The STAR WARS franchise, now in its 42nd year, recently unleashed the third and “final” trailer for THE RISE OF SKYWALKER; the 9th and final episode in the Skywalker Saga which began with A NEW HOPE in 1977. Here is a breakdown of the highlights and what they could mean…
Rey through the Jungle
The opening shots are of our new hero Rey (Daisy Ridley), running through a jungle with her re-built lightsaber; dropping a blast-shield helmet and deflecting a laser blast. This is followed by her jumping over a chasm…propelled by the Force. When we last saw Rey, she had a broken saber but was in possession of the sacred Jedi texts, so in the time that has passed between THE LAST JEDI (2017) and this film, she’s apparently been busy.
Darth Voiceovers
It’s a trailer of intriguing voiceovers from the cast. The first comes from former Stormtrooper and new Resistance fighter Finn (John Boyega), saying that the Force brought them together. The second is Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), talking about how good people will join the fight with the right leadership. Other voiceovers belong to Rey, once again exploring her lineage, the now departed Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), talking about fear and the role it plays with Jedi, and finally…the return of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), who mirrors Finn’s line about the Force bringing them together, only with his own evil twist.
Cinematography Strikes Back
STAR WARS has always had fantastic visuals, and THE RISE OF SKYWALKER seems to promise more. Some interesting shots:
TIE Fighters heading towards an ice structure; perhaps the frigid mountainous planet Kijimi. There is also a shot of a classic Star Destroyer bursting out of the ice.
A new (?) throne for the Emperor. This design matches early concept art of the Emperor’s throne room by famed STAR WARS artist Ralph McQuarrie from 1981.
Rey and the evil Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), in the wrecked Emperor’s throne room from RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983), and then Rey and Kylo slashing out their differences on the remains of Death Star II.
Perhaps the most satisfying shot of the trailer:
Also…
He’s Doomed!
The emotional heart of the trailer came from C-3P0 (Anthony Daniels), the worrisome droid who appears with cabling attached to his opened head. He says ominously that he’s “taking one last look…at my friends”. Is Threepio sacrificing himself? It’s possible, but then again he’s been predicting his own death for 42 years. And look closely, and we can see a Battle Droid from the Prequel era behind him.
Here they come!
A fantastic shot of the famed Millennium Falcon leading a massive space battle. Eagle-eyed fans have also noticed the Ghost from the popular and outstanding TV series STAR WARS REBELS in the background.
What the…
And two shots that raise more questions than answer…Rey and Kylo destroying some black thing, and Rey perhaps coming face-to-face with the Emperor.
The Force will be with you…
The final shot is of Rey, with Luke’s voiceover saying that the Force will be with her…and the line is completed by General Leia (the late great Carrie Fisher), with always. Being that this trailer was released on what would have been Fisher’s 63rd birthday, it was a perfect way to close things out. All this is backed by a new variations of John Williams’ magnificent music, and it ends as another fantastic trailer in the STAR WARS saga.
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See the trailer HERE.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER arrives in theatres December 20, with limited showings on the 19th. It is directed by J.J. Abrams, who helmed THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015).
Great write-up. A couple of things that hit me. I'm growing more and more confident we'll be on Endor. The jungle fits and the Death Star 2 remninants have undoubtedly fallen and rested here. Ewok redemption!? Yes please! I keep seeing people say Rey & Kylo are fighting on death star remains in the water...but, I think I see Death Star cannons fitted on the bottoms of Star Destroyers (gasp) and they are probably fighting on the bottom of a fell Star Destroyer! The 'black thing' Rey & Kylo seem to he destroying is the ashen table top where Kylo keeps Vader's helmet! That's the helmet popping up as they swing sabers. Millenium Falcon seems to be fitted with the original Satellite dish. Is this a flasback or did they revert back to the circular dish from the rectangular Force Awakens dish?
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