Victory from the jaws of defeat.

Rating: 9/10 (23 December 2019)

I enjoyed The Force Awakens. I was baffled by The Last Jedi and thought that it took so many liberties with the Star Wars mythology that it actually disrespected everything that came before it. I couldn't see how Episode 9 could be anything other than a mess. I wasn't surprised to see the negative reviews for this final film, and I wasn't expecting much from it.
I bloody loved it!
I won't go into the plot. It's the best one since Return of the Jedi. It has humour, heart, action, romance, very mild horror, plot twists that feel natural and lend themselves to the story, and it balances these elements skilfully to create a classic Star Wars adventure, beautifully shot. And the music is right on the money!
If you didn't like episodes 7 and 8 then I doubt you'll enjoy this. However, if either of those films managed to reach the child that dwells somewhere inside you, then The Rise of Skywalker will leave you feeling hugely satisfied. Well done, JJ Abrams, for rescuing victory from the jaws of defeat!