Not as good as it should have been, but not terrible

Rating: 5/10 (21 December 2017)

I really, really wanted to like this film; from the mediocrity of The Force Awakens to the surprisingly excellent Rogue One, I was hoping this would add to the upward trend.
The first part, and primary plot line of the film, was OK. The space battle was OK, and it was nice to see Poe's character develop. During the second assault of the first order, however, things took a turn for the worse, when Leia 'died', then used the force to draw herself back into the ship. This is fraught with issues: why does nobody who witnessed it ever mention it again; why is it not the most amazing news anyone has ever heard; she should be dead, why isn't she. It just didn't make any sense to happen, nor was it explained or did characters properly respond to it.
To mention it quickly, Rose and Finn's storyline was so forced, pointless, and forgettable, that it might as well have not been a part. Rose gave nothing to the film. Their adventure gave nothing to the universe. They responded comically to all serious situations, like when Finn kills Phasma. When Rose died I could not have cared less about her character. I'd've much preferred learning about Finn's parents.
Luke and Rey had an interesting plot, and it was quite good, but I was hoping it would be less depressing and would explain more about the Jedi and why Luke wanted them to be extinct. Is Rey a Mary Sue? 100%. But that didn't mean it wasn't interesting.
I was looking forward to learning more about Snoke or the Knights of Renn, but before we find out who he is, Kylo kills him, so I have to wonder, what even was the point of making him a character? He was never a real threat. He was never scary. He was a bad carbon copy of Darth Sidious.
The last hour of the film was cinematically gorgeous and actually quite funny, and well written.
There were other issues, but it would make this review too long.