Unoriginal and mechanical exercise in franchise extension elevated by a couple of strong performances and technically impressive set-pieces

Rating: 3/10 (20 January 2020)

It's basically an enjoyable film but that is a very low bar and easily reached simply by stringing together a few epic set-pieces, executed the bombast and CGI power at one would expect of such a production.
But despite all the noise, and seemingly endless narrow escapes, there is very little actual sense of suspense or drama; and most events felt like arbitrary plot devices to set up the next cycle of meaningless quest / jeopardy / narrow-escape.
The exceptions to this are the scenes featuring Adam Driver Kylo Ren, who is charismatic, creepy and somehow pitiable all at once; and Daisy Ridley as Rey, who does bring a bit of steel and charisma to a character who risks coming across as rather boring.
I also do not welcome the Lord-of-the-Rings-ification of the Star Wars Universe. I was half expecting a dragon and couple of Orcs to appear at times.
Saw this with my six year-old son. At one point he said "Ugh, not *another* planet"... Nailing quite well the apparently interminable planet-hopping. From the mouths of babes...