Better than I expected.

Rating: 7/10 (8 January 2020)

No spoilers! I promise.
I have always watched the Star Wars franchise for the special effects rather than the plot and characterisation. I read in my younger days serious science fiction writers, such as Arthur C. Clark or Stanislaus Lem, and there has never been, in my view, any serious science fiction in Star Wars! Just cod mythology. But done with verve and excellent special effects.
But, as I say, the special effects as were gorgeous as ever and I have given it quite a high rating because I found it unexpectedly moving. I won't say why, of course, but J.J. Abrams is a first class sci-fi director and it shows. He rejuvenated the Star Trek franchise and he has rejuvenated this. The references and recapitulations of previous Star War films was expertly and movingly done.
There was almost a Shakespearian depth to some of the plotting.
It is interesting that Mark Hamill said that George Lucas would work without actors if he could .Well, there was no clunckiness to the script of this film and I think it tidied everything up in a nice Tattooine bow as neatly as one could have hoped.
May the force be with you.