First, my rating is 3 stars, not 5. Go figure why Google keeps changing it to something I did not post. Bottom line: for those willing to look past all the clunky stuff, this movie can be entertaining. Even so - if there was a lazy, easy choice to make in this movie, JJ made it. "Rise of "Skywalker" seems to represent a compilation of fan theories, Easter eggs, critters, and space toys. The plot line feels rushed and compressed. Ridley and Driver as Rey and Ren strive mightily to inject some semblance of complex human feeling, against the odds. Tran's Rose Tico, another character who displayed persuasive emotion, has regrettably been shoved to the margins of this tale. The other characters are not allowed to do much more than spout exposition and dash madly across a variety of battle scenes. Worse, a notable death doesn't seem to inspire an appropriate response. Hollywood: please note that space operas, like any other stories, work best when driven by plausible character development and organic human relationships (hint: use The Force - reach out with authentic feelings). Despite these major disappointments, this remains a mildly enjoyable movie, fast-paced, and full of striking and carefully composed images. But it could have been so much more than an inch deep, after all these years. I do award one gold star for having Rey continue to be the central hero. Plus, there is a plot twist involving Rey near the end, which could be put to interesting use in a future SW film by a better screenwriter.