I feel a little empty inside...

Rating: 5/10 (19 December 2019)

Anyone that knows me knows that I'm a Star Wars apologist and have been since the prequels.
I went to a trilogy screening last night and have loved the Christmas's of the past few years when TFA and TLJ were released. I've loved Star Wars for all but 8 years of my life and couldn't wait for this one. I've skimmed through the leaks without really caring as, to me, a lot of it is for YouTube clicks bit I was really amped up for ROS.
So it came to watching it at 12:05 this morning.
The problem for me stems from Disney/Lucasfilm/Kathleen Kennedy/J.J. Abrams not having a plan for this trilogy from the start. The Marvel way if you like. It's no coincidence that a series of films that has been planned for over a decade ended with, for me, the gloriously satisfying Avengers : Endgame. There was a plan. For this trilogy there was not. I love TFA so for all that J.J. set up Rian Johnson then destroyed in TLJ. "Let it die" as he said. So now ROS has to rebuild and answer all that was set up in TFA. The problem is the movie doesn't answer all the questions. Now I believe maybe it shouldn't. Life doesn't tie everything up in neat little bows.
My main problem with ROS I felt when coming out of the screening was that I couldn't remember one set piece that took my breath away. There were a couple of moments where there were tears in my eyes (Star Wars gets me like that) but not to the extent of "Chewie we're home" or seeing the Falcon for the first time. When all the ships of the resistance turned up at the finale lead by Lando you could see they were going for the "On your left" moment in the movie but it emotionally just didn't land.
The convoluted process lot of we need to go here to get this so we can go there and get that seemed formulaic and now there is the power of bringing people back to life the phrase "no one is ever really gone" takes a depressing meaning.
With Palpatine back Anakins redemption in ROTJ means less now. There is no explanation how he didn't die. Fun spends most of the movie wanting to tell Rey something then never gets the chance.
Rey and Ben kiss after Bens redemption and it just didn't feel right.
I don't think I can go through anymore as I feel pretty empty now. I'm going to see it again in a few hours and I'm hoping a repeat viewing will change my views but at the mo I am pretty empty inside.
The Force will always be with me and let's see what the future of Star Wars is. Maybe it's on the small screen for now. The Mandalorian rocks!