Sorry, but the movie doesn't justify the hype!

Rating: 1/10 (1 January 2016)

I have to say after seeing the movie I am quite disappointed. Why, you might ask. Well, the story is not well executed, there is no character development, the action sequences are very hasty, etc.
My critics concerning the story: It is not unusual that a new tyranny arises when an empire has fallen, but unfortunately in this movie it is never explained how this happened. I like it when a movie gives the viewer some background information maybe wrapped up in some character development of the main character so you have a foundation to put the events happening in the movie into a context. But this movie starts nowhere and keeps the viewer completely in the dark. It is never really explained why Luke Skywalker left, what happened to the new Jedi Order, etc. A story based on a fragment of a map and search for Luke Skywalker is really thin. If the intention of the director by this approach was to build up some mystery and tension, then it failed. In my case no tension was built up, but annoyance. The whole movie tries to cover this lack of storytelling by action, action, action and more action only, and by citing the former Star Wars movies (it almost borders on being a copy/remake of the first Star Wars movie). Sorry, but to me this is just poor and lazy storytelling and directing.
My critics concerning the character development: To sum it up, none of the main characters has a real character development nor a background story to understand their motivation for their actions. Here and there you get a hint, but it is nothing conclusive.
Finn for instance. The only thing we get to know about him is, that he was taken as a child by the First Order to be trained and conditioned as a storm-trooper. So, why does he all of a sudden become a deserter? Just because one of his fellow stormtroopers is killed? Or because of killing innocent people? Sorry, but I don't buy that. A indoctrination or conditioning is not that easy to overcome.
And what about Rey? She lives on Jakku as a salvager of ship parts, but can fly a spaceship, knows how to fight with a light saber, and has a connection to the Force, etc. J.J. Abrams gives here and there a few hints, but nothing that would explain her background or her abilities. She stays pretty much a one dimensional character to whom the viewer can not relate to.
And then there is Kylo Ren. Sorry, but compared to Darth Vader, he is a very poor villain. Even Darth Maul in Episode 1 was a better villain. They try to give him more character by showing tough cruel decisions, outbursts of his bad temper, and the conflict in him, but in my opinion it does not work. And again the director gives a few hints of his background (maybe the revelation of him being the son of Han and Leia was too soon), but still he stays an one dimensional character and does not make a real impression to the viewer.
I could go on, but I think you got my point.
And then there is the action. The fights in space are okay, but nothing special. I didn't like the prequels Episode 1, 2, 3 of Star Wars that much, but if I compare the action of Episode 3 with the action of this movie, I would say Episode 3 was way better in this regard. Even 3D doesn't help to make the action sequences in the current movie look better.
So, as you noticed by now, I was pretty disappointed and I don't have any hopes, that the upcoming Star Wars movies will get any better.