Read User Reviews and Submit your own for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens - Page 20

2

idecarvalhofilhDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Boring movie, no imagination, hard to watch till the end, so bad it makes Jar-Jar Binks look good. In the end, you have the most predictable surprise. Guess what, Jedis also get old.… Expand

66 of 121 users found this helpful6655

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2

Duke1997Dec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A big disappointment. The good feelings and anticipation were there as the classic text crawl made its way up the screen. I felt the movie started off fairly well, and had some excellent scenes on Jakku. But as the movie progressed, the lack of imagination and force fed story line eroded the happiness that I started with. The special effects were good, the camera angles were (mostly) on point, and the action was consistent but not overbearing. It's already been mentioned, but it is basically A New Hope repackaged. Finn, Rey, and BB-8 were wonderful characters, but the dark side was underdeveloped and there was nothing to keep my interest. I ended up not caring what happened, which is the exact opposite of what every other Star Wars movie made me feel. When the supreme leader Snoke showed up, I felt like I was suddenly watching a character ripped off of Guardians of the Galaxy. So much of this movie is not Star Wars material. Abrams and Disney made sure there were plenty of familiar faces and references to tug at the heart (and bring in the cash), but that couldn't make up for the rehashed story line, Han Solo's rushed, cheap death, the least intimidating villain I've seen in quite a while, and lack of intrigue / mystery. By the time the movie was over I felt like I still hadn't seen the new Star Wars movie. This movie is to 'Star Wars' as "The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' is to 'Indiana Jones'. The silver lining is still there, as Rey and Finn are great characters that can be developed fully as the episodes progress. Hopefully the next installment will right the wrongs.… Expand

66 of 116 users found this helpful6650

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7

MrMadMonkey18Dec 19, 2015

This movie is better then it looks.Im not saying its the best star wars movie ever but it has quite amazing acting and the trailer looks amazing.I also love how the characters look older now.

4 of 16 users found this helpful412

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10

WoleslagleDec 19, 2015

A LOT of haters out there for such a great movie! Can't win them all I guess. For the people who grew up on Star Wars and have loved it with a passion since they can remember, this movie is for you. This is the greatest movie out of themA LOT of haters out there for such a great movie! Can't win them all I guess. For the people who grew up on Star Wars and have loved it with a passion since they can remember, this movie is for you. This is the greatest movie out of them all, in my humble opinion. I think Disney has done a tremendous job at handling one of the greatest franchises in cinema history.… Expand

13 of 61 users found this helpful1348

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10

eugeniopDec 19, 2015

Enjoyed the movie! On the side note: I'm amazed of some reviews/ "essays", hey guys is just a movie! Enjoy life, there are other things more important to be upset...

11 of 47 users found this helpful1136

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6

sewandsewsDec 19, 2015

Star Wars The Force Awakens
As much as i enjoyed the film i came away with the feeling i had seen it all before. The George Lucas films were all original from a complete story he already had in his head. This film was a clone of the firstStar Wars The Force Awakens
As much as i enjoyed the film i came away with the feeling i had seen it all before. The George Lucas films were all original from a complete story he already had in his head. This film was a clone of the first three films, nothing original same story line with a few twists here and there. A droid had an important message a Jedhi had been turned to the dark side, plus a similar kind of Death Star energy weapon that could destroy planets. Too many similarities to mention, just a reboot of an old story.… Expand

12 of 26 users found this helpful1214

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0

NavinorDec 19, 2015

Star wars the feminism awakens!

Welcome to Star Wars with: A bad whiny male lead who will be Han Solo 2 in the future! An even more whiny Kylo ren who will be Darth Vader 2 in the future! ( He even lost the same parts of his body asStar wars the feminism awakens!

Welcome to Star Wars with:

A bad whiny male lead who will be Han Solo 2 in the future!

An even more whiny Kylo ren who will be Darth Vader 2 in the future! ( He even lost the same parts of his body as Darth Vader...oh come on!)

Rey who is Lukine 2 in the future. She can beat a full trained Sith warrior even without the force, but the power of feminism.

Because a black guy is not strong enough. It must be the strong white femina girl!

A pilot who died and who was not dead in the end (Oh come on....!)

So much things which are completely brainless. (Why Finn and Rey are crying about Han´s death. They only knew him for an hour....)

And i predict this for the second movie:

Luke will die in the first 30 minutes like Obi Wan. Rey will be the sister of Kylo. ( Do not ask me how, this is Star Wars there is no logic there)

Finn will learn how to pilot an X Wing and will become the greatest pilot of the alliance. And the leader of the Alliance, because Leia will die too.

And we will hear the sentence " I am your sister" Oh god please no -.-

PS: Kylo will look like Darth Vader only with a new armor.

And the white pure feminist female lead will purge the Kylo (snape) and build up the new Jedi order under the one and only truth. The feminist matriarchy.

Oh god no -.-… Expand

51 of 99 users found this helpful5148

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2

Tester007Dec 19, 2015

Dear Disney i have no clu about making films, and probably would my version of sw 7 be bad, but at least it wouldnt be as bad as this one. Who ask to make a poor clone of the previous ones and why did someone listen to that person?
Well in aDear Disney i have no clu about making films, and probably would my version of sw 7 be bad, but at least it wouldnt be as bad as this one. Who ask to make a poor clone of the previous ones and why did someone listen to that person?
Well in a reboot you can cheep at least the first 20 minutes, but trash the rest. Is it true that you fired the guy who sad he would need 18 month for a script and hired one who made it in 6 month?
Quantity instead of quality and you can see that in the whole movie.… Expand

28 of 55 users found this helpful2827

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5

meowsedaiDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. When the opening credits came on - and for the first couple scenes - people were applauding and shouting in joy. When the ending credits rolled, maybe one dude in the back clapped. Everyone seemed a bit underwhelmed, and I'm not seeing anything about it in my news feed today.

First of all, who was Rey? Where did she come from? What's her backstory? Why should I care about her? She seemed a bit droll overall, not enough chinks in her armor, no vulnerabilities, not much humor - not much for the viewer to get in to. The big bad villain was kind of f*ckin' lame, to be honest. Total lack of gravitas. If you're comparing him with Darth Vader, just don't. Don't try. He simply lacked any kind of menace. He was just a whiny baby. And all of a sudden this douchenozzle cuts down our favorite character in the film - I'm sorry, but I don't believe it. Han Solo - our most lovable sociopath - wouldn't fall for that.

First of all, Han walks out on his family, to come back years later to find his son has grown into a neurotic, poorly acted (not sure who to blame there) whiny little turd - and suddenly is like, "I love you, son"...? And this evil little worm of a mass shooter does the obvious thing and kills him, sending him to who the hell knows...? I think Han Solo in his old age should be a lot more like Rick from "Rick and Morty", smack Kylo, tell him to stop being a lame little sh*t. Or perhaps shoot him with his blaster and be like, "You're a Jedi, you can fly," as he watches Kylo descend into the abyss - anything else. What they did in this film was a sh*tty way to write out a legend, and it makes me so sad. Boo!

All the key moments in the movie felt rushed. This is probably another 6 hour movie that needed to be cut down. Too many moving parts, not enough development, not much in the way of character arcs. And the casting...yeah, I'm not sure that they did that right. There was zero romantic chemistry between Rey and Finn. I totally don't buy it.

The Millennium Falcon scenes were awesome. And Han Solo...! ;(

Overall, I didn't want my money back like I did for episode 1. It's a solid experience, although feels more like watching yet another regurgitated, formulaic Marvel film (thanks, no thanks, Disney!). No emotional crescendos, no characters that grab you or really deserve your respect in any way (Even Fin - arguably the most likeable main character - was a raw recruit before he just abandoned his post. He wasn't a veteran, never killed anyone, didn't have anything on his conscience - he was just basically a kid. Who cares?). Overall, the acting left so much to be desired (the presence of an Actor - Sir Alec Guinness, Christopher Lee - on set truly improves the performance of everyone else.)

If you're expecting to be transported back to your experience of Star Wars as a child, "The Force Awakens" is but a clone - the spirit has fled.… Expand

87 of 146 users found this helpful8759

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3

jrodfilmsDec 19, 2015

im not that big of a star wars fan, but the movie just wasnt very good. it started out great, and the action scenes were exciting, but then theres these dull performances and arcs in storytelling that was just making me wish the movie wasim not that big of a star wars fan, but the movie just wasnt very good. it started out great, and the action scenes were exciting, but then theres these dull performances and arcs in storytelling that was just making me wish the movie was over and it just kept on going.… Expand

42 of 76 users found this helpful4234

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10

rbgerrishDec 19, 2015

IT was amazing, and exactly what it needed to be. The visuals were much better than the prequels, character development was great, and the environments and world were outstanding!

10 of 38 users found this helpful1028

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10

zigobyteDec 19, 2015

This is a great movie, It was like watch old trilogy. All at the people at Hall were so emotional about this movie it can feel the tension, and the emotion about the opening.
The film respect the old school, it was awesome to see it. TheThis is a great movie, It was like watch old trilogy. All at the people at Hall were so emotional about this movie it can feel the tension, and the emotion about the opening.
The film respect the old school, it was awesome to see it. The characters were so great. Great pace. Great Special effects.
it just the open to the new trilogy, open for much movies about star wars. STAR WARS is back for long long time.… Expand

7 of 35 users found this helpful728

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9

MADRICKY97Dec 19, 2015

A long time ago, far , far away.........the 19 December 2015 i went to see this movie with my familly,wife and two boys (8 and 12)!!!!!

The young one didnt say a word of all the movie and the old one is still hypnotized , my wife fall inA long time ago, far , far away.........the 19 December 2015 i went to see this movie with my familly,wife and two boys (8 and 12)!!!!!

The young one didnt say a word of all the movie and the old one is still hypnotized , my wife fall in love with ray and finn immediately!!!!!

For me it s kind of a given gift i ved got to open 6 days before christmas, and the gift is that inside feeling you get when it s the first time you get in love or the first time you kiss a girl, your heart goes like ,BOOM, BOOM, BOOM !!!!

I would to thanks , first, Mr Lucas to giving us the chance to let disney and JJ and all the team beind the cam follow the path.

I would also like to thanks all the fans , it s because of our long time fidelity to this adorable franchise that the dream comes alive!!!!

Even when i m writing this review my wife stiil tell me how much she loved it and pass a realy great time!!!!

I m really happy and full of joy when i imagine what will be able to see my kids in the future!!!Episode VIII and IX !!! and a lot of inner movies between them , that will be awesome!!!!!

I think i will have a great night of sleep , me ,my wife and the two panawans, we ll all dream of the not so distant galaxy , we ll all dream of what this epic story as to give us next!!!

thanks for the time you pass reading this review, may the force be with you!!!!! Éric from Québec City , bye!… Expand

16 of 39 users found this helpful1623

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0

kykylesonDec 19, 2015

Recycled crap, what was the point of Captain Phasma character? She did literally NOTHING!! Why didn't Kylo Ren just kill Finn with his force powers??? He could have force choked him to death without ever lifting his light saber... TheyRecycled crap, what was the point of Captain Phasma character? She did literally NOTHING!! Why didn't Kylo Ren just kill Finn with his force powers??? He could have force choked him to death without ever lifting his light saber... They basically just rereleased Star Wars A New Hope with a female character playing Luke Skywalker... totally unoriginal or interesting in any way.… Expand

39 of 76 users found this helpful3937

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10

RyFoxDec 19, 2015

I greatly enjoyed this movie to be honest. I can say part of it was probably due to nostalgia since Star Wars was one of the first series of movies I watched. The story also kept me hooked throughout and I enjoyed the effects. So if you haveI greatly enjoyed this movie to be honest. I can say part of it was probably due to nostalgia since Star Wars was one of the first series of movies I watched. The story also kept me hooked throughout and I enjoyed the effects. So if you have the chance, I recommend watching this movie.… Expand

11 of 44 users found this helpful1133

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1

kmdcanadaDec 19, 2015

Unbelievable. Total copy of the old ones and no where near as good. Looked like a tv made for movie! No plot at all. Nothing made any sense.

