The second two films in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, are "mediocre and schlocky," according to Ninth Circuit Court Judge Kenneth K. Lee.
During a case involving ConAgra Foods Inc. and Wesson Oil, the subject of Star Wars came up when Lee wrote, "Simply put, Richardson -- the new owner of Wesson Oil -- can resume using the '100% Natural' label at any time it wishes, thereby depriving the class of any value theoretically afforded by the injunction. ConAgra thus essentially agreed not to do something over which it lacks the power to do. That is like George Lucas promising no more mediocre and schlocky Star Wars sequels shortly after selling the franchise to Disney. Such a promise would be illusory." At the bottom of the document was a footnote that read, "As evident by Disney's production of The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker."
Though The Last Jedi was lauded by critics, the film was met with backlash by a number of longtime Star Wars fans who felt it went too far in terms of subverting expectations. Many also took exception with the portrayal of Luke Skywalker, who was reintroduced for the first time since Return of the Jedi (save for the tease at the end of The Force Awakens) as a disillusioned hermit who'd cut himself off from the Force. Even Mark Hamill himself famously said, "he's not my Luke Skywalker."
As for The Rise of Skywalker, those enamored with The Last Jedi saw Episode IX as an unnecessary course-correction that undid much of what its predecessor established, needlessly inserted Palpatine into the narrative and did a poor job wrapping up the nine-chapter Skywalker Saga.
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