“STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER” Now on Video

 

Review by John M. Delia Jr.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is the last chapter of one of the greatest Sci-fi space sagas of all time. After 42 years Disney/Lucas Films brings the series to a conclusion in this nicely wrapped finale. And like in 1977 when it all began, the exploits and realistic special effects still amaze. The space adventure continues with the same credo, “everyone seeks the belief that good will always triumph over evil” that’s been carried on since the beginning to the final chapter. Bringing in a new set of heroes in this finale, that are fighting for the same causes as their predecessors, the film comes to a brilliant end. Now released on various formats from DVD to 4K for home or travel it fits nicely into your video library.

With a successful and devastating defense by the Empire First Order, the resistance needs to regroup to somehow finally defeat them. General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) is desperately looking for a way to defeat the Dark Side and is also trying to help Rey (Daisy Ridley) complete her Jedi training. Searching for answers, Leia knows that she still has a big part in the final outcome and her decisions may risk her life. But she also knows it will save the souls of many if things go wrong. Rey could also be the key to the resistance’s chances for victory, but her importance will depend on other key fighters.

With the demise of supreme leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) has now assumed the position of Supreme Leader of the First Order and allies with the Final Order to destroy the resistance. Understanding the powers Rey now possess, Kylo knows the key to their victory would be to force Rey to turn to the Dark Side and join him on the throne.

The resistance now needs heroes more than ever. With Rey’s friends becoming strong leaders, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) ex-fighter pilot, Finn (John Boyega) ex-Stormtrooper, Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), R2-D2 (Jimmy Vee), BB-8 (Dave Chapman), and now Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), the team must locate and find a way to destroy the one important element that the Final Order has planned against them.

Director and writer J.J. Abrams does a terrific job with the storyline just like he did in the previous two installments. He develops the characters, settings, and overall atmosphere to make is a film that will entertain even if you are a beginner of the space thriller. His impressive resume of successful films is definitely shown in the making of this soon to be epic classic. The impressive blending of previous footage for Leia’s character looks so real it seems as if her spirit is still alive in this one last effort to win the key battle. As always the special effects are state of the art and make this science fiction world truly seem realistic. With an outstanding performance by all the actors, this might be the best conclusion to the sci-fi fantasy tale ever.

BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE*:

“The Skywalker Legacy” – The story lives forever in this feature-length documentary that charts the making of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
“Pasaana Pursuit: Creating the Speeder Chase” – Dive into the making of the movie’s epic landspeeder chase and discover how this spectacular sequence was brought to the screen.
“Aliens in the Desert” – See what it took to create the Pasaana desert scenes, from the sheer scale and complexity of the shoot to its colorful details.
“D-O: Key to the Past” – Explore the ship that connects Rey to the mystery of her missing parents and get to know the galaxy’s newest, irresistible droid.
“Warwick & Son” – Warwick Davis, who played Wicket in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, dons the Ewok costume once more; this time joined by his son Harrison.
“Cast of Creatures” – The team behind the film’s memorable creatures reveal the puppetry, makeup, prosthetics and digital magic that bring them to life!

DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE:

“The Maestro’s Finale” – Composer John Williams reflects on his body of work for the Star Wars saga and shares insights on scoring Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
* Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer.

 

Looking back at the successful history of the remarkable story telling and the many new television spin offs that are now appearing, makes it kind of sad to see this movie legacy come to a close. The good news is it definitely goes out with a bang that Star Wars followers will always remember. Every twist and turn created in the Star Wars legendary tales over the years have now be revealed by the writers, directors, producers, and actors, show the true winner will always prevail. But that’s not all folks as according to Disney 2024 will reveal more of the Universe.

Final Comment/Analysis: The excitement and energy is still flowing in this final chapter. (5 out of 5 Stars)

Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, Keri Russell, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Jimmy Vee, and Anthony Daniels.
Directed and co-written by: J.J. Abrams
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action
Running Time: 142 min.
Video Release Date: March 31, 2020
Original Theatrical Release Date: December 20, 2019
Language: English (changeable to Descriptive Audio, 5.1 Spanish and French)
Reviewed Format: Blu-ray
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Video: Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.39:1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Distributed by: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Released on: Blu-ray/Digital Code, 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, UHD Digital, Digital HD, SD Digital