The only good parts were anything that was not an exact copy of the first one. Should have beenUnbelievable. Total copy of the old ones and no where near as good. Looked like a tv made for movie! No plot at all. Nothing made any sense.

The only good parts were anything that was not an exact copy of the first one. Should have been called Star Wars Directors cut… Expand

56 of 103 users found this helpful5647

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9

sweexmonxxDec 19, 2015

Star Wars is back!

What else can you say about this film? Well, you can say a lot! It is 100 times better than the prequels but for me, 2nd to Empire Strikes Back. I felt excited when sitting with my friend in the cinema, hoping the movieStar Wars is back!

What else can you say about this film? Well, you can say a lot! It is 100 times better than the prequels but for me, 2nd to Empire Strikes Back.
I felt excited when sitting with my friend in the cinema, hoping the movie would do Star Wars justice after the terrible films by George Lucas and EA's poor Star Wars Battlefront. When I saw the the classic lines before it started and suddenly a loud noise played and the Star Wars logo appeared...slowly fading out. I was already hooked and excited!
What this film does so well which is right off the bat, cast and acting. Words cannot described the amazing performances that these young and highly talented actors/actresses have! You see them in fear, being happy, sad or angry, no words are needed to show their feelings and it just connects to me. However them speaking is like hearing your favourite song, just fantastic dialog and interactions. You can feel they're enthusiastic while doing their performances and makes the characters like real people, believable and establishing themselves within the Star Wars Universe. But in my opinion, Daisy Ridley who plays as Rey who is so brilliant! She is strong willed, determined, kind when she needs to be and is a helluva woman! Easily the best actress Star Wars has to offer. The others perform excellent as well, Boyega is great playing Finn, a young man who a good heart but a troubled life. Han and Chewy....godlike....the memories and emotions just pour in!
The camera shots are far superior, JJ Abram is a brilliant director who done Star Trek that translate to Star Wars, the wide shots, the long shots, panning. This is something George Lucas would NEVER of done.
The story is simple and yes, it does borrow elements of the original trilogy, but in my opinion it doesn't matter, there is enough original content that is well suited for establishment for future films.
However I have some issues with some uses of CGI, it can sometimes feel out of place when it's in a practical effects world. But it doesn't ruin the experience, just a minor annoyance,
Some things in the movie advanced too quickly, which I thought should of been implemented in future films for better character and story development.
The villain besides Kylo Ren feel less established, I would love to explain why and who but I don't want to spoil a movie like this. Some acting can feel out of place when trying to be serious in his/her role which can make the wrong impression for us. Or may only have 5 minutes of appearing in the entire film, saying that we have to see the next film for more information.

But overall, this is a great comeback for Star Wars and the force is strong with this one! I can see a big future for the series. My only hope is that they don't make this into something it's not.… Expand

15 of 47 users found this helpful1532

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10

omegamarxDec 19, 2015

cualquiera que haya disfrutado los episodios IV, V y VI de la saga va a disfrutar mucho esta septima entrega. La trama es atrapante con algunos pequeños giros de comedia que la hacen mas llevadera y muy buenos efectos visuales.

11 of 44 users found this helpful1133

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10

Altair_PerezDec 19, 2015

Reaches the maximum level among the Saga, only a step behind The Empire Strikes Back and tied with A New Hope. It is true that the plot is too similar to Episode IV's but the acting, the script and, specially, the visual narrative (how theyReaches the maximum level among the Saga, only a step behind The Empire Strikes Back and tied with A New Hope. It is true that the plot is too similar to Episode IV's but the acting, the script and, specially, the visual narrative (how they give you info and told you what is about to happen using only the color, lightning and images) are so good it's hard not to gasp and clap at the end of the movie.

9.9 among the saga, 9.0 as a film… Expand

7 of 35 users found this helpful728

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10

RedRiceDec 19, 2015

The Force Awakens was spectacular. Being a Star Wars fan since 1980, I have very biased opinions about the franchise. I loved how episode 7 pays homage to the original trilogy. The dogfighting was cool and there was practical use of CGI, butThe Force Awakens was spectacular. Being a Star Wars fan since 1980, I have very biased opinions about the franchise. I loved how episode 7 pays homage to the original trilogy. The dogfighting was cool and there was practical use of CGI, but I did miss the fight coordination and swashbuckling Jedi from the prequels. (Which I also loved, by the way, as it appealed to the rabid 5 year old fanboy in me.) The new characters are a fresh addition to the universe, and I can't wait for their stories to unfold in the next instalments. SW:TFA felt familiar and true to the action, comedy, adventure mix of the earlier movies, and all of a sudden, I became that excited, 5-year old again.… Expand

127 of 171 users found this helpful12744

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3

euuDec 19, 2015

The Force Awakens could just as well have been a reboot of A New Hope seeing that it has almost the same plot. Fanboys may whine all they want about the prequels, but at least there Lucas failed while trying to do new things and expand theThe Force Awakens could just as well have been a reboot of A New Hope seeing that it has almost the same plot. Fanboys may whine all they want about the prequels, but at least there Lucas failed while trying to do new things and expand the universe. You can see that The Force Awakens has no other reason to exist than make Disney money, that is why they hired Abrams, the "safest" director in Hollywood, who thinks that just by casting a girl and a black guy in major roles means taking chances. And what we ultimmatelly get is another bland, generic action movie, no different than Abram's Star Trek films or most of the superhero crap that comes out these days.

So, as I said, the plot is pretty much the same as A New Hope, only this time Luke is a "stronk, independent womyn who is also vulnerable"(you know, just like 99% of female characters in movies these days), Han Solo is now some bland mexican, the real Han Solo replaced Obi Wan as the mentor/father figure and Darth Vader is now Kylo Ren, an angsty teenager who was seduced by the edgyness of the Dark Side. Ren is by far the worst character in the movie, he whines all the time, he throws tantrums, he seems more like the kind of character that would be in a Twilight fanfic, even Darth Maul was a lot better as an antagonist, let alone Darth Vader. But I guess all those fat teenage girls who like Loki from the Avengers need someone to have wet dreams over in Star Wars as well.

The only new character that is likeble(and also not based on anyone from the OT) is Finn, the stormtrooper with a conscience, his scenes with Harrison Ford are one of the few reasons to watch this. Also, one othar aspect that makes this flick a little more berable is the return of humor. It doesn't always work, but at least now not every character is talking like in a Bible movie.

Overall it's not a horible movie, but also not any better than the average blockbuster that comes every year. Personally, I would take the more flawed, yet more creative and ambitious prequels over this cashgrab any day.… Expand

23 of 45 users found this helpful2322

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5

KINGCAM93Dec 19, 2015

Firstly, I am a major fan of Star Wars, I love both the original movies and prequels.

However, I was very disappointed by this one. While the movie had some strengths (such as a strong female lead), it was simply, mediocre. TheFirstly, I am a major fan of Star Wars, I love both the original movies and prequels.

However, I was very disappointed by this one. While the movie had some strengths (such as a strong female lead), it was simply, mediocre.

The cinematography totally lacked the magical elements of the force. The villain was not a very charismatic, nor intimidating character. Most of all, the plot jumped around everywhere, randomly introducing characters and leaving events unexplained.

I felt like I was watching an over-the-top superhero movie, with endless special effects and no compelling storyline.

The Force is still asleep...… Expand

12 of 29 users found this helpful1217

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9

TheKavehJDec 19, 2015

For a person like me, who hasn't seen any of the previous films, Star Wars: The Force Awakens still has much to enjoy. The film is action-packed, and keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

18 of 51 users found this helpful1833

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6

LAROmegaDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. (I'll keep this mostly spoiler free.)
Is this a good movie, no. Is this a bad movie, no. It's the definition of an "OK" movie. For me personally I place it around Episode 3 in my ranking of Star Wars movies. Unfortunately, and I think this will be proven out after the luster of a new Star Wars movie wears off, it's not as good as the original trilogy. I'm stating to think that the original trilogy's magic can't happen twice. Now I've thought about why this movie isn't good a lot over the past day and it comes down to the movie not explaining much of anything.

Near as I can tell the Star Wars universe in this movie has two governments, the Republic and some form of the Empire pulled together from it's remnants after Episode 6. They appear to be in some state of cold war, with the Republic funding a "Resistance" within the Empire. Now I've pieced this together from reading online and little bits of dialog during the movie because none of it is explained. It's like what I imaging watching The Avengers would be like without having seen any of the precursor (Iron Man, Capt America, Thor) movies. Except in this case the precursor movie(s) don't exist (yet?). So when a few planets are destroyed in the middle of the movie I was left guess "Was that Coruscant?" only to find out later from a throw-away line that no it was not, but not much information other than that. This trend of not explaining things repeats for much of the movie and is why I personally think it's only OK.

Many of the other things that people are complaining about are neither here-nor-there in my opinion. Yes they exist, but in many cases they're artistic choice. Abrams is good at making media with mass appeal, not at honoring existing IP (see Star Trek). Though after this and Star Trek I firmly believe Abrams has no idea how physics work, real or universe specific. =)… Expand

7 of 15 users found this helpful78

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9

kevtheobaldDec 19, 2015

If you have enjoyed any of the Star Wars movies, this is well worth seeing. If you enjoy Sci-fi movies that lean towards action, this is well worth seeing. If you are a film snob who hates really popular movies, skip this.

The reality isIf you have enjoyed any of the Star Wars movies, this is well worth seeing. If you enjoy Sci-fi movies that lean towards action, this is well worth seeing. If you are a film snob who hates really popular movies, skip this.

The reality is no movie will make everyone happy. Just like there is no one song or musical artist that everyone loves. The Force Awakens has a target audience that just so happens to have been building up for about forty years now. There is enough retro items to keep the fan base happy while offering an entertaining experience for those less familiar with the Star Wars universe.

Try to fight the sense of over hype and just watch the movie for what it is, a fun Sci-fi flick. If the Star Trek reboot movies worked for you, this one will as well.

Nice to see Lucas Films new owners have done what George could not. The overall quality of acting was higher, the pacing was better, and the story was better. J.J. Abrams has come through with a quality movie that maybe just beat The Empire Strikes Back as the best of the Star Wars series so far.

If I had complaints it would be the way certain characters were able to do things that in theory people had to be trained to do. Piloting certain vehicles that in theory they had not used before or styles of fighting they had never done before. Nothing against the actor that play Kylo Ren, but he seems to tall and different from his parents. Small issue, but that is just something that bugged me.

