Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu
I'm flirting with this being the worst Star Wars movie ever made.
Let me lay out how every scene in this film functions:
Side character "Here is the plot, and this is what you must do."
Mando: "I must do this plot. This is the way"
(cut to Grogu doing something cute)
Mando: "Grogu come on, we must do this plot."
The screenplay for this movie is lacking in nearly every way imaginable. It lacks the propulsive energy of an action-adventure movie. It lacks the intrigue and steelyness you would find in a Western. Worst of all it lacks the magic that even the worst of Star Wars movies are able to muster.
It feels, from the jump, as if it's dragging its feet to get towards the end. We needlessly jump from plot point to plot point because we must. There's no depth to anything that's going on. It's no wonder people are walking away from this feeling as if this was serialised TV shaped into a movie, despite it always being conceived as a film.
It functions like multiple episodes of TV stitched together. Large plot points have resolved, with small threads lingering that can lead to the next set piece. We needlessly repeat this cycle until the film ends.
The moments where the film shines, which is very seldom, are when it breaks out of this formula. There is a small section where we follow Grogu trying to look after his father, and that relies on the visual storytelling to communicate the fear that he has to the audience. It's a rare moment in this movie that lets the film sit with what's happening.
It's a rarity as the film is so determined to reach its conclusion that it allows no room for any scene to breathe, to deal with character interiority, to poke and prod and marinate in what's happening.
Perhaps that's because there's nothing to interrogate. This film feels like it knows itself how disposable it is at its core. It's a random adventure for the sake of capitalism.
What are the character arcs for literally any character in this film? The final frame of this movie could have been the start of this movie, and it wouldn't have changed anything about The Mandalorian and Grogu. Which begs the question: who was this film made for?
If this is meant to be a continuation of the people who've poured years into watching The Mandalorian and are invested in his character, this surely is a disappointment, as it has no real connection to the show other than the characters.
If this is meant to introduce new viewers to the world of the Mandalorian, then surely this is a disappointment as well. You follow a nameless bounty hunter surrounded by lifeless side characters, who might I add are phoning in their performances. I'm looking at you, Sigourney Weaver. He's joined by a cute puppet who does cute things, but that's it. Surely you want more out of cinema.
Save a few action sequences, some great puppeteering work and a score from Ludwig Gorranson that is far better than the film deserves. I found myself so bored.
Star Wars on the big screen used to mean something. Even the sequel trilogy, which has its issues, still elicited that feeling: those shivers that you get seeing Star Wars. This, and the spectacle it could be, failed to give me that feeling, except from hearing Ludwig's score through massive speakers.
Star Wars should feel like a cinematic spectacle. The love that is poured into making these movies, the talent that is behind them, it should feel monumental. We shouldn't be accepting disposable filler content like this that feels like it only exists for money.
It sadly commits the biggest cinema sin, in my opinion, in that it just feels forgettable. At least the "bad" Star Wars movies feel like they have a vision and passion behind it. This isn't the way.