Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker discussion thread (*** now contains spoilers ***)

[Mome Rath]

YEa I thought it was a great conclusion and the best of the sequels but really makes me wish JJ had done them all. It wasn't my favorite by far but overall thought Last Jedi was ok, but this movie actually makes me dislike it a bit. Think if JJ had done what he wanted it would have set up TROS better and made the movie probably even better than it was. He could have set up what he wanted int he first and not had to spend time backtracking or undoing stuff he didn't like fro TLJ. Think the sequel trilogy might have been my favorite of the three or at least close to the original if he had been able to do all three,

I agree with much of this, as I think the last movie would have been even better split into 2... so if JJ would have been able to head up the second movie, it would have all fit so much nicer. I didn't despise TLJ as a whole, but there were bits of it that really grated as a longtime fan of the originals, esp. his treatment of Luke. JJ did what he had to do to scrape things back into a semblance of order, and did a good job. I definitely want the extended version when it comes out, and I'd like to read the novelization as well.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

YEa I thought it was a great conclusion and the best of the sequels but really makes me wish JJ had done them all. It wasn't my favorite by far but overall thought Last Jedi was ok, but this movie actually makes me dislike it a bit. Think if JJ had done what he wanted it would have set up TROS better and made the movie probably even better than it was. He could have set up what he wanted int he first and not had to spend time backtracking or undoing stuff he didn't like fro TLJ. Think the sequel trilogy might have been my favorite of the three or at least close to the original if he had been able to do all three,

I agree about Abrams. Palpatine’s involvement came out of the blue. They could have set that up better in 8 and had a tighter more focused 9 if all the directors were on board (or Abrams did them all). Or if they had enforced a general arc. I can understand, given Lost why they would ask JJ to set something up and have someone else finish it but that finisher had to be onboard with what was set up.

 

[LizzyS]

Didn't JJ turn down Episode VIII?

I'd also argue he was the one at the helm when it was set up that Luke went into exile and why. Not only that, TFA made it nearly impossible that there was any time that had elapsed between TFA and TLJ.

 

[LizzyS]

Am I insane or was the TIE Echelon that's in Galaxy's Edge nowhere to be seen in this movie?

If anyone saw this thing, please let me know. If I'm remembering correctly, they made comments about how it'd be in TROS when initially promoting GE.

 

[BrianL]

Here's a really good interview with screenwriter Chris Terrio that answers a lot of questions and confirms some things about the movie:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/h...ord-straight-perceived-last-jedi-jabs-1265168

 

[rteetz]

Didn't JJ turn down Episode VIII?

I am not sure. I thought it was set pretty early on that they wanted 3 different directors for the trilogy. JJ was involved though he is credited as a producer.

 

[LizzyS]

I had to stop reading that Terrio interview after these two quotes:

"After that reconciliation, we wanted to put Ren down the path of redemption, at least in his head." at.least.in.his.head

"But, the twins never got to Tatooine together." I guess he doesn't remember ROTJ.

 

[LizzyS]

I am not sure. I thought it was set pretty early on that they wanted 3 different directors for the trilogy. JJ was involved though he is credited as a producer.

I don't know what's true, but I've seen it reported that he's the one that didn't want to do Episode VIII.

 

[BrianL]

I had to stop reading that Terrio interview after these two quotes:

"After that reconciliation, we wanted to put Ren down the path of redemption, at least in his head." at.least.in.his.head

"But, the twins never got to Tatooine together." I guess he doesn't remember ROTJ.

I think he probably meant that they never went to the Lars homestead together with Luke showing Leia where he grew up. Certainly they were on the planet Tatooine together in ROTJ, but they didn't exactly hang out.

 

[LizzyS]

I think he probably meant that they never went to the Lars homestead together with Luke showing Leia where he grew up. Certainly they were on the planet Tatooine together in ROTJ, but they didn't exactly hang out.

This is what making excuses looks like.

Sorry, but I expect filmmakers to know the story they're trying to tell. If you're fine with it, great. I am not.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

. . . to me it works better that Ben doesn't survive b/c a) too much of a cheesy happy ending for the happy couple and b) what do you do with Ben then? Nice story but in reality he would still need to pay for his war crimes. So either he is punished or you have him in hiding and then the "good guys" are running from the law. Just raises too many issues

Yes, this is exactly why DH and I are okay with losing Ben. We still find his death and the timing of it sad, but this really was the best choice for this character.

 

[LizzyS]

Yes, this is exactly why DH and I are okay with losing Ben. We still find his death and the timing of it sad, but this really was the best choice for this character.

It's true most people don't understand atonement.

 

[BrianL]

This is what making excuses looks like.

Sorry, but I expect filmmakers to know the story they're trying to tell. If you're fine with it, great. I am not.

I think it's pretty clear from teh context what he meant:

"This might be in the novelization, but we talked a lot about how Leia lost her home. Alderaan is gone. So, she could never take Luke to see where she grew up as a princess, but Luke could’ve taken Leia to see where he grew up as a farmer. But, the twins never got to Tatooine together."

He means Luke never showed Leia his home and Leia could never show Luke hers. Do you really think he doesn't realize they were on Tatooine together in ROTJ? That's kind of a leap.

 

[LizzyS]

I think it's pretty clear from teh context what he meant:

"This might be in the novelization, but we talked a lot about how Leia lost her home. Alderaan is gone. So, she could never take Luke to see where she grew up as a princess, but Luke could’ve taken Leia to see where he grew up as a farmer. But, the twins never got to Tatooine together."

He means Luke never showed Leia his home and Leia could never show Luke hers. Do you really think he doesn't realize they were on Tatooine together in ROTJ? That's kind of a leap.

If you're asking me if I have faith that this guy knows what he's talking about, the answer is "no".

 

[BrianL]

If you're asking me if I have faith that this guy knows what he's talking about, the answer is "no".

Hey, it's fair if you find fault with his reasoning or his story - I'm just saying that this particular point of contention is just semantics. He worded it poorly. Interviews aren't rehearsed, but his meaning is clear here. It's a bit of a nitpick and not really relevant.

 

[LizzyS]

Oh, I do.

 

[SheHulk]

How would I have felt? Better, without a doubt.

This is a fantasy tale and not real life. Everyone in Star Wars is a murderer, we just don't care when it's the bad guys getting it and not Han Solo.

There's a difference between killing combatants on the opposite side in a war and killing planets full of civilians. The latter is murder.

 

[Dznefreek]

One word . . . .sucked.

 

[LizzyS]

There's a difference between killing combatants on the opposite side in a war and killing planets full of civilians. The latter is murder.

Think what you like, doesn't bother me.

 

[BrianL]

There's a difference between killing combatants on the opposite side in a war and killing planets full of civilians. The latter is murder.

I think there's a few ways of looking at this. I am of the opinion that Ben had to die and did redeem himself by saving Rey. I am not against atonement and redemption, even for a murderer of that caliber. However, I also look at the dichotomy of The Force and the Sith from that "certain point of view" that Obi Wan does - that Ben Solo and Kylo Ren are distinct in some ways, as was Vader and Anakin or really any Sith - when they fall to the Dark Side, they essentially cease to be their former selves. Certainly they are connected and there is a matter of shared responsibility, but in seeing that separation, I find it easier to accept a redemption, be it Anakin's or Ben's.