Resist hating this movie just because it is so popular. To many people feel they must balance score by giving a super low score to a popular movie. In some cases, I do think movies get higher scores do to great marketing over good quality, but this had both. Worthy of the high praise.… Expand

9 of 38 users found this helpful929

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0

kcraig1963Dec 19, 2015

This was a HORRIBLE movie!!!! Bad directing, script seemed like a 10 year old wrote, bad acting, definitely not a 200 million dollar budget on this film, maybe 20 to 25 million max. I think Disney is trying to recoup there 4 Billion dollarThis was a HORRIBLE movie!!!! Bad directing, script seemed like a 10 year old wrote, bad acting, definitely not a 200 million dollar budget on this film, maybe 20 to 25 million max. I think Disney is trying to recoup there 4 Billion dollar investment in the first movie. seems like they are getting greedy and we, the consumer, are paying for it. There was no one at the theater when I went to see the 7:30 pm showing on opening day. I really do believe that the execs at Disney have underestimated the intellect of their customers. I really hope this movie tanks and forces them to do the next movie correctly.… Expand

45 of 90 users found this helpful4545

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4

CriviewerDec 19, 2015

Nice effects, nice landscapes and nice designs, it definitely looks cool, evidently way better then the predecessors. This is just enough for a decent, average movie. But not enough for people that want to see a great movie.

The massiveNice effects, nice landscapes and nice designs, it definitely looks cool, evidently way better then the predecessors. This is just enough for a decent, average movie. But not enough for people that want to see a great movie.

The massive letdown is the plot and the script. Characters are introduced without any connections, they can perform just as good (actually even better) than well trained villains in terms of using the Force. Silly jokes and cliches are abundant and there are no hints of even the most basic explanations. Ex-machina screenplay tricks are also shamelessly used to introduce convenient plot developments.

Overall, a disappointment. I'm not a star wars fan, but this one is way below most of the others. It is a dull remake of the 4th episode with no innovative thinking.… Expand

23 of 46 users found this helpful2323

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10

ScrawnyPunkDec 19, 2015

Walking out of this movie, I felt as if a promise that was made to me as a child was finally fulfilled 30 years later. I turned to my sons (one of which is the exact same age I was when the first movie came out) and asked what they thought.Walking out of this movie, I felt as if a promise that was made to me as a child was finally fulfilled 30 years later. I turned to my sons (one of which is the exact same age I was when the first movie came out) and asked what they thought. "Can we see it again?" Hard to argue against that.

There is a lot of depth here that I can't go into without spoiling things, but suffice it to say that people will be talking about a number of the scenes for a long time. This is a return to form - individual efforts rather than galactic politics, actors and sets rather than CGI, mythology rather than cataloging the make-believe.

Fans will love this. Children will love this. People new to the franchise will need to see the first three (Ep 4-6) to understand, but then will love it. Fans of Sci Fi will love it. Students of film history and those who prefer the Bicycle Thief to The Fifth Element...well...maybe not so much, but they would if they let their guard down.

Hands down, THE most rewarding movie experience I have had in 10-15 years.… Expand

159 of 218 users found this helpful15959

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6

sadwomanDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Lacks the magic of the original, which I think stems from a focus on rushing our characters from one action setpiece to another, denying them the time needed to interact with each other, develop their characters, form meaningful relationships, and ultimately grow on the audience.

The commitment to practical effects and costumed actors as aliens waivers with the introduction of two mo-cap cgi abominations that couldn't have looked more out of place. (Maz and Supreme Leader Snoke)

I haven't decided whether the fan-service moments were over the top or if my cringing was due more to the reaction of the audience that cheered and clapped every time they saw something they recognized.

There were still a few effective moments despite how boring the movie ultimately was. A certain someone's death is felt by Leia as a painful disturbance in the force, a nice character moment. Rey picking up a lightsaber to defend her friend despite having no training is also impactful.

Ultimately, it looks like a Star Wars movie, but it's been reduced to generic action schlock, and you're likely to walk away having little to no interest in revisiting this cinematic universe.… Expand

12 of 26 users found this helpful1214

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3

ekatonplDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This was not the worst episode of the Star Wars but it is nothing when compared to the old saga. Some things were done right - particularly the special effects, but most were just wrong - the enemy lacks character, the main characters are not really interesting, there is no mentor like Yoda or Obi-Wan who would teach their apprentice and the New Order is simply too inspired by the Nazi regime (not as subtly as in the Old Trilogy). There are no memorable enemies and the main villain should really keep his mask on and especially fight in it, his facial expressions were laughable at times. There is no-one who even remotely matches Darth Vader, Emperor or Wilhuff Tarkin. This, combined with an awful open ending, makes it a very bad movie.… Expand

36 of 73 users found this helpful3637

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9

adasiukevichDec 19, 2015

Overall the film was great. There are definitely some valid criticisms but overall the good heavily outweighed the bad. It's a fantastic way to start off a new trilogy.

17 of 43 users found this helpful1726

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0

drunkblackstarDec 19, 2015

The new SW is a flat repetition of old movies, especially Episode IV. I wonder, how it could be, that the project with that big budget produces such secondary stereotyped imitative garbage.

31 of 66 users found this helpful3135

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10

R3B3lSpyDec 19, 2015

Fantastic return of Star Wars to the big screen! J.J Abrams and cast did a great job. The locations were beautiful, introduction to new characters and old characters on screen on screen was done very well.

Daisy Ridley was outstanding.

11 of 51 users found this helpful1140

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10

jasonfl1984Dec 19, 2015

A thrilling throwback to the glory of the original trilogy. The new characters are lovable and the legacy characters are still awesome. Some of the best scenes are between Han and Leia whose chemistry is still there. Overall, I am thrilled toA thrilling throwback to the glory of the original trilogy. The new characters are lovable and the legacy characters are still awesome. Some of the best scenes are between Han and Leia whose chemistry is still there. Overall, I am thrilled to see where this new journey takes us.… Expand

158 of 210 users found this helpful15852

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9

NeelyryDec 19, 2015

For me it would be impossible for any Star Wars movie to trump the original series, the nostalgia alone is too high to top. That being said I enjoyed this thoroughly, just about as much as the original movies. I wish George Lucas passed toFor me it would be impossible for any Star Wars movie to trump the original series, the nostalgia alone is too high to top. That being said I enjoyed this thoroughly, just about as much as the original movies. I wish George Lucas passed to torch about a decade ago bc then maybe the prequels would have been good too. There are a few weird moments that keep it being a ten. Not gonna mention them bc they are spoilers… Expand

8 of 38 users found this helpful830

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3

raporgiDec 19, 2015

Pathetic. Really. Its disposable, has no ambition. Its SW for the PC/SJW audience. Tons of plotholes and tonally disonant quipping. Worst offender is the heroine who is an ultra Mary Sue. The characters have extremely weak unfleshed outPathetic. Really. Its disposable, has no ambition. Its SW for the PC/SJW audience. Tons of plotholes and tonally disonant quipping. Worst offender is the heroine who is an ultra Mary Sue. The characters have extremely weak unfleshed out motivations for doing what they do in the movie.… Expand

92 of 159 users found this helpful9267

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0

totemDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of the few interesting things about "The Force Awakens" is witnessing how a massive entertainment corporation co-opts talented writers, producers and actors, pulverizes their contributions into a shallow, incoherent pulp, and yet still succeeds financially through a massive cross-promotion campaign.

As for the movie, there's not much good to say. Coincidence is the storytellers' choice for connecting scenes and plot developments: the Millennium Falcon just happens to be rusting away with the keys in the ignition for the protagonists to steal. Han and Chewie just happen to be cruising by as our heroes flee their planet. Luke's light saber just happens to be lying around in the basement of a pub where Rey finds it. Rey suddenly displays the same force powers that every other Jedi acquired through rigorous training. R2D2, dormant for years, inexplicably awakens to provide the map everyone is looking for, etc., etc., ad nauseam. Honestly, if you had just cut up the script from "A New Hope" and given the pieces to a barrel of monkeys, they could have rearranged them to produce a story of similar quality, since there was nothing to connect the plot elements, anyway.

For all the talk about practical effects by Kathleen Kennedy, the movie was mostly the same CGI garbage you find in other Hollywood films these days. As much as I resent the failings of the prequels, George Lucas' creative absence was deeply felt here. The creatures, costumes, and models, perhaps the chief strength of the original film, were cliched and ordinary in this one. The "supreme leader" character (I couldn't tell you who he was even if I wanted to since, like everything else, it was never explained) was eerily similar to the Last Engineer from "Prometheus," a sure sign of the film makers' fecklessness and missed opportunities.

The acting was an aspect I would argue surpassed the prequel trilogy, though admittedly I'm hunting for compliments. The new trio added plausibility to the porous script. On the other hand, casting Harrison Ford to reprise a central role was a mistake, though hardly an unforeseen one given his string of uninspired performances over the last decade. Repeating errors somehow rarely seems to matter to the film industry.

All in all, my takeaway is that George Lucas comes away smelling like roses after this debacle. I never thought anyone could make his maligned prequels look savvy by comparison, but at least he knew the difference between a story and a gimmick. There truly has been a disturbance in the Force.… Expand

27 of 54 users found this helpful2727

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4

PerezDCDec 19, 2015

The Force Awakens is a dumb, lazy revival of the Star Wars franchise. The film wishes to draw your attention away from its unforgivingly weak plot and characters by bashing your head in with iconic Star Wars imagery.

Throughout the ForceThe Force Awakens is a dumb, lazy revival of the Star Wars franchise. The film wishes to draw your attention away from its unforgivingly weak plot and characters by bashing your head in with iconic Star Wars imagery.

Throughout the Force Awakens, you'll find an absurd amount of plot conveniences that solely exist to integrate beloved characters from the franchise's past into the new story. New characters like Rey and Finn are interesting in concept: A self-sufficient scavenger in search of her family and a soldier with nothing to fight for. The problem with these new characters is the lack of time they're given to be properly developed. The film wastes no time in thrusting these new characters into the Star Wars universe by way of forced conveniences. How else could the film fit in the rest of its seemingly mandatory cameos within its two-hour runtime?

Compare this to Episode IV: A New Hope. The characters in Episode IV are gradually rolled out in a way that feels natural and seamless. We're given time to get to know them. We don't actually leave Tatooine until about 40 minutes into the film. Episode IV bothers to create a great foundation and atmosphere for the rest of its story. It takes its time. And so, we BELIEVE in the story. Episode VII, on the other hand, expects you to believe this story before you even enter the theater.

The Force Awakens is essentially in a rush to check off all of the boxes. "Well, we need Han Solo in the film. And the Millennium Falcon. And Chewbacca. And Princess Leia. And C3P0. And R2D2. And Luke Skywalker. And Darth Vader's charred helmet. Because that's what people want, right?"

The real problem is that this IS what people want. In that sense, The Force Awakens exceeds with flying colors. Audiences have embraced these tricks that have been conjured by Hollywood's brilliant corporate minds. It is now the norm to sacrifice originality for nostalgic pandering.

The Force Awakens is a well-made film in the physical sense. Its cinematography and direction is thrilling. The set design is as top-notch as ever. But, films should strive to touch us emotionally, and this is where Force Awakens fails. The film seems to trust that the bulk of the audience's emotions will come from the re-introduction of classic characters. To the objective, unbiased viewer, however, there is little in this film that will stir up one's emotions.

If names like Han Solo and Chewbacca don't mean to much to you, then it is likely that The Force Awakens will also mean little to you.… Expand

39 of 73 users found this helpful3934

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5

BlacklucDec 19, 2015

This is my attempt for a very short and spoiler free review. I am known to be a Star Wars fan, but I wasn't over hyped about this movie. I was too afraid that they would handle it... exactly the way they handled it. Even without expectingThis is my attempt for a very short and spoiler free review. I am known to be a Star Wars fan, but I wasn't over hyped about this movie. I was too afraid that they would handle it... exactly the way they handled it. Even without expecting much, I was disappointed.

