How to make a Harry Potter movie using only Star Wars elements

Rating: 3/10 (28 December 2015)

SPOILERS AHEAD!
Review of Episode VII - The Force Awakens
I was 13 when I watched The Phantom Menace. As I left the cinema really excited about the new universe that had just been introduced to me, I had to come to terms with the fact that everybody else had hated the movie. Sixteen years later, I watched the Force Awakens, struggled out of the theater holding the pieces of my shattered star wars heart, only to find a crowd of cheering fans and applauding critics.
To me J.J. Abrams' movie was only welcome for one thing: it helped me find the thread that weaved episodes one through six. As hard as that may have been once, namely through some less laudable aspects of episodes II and III, this movie brings out all that made Star Wars and that is absent in this new piece. And therefore as the positive person that I am, I will choose to center my review of the new episode around its positive aspects, which are to bring out by comparison all that was great in the first six episodes.
Star Wars has always been a legend of peace, both in its story and in the way it was shot. The rhythm, the framing, reveal a slow paced dignity that holds despite the vivid action that is known to Star Wars. Somehow, George Lucas' movies are more like image tracks to John Williams' music, where the true soul of the saga lies. Any fan can tell you that the Force (or Luke's) theme embodies entirely all the appeal in Star Wars, this mystique longing for a forgotten virtue.
By contrast, in episode seven the music is seemingly unnoticeable, not because John Williams lost his talent, but because the movie has no soul of its own. It is a work that was blatantly designed to please fans. The only noticeable track was thrown in at the very end just before Luke is revealed, since the perspective of wrapping up soon was the movie's only moment of glory to be felt.
The six episode tragedy of Anakin Skywalker is a search for peace. Its two parts are the fall and the redemption of the Jedi, reflected in the tale of Darth Vader. Palpatine was the metaphorical embodiment of violence and aggression, a force that drives both sides in a war, whether good intentions are involved or not. The slow collapse of the Jedi Order into a vortex of destruction they fell in to save the Republic contrasts with Qui- Gon's discovery and Obiwan's sacrifice which are the true moments of salvation of the Jedi. Obiwan's death is his real moment of victory -- not all his battles during the Clone Wars -- when he finally conquers aggression, lowers his guard and becomes more powerful than Darth Vader could possibly imagine.
The fans, myself included, brought up in a culture of video games, will just see Obiwan's redemption as one more ghostly superpower to be used for violence. And J.J.Abrams is no exception. The new story is about fighting for good, which the six originals were not. Luke and Obiwan only win when they let go of their aggression, as Yoda told Luke on Dagobah: Luke defeats the Emperor right after he tosses away his lightsaber and by doing so brings back the Sith Lord's apprentice to the light side.
The prequels might have been bad Star Wars movies but they were Star Wars movies in heart and soul. The Force Awakens is more of a Harry Potter movie disguised as Star Wars, both in the way it was shot and in its philosophy. Compare Maz Kanara "We must fight evil" to Yoda's "War makes no one great.". J.J.'s teenage emo Kylo Ren goes as far as portraying this masquerade almost comically by wearing a mask like Darth Vader, not because he's got any real reason for it, but simply because he wants to imitate his grandfather.
So it is no wonder that The Force Awakens is a goobedegoop of inconsistencies because it is nothing more than a Star Wars MEGA HITS 2015 mixed tape of the sort you may buy at your local gas station. It's an all-the-fans-asked-for with Episode IV's plot line for an excuse to be. As J.J. Abrams parades in front of us all fans asked for after the prequels -- emotions, complex characters, real sets, no Jar Jar Binks -- the story slaloms to make sure these ingredients are as obvious as they can be made and, as a consequence, Kylo Ren goes from dark side overlord with never before seen super powers to messed up teenager that gets wounded by a sanitation stormtrooper; Rey goes from desert junk hunter to spontaneous Jedi Master, Finn goes from crying for his stormtrooper buddy to chopping up his old mates with Luke's magically returned lightsaber, Chewbacca goes from hugging Leia to walking by her after his best friend just got impaled by her son, and the plot line goes from finding the last of the Jedi to blowing up yet another Death Star. The leading thread in The Force Awakens is milking George Lucas' creation for money. Unlike the creator, Abrams had no message he needed telling. If the original six sometimes felt more appropriate for kids than for adults, this new one feels more often meant for the mentally retarded rather than for adults.
However, I believe I learned my lesson from Obiwan. Star Wars as I knew it is gone, and fighting the change will only lead to my own demise. To all those who saw The Force Awakens as their first Star Wars movie, welcome new fans! You've taken your first step into a larger world.