Chris Chandler

I think that I will want to watch this movie a few times...this was my second time and I felt again the mood and the pulling together of people. The fact that it takes place in such a limited space forces you into a sort of confinement that is like your own limited life. Searching for and finding what is meaningful is a hit-or-miss series of efforts. This movie felt like a rumination on meaning and how it always seems to require a mixture of faith and serendipity. I suspect that the opening myth/plot summary might somehow have spoiled too much of what might have been better revealed as the story played out. The diversity of interesting characters did not seem to get quite enough development to draw the viewer emotionally. Another 30 minutes of character development that made the myth seem more inevitable and less random might have helped as well. Overall this movie will appeal much more to fans of the director.

Spoilers: The plot needed more work. I didn't like how Rey became "someone", how she chose a name although she transcended names and how it was all a little too much good vs bad. Was really hoping for a more nuanced Grey Jedi take. I'm sure the movie will grow on me. I think I liked 8 better than 7 or 9. In fact, thinking back on 8, I really thought 8 was going to take us in 9 to go somewhere new with the whole hero motif being deconstructed and a more cooperative everyman and woman sort of victory. We sort have got that with the quick massive volunteer fleet showing up but then Palpatine all by himself neutralizes all that. Let's all save the Universe instead of one or two heroes sacrificing themselves. Now that would have been an epic conclusion that would have transcended everything that had gone before.