#2301 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

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Last night the three of us went to see Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. I was extremely excited to see this movie, said to be the final chapter in this epic story. The first Star Wars movie came out in 1977 when I was 11 years old. I don't remember if my dad came to the movie with me or if he dropped me off at the Burley Theater; all I remember is that I saw the movie and I totally loved it. The Rise of Skywalker is the ninth movie in the series, and I have seen all of the films in the series on the big screen within days of their release. I grew up with Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie. I loved the first three movies, didn't care for the middle three, and loved these last three. I went into the theater last night a fan of the franchise and hopeful for a good movie. I left feeling happy and sad and thrilled and disappointed.

Happy because the last two words of the film were great, in my opinion.

Sad because what if I don't get to see Rey and Po and Finn anymore?

Thrilled because the movie was awesome. Great action.

Disappointed because I think Disney missed a tremendous opportunity to put Luke, Leia, and Han together one last time. It would have been so incredible to see the three of them in a scene together.

I already know I'll see it again. I don't know if it will be in a theater, necessarily, but these films are part of me. These stories and characters have been in my life for over 40 years. I love it.

I realize that people go watch a movie and they see it through their own filter. My filter is that of a life-long fan who loves the franchise and who watches movies to be entertained and removed for a couple of hours from my regular, ordinary life.

On Twitter today I learned of some other filters people saw through as they watched the film. There were people who were angry that Rey got her power from men and that when she doubted herself it was because of men. There were people who thought Rey was a victim of violence (although I'd say she dished out plenty of her own violence as well). There were people who felt that Rey was ignoring her kind and caring best friend; a man who was always concerned about her well-being and always asked if she was okay. There were people that were upset that an Asian character who had a pretty big part in the previous film didn't have as large a role in this movie. There were people who thought that a couple of the characters might have been gay and were upset that the movie didn't explore that potential relationship. There was a gay relationship between two other characters that no one knew about until the end and it was shown very quickly and people thought it should have had more screen time. Seriously, there was more things like this including use of black characters and Latino characters and stereotypes and all kinds of things that made me wonder if those people were so busy picking it all apart that they couldn't or wouldn't enjoy the overall movie and the experience of the movie. Maybe some thoughts like those flickered through my mind as I was watching, but not enough to take me out of the story or cause me to not like the movie on its own merit.

By the overall experience I mean the palpable excitement that rippled through the audience when the opening credits - that iconic music and familiar scroll - appeared on the screen. There were cheers and whistles and clapping in the theater, and not just from me! Throughout the movie, I heard people gasping and sniffling and sighing and just being into the movie.

I don't know. I just see the film as a form of entertainment. I thought there was a nice representation of different races - not everyone was a white person. The women were powerful and courageous and strong as well as vulnerable and emotional and unsure of themselves. The men had the same attributes. I thought a lot about the stuff I read online this morning and it just lead me back to the thought that everyone sees things through their own filter, like I said before. Just because I don't see things in that particular way doesn't make the way I view the film any more or less right than how someone else sees it.

One thing I don't understand is people who make fun of people like me who are fans of the franchise. I don't think I am better than someone who hasn't seen the movies. I might not understand why a person hasn't seen the Star Wars movies, but I get that they are not for everyone. But why get online and make fun of a person who is into it? I don't get that mentality.

Anyway, what I learned is that movie fandom can be divisive. LOL

For me, a fan of the franchise, I liked it a lot. Was it perfect? No, but it was fun and satisfying. Star Wars forever!