A very solid Star Wars movie

Rating: Null/10 (21 December 2017)

I know it's divisive and has gotten a lot of negative pushback from the fandom, but I'm with the professional critics on this one. This is one of the best Star Wars movies, certainly the best outside of the original trilogy (I'm torn on whether to rank it above or below Return of the Jedi).
This movie delivered exactly what I wanted from a new Star Wars trilogy: a fun and engaging story with a new, loveable batch of characters and a warm send-off for the old generation (Luke, Leia, etc). I felt the movie was fully in line with the feel and aesthetic of a real Star Wars movie (ie. not the prequels) and, whereas The Force Awakens hewed a bit too close to the old classics to rise above the level of cinematic homage, this film struck a nice balance between nostalgia and narrative risk-taking.
It doesn't work for everyone. It worked for me, big time. I loved Rey, Finn, Poe and even the much-maligned Rose (who delivers a great line near the end about morality-this film approaches the subject with more maturity and nuance than any other entry in the franchise). And Mark Hamill... damn, the man put in a great performance here. Some people don't care for the way the aging Luke Skywalker is portrayed in this film, but I "fundamentally agreed" with his storyline even though it's not what I would have dreamed up myself. Whatever your thoughts on his character arc, Hamill sells the role.
Finally, Kylo Ren... easily the most complex character in any Star Wars film. He's unpredictable, mysterious, clearly conflicted. And the performance by Adam Driver is really quite good.
There's definitely some bloat and, while there's no single storyline I'd axe if I were the editor, the film does suffer a bit from its length and the fact that some very climactic-feeling pivot scenes take place near the middle, leaving the viewer with the feeling that the film has about half a dozen false endings (it's likely that this is less of an issue on a second viewing).
But look, all the Star Wars movies have flaws. The original trilogy are so surrounded by fan-nostalgia that its many sins are basically overlooked. This film plays against an impossible standard that exists in the minds of many fans. And yet... I wasn't disappointed. I'm no Star Wars fanboy, but I have a healthy love for the series and if you can't tell, I was quite impressed by this offering.
Go see it and make up your mind for yourself. And if you did like it, ignore the haters... it's not a crime to enjoy a movie.