Summary
Once theStar Warsprequels drew to a close in 2005, there came a solemn silence among the fanbase. This was the moment when allStar Warsfans realized that the world would probably never see the likes of another live-actionStar Warsmovie again, andcanceled projects would fill the void. Fortunately, this silence was short-lived asDisneyswooped in and announced that they had purchased the rights to the beloved franchise. This announcement also included news of a new trilogy in the saga.
While the sequel trilogy is full of ups and downs like any long-running movie franchise, there is a lot to like in the DisneyStar Warssequels. Now that fans are far removed from these releases, it is possible to reflect on what was great about this series, rather than what was not so great.
8Kylo Ren
There is a consensus among film fans that Darth Vader is one of, if not, thebest movie villainto ever grace the silver screen. As such,Disneyhad their work cut out when creating a new villain for their sequels. The result was Kylo Ren, the conflicted son of Han Solo and Princess Leia.
The result of these origins gave fans a character they could truly understand, Ben Solo had a huge legacy to live up to, so it is understandable that he would buckle under the pressure and turn to the dark side. Watching Adam Driver convey this mix of emotions throughout the trilogy was a joy for fans, and most people were waiting to see Kylo Ren finally switch back to the Light.
7Expanding The Galaxy Far, Far Away
It can be tempting for a filmmaker to jump on board an existing franchise and pander to the audience by showing a lot ofprevious locations that fans loved. This move would have been too easy for a series likeStar Warsas the previous six films have plenty of old planets to explore. That is why it was a nice surprise when J.J. Abrams decided to only include new planets as part ofThe Force Awakens.
This tradition continued right through the sequel trilogy, andDisney’sturn in the universe expanded theStar Warsuniverse far beyond many fans' dreams. The trilogy brought in places like Jakku, Exegol, Starkiller Base, and Crait, and then expanded further with theDisney Plus live-action content.
6Bringing Back Legacy Characters
A franchise as big asStar Warsneeds to keep adding new characters and plots to remain relevant. However, the franchise also has a legacy to uphold. That is why it was important for the sequels to include, or at least address, the big players from the original films.
Thankfully, the sequel trilogy brought back the likes ofHan Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Lando, and even Admiral Akbar. Not only were fans given one last glimpse of these heroes, but the story even showed versions of these characters that have had lives and experiences over the past forty years off-screen. As a result, fans were treated to something familiar viewed from a new lens.
5Lightsaber Fights
Fans ofStar Warsoften fall into two camps when it comes tolightsaber fights. Some prefer the slower, more calculated duels from the original trilogy, while others prefer the flashy, bombastically choreographed moves from the prequels. This posed a problem for new filmmakers designing the duels for the sequel trilogy.
Instead of falling into one of the two camps, theStar Warssequels showcased a style that fits in the middle. Each fight in the trilogy had clear inspiration from what came before but also brought something unique.
4Nostalgia For The Originals
When George Lucas originally envisioned hisStar Warsmovies, he believed that they would be perfect for children under the age of twelve. While it can be argued thatStar Warscan be enjoyed by anyone at any age, the original films did a great job of catering to the younger demographic, and that’s in part due tothe cool lightsabers.
Some movie franchises are great at growing with their audiences, but that isn’tStar Wars.As such, Disneymade sure that their sequel trilogy was aimed at the younger demographic and resisted the urge to go for a darker or edgy tone. They chose to do this despite a lot of the fans of the original trilogy and the prequels being over the age of thirty at the time the new films were to be released.
3Subverting Expectations
The first movie in the newStar Warstrilogy was J.J. Abrams’The Force Awakens.This film contained much of whatStar Warsfans have come to expect. There was a desert planet, a space battle, a lightsaber duel, and a shadowy figure pulling the strings of the evil side from the shadows. On top of this, the movie also dropped a few mysteries that many fans believed they already had the answers to.
Fast-forward to the sequel, Rian Johnson’sThe Last Jedi,and fans were expecting a lot of their predictions to come true, as well as some more classicStar Warstropes. Instead, the series pivoted into new territory and refused to give answers to any of the previous mysteries. As a result, the franchise is now free to continue experimenting with fan expectations as the series moves on. Although many regardThe Last Jedias the film that brokeStar Wars, there are also many who support this subversive film.
2Ian McDiarmid Returns
Despite the fact that Emperor Palatine is one of the darkest forces in all ofStar Warslore, Ian McDiarmid’s portrayal of the character is always a bright spot in any movie. As such, fans were sent into a frenzy when it was announced that the character was returning to the series inThe Rise of Skywalker.
The true nature of the emperor’s return was largely glossed over in the movie, but many fans didn’t care. It was clear that McDiarmid was having a great time reprising the villain. He brilliantly cackled at and berated the heroes, stealing the screen in every scene he was in.
1Enchanting Practical Effects
The originalStar Warstrilogy had to make do with the limited technology of the time to bring such grand concepts to life. That is whyGeorge Lucas was enamoredwith the digital effects afforded to him when making the prequel series.In fact, one of the biggest complaints from fans about the prequels is that they use too much CGI. This made fans nervous when it came time for Disney to bringStar Wars tothe big screen in a new era.
Although the sequel trilogy did use a lot of special effects shots, these were balanced out nicely with a return to some of the more practical effects that classic fans were used to seeing. Even the new droid, BB8, was a practically made robot.
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