Jeri
Jacquin
Coming
to Bluray and Digital from director J.J. Abrams, Lucasfilms and Walt Disney
Pictures Home Entertainment is the conclusion of a saga that began over 40
years ago with STAR WARS: The Rise of Skywalker.
It
was 1977 At the Valley Circle theatre in San Diego with my bff and life sister
Ellen that STAR WARS came into my life. The first time I saw the film I was
transported into a world that I have embraced through the years. My summer was
filled with weekly visits to the theatre so I could watch the storyline again
and again.
Thus,
began my crush on Luke (Mark Hamill) that continues today in my much older and
less cute form. The early scene of the original STAR WARS where Luke is on the
hill lamenting as the two suns of Tatooine are setting and the rise of emotion
from John Williams music begins moved me. It moved me because I knew that look,
I understood wanting to know what was out in the world waiting for me. I also
saw the suns radiating on his face with a look that was the handsomest I'd ever
seen. Hey, I was 16!
Then,
the buddy 'friendship' with Han (Harrison Ford) that always made me laugh with
his antics or feeling protective anytime no one understood him. He was rough
and tough yet I knew that he would never leave the two people that had become
his friends by not judging to harshly the way he handled things. These two guys
also showed me how pensive friendships can be brought together with the glue of
a very tall and very hairy Wookie and to Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) I say a
humble and grateful thank you.
My
lesson to be a stronger person came from Princess Leia to whom I continue to be
eternally grateful on a daily basis. She was my first female role model who
showed me courage, loyalty and laid the foundation of fighting for what is
right no matter what is thrown at you. Fisher may not have known what she was
accomplishing early on taking the role of Leia but I hope through the years she
came to know there were thousands of girls who learned the same lessons I did.
Ben
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) became the voice of reason for those of us
watching Star Wars again and again in 1977. He kept us all levelheaded when we
wanted to jump into the battle with Luke, Han and Leia. The calm explainer of
the force and how it works, he introduced us all to 'use the force' as it
became an iconic phrase that you'd have to be locked in a cave somewhere to not
know. Trust me, tears fell when he allowed Vadar to swing that saber helping
Luke and the gang to escape, something I never got over.
So
here we are, in 2019 and I couldn't sleep Monday night knowing that I was hours
away from seeing how this would all end. Don't expect spoilers because I would
be furious if anyone told me anything before seeing the film (Remember Han
Solo?) so I'm keeping it light and reminiscent.
On
a remote planet, Rey (Daisy Ridley) is working with General Organa (Carrie
Fisher) on earning Luke Skywalkers light saber but there seems to be a feeling
stopping her. Resistance friends Poe (Oscar Isaac. Finn (John Boyega) and
Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) are struggling to get back to Rey after retrieving
what are the next step plans for the First Order. Also, out in the galaxy is
Supreme Leader of the First Order Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) who is knocking down
anyone who gets in his way.
Now
called the Final Order, it is Rey, Finn, Poe and all those who follow that must
pull out all the stops to bring balance back to the force. Allegiant General
Pryde (Richard E. Grant) knows how this is going to play out. There is one
fiercely evil entity who is going to do his diabolical best to stop them all as
secrets are revealed and choices are made!
There
are others along the way who decide that it might be time to help and that
includes Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) and Zorii Bliss (Keri Russell).
There are those who have come before that let it be known they are with them
all.
Yes,
that's all you are going to get in the plot department! So, let's move on to
the characters who make their appearance in this final installment.
Ridley
as Rey is still dealing with the unknown of her past. It is hard to let the
force flow through you when there are those mushed up memories and a Supreme
Leader who is constantly cutting into your thought process. Ridley has done
everything asked of her in the three installments of the Star Wars saga she has
been in. At times I wasn't always sure where she was taking this character but
clearly, now, it was on a path that I didn't even see coming.
Driver
as Ben/Kylo Ren has been on quite a journey! He has pretty cool parents but
chooses to follow the destructive path of grandpa Vadar. Even with that there
is something that connects him to Rey as she tries to convince him to put down
his very angry saber and be true to himself. That's hard to do when rage seems
to be the only thing that motivates Ren. Driver has put every bit of that on
the screen and when the moments where Ben shows through, this actor melts and
takes everyone along with him.
