Fan service can kill your film

Rating: 6/10 (15 December 2016)

I was really looking forward to this film, as I love Star Wars but am very interested in seeing stories that don't involve a Skywalker as a lead. But sadly I was let down, so where to start?
(SPOILERS INCLUDED)
Fan Service: When you make a reference by placing a known character in a scene that doesn't need to be there, then you've just ruined your scene. Example: The rebels are on their way to the battle and tensions are mounting, it's getting serious as we approach our climax! Oh wait here's R2 and C3-P0, remember them, right? Then continue on with the scene. What was the point other than to pander to the audience? Having them stops the natural flow of tension that was building.
The same with Ponda Baba and Dr. Evazan. Why were they in it? That city was then destroyed so they must of got out. They don't push the story forward in any way so it's wasted screen time, distracting too because it draws us away from our heroes mission, just to look at characters we know.
It's sad that Disney feels the need to jam pointless fan service in, as it makes the audience seem stupid, like that can't understand it's in the same universe without seeing R2-D2.
Darth Vader: Completely unnecessary, even if that lightsaber fight was fun. The first scene with him wasn't right, as he didn't look or sound the same. Plus he said a pun that was so bad I actually face palmed. When he shows up at the end of the film, once our leads have all died, he has an action scene? In a time that completely doesn't suit it. Before our actors die, yes, but not after as it overshadows their sacrifice.
Overall: This film is a bit messy, going to maybe 8 different planets/moons/locations which just feels all over the place. It never takes a breather and the pace is too fast and I feel it would have benefited for another 20 mins run time. I found Jin unlikeable and forced, no pun intended, and I wish she had an extra 5 minutes at the start of the film of her life, maybe a scene on why she was arrested, then we could spend time with her and get to know her? Rather then just here's Jin, now you have to care about her cause her dad is a pretty cool guy.
This film for me felt a bit emotionless, it lacked a real heart as nothing moved me, not even main character deaths, and that's a failure of the director. The only deaths that had any substance and weight to them were Chirrut and Baze'a deaths as they had such a tight bond and Chirruts faith, when facing his own death, gave Baze such strength.
Recommendation: If you love Star Wars and don't care about the quality of what you're watching, you'll eat this up