TFA is aimed towards fans of the OT, way too much. It's a blatant and tasteless remake of ANH. The first minutes of the movie failed to captivate me (which is VERY important in a movie), and so was the rest of it. It felt like an over introduction of characters or elements that we already know, seen or heard too many times with tons of quotes and references that should have been subtle, not prominent. The characters are dull and definitely lack depth. I did have few laughs and I was entertained, which wasn't the case for the two people next to me in the theater that were sleeping. The movie was too flat and predictable. I'm guessing that somebody who knows nothing about Star Wars could enjoy it or old fans who wished to see exactly what they saw back then, with way too many references to it. I will be hated for this, but even with George's bad writing, I prefer EP3 to this movie. It was good though to see real sets and not just CGI.… Expand

11 of 25 users found this helpful1114

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7

ZedonDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This was a fun movie. It brought back the star wars feeling from the original trilogy. There were some definite plot /character issues.

Spoilers below:
I will just talk about my biggest issue which hurts the flow of the movie. Rey was a poor acting and looked sweaty the whole movie but the bigger problem is her character becomes a jedi essentially with 0 training and not even any knowledge of it. It's the biggest character leap I've seen in any movie. Defeating someone(Kylo) trained in the force and use of weapons their whole life the first time she turns on a light saber was ridiculous.

Couple of other hings to note, general premise is a rehash of the death star plots.
There are clearly some jumps in story and history that are unexplained and don't make sense to the viewer once you thin about it.

it's good for an adventure movie over all.… Expand

9 of 25 users found this helpful916

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7

JuanSebastianDec 19, 2015

The Force Awakens is such a great movie between the original ones and the prequels. Like the most grossing movies of this year The Force Awakens pays tribute to its original roots. Think about how Jurassic World has the same plot as the firstThe Force Awakens is such a great movie between the original ones and the prequels. Like the most grossing movies of this year The Force Awakens pays tribute to its original roots. Think about how Jurassic World has the same plot as the first Jurassic Park movie, so I'm not complaining about that because what I liked the most about this Star Wars sequel is that its story is the same, we know what they're looking for and what they're gonna destroy at the end, but here we see an amazing direction work by J.J. Abrams, also the acting was terrific and those things mixed worked really well. What I think that didn't work the most on the prequels was the acting, but here... hey we have the three original actors and a new ones that keep the movie fresh and classic. We still have a lot to see on the coming episodes but this a great start for a franchise that keeps moving generations of people.… Expand

9 of 24 users found this helpful915

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8

drnickmdDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm torn between it creating a new universe and new characters and the fact that it was a fun action packed nostalgia ride recreating the same excitement that I felt when I first watched New Hope.
Deep down I wanted Mara, Ben Skywalker, the solo childern (Jaina, Jacen, and Anakin) I wanted the legends universe. I'm just going to be hopeful that will come sometime in the future and embrace this Canon for what it is. At the end I was still drawn in emotionally and excited for the next installment. This movie was fun, had fresh twist built on the foundation of what made the original trilogy great.

An Oscar winner... no, but a fun movie to get set your imagination on fire with "what if"s and "Where will it go"s. If you like Star Wars/sci-fi go see this movie, I know I plan on going again.… Expand

5 of 23 users found this helpful518

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10

Joe614Dec 19, 2015

I absolutely loved this movie. The plot was great. The new characters did a hell of a job. J.J. Abrams wrote a phenomenal script. This is a must watch if you are Star Wars fan!

10 of 48 users found this helpful1038

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10

MrPandaBearDec 19, 2015

People will say that the Star Wars The Force Awakens was a copy and paste of A New Hope, but it is different in every way, with throwbacks to acknowledge the originals. It fixes everything that was wrong with the prequels and is the bestPeople will say that the Star Wars The Force Awakens was a copy and paste of A New Hope, but it is different in every way, with throwbacks to acknowledge the originals. It fixes everything that was wrong with the prequels and is the best movie I have ever seen in a long time. It is perfect!… Expand

7 of 35 users found this helpful728

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9

employee41Dec 19, 2015

Brilliantly-crafted movie with beautiful effect, palpable tension, and great characters. The plot is a retreading of familiar points, more a remix than a sequel, and has some questionable holes and forehead-slappingly dumb moves. But youBrilliantly-crafted movie with beautiful effect, palpable tension, and great characters. The plot is a retreading of familiar points, more a remix than a sequel, and has some questionable holes and forehead-slappingly dumb moves. But you won't be thinking about that until afterward. In the moment, the experience will capture you. And that's what makes a good movie.… Expand

6 of 28 users found this helpful622

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8

stevesanyalDec 19, 2015

The anticipation leading up to Star Wars: The Force Awakens was surreal. Perhaps it was the lingering effects of a great night out with old friends the evening prior, which seems to apply how the Star Wars universe feels to me.
I remainedThe anticipation leading up to Star Wars: The Force Awakens was surreal. Perhaps it was the lingering effects of a great night out with old friends the evening prior, which seems to apply how the Star Wars universe feels to me.
I remained abreast of the hoopla leading up to the release, and avoided any spoilers. I even read selective portions of a few reviews, including one that called this film the greatest of the year.
Having now watched it, the Star Wars: The Force Awakens feels to me like a reimagined version of Episode IV: A New Hope. Perhaps “history repeats itself” is the correct epitaph for it.
It surpasses the prequels and is on par with the originals, but it does not evolve the storytelling to the next level which we have seen with other franchises such as Marvel, DC and even Mad Max.
Still there was plenty to enjoy here, and let’s start with the visuals. The 3D was well laid out. Scenes where a Star Destroyer feels like it is popping out of the screen about to poke your eye out, or tie fighters flying in out of my peripheral vision.
There is great attention paid to physical detail, everything from dents on land speeders to the grungy agedness of the Millennium Falcon. The pacing is well metered, faster with the young new characters, slow and lingering with the older generation.
The heroes in this film are likeable and compelling, a quality I felt was missing in the prequel films. You start to get to know the new heroes Finn and Rey when Han Solo shows up and reminds you why he is without a doubt the best Star Wars character of all (even though I have a soft spot for Luke Skywalker and the Jedi).
I also appreciated how important Harrison Ford was to the success of the old movies, and with the death of Solo’s character I think it will be up to Finn and Rey to emotionally carry this franchise moving forward.
I’ve always felt that JJ Abrams does a great job creating compelling good guys. He does this in spades in the Force Awakens, but now this is where I think JJ’s weaknesses start to show up.
His bad guys are never as compelling as his good guys – take for example Nero in Star Trek, or the baldy baddies from Fringe.
My 5 year old loves Darth Vader and ol’ Darth has to be one of the best all time bad guy villains. To me, the great thing with the original series was that we never knew Vader’s backstory. The mystery of how he was seduced by the force was a compelling part of his character, and the reveal in the prequels did not add up to a net benefit in my books.
Kylo Ren is the main bad guy the good guys interact with in The Force Awakens, and the movie takes an “if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em” approach. He’s another good guy getting seduced by the dark side story.
To me, the seduction plotline worked well for Luke, but for Anakin/Vader it seemed contrived, as it does here.
I thought the best part about Ren was his fits of beat the crap out of something or someone rage. These were well done by Adam Driver, and I laughed along with most of the theatre for its entertainment value.
Yet, it seems odd to me there are no effective anger management classes in a galaxy far, far away and is the whole seduction by the dark side no more than falling in with the wrong crowd at an impressionable age?
The permanence of the dark side’s hold seems so black and white, an outdated concept that needs to evolve in my opinion. And Ren’s character seems beyond redemption at this point after he kills his own father in cold blood.
Ren seems destined to follow the Darth Vader formula of committing one last act of good before dying. I hope this won’t take until the 3rd film because a copycat character is difficult to make compelling for that long.
I felt the word copycat is everywhere in the film as a whole. The new planet sized death star, the attack scenes, the master and apprentice bad guys, the resistance/rebellion.
Maybe everyone was walking on eggshells with the storytelling and decided to stay with a formula that works to get people excited about Star Wars again.
However, if this is more about business people trying to make creative decisions formulaically without an emotional connection it does not bode well for the long term health of the Star Wars reboot. In other words, I can give it a pass this time.
I believe JJ Abrams is the right choice if is partnered with the right people. Once you unwrap the layers in his stories they have little to offer in terms of creativity and originality – Alias, Fringe and Star Trek being the examples for me.
If the original trilogy did not exist, would I be writing this? Probably not – the Force Awakens would fare much higher if we could wipe our collective minds.
In the years to come, will I reach for the Force Awakens every few years like I still do with the original series? Time will tell, but probably not.
Does the Force Awakens provide a step back in the right direction, and give me hope for the future? Absolutely.… Expand

6 of 20 users found this helpful614

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9

Mad_JeffreyDec 19, 2015

Don't listen to the nay sayers.

Han Solo is the heart and soul of this movie. The new characters? They are great, and get plenty of development. And most of all, they have chemistry... not like the forced romance/friendship we saw in theDon't listen to the nay sayers.

Han Solo is the heart and soul of this movie. The new characters? They are great, and get plenty of development. And most of all, they have chemistry... not like the forced romance/friendship we saw in the prequels between Ani, Padme and Obi. They have depth and there is more to them than flashy choreographed lightsaber fights.

Is it flawless? Nope it is not. Some characters get about as much screen time as they did in the trailers. The movie has an overarching plot copied from A New Hope. But I don't think that is as bad as it sounds. It is, after all, a movie that sets up a trilogy.

If you are expecting a Star Wars movie to rock your world and to be better than all of the other movies put together, to redefine Star Wars... well this is not it. And frankly you shouldn't expect such a thing. But this is hands down probably the best Star Wars movie, top two at the very least.… Expand

9 of 28 users found this helpful919

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9

MattyiceDec 19, 2015

While the Force Awakens has a few very minor problems, the rest of this film is absolutely fantastic. All of the characters, especially Rey and Kylo Ren, are extremely well-developed and very well-acted. The film is also easily the best shotWhile the Force Awakens has a few very minor problems, the rest of this film is absolutely fantastic. All of the characters, especially Rey and Kylo Ren, are extremely well-developed and very well-acted. The film is also easily the best shot film of the Star Wars franchise and the practical and CG effects are outstanding (deserves some Oscars for that). The action and emotion are intense and the underlying themes are amazing as well. Throw in some shocking plot twists and you have a Star Wars movie, in my honest opinion, comparable to A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Definitely a must see for this year.… Expand

17 of 53 users found this helpful1736

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9

J_KhanDec 19, 2015

Amazing movie, pretty much an homage to the original trilogy. Acting was great, story was a little familiar but still amazing, left a lot of questions unanswered as it should for the next 2 movies to answer, it was even filled with humor, andAmazing movie, pretty much an homage to the original trilogy. Acting was great, story was a little familiar but still amazing, left a lot of questions unanswered as it should for the next 2 movies to answer, it was even filled with humor, and overall it was action packed and very exciting movie. The only problem I had was some scenes were a little corny and the characters seemed to become friends a little too fast.… Expand

6 of 30 users found this helpful624

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9

michael1208Dec 19, 2015

Foreseeing the franchise's potential in the future, Disney has invested brilliantly by taking over Lucas Film and nominating Abrams as the director of Episode VII, who has done everything just right in reviving the fantasy saga. HavingForeseeing the franchise's potential in the future, Disney has invested brilliantly by taking over Lucas Film and nominating Abrams as the director of Episode VII, who has done everything just right in reviving the fantasy saga. Having himself written the script with Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt, the film finds itself recycling the basic formula - An adventure beyond the galaxy, loaded with ton of action sequences, sense of humors and emotions, but the most important is the overall improvements from the last prequel 10 years ago. While the story is much predictable, the lightsaber fight might not as epic as the original trilogy and the ending seems a bit unpleasant, the return of the original cast mixing with fresh bloods creates a great chemistry in developing the climax, the visual effects are undeniable marvelous thanks to its wide angle cinematography and breathtaking CGIs, even the scores from John Williams, powerful as always to hold audiences at their seats until the end of credits roll. Although being formulaic, less darker antagonists and certain characters are underused, Abrams is still successful in awakening the nostalgic force of this galactic sci-fi adventure.… Expand

12 of 51 users found this helpful1239

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10

WurstwasserDec 19, 2015

The film achieves a skillful balance between nostalgia and future. The strong performance of Daisy Ridley saves the storyline. The adaptation of content from EP 1-2-6 was in parts to strong, but brings us also all - young and old - emotionalThe film achieves a skillful balance between nostalgia and future. The strong performance of Daisy Ridley saves the storyline. The adaptation of content from EP 1-2-6 was in parts to strong, but brings us also all - young and old - emotional back to the Star Wars Universe its characters and history.… Expand

9 of 52 users found this helpful943

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9

FizzMoDec 19, 2015

Short review - See it before someone blows it for you. There are things that just won't be the same if you know them ahead of time. Not a masterpiece, but very good.

