Serviceable but sloppy end to the Skywalker Saga. The Internet gets what it deserves.

Rating: 7/10 (20 December 2019)

J. J. Abrams concludes the Skywalker saga in suitably epic if uneven fashion. The duels are more elaborate, the Force powers are more bizarre, and the space battles are grander than previously seen. It looks expensive and epic, with some impressive visuals and action set pieces. However it's merely adequate.
That's almost entirely thanks to the cast. They're not slouching through it. Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver are the standouts as Rey and Kylo Ren. The returning characters like Finn (Boyega) and Poe (Isaac) are a welcome addition to the adventure. They rarely separate during the space battles and chases and their playing off each other elevates otherwise complicated plot turns and overwrought exposition.
Since he's on the poster and used in advertising, I think it's safe to say Palpatine is definitely back. It is jarring to see him again. Ian McDiarmid is having fun as the Emperor but I wish they used a different villain instead of him. It makes the comparisons to Return of the Jedi all the more reasonable because what else is there?
The crux of the plot is that both he and Kylo Ren is vying for supremacy over the tyrannical First Order. But the main 3 heroes journey from planet to planet in search of a means to thwart the villains. And yes, Rey's backstory is retconned as a slap to Rian Johnson to make her seem more important. Instead the plot seems smaller because everyone's related to someone that's famous.
It's been widely reported that the movie was made by Abrams in a way to retcon The Last Jedi due to fan backlash. Unfortunately it shows. Exposition and plot points emerge to serve as a quasi-apology for that film which is so unnecessary. I always felt The Last Jedi got too much hate. Rose Tico (Tran) is barely a character in the movie and there's a new female lead paired with Finn that participates in the action so much, it seems like it'd make better sense if Rose was combined with this character. Kylo Ren and Rey's love/hate relationship is compelling as ever but the conclusion would surely dissatisfy most viewers even if part of it does make sense in conjunction with The Force Awakens.
As a result the film does feel disjointed and messy in the first act. The second half is admittedly a much better paced story the climax is exciting if unoriginal. It's basically another fight between a giant fleet versus another giant fleet. The cast truly does elevate the film and their sense of camaraderie feels genuine. Daisy Ridley has some stand-out moments and Adam Driver successfully conveys Kylo Ren's inner turmoil. John Boyega is treated with more respect as a protagonist (unfortunately he doesn't get the girl despite so much teasing between him and 3 different female characters!). The surprise improvement is for Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, who's been otherwise wasted in these movies. He's charismatic, cocky, and funny in the tradition of Harrison Ford or contemporary action stars like Chris Pratt or Dwayne Johnson.
The ending for the trilogy makes it clear that it is wrapping things up but still it felt safe. There's nothing offensive or terrible about it necessarily but it feels like they didn't want to go further just to upset the already mercurial fanbase.
And I'm going to say this. Star Wars fans ruined Star Wars movies. They nitpick and complain about everything. With the new sequel trilogy they disparaged filmmakers and in some extreme cases, made threats against the actors involved including Kelly Marie Tran especially. That is unacceptable behavior. Disney blinked with this movie. It needs to be said. The movie feels like something made to cater to fans while still finishing an entire franchise's story. Abrams' direction is competent but it always seems like he's thinking of pleasing the internet instead of crafting an original conclusion that audiences truly deserve.
For a finale to a franchise like Star Wars, that's a shame. But considering the idiosyncratic nature of the sequel trilogy, coupled with the fans' obnoxious attitude, it's inevitable.