Needs a second viewing to be appreciated

Rating: 6/10 (28 December 2019)

This movie had a phenomenal task. It had to conclude a story 42 years in the making. We can watch it and criticize it by pointing out the plot holes (of which there are many) or the "insufficiently powerful" story and so on, or we can just sit back, enjoy it, and appreciate the enormous effort and attention to detail that was poured into telling a story about family, friends and choices that we all make in life, regardless of us being on this planet or in a galaxy far, far away. Seeing it for the first time is much like a first date that you've been looking forward to for far too long: there is tension, expectations are high, not everything goes as smoothly as you've hoped and you can even get a bit disappointed. But then...you decide to go on a second date only to discover that you want to be with that person more and more. The acting is solid, Daisy Ridley knocks it out of the park, the entire dynamic between Rey and Kylo/Ben is one of the movie's strongest points, without question. The whole Palpatine thing was the weakest aspect of the movie, but hearing the great Ian McDiarmid was enjoyable nonetheless, he can play the phonebook if he wanted to. Yes, it's a roller coaster ride, a lot of characters, not enough time to establish things, but somehow it all comes together. Best of all, a lot of heart was poured in this movie, so it deserves at least "a second date".