Better than Force Awakens but not as good as Rogue One.

Rating: 3/10 (15 December 2017)

It's a step forward from Jar Jar Abrams Force Awakens but why couldn't they have repeated the quality film Gareth Edwards created with Rogue One? I strongly suspect it's the tying in with the original films that's holding this new series back.
We still get those deja-vu moments such as flying the Falcon through obstacle laden tight areas, such as "I feel the conflict in you" and such as "always looking to the future...". Each time one comes along it only serves to pause the film. Rogue One didn't suffer from this and was vastly better for it.
We still get the pathetic cartoon-like character of General Hux. Any army worth it's salt would have kicked such an incompetent snivelling fool out at the recruitment office. The character feels like he's been penned by an 8 year old and is an insult to adults.
We see that Carrie Fisher still can't act. She brought nothing to the role at all.
Most of all though, we see a rather weak storyline. The main story is nothing more than one long escape from imperial pursuit. There are side plots that add little value to this and the whole effort to bring Luke back goes nowhere. Couldn't Leia have done what Luke did at the end?
It seems the old main characters have done nothing but hold this new series back. With the passing of two of those characters and unfortunately one of the actors maybe number 9 will finally get into gear and deliver the blockbuster that 7 and 8 haven't