A soulless film and beyond lazy writing

Rating: 1/10 (28 December 2015)

**To restate, after the first paragraph this review contains spoilers.**
I've never before written a review on IMDb, but considering the very, very undeserved 8.8 rating this movie currently has, and the fact that Disney should basically be sued for false advertising makes me feel compelled to do so.
To begin, as stated abundantly by everyone else posting here, this movie is a remake/rehash/ripoff of Episode IV, A New Hope, masquerading as a sequel. Mentioning the parallels isn't necessary, as they are too numerous and impossible to miss anyway.
What makes this movie really bad are the many plot holes and inconsistencies, I always thought it was a cardinal sin in the movie industry to not obey the laws of your own universe, but for J.J. Abrams and Disney this rule seems not to apply. It does make suspension of disbelief impossible and the whole ride quickly becomes too cringe-worthy to watch, let alone enjoy.
Also the pacing and beat of the film is off and all over the place, making it hard to follow what is really going on. Add to this very limited and confused exposition given as to the current political/power landscape - and it all makes for strained and restless viewing.
Another major issue is that J.J. Abrams doesn't seem to know or care for proportionality or even the flimsiest thread of realism. J.J. Abrams' Star Wars universe seems more like a small village where everyone finds each other in minutes (often through absurd coincidence rather than through intent or crafted story), habitable planets are conveniently lined up within a few hundred thousand miles of each other and the gratuitous mass genocide of I imagine billions (by what to me looked like a pair of buttocks in space, et tu, Disney?) is met with a mild gasp.
The character arcs and motivations are also slip-shot and flimsy. The protagonist seems to be good at everything she tries with no effort or training whereas the antagonist gets progressively weaker throughout the film to the point of just seeming feeble. In fact everything about the new Empire e.g. the First Order, was just downright cartoon-like. In Episode IV, Grand Moff Tarkin's justifications, though of course obscene, were chillingly delivered and convincing. In episode VII however we're treated to a scene reminiscent of a cartoon version of 'Triumpf des Willens' with a horribly over-acting Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux. It made the whole First Order seem to be run by hysterics ordering around an army of myopic stormtroopers. A believable and intimidating opponent it makes not.
So what was good about the movie? Though cute, BB-8 seemed too much like Wall-E had been thrown into the movie and was specifically designed for toy sales, so no points there. Some of the jokes were good, but so poorly timed and constant that not only did they loose their own impact, they ruined the impact of many scenes that were meant to scare or get you invested in the characters. Leaving just some of the sets. The shots of Jakku with the downed Star Destroyers were impressive, but at the same time that summarizes this film for me; watching the downed wreck of a once great saga in a lifeless, soulless film, deserted of any magic or artistry.
I'd give it a -10, as Disney obviously treated this production, and the hopeful viewer, as nothing more than a cash cow without so much as trying to offer anything new or of substance in return. A criminal production.
ps. Regarding acting, the one shot of Darth Vader's molten and charred mask had the most stage presence of all. 'nuff said.