Rushed, Empty, and Un-Emotional

Rating: 5/10 (20 December 2019)

JJ Abrams is talented at filming things we've all seen before, but when it comes to story, he's not up to the task. The Rise of Skywalker looks and sounds like a Star Wars movie, but there is nothing of substance in here. The emotional moments are undercut by the light-speed pace; the scenery is beautiful but we're never really in any location long enough to enjoy it; and the whole thing feels like a rough draft of a story. This plot is ridiculous.
Haters of The Last Jedi will be pleased because this basically gives the middle finger to that movie - for no reason other than to pander to the most obnoxious of Star Wars fans - and because this a movie that has nothing to say beyond its nostalgia joy ride.
Daisy Ridley probably does her best work in this movie, and there are some visually striking shots that are really great. But beyond the visuals and a few good performances, there's not much else to love here.
It's not the worst in the series - how could anything be as bad as Attack of the Clones or Phantom Menace - but it's certainly the weakest of the Sequels. In this case, imitation is not the most sincere form of flattery, it's just cheap.