Re: Star Wars: Episode IX - December 20, 2019
I think the criticism about Luke, Han, and Leia not being reunited will always be a very fair and valid one. Five years ago, it would've been almost impossible for me to imagine a scenario where the people who are given the opportunity to make the first sequel to the *original f'ing trilogy* would construct it in a way that Luke, Leia, and Han wouldn't be united - or even share any screen time together at all.
And to make it worse, they'd plot the story in a way that prevents it from ever happening in the 2nd or 3rd acts of the trilogy (without a fan-service flashback scene). I never would've seen that coming, or even believed it.
But . . .
I never expected to see them in a Star Wars film again, so what we got is gravy, at least to me.
. . . This is also very true. If I'm given a choice between having OT sequels and not having them, I'll take *any* amount of Luke, Han, and Leia again rather than none at all.
The real gravy for me has been that I've found the ST movies much more enjoyable than the PT movies (all made by Lucas - the Creator, himself). After the PT, I was prepared to dislike these new films too (and would've been okay with that) - but now it's like found money. Do I regret the missed opportunity with the big three? Of course! But, do I think the overall story is a bad one, or the films poorly made? Not even close. So, a total net positive for me, to say the least.
Seeing Hamill, Ford, and Fisher reprise their roles once again had been something I'd given up hope for. So I'll always be grateful to Lucas for allowing someone else to make it happen, and to Disney for following through with putting them on screen (no matter what regrets or nitpicks there may be about how it was executed). I hope Episode IX can bring more fans on board, at least to the point of seeing this sequel trilogy as a net positive. Not likely, I know, but SW is supposed to be about hope, right?
