Bit disappointing, predictable and not as good as SW7

Rating: 5/10 (1 April 2017)

I found myself falling asleep during the movie (even though I was well rested) which is always a bad sign... Something failing to keep the interest.
Won't say a lot, while the CGI was great, especially in the latter scenes where a lot is done is broad daylight, open spaces and against a marina background (always looks a lot more realistic when there are real-world backdrops), I thought the plot was very predictable with few surprises. Planet-busting Death Star, rebel scientist forced to build puts flaw in core reactor - spelled out in embarrassing clarity DOH! - must get plans for, and destroy...
Jyn Erso seemed more like a little-girl-lost rather than a feisty Leia - was this deliberate? Stormtroopers always look impressive in their white armour, but how come they fall like tenpins at the first whiff of a blaster? Only at the end does Darth Vader show what Imperial forces should be capable of.
I've long thought that the way battle is conducted in Star Wars movies is very WWII-ish, I don't see much evidence of advanced or futuristic methods, even though the machinery may be different.
How is it that star-cruisers (or even stormtroopers) can't be protected by forcefields, as can an entire planet? Anyway, having one rammed and brought down in rather conventional way sure looks impressive - fans are happy and I guess in the end it's all about keeping the $$$ flowing in.
Getting the Death Star plans out of that assembly looked suspiciously like 20th century storage technology dressed-up, complete with giant floppy/hard-disk... hmmm. Again it makes for the drama but is not very advanced.
As I am a SF nut I will definitely keep this one in my collection if only for the great CGI scenes... too bad about the cerebral lack.