OK, I have to get this down in writing because I’m absolutely buzzing, but I can’t do it without giving away some major spoilers.
So if you haven’t seen it and don’t want spoilers, then now is your chance to scroll past or leave the site.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

IF YOU CARRY ON AND COMPLAIN NOW, IT’S YOUR OWN FAULT!!

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I went to see Rise of Skywalker at midnight last night.
The whole thing is now a blur of emotions and I am going to have to see it again, and soon!!
This is now going to be me completely rambling about the bits that resonated with me the most as I remember them, and I will say one last time, it is going to be filled with spoilers.

Overall, I absolutely loved the film.
It was action from start to finish, it was funny and it was very emotional.

I only had 2 niggles, and the first one was that General Hux really wasn’t used. He had a few funny moments with Kylo who had obviously whipped him into submission since the last film and I understand that making him a mole played quite a crucial part of the story, but the flippant way that General Pryde shot him, did not sit well with me.
The only other niggle was that Ben was not seen as a force ghost with his Mother and Luke when they appeared at the end of the movie.
Other than those two little moments, the rest of the film was amazing.

The ships!!
There are more ships in this film than ANY of the others.
Palpatines ‘Final Order’ destroyers are really pretty and the fact that each and every one of the them is a planet killer was quite frightening.
I’ve always loved Star Destroyers and these were particularly ominous.
The turn out of rebels is monstrous, and no doubt, there will be fans (like my husband) who will be ship spotting from now on and will be pausing the DVD when it comes out to try and identify them.

Lando and Wedge were both thrown into the mix for good measure, although it almost felt like JJ trying to appease the die hard fans.

Daisy did a great job of struggling with her emotions when she found out who she was and her fights with Kylo are going to be legendary.
The fight on the downed Death Star in the middle of raging seas is STUNNING!!

Speaking of Kylo…. OMG!!
Adam delivered yet another astounding performance.
He started the movie looking really broody and angry and taking no shit from anyone and as the film progressed, he slowly changed until he became Ben Solo again, and he was smoking hot and very Gucci!!
OH the angst!!
When Leia called to him through the force and gave up the last of her power to pull him back to the light before she died, Adam just runs with his emotions. The anguish is palpable…… and just when you think it couldn’t get any more angsty….

WHAM!!!!!!

Hey kid!
The words are heard as Ben stares helplessly across the raging seas after the experience with his Mother.
As Ben turns around, he is once again confronted by his Father.
This scene is almost a mirror of the bridge scene in Force Awakens, only this time, Ben listens. When Adam delivers a line calling Han Dad…. he is practically sobbing, and so was I!!

Carrie Fisher was stealthily made to play a major part throughout the film, and the moment she laid down her life to pull Ben back to the light really shatters your heart.

Ben Solo running to rescue Rey, sans lightsabre and with blaster in hand, is a site to behold.
The double showdown with Rey against the Sith Troopers and Ben against the Knights of Ren is really well done, and I love the nifty new trick of Kylo/Ben being able to take things from Rey over distances via the force.

Now, the finale.
I have always known, deep down, that Kylo/Ben was never going to survive this movie. Ben would never have been able to forgive himself for the things that he’d done, so I think it was absolutely fitting that he gave up his life to save Rey.
Not only did he save her, but he conquered the ULTIMATE Jedi/Sith power and brought Rey back from the dead, but it comes at a cost.
There is one fleetingly beautiful moment when she kisses him and he gives her the happiest smile I have ever seen delivered by Adam, before he falls back to ground and dies.

Both Leia and Ben then fade away into the force which is why I am a little annoyed that Adam wasn’t seen as a force ghost when Leia and Luke showed up at the end. It would have been nice to know that Ben was with his Mother.

This film is going to be loved by some and hated by others.
It has something for everyone.
It panders to the lifelong fans but also to the new fans, it will be interesting to see what kind of reactions it gets after it opens in the US today.

As for me…. the plan is to go and see it again today!!
Time to take in everything I missed the first time and time to see the gorgeous Ben Solo and his blaster heroics!