There has been an awakening, by the usher, because the movie put half the theater to sleep...

Rating: 2/10 (29 December 2015)

I was so anxious to see this film being a lifelong fan of Star Wars. The more I read about it or seen interviews over quite a long period of time it seemed to just be plus after plus after plus. VII promised models and puppets and little CGI: AWESOME! VII boasted a freshly written screenplay steering clear of Lucas: AWESOME! VII will be helmed by J. J. Abrams: AWESOME! VII had a thrilling trailer: AWESOME! VII promised total respect to the most brilliant film series in history: AWESOME! VII will present to the new generation a brand new bunch of stars with Daisy Ridley seeming perfect for the lead: AWESOME! VII will grace us once again with the return of the original cast: AWESOME!.....VII promised, for me anyway, one of the most exciting trips to a theater I will ever remember.....
The theater was sold out, every seat was filled, the audience couldn't wait another minute.....
I watched it all the way through with the rest of the audience, nobody at any point during the entire film had any type of emotional reaction: NOTHING.
I walked out of the theater and into the lobby. I stopped by the poster and stared at it. I honestly was void of any thoughts let alone words. I walked out of the theater to my car, opened it, got in, then stared at the parking lot. I finally asked myself why I felt as though I hadn't seen it yet. Maybe I was becoming burned out on Star Wars. I don't know. Maybe it's just I expected.....I don't know.....maybe.....
..........the strangest sensation came over me suddenly, I felt compelled to watch the prequels, ONLY the prequels, 1, 2 and 3!?!? I wanted to watch them, I NEEDED to watch them. This sensation quickly became a number one top priority?!?! I don't know why, but it had to be immediately?!?! Then I thought, YouTube, yeah?! I quickly typed, Anakin Vs. Obi Wan.....there I was, watching Episode 3 and the final battle on my tiny phone. John Williams iconic musical score blasted from it, both actors are thrilling, at each other's throats, the fire planet casted a breathtaking set piece beautifully digitally animated, the story is suspenseful as hell. The tension is emotionally supercharged!!! After that I brought up Yoda Vs. the Emperor; same reaction (and Yoda was entirely CGI)!!! Then the Pod race in 1; same thing.....then Obi Wan Vs. Jango Fett in 2; superb!!!
I then realized why VII left me so emotionless, because there was no George Lucas. His film making magic is what was missing. His gift for genuine emotion, suspense, originality and storytelling is nowhere to be found. VII opened my mind's eye to something. I always said that the prequels were so bad. They weren't. I was wrong. George, I owe you an apology. Those individual pieces on my phone was a hundred times more entertaining than the big screen full movie of VII. That's pretty bad.
What VII did for me: Give those prequels the proper credit they most certainly deserved. Any up front flaws that those prequels had can be respectfully disregarded, they were damn good films. When I got home I rewatched all three of them, they're awesome!
Disney, J.J., if this really is the best you can do then give it up now. Lucas is way out of your league. You do not have the Star Wars magic. Stop now, while you're ahead.