Longer review - It's here, and it's good. A wonderful accomplishmentShort review - See it before someone blows it for you. There are things that just won't be the same if you know them ahead of time. Not a masterpiece, but very good.

Longer review -

It's here, and it's good. A wonderful accomplishment considering folks like myself who literally have a lifetime of expectations built up for THIS movie. There are some truly heart-felt moments in this film.

Being critical - this film does stay too close to familiar themes at times. It's a strength of the movie, and it's greatest crutch. It's necessary because the film seeks to bring the audience back to the feel of the original trilogy that may have been alienated a bit by the prequels. It's also necessary to bring the younger audience along. However, the best parts of the film are the things that are entirely new. A positive for the series moving forward.

The new characters are excellent, and Rey is a wonderfully strong female protagonist. Her strength appealed to many young girls in the theater, exclaiming that "This is the best movie ever!" at the end. The cast, in general, is more diverse than the original series.

Visually, the film looks great and is beautifully photographed. This film lacks the over-the-top CG of the prequels, and lacks the lens-flares of Abrams' Star Trek films.

Due to the familiar themes noted above, the film doesn't venture into new territory much. At times, it feels more like Indiana Jones than Star Wars. This isn't bad, it's simply different. While the film isn't a masterpiece, the ending is, and sets up the next film for greatness. JJ Abrams lands the film in exactly the right place. It's wonderful.

Definitely a must see. Old fans will embrace it's homage to the original films, and new fans will enjoy a generation of new characters and villains. The film leaves you wanting more, and I can't wait.… Expand

8 of 35 users found this helpful827

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6

LivingonairDec 19, 2015

If you turn your memory off and forget that you ever saw the first original star wars from '77, then I would give this movie an 8. However, as someone who is a fan of the original and saw the original movie recently, this is basically aIf you turn your memory off and forget that you ever saw the first original star wars from '77, then I would give this movie an 8. However, as someone who is a fan of the original and saw the original movie recently, this is basically a remake being passed off as a sequal. Although I enjoyed the movie, several times throughout the movie I kept saying "are you kidding me?", as one plot point after another was painfully recycled from the original. Basically in summary, this was a clever and well done remake of the original, and an over the top attempt at fan nastalgia. I doubt J.J. Abrams had anything to do with the script and feel that he did an excellent job of working with what he had. The makers of this movie played it very safe by recycling many plot points of the first star wars script, and took a gamble that they would still make a huge amount of money, and of course they will be proven right. Even though it completely lacks originality, it's still an enjoyable film that I'll probably see again a year or two from now when it comes out as a rental.… Expand

19 of 32 users found this helpful1913

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0

BirdshtDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. From the opening of the movie there is a clear lack of magic. This is not a movie worth traveling to the cinema and shelling out hard earned money for. Its forced, wooden, rushed and completely lacks any emotion or details to meld it all together. Its a typical JJ Abrams disaster. Too much flash too little substance. Every second feels like a fake movie set. It lacks the soul of the original 3. Its just never there. All of the ships are flying too fast and turning too tight. All the air to air combat is just Xwings and Tie fighters. The length they went to to introduce any differential to the "resistance" Xwings was to give them different colored decal accents. Its laughable. They lead you to believe that the Fempire takes all their stormtroopers as children, so of course Finn is a poor African child stolen from his family.

Another death star? Really JJ you did not foresee you would be lamb basted for this abomination? The acting of the original characters is nothing short of disturbing. Carrie fishers face and teeth are all jacked up and not moving right and her voice is trashed from I am presuming cigarettes. She looks like a thousand miles of dirt road and whatever they did to try and prop her up as presentable borders on CGI. People there is a reason you don't see Carrie Fisher in movies. Shes not an actor. Shes a burnout that got one lucky break.

Many camera shots are tight and wide. Lots of planet surface looks that probably saved some money. Very little of anything involves space. No space battles. One over the top clash of odd tie fighters and xwings. Sorry anyone with a brain, Awings, Bwings, Ywings, Tie Interceptor, Tie Bomber Etc. No where to be found. They need them in the movies but just pretend Xwings do everything. All the blasters have been messed with and many shoot and sound like Star Trek.

The CGI creatures on board the falcon are clearly the jump the shark moment. That entire scene on the falcon makes me want to vomit. Nobody can find these ships and people in the vast galaxy yet they find them no problem on a ship he should not be on board in an area they have no idea that hes there.

The movie is one string of things happening that are loosely stuck together. You are watching a movie that plays out like a story board. Too much unexplained, everything has been done before, better than this.

I simply do not like anything JJ Abrams does. Its as simple as that. I hate the current modern Star Trek movies they just defecate out.

Han = Obi
Luke = Yoda
Leia = Is just Carrie Fisher after 3 strokes
Rey = luke allowed to dress as a girl on Tatooine/Jaku
Poe = Red 4,5,6,7 cuz hes just that good at what he does "YYYAAAAAAHOOOOOOO"
Finn = A bad acting guy trying to escape the movie from the first moment we see him. We too wish he escaped.… Expand

49 of 95 users found this helpful4946

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8

propeller74Dec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. **Minimal Spoiler review** This film deserves a high score strictly on the fact that there was A LOT riding on this and JJ Abrams had to create a film that satisfies a wide number of very harsh critics. Let's face it, with a franchise like Star Wars, the fans will never be happy with a film. We can all agree that Empire is amazing, but there are still things about it which could be better.

Back to this one. The Force Awakens has a lot to do. This film could easily have been 3 hours long (which may have worked) because there were so many back stories and characters to address. Throughout the film you find yourself asking a bunch of questions, mostly to do with the state of the Galaxy, First Order, Senate, etc. JJ had to "pass the torch" by starting with a handful of familiar characters, which needed screen time and introducing us to the protagonists to move this franchise forward. Trust me, it's an awful lot to do in 2:15 minutes plus make the movie fun and interesting.

Is it annoying that there is a repetition of plot? Yes. Does it in a sense feel like a reboot of Ep. IV for a new generation? Yes. Is that OK ultimately? Yes and no. Being that the original film is coming up on 40 years of age, we've seen franchises rebooted for far less. I am sure that the OG Star Wars trilogy doesn't resonate with the Millennials as it does with my generation. JJ's approach satisfies all customers. I feel like the new characters all had an appropriate amount of depth to them to make you care for them. I didn't care what happened to any of the characters in the prequels, so this is a win, but as an older fan, I could have used something else than another "death star".

One of my favorite things about the film, is how relatable the characters and environments are. They're no longer pristine. They eat and drink. The film has light moments as well as tender and is nowhere near the cheese-filled, buddy film, which Jedi was.

All-in-all, this is a great "re-boot" of the franchise and it will be very curious where is goes from here now that this chapter is out of the way. This film was here solely to bring us all back into the fold and now the story may continue in a manner that some will find more pleasing.… Expand

10 of 27 users found this helpful1017

All this user's reviews

10

foreverallheartDec 19, 2015

Simply the best of them all to date. With as much anticipation as ever, JJ abrams delived Star Wars back into it's glory as well as bringing new faces to mix with the old and an intriguing storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat.Simply the best of them all to date. With as much anticipation as ever, JJ abrams delived Star Wars back into it's glory as well as bringing new faces to mix with the old and an intriguing storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat. well written well acted, and well done!!… Expand

7 of 39 users found this helpful732

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0

AmerillionDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Speechless: Fears Confirmed, fans deserve better!

I have rated this a 0, for 1 reason: Fans deserve better!

I have read many comments, detailing in a far more literate way, and at far greater length the issues with this film. I waited at midnight to see this and whilst it could have been worse, with the support and budget this movie had it should have been WAY better.

If this was a stand alone movie you'd have a style over substance 5.5 flick like Jupiter Ascending, however you had a pre-built fan base, and lets face it LOTS OF DISNEY MONEY, to think tank a legacy deserving of the original.

Mr Abrams you should be ashamed, for this blatant, uninspired reboot, that puts action (ripping the best sequences out of episodes IV and V) ahead of a plausible story, combined with weak new characters, poor acting, and a complete failure to suspend disbelief!

4Q Mr Abrams, 4Q!… Expand

37 of 76 users found this helpful3739

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0

RyenoDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Darth Vader Jr. is just a teenage going through rebellion. Like seriously did anyone proof read the plot? This movie is trash tier. Voice acting was awful. Plot was a rehash of the original movie. Phantom Menace was better. I'm serious.… Expand

43 of 90 users found this helpful4347

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2

xxajt1Dec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Alright so the simalarities between this movie and episode IV (and a little of V) goes WAY beyond good vs evil trying to blow up a big space station. Lets start from the beginning. We see secret data being handed to a droid who will henceforth be called R2D8. Storm Troopers come in looking for the plans killing many people. We get our first look at the bad guy who will now be called Darth Ren. The bad guys posse who will now be called the Fempire...ok... the Emporder take the original owner of the data hostage for questioning. R2D8 now has to trek through the desert (on a planet that is basically Tatooine) before eventually being found by our protagonist who will now be called Reuk (although Ray also has some of the role that Leia had). R2D8 asks Reuk to bring it back to its original owner who will bring the data to the Resistance (who we will call the resistance because its basically the same thing as rebellion). We have a scene where we see someone being interrogated for the data, an escape from a military ship, a chase scene where a star destroyer shoots at a smaller ship and a crash landing in the desert (yes, all of that happens in both movies just in slightly different orders). Instead of the Data being brought back to its original owner we have the Millennium Falcon being brought back to Han who in this movie takes the place of Obi Wan as the mentor who gets killed at the end by Darth Ren who he has a history with, so we will just call him Obi Han because I think that is funny. There are issues with the hyper drive and we eventually warp to a verdant planet. The giant space weapon which I'm not going to rename from Death Star because Star Killer Base or whatever is **** stupid as hell (even more so than Death Star somehow) gets its first use and destroys an important planet. We see a dangerous bar where the Emporder is alerted to the presence of the protagonist. (I think the owner of the bar is supposed to be Han, but I don't know). We have a fight with the Emporder and we see Darth Ren again. The location of the Resistance base is found out and female character is taken to the death star (out of order a little but still). At the rebel base the plans are analyzed. Friends meet (luke had a fighter piolet friend in episode IV who no one remembers that he greets at the base on Yavin) and the Death Star prepares to destroy the base. Darth Ren interrogates female main character and she resists him. Rescue operation begins for female. Assault on the Death Star begins. The assault is literally identical with the trench scene and an identically shaped weak spot that (just like everything else) has to be bigger than in IV because then its cooler. We have an encounter between Darth Ren and Obi Han where Obi Han basically willingly walks to his death. The Death Star explodes and Darth Ren (as well as Grand Moff Ginger which is different) escape. Then they go on to set up Reuk to be trained by a hidden Jedi Master Luda. Darth Ren is obviously going to be redeemed and kill mega emperor (again bigger is cooler) in the future. Some of the ordering is out of place with the Death Star rescue sequence split in two in TFA but pretty much everything else is there. There is a lot of other smaller imagery things and scenes that I'm sure I'm missing because i've only seen it once, but its there. Its the same damn movie and that REALLY makes me mad. Its not just a bate and switch for the fans, its not just a money making sham, but its lazy and safe. I would so much prefer an original script even if it wasn't exactly "star wars" that did the one thing this movie failed to do that episode IV did: Be envelope pushing and memorable.… Expand

31 of 58 users found this helpful3127

All this user's reviews

9

zeroes_or_tensDec 19, 2015

I'll keep this as absolutely spoiler-free as possible and I'll try not to say everything all the other positive reviews haven't said already.

