Film Review: "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (2019).

"The Saga Concludes" with Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker (or Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker). This epic space-opera film directed by J. J. Abrams, co-written by Abrams and Chris Terrio, and based on the characters and universe created by George Lucas. It is the third installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017). The film follows the surviving Resistance as they face the First Order once more in the final chapter of the Skywalker saga.

In August 2015, Colin Trevorrow was hired to direct and pen the last installment with Derek Connolly. In February 2016, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that pre-production on Episode IX had begun. In late December, Carrie Fisher died. In January 2017, Lucasfilm stated that there were no plans to digitally generate Fisher's performance as they had for Rogue One (2016). In April, Fisher's brother Todd revealed that Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, had granted Disney the rights to use recent footage of Fisher. In addition, Disney announced a May 24, 2019 release date. In August, it was announced that Jack Thorne would rewrite the script. In early September, Lucasfilm stated that Trevorrow had left the project due to creative differences. The Hollywood Reporter reported an unmanageable working relationship with Kathleen Kennedy. Rian Johnson was rumored as the top choice to replace Trevorrow. However, it was announced that Abrams would return to direct the film, penning a new script with Terrio, and that the film's release date would be moved to December 20, 2019. In early January 2018, it was confirmed that John Williams would return to compose and conduct the film. In February, Williams announced that it would be the last Star Wars film for which he would compose the score. In July, Abrams announced that unused footage of Fisher from The Force Awakens would be used to help complete the story. By early August, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Domhnall Gleeson, Lupita Nyong'o, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, Ian McDiarmid, Billy Dee Williams, Billie Lourd, and Greg Grunberg returned to reprise their roles. Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell, and Dominic Monaghan were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and wrapped in mid February 2019. Filming took place at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England, and Wadi Rum, Jordan. In April, at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, the title was announced.

Despite the best effort of the cast, they couldn't stick the landing for their characters and arcs, with some of them feeling incomplete and unearned.

While it honours the saga's rich legacy, it doesn't at all add anything new — and doesn't at all deliver on the emotionally-rich conclusion that fans had hoped for. It is nothing more than the work of a talented mimic or ventriloquist who can just about cover for the fact that he has nothing much to say. In the end, it didn't justify a return to the universe.

Simon says Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker receives:

Also, see my review for The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.