Good movie, but nothing more.

Rating: 7/10 (18 December 2015)

NO SPOILERS. I couldn't help but smile when the Lucasfilm logo filled the screen, and the main titles started rolling. This was the moment that millions of people around the globe have been waiting years for. A fresh start, a new director, no George Lucas (thank god), old cast, etc etc. This movie has to be amazing, right?
Well...that doesn't mean it's automatically bound to be an amazing film. Actually, in my opinion, its not even a great one. The plot is weak, the dialogue is weak, the pacing is weak. A lot of things, ultimately end up being weak. When it ended, I said to myself, "so that's it?" The film starts and you're thrown into the action right away, which isn't a bad thing, but from there it doesn't stop.
Highlights: Old and new cast together. There is lots of chemistry between them. Great casting choices for the new cast (Lots of people here would disagree, but I think otherwise). The light humour is a nice touch (again, lots would disagree, but I think otherwise). Action and special effects are great, to be expected. Audio FX and John Williams's score are also amazing. BB-8 is a huge highlight on its own.
Cons: Adam Driver as Kylo, I am not a fan of this casting choice at all. A weak story and weak dialogue. Extremely rushed pacing throughout. This movie could have benefited from an extra 20-30 mins of character and plot development. There are a few moments in this film, that I cannot discuss without spoiling them, that did not sit well with me at all.
I'm not trying to be a troll. But seriously, forget about the hype, this is not the best movie of the year, nor is it one of the best movies I've ever seen. Better than the prequels, but worse than the originals. I'd say its a good movie, and I'd certainly recommend it to people, but it's nothing more than that. Most of it is rather forgettable, and plays out like a fan service or a summer popcorn blockbuster that will appeal mostly to 12 year olds (I.e.: The Avengers). Which, I guess, is what Star Wars is all about. When I left, that smile I had at the beginning, was mostly gone.