Jedi Master Yoda We Do Hear From

Rating: 7/10 (19 December 2017)

There are two things that are worth seeing this for long term Star Wars fans (since 1975-76), over 40 years. Top two on my list -
* Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia's last scene together. While it is brief, it does have the emotion I expected. It is even more powerful because of Carrie Fishers real life death.
* The renewal scene of Luke Skywalker and Master Yoda. Frank Oz does give voice to Yoda again and once again, though brief, the long term fan should really appreciate this reunion too.
The film has the special effects and John Williams music that we expected, rousing to the ears. Seeing it in 3D as I did is okay, though I think it plays well even without that. There is some of the trade mark humor in the film, more of it is later in the movie. Laura Dern makes an interesting commander.
There is a bonus romance that is underplayed, but okay. Other reunions of Skywalker with C3PO and R2D2 are welcome scenes too. The new characters are fit into the film like a glove and there many of the other past ones along for the ride.
The reasons I am not at 8 on this are minor but there is no sequence to explain how Rey arrives on the Millennium Falcon late in the film. I am guessing there was a scene but it got cut due to the 2 hour and 25 minute run time. The new philsophy lines in the film are rather shallow. The stuff that comes from the previous films are this film strengths.
I am glad Fisher's entire role was filmed before her death. I believe it is all here, a fitting tribute to Carrie. I was afraid early in the film they were going to have her leave early. Chewbacca is back in this one too, always a pleasure to see Star Wars Flying Carpet in the mix. This might not be the best film in the series, but it is better than Episode 2, and Jar Jar Bings is not here. Thank goodness, and there are a few things that can lead to episode 9 which is the last of Lucas original plans. It would be nice if Lucas would write that conclusion, though as Yoda would put it, "Seeing of things ahead, they might not be."