Finally I can look at this thread!
Just got back from seeing it. Overall: very entertaining, quite good, but not quite great. In the continuum of Star Wars material I’d put it behind Star Wars and ESB, just ahead of RotJ, and well ahead of the prequels, in quality. Specific opinions:
The Great
- Starfighter & Falcon battles rock. Great to see a good pilot who’s a good pilot, not a jedi (I miss Wedge).
- Atmospheric combat (can I get some love in X-Wing for in-atmo now, please? I want to do Hoth, and now whatever the name of the green water planet is).
- BB-8 stealing the show, and a practical effect to boot. I loved that little droid. One flaming thumb up!
The Good
- Character development, done early, but succinctly. Really enjoyed the three new heroes.
- Hits the major Star Wars themes
- The repeated theme of “family” echoing through the series
- Lived-in universe (well, except the First Order)
- Cantina filled with weird creatures, check.
- Subtle throw-backs to the originals (“I’ve got a bad feeling”, the trash compactor, etc)
- Humanized Stormtroopers
- Some great mysteries. Who is Rey? Who is Snoke? How’d Kylo get corrupted? Who was Max Von Sydow’s character, and what was his relationship with Luke?
- Han/Leia motivations and relationship.
- Han being pirate/smuggler-y
- Ren punching himself in his wound to get his Dark Side mojo up. Clearly, he’s conflicted. And yet nicely psychotic.
- No bouncing Jedi fights? I’m looking at you, Yoda.
- Admiral Ackbar, back in the saddle. Wish he’d said “It’s a Trap!”
The Bad
- How’d Poe come back? Jarring Deus-Ex, when he was wearing his jacket flying (assuming he ejected).
- Captain Phasma is “Boba Fett in RotJ” competent
- Some missing links. What’s going on in the New Republic, and can we learn a little more about the relationship to the Resistance? Why isn’t the Republic publicly resisting?
- Sometimes, this universe is just too small. Map to a location in the uncharted Unknown Regions of the galaxy? Check, we’ll be there in 15.
- Luke pulling a Yoda, running and hiding for 20+ years. Such wusses, these Jedi.
- Rabid octopuses on a freighter scene … pretty unnecessary.
- My wife saying “Look, it’s Gollum!” when Snoke is introduced. Guess they need a different mo-cap actor than Andy Serkis, ‘cause he only does one character.
- We blew up the New Republic Senate (I think … seemed vague) and basically no one notices.
- Cliffhanger … you just leave it there and we have to wait how long for resolution?
The Ugly
- First Order as mustachio-twirling eeeevil. Some depth, or at least development, please? Why are they obsessed with order? Tarkin had more depth.
- Yet Another SuperWeapon trope. Really, we break into the Death Star to rescue the girl and then blow it up after a major character dies on a lightsaber …again? Especially when combined with RotJ’s “blow up the shield generator so the attack can proceed” subplot.
4 stars out of 5.