Now pay the price for your lack of vision! - What we expected we got, for better or worse.

Rating: 6/10 (17 December 2015)

"Brilliant! A work of true genius! The greatest most thrilling movie not only of this year but of the entire century! A fearless and daring work that reinvents the genre and reinvigorates it and sends it launching into a new age! A triumphant masterpiece and a film for the ages that cements JJ Abrams as one of the most brilliant talents of his generation, a true joy and the best night ever at the cinema!" – OK, just bill it to the usual address please Walt Disney inc, thanks!
I have to admit off the bat that I had no faith in this project since Disney obviously only bought it as a shameless excuse to sell things (Ok Lucas did a bit of that but it was for a reason) and JJ Abrams has never made a film I have enjoyed ever and worse destroyed 'Star Trek' with a series that goes beyond insulting. I am one of those people who saw the first 'Star Wars' as a kid and have followed it ever since, maybe not as religiously as some but it was always something important accompanying me throughout my life rather like the Bonds or Star Trek. I am also one of those few people who liked the prequels which, despite having many flaws, were interesting as they took the series in another direction and looked at how and why the Republic fell and the Empire arose from its ashes. It saddens me when people say 'Politics and philosophy are so boring! I just wanna see cool sheet blow up!' as if that's all sci-fi ever was (it wasn't when the original Star Wars came out. It was largely about boring politics and philosophy back then) However I decided to give it a chance since several movies I prepped myself to hate have surprised me this year and we went to last night's anticipation filled midnight show at London's new Picturehouse cinema.
This is only my opinion – Positives – The special effects are amazing (especially on a huge screen) and it's nice to see the original trilogy vehicles rendered in CGI. 3D is also great. Air battles now taking place in the sky and not space and the Empire now has a sizable female contingent including female Stormtroopers. A genuinely strong female lead also at last.
The negatives – Absolute lack of originality. Already obvious from the merchandising, there are no new vehicles or uniforms or worlds, this Universe hasn't advanced at all since 1983. Fan service alone. Nothing is made clear, who are the First Order, what is the Rebellion and the Republic, how did they split? When and how was the Death Moon built? In Episode IV this sense of mystery was acceptable, but that is no longer possible in so complex and established a universe. The story is a rehash of Episode IV and deliberately so 'let's give them more of the same!' Like 'SPECTRE' brings nothing new to the table just karaoke versions of what's already been. A modern YAL like 'stringing along' structure in which nothing is resolved and everything is always being saved for later, unlike the Lucas movies where each had a clear self-contained narrative. Characters are fairly dull compared to those of other series. New kids are off the peg stereotypes (surly girl, cool jive talking black dude, daring quipping handsome pilot, funny robot sidekick) and are never developed beyond. The villains are also incredibly weak, not just Kylo Ren who is the biggest sissy ever to wield a light sabre but the entire Empire (sorry, 'First Order') who are led by a wimp and his team of wimps and controlled by a poorly rendered CGI something who is also weak. This is more like an insurance office than an evil empire! – Most of the scenes and dialogues in the trailers aren't even in the film and a lot of the stuff in the merchandising isn't either. As a sort of 'anti-prequel' most of it is shot live but unfortunately looks as if it was shot in someone's back garden and is as alien and exotic as weekend in Brighton (UK seaside resort) – The musical score is awful and has none of the usual majesty or emotional power. I know they went to Williams for name value but if this is all he can come up with at his time of life then give Giacchino the next one please. Two iconic moments made pathetic and underwhelming, ie the lame and sorry opening crawl and the 'swirlout' ending which spins and spins and spins around the same unimpressive final image for 2 minutes in a desperate attempt to make it epic.
It feels more like some neat fan-made short on 'Youtube' or cutaways to one of those countless 'Star Wars' video games we've had since 1985 than anything in the original series. On its own it is a fun little science fiction adventure comparable to say 'Pacific Rim' or 'Jupiter Ascending' but, IMHO, it is in no way worthy enough to be considered part of a series that has become iconic exactly because they were original and daring and had something to say. Lucas and Spielberg birthed the series from their own love and passion and it showed in every frame of 6 movies. This is a shameless cash in and it shows in every frame. Doubtless it will make billions and receive rave reviews and be hailed as one of the greatest films ever made, something most people had already decided before they had seen it thanks to 2 years of relentless carpet-bomb marketing, rather like Obama was being hailed as the greatest president in history before he had even been elected.
There are dozens more of these to come so sit back and wait for your three yearly dose of 'Star Wars' with accompanying hype. Enjoy :-)