In 1977, the world was introduced to Luke Skywalker. He was a poor farmer boy who dreamed of something more; to be part of a cause bigger than himself. When the opportunity arose he took it, and in doing so, captured the imaginations of millions of young people worldwide. Now in 2019, the ninth and final installment of the Skywalker Saga is hitting theaters. For fans, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker means the ending of a deeply beloved franchise. Can it possibly live up to the expectations or hopes of the fans?
Conner Schneck (12), says, “My dad was a Star Wars nut when he was little and still is. So naturally, it had an impact on me when I was growing up.” Although Star Wars had an impact on Schneck’s childhood, he mentions the recent widespread dislike of the new sequel trilogy. He says, “Well, to put it lightly, some people now seem to not like the sequel trilogy. I don’t want to take sides, but I must say I’m am one who doesn’t hate them, nor do I love them.” Since Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, fans have been wary of what would happen to Star Wars. 2015 saw the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which received mostly high praise. In 2017, Star Wars: The Last Jedi was bombed by most critics for its pacing and character choices. As of the time of writing, Schneck has not seen the new installment. However, he has seen the reviews. He comments, “As of now, it has the lowest score on Rotten Tomatoes of all three sequel movies. I want it to be good, but seeing that is rather demoralizing.”
Thomas Yackiel (12) went to see the new installment on opening night. He explains why, “It’s just such an attractive genre for me and the storyline is so engaging as well. Seeing the characters grow and change I’m glad I was able to do the same with them over the years.” Yackiel had also seen the reviews before seeing it, but he didn’t let it stop him from enjoying the movie, “I came into it skeptical and with low expectations because of what I had been hearing from critics, but I left loving the movie. My favorite of the new trilogy for sure.” Cinema is a subjective experience. What one person may despise another may love. No matter your opinion on Star Wars as a franchise, the sequels, or the newest installment, it is important to never put down anyone for their individual opinion. Instead of squabbling over likes or dislikes, it may be time in the new decade for fans to appreciate what we all agree on; the profound effect Star Wars has had on us as people, and how dearly the Skywalker Saga will be missed.
Thomas Yackiel:
Striking, Engaging, Fun
poster pic cred: cbr.com
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