Star Wars, now a nine episode saga, "goes out" not with a whimper, nor with a bang...

Rating: 6/10 (19 December 2019)

...but like some contractually obligated encore from a once great band on their second revival tour. They're playing hits from all over their discography, yet the audience, whilst having proper fun, are simply tired of clapping, and just want to go home.
With such a distasteful promotional campaign (ranging from off-putting to repulsive), it's hard giving props, it is, but credit where credit's due. The Rise of Skywalker went to some rather unexpected (and many familiar) places, with a breakneck pace (for better or worse), tied up some loose ends nicely, and was filled to the brim with action. So you do get a bang for your buck in that way - fan service and all - if that's what you're looking for. To me it was perfectly fine popcorn entertainment, that did manage to move me, once almost to tears, yet for all of his Spielbergian efforts, J.J. couldn't really make me care all that much.
It's over. It's over. It's over.
That's what kept on echoing in my head after tonight's premiere, and I'm still not sure what to make of it. I think I'm more or less satisfied, but there's an overbearing sense of emptiness to it as well... That's conclusion for ya, I guess.
It was a rather strange feeling btw, leaving the theatre. Nobody seemed to know exactly what to say. I saw many confused faces: a middle-aged guy adamantly voicing his disappointment to his family, some teenagers making snarky remarks amongst themselves, but I also heard a little kid joyfully telling their parents how awesome it all was.
One thing's for sure, every generation will get a little something out of it, and that's not a bad thing. This new "conflict" trilogy as a whole, as imperfect as it is, thankfully is quite watchable.