Before the movie there was a "thank you for 42 years" clip to the fans and it had my favorite version of the SW theme, the one from this movie's trailers.

Unspoilery thoughts about the film: I feel weird, kind of torn. I mean, it wasn't bad, there were a lot of things I liked (though it didn't feel as Star Wars as it should have), but it turned out I'd had expectations and they weren't met. Maybe I'm also feeling somewhat bereft. Maybe I'll feel better about it once the story had time to sink in. Generally I like stories better once I've gotten over my unfulfilled expectations. Huh, I just realized that the only trilogy finale that wasn't disappointing was Episode 6. But even that one was disappointing in hindsight, because peace didn't last very long!


Huh, I was a bit worried the theme music would make me cry, but apparently I already got that out last month when I saw an orchestra perform it (and other pieces by John Williams and also Hans Zimmer) live. Phew!

Ha, the first paragraph of the crawl amused me. Messages from a dead person being broadcast all over the place? How very Sherlock!

What was the point of that first scene? That felt random. And I'm still not a fan of these movies starting with action. Gimme the plot!

Whoa, physical Palpy! I was convinced we'd see our first evil Force ghost instead of undead him. But it's really better that way, because evil Force ghosts were just too depressing to be true, because then you'd never manage to get rid of the bad guys.
That whole Exelon (or whatever) stuff felt unreal.

Ha, Rey is someone! I mean, I liked her as "no one", but obviously we still needed a traditional identity reveal!

"Master Leia" ;_;! Finally she gets to do proper Jedi stuff. OMG, a woman training a woman! Speaking of women: If I'm not mistaken, this was the most gender-balanced Star Wars movie ever.

Ugh, why are Rey and Poe fighting?! He was so grumpy for a sizeable part of the movie - took all the fun out of his character. And what for? Was he jealous he had to share his BFF with Rey?!

Aw, a young Mon Calamari. And judging by the credits, not just anyone, but Admiral Ackbar's kid!
And hellooo, Dominic Monaghan!

Ha, I recognized Lando right away! Was the mask shaped like the one he had on in Ep. 6? Was it the cape or whatever he wore? Hm.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! So healing with the Force is a thing!

More whoa as Rey accidentally unleashes Force lightening. But I didn't believe for a moment they'd actually kill off Chewie or I would have cried.

Poe said "They win by making you think you're alone." or something to that effect and isn't it tragically true?! This is what I keep seeing on CNN, how those in power in the US and the UK try to convince their respective peoples that most are on the Convervatives' side and everyone should just give in.

Whoa, Rey and Kylo duel while not in the same place.

Hux was the spy, huh. Gotta love bad guys backstabbing each other, very helpful!

Rey Palpatine?!?! At first I thought Kylo is lying to her, to trick her into hating Palpatine more and help with killing him. I was also doubtful because I had gotten rather fond of the idea that she was a Kenobi or a Skywalker.

Aw, more First Order defectors!

Leia overexerts herself to contact Ben and she dies. So we really did end up with one member of the original trio dying per film. At least my fave survived until the last movie! That reminds me that I haven't mentioned how nice it was to see her thanks to unused footage! That back and forth with the lightsaber handover was a bit silly though. Leia said it was Luke's - so did she repair it? I'm assuming she could, since building one is part of Jedi training. ...Which makes me wonder why Rey doesn't have her own.

Anyway, Kylo is dying. Ha, it did feel like Rey healing that huge worm was setting up this power for later use.

So with Leia having died, I was disappointed, because I thought we'd been too far into the movie for Luke's Force ghost to appear. This had been another expectation of mine: Leia would be too busy with leading the Resistance (or wasn't versed well enough in the Force) and Rey would be trained by Luke.

And speaking of ghosts: Han \o/! I was so confused for a moment, because I thought he was a Force ghost, which would have made no sense. Can't remember if it's just fanon that Han was somewhat Force sensitive, but either way: to become a Force ghost, you need to train for it and you can't tell me Han did.
"Father..." - "I know." Oh god, this family! ♥
Ben turns! \o/

Planet-destroying smaller-than-Death-Stars ships - unholiest of shits!

Aw, Poe finally gets the promotion he wanted but can't handle it, so he shares command with his BFF! My babies, I adore you so!

Yes, finally Force-ghost Luke! And he's finally raising his fighter himself! Better late than never, haha.

Leia's lightsaber!
Although the supersmooth faces were creepy, it was really nice to see the flashback to Luke training Leia!

Vinette Robinson? Yes, it's her, the credits confirm! How funny to have someone from Sherlock in this movie.

Have I mentioned that Rey & Ben fighting together is the best thing ever?

Apparently you can't only share life with the Force, but also take it. And so Palpy regenerates. *shudder*

They killed Snap! You bastards!

OMG, Wedge!!!

Aw, Rey hears from Obi-Wan and all those other Jedi! ...Holy shit, that means Denis Lawson and Ewan McGregor finally both appeared in the same Star Wars movie!

Yeah, so I was wondering how Palpatine was supposed to be defeated, if Rey can't kill him. And they've gone for the Harry Potter solution - nice!

Wait, so Finn is Force-sensitive?!

And this is where I explain my beef. Ben revives Rey. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing that he does that, I love it! What annoys me is that is was possible although she had already died. This whole film is full of things we didn't know were possible, so it feels just like a parade of increasingly egregious asspulls.

Whoa, didn't see the Reylo kiss coming! Felt weird. Maybe because I don't ship them romantically or maybe I was already subconsciously aware that they're kinda related (since Palpatine made Anakin with the Force). But then incestious smooching is a Star Wars tradition! XD

It would have been really nice and refreshing to have the redemption of a major baddie not end in his death!

Did I see D'Acy kissing a woman? That was a downer, because I hoped the same-sex couple we were promised would be Finn/Poe. I mean, come on, these 2 are cute as fuck together! And then Poe goes all jealous on a close friend of Finn - what was I supposed to think? I hadn't given up hope until they reunited and there was no kiss. So that's how Johnlock shippers feel.

And speaking of love interests: Not as a love interest for Finn, but in general I missed Rose. It felt pointless to have that big introduction in the previous film and then reduce her role to a minor one.

Oh and then there was Zorii. I probably should have taken the hint, when they introduced Poe's old (almost-?)girlfriend. Oh right, at the end there was this look between them. I didn't quite take that hint either, because I thought, maybe he's just clearing things with her and once she shook her head, he'd be free to move on. Have I gone delusional?! I think I have.

Okay, on to happier things: Finally a medal for Chewie! I can't believe how long it took to right that wrong.

I don't know if I was in the wrong mood today. It should have been moving when Rey went to Luke's old home on Tatooine and buried his and Leia's lightsabers, but I didn't feel it. I kind of expected her to have come there to establish a new Jedi temple, so the disappointment might have spoilt that moment. But then I was a bit moved when Rey saw Luke & Leia and took the last name Skywalker.

All through the credits I was hoping to hear that epic, most moving version of the theme that was heard in the trailers. ...Ooh, if I had known earlier that it's on YouTube! That part at 2:09 ;___;