Whew, where to start? Concluding eight previous films, a mess was to be expected. And closing out a Sci-fi series that set the tone for all the movies to come was never going to be easy. Yes, Director JJ Abrams provided us with a mess. But, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is the good mess we needed. 

From the start, one had a feeling the next two hours or so were going to be a bumpy ride. Seemingly jumping between four star systems in the opening 10 minutes, those suspicions were confirmed. Once the film settles down, although, is when the magic begins. 

Back from the dead, Emperor Sheev Palpatine, or otherwise known as Darth Sidious, plays the foil once again in a galaxy far, far away. With the largest fleet the galaxy has ever seen in tow, Palpatine, played by Ian McDiarmid, seeks to ensure First Order dominance. His opposition, the Resistance, is in shambles following their narrow escape on Crait. To make matters worse, Rey’s focus lies elsewhere with her ever present tug-of-war with Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver, between the light and dark side. In the ensuing ninth episode of Star Wars canon, Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, and friends set off to stop Sidious once in for all.

For all the questions surrounding the final instalment of the Skywalker saga, “Rise of Skywalker” came through with answers and more. From providing a resolute answer over Rey’s heritage to Snoke’s, the previous villain in “The Last Jedi,” origins, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” left no stone unturned. 

Also rising to the occasion were the plentiful callbacks to the previous generations of Star Wars lore. In the final climactic battle, seeing Lando Calrissian fighting alongside the modern stars of the saga is sure to give one a rush of nostalgia. 

Where “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” begins to run into trouble although, is in their attempt to deploy General Leia Organa as a major character, despite Carrie Fischer’s passing. Utilizing leftover footage from previous films, the Organa’s stitched together lines felt rigid and distracted from the overall plot of the movie, something Abrams could have done without. 

In addition to forcing Leia into the film, “The Rise of Skywalker” lacked the typical humor which has become a staple in the various Star Wars works of the past. Apart from a few lines here and there, the movie fell largely flat in the humor department. All sins are forgiven, however, with its impressive technical spectacles and consistent, high risk action sequences.

In spite of a few lapses, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” will satisfy age-old fans and novice viewers alike this holiday season.