It is just a remake of Episode IV (A New Hope)

Rating: 2/10 (20 December 2015)

I am a massive Star Wars fan. I loved the 1st trilogy, I did not like the prequels. As a standalone movie, this movie is a good movie: good actors, great effects (and it is good to see they did not use only CGI like in the terrible prequels), the actions scenes very very well filmed, and last but not least, it was awesome to see the old cast (Solo, Chewie, R2-D2, C-3PO...). However, this felt like a pure and simple remake of Episode IV (A New Hope). There is a big sentiment of "deja vu", and a big lack of creativity. Some examples: 1) In Episode IV, the plot starts in Tatooine, a desert/sand dune planet. In The Force Awakens, the plot starts in Jakku, also a desert/sand dune planet. 2) In Episode IV, Princess Leia leaves a message in a droid (R2-D2) for Obi-Wan and the Empire will try to find that droid. In The Force Awakens, Po Dameron leaves a message in a droid (BB-8) for the Resistance and the First Order will try to find that droid. 3) In Episode IV, the Empire has a Death Star that destroys planets. In The Force Awakens, the First Order has a Starkiller Base that also destroys planets. 4) In Episode IV, the Rebels meet up to make a plan to destroy the Death Star and you see a large map of the Death Star and its one weakness (destroy that specific one reactor). In The Force Awakens, the Resistance meet up to make a plan to destroy the Starkiller Base and you see a large map of the Starkiller Base and its one weakness (shoot in that one specific spot) 5) In Episode IV, there is someone in the background that pulls strings (the Emperor), you don't know much about him yet except that Darth Vader works for him and is his apprentice. In The Force Awakens, there is someone in the background that pulls strings (supreme leader Snoke), you don't know much about him yet except that Kylo Ren works for him and is his apprentice.
And the list goes on...
To summarise: overall, an entertaining movie, lots of action, good development of the main 2 young characters (Rey and Finn), awesome to see the old cast. But if you have already seen and liked the 1st trilogy, you will see that this new movie lacks of creativity and is just a remake of the first Star Wars, re-adapted for the new generation.