Concerning Trolls

Rating: 7/10 (26 December 2015)

I've read many hateful reviews and am writing this mostly in response.
I love the movie's heart. Considering the money on the table, Disney restrictions and agendas, and everything else it was up against, it could've easily lost all heart.
The new characters were great! I'm not saying they are Stephen King/George R.R. Martin characters or anything, they don't need to be, they fit right in with the old Star Wars.
The story has been attacked because it contains several elements closely mirroring "A New Hope". It's true. However, I would heavily argue that, so does, "Return of the Jedi". I would further argue that, "Return of the Jedi", under it's cosmetic exterior, is actually a closer copy of "A New Hope".
The negative reviewers watched the original trilogy as kids, grew up with them and expect the next film to somehow mold to their adult taste in movies. If these same people have explosive amnesia and watch them for the first time as adults, I don't think they'll like them. The original movies are not perfect. Get over it.
This movie stayed true to the original films as much as possible. The prequels got unnecessarily complicated and convoluted in a way the original trilogy did not. It's one of the reasons they failed.
The original movies are simply good guys fighting bad guys with just enough soap opera to make it interesting but at the heart of it, simplicity. I feel this movie holds up to that original simplicity and intentionally keeps more simple than need be to pack more twists into the next installment.
Negative critics that participate in reviews on IMDb, lose sight of one simple fact. Films are made and written for multiple purposes. Not every movie is trying to win an Oscar and to the right people, "Basket Case 3" can be just as enjoyable as, "Citizen Kane" and, as crazy as it sounds, just as successful at what it sets out to be.
*SMALL SPOILER UNTIL THE END OF THE PARAGRAPH* Reviewers have attacked Rey and Finn on their combat abilities. "She's conveniently good at everything." and "Neither of them have used a light saber before, yet somehow hold their own against Kylo Ren." To keep it short, it's established that both of these characters were trained fighters. Finn was a storm trooper, trained in combat since he was a child and he doesn't hold his own very long in the fight with Kylo. Kylo comes from a spoiled rich kids sort of background. Rey had to fight to survive growing up. It's established early on that she can fight well. Light saber or no, fighting is about strategy and physicality, regardless of the weapon, she was just a better fighter. Also, YES, she IS conveniently good at most things. Where as Luke was a sheltered farm kid that had to learn everything from scratch, she had to know things to survive. That's what's going to make her an amazing hero in the up coming movies and what separates her from Luke.*END OF SPOILER*
There are negatives. The character Phasma tried to be a mysterious, cosmetic, Boba Fett appeal, my guess is to sell toys, and it didn't work. She served no purpose and Gwendoline Christie made her feel out of place and awkward.
A common theme heard in positive reviews is the nostalgic fan references weren't too much, I disagree. They are on the fence of being too much and occasionally fall on the wrong side of said fence. I don't think it drags down the film, but it hurts more than it helps. The film would be stronger by distancing itself from the originals a little bit.
The editing could use a little tweaking. We cruise past things we want to spend more time with and linger in ineffective dramatic zones where we get the point and would like to move on. Some of the time could've been better spent elsewhere.
The music felt like Star Wars but the lack of new John Williams material was disappointing. Still a great soundtrack but there were sections where they kept trying to use the same theme for dramatic effect and it got a little distracting because of little to no variation of melody or dynamics.
*SPOILER UNTIL THE END OF THIS PARAGRAPH* I love the story but hate that "Star Killer" has a stupid weak spot, just like the death stars. It pulled me out of the movie to hear the audience face palming in unison at the reveal. *END OF SPOILER*
They set out to please, possibly the largest film fan base in history, reconcile 30 years in the time line, win back a scared demographic, while following Disney's agenda guidelines, and still keep the movie pace and make it fun. What more could you ask for under the circumstances? I believe more people love it than hate it and they succeeded at what they set out to do.
Things to remember, going into the movie for the first time:
Star Wars is NOT an art film.
The Star Wars movies have always been a "leave your brain at home" fantasy series first, soap opera second and SciFi third, nothing more.
This film is not perfect, neither were the originals.
In summary, the movie was meant to be fun, it was for me. I didn't expect a masterpiece, I didn't unexpectedly find one. I expected a Star Wars movie that was better than the prequels, it was.
I don't agree that it feels just like the original trilogy but it feels very close to me. Can't please everyone but they did a hell of a job pleasing most.
I give it a solid 7. For a reference, I'd average those to a 7.5, the prequels to 5.5.