"Two very enthusiastic thumbs up. Fine holiday fun." - Clueless

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2019)

Speaking as someone who had become incredibly jaded with the Star Wars franchise, who was not excited about the Rise of Skywalker trailer, and who is sick and tired of your Baby Yoda memes, let me just say, I just saw The Rise of Skywalker, and I think it's the best Star Wars since Return of the Jedi. I'm not going to call it incredibly thought-provoking (it's not) neither will I cite its incredible insights into the human condition (there aren't many), but what it is is a rip-roaring sci-fi adventure and a sprawling space opera epic that feels more akin to 1980s George Lucas than anything I've seen since. It's almost Spielbergian.
What J.J. Abrams brings to the table is an incredible love for the original trilogy and even the prequels. The movie is gushing, just bursting at the seams, with adoration and respect for this franchise. I mean, it's bursting at the seams in almost every regard-aliens, robots, explosions, ways in which one might use the force or a lightsaber. It's one of the frequent complaints critics are throwing at it. But if you sat through the last two Avengers films with no complaint, I don't think that should be an issue for the stalwart nerd. I don't think this movie erases The Last Jedi. In fact, I think it's nestled The Last Jedi a little deeper into my hard, calloused heart, as well as those awkward prequels.
When The Rise of Skywalker trailer started with all those clips from episodes I-VI, I'm not gonna lie, I was annoyed. I was like, "No, Disney, you're not going to manipulate my nostalgia and sucker me into yet another one your money-sucking mega franchise event films." Alas, J.J. Abrams has manipulated my nostalgia, as he always does. Someway, somehow, this stupid movie has made me fall in love with Star Wars all over again. Maybe not Solo. But definitely the canonical numbered films. It's a big blustery behemoth of a love letter to Star Wars nerds everywhere.