The Rise of Skywalker

This was my email to Kermode and Mayo 30th December 2019

Dear So Bad & It's Bad

I'm a long term listener, one time tweeter and first time emergency mailer. I'm all too often emotionally wrecked by films. Some of them by design such as A Star is Born and some of them less obviously so such as Cars (you know the bit where Doc appears on the pit wall to talk to Lightning McQueen). I think my emotional reaction to films is more to do with my emotional frailties than the films themselves however I guess a good film is one that can trigger our emotions wherever they may hide.

I was compelled to break my emergency mail duck following The Rise of Skywalker. I think for people of an age (47ish) it's almost nothing to do with the film itself but more so with the ageing of the franchise that we can relate to. The film is superbly made which really helps but its still just Good v Evil with a touch of jeapordy, risk and loss thrown in. The standard space battle, hovercraft races, bounty hunter avoidance, complex finding of something crucial somewhere and a chunk of overturning the odds. All of that is ace but it's the growth with us that makes it special. The nod back to previous films and characters transporting us all to the big cinema in the centre of Birmingham that's now an Insurance office where mom took us aged 5 or 6 for our first real cinematic experience, back to a loving hand stroking our face giving us the reassurance we crave. 

I think for those of us of an age who have suffered loss its an emotional pounding interspersed with brilliant film making, good jokes, great throw backs and brilliantly acted wonderful characters that we care for. The fact it's the last film (although that's questionable with it being such a goldmine) and another mainstay has passed in Carrie Fisher give it an added sadness within an ultimately uplifting frolic. Emotionally it took me to pieces throughout. I thought it was superb and I had no trouble suspending and escaping reality for the few hours of run time to get the maximum out of a brilliant finale. I should add my apologies to anyone at Tamworth Odeon whose enjoyment was tempered by the sobbing on the 3rd row.

Tickity tonk, down with the Nazis, alright Jason Isaacs and 'thank you' to the pair of you for my weekly 2 hrs of clarity and sanity. 

Cheers all the best

Sid Sidowski

Red Swimming Badge

Cycling Proficiency Test Pass circa 1979