Disappointing but at least it has good action. (Spoiler-free review)

Rating: 5/10 (12 December 2017)

I am giving this movie 7.4 out of 10 stars but I kind of want to give it 6 out of 10 stars. The film looks great, and OMG the space battles are freaking awesome and.. that is about it. This is a spoiler free review so I'm going to try my best here. The acting is a mixed bag. Some of the actors are brilliant and others are sort of just there; but I'm not sure it is the actor's fault or if the fault belongs to the fact the story doesn't make you care or connect with some of the characters. It is hard to explain without spoiling things. The movie starts out great however the middle drags like a mother thanks to a subplot which is just meh. There are major things that happen, major things that are discovered and I am almost tempted to watch the film again just to see if eliminating the shock factors deflates the film even more when it comes to plot. Here is the thing, I am just going to come out and say it; I think the current trilogy (and extended SW universe) has no direction at all and each film they put out changes based on fan reaction. Say what you want about the prequels, at least they had a strong core story (Episode 1 is weak, Episode 2 is one of the worst films ever made; just so you know I am not a prequel fanboy). These new films feel like they have conveniently gelatinous core elements holding them together which are expendable based on viewer reaction. For example, if fans go completely insane and demand Episode 9 be a romantic French comedy shot in black and white - we are going to get just that. There is no backbone. Story wise this film is a bit of a jellyfish.