So This Is How A Saga Dies... With a Thunderous Meh

Rating: 3/10 (22 December 2019)

This movie comes off the heels of one of the most divisive films in any franchise ever. TLJ, whether you liked it or not, knew what it wanted to be. Johnson's vision was apparent. Jar Jar Abrams, on the other hand, fumbles this in the exact opposite way he fumbled TFA. In the Sequel trilogy opener, we watch him bore us half to death until a satisfying ending with a quality lightsaber fight and a villain who's intriguing family issues drive any interest in the trilogy. In this one, however, he delivers a simplistic (from a story writing angle) but nonetheless entertaining first 4 acts. The gang's little quest of shenanigans feels almost as close as Disney can use cash to conjure to the original magic. Jar Jar shows his lack of spine in the end, though, in his over-the-top self congratulatory botching of the finale. The character development halts before any satisfying conclusion, the relationships lose any meaning outside of their plot relevance, and the final showdown goes from bursting with potential to crumbling under the weight of the apathy it causes the viewer towards the entire Disney modus operandi.
The cloak and dagger approach concerning their real agenda with this movie has to be applauded at some point, though. They had me hook line and sinker, but even Adam Driver's superb acting can't make up for the writer's cruel treatment of his character's arc in his final mintues of screen time. It was so deeply dissatisfying. Prepare yourself for the worst.