Well we liked it!

Rating: 8/10 (20 December 2017)

OK, so the movie is not without it's faults. what movie is? My partner and I saw this on it's opening weekend and we enjoyed it and we're old enough to remember the original Star Wars movies.
The plot is really quite simple. The Resistance is trying to escape the First Order and keeps encountering obstacles at every turn, from without and within,as it attempts to outrun the enemy fleet. Finn and new girl Rose are trying to to disable the tracking device on the enemy flagship which requires them to locate a master criminal on a distant planet. Rey is trying to recruit a disillusioned Luke Skywalker back to the Resistance and discover her place in the grand scheme of things and discovers a connection with Kylo Ren via the force.
The special effects and stunts are amazing as usual with a mix of space battles, ground battles, gunfights and physical fights. There is a sense of tension as the Resistance keeps being thwarted in it's escape and at the struggle between Poe and Holdo as to what is the best solution. This is kept running right up to the end of the movie. There is an attempt to make the connection between Rey and Kylo Ren ierotic as each attempts to turn the other to their side. A new character, Rose, is introduced into the story and her backstory and place established well.
BB-8 provides some comic relief as does Chewbacca's relationship with the little birds on Luke's island.
Now for the faults. Who is Snoke? Where did he come from and how did come to be leader of the First Order? He doesn't really serve a purpose. Leia survives being blasted into space without a mark on her and her hair and dress are immaculate lol. The relationship between Luke and Kylo Ren, in my opinion, needs fleshing out more. The "erotic" connection between Rey and Kylo Ren was a good idea but doesn't come off due to the lack of chemistry between to the two actors. Rey's escape from the flagship needs to be shown and not just explained with one line, There is a distinct lack of one liners due to an attempt to create a darker atmosphere but this doesn't come off.
Die hard fans, remember we have moved on forty years in real time and thirty years in the story. It's going to be different. There is plenty to enjoy in this move in my opinion. And if you want to see a disgrace to the Star Wars saga you can always The Phantom Menace.