Well, it’s official. “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is the worst Star Wars movie of all-time. At least according to review website Rotten Tomatoes. The latest and final chapter (yeah, right) of the Star Wars franchise has a shocking 52% on the Tomatometer, 1% less than what is still regarded as everyone’s least favourite entry, “Episode I: The Phantom Menace.”
I was first introduced to Star Wars upon the release of the Special Edition in 1997. I remember unwrapping the trilogy for Christmas, completely unaware of what was inside and the impact it would have on my childhood. Honestly, I don’t remember much from that time other than watching those three movies – “A New Hope,” “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi” – on a constant loop.
I don’t even know if I was aware the Prequel Trilogy was in the works, but when “The Phantom Menace” hit theatres in 1999, I found myself caught up in the merchandise blitz. If it had a Star Wars logo on it, I had to have it. From Pepsi cans to puzzles to cup-toppers and nearly every action figure in between. Looking back now, I’m not sure I really understood what the movie was about – but what kid under 10 could follow it? Taxation, trade federation, bureaucracy? Uhh, am I still watching Star Wars? It didn’t matter. I ate it all up.
My obsessive fandom subsided gradually with the next two installments, “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith.” You can trash the prequels as much as you want, but I suggest you watch any of the behind-the-scenes or making-of features and you’ll be amazed at just how much work went into making them. Sure, they have their share of clunky dialogue and wooden performances – but who am I to judge? (At one time I had secured the rights from Lucasfilm for an on-stage adaptation of Star Wars in high school, but that’s a story for another time.)
Imagine my surprise that after a 10-year hiatus a new Star Wars trilogy was announced. Finally, we’d get to see what Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo have been up to. It was difficult to know what to expect with the sequels (not to be confused with the Original Trilogy, acting as the sequels to the prequels). After all, what more is there to do? They defeated the Empire! (Sorry, spoiler alert, but come on, the movie came out in 1983.) I went into “The Rise of Skywalker” with little-to-no expectations whatsoever, and probably enjoyed the movie more because of it. Was it perfect? No, but I’m not about to obsess over everything I didn’t like and ruin the whole experience.
I should mention that while the movie does have 52% on the Tomatometer based on 471 critics, it sits at an 86% Audience Score based on more than 96,000 ratings. If you loved the movie, great. If you hated it, that’s OK too. Before this movie, critics hated “The Phantom Menace.” Before that, they hated the Ewoks in “Return of the Jedi.” Over time, nostalgia will take over and the Sequel Trilogy will be remembered more fondly. At that point, they’ll jump start the Star Wars franchise once more and, let’s face it, we’ll all see it. After all, how often does a new Star Wars movie come along?
Logan Piekema is the afternoon host weekdays from 2-7 pm on 102.1 FM and cjcyfm.com.
