This is as bad as it gets

Rating: 2/10 (24 December 2015)

I was a big Star Wars fan some 30 years ago, in fact, for a long time, because of the original trilogy. Those parts were truly new and breathtakingly original and visually mind-blowing. The prequel trilogy's main problem was that it entirely depended on CGI which made it unbelievable, but in many respect was way more better than this new instalment. At least there was a new story. The Force Awakens succeeded where the prequel failed (CGI), I have to admit that, but the story is so bad, so-so bad, that it spoils every effort the filmmakers put in visually. The whole story is full of clichés from the original trilogy, in fact, feels like a badly cut version of that. The poor scavenger emerging as hero from the desert (not a farmer, but nonetheless a hardworking survivor with no parents on the horizon) the father's son turning bad guy (the reverse story of Darth Vader and Luke), a "new emperor" dark leader, a "new Death Star" etc, etc... The visuals, the scenes are not only similar but sometimes seem identical to the original trilogy's. Way too bad. Desert, desert town, town bar, the flagship, all the fighter ships, etc. All the way during the movie you have the feeling that "yeah, yeah, I've seen it already".
To be blunt, it was hard not to quit watching the movie and not only once but many times.
I feel really sorry for all of it. Rebuilt old scenes, cliché after cliché both visually and story-wise. I just feel sorry for the actors and the filmmakers. I think the producers but most of all, sorry to say, J.J. Abrams screwed this up entirely.
A badly made "remake" that's what this is. As bad as it gets.