By Paul Hall
This should be the weekend that I’m writing about Black Widow and the glorious summer movie season that lies ahead of us, but alas COVID-19 had other plans for us all. Never fear, Disney+ has our collective back and is giving us a summer movie season kickoff we can enjoy in our homes with the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker to subscribers beginning May 4.
The latest installment in the Skywalker saga joins the other eight films already available on the streaming platform, creating a unique opportunity to have an incredible marathon to virtually celebrate the franchise in your home on the Star Wars “holiday” that was created by fans as an homage to the classic line “May the Force be with you.”
Many fans already own their own copy of this film — it’s been available to purchase via Blu-ray and digital copy for a few weeks — but for those who don’t, this release marks another defining characteristic of the streaming service and may be the carrot to entice new subscribers to make the leap.
I quite liked this film as a conclusion to the Skywalker saga. It is nowhere near perfect, nor is it the best in the universe; it probably falls somewhere in the middle of the pack, but it is satisfying. Seeing most of the old characters adding their signature touches one last time just felt right.
From the scenes involving our last moments with the late Carrie Fisher as Leia to last appearances from Luke (Mark Hamill) to Lando (Billy Dee Williams) and everyone in between, director J.J. Abrams gives us the chance to see our heroes, even if for a brief glimpse, one last time.
But the star is still Rey (Daisy Ridley). She has owned the final three installments of the franchise alongside her companions Poe (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega). And don’t forget the droids, from BB-8 to C-3PO to R2-D2; they will chat and squeak and squawk their way to be of assistance, in any possible way.
I have concerns over some aspects of this final film in the saga, as do many fans. The Rise of Skywalker revises history in parts of the story, but I continue to smile. These nine films have been part of my world for virtually my entire life. To see my teenage daughter looking up to Rey and being as invested in the franchise as any fan is wholly satisfying.
We may never see a franchise that lasts this long and is this revered. Its positive messaging and themes will be discussed with multiple generations for more years than I can count. We may never really know “Who shot first?” or the other burning questions that exist from the franchise, but we will live every year exclaiming “May the 4th be with you!” and this year we’ll all be enjoying the entire series for the first time thanks to Disney+.
Paul’s Grade: B
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Rated PG-13
Stars: Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher
Director: J.J. Abrams
Available May 4, 2020, to stream via Disney+.
Available now on Blu-ray/DVD or digitally download and enjoy at online retailers everywhere, including iTunes, FandangoNOW, Amazon Prime Video and more.