It had its moments but it could have been so much better

Rating: 5/10 (5 January 2016)

My husband, daughter and I went to see this over the weekend. We were very excited and so full of expectations. Especially my husband and I as the Star Wars trilogy was such a big thing in our childhood. We were feeling oh so very nostalgic plus we are both of the lot who actually enjoyed the prequels. We both LOVED what J J Abrams did for the Star Trek franchise, so we just knew this was going to knock our socks off. I waited all week long to see this movie in 3D as we did not want to battle the opening crowds. I actually counted down the days like a little kid. Finally, we go and see this film, this highly anticipated film! That's pretty much is where the excitement ended. I enjoyed the film, it was entertaining but I could have waited to see at home. We both left the theater with our socks still intact. My husband on the other hand was flat out MAD and proceeded to proclaim that Spaceballs was a better movie then The Force Awakens. He also dozed off 3 times during the movie. My main complaint was character development or the lack of thereof. So much action right off the bat that you do not get know the characters you are supposed to be cheering for. I was intrigued by the concept of a stormtrooper defecting but perplexed as to how he could just pick up a lightsaber and know how to use it so skillfully the same with Rey. It's obvious that Rey is a descendant of a Jedi but so was Luke and even he had to enduring training for at least 5 minutes in Episode IV before he mastered it. I did not hate the film, I was just disappointed. I guess maybe my expectations were set too high plus they killed off Han Solo who I was totally in love with in the 80s. At the end of the movie, the theater was dead quiet. There was no clapping or cheering or anything. Just dead silence! My daughter and I got up and left. My husband sat there in the theater for a good bit, in disbelief hoping that it would get better or perhaps waiting for some divine revelation that would justify what he just witnessed or at least erase it from his mind. It had its moments but it could have been so much better.