The New Star Wars Movie is Coming Out Soon, and I am not the Least Bit Excited
I grew up with Star Wars.
I was one of those kids, who was at the absolute perfect age, when “Star Wars” came out. We were too old for simple kids movies, but we were too young for adult drama. We were at that age where we could still believe, we weren’t jaded, and we were open to be amazed.
Plus, the special effects blew us away. I can’t remember how many times I saw it in the theater, but the answer would be a lot.
I grew up with these movies. I eagerly anticipated “Empire Strikes Back”, though my first watch saddened me. It wasn’t till I was an adult that I really began to appreciate it. “Return of the Jedi”, eh…. I had suddenly gotten too old, and the cracks started showing for me. What I loved about the first two started falling short here. Overly simplistic, large plot holes, and freaking Ewoks.
Still, I was too much of a fan boy to complain, at least not loudly. I still wanted to see the other six movies that were rumored. It didn’t matter that, based on the current timing, it would be sometime after THE YEAR 2000 BEFORE THEY WERE ALL RELEASED! I didn’t care. I would be old and married by then, but I would still be there for the opening night when it finally ends. Alas, I wasn’t old then (not by my standards today), I’m not married, and the rumor didn’t come true. The franchise got side tracked, but when the new trilogy was rumored in the 90s, I was all in! My childhood is coming back and I was so excited. It didn’t matter that there was going to be kid actors (a personal pet peeve of mine. I like kids, except when they try to act. Don’t get me started on Harry Potter movies — its a personal slow death for me).
Still, I dutifully went opening night for Episode I. I walked out of “The Phantom Menace” with the same feeling of disappointment I felt with “Return of the Jedi”, except worse. Much worse. Outside of Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Won (which, by the way, I feel he should have been awarded a special Oscar for not mailing it in), I thought the whole movie was one giant turd. Worse, there were two more turds waiting. Unlike the first trilogy, I only watched these once in the theater; a token watching, in honor of my younger self.
Fast forward a decade, and we are off again. Those long promised post Jedi episodes are finally comeing to life. The completion of this nine episode saga will be coming to an end. But, will it be a good ending? “The Force Awakens”, I thought, was pretty good. I walked out thinking this is better than episodes 1–3, and possibly better than Jedi. Yes, there were some problems, and under closer examination, it was a rehash of the original Star Wars, but it had a secret weapon: Daisy Ridley. In my opinion, she brought back the old Star Wars magic, single handedly. Without her, this movie would have sucked. The burden of making Star Wars great again would all fall on her shoulders, and it was off to a good start. Then Rouge One came out, and the future is suddenly getting better. It was an unexpectedly great movie, worthy of the top tier.
Then the bottom fell out. My expectations for “The Last Jedi” were high — too high. And they crashed. Badly and uglyly (I don’t know if that is really a word — probably not — but I hope it conveys my feelings). Too much burden was placed on Daisy, and the rest of the cast dropped the ball. It needed to be a team effort. Luke had Obi-Won and then Yoda. Han had Chewy. Darth had the Emperor. Daisy had nobody. The movie was so bad, folks wanted it removed from the canon. It made episodes 1–3 almost watchable. Then the Solo story.
I actually liked the movie, but I was in the minority. Most folks hated it, especially Star Wars fans. I’m not sure why, but I think it has to do with the aftereffects of Last Jedi. The goodwill was gone, the curtain has been pulled back, the ugliness is now fully exposed, and there is no putting it back. I didn’t feel that way about Solo, but I’m going into the finale with that sense of dread of how bad it will be.
“The Rise of Skywalker” could be great. Could be, but I doubt it. Now that I am no longer a kid, and I’m seeing it through my post Return of the Jedi eyes, I just see there are just too many problems that can’t be solved in one movie.
At least, I don’t think they can be solved. I’m taking in a lot of baggage and preconceived notions on what this movie could — or could not be. Unlike every other episode, I don’t have a ticket, I don’t have anyone to go see it with, I don’t have a plan for when I will even go. I don’t even know what day it comes out. In summary, I really don’t care. I don’t believe it can be good.
When I first went to Star Wars for the first time, I didn’t do it willingly. I didn’t know what the big deal was, and it that very young age, I was jaded that it could live up the hype that was being showered upon it. I went in skeptical.
Just like I feel now. I hope this is a good sign. May the force be with us all.
