Polarising

Rating: 6/10 (18 December 2017)

I was very intrigued walking in to the cinema to see this film. I had avoided spoilers like the plague. I felt that now that we removed the 'training wheels' that was The Force Awakens, we would be opened up to something new and original.
Let me put it this way, in some senses, they do something new, but on the other hand, there is a tonne of wasted potential. I really feel for Rian Johnson because he is caught in the middle between praise and hatred, aptly symbolizing the dark side and the light.
The story beats of The Empire Strikes Back are here but they really try to bring things up a notch alluding to the First Order gaining the upper hand and showing that the Jedi are now redundant. Luke Skywalker has become disillusioned by the Jedi code and we watch him and Rey argue for the first half of the film, Rey trying to empathise with Kylo Ren, Finn has his own sideplot with newcomer Rose Tico, and the Resistance trying to escape the clutches of the First Order........very............slowly.......
I will admit that a lot of the film is a bit of a slog to get through and while some of the shots are captured beautifully, there is a tonne of wasted potential.
*******************SPOILER TIME*********************

No, seriously, turn away, if you haven't seen it yet.

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OK? Shall I begin? Cool.
WTF was the deal with Snoke? Why the hell would you build him up so much only to kill him, with us being none the wiser on who he is beyond leader of the First Order, where he came from, how did he influence Kylo Ren, how did Luke and Leia know him and how does he fit in to the story other than being the generic big baddie. Very weak as a villain in the long run and I felt very cheated by this.
While we're on the topic, good God, Captain Phasma. What the hell?!! Yet again, she is built up hugely only for her to be brought down by Finn at a moment's notice.
There was a moment where I was convinced Leia would be killed off to justify her absence in later films due to Carrie Fisher's passing, but she saves herself in the cheesiest way possible. I genuinely had a look of disbelief and confusion on my face during a number of scenes. Leia is incapacitated for the majority of the film, causing a new Admiral played by Laura Dern to assume command, who is really miscast here. Her incompetence causes a mutiny led by Poe, which is thrilling for a while, added to the continued chase, running from the First Order.
The whole reveal of Rey's parents may seem like a copout but I'm glad in a way that they're at least trying something new with her, rather than connecting her to the Skywalkers. The shot of her in the cave with the infinite reflections was pretty cool.
Finn and Rose's sideplot seemed like unnecessary padding but they had their moments together, kinda putting a dampener on the whole Rey/Finn romance dynamic.
Also, this whole tease they have in the trailers, teasing that Rey or Kylo will switch sides, it amounts to nothing. They ultimately return to their respective sides and carry on.
I felt that Mark Hamill did well as an older Luke and of course the shots of Skellig Michael (I refuse to call it Ahch-To) were great. I had mixed feelings about the Porgs though.
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I admire the film for the visuals and some of the acting, but some of the story threads really irked me and made me almost apprehensive as to what to expect in Episode IX.
Mixed bag. All I can say.