After the first trailer for The Force Awakens came out, I basically put myself into a mediaI'll keep this as absolutely spoiler-free as possible and I'll try not to say everything all the other positive reviews haven't said already.

After the first trailer for The Force Awakens came out, I basically put myself into a media blackout for the movie. Star Wars was a huge part of my childhood, so I wanted as much of the plot to be as fresh as possible on release. Going into the theater, I couldn't have told you anything about the characters, not even a name for most of them. I mean, I assumed Poe was the main focus of the movie because I saw the Lego version of his X-wing for sale everywhere. Part of the blackout was because of the Prequels. I just wanted to keep an open mind. I remember loving Episode I as a kid simply because it was more Star Wars. I didn't want to watch this movie and just sweep the mistakes under the rug just so I can keep loving the series. The Force Awakens does take a few missteps, but I absolutely loved it.

J.J. Abrams, the writers, and the cast keep the spirit of the series alive, but they aren't held down by it. It's a lot like the first new Star Trek in that way. There are enough references and throwbacks to the originals to make the old fans smile, but not so much that it would alienate newer viewers. It also does a good job of not relying on the old cast. Each of the new characters are interesting their own ways. I just can't wait to see what happens with them next. There's also a wonderful feeling when each of the old characters are introduced. It's like seeing an old friend each time.

The camera work is excellent. J.J. Abrams keeps the focus exactly where it needs to be each time. One scene follows our heroes engaged in a tight ground battle, but keeps the camera trained on a distant X-Wing battling TIE fighters in the sky, and the whole thing really gives you a sense of the size of the battle. More great camera work can be found during a tense showdown between the heroes and the villain later in the movie. The wide shot perfectly captures the light side struggling against the dark. They absolutely nailed the special effects. The soundtrack and sound effects are spot on too. The wail of the TIE fighters and X-Wings, the targeting system from the turrets of the Millenium Falcon. Awesome.

The only real downside is that it follows the A New Hope formula a bit closely. That, and some of the larger twists (don't even google any character names if you want to avoid spoilers!) can be seen coming, but even that doesn't detract from the movie.

Ok, if you're still reading along with me, I'll cut to the chase. Even if you're not a huge fan, go see the movie. The whole thing can be described in one word: fun! I really don't know what the negative reviewers wanted to see different. Frankly, I have to wonder if they're just trying to be different by not liking it.… Expand

7 of 30 users found this helpful723

All this user's reviews

10

StevilDec 19, 2015

No Spoilers. This movie was great. Some people are just never going to be satisfied, so don't worry about the negative reviews. If you don't like this, than you probably just don't like a lot of things. This is easily one of the top 3 films,No Spoilers. This movie was great. Some people are just never going to be satisfied, so don't worry about the negative reviews. If you don't like this, than you probably just don't like a lot of things. This is easily one of the top 3 films, way up there with Empire Strikes Back and A New Hope. Go see it, have fun, let it take you back to when you were first experiencing this world. Embrace it and you will be glad you did. Thanks JJ Abrams for saving the franchise!… Expand

108 of 147 users found this helpful10839

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0

jackreacherDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Please tell me how this fiasco of a great movie saga was destroyed and obliterated so heavily by a tiny little man by the name of J J Abrams. A Mich mach of Episodes 4 and 6 repeatedly used over and over again... Death Star as a Death Planet ! Planet Jakku as a poor substitute for Tatooine !!! And let us not forget BB8 as a shallow replacement for the now Legendary R2-D2...Oh come on !!! As someone who saw all the previous Star War movies, and enjoyed some of them, my impression of Force Awakens is mostly negative. This is by far the least original movie in the Star Wars series. There are zero surprises or suspense in The Force Awakens. Every plot twist (if it can be even called that) is telegraphed with an unusual lack of subtlety. The Force Awakens simply has none of that. Instead it has the feeling of a made-for-TV Star Wars reunion special. A big problem for The Force Awakens are its villains. Kylo-Ren could not scare a 5-year old, the store-brand Voldemort (pardon me Supreme Leader Snoke) reminded me mostly of an elderly Ent, General Hux is is a drama queen in a 1950's flight-attendant hat, and Captain Phasma mostly has the role of an obedient and disciplined hostage. Darth Vader would **** each on one of those with his little finger while drinking his morning tea gazing in the distance. If you are looking for something scary in this movie, Carrie Fisher's acting is it. Anticipating whether she will be able to keep it together in her scenes provides some nervous suspense. The battle scenes are surprisingly short and taking place mostly on earth as far as I can tell. Space is simply not a big part of this movie. I could go on and, on but you get the gist. I watched each on the previous Star Wars movies at least 100 times and they remain one of my guilty-pleasures. I am thinking if I want to continue to watch the newly made Star Wars movies, but probably each one of them just once.… Expand

62 of 113 users found this helpful6251

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8

QwertyPJMDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Obviously it's all a matter of opinions, however I feel a lot of the extremely high scores for this film are rather reactionary for what is, essentially, a remake of A New Hope. All of the same beats of previous films are there: The rogue apprentice turned to the dark side, the jedi master that trained him who has now hidden himself away, the Death Star at the end of the film (yes, it is just another death star) and, finally, the average hero taken off of a desert planet who discovers they've been in touch with the force this whole time. To top it all off, the twist in the middle of the film is that Ren is related to Luke and Leia, just to borrow some emotional punches from Empire, too. Who'd have thought? The problems in this film are quite noticeable and mostly concern the plot, given that there is simply too much going on at any given time and the audience is never given the time to truly relate and sympathise with what is going on. The Death star sub plot is extremely tacked on and doesn't feel weighty or meaningful, and the film really takes a nosedive around the time Leia is introduced, as suddenly there's so much to do/explain that none of it feels explored to the extent needed to make it have an impact.

Obviously those are some problems I have with the film, however I have given it 8/10, a very good score, for a reason. The two main characters, Finn and Rey, are both interesting and vulnerable, making them relatable. They are acted extremely well by a new crop of actors who seem to have been cast very well indeed. Kylo Ren as a villain was an interesting choice, as he wasn't this almighty being such as Anakin was in the prequels (I still can't get over the Jesus symbolism), he was insecure and weak in some aspects. His inability to separate himself from Vader and become his own villain made me care about his plight and I'm interested to hear his and Luke's backstory. And, unlike Anakin, he wasn't unstoppable. This brings me onto the point of the action. What an improvement over the prequels. Where the prequels went for more choreographed sequences that seemed like performances and didn't actually contain an ounce of tension, the lightsaber battles here were rough, messy and tension filled. Inexperience led to these makeshift and dirty fights that were more about the characters fighting in them than the fight itself. The Falcon chase scene was also brilliant, and looked amazing. Well done, JJ.

Speaking of Abrams, he helmed this film expertly. The cinematography was masterful, as were the locations he chose to film in. Every shot was beautiful, with crisp wide shots and a mix of dark and light locations giving the movie a real visual fidelity. Literally the only issue this film in regards to aesthetics was that one character who was hoarding Luke's saber, she looked so badly CGIed and it took me out of the experience every time she was on screen compared to the impressiveness of practical effects used for everything else. Expectedly, the sound design was also perfect, but was it ever not going to be?

Han's role in this film was better than expected, and his eventual death carried with it a lot of weight, even if it was predictable the minute we discovered Ren was his son. It's undeniable that it was an emotional and very effective moment, as was the film's very last shot of Luke and Rey.

Overall, the film suffers from a lack of original moments under-pining its wonderful environments and characters, and, in typical Abrams fashion, the story moves along at such break neck speed that some glaring and in cohesive elements (or lack thereof) to the story can be glazed over. It's a film best experienced in the moment, and without too much dwelling upon its intricacies and details can be thought of as a very good film, and one that has left us so many questions that I have no doubt in my mind episode 7 will be even better, and worth the wait.… Expand

6 of 26 users found this helpful620

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9

seresmilanDec 19, 2015

Well what can I say. I have created an account just to write a review. I really enjoyed the movie, of course there are some flaws in the plot and some questionable acting choices but all in all it is a great experience. It really does feelWell what can I say. I have created an account just to write a review. I really enjoyed the movie, of course there are some flaws in the plot and some questionable acting choices but all in all it is a great experience. It really does feel like Star Wars, the feeling I got when I was watching the original trilogy was the same here.
Some people say that the film is a remake of A New Hope and the the whole movie was a bit rushed and well these statements do have some truth to them. Personally the rushed plot is something I have noticed too, but I beleive that this is a build up to an even more monumental sequel, with more information on the characters on so on.
I recommend to see this movie either you are a Star Wars fan or not. I will watch it again no doubt about that.… Expand

8 of 36 users found this helpful828

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5

VideogamesDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Characters
_________

Finn: When we first meet Finn he is conflicted about his place in the First Order, so much so that he decides to defect and take a highly sought prisoner with him. Why is he conflicted? It's not that clear, but the idea does get you interested in the character. Unfortunately it's never really touched upon any further; in fact, the character stagnates at this point and seizes to develop. We aren't even given a trajectory for where this character is going. John Boyega turns in an energetic performance, but it's not enough to save the character or make his ham fisted relationships seem believable.

Rey: Again we see a character with an interesting background; abandoned by her family, Rey has become a scavenger on the planet of Jakku. She's essentially Finn in spirit and charisma, just more adept at just about everything (unfortunately the writers belittle the character thoroughly by relegating her to an initially preachy,"we have a strong female lead" role, through the use of blatant gags and head turns). The only meaningful development we get for the character is a scene of her reluctant to take Lukes old lightsaber, though whatever conflict she feels about using the force is quickly thrown out - for seemingly no reason - in favor of fully embracing the force (with a level of proficiency that makes no logical sense as she remains untrained). Truly one of the most sloppily written characters in the movie.

Kylo Ren: One of the only characters to see development (even if it's only to reaffirm what you were lead to believe about the character at first) is Kylo Ren. Adam Driver plays an emotionally unstable and immature villain and he does it rather well, giving the only performance that really informed what you thought about the character. He remains interesting to watch throughout the movie, with a clear motivation.

Han Solo: Abandoning the arcs of Episode 5 and 6, Han returns to his A New Hope incarnation. Why? I don't know, but I'm willing to bet that (like most of this movie) the decision was made to service the fans. He's here to die - that's it. I would have preferred to see him killed off screen prior to Episode 7 (even though Harrison Ford gives an unexpectedly good performance).

