Why 'The Rise of Skywalker' is a letdown, and 'Cats' is trash
The two latest blockbusters are self-consciously designed to appeal to a wide audience and rake in cash at the box office, but the art of storytelling is forgotten.
From left, Daisy Ridley plays Rey, Oscar Isaac plays Poe and John Boyega plays Finn in the latest instalment of the Star Wars franchise. Lucasfilm
In the final weeks of 2019, the big studios generously served up two Christmas turkeys. Judging by the reviews, I wasn’t the only person yawning through Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, or wondering how Tom Hooper’s weirdly sexualised Cats ever secured a G rating.
Both films are self-conscious blockbusters intended to appeal to a popular audience. Both are surprisingly incoherent. The Star Wars movie tries too slavishly to supply fans with everything they might want from a series finale – Oh please let it be over! – at the expense of plot and continuity.
