Despite the negative backlash, the latest and final installment in the Skywalker story ends 'Star Wars' on the right note.

Rating: Null/10 (22 December 2019)

The story that has spanned over 40 years has finally come to an end. The ninth and final installment in the franchise that forever changed the way movies were made and generated one of the most widespread, hardcore fandoms in entertainment history concludes the main "Star Wars" saga in an epic adventure that concludes the 9-film series on an uplifting and exciting note.
After 2017's disastrous "The Last Jedi" that outraged millions of loyal "Star Wars" fans, director J.J. Abrams fixed Rian Johnson's horribly misguided and downright weird direction and grounds the film true to the nature of "Star Wars." While the "Last Jedi" felt like an awkward soap opera that lacked any style and was weighed down with cringe-worthy humor and a dull storyline, "The Rise of Skywalker" is centered in the feeling of a "Star Wars" movie, containing a style that reflects earlier works in the franchise (mostly "Return of the Jedi"), yet is still able to stand out on its own.
Abrams had the highly difficult challenge as a director and co-writer of cleaning up after Johnson's previous mess to conclude the story in a neat and well-paces fashion, wrap up a series of 9 films, and please one of the biggest fan bases in the world. While "Star Wars" fans are without question the pickiest, obnoxious entertainment fans on the planet who not only never seemed to be pleased but have no actual idea of what they want to see, Abrams crafts a picture that wildly succeeds in concluding an epic series of films and keeping us engaged from start to finish.
"The Rise of Skywalker" never has a dull moment, the kinetic pace of the conflict encompassing several heartwarming moments meant to pay tribute to the characters explored, some of which we've known since "A New Hope" all the way back in 1977. As one could expect, Abrams incorporates stunning visual elements in every scene, the production design and visual effects glowing off the screen and making this a spectacular film to view.
Since the trailers and posters have already confirmed this, the return of Emperor Palpatine is an odd decision. Considering Abrams didn't have much room to play with in terms of storyline after the decisions Rian Johnson made in "The Last Jedi," we can certainly at times feel Abrams trying to piece everything together and making it try and seem like he and Disney had a clear vision of the trilogy as opposed to coming up with everything on the spot.
While the return of Palpatine may feel like a last resort, Abrams does a great job of organizing the plot for this film and not cramming in a bunch of content to end the saga. The entire film is brilliantly paced, the story overall organized and shining with exciting action. It goes without saying that this trilogy took a turn for the worse after the last installment, but Abrams somehow manages to rescue it and turn it back into the promising, magical adventure that the "Force Awakens" teased in 2015.
Many (especially die-hard fans) are displeased with this film and criticize it for having a messy plot that fails to generate any sympathy or positivity. I am personally shocked by how anyone who claims to like "Star Wars" overall can't help but fall in love with this movie. It may be highly predictable and the relationship between Rey and Finn that was explored in "The Force Awakens" is barely touched upon, yet every character has a chance to shine, including the late Carrie Fisher, whose previously unused scenes were added back in to pay tribute and finish her storyline. Daisy Ridley additionally delivers her best performance as Rey yet, making her stand out as one of the best characters in the franchise along with the stellar Adam Driver as the complex Kylo Ren.
As someone who enjoys "Star Wars" for the fun blockbuster action and sentimental storylines that relate to the original trilogy, "The Rise of Skywalker" delivered nearly everything I wanted to see. The film concludes the Skywalker story and the main story in the "Star Wars" phenomenon beautifully and Abrams draws us into the cinematic universe that blew everyone's minds years ago with tremendous excitement, fun, and heart.