Not understanding the hate of this movie.

Rating: 8/10 (21 December 2017)

Frankly, there are very few films that I'm in love with. That being the case, I'm confused by all the hate. The only thing I can come up with is that fan boys/girls had ridiculous expectations of this movie.
Keep in mind that you likely saw these movies when you were a kid. I am actually 41 years old. I get that the franchise seemed larger than life- but are you being fair or looking thru a lens of nostalgia? Think about it.
That being said, if you want a tried and true regurgitation of ESB or ROTJ, then this is not the movie for you.
If you want to understand that a new generation will not really follow the exact same story line of the "heroes" of the past? Then you'll enjoy this movie.
*** Spoilers***
1. Luke Skywalker is not some perfect golden boy. And he shouldn't be. I know that the 1st three painted him this way....but is that actually realistic? No. He failed with Kylo Ren. He made a mistake. Of which he owns up to- but not until much soul searching...which makes him an even more believable character.
2. Kylo Ren and Rey are BOTH complicated people. Neither one of them are completely good or bad. Obviously, we have the idea that Rey will side with the light and Ren with the dark, but BOTH of them have the capacity to have good and bad- and that was demonstrated by both of their actions in the movie, as well as the meager "teaching" that Skywalker gave Rey. There is a balance. Nothing is 100% this or that. Again. That's real life. It may not make you warm and tingly inside, but that's real life.
3. Kylo Ren is shaping up to be one of the best villains of the Star Wars franchise. He's dark and complicated and conflicted. Inside all of that? He is very alone. Which is why he was able to connect with Rey, and why he was so angry when she left him towards the end.
A few take aways:
I actually didn't care for the ending with Luke. I liked him thru out because it showed him as more of a real person and less of the perfect idea of a hero. What I didn't like about the end was that it was confusing. He fought Kylo Ren, but he wasn't there, but then he died anyway? That is one situation where I think they SHOULD have borrowed from Obi-Wan and Vadar's last fight.
It was long. Now, this doesn't offend me- I don't think it made the movie any worse. There were probably a few small details that could have been left out. But nothing that I found that would have made the movie any better or worse. Just simply that it was lengthy.
I understand that people were complaining about the Benicio Del Toro's character? Why? He served his purpose. What was that purpose, exactly? I'm sure people think that it's to move the plot along to where both Rose and Finn get captured. It's more than that. Just like Poe having to eat some crow pie. Just like Rey going out to save Ren and bring him back to the light. Just like Ren believing he could entice (and boy, he was damn convincing, too) Rey to be his First Order girlfriend and rule with him.
The impetuous behavior of youth. The inexperience of life. And how going into a situation half-cocked and impulsively can lead to catastrophic consequences. Benicio Del Toro shows exactly what Rose, Finn, Poe, Rey, and even Ren are. Kids growing up. People like Benicio Del Toro's character is what happens when you disregard the advice of older, more intelligent people to simply win the fight.
This isn't going to turn out how you think it is- that is the main theme of this film. This is a rite of passage film. This is a very solid movie if you are not set in your ways that this has to be another cookie cutter Star Wars film.
So, Kylo Ren is now Supreme Leader. In the past, the chance of redemption is via killing the big baddie above you. He already did that, and now HE took his place. Where does Klyo Ren go from here? Will he come over to the light again, or is he going to have to be destroyed?
What of the connection between him and Rey? From the start, he has clearly had a soft spot for her. And she could have killed him.... and she didn't. Granted, he's plenty mad now because she rejected him, but I feel like this could change very quickly with him. Where will this go?
These are questions I will have going into the next movie.
Also? Where are the Knights of Ren and will we be seeing them soon?