isaac proves particularly compelling. Even more troublesome, Rise is built on the idea that these
three will learn the importance of teamwork to destroy a formidable foe, but there’s not much
rapport between the actors.

It’s not just the dubious return of Palpatine that marks Rise as a blockbuster recycling past franchise
strengths. After recapturing the swashbuckling spirit of the original trilogy with the playful, moving
Force Awakens, Abrams (who co-wrote Rise’s screenplay) strains to craft a proper send-off to this
nine-movie storyline. Not only is the plot underwhelming, it largely repeats themes and twists from
past instalments without adding much that is new to say. Where Luke Skywalker’s arc in the first
three films comprised a classic hero’s journey, Rey’s is more of a soap opera, with reversals and
surprises that are contrived instead of shocking. And no amount of grand space shootouts and life-
or-death stakes can distract from the fact that the Star Wars series has done all of this before, and
better.

There are pockets of humour and occasionally stunning locations — not to mention a few lump-in-
the-throat moments for those who have grown up with Star Wars. But unlike The Force Awakens
and The Last Jedi, which were energised by the prospect of returning to Lucas’ galaxy, Rise feels
obligatory and uninspired. Rey may learn who she really is, but this unengaging franchise finale
remains disappointingly nondescript.
Complete these tasks:

What are the elements of a movie reviewed? An example is given to you, look for other elements.

Movie element Details

What tenses are used to write the reviews?

Tense Sentence from the text

What are the similarities and differences of the two movie reviews given?

Review 1 Review 2
Similarities

Differences