The more I think about this movie the more I’d like to see a substantial paring down and reorganization of the scenes. The movie really works on a visual and emotional level, but a lot of the quips, jokes, and complicated exposition really detract from a simple story that is essentially about failure and remorse.
The movie also loses a lot of its emotional heft in strange editing. For example Luke’s death is handled very oddly.
In its current order:
Salt Flat: Luke tricks Kylo Ren. Ren Screams in anger.
Island: Luke collapses, then struggles to get up.
Hills: Rey looks back, and Leia looks troubled.
Island: Luke gets up.
Hills: Rey continues looking.
Island: Luke dies. Music becomes mournful.
Crait Base: First Order marches in, Kylo finds the dice, and looks up suddenly.
Crosscut between Rey and Kylo, then she shuts the door on him.
Crait Base: Dice disappear and pan out on Kylo.
Falcon flies away from Crait, with musical sting.
Falcon: Everyone has a happy reunion, then they sadly talk about Luke.
There are two issues with this. First, the dice don’t disappear when Luke dies. More importantly, the music of Luke’s death is interrupted by a short First Order theme which tramples on the moment.
I’d consider reordering it to play like this:
Salt Flat: Luke tricks Kylo Ren. Ren Screams in anger.
Island: Luke collapses, then struggles to get up.
Crait Base: First Order marches in, Kylo finds the dice.
Hills: Rey looks back, and Leia looks troubled.
Island: Luke gets up.
Hills: Rey continues looking.
Island: Luke dies. Music becomes mournful.
Crait Base: Kylo looks at dice as they disappear. He suddenly looks up.
Crosscut between Rey and Kylo, then she shuts the door on him.
Crait Base: Pan away from Kylo.
Falcon flies away from Crait. No music.
Falcon: Cut happy reunions. Start with the shot of Finn getting the blanket out of the Jedi book drawer, and leave the reunion for the final group shot.
JEDIT:
Actually, I would change the final ending of the movie further if it works to put the Luke Skywalker kid’s story right before the Canto Bight prison break.
The Falcon flies into camera, cutting the entrance to Hyperspace.
The Falcon scene happens without reunions as stated, ending with the group shot and no exterior in Hyperspace.
End of the Broom Boy scene with the ship streaking across the sky.
Cut to credits.