Disappointing if you're a hardcore fan, not if you're a general fan.

Rating: 4/10 (16 December 2017)

Meh.
I genuinely enjoyed The Force Awakens. I know it had some problems, but it gets a pass due to nostalgia, and J.J. Abrams capitalizing on making it a "throwback" film(even though it was a bit of a rehash). But those nostalgia glasses are off now.
You know, I'm not the biggest Star Wars junkie, that would be my brother, he's a walking encyclopedia when it comes to Star Wars, but I have read the expanded universe comics/stories and played the games, Knights of the Old Republic, Jedi Academy, etc. and they captivated me with their rich story-telling, complex characters, and I do miss it.
As a minor Star Wars fan who has some knowledge of the cancelled EU, I'm not sure if I'm completely satisfied with what Kathleen Kennedy and Disney are doing to this franchise. If anything it shows what Kennedy a successful business woman and the corporate heads at Disney are capable of doing to their directors (with the exception of J. J. Abrams), a process that chewed up other directors like Phil Lord and Chris Miller in the upcoming Han Solo film, Colin Trevorrow for Star Wars 9, and to an extent Gareth Edwards of Rogue One.
I got to start with Luke Skywalker. After seeing this movie twice to let it all sink in, I finally understood what Mark Hamill meant when he said in an interview that he fundamentally disagreed with what everything Rian Johnson was doing. I have to agree with him. This is not the Luke Skywalker I grew up with. Having said that, looking at it from another perspective it's a very unique take on his character, but I just cannot get on board with a Luke Skywalker who gave up so easily, hid like a coward, and had the thought of striking down his own nephew in fear of what he might become. Luke of all people, saved a mass murdering, genocidal Sith lord from the dark side, convert him back to the light against all odds, who just happened to be his father, and all of a sudden because he felt the darkness within his nephew he thought about killing him to prevent it from happening? Again with that being said, Hamill does a great job. My attention was toward him the entire film and it was all I really cared about.
Also a fan-boy nitpick here, but the absence of Luke's green lightsaber bothered me a lot. We only see it in flashbacks when he considers killing Kylo Ren, but in the "final showdown" near the end with him and Kylo, I disliked that fact that it was his father's blue lightsaber. Not only because the saber was shown to be damaged by the end of it, but it should have been a dead giveaway to Kylo Ren being that he and Rey fought for it. That green lightsaber to me signifies Luke's growth as a character in the original trilogy. Also that showdown with him and Kylo Ren, the fact that it was just a projection of himself instead of a real duel was such a wasted opportunity. The lack of decent lightsaber fights are quite annoying as well. Don't get me started on his "death" where he just fades away at the end. Luke's look, his appearance, and his change in personality by the end of it, during his showdown with Kylo is what we could have had in Star Wars 9. I guess their plan was to kill each and every single original cast member a film at a time? I know they can't do this forever I get all that, but there could have been better ways for their exit.
The other cast members are fine. Carrie Fisher saves her best for last, rest in peace and may the force be with her, I only wish she shared more screen time with her brother. I did enjoy Rey and Kylo Ren's relationship in the film. Driver and Ridley bring their A-game and their performances are spot on. I'm intrigued with what they do next with Rey and Kylo. Driver in particular was able to make his character despicable, but yet at the same time I found to be rooting for him every now and then. Ridley carries this franchise now and she's more than capable of doing so.
I found this time Finn's arc of the film to be weak. Nor did I really enjoy his relationship with Kelly Marie Tran's Rose. I felt that they were really unnecessary in the overall story. Oscar Isaac does a little more here in this film, but he barely files at all. He spends his time being a hot head more than he does on his X-Wing. At times I also felt that the resistance was a bit incompetent. Wasn't particularly fond of Benicio del Toro's DJ as well, and Captain Phasma is officially the Boba Fett of this new trilogy, another wasted potential. For those who were anticipating Snoke, well prepared to be shocked, but also kinda letdown.
The special effects are great, cinematography and production design was a treat to look at. I don't really need to elaborate on that. Johnson also captures the aesthetic look and feel of the original Star Wars trilogy. I get what Johnson was trying to do, but for me I'm just not on board, not entirely.
There are plenty of decent moments throughout, and it's competently made, but at the same time there were a lot of great opportunities to take inspiration from the cancelled EU, but they just don't seize it, I don't understand why.
I think if you're someone who likes the Star Wars films, and knows only about the films you'll probably enjoy this film, but if you're that hardcore fan who knows the ins and outs of this universe even before this new trilogy started I think you'll be disappointed with what they're doing.
4.5/10