All in all, the characters weren't engaging enough. This was due mostly to the writing, not the actors. Speaking of the writing...

Random
_______

This movie is extremely self aware - to a fault. Even at such a break-neck pace, the writers will never miss a chance to tell you that you're watching a movie,"Kylo Rens mask is silly" "Look at our strong female character who is strong" "isn't it ridiculous that you can defeat a death star so easily?" "Look at this, its from A New Hope!" Etc etc etc. This movie feels like a pop culture interpretation/roast of Star Wars and it will leave you alienated and uninvolved. Not to mention the fact that the plot of this movie is beat-for-beat A New Hope. The writing is contrived and egotistical and is by far the WORST thing about the movie.

The camera work is what you'd expect from JJ. It has its moments of symmetry and odd angles, but is largely occupied by tired modern tropes that seem radically out of place in a Star Wars movie.

The sound mix was terrible, but this may have just been my theatre.

The music was fine, but modular in a way that the OT wasn't. It would have served the movie well to have a consistent underlying wave of music in the vein of Episode 4 and 5.

And I think I'll stop rambling now...
There are things to like about this movie, but they're hidden behind such a mess of self conscious fan service and lazy writing that you'll struggle to find them. If you're a fan of the OT, you're not going to like this movie, but if you find yourself consistently entertained by Marvel movies, you'll definitely enjoy it...at least the first time 'round.

A solid 5/10… Expand

20 of 42 users found this helpful2022

All this user's reviews

8

fab10Dec 19, 2015

JJ told us a history, this is not new for sure, but he got it. I mean. he is a superb director who can tell a history and cast his characters very well. Surely is a new hope for this Brand and for all Starwars lovers. Do not expect a brandJJ told us a history, this is not new for sure, but he got it. I mean. he is a superb director who can tell a history and cast his characters very well. Surely is a new hope for this Brand and for all Starwars lovers. Do not expect a brand new history or even characters with deep development… Expand

5 of 22 users found this helpful517

All this user's reviews

0

onetwotryDec 19, 2015

This is by far worst Star Wars movie. Characters are dull and cartoonish. OOverall it feels like a Disney fairtail than a Star Wars movie. I never expected it to be that horrible. Somehow they failed everything they could.

41 of 84 users found this helpful4143

All this user's reviews

9

DarkwaspDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Despite some questionable moments, it's a great movie. I'm not a SW fan, but I really enjoyed previous episodes, even watched Star Wars: Rebels spin-off and played couple SW games. And I gotta say, this all-new episode definitely has SW atmosphere, just maybe it's not as dark and mature as in previous movies. Funny moments are funny, people around me laughed naturally and I heard cheer every time when characters from original trilogy show up (first time, not every, ha-ha). Main heroine is awesome, great choice for a future female Jedi (possibly?), her antagonist also cool, but he really should't take off his mask this often. Just one thing confused me a little: new lightsaber looks inconvenient and too much like classic swords, I have no idea why lightsaber needs crossguard, wielder of the sword should be even more aware of his blade, considering the dangerous nature of the lightsaber. It looks cooler, that's no question! I prefer to see things more or less usable, reliable and elegant, even in fiction. But maybe all I said is just rubbish, overall movie is great, as I said before, so go see it if you haven't already!… Expand

7 of 31 users found this helpful724

All this user's reviews

0

shapesformsDec 19, 2015

this movie incorporates everything that is wrong with modern (corporate) film making. no story, **** acting, stupid one dimensional characters to cgi to much cgi to compensate.

48 of 100 users found this helpful4852

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0

TNMKDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An incredibly lazy rehash of A New Hope. Terminator Genisys-tier casting. Getting the old actors back was clearly a mistake. The whole movie reeks of fanservice, hence the old actors who barely do anything and Han gets killed, for **** sake. The acting is barely noticeable, Rey can't act. The new actors don't have any charisma compared to the Original Trilogy - hell, even the Prequel Trilogy actors had some. Everything not explained is shifted over to the next episodes, and they'll be even worse.

**** Disney, **** J.J., **** everything.… Expand

45 of 87 users found this helpful4542

All this user's reviews

10

SignorFerrariDec 19, 2015

Great movie. So impressive to make something fresh that still fits so well with something created 40 years ago. To those who say it is a lazy identical reboot, that's a lazy comment. If you haven't seen it. Go see it. Now. If you have, thenGreat movie. So impressive to make something fresh that still fits so well with something created 40 years ago. To those who say it is a lazy identical reboot, that's a lazy comment. If you haven't seen it. Go see it. Now. If you have, then feel free to keep reading on and read my brief rant about the chief complaint I've heard (obviously there is basically universal praise for the film but there is one criticism that seems to be common amoung the haters).

It has elements and similarities to the original trilogy, but if you see sand and think tatooine or snow and think hoth and a young Jedi searching for parents and their place in the galaxy and think "reboot" you're really missing the point. And the fun. Those similarities are there to connect us to the past so that we can meet the new characters in a Star Wars world. If it wasn't similar to the world we knew from the original trilogy, it wouldn't look and feel like Star Wars. It would be a movie with the Star Wars brand name and some old actors that we sort of remember. What JJ did was bring us in with enough of the old that he can now move forward with the new characters and their new stories and they will be definitively Star Wars...they will feel like they belong.

If you wanted something new and completely original go see any of the other sci-fi movies and tv shows of the last 40 years that have tried to capture what Star Wars has but never had.

If you want a great Star Wars movie (I think it's the second best behind Empire and in many ways even better - although neither could send alone as great without the original) than this is it. And you will leave excited for what comes next.

If you want something different, go see a worse unrelated space movie and pretend it's Star Wars. Then you can have completely "original" content.

It was exactly what the franchise needed. And it was executed with perfection.… Expand

7 of 34 users found this helpful727

All this user's reviews

5

jibbonDec 19, 2015

Well like so many here I am greatly disappointed. Do not expect anything more than a soppy, soulless remake of the original film. I mean, what a wasted gift - the opportunity to touch the collective unconscious of a new generation. Lucas,Well like so many here I am greatly disappointed. Do not expect anything more than a soppy, soulless remake of the original film. I mean, what a wasted gift - the opportunity to touch the collective unconscious of a new generation. Lucas, despite his faults, offered us a deep, archetypal structure in Star Wars which for many assumed almost mythic proportions. Do not expect anything so potent in this production. Abrams has clearly missed the deeper archetypal conflicts and drawn inspiration from the basic plot of A New Hope instead. I get the logic - just take 'what works' and put it on steroids - throw in a female protagonist and wannabe antagonist; make everything bigger; quicker; more improbable - and somehow it adds up to less. It's just superficial writing that awakens, sadly, very little indeed.… Expand

56 of 97 users found this helpful5641

All this user's reviews

10

benoskiDec 19, 2015

My realistic rating is 9.5, but since that's score's not possible here, I'll go with 10 because this film was FANTASTIC! J.J. Abrams has managed to do what I think was impossible: Resurrect the Star Wars magic. Great characters and greatMy realistic rating is 9.5, but since that's score's not possible here, I'll go with 10 because this film was FANTASTIC! J.J. Abrams has managed to do what I think was impossible: Resurrect the Star Wars magic. Great characters and great action scenes are two of the reasons why I think The Force Awakens is the best Star Wars film since Empire Strikes Back.

It's definitely in my top three Star Wars films, that's for damn sure!… Expand

137 of 187 users found this helpful13750

All this user's reviews

1

spidergoatDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It is remarkably evident the effect the loss of Lucas is going to have on the Starwars movies going forward. This recent episode was essentially a lazy remake of IV sadly leaving out the spirit of Starwars. The scope and spirit of the original movies has been lost. Rather than making a feeble attempt to appease the noisy rabble, the Starwars stories would have been better served with independent thinking. Extremely disappointed.… Expand

45 of 87 users found this helpful4542

All this user's reviews

8

savagecorgiDec 19, 2015

JJ Abrams deserves credit for preserving much of the cinematic feel the original trilogy had. The scene composure, pacing, and special effects all capture the important feel of the star wars universe that was lacking in EP I-III.

While IJJ Abrams deserves credit for preserving much of the cinematic feel the original trilogy had. The scene composure, pacing, and special effects all capture the important feel of the star wars universe that was lacking in EP I-III.

While I won't spoil the twist(s), when you sit through the movie they become fairly apparent if you're paying attention... but the effect is powerful nonetheless. I'm not afraid to admit I teared up a few times... from nostalgia, from happiness, from sadness... sometimes all at once.

I think the plot could have been more original at its core, but putting that aside, it was still a triumph. The Star Wars "nerd" in me took issues on some of the near instant character progression (you'll see what I mean), but I think that's to be expected in today's instant gratification society I think.

In the end, it is a success, it is fun, and it was great to continue the story. My hope is that this is a launching pad for the franchise, and that there will be more complicated and innovative plots in movies to come.… Expand

12 of 29 users found this helpful1217

All this user's reviews

9

NerdConsultantDec 19, 2015

I loved Star Wars The Force Awakens. The kindest thing George Lucas could have done was stay well away from the franchise and let other people take over his creation and it’s very much to the films benefit. It’s great, fresh new and sets upI loved Star Wars The Force Awakens. The kindest thing George Lucas could have done was stay well away from the franchise and let other people take over his creation and it’s very much to the films benefit. It’s great, fresh new and sets up the future trilogy brilliantly. I loved the action scenes, the acting was great with the cast delivering excellent performances. The plot is unbelievably engaging and a treat to Star Wars fans and I loved the new leads Rey and Finn and the film pretty much belongs to them. If there’s one thing I can say, however, it’s that it’s not for newcomers. You really should at last see the original trilogy prior to seeing this film if nothing else because I think anything less than that you will probably find yourself alienated from the story.… Expand

18 of 65 users found this helpful1847

All this user's reviews

3

NoxosDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. ******MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS BELOW*******

I'm posting this mainly to see if there is anyone else out there who feels the way I do about TFA, I haven't read/watched any reviews yet but the 95% on RT kind of surprised me. I'm not trying to rain on the parade at all here -- I really wanted to like this movie -- but to me it was bitterly disappointing.

Cons: I did not buy any of the major relationships at all, to me this was by far the biggest failing of the movie. Finn/Rey, Finn/Poe, shockingly even Leia/Han. They all felt extremely forced and came across as trying REALLY hard to recapture the chemistry of the Big 3 in the OT. When Poe and Finn rush to embrace after Finn sees him for the first time alive, I was kind of taken aback because to me they just hadn't "gotten there" yet, so it just came off as weird. I don't know what the problem was, the acting, the script, or some elusive, hard-to-quantify, movie magic thing. The main problem is that throughout the movie there is basically zero character development, and as a result it's difficult to care about anything that happens.

The whole movie felt like a point-for-point rehash of A New Hope -- a few nods here and there are cool and would be expected, but TFA went way beyond that. I'm honestly pretty surprised that this script was OK-ed because it is so blatant in parts. Just a few examples:

-The fact that once again a critical bit of info is given to a droid who is left to his (its?) own devices -- said droid is then taken hostage by desert scavengers before being "rescued" by the protagonist.

-All of the ball turret scenes on the Falcon.

-A "scoundrel" type character that makes snarky remarks and likes to use his ship's undercarriage gun to blast baddies while trying to escape.

