Episode IV for Grown-Up Fans and Newbees

Rating: 7/10 (21 December 2015)

I want to do two things with this review. 1) Provide my overall impressions of the film and 2) Address some of the comments that I've been reading here from reviewers who have given this film only a few stars and many complaints.
First Take: Overall, Episode VII is a fun experience and an entertaining action/adventure/sci-fi flick. If this was the first movie in a stand-alone trilogy it would be getting at least five or six stars from most of the critics here. Visually the movie is lavish and highly entertaining. The pacing is quick without being overpowering, the acting is generally pretty good, and the direction is JJ at his best. (If you just hate Abrams you may want to wait for a DVD or streaming option.) If you are a fan of the series you will probably have a pretty good time.
***SPOILER ALERT*** The rest of this review contains numerous spoilers. Click the Back button now if you have not yet seen the film.
Now, on to my responses to various criticisms of the film.
"This is just a reboot of 'A New Hope'"
This is probably the most frequent complaint and, in a way, it is justified. But I don't see it as a fatal flaw by any stretch. While the plot does closely echo "A New Hope", I think it is a much better film. Critics might want to try watching Episode IV-VI and VII back to back with an open mind. "Awakens" is better written with stronger dialogue, it is more lavishly filmed with better practical effects, and the acting is certainly stronger. The humor is less forced. And best of all, cheesy characters like Jar Jar and the Ewoks have been banished. If you are a long-time fan, think of this as a superior reboot of the original and a new platform that will launch the final two episodes. If you are new to the world of Star Wars, enjoy this better version of the Skywalker saga on its own merits.
---------------- "Kylo Ren is a weak and uninspiring villain."
Sure, Ren is no Darth. Then again, Anakin Skywalker was no Darth at the conclusion of Revenge, but knowing he would turn into Darth helped. Give the Star Wars story arc time to add some gravitas to young Ren. I suspect he will be a much more dark, threatening, and complex presence in the final two episodes.
"The new main characters/actors are weak" This is in part a matter of taste but it is fair to say these characters definitely have room to grow...just like Luke. I believe this is intentional and will pay off in the next two episodes. -------------------
"Rey is way too skilled to fix space ships/fight storm troopers/defeat Ren" I see this as intriguing. Could it be that the Force is as strong in Rey has it has been in any past Jedi knight? Is Rey simply more attuned to the Force and more readily able to harness its powers? Maybe the answers will be revealed in the two remaining episodes. -------------------
"There was no explanation for the Solo death scene." If you are a father, go watch the scene again and pay attention to the dialogue. If not, you may still not quite get it. -------------------
"How about that funny light saber with the weird guard?" Really? It's an unusual light saber. Get over it. -------------------
And finally, there are all the complaints that boil down to "Why weren't all my questions answered by this film?" along with complaints about loose ends in the plot. It's the FIRST of a TRILOGY, people. There has to be room for character growth and plot development. I, for one, will not pass final judgment on "The Force Awakens" until I have seen the final episode of the Star Wars saga.