Specter of Reason

This post contains spoilers for The Rise of Skywalker and other films in the Skywalker saga. Having enjoyed The Last Jedi more the second time around, I decided to rewatch The Rise of Skywalker after only seeing it once back when it was in the theaters. I'm glad to say I enjoyed the final episode even more the second time, as well. I am quite impressed with how J. J. Abrams was able to pull it all off. Not only did he create a fast-paced, action-packed adventure story, but he also connected so many plot and character threads with abundant humor and emotional depth. I think it is one of the most satisfying Star Wars films of all and a powerful end to the saga. And yet, it is often rated as one of the worst. I'm trying to understand why. A lot of people complain that the movie is too focused on a lot of running around trying find things that don't really matter. I don't think that's a fair criticism. It's an adventure story, after all, and every aspect of it is c...

It took almost three years, but I finally rewatched The Last Jedi . I enjoyed it more the second time, which isn’t saying a whole lot. I don’t hate the movie, but I don’t love it, either. Some of it works terrifically well, while other parts are frustrating and disappointing. As a stand alone movie, I think it's pretty good, but not great. As the second part of a Star Wars trilogy, and as the eighth episode of the nine-part Skywalker saga, my view is a bit lower. The reason is the way it handles one of Star Wars ’ central themes: destiny. Like Luke and Anakin before them, Kylo Ren and Rey both have to struggle with the question of destiny. In The Force Awakens , Ren kills his father in an effort to fulfill the destiny of following in Vader’s footsteps, and Rey is confronted with the question of her own destiny when she finds Luke’s light saber calling to her. Destiny is central to both of their inner conflicts, so the second part of the new trilogy should have added new complica...