Boyega
as Finn has always seemed to be Rey's protector whether that was his intention
or not. Being a former storm trooper, he has truly embraced his role as being
part of the Resistance and constantly surprised where it has led him. Although
his relationship with Poe hasn't always been the best, it is reminiscent of
another galaxy duo who didn't start out on the best of terms.
Isaac
as Poe continues to be reckless but there comes a moment where he has to decide
what his place is in the Resistance. It turns out to be the most difficult
decision he has ever made (and you will know when that hits him the hardest).
Isaac's Poe is the comedy of the trio because of his casual nature and finding
humor when he should be panicking.
Williams
as Lando gets the chance to once again fly the Millennium Falcon with Chewy at
his side. He knows that the new trio faces the same tribulations and he has one
last chance to do right by Leia and help in any way he can. Lando was a wild
card before and trust me when I say he doesn't disappoint now either.
This
is where I get a little choked up - when Carrie Fisher as Leia comes up on my
television screen I am overcome with a wave of intense emotion. There couldn't
have been a finale without her, and I am happy to take it in any form. It is
even more difficult to watch Gen. Organa make a motherly choice which is
something her character didn't have a chance to do before. Yes, more quiet
tears dropped but Princess Leia will always be a part of this writer’s life.
Other
cast include everyone who could get in the film with Philicia Saunders as
Tabala Zo, Simon Day as General Engell, Amir El-Masry as Commander Trach, Denis
Lawson as Wedge Antiles, Naomi Ackie as Jannah, Freddie Prinze Jr. as Kannan
Jarus, Dominic Monaghan as Beaumont Kin, Billie Lourd as Lieutenant Connix and
Domnhall Gleeson as General Hux.
Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment began distributing under its own label in
1980 and continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home
of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and
SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To
see what is currently available to add to your own family library please visit.
www.movies.disney.com for their At Home titles!
MOVIES
ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With
that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device
using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.
The
Bluray Bonus Extras include The Skywalker Legacy Documentary: The Story That
Lives Forever in This Feature Length Look at the Making of the Movie, Pasaana
Pursuit: Creating the Speeder Chases, D-O: Key to the Past and more!
Also
Jimmy Vee as R2-D2 who always had my heart as well as a humor of squeaks and
blips that have always been totally understandable, and the amazing Anthony
Daniels as C-3PO who always managed to be properly annoying but in such a way
that I personally would never want to be without him.
Look,
I'm just going to throw it out there. Not everyone will be happy with how
Abrams brings this nine-film saga to its conclusion and personally - I don't
care about the not-happy people and here's why. STAR WARS: The Rise of
Skywalker is seen by me in a way that is part of my being. I don't think all
the Star Wars films were successful and I don't hide my feelings about it, but
I still embrace it as part of the storyline that began in 1977.
Not
everything in life is going to be wrapped up neatly to please every person (I
mean seriously, the Game of Thrones finale almost threw people into fits!) and
that's okay. Not being neat means, we all have something to talk about and
share after seeing the film.
We
get to reminisce about more than one film, about more than one theory and about
more than one character. That's what Star Wars has done for us; it has kept the
conversation going longer than any other films (maybe Harry Potter gets to be
part of the club in its own way).
I
hope that everyone who gets the Bluray remembers that the experiences are
yours, each unique, each with its own memories and each with its own chance to
say the words - goodbye friends! Yes, there are already stories like The
Mandalorian (big fan by the way) giving us a new world but I'm speaking of the
story that began with Luke, Leia, Chewy, C3PO, R2D2 and Obi-Wan.
It
is time to say good-bye to seeing them on the big screen, that being said I
still can see them on the screen in my home thanks for Bluray. Oh, I won't be removing Yoda and Darth from
my desk any time soon, but instead of giggling with anticipation for the next
story installment in other ways. I will smile at the story for sharing the last
forty-two years of my life in such an impactful way. I saw these characters
through 16-year-old eyes from 1977 to 2019 and that is pretty cool to my way of
thinking.
So,
prepare yourself and just enjoy the ride over and over again - there isn't a
tub of popcorn big enough for what's to come because that's how I started and
that's how it's going to finish.
In
the end - it started in a galaxy far, far away!
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