Unveiling the Epic Evolution: 8 Unforgettable Highlights of Disney's Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
Despite its polarizing reception, Disney's Sequel Trilogy offers a few commendable aspects From compelling characters like Kylo Ren to expanding the Star Wars universe, bringing back beloved figures, thrilling lightsaber fights, nostalgic nods to the originals, subverting expectations, Ian McDiarmid's return, and enchanting practical effects, there are elements worth appreciating
Highlights
Disney's
Star Wars
sequels introduced Kylo Ren as a compelling new villain with a conflicted past, providing fans with a character they could understand and root for.
The sequels expanded the
Star Wars
The content introduces new planets and locations, expanding the universe beyond the familiar settings of the previous films, offering fans an exciting new frontier to explore. Additionally, the sequel trilogy effectively reintroduces well-loved legacy characters such as Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker, allowing fans a final opportunity to see their beloved heroes and witness the culmination of their experiences over the course of forty years.
After the conclusion of the Star Wars prequels in 2005, a sense of somber silence enveloped the fanbase, signaling the unlikely return of another live-action Star Wars film. The void left by abandoned projects seemed insurmountable. However, this silence was swiftly shattered by Disney's acquisition of the cherished franchise, accompanied by the thrilling news of a new trilogy in the saga.
Though the Disney Star Wars sequels experienced their fair share of highs and lows, akin to any enduring movie franchise, there are numerous aspects to appreciate within them. With the passage of time separating fans from these releases, now is an opportune moment to reflect upon the remarkable elements of this series, rather than dwelling on its imperfections.
8 Kylo Ren
Darth Vader is widely regarded as one of the greatest movie villains ever. So, when Disney set out to create a new antagonist for their sequels, they faced a tough challenge. The outcome was Kylo Ren, the conflicted offspring of Han Solo and Princess Leia.
Given his background, Ben Solo had a lot to live up to, making it comprehensible for him to succumb to the dark side under immense pressure. Fans found it gratifying to witness Adam Driver effectively portray this complex range of emotions throughout the trilogy. Consequently, many eagerly anticipated Kylo Ren's eventual redemption and return to the path of Light.
7 Expanding The Galaxy Far, Far Away
Filmmakers often feel tempted to join an existing franchise and satisfy the audience by featuring familiar locations that fans have loved in the past. This approach would have been an effortless choice for a series like Star Wars, considering the abundance of previously established planets in the first six films. Hence, it was pleasantly surprising when J.J. Abrams made the decision to exclusively introduce new planets in The Force Awakens.
This trend continued throughout the sequel trilogy, with Disney's involvement in the franchise taking the Star Wars universe to unimaginable heights. The trilogy introduced captivating locations such as Jakku, Exegol, Starkiller Base, and Crait. Furthermore, the universe expanded even further through the live-action content on Disney Plus.
6 Bringing Back Legacy Characters
In order to remain relevant, a franchise as massive as Star Wars must introduce new characters and storylines. However, it is also crucial for the franchise to honor its legacy. This is why it was essential for the sequels to incorporate or acknowledge the major characters from the original films.
Fortunately, the sequel trilogy successfully brought back beloved characters such as Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Lando, and even Admiral Akbar. Fans not only got to see these heroes one last time, but the story also explored the lives and experiences of these characters over the past forty years that were not shown on-screen. As a result, fans were presented with a sense of familiarity seen through a fresh perspective.
5 Lightsaber Fights
Star Wars fans are often divided into two groups when it comes to lightsaber battles. One group favors the slower, strategically planned duels from the original trilogy, while the other group enjoys the fast-paced, visually stunning choreography from the prequels. This presented a challenge for the filmmakers responsible for designing the lightsaber duels in the sequel trilogy.
Rather than aligning with either of the two camps, the Star Wars sequels introduced a style that found a balance between the two. Each lightsaber battle in the trilogy drew clear inspiration from the past films, while also incorporating something fresh and innovative.
4 Nostalgia For The Originals
George Lucas initially envisioned his Star Wars movies to captivate children below the age of twelve. Although there is room to argue that Star Wars can be universally enjoyed at any age, the original films specifically catered to the younger generation, thanks in part to the awe-inspiring lightsabers.
While some movie franchises successfully evolve alongside their growing fanbase, this is not the case for Star Wars. Consequently, Disney took great care in directing their sequel trilogy towards a younger demographic and resisted the temptation to adopt a darker or edgier tone. Despite the fact that many fans of the original trilogy and prequels were over thirty years old when the new films were released, Disney made a deliberate decision to follow this approach.
3 Subverting Expectations
The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams, kicked off the new Star Wars trilogy. It included all the elements that fans love - a desert planet, a space battle, a lightsaber duel, and a deceptive figure orchestrating evil from the shadows. Additionally, it introduced intriguing mysteries that fans believed they already knew the answers to.
However, the sequel, The Last Jedi, directed by Rian Johnson, took a different approach. Fans anticipated the fulfillment of their predictions and the inclusion of typical Star Wars themes. Surprisingly, the film ventured into uncharted territory and left the previous mysteries unanswered. This bold move allows the franchise to continue experimenting with fan expectations as the series progresses. While some consider The Last Jedi as the film that shattered Star Wars, there is a substantial number of supporters who embrace this subversive installment.
2 Ian McDiarmid Returns
Emperor Palpatine, known as one of the most sinister figures in Star Wars, is brilliantly portrayed by Ian McDiarmid, capturing the attention of fans in every movie. Therefore, the announcement of his return in The Rise of Skywalker caused excitement among fans.
Although the details of how the emperor returns were not fully explained in the movie, this did not deter the enthusiasm of many fans. McDiarmid's performance was exceptional, as he joyfully portrayed the villain, laughing and taunting the heroes, completely captivating the audience in every scene.
1 Enchanting Practical Effects
The original Star Wars trilogy had to work with limited technology to bring grand concepts to life. This made George Lucas particularly excited about the digital effects available to him when creating the prequel series. However, fans were unhappy with the excessive use of CGI in the prequels. As a result, when Disney took over and brought Star Wars to the big screen in a new era, fans were apprehensive.
Fortunately, the sequel trilogy found a balance between special effects and practical effects that classic fans were familiar with. Even the new droid, BB8, was a physical robot.
