Exactly What We Needed.

Rating: 8/10 (22 January 2016)

Despite the criticism, this film is a huge success. People will always be annoyed about how similar movies are but what they forget is that too much change is a bad thing.I admit, after watching for the third time just 2 days ago, I certainly feel there are a lot of elements of the original film and saga. However, none of the similarities are bad things. For Instance the plot of the movie is the same: 1. Droid has important plans to help the Rebels (The Resistance) 2. Bad guy is related to one of the heroes 3. Han Solo and the new hero save a girl from the Empire (First Order) 4. Rebels (resistance) blow up the planet destroying station and escape 5. Everyone lives happily ever after.
Despite the obvious similarities though it is different. If anything its bigger, and I don't mean the space station necessarily. Obviously it is clear the First Order have upgraded from the Death Star in size but they are still as incompetent as ever when it comes to making it indestructible. I mean to turn of the defenses all you have to do is put in password? I think not.
We fall for our characters immediately, especially BB8, and even fall for the original cast again. Even though we only see Luke at the end for a 4 minute staring contest at the end of the film, it is enough to tell us he will have a much bigger role in Episode VIII.
Kylo Ren is a great villain. For some reason as soon as Darth Vader walked on screen in Episode IV he was hated by all, but it was clear it wouldn't be same for Kylo Ren. We first see him when a village on Jaku is been terrorized by Stormtroopers, that is of course before Kylo Ren shows up. Ren decapitates a villager, who gives a map to Luke Skywalker to Poe Dameron, but it isn't enough to make us hate him like we did Darth Vader. That is before he kills Han Solo, his father, in front of Rey and Finn. I mean who kills their dad and leaves them to fall into a dark abyss? Well Darth Vader does. Although Luke isn't Darth Vader's dad (although that would be one hell of a twist) the idea still stands. Vader (almost) kills Luke and leaves him to fall into an abyss, whilst Kylo Ren actually kills Han Solo and leaves him to fall into an abyss. Now it may be different for you, but I definitely hate Kylo Ren.
Coming back to that villager in the opening scene. It is clear he is very important and is even mentioned as a former ally of the republic, I believe we will see more of this character in the spin off film later this year Rogue One:A Star Wars Story.
Now there is still plenty of speculation about what will happen in the next film (Episode VII) and whether it will follow many of the other films plots but I remain confident that whatever they do won't be as bad as Jar Jar Binks.