Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1196490
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 29 DECEMBER 2019 FILM ENVIRONMENT and yes, pulpy gusto. But the creaking of an overburdened pastiche-machine can only be drowned out to a point. Grant- ed, the tragic passing of Carrie Fisher in 2016 naturally means that her own arc gets short shrift, which is a heartbreaking prospect but forgivable given the circumstances. What's less forgivable is Abrams's sloppy brushing away of some of The Last Jedi's more interesting suggestions: that the Force is felt keenly by all who care to listen (impoverished kids included), and that Rey is ultimately just a random unfor- tunate who managed to harness it in a particularly powerful way. To be fair, Finn is shown to be somewhat Force-sensitive in parts, though the world-building parameters behind this phe- nomenon are given very little consideration and more often than not are simply introduced to get the heroes out of a tough fix. It must also be said that Pal- patine's reintroduction, despite being an undeniable bit of giddy fan-service, is an equally slap- dash bit of diabolos ex machina that's meant to up the stakes and bring things back to the kind of dynastic full circle that the saga has always delighted in. But those who accept that this new trilogy is meant to accom- plish very little apart from offer a warm nostalgic buzz will find plenty to delight in here. The set pieces work, the jokes are spot- on and the characters behave like the best versions of them- selves, never once disappointing us or letting down the cause that is the root of their being. Thank- fully, we'll always have 'The Last Jedi' in our rearview mirror to remind us that the archetypes George Lucas channelled so ex- pertly a long, long time ago have the potential for great art, as well as great entertainment. THE RISE OF SKYWALKER THE LAST JEDI THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK ATTACK OF THE CLONES SOLO ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Snails belong to a large group of animals known as molluscs. Most live in the sea and relatively few of them have adapted to survive on dry land. Even so, land molluscs still need a de- gree of humidity to function properly, and so are most active in the wetter months. Hence the reason why snails come out in droves after rain. One of our land molluscs is the goat snail (M. mogħża). It is a common species, and easy to identify from the others by its often greenish shell – the animal itself is dark, even black. Goat snails are often seen in garrigue areas, feed- ing on fleshy leaves especially sea squill (għansar), which are in full leaf at this time of year. In summer, goat snails shut down most of their bodily functions and, like the other snails, seal themselves inside their shell to sleep off the dry months. Hap- py New Year. Text and photo: Victor Falzon 692. GOAT SNAIL Reys of light: Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver wage physical, psychic and psychological battle in this (supposedly) final installment of the now nine-part Star Wars saga Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 590: Want to see what we've been up to in 2019? Find out more at http://foemalta.org/news/2019-a-year-inreview/ The verdict Closing off the new and sup- posedly final installment of the nine-part Star Wars saga with competence and confidence, blockbuster maestro JJ Abrams perhaps necessarily sacrifices risks and inventiveness, result- ing in a reassuring finale that will please but won't surprise. Still, none of this is to the detri- ment of the big picture, which one can see clearly now: the powers to be wanted a joyous nostalgia trip to get the fans back on board with The Force Awakens, a bit of spice and darkness with The Last Jedi to have an 'Empire Strikes Back' of their own, and to wrap it all up in a neat little bow with The Rise of Skywalker, send- ing us back home with satis- fied smiles, all loose ends tied up, and the long-haul nostalgia game of the 'new trilogy' now fully completed. ★ ★ ★ STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (12A) 2019 was a busy year for us at Friends of the Earth Malta, yet it will also be remembered for being the year when it became even clearer that there can be no environmental justice without fair and democratic institutions. The value systems brought about by politicians and their "as long as the economy is growing anything goes" mantra have now led to some of the biggest environmental and social injustices suffered by the country. We believe that change will come from within communities, not from the present, failed system. Friends of the Earth Malta engaged the community with everyday small- scale actions which ultimately help to support the local environment, to raise awareness about the global environmental and provide an opportunity for people to make real change in their local community. In doing so, we hope that a greater engagement with widespread local actions can produce global effects. During 2019 we organised many activities and events as part of our campaigns targeting issues related to sustainable development, environmental protection, food related issues, bees and environmental justice. Considerable effort was placed in strengthening the FoE Malta's ability to influence the policy decision-making process at national level and establishing resources necessary for tasks planned for 2020. 2019 – A year in review