What Episode 7 and 8 should have been.

Rating: 8/10 (28 December 2017)

I'll be plain with this review: this film fills the void that was created by Episode 7, and now Episode 8.
To point out some of the negatives, the script is pretty basic, but on par with every other Star Wars film, so it works. The use of CGI characters may annoy some viewers as it is done quite a bit, but thankfully it is done well enough to not stand out. In fact, I would say that it would not be noticeable other than the fact that we know the actors are deceased or just older than what the film portrays. Finally, there are a few "Easter eggs" and nostalgic elements which makes the film a little too self-aware at times, but far fewer and more relevant than what we see in Episode 7 and 8.
With that said, the rest of the film is excellent. The plot is solid, the characters are interesting and unique, the film is well paced, the humor is actually funny but fitting for a Star Wars film, and the seriousness of the story is never lost. The action sequences are well choreographed and fun to watch, and the ending leaves the viewer feeling satisfied. Some actors/characters that had been part of the prequels made an appearance, which was nice to see; I don't like the idea of "forgetting" that the prequels happened.
I remember feeling a bit speechless and shocked when the credits rolled, because I had actually set my expectations really low thanks to the "Episode 7 Effect". Once I came back to reality, I felt a sense of hope that a fantastic Star Wars film was still possible. I personally believe that this is one of the top 3 Star Wars films ever made.