The beginning is great

Rating: 6/10 (20 December 2019)

Spoiler-Free
The first 2/3rds of the movie is great. Super face paced, lots of action, it really just gets right into it. Then around the time of Rey and Kylo's fight in the waves (as shown in several trailers) it started slowing down enough to realize how choppy it is. There are several new characters I didn't connect with, not to mention their clothes look like something out of a cheesy YA novel. The sentimental scenes were so fast they didn't have time to cause actual emotion. The Palpatine thing itself (as seen/heard in trailers) was alright but you can tell it wasn't the plan and it kind of takes you out of it.
Overall, the ending just didn't land and it brings down the rest of the movie which was great. If were to rate the first half it would be an 8.5.
I think it would have been a lot better if it was 2 movies, even if that broke the trilogy cycle. There was just SO MUCH movie.
So go see it definitely but don't expect a maricle.