Review of Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

I will keep this review spoiler-free for now, but will expand on it once a suitable amount of time has passed. 

-Nate 

Pros
I liked a lot of things about this movie.

• It established really strong connections back to the Original Trilogy, stronger than any of those from the previous two films. In this way, it doesn't seem like it was just tacked on in order to be able to sell more movie tickets.
  
• There were satisfying story arcs for each of the main new characters—Poe, Finn and Rey—something that cannot be said about The Lost Jedi.
  
• I was also pleased by the sense of closure that was provided for characters from the Original Trilogy.
  
• It moves along at a steady clip, and never becomes boring.
• Lando!

Cons
I didn't like a few details.

• A couple of scenes had tremendous scope, to the extent that I think it could have been reduced without diminishing their overall effect.
  
• There's a character connection established that leaves a big question unanswered; given that this is the final movie in the Skywalker saga, I wonder if we'll ever learn that answer.
  
• At times I think the movie could have slowed down some and taken its time to develop some of the scenes more.

Questions
There are some big looming questions, too.

• There's the character question connection that I mentioned above.
• Outside of the current series, The Mandalorian, and the other two that have been announced—featuring Obi-Wan Kenobi and Cassian Andor—I wonder what the feature holds for the Star Wars franchise.

All in all, I was quite satisfied with this movie; I'll say more after another viewing or two, and go into more detail once it seems safe to mention spoilers.