Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the final installment in the sequel trilogy of the Star Wars saga, has been the subject of much debate and criticism among fans and critics alike. Some have claimed that the film is evidence that its director, J.J. Abrams, is a “hack filmmaker.”
However, to make such a claim would be to ignore the numerous successful and well-received films that Abrams has directed and produced in his career. Prior to The Rise of Skywalker, Abrams directed and produced the highly successful reboot of the Star Trek film franchise and co-created the popular television series Lost.
Additionally, it is important to consider the unique challenges and pressures that came with directing a Star Wars film, particularly the final installment in a trilogy and one that was intended to conclude the story of the sequel trilogy. The filmmakers were tasked with wrapping up numerous plotlines and character arcs while also satisfying the expectations of fans who have been invested in the franchise for decades.
Despite these challenges, The Rise of Skywalker received mixed-to-positive reviews from film critics, with many praising the film’s visual effects and action sequences. The film also performed well commercially, grossing over $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
It is also worth noting that the film was made under the guidance and creative direction of Lucasfilm and the Star Wars story group, who were closely involved in the development and production of the film. This level of collaboration and oversight from the studio could have impacted the final product and the creative choices made by the filmmakers.
In conclusion, to label J.J. Abrams as a “hack filmmaker” based solely on The Rise of Skywalker would be a narrow and overly simplistic view of his body of work and the unique challenges and pressures faced during the making of the film. While the film may have received criticism from some quarters, it still received positive reviews from many film critics and was a commercial success.
