Ignore the "fans" who hated this film, they're blinded by the Dark Side.

Rating: 10/10 (17 December 2017)

No spoilers until indicated
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the best Star Wars film since anything the original trilogy produced and introduces a new, innovative storyline that adds more complexity to the series. Rian Johnson breaks the traditional Star Wars formula and challenges the notions of, "What is a Star Wars film?" and answers that question by being completely unlike any other Star Wars film prior.
The change in direction is clear with the story and style of the film; while Force Awakens focused on nostalgia (as it should have), The Last Jedi ditches the nostalgia trip and focused on developing the most complex storyline in Star Wars yet. Gone are the one-dimensional characters, and in are the conflicted, emotional characters who are the source of what makes this such a compelling Star Wars film. One-dimensional characters were what made Star Wars great in the first place, but it's time to move on with more tension and dynamics with the characters using modern storytelling. Johnson's directing really shines through in portraying the more abstract ideas of the film's plot, and uses perfect pacing to evenly space out three total plots until they all converge onto the closing act.
For the action aficionados, Star Wars: The Last Jedi has the best action in a Star Wars film yet. I wanted to leap out of my seat during many moments due to the sheer emotional capacity and thrills I felt were packed into single scenes. This is definitely an important factor that contributes to my rating; the action is only good because the storyline set it up to full emotional thrill ride.
Just like the characters, the film isn't perfect. There are certain moments that can be received negatively, and I get that. The deciding factor, however, is how you want to interpret those moments. It's one thing for a scene to be questionable, but it's another thing to sit back and think about what Rian Johnson was trying to portray with those scenes. They all mean something in this film, and the degree of "weirdness" to this scene isn't even all that bad as fans may complain. They all make sense, and, if they don't now, they will; don't forget that this is only the middle film of a trilogy! We still have more to see with how this arc goes. I was able to overlook some of these flaws (which overall had to do with dialogue, bland characterization, and weird moments that initially don't seem to make sense). They make sense/will make sense in the long run!
Many of the fans who complain are the ones who hold the most expectations on how the film SHOULD go; they want answers to immediate questions and hold certain ideas on characterizations, so much that the slightest difference in expectation and lack of answers will anger them, so they're the easiest to disappoint, and the quickest to react. They are close-minded and toxic! They are blinded by nostalgia and do not like change, and don't know good stuff when they see it! This is a quality film; whether you like it or not is ultimately and only up to you. Do not let them fool you, and think for yourself on this one!
Star Wars: The Last Jedi reads like a novel; you can watch it multiple times and pick it apart layer by layer, and still find more and more prevalent themes and motifs in the film. It's beautifully written and pictured to portray a fine part of the trilogy that manages to stand on its own. Fans who hate this film will end up eating those words some day on a film that brings a new and unexpected take on the Star Wars saga. Go towards the Light side, turn off your expectations for the film, and enjoy it for what it is. And may the Force be with you, and us all.
SPOILERS BELOW:
Addressing some of the issues people have with this film:
Why is everyone mad at Luke's characterization? He literally says in the film that the Jedi shouldn't be put on a pedestal, and neither should he. He's not perfect! The whole point of the Original Trilogy was to learn of Luke's journey through finding the light; it's not gonna end and he's not gonna be pure. I'd take a multifaceted, multi-dimensional Luke any day over a boring, one-dimensional Luke.
Leia's floating: OK, this was weird when I first saw it, but the point still stands is that Leia never uses the Force, but she can when she needs it in cases of survival. This could have been portrayed better, and the scene didn't need to be as long or as hokey as it looked (straight out of a 70s superhero film). I agree this was a polarizing moment in the film, but the film's main storyline was strong enough for me to at least believe in the scene at the moment, and overlook its flaws.
Killing Snoke off was both necessary and important. It serves as a shock for most of us who expected Snoke to survive until Episode IX, and also represents the film's removal of nostalgia and focus on a fresh take for the Star Wars franchise. Having him alive and be the "main villain" of IX would have been too similar to having Palpatine as the main villain of the original trilogy. Snoke is a one-dimensional character with a backstory we couldn't care less for, and killing him off is symbolic of the film's intentions to kill off what Star Wars used to be and emphasize what it could be now. Let go of the past, kill it if you have to, as Kylo Ren says; we don't need a repeat of the Original Trilogy's formula.