A Confused End to the Saga

Rating: 5/10 (21 December 2019)

I would have certainly hoped to have come out of the cinema a little more enthused, but this unfortunately didn't end on the satisfying high note I thought it would.
It did feel like the story took the most safe and predictable route in an attempt to appease those who disliked 'The Last Jedi' but by trying to please everyone JJ Abrams seems to have alienated a large portion of the fanbase regardless.
To talk about the positives, I loved the relationship between Rey and Kylo and how that progressed from what happened in TLJ. Their respective arcs about claiming back their identity and redemption actually served the story quite well. Kylo's conversation with a vision of Han before he returned to being Ben Solo again was genuinely great, whilst Rey's conversation with a force ghost Luke was also fulfilling. Rey is at her best here, as she's given some interesting character flaws to work with.
It was also nice to see Rey, Finn and Poe work together which they hadn't done in the Sequel Trilogy up until now. The humour also felt appropriate and didn't undercut the tone of a scene, whilst visually the film is stunning. The addition of Richard E.Grant as Allegiant General Pryde was also decent as a moustache-twirling villain who could have been plucked straight from the Original Trilogy.
However, there is plenty that frustrates me. In particular the reveal that Rey is Palpatine's granddaughter is something I despise. Whilst TLJ had many problems, one of my favourite things from that was that Rey wasn't related to anyone important, as the idea of individuals being able to rise up and gain significance in this sort of story was a neat idea. Now that Rey is after all related to a major character in Palpatine in completely retcons this, and as much as anything else it feels lazy.
Speaking of Palpatine, his presence in his story wasn't well-executed. I was actually hyped when it was first announced he was returning, thinking he was going to show up as a force vision or something along those lines. However, when I found out he had actually survived the events of 'Return of the Jedi' it makes Anakin's sacrifice in that film pointless. They also only half-explain how he managed to survive, and the fact he wasn't even hinted at returning in the previous Sequel Trilogy films demonstrates the lack of cohesion behind the scenes for all these films.
The first act is also quite poorly paced, as it jumps from plot point to plot point without allowing the story or characters any time to breathe. The editing here is also at its worst. Thankfully, after that characters do have time to just talk without having to move the plot along.
I also quite enjoyed the climax, with Rey and Ben going up against Palpatine. The voices of past Jedi coming to help Rey felt like an inspired choice, and her final words to Palpatine being "And I am all the Jedi" after he said "I am all the Sith" felt appropriate as the conflict came to a close. Ben then saving Rey after the exertion of fighting Palpatine had taken its toll, and they two of them sharing a kiss was surprisingly sweet. It made it all the more tragic when Ben then became one with the force moments later, sealing his redemption.
Rey then coming to the Skywalker ranch to return Luke and Leia's lightsabres was a nice way to end it, even if it might have been more powerful for Rey to have not taken up the Skywalker name and just kept her own.
Overall, this film certainly could have been a lot better, but it could have also been a lot worse, and if JJ Abrams had spent a little less time pandering to the audience it might have turned out better. It really does feel like it could have done with an extra year of development.
Suffice to say I'm glad the Skywalker Saga is over, and I hope future films set in this universe will be able to do their own thing without constraints and expectation holding them back.