When I stepped into the theater today to watch Rise of Skywalker after seeing the movie hit the 50’s percentile on Rotten Tomatoes, I was less than excited. I rarely take reviews to heart, as all forms of media are subjective, but seeing a large group of critics have a negative opinion of a franchise I hold near and dear to my heart gave me some cause for alarm. Regardless, I gave the movie a chance, even though I had my issues with the previous film, The Last Jedi.

When I stepped out of the theater, I was beaming. I had experienced a Star Wars film that was thrilling, entertaining, and concise. So many questions that were risen from the previous movies were answered, and plenty of closure was given. Rise of Skywalker never overstays its welcome, introducing tons of new worlds and locales (unlike The Last Jedi, only showcasing two new worlds). Expectations of a mediocre popcorn flick were subverted into a wholesome, fulfilling conclusion to the saga.

Rise of Skywalker captures the nostalgic Star Wars magic in several ways, but, foremost, in its music cues. The song selection is absolute perfection, ringing in familiar melodies whenever a relevant character is present. For example, the instant The Millennium Falcon hits the screen, “The Millennium Falcon Suite” hits in full force, and Rey’s introduction to the film is accompanied by “Rey’s Theme”. John Williams’ masterful score is one of the highlights of the film.

Another mainstay of Star Wars films is the imaginative new environments that our main characters discover. The foreboding, terrifying Exegol is the home of the Sith and is shrouded by lightning storms and an atmosphere of death. Passanna is a dark world under imperial siege where new character Zorii is introduced. Stretching the minds of our imagination, these settings are pleasing to the eye and stick to the Star Wars formula.

If I take any issue with the movie, it’s that it tends to play it safe a few times. Where The Last Jedi took risks killing off what were seemingly important characters, all the deaths in Skywalker are telegraphed and come to little/no surprise. The heroes are typically in tight situations, so the suspense never fails to feel real, but there are also scenes where the heroes feel like they have plot armor, taking down tons of Stormtroopers with no trouble at all.

Regardless of one’s expectations for this movie, and considering the importance of its impact, The Rise of Skywalker succeeds at being a good movie and a good Star Wars movie. While the main point of frustration with critics seems to be that the movie is “rushed”, I never felt at any one point that something was skipped over or expedited. On the contrary, some scenes are meticulously crafted to elevate tension perfectly, and keep the viewer guessing how the heroes will overcome what is in front of them. Pay no attention to reviews and have an open mind, and The Rise of Skywalker will make for a great experience.

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