Not bad. But why waste so many opportunities?

Rating: 5/10 (21 December 2019)

The Rise of Skywalker is not a bad or unbearable movie. I went in with the lowest possible expectations and that granted me quite a fulfilling time of entertainment and a few heart-warming moments.
But then - I just can't stop thinking about what this could have been. It think to myself: Am I really the only person who does NOT want the producers and directors to break new records in how big and epic a battle is put on the screen?
It seems, the producers have put everything they came up with in a big pot, stirred for a few weeks, then brought in a few script doctors who added twists "no matter what" and done is a unique movie.
Well, it has uniqueness and it has moments. But most of them are hollow.
I loved to see Palpatine. But why this slap in the face with this ridiculously large armada of Star Destroyers? Where do the millions of people staffing these ships come from, so suddenly? And then the rescuing fleet of good, brave citizens - come on - really, This was just kindergarten.
It felt good to see old characters again, but it was so obvious they all showed up to conclude the tripled trilogy (was about to write crippled trilogy).
One highlight of the film, btw, was General Pryde, finally a convincing character that was allowed to do at least one awesome, evil deed and not portraited as a complete moron.
I left the cinema hardly excited and rather sad. The saga has ended - and it was not a glorious one.