Best of the Three - The Force is strong with this one !!!

Rating: 10/10 (22 December 2019)

Having read a slew of lukewarm reviews and the general ambivalence towards this movie, and being hugely disappointed with The Last Jedi I went in not with low expectations but none whatsoever.
Perhaps this itself allowed my viewing perception to watch it literally as a standalone film and absorb it for what it really is.
Loud, big, emotive fun. Sure it played out like a greatest hits, the storyline is a little clunky and forced in the first act, but once it's engine gets warmed up it really finds its own tempo and beat.
Whilst not high art or a cinematic classic it performs exactly how a Star Wars movie should. Hitting all the keynotes and tones you'd wish for and powers along drawing this trilogy to a successful close.
It actually has a fair few surprises and twists and turns, albeit if your familiar with the 'Chekhov's Gun' principle you'll see where it's all going.
Best yet, the three main characters/protagonist seem far more comfortable in their roles and the confidence and energy imbues the film with a lot more heart and life than either of the previous two.
Overall the movie has fun with itself, backed by an incredible score by Williams which, certain pieces really add some clever clues and themes to both scenes and characters.
It's absolutely packed with no end of scenes and sequences, whilst the edit is a little tight, I wish the cut was a little more relaxed to allow some of the scenes room to breathe.
That however does not detract from the overall experience and is well worth a watch - wether your a casual or die hard fan !!!