With what JJ was given, he overachieved

Rating: 9/10 (20 December 2019)

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I think the biggest reason for the controversial reviews is due in large part to the differing reactions to The Last Jedi. I tend to fall into the category of people that enjoyed The Last Jedi, but don't think that it contributed very well to the story. That being said, many critics loved The Last Jedi and that is why they did not like The Rise of Skywalker.
Without giving anything away, I think that JJ did an outstanding job with what he was left to work with after The Last Jedi. It did feel at times like he was backtracking to re-answer questions or re-resolve conflicts that were not satisfyingly taken care of in The Last Jedi. Because of this, the movie did feel a little rushed. He could have easily made 2 (if not 3) movies with the material that is covered in Rise of Skywalker, but there's no denying that it was exciting.
It is not a perfect movie by any means and there are a few (not several like some critics would have you believe) plot holes that aren't wrapped up. Or some that are wrapped up but that it felt rushed. However, regardless of the imperfections, I believe this movie lived up to the Skywalker story.
8.5/10