The Force is Strong with this Review

Rating: 8/10 (17 December 2016)

And it pretty much has to be, because this is not your typical review. I will however try to make it useful for present and future readers.
1. This reviewer saw the original-original in theatres. I am not looking for bragging rights merely trying to establish some cred.
2. The original was awesome. However at the time I saw it more as a self-contained story. Millions of others however saw it as a cross between a video game and a saga without end.
3. In my view none of the following SW films came even close to the power of the original save for the Force Awakens and for that I credit those reviewers who deconstructed the 2015 film and found that the writing team had matched the action arcs to the original and in effect "recreated" the impact of the original.The cliff hanger ending however was cheesy.
4. This film is obviously designed to cater to the millions who, as above, see the franchise as endless and ongoing.
5. As a film, the current film does not come alive until the last 45 minutes. That is a bit late. Props for turning tiny Felicity Jones into an action figure and props for taking Asia's top action star and casting him in what might be the biggest role in his career.
6. Note the timestamp on this review. The last line of the film is about hope and today by coincidence Michelle Obama said that the 2016 US election had taken away hope from America. One wonders if, when this review is found in the IMDb database 100 years from now, America itself will actually be playing out the Star Wars saga in real time?