Rise of Skywalker: What I liked

[4thofeleven]

Because I don't want to come across as completely negative, here's a quick list of things I actually liked in Rise of Skywalker. And if some of these come across as a bit like backhanded compliments... well, that's the nature of the beast.

Comments

[kycoo]

I like how you framed the beginning as a nice short film, never thought of it that way. A lot of the Kylo and Ben scenes in this were done very well. Adam Driver really carried the movie. Even though we only get him as Ben for a few minutes, that time was perfection.

Heh, I loved Hux's pettiness as well. I wish his character had been able to do more in this one, though. Actually, I wish that about a lot of the characters in this, the most egregious one being Finn.

"it was just weird after we'd already had the fake-out of Chewbacca's death."
THANK YOU for saying this. This had been bothering me after my first viewing, and I couldn't figure out why, but yes, there are way too many emotional fake-outs in this. I did like the Chewie fake-out because I literally had my mouth dropped open until they revealed the trick, but it took away a little from the rest of the emotional scenes. Although I do like R2's line about sticking something in 3PO's head haha.

[4thofeleven]

Oh yes, forgot to mention the actors in general and Driver in particular. He had a couple of little gestures in his fight with the Knights that felt like Han Solo - it's really odd how much he ended up sidelined in the final confrontation with Palpatine, given how much work he put into selling Ben as a character distinct from Kylo.

Would have been great if Hux had lived and ended up part of the fleet Lando puts together at the end - just have his desire to get one over Kylo get so out of control he ends up unintentionally becoming a hero.

[kycoo]

I loved Adam as Ben. That little Han Solo shrug after he gets the lightsaber was perfection. I agree it was odd that he wasn't fighting alongside Rey against the Emperor, though I'm guessing it was to put more of a focus on Rey.

Ahahaha that would have been so funny! Hux deserved better.