Great final

Rating: 8/10 (29 December 2019)

I grew up with Star Wars (Ep IV - VI) and watched the originals and the prequels literally more than a hundred times.
Of course I loved the originals and most parts of the prequels (despite Jar Jar Binks, some cheesy dialogues in Ep. II).
I had mixed expectations about Ep VII ( I personally think it was quite an impossible project to - one the one hand - satisfy the die hard fans and - on the other other hand - attract the (younger and new) audience at the same time.
But in the end the result was quite ok despite the recycling of the story line of Ep. IV...
Ep. VIII was quite disappointing. I watched it twice in the theatres. The story was not good at all and I was wondering why Rey thought she needed training at all since you got the impression that she is already a fully-trained Jedi.
Well, I watched Ep. IX today the second time within one week.
After watching it the first time I honestly wasn't sure how to rate it.
But today I can honestly say it is worth 8/10 in my opinion.
Of course it's for sure not the perfect Star Wars movie at all. I had very low expectations after Ep. VIII. Actually I wasn't even looking forward to watching it. I just wanted to see the result of Disney's approach to put and end of one of the greatest movie sagas in history.
Personally I think it delivers a fast paced story. Ok, Palpatine's revival wasn't convincing at all in the trailers. But the first 5 minutes into the movie I felt like - wow, ok let's see where this going to...
I still think that Adam Driver wasn't the perfect joice for the (young) villain. He seemed more to be a spoiled boy who desperately needed more guidance when it comes to his education.
But the way he finally turned back to the light side - I really pitied him in a certain way - and the part with him talking to his dad - it somehow reminded me of Clark Kent talking to his late father.
I loved the way they brought all the (old) characters back for this grande finale (visually and aurally).
I honestly had no clue that Rey was a Palpatine. The final scene between Ben and her was - well at first I hoped it wouldn't end like Romeo and Juliet - authentic. It would have been more awkward when Ben would have survived but in the end he proved he is a true Skywalker (Solo) by giving up his own life in order to rescue the one he had feelings for.
And Rey: I liked the way she finally became a Skywalker. She never asked for it. She never knew who she really was until she encountered the force...
The Star Wars saga for me is like family: You grew up with it, you love it, you got disappointed by it and you thought that life goes on without it but in the end you realize that it is part of your life and you are just happy to experience all the not so good times and better times with it.