The latest film in the Star Wars franchise combined all the old elements that I really did love about the Star Wars' of old as well as many new elements which the franchise has been lacking until now - most importantly: Representation.
Sure, there could (and should) have been some LGBT representation; it would've been as easy as Rose losing a wife instead of a sister - which would've only taken the changing of one word in the script.
But let's focus on the positives: There's a tonne of racial diversity; Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico) is from a Vietnamese background, John Boyega from a Nigerian background, Oscar Isaac from a Guatemalan background and scattered throughout the cast and extras are numerous people of colour from different backgrounds, all on equal footings.
That, and I don't think I've ever seen so many powerful women in one film; never mind a space drama / action-adventure full of high-speed shoot-outs and lightsaber combat.
Leia (the late Carrie Fisher) continues to dominate as the head of the Resistance and her second-in-command Admiral Amilyn Holdo (Laura Dern) is badass, unrelenting and suffers no fools. Plus the pair have a heartwarming, beautiful friendship and mutual respect which actually gets its own moment on screen, which feels important too - they're not just leaders, they're people, and they're women who hold each other up.
All throughout the film there are women flying Starfighters, fighting and doing all kinds of jobs for the Resistance.
And in the lead role, Rey (Daisey Ridley) gets to follow a path traditionally reserved for men. One in which she finds herself and her purpose, gets to learn from a master in her field and undertake a hero's mission.
The film's greatest moments were delivered by women. First, the breathtaking scene in which Admiral Holdo singlehandedly destroys the film's looming threat with an explosion so beautiful and powerful the audience literally gasped in the silence of its aftermath.
And also when Rey is taken behind enemy lines and fights her way out, side by side with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) in an epic lightsaber battle.
This one matters because they fight entirely as equals; Rey never needs saving, Kylo never once assumes she does, no one on the opposite side underestimates her, and in the end, she winds up saving Kylo with an epic passing of a lightsaber which made the entire cinema crowd erupt into applause.
Then, she tries one more time to appeal to Kylo's better nature but when she realises it's a lost cause, she doesn't get sentimental or fall in love - which happens more than you'd think - and follow him blindly, she knows when to call it quits and doesn't hesitate to move against him when the time comes.
The way ethnicity and gender are depicted so prominently yet play zero role in what people do or how they're perceived is refreshing and impressive and a win for the franchise, Disney, and fans.
Just look at this glorious reaction Kelly Marie Tran had to seeing a young fan dressed as her character and tell me representation doesn't matter:
And, on top of all of this, the movie was aesthetically stunning, brilliantly shot, and a riot to watch.
The story is fresh and compelling and the passing on of the metaphorical baton to a new generation of both heroes and fans is a promising nod to the future of the franchise which I am beyond excited to see.
