A desert planet with a fabled resource is given new custodians: a messiah figure may be among them. Impressive if slightly po-faced partial adaptation (Part Two is to come) of the Frank Herbert allegorical SF classic. Takes its time: the pacing is televisual rather than cinematic. However, it looks great, and a good cast plays to their strengths.
Here’s the trailer. And here’s another view.
Forces align for a last battle between the resistance fighters and the Empire to prevent a Palpatine victory. Patchy finale to the nine-film arc which, despite stirring stuff, plus effective comic moments and detail, fails to convince in its lack of climactic story and its course-correction rewriting of the previous movie. A shame, as the new crew have earned some affection.
Five former soldiers plan a robbery on a drug lord’s jungle hideout. Well-sustained heist-goes-wrong thriller with a military angle. A superb cast lifts straightforward genre material, somewhat elevated by serious handling and moviemaking craftsmanship throughout.
The last remnants of the rebellion flee the First Order. Superior eighth instalment of the space opera, daring to ring a few changes on the template re-established by its predecessors while bringing new characters further to the fore.
Other opinions? Here’s Lemonsquirtle’s, and here’s Xussia’s.
An alien invasion provokes an investigation led by a biologist. Sombre SF/horror with whiffs of Arrival and Solaris in its makeup. Genre thrills are underplayed in favour of introspection and aftermath; interesting rather than good, with a perhaps divisive ending.
A non-Bourne series entry, parallel to the events of The Bourne Ultimatum. A slightly SF riff on the franchise, this is hampered by the lack of a third act, but the action is good, and there’s plenty of quality character actors barking orders.
![Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker [AKA Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker] (2019, dir. JJ Abrams)](https://255review.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/swros.jpg?w=464)
![Star Wars: The Last Jedi [AKA Episode VIII: The Last Jedi] (2017, dir. Rian Johnson)](https://255review.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/8012_5776.jpg?w=464)
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