My favorite part of the whole film was finally seeing what a droid does aboard an X-Wing other than beeping complain.
Okay, it's not quite my favorite, but I certainly loved it.
Actually, my favorite part of the film is how it subverted a lot of expectations and tropes (well...not all of them). Hearing words of wisdom from Luke upon receiving his old lightsaber, Luke teaching Rey to lift out his X-Wing (or himself doing to leave), grand expectations about Snoke's role in the galaxy, grander expectations about Rey's parentage were just some of the many expectations that were dashed aside for a better, more unexpected story.
I particularly love how Rey's parents are nobodies. For me, there is no greater explanation and anything else would've been a letdown. Instead of her being yet another character of destiny, she's anybody who can be anything. Any person could develop strong Force potential, which is further compounded by the slave boy at the end of the film who casually draws the broom towards himself. Rey is better served as a character this way and I applaud Rian Johnson and whoever else made the decision to
not make her the child of Luke, Obi-Wan, Han and Leia, the Force, Snoke, or whoever else fans speculated in the last two years.
I also liked how dire this film. Our heroes fail, both individually and as a whole. Luke failed himself and Ben by briefly succumbing to his fears. Rey failed to save Ben from the Dark Side. Finn and Rose failed to get the codebreaker and failed again by bringing in DJ who betrays them. Poe failed the Rebellion by not trusting Holdo. Holdo failed the Rebellion by not telling them she has a plan at least. The Rebellion failed itself and was nearly wiped out entirely.
But there is a spark of hope. Luke sacrificed himself for the good of the Rebellion in the most natural ending of the character. Finn and Rose left a great impression on the Canto Bright slave boy and who knows how many others. The allies may have not responded to the call but that doesn't mean they don't support cause. They just need some encouragement. And the surviving Rebellion has become a ragtag team that would make Blake, Kira, Crichton, and Mal proud.
I need to see the film a second time before I vote on a final grade, but tentatively it's an A- and on the same level as
Rogue One and above
The Force Awakens.