Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker Review

Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker

Dir: J.J. Abrams

Starring: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Kelly Marie Tran, Billy Dee Williams, and Mark Hamill

As that iconic text scrolls down the screen with the piercing musical theme from John Williams playing at high volume, it becomes clear that it’s near impossible to fully grasp the cultural effect “Star Wars” has had on cinema and popular culture. And with the 9^th installment, “The Rise of the Skywalker”, positioned as the finale to the saga started in 1977, it’s impossible that a film will be able to live up to the high expectations of so many years of establishing its mythos into the world. 

“The Force Awakens”, released in 2015 and helmed by director J.J. Abrams (“Super 8” and 2009’s “Star Trek), utilized a near-perfect blending of nostalgia in the development of a new story focused on a young girl named Rey (Daisy Ridley) who, in the process of searching for answers to her unknown past, becomes connected to the Skywalker lore. Bringing in familiar faces from the past and mixing new characters into a story that had strong ties and themes to “A New Hope”, “The Force Awakens” was a fitting reintroduction to all the feelings that made fans love “Star Wars” in the first place. 

“The Last Jedi”, released in 2017 and written/directed Rian Johnson (“Looper” and “Knives Out”), made bold and inspiring steps in separating the new story from the past and setting up a version of “Star Wars” for a new generation to claim as their own. In the process of taking the film in fresh, unexpected directions that refused to follow expectations and unnecessary fan service, “The Last Jedi” was met with divisive results amidst its noble attempts to take the myth of the Jedi in different directions. 

“The Rise of the Skywalker”, directed again by J.J. Abrams, has the unenviable task of wrapping up the “Star Wars” saga. But Abrams has a keen understanding of the love fans have for these films, and while the fascinating potential established by Rian Johnson’s “The Last Jedi” is somewhat suppressed for a return to more familiar movements and easy answers to lingering questions, “The Rise of the Skywalker” has some exceptional “Star Wars” moments amidst a struggling narrative that is hampered by unnecessary fan service. 

The story continues following Rey on her quest to find answers about her past but also leading the Resistance in the battle against a dominating First Order lead by a new supreme leader Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Echoes from the past begin to haunt both Rey and Kylo Ren, pushing them towards an ultimate confrontation between good and evil, the past and the future. 

Abrams does a great job of keeping the focus on the characters established in the “The Force Awakens”; Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe (Oscar Isaac) rejoin to pursue one final journey in defense from the First Order, who are on the verge of striking one final blow to end the Resistance. These characters, played with such conviction and determination from the talented actors, encompass the emotional core of the film. Their strong friendship and undaunted comradery keep hope alive even as Kylo Ren continues to find the upper hand in battle and with his new ‘Force’ connection/bond to Rey. 

Kylo and Rey are provided with some odd, a few times interesting, story setups this time around. Unfortunately, their newfound connection doesn’t make full use of the opportunity to portray the complex relationship between the power of the Force and the Darkside, the proverbial ‘good versus evil’ that gives every single “Star Wars” film its conflict. Abrams instead uses these characters to compose fight scenes, one of which is a highlight of the entire film, and story bridges attempting to connect the messy plot in a cohesive way. 

The composition of the film, with its jumps from space to different planets, from land to water to air, is strikingly rendered. One scene involving glowing lightsabers and crashing waves is completely stunning. Abrams excels in finding ways to blend the past with the present, introducing new characters that have traits of old familiar characters and sometimes allowing the old characters, like Carrie Fisher’s Leia, moments to lovingly shine bright. 

J.J. Abrams understands what fans want and tries his best to accommodate expectations with a new exploration of familiar “Star Wars” themes. While there are moments when this doesn’t always work nicely, creating conflicting emotional tones, unnecessary and unearned callbacks, and story imbalances that make the 2 hour and 20-minute run time feel every bit as long, “The Rise of the Skywalker” will still render smiles from those who love the franchise. While it may not be the most fitting finale for this beloved space odyssey, it doesn’t feel like “Star Wars” is ending either. As the title suggests, “Star Wars” will continue to rise.

Monte’s Rating

3.25 out of 5.00

10 Cloverfield Lane Review

10 Cloverfield Lane

Dir: Dan Trachtenberg

Starring: John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and John Gallagher Jr.

Paramount Pictures

103 Minutes

It’s hard to keep a secret these days. Somehow “10 Cloverfield Lane”, the follow-up to J.J. Abrams’ science fiction blockbuster “Cloverfield”, stayed relatively dormant and well off the radars of film fans until a few months ago. In today’s anticipation heavy movie industry, where films are planned out and detailed years in advance, it would seem a difficult task to maintain the secrecy of a film as big as this one. The lack of information and equally vague trailer was an interesting move for this mysterious offering, a move that after watching the film proves to have been a successful and calculated one. “Cloverfield” utilized the first-person perspective to give the film a frantic, for some stomach turning, experience, “10 Cloverfield Lane” relies on more traditional methods in building a tension filled mystery that watches two people waiting out the end of the world in a bunker dictated by a crazed doomsday survivalist.

Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is frustrated with her relationship and in the process of leaving the city. While driving through the countryside, listening to her boyfriend apologize, her car is violently hit and thrown off the road. Michelle wakes up in a small room with a locked door, she is chained up to the wall. Howard (John Goodman) is the person who rescued her; not only from the car crash but the world disaster that he claims has poisoned the air. Howard has brought Michelle to his underground disaster bunker with another survivor named Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.), a bunker controlled menacingly by Howard.

For a film that runs 105 minutes long, it sure does make the most out of a simple premise. Here, the story is basically woman gets trapped then woman must escape. But director Dan Trachtenberg utilizes much of the waiting game to establish some clever moments of tension while slowly closing in the narrative walls to make the claustrophobic atmosphere even more unnerving. It works exceptionally well in the beginning, especially when the narrative and conventions play with the expectations of the audience, like in an early scene around the dinner table where the viewer is coaxed into guessing how everything will play out. While it does go on a bit too long in the end, the successful moments of tension and the threatening cat-and-mouse aspects help in holding attention throughout.

The unnerving aspects can be attributed to the meticulous pacing in the script, however its successful execution should be largely credited to the capable abilities of John Goodman who is menacing, intimidating, cracked, and any other word one would use to describe the quality of fear evoked by his character. Whether with an offhanded smirk, the emphasis of how he expresses certain sentences, or with purposeful and subtle mannerisms and gestures, Mr. Goodman nails every scene. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is also good, portraying a resilient and tough young woman, she stands toe-to-toe with Mr. Goodman in the quiet scenes and the violent ones.

Maintaining secrecy during production ultimately helped preserve the mystery found in “10 Cloverfield Lane”. There is nothing overly exceptional going on here, just simple techniques accommodating a simple story with satisfying results. While it may have taken a little too much time moving into its final act, the payoff during and in the end is worth the wait. For those looking for a big monster movie with action and explosions, you won’t find much of that here. For those looking for a calculated thriller with great performances, prepare to be entertained.

Monte’s Rating

3.75 out of 5.00

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Dir: J.J. Abrams

Starring: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, Jon Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Peter Mayhew, Gwendoline Christie and Max von Sydow

The moment the iconic John Williams theme erupts and the words begin to scroll it will be impossible for any “Star Wars” fan to not be a little excited. No spoilers allowed in this review because “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is a film experience that should not be ruined by too much information. Director J.J. Abrams tackles the monumental feat of rejuvenating the “Star Wars” franchise, mixing nostalgia with new characters on a new adventure with skill and confidence while also remaining loyal to the fanbase that will be waiting in long lines for the opportunity to remember why they fell in love with “Star Wars” in the first place. To the achievement of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, it excels and satisfies at nearly every turn.

Episode VII takes place thirty years after the destruction of the Death Star and the demise of the Galactic Empire. Peace has thrived throughout the galaxy but a new dark threat is rising to disrupt order. Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) commands the First Order with the help of Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), a masked villain who wields a lightsaber. The Resistance is fighting this new evil foe with the help of a rebel pilot named Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), a young scavenger living alone on a desert planet named Rey (Daisy Ridley), and a soldier named Finn; the group will do all they can to keep peace in the galaxy.

At the very minimum that’s all you need to know. Mr. Abrams and company have crafted a narrative that delivers a bit of everything for both fanatics and those unfamiliar with the universe. There are numerous moments in the film that seem handcrafted for “Star Wars” superfans. All of the best and memorable aspects of the past six films are utilized in effective and meaningful ways here, offering many nods to the past and establishing small steps that will lead into the future of the continued saga. Still, even though it utilizes Shakespearian influences familiar throughout all the films and follows the Joseph Campbell storytelling blueprint described in “The Hero with a Thousand Faces”, the film never forgets what George Lucas created in the beginning and what, at its core, it achieves, which is producing that sense of childlike wonder and consistently remaining adventurous and fun.

The film centers around two new cast members, Daisy Ridley and Jon Boyega who both give especially genuine performances. This is an accommodation to their ability as actors but also to the script, which allows the characters both heartfelt and playful moments, each of which are charming and comedic. It is a difficult task for two new actors to remain shining when the shadow of their iconic counterparts loom so intimidatingly. Harrison Ford returns as Han Solo and upon his first moment on screen immediately fits comfortably back into the role, which he hasn’t played for nearly three decades. Add the back and fourth repartee with Chewbacca and, similarly to what Han Solo says in the trailer, you’re home.

The “Star Wars” prequels in some ways tarnished what the original films established. It’s safe to say that J.J. Abrams has given fans new hope with “The Force Awakens”. While the film reintroduces the audience to the world of the past, both the characters and myth left behind, the future isn’t given much exploration, which leaves many obvious questions for subsequent films to answer. But you won’t notice this aspect until you leave the theater and give the film some further thought. That’s an attribute to “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” because it is such an experience. It’s a film that gives older audiences the joyous nostalgic feelings from when they saw “Star Wars” for the first time and, even more approvingly, a way to give a new generation of fans the memorable experience of why going to the movies is such a special and magical thing.

Monte’s Rating

4.25 out of 5.00