I thought I quit Star Wars...

Rating: 7/10 (5 January 2020)

After The Last Jedi and Solo, I actually quit Star Wars. I'd had it.
Then my friends went to see The Rise of Skywalker and they were saying quite a few positive things about it. So I decided to finally go and see it.
It seems that Abrams and his writing crew managed to salvage what seemed unsalvageable. Certainly, this film threw a few too many things into the mix (everything but the kitchen sink, as the saying goes). I could do with a little less 'cute creature' stuff and less line re-use. Aside from that -- and some over-the-top scenes featuring a charge on 'horseback' -- this film actually works.
Those who have been following Star Wars since the beginning will notice references to the original concept art as well as scenes (like the end sequence) framed much like a Kurosawa film. Couple this with scenes that repair the damage done by Ruin and his crew and we have what represents a real effort to make up for lost time. Tight editing and a real effort by all the actors and this film actually takes on an epic feel.
There are some familiar faces in this installment. When I saw the trailers, I figured they were just there as a last ditch effort to save the franchise. After seeing the film though, I see that they're more than just cameos and play a pivotal part in the plot. I really enjoyed seeing them in this series again (you know who I'm talking about).
So a big thanks to everyone who worked on this and for finally giving the original fans something much more akin to episodes IV, V, and VI.