A huge misfire and such a Waste!

Rating: 3/10 (16 December 2017)

I've been a life long star wars fan. I've eaten up everything from the franchise, while the same time not being blind to any weakness it may have. I'm not into 'creating my own star wars storylines in my head' only for a new film to let those exceptions down. My not a big fat fanboy and yes, I have a life.
The Force Awakens was one of my favorite star wars films. Yes. JJ used the framework of ANH and ROTJ to help create it - but it was a hell of fun. But most importantly, it introduced the new generation of heroes and villains. In fact, it introduced them so well that I actually cared about their story and was excited to see where it went next.
The film ended on the biggest cliff hanger in the whole series - the legendary Luke Skywalker was found.
Enter The Last Jedi, the first film to pick up almost exactly where it left off. I was really ready to like this film. TFA gave the tea the best set up ever. But I'm sorry to say, it was massively squandered.
I'm okay with pushing the franchise somewhere new. I'm okay with curve balls and plot twists. I'm okay with everything - if it's done right and is plausible to the universe it is in.
As a popcorn film - it works fine. There'res jokes, and flashy things all with ticking clock plot line to keep the characters moving.
As a Film - there are issues. The pace is choppy. There is a whole plot line that is made redundant. Another plot line that falls apart if you start thinking about it. Too convoluted.
But as a star wars film? It is very disappointing.
It's the 2nd chapter of a trilogy. The 8th film in a saga. It throws away everything TFA sets up. The Johnson seems to be very out to do his own thing. 3 new characters pop up in this film and all 3 don't add much to the plot let along be any interesting. In Empire Strikes back, we're introduced to 2 new major characters - Lando and Yoda. The rest of the time, we follow the heroes we have grown to know while the new are integrated with purpose.
The film, and now the trilogy seem to have no direction. What's the over arching story?
And finally, for a film that 'takes risks' and 'breaks new ground' - it really doesn't. There's no commitment by the film makers to do so. The scene where both Rey and Ben ask for each other to join them could have been a fantastic way to be different - Rey go dark or Kylo Goes light or they switch completely. But no - they are back to the same afterwards.
When Finn decides to sacrifice himself - could have been a moment that the characters truly remembered him. But no - a list minute deus ex machine by Rose.
And BB8 in this film was Prequel Trilogy bad. If you liked him spitting chips out as the star wars jingle played, or piloting a freakin AT-ST - you can no longer take a swing at the PT.
And the shot with BB8, Rose and Finn on the AT-ST, running through the hanger - was as bad as the swinging monkeys in Crystal Skull.
I could go on, but yeah. Not great!