An entertaining film with interesting ideas, that is let down by poor writing

Rating: 1/10 (14 December 2017)

Unlike many people I didn't mind 'The Force Awakens'. Its purpose was to set up a new trilogy and introduce us to new characters, which I think it did very well. Though it took very few risks and was very similar to 'A New Hope', it had reasons for it.
Now we move onto 'The Last Jedi'. I was very excited to see this film, especially after the stunning trailer that was released a few months back. There was so much to explore and so many questions to be answered. I wanted to see these characters we were introduced to in the previous film to develop further. I was expecting a story that would thrill me and leave me on the edge of my seat. That unfortunately didn't happen.
Though this film is visually stunning and the score is as always incredible, it has one major flaw. The story/writing. I think a big reason for this is that Rian Johnson wanted to create his version of Star War, and although that results in some interesting ideas, it also discards a lot of what was set up in 'The Force Awakens'.
The Good -
I enjoyed the dynamic between Rey and Kylo Ren, as well as Luke's conflicting feelings about the use of the force and the way of the Jedi. The clashing of ideologies, and the inner conflicts of these characters made for some very engaging and interesting scenes. I also thought there were some well directed and visually stunning scenes, particularly when either of these 3 characters were present. However, thats where the good ends.
The Bad -
The film never seems to move forward. Finn and Rose's plot line was very cringe worthy, and impacts the plot in no way whatsoever. The only thing there subplot had going for it was exploring the themes relating to weapons dealing (which was not explored enough to have any impact on the story or characters). Benicio Del Toro's character was interesting, particularly with his ideologies, but was criminally underused. Phasma was also a let down. I thought after the previous film she might go out seeking revenge or at least become somewhat more of a threat to the main characters. Unfortunately not.
Also, most of the film involves a rebel ship trying to outrun a large imperial vessel. Poe and Leia were great to watch, but nothing significant really happened. The scene where Leia returns to the ship using the force seemed out of place and didn't really fit with what we've seen in previous films. I also thought had she died it would have been much more impactful. It's also worth noting, the entire subplot with Finn could have been avoided had the Vice Admiral put in charge actually told her plan to the crew. As an audience member, her sacrifice had no emotional weight whatsoever, and her character kinda just appeared and was used up very quickly. Also, how is it there just so happens to be a rebel base right below the rebel fleet. Very fortunate.
Then we move on to Snoke. In 'The Force Awakens' we believe him to be a huge threat. A menace whose intentions we are keen to discover. When we see him in this film, he demonstrates his immense power. Then he is killed off as if he was of no importance whatsoever. This results in multiple issues in my opinion. It diminishes the set up that was built in the previous film. It means we are unlikely to discover why he formed the First Order, where he came from or what his intentions with Kylo were. Kylo is an interesting character, and I thought it would have been interesting to build up his inner conflict even further. Instead he becomes the main overruling villain, replacing Snoke. the problem is his character doesn't suit that role in my opinion. He works better as a conflicted character, and now he has become leader of the First Order, he is stuck in the villain role. So, we're right back where we started. The First Order and the Rebellion are on equal playing fields, and nothing significant has really changed or developed. Also, how did Rey learn to use the force so quickly? It belittled her development a somewhat substantial amount.
Overall, I'm quite disappointed in this movie. It has some high highs, but at the cost of some very low lows. I would probably watch it again as it was somewhat entertaining and had some interesting scenes, but I consider it to be a bad film and I can't say I have high hopes for the next instalment. I feel very let down by this film, which is a shame because after 'Rogue One' I know Disney can do so much better.