Brilliantly directed, superb addition to the trilogy, embrace 2017!

Rating: 10/10 (17 December 2017)

Where do I start.
The movie was a slow burner to begin, the usual feel where you are waiting for the main characters to initiate their part in the tale. After that it was fantastic.
The film of course has a different feel to it in terms of screenplay to the throwbacks from the 70s. That doesn't devalue the film in the slightest, it simply emphasises the natural evolution in cinematography 40 years on. Nostalgia however is not lost in this film, and given all the criticism of the Luke character I have read in other posts, I'd have to question what people are expecting. A fresh faced young Mark hamill has naturally aged, and so has the character. It is the job of the director to articulate the development of the person, and in this film the emotions and mannerisms of luke and the way he slowly finds his way back to the force is not only well written but fits perfectly with the storyline. Yes he may have defeated some of the more powerful sith in his youth, but just as he was once the future from the ageing Kenobi, so too is Ray from him. Plus his final act, the touching moments with Leia, the tribute to Han before he leaves the fight with kylo with the 'See ya kid' are all classic blends of old and new.
I would have liked some more background in to the snoke character before he was killed off, but that is my only slight negative. All in all a pleasure to watch, and already I can't wait for the next instalment.