My favorite Star Wars film since Return of the Jedi

Rating: 9/10 (19 January 2018)

There were a few things in this film that I didn't like - namely a certain character in a sparkly gold bathrobe.
But other than that, this movie was a joy to watch. When the title scroll started, I was filled with nerdy glee, and when the movie was over, I walked out of the theater glowing and full of things to discuss with my fellow Star Wars fans.
I'm not going to spoil anything, but I loved just about every twist, reveal, and direction this movie went in. I LOVED that it broke with tradition. Many of the complaints about The Force Awakens were that it was formulaic - a rehash of A New Hope. Whereas with this movie, every time it looked like it was going in the direction of Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi, my expectations were happily subverted.
I also appreciated the messages of this film and what they added to the lore. We fight to save what we love, not destroy what we hate. Violence and recklessness is not always the best answer. The Empire is not some huge evil for evil's sake - we actually get to SEE the effects of evil in the galaxy. The Force does not belong to the Jedi or the Sith, and the Light does not belong to the Jedi. The Jedi in fact were corrupt and not as amazing as they were portrayed. Heroes can come from anywhere - bloodline is not some holy thing.
I really hope the last movie of the trilogy continues with these themes.