Crushingly disappointing addition to the series

Rating: 3/10 (15 December 2017)

If this film wasn't a part of the Star Wars series I would have walked out after 20 minutes. I endured the rest of the running time in the hope that at least one scene or moment would occur to give me a positive thing to say. It didn't happen. Much of the plot is pointless and nonsensical, as are several characters. The (constant) humour is slapstick, cheap and often at the expense of the whole series. The acting has become a mix of disney heroine and pantomime villain. The only moments in the film which could have had any impact were swiftly ruined and turn out to be cheap plot devices. It's only when I take a few steps back and look at the film in terms of general ideas and themes that I can appreciate anything Rian Johnson was trying to do here. His take on the sides of the force, moving on from old ways which don't work for us anymore and the idea that your qualities outweigh your heritage are all fine themes. Unfortunately it's presented in such a mocking, insincere way. This is dire film making which actually detracts from Star Wars. I Dread to think where they take it from here if this is Disney's preferred direction.