A JJ Abrams product: a solid buiding, empty inside

Rating: 6/10 (22 December 2015)

JJ Abrams "rebooted" Star Trek (he admitted to knowing ALMOST nothing about the Trek universe). Fanfare, box office hit. And he and his script writers almost destroyed what Roddenberry, Braga and others did through the years.
Now he was given Star Wars. Of which he said he was a fan. Doubtful, as he final result is filled with 21st Century Hollywood clichés (ridiculous one-line jokes which destroy suspension of disbelief; Beverly Hills style of TV characters and their pathetic body language; louder-and-bigger perspective, reminiscent of Dean Devlin's philosophy)...and is utterly, sadly predictable.
****Slight hints of SPOILERS ahead****
Why would George Lucas (already super-rich and super-powerful) relinquish his rights on Star Wars and deliver them to Disney/Abrams...is beyond me. He must have known that the end result would be a pastiche of different action movies/series, unimaginative, incoherent, though massive doses of popcorn consumption level of box office success.
George Lucas is to blame. JJ Abrams is not talented enough for the job, but that is the way he works, the way he is. By letting go of his "child", Lucas left it for the sharks to feed off of it (though I doubt this "episode" will reach anywhere near Cameron's Avatar box office heights).
What's left to say? Daisy Ridley, powerful actress and physically perfect for the job. She alone can hold the franchise above water.
Han Solo. Harrison Ford is...Harrison Ford, and his character is a good one for the ages.
BB8, C3P0, R2D2 - The good old droids are back, and are joined by a lovable little droid.
Chewbacca - fun and lovable as always.
Poe Dameron and General Hux - good characters, good acting behind them (Domhnall Gleeson has a classic hateful Empire demeanour).
Most important of all, with "episode" VII there comes a promise of potentially good Star Wars universe movies to follow (Rogue One and VIII and IX).
We shall see...as long as JJ Abrams and his clones keep their hands off of it.