Nothing New to Hope

Rating: 5/10 (20 December 2015)

Massive Star Wars fan having watched the original trilogy at least a minimum of 300 times each.
I had high hopes for the Force Awakens as many. I was deeply disappointed. The entire movie felt like a homage rather than a film which stands on it's own two feet. I don't mind the occasional nod and wink to the original trilogy, but Force Awakens borrows WHOLESALE scenes and lines. This, to me, is unforgivable. A lot of the negative IMDb reviews are actually spot on, but the biggest issue I have with the film is character motivation.
What exactly is Rey's motivation in learning about the Force? I just don't get a strong enough drive for her to want to learn and be trained. Daisy did a great job for sure...but her character just doesn't have a viable grounding unlike Luke, who had real intent and inner motivation to come to the Force.
Similarly, Kylo Ren. You just don't get him. Was he abandoned as a child? Abused? Neglected long enough to be turned to the darkside. His childish impudence is seen again and again that it becomes a sick joke (twice where he trashes a room with his saber).
Finn just suddenly has a reawakening? How convenient! Still, I think he's an interesting character and could contribute from a rather unique perspective moving forward.
How could they kill Han Solo this way? It's so pointless and disrespectful. After all that he's accomplished, he bows out so lamely. We shouldn't even had witness his death.
Why is Luke just standing there? He looks so stoned and in a daze almost. By now he should be a wizened Great Jedi Master...but he looks so lost. He's just standing there looking morose without a single word.
I could go on and on...but I feel sad that this is what they've perverted Star Wars into. Timothy Zahn's Thrawn trilogy were far superior and plausible than this mess of a movie by JJ.