The Awakening Of A Strange Force

Rating: 6/10 (18 December 2015)

**Warning Contains Spoilers**
First of all let me tell you all where I come from, within the Star Wars universe. Not only have I seen all the movies, but I practically read all the books of the expanded universe. This being said my vote is made quite clear. But still let me elaborate.
J.J. Abrams did a fantastic job with what he had. Visually the movie is beautiful. Most of the scenes in the movie had a reason to be. Also the interaction between the original and new generation of actors and actresses was done very well. For at least 2/3 of the movie I was hooked. And I actually hoped that this new timeline would somehow let me bypass the fact that now, most of the EU is non- canon. The character Rey also fueled that hope, because there was so much there. Her personality, her posture, her very presence and state of mind, could never go unnoticed. Finn on the other hand, I didn't liked so much. Throughout almost the entirety of the movie it felt like he was being thrown from one direction to another, with little control. Kylo Ren was so unstable that he looked more like a spoiled brat playing with powers that not only he didn't understand, but at the same time he carried little to no authority when compared to Sidious or Vader.
The story itself goes by very quickly, unfortunately at the cost of key information. When we left Luke he was the last Jedi, and now so many years after, he's still the last Jedi. We learn that he left the republic after Ben aka Kylo Ren, basically was the main responsible for the destruction of the new Jedi Order. This and some of his opening feats lead me to believe that Ren powers were quite strong. Which is why I found it hard, if not almost impossible to believe that someone like Finn that had no Force powers of his own, was even able to hold his ground for more than a second against Kylo. And Rey, that had only awakened to the Force, not only was she able to resist Kylo mind prove, but was then able to mind trick a Stormtrooper, and lastly fight and defeat Kylo in a light saber match. This to me was simply too hard to believe. I mean even Luke had guidance and training from both Obi-Wan and Yoda. Rey had nothing. She had heard stories, nothing more, and in less than two days she was already at Jedi Knight level... No way any real hardcore SW fan can swallow this.
It also made it hard if not impossible, to believe someone like Kylo Ren could've destroyed the new Jedi Order. It was the little things that started to pile up and pile up until there was no more room for me to accept what I was seeing.
And while all this was happening, where was Luke Skywalker, you may ask!? He was somewhere in the outer rim, chilling to the ocean view of the planet he had exiled himself to.
I had high hopes for Luke, when it was confirmed that the original cast was coming back. And the story, the movie itself could've been awesome. It could've initiated an all new timeline that those that had followed the EU could follow. Me especially. I hoped and I hoped until all hope was lost. When I saw that scene where Kylo kills his father, Han Solo, it was then that I hoped that Luke would show up, and used his Force powers to not only save Han but close the cycle like Vader and Obi-Wan. Because Luke had been Ben master it would've been awesome to have seen a showdown between the two. Only unlike Vader and Obi-Wan, Ren would fall. Luke would've fought Kylo Ren, left him for dead and then he would've joined the others. Then at the end of the movie Luke could've taken Rey to train - not sure about Finn because we never actually see him use any Force abilities - but lets assume both had Force connections to the Force. Luke would've said goodbye to Leia and Han. Took R2-D2 with him, and as a final high note surprise, upon arriving at the planet where Luke had spent all those years, we should've seen that he had built a new Jedi Order, one not bound to the Republic. We should've seen Luke being greeted by other Jedi Knights and Masters, but above all, other padawans. While Rey and Finn looked in awe to all that they were seeing. And the movie, and this part of the story would've ended there.
But none of this happened. Han Solo died at the hands of his own son, for no reason at all. And when it was all said and done, and Rey goes to search for Luke. What does she find... but an old man. Still obviously hurt by what had transpired. No Jedi Order, no academy, no nothing.
To me this marks the end of an era. At least movie wise, I see no reason to continue down this road anymore. It was painful to see 1/3 of the movie basically destroy all the build up and hopes the 2/3 of it had created. It is said that all good things most come to a end. And to me, personally... They have. I'll always cherish the six episodes and all they've given me. But this one... I'm not seeing myself ever accepting this new timeline. This to me was the last movie.