Underwhelming and a bit boring

Rating: 5/10 (22 December 2015)

Saw 'The Force Awakens' yesterday and I have to say it left me...pretty underwhelmed. After six films I think I'm pretty Star Warsed out. Thematically it just seemed like a re-hash of Episodes IV and V, this new character 'Rey' being just another Luke Skywalker, a 'nobody', a scavenger on a desert-like planet that bears striking resemblance to Tatooine, who is unwittingly pulled into the whole saga by destiny. The story of the renegade Storm Trooper didn't really resonate as much as it could have. The whole relationship between Han Solo and this new villain: we've seen it before, nor did he seem very menacing to me, at all (not that I would want to be stuck in a room with him). Just like a lesser Darth Vader. As one reviewer mentioned as a stand-alone film, this seems like so many PG-13 action films we've seen. The plot was a bit predictable and clichéd at times, though the pacing wasn't too bad, but overall I didn't feel much suspense. It's like we'd seen it a hundred times before. I don't think the presence of the original three - now middle aged - really saves it. Little of the plot seems to follow much of the Star Wars post Return of the Jedi mythology that some fans might be familiar with, it just felt very disconnected. I haven't really been a Star Wars fan for years anyway, and if this is a third trilogy, I doubt I'll be watching the next if it's more of the same. Just my opinion, anyone else feel the same? Possibly, I have to say, the most lacklustre Star Wars film since the Phantom Menace actually.