What did you expect from the creators of the MCU????

Rating: 9/10 (15 December 2017)

Let me first say that I do not believe that this is a perfect movie, or even a near perfect movie. The dialogue is very mainstream and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, probably too many at times. The story telling for the most part is somewhat underwhelming with the flooding of characters and messages that were seemingly forced on the audience. This movie suffers from multiple endings and there are some scenes that you wish were paused in the theater to ask around to see if you understood what was happening correctly. For example, I was much more excited after first viewing of VII to see VIII than I am currently to see IX. There are other aspects you could pick apart if you really wanted to, but from what I can see almost all of the recent reviews have been picking it apart like vultures over a recently deceased antelope.
With all that being said, I think that this was a very solid film that provided me personally with some very personal connections with the main group of new characters on both sides of the force. How Rey and Kilo Ren develop a captivating and ambiguous relationship was something that I did not see coming. Luke's character arc is not the ideal but it is reasonable and you can maybe see that the creators were trying to be ballsy but not too ballsy with Luke in this. Giving Poe more of a role was fun for me and I feel that Oscar Isaac was like 6.5-7.5/10 in most of his scenes. The almost Kain and Able relationship between Hux and Kilo turned into one of my favorite parts toward the end. I love the look, music, acting (Daisey Ridley, Mark Hamill and Adam Driver especially). And while I agree the writing was not superb, it was very good at creating tension and mystery for some aspects of the story line.
Now I have a question for some of the people that are angry with this movie. What exactly did you expect? Were you expecting a non-formulaic, simple story? If so, why? Disney has been working at perfecting the movie franchise model. The MCU is their creation and most people can't get enough of it. Personally, I do not particularly enjoy most of the MCU entries, but they are entertaining since I know what to expect. The MCU is the most formulaic and overexposed franchise in recent history. So, since Disney is having so much success with that, why would they not try and replicate it with Star Wars. There is too much money to be had to take a risk with a particularly dark or super dramatic story line. This is a major cash cow and they are trying to figure out a way to overextend the Star Wars universe to cash in as much as possible. And if everyone hated the prequel trilogy so much, which was different from the originals, then why would they go away from the money making formula? Do what works! That's the mentality they take with the MCU, so why change it.
So with the given circumstances, I think that this movie met the massive hype behind it. Was I as blown away as I had hoped? No, not really. However, I am captivated and am thinking about seeing it at least 3 more times before the theater run is over. I thought it was pretty gutsy in parts with some of the twists that the creative team decided to make. Killing off Snoke? I defiantly did not see that coming. But I am happy with it because it is helping the arc of Kilo Ren. Luke peacefully leaving after the battle with Kilo? Not what I was hoping for, but I am interested to see how he will come into IX, if at all. Phasma gone? Finally if you ask me, because she was just like some of the other characters, only in the movie to sell toys and action figures!
I would like to end by saying that Star Wars is near and dear to my heart. Every movie in the saga up to this point has been a entertaining and emotional watch for me. I am too young to have understood the missteps of the prequel trilogy when it was in the first theater run and I was not even born when the original trilogy was in theaters. One thing that comes with the territory of continuing on in the universe is that the main characters from the originals are unfortunately going to go. This is a ceremonial changing of the guard. Luke, Han, and Leia are leaving us and Rey, Finn and Poe are moving in to their place. It sucks because I love Luke, Han and Leia. I am devastated to see them go. However, if the franchise is going to move forward with multiple sequels then the baton must be handed over new faces. I hope that people do not give up on this movie so soon. At least give it one more shot.