Pretty good, but not fantastic.

Rating: 7/10 (30 December 2017)

The Last Jedi was in many ways an enjoyable experience. The story takes unexpected turns, most of which are fine and welcome additions to the story line, but some plot holes, a kind of a DRY subplot, and some remarkably bold decisions made by the writing team leave the audience wanting MORE than what they got out of this movie. This is not exactly what I expected when I walked in the theater to watch this film. Not saying that I was utterly disappointed, but rather a bit surprised by the answers to the questions raised in Episode 7, which is why I think so many are conflicted about this movie. Personally, I didn't feel that my childhood was "destroyed" or that Disney "ruined" the saga, but I can't disagree with everything the naysayers have to say.
Some spoilers up ahead.
For starters, the visuals and cinematography were absolutely top notch. I also applaud the creative direction and originality in this film, there's whole new planets to explore and creatures to see. Any scene with a lightsaber involved was beautifully choreographed. Mark Hamill's portrayal of an eccentric, miserable Luke Skywalker was an absolute joy to watch, he steals the show in every single scene he's in. Rey and Kylo's character arcs were both interesting, and I was satisfied with the direction they took with the two characters, and their connections with the Dark and Light sides of the Force. The final sequence of the movie was absolutely breathtaking. Paired with some amazing camerawork and a plot-twist, it was perhaps the best part of the whole movie.
That all being said, I must mention the things I disapproved of in this movie. A long, very stretched out sub-plot involving Finn and Rose was incredibly underwhelming to a fault, and the Resistance not wanting to inform Poe of their plans was a glaring plot hole. I also found the humor to be somewhat out of place in what was supposed to be a "darker" entry into the franchise. Finally, the movie just doesn't offer enough pay-off about the many questions raised in "The Force Awakens", which is not necessarily the movie's fault, but it does disrupt continuity. Maybe all those questions are supposed to be answered in Episode 9, but until then we will still have no clue about Rey's Parentage or Snoke's identity. We do, admittedly, get to know the truth about Ben Solo's turn to the Dark Side of the force, and why Luke is now basically a hermit.
This movie is not going to be everyone's cup of tea. While I personally liked the movie, I can understand why so many fans are frustrated about so many things, but I also feel like a lot of criticism is unfair and exaggerated.