-Death Star 3 (I'm REALLY surprised they went with this as I thought it was a common problem that people have with ROTJ)

-Cantina scene

Due to the above (and more) I frequently had the feeling that I was watching a straight up second rate remake. Last major problem I had with the movie was that it was just not subtle AT ALL. The worst example being the scenes setting up Finn to leave the First Order. I could practically hear JJ yelling into my ear "HE'S CONFLICTED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW! LOOK AT HIS FACIAL EXPRESSIONS! -- CAN YOU TELL HE IS CONFLICTED? IN CASE YOU COULDN'T -- LET ME SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU -- THIS CHARACTER IS VERY CONFLICTED!!!"

There were also a few really bad exposition scenes where it felt like characters were just vomiting up important plot points because the script couldn't think of a more clever way to explain the story.

Ok so that's the bad, there were some parts of this movie that I did actually enjoy:

-Every scene with Snoke was great. What an awesome character design. When he first came up on screen I was just blown away -- the holograph-making-him-seem-huge trick was a stroke of genius, though part of me wishes he really was that big.

-Lightsaber duels following more after the style that Luke and Vader have at the end of ROTJ (i.e. passionate hacking that looks like they are really trying to kill each other). The only problem was I couldn't get emotionally wrapped up in them in the same way because again, I just did not buy the character relationships and didn't care who lived or who died.

-Some very cool landscapes: my three favorites being the backdrop as Rey "sandboards" down a dune, the Snoke "throne room", and the bridge where Han bites it.

-The vision sequences when Rey picks up Luke's lightsaber were great. It's a shame they didn't go anywhere with it.

So to conclude, for me this movie failed, though in a different way from the prequels. Say what you want about the prequels (and I am not at all a fan -- not trying to stir the pot here -- just want to give some context to my views), but George did not "play it safe" and rehash the OT at all. This movie takes zero risks. And as much as the prequels suffer from general "woodenness", I found TFA's character relationships even less convincing (excluding maybe Anakin/Padme).… Expand

125 of 210 users found this helpful12585

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10

drpaneasDec 19, 2015

The best star wars of all. You will not get to feel bored or something. Actually you can't imagine how fast the time passes by while watching the film. The plot maybe a bit rip-off the 4, but this movie is link between the old and the newThe best star wars of all. You will not get to feel bored or something. Actually you can't imagine how fast the time passes by while watching the film. The plot maybe a bit rip-off the 4, but this movie is link between the old and the new saga. Its purpose is to connect the legacy with the new stuff and it does it well, treating the old relics with respect and give you passion for the new characters. There are lot's of questions to be answered yet. I searched deep down to my feelings and ... STAR WARS IS BACK… Expand

8 of 40 users found this helpful832

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7

blackdrakeDec 19, 2015

I had a very bad feeling about this. But the movie was unexpectedly good. Not a masterpiece though. But enjoyable. It's still Star Wars. In some parts it forgot to be a Star Wars movie, in others it's full of fanservice, but the story?I had a very bad feeling about this. But the movie was unexpectedly good. Not a masterpiece though. But enjoyable. It's still Star Wars. In some parts it forgot to be a Star Wars movie, in others it's full of fanservice, but the story? Believable. The characters? Well written, new. The humour? Definetely the Star Wars type. The continuity? Kept. So, go see this movie yourself, you could enjoy it or hate it, but remember: it's a Star Wars movie, nothing less, nothing more. 7.5 is my vote, because this is a "good start".… Expand

6 of 26 users found this helpful620

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10

leledits1138Dec 19, 2015

So did movie live up to the hype? No. Is this because the movie is terrible. No actually, it's because of Disney's shameless marketing that made it out to be the second coming of Jesus, I mean c'mon, BB8 oranges? But fruits and religionSo did movie live up to the hype? No. Is this because the movie is terrible. No actually, it's because of Disney's shameless marketing that made it out to be the second coming of Jesus, I mean c'mon, BB8 oranges? But fruits and religion aside, The Force Awakens is a fantastic return to form. No it's not better than Empire but it definitely stands as high as A New Hope and if not, higher than Return of the Jedi. This isn't a perfect movie but that's no reason to overreact and give a damn zero. The movie has heart. I felt more here than all of the Prequels combined. It's acting, writing, and direction are all terrific. One thing that stands out is it's comedy. This is definitely the funniest Star Wars film ever. Is it the best movie of all time? Nope. Is it movie of the year material. Yes. Time to celebrate guys, Star Wars is good again.

Notice: I give this a perfect score only to counter one of many zeros given by some angry Legends fan or mediocre review. My true score would be a 9 out of 10.… Expand

10 of 42 users found this helpful1032

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7

NZreviewDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Abrams brings back most of what worked with the original Lucas trilogy. There is superb action and strong performances. It was a treat to see Han & Chewie back and having a major part in the movie.

The script was reasonable and there was some humour which I appreciated.

There were some genuinely moving moments in relation to tensions between family loyalty and what side of the force you are on as with the previous films.

Negative points:

I felt that the fairly blatant portrayal of the First Order as proto-Nazis was cliched. Were there any blonde, blue eyed people on the side of the resistance? Hopefully that's not JJ Abrams ethnic animus coming through.

It was ludicrous for Rey to be an expert with the lightsaber straight away. It made a mockery of all the training they supposedly undergo.

Overall though I enjoyed the movie and would rate it about 7.5.… Expand

9 of 25 users found this helpful916

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9

CrazyeyesDarkDec 19, 2015

Thrilling. Wonderful. Excellent... A true sequel, worthy of the Star Wars name.

I entered the room on the 16th of December at five minutes after midnight, fearing the blatant overuse of CGI, and I can tell you now... My fears were washedThrilling. Wonderful. Excellent... A true sequel, worthy of the Star Wars name.

I entered the room on the 16th of December at five minutes after midnight, fearing the blatant overuse of CGI, and I can tell you now... My fears were washed away. The practical effects could not have been any better. They blend in with the world seamlessly.

The main characters; pretty much flawless. From Kylo Ren to Han Solo, just about every single character was played flawlessly.

The atmosphere could not have been any better. This film truly gives you a Star Wars feel. The effects, like I say, blend in absolutely perfectly with their surroundings. The graphics... Just stunning. Hell, even the humor in the film was well placed and absolutely appropriate.

However, this does not mean there are no criticisms to be made. There were some flaws with the film, mainly within the story, and even though they are more personal issues than anything, I still feel they count as flaws.. However, I will not spoil the story.

Overall, this film is excellent. I was hanging between an 8 and a 9, though I decided to give it a 9/10 rating.

Let us hope the future films are just as good, if not better than 'The Force Awakens'.… Expand

7 of 40 users found this helpful733

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6

LionheartedDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The writing was was pretty bad, I felt what killed it was the pellet-bar-mashing pace as if every expected member of the audience was supposed to have the attention span of a Goldfish. While George Lucas wasn't here to photobomb every scene with a 5-year old (Jah Jah), his legacy of dismal un-pruned writing lived on.
I didn't mind Han Solo dying at the hand of his son (Kylo Ren), it was actually an excellent choice, and I didn't mind the somewhat cartoony characters, what I minded the lack of development of the characters with almost sole exception to the Poe and Finn together. I minded the complete disservice to Han lacking any new development before offing him unceremoniously.
The chemistry between Finn and Rey seemed completely forced as well, no sparks at all.
In fact the best character development of the entire movie was the final 30 seconds of silence ...

The other thing is if you are going to create a story, create one that has at least some "believability" behind it. The reasoning behind the entire movie was so thin as to completely dismiss that there ever was a history behind this Episode at all. Useless plot, and unnecessary insertion into the Star Wars universe indeed.

Furthermore it wasn't just that the pacing was terrible, it just didn't feel like Star Wars because of the lack of emphasis on the Star Wars unearthly howls and mechanical wonderment, JJ almost completely railroaded this essential portion of the Star Wars "feel". There was an attempt with a canteena scene *nod* and BB-88 was fun! But just not enough to offset the spoonfed (for who knows what commercial reason the original Star Wars didn't spoon feed anything) writing.

I did like this movie better than the new Star Treks, at least it had the good taste to kill great characters instead of murdering them through poorly conceived re-writes. And I would actually go see this movie again .. if it were free.… Expand

19 of 37 users found this helpful1918

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8

Spilly0403Dec 19, 2015

I don't understand some people on this website. They don't like the fact that the plot of this movie is not very original, and I agree with them. But that is not a reason to give this movie a 0 or a 1. This movie has great characters, greatI don't understand some people on this website. They don't like the fact that the plot of this movie is not very original, and I agree with them. But that is not a reason to give this movie a 0 or a 1. This movie has great characters, great dialogue that is very "star wars-y", exciting action scenes and awesome special effects. Now that I say it, this movie reminds me a lot of mad max: fury road. That was also a movie with great characters and special effects, but with an unoriginal story. Therefore I believe that this movie fell victim to the hype train, unlike mad max (which was rated a lot higher by most people). I do understand that this movie has its flaws, but I don't think that it is godawful, like some people do.… Expand

6 of 22 users found this helpful616

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1

xavanDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Disappointing movie. Too many coincidences. "Sith Lord" was a complete joke. Started out as a badass, but ended as a whiny baby who got beat by untrained people swinging lightsabers blindly.

Atleast the prequels had a story and ominous villians.

This movie was basically a PC rehash of episode IV with no character development or believable human interaction. Don't me wrong. I don't mind progressive elements in a movie, but I don't want to feel like I am watching a checklist being shoved down my throat despite how forced or unnatural it feels.

-Grrrrl power "i dont need no man to hold my hand" lady picks up a light saber for the first time and instantly knows how to use the force to beat the "sith" lord. She somehow magically goes from zero to hero in 5 minutes without any kind of explanation. So not only is she the most powerful fighter, but she is the best pilot, and mechanic in the movie without any formal backstory or training.

This would essentially be the same as Jake Lloyd picking up a lightsaber in Episode 1 and somehow beating Darth Maul. Totally ridiculous. Anakin was also supposed to be the "child of the force" and the "chosen one" and it would have still been nonsense. Atleast my feminist friend who went to the movie with me was beaming afterwards.

-Forced interracial romance with no believable setup or backstory. I come from an interracial family, but this just felt like some PC checklist. Stale and unbelievable with no chemistry.… Expand

39 of 79 users found this helpful3940

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1

Htaed1239Dec 19, 2015

Let me say a few things here that other reviews haven't mentioned! Apparently an old Han Solo could "time when to break out of light speed/warp" - in order to perfectly land just past the defenses of the First Order but also not crash intoLet me say a few things here that other reviews haven't mentioned! Apparently an old Han Solo could "time when to break out of light speed/warp" - in order to perfectly land just past the defenses of the First Order but also not crash into the planet. Come on now, this is fantasy, but its called "science-fiction" for a reason - its suppose to be at least logical.

How is it Kylo Ren has such a powerful wielding of the force that he can indefinitely pause blaster beams in mid air(the very beginning of the movie).... but then when he locks arms with young girl he is overpowered by her? I mean, I know he had a grievous wound - how the hell was he able to run in front of them so quickly then? Force walk?

You come to find that the "force" is now just a convenient excuse used by this movie to string the plot together and explain unbalanced character powers to get them out of situations they shouldn't be able to.

WHY is there a "map to find Luke Skywalker"... does he never leave this planet? And then when he is finally found, why is it so absolutely uninteresting? No great jedi temple, no ancient ruins - no encampment, absolutely no signs of "hiding here for decades".

How is it that the Milennium Falcon happens to be junk on the same planet as all these events - and right when they power it up and fly it after "possibly years and years" - it is found by Han Solo within "hours"? Of it's launch? Was there a homing beacon inside it which alerted him when it was turned on - why wasn't this explained in the movie?

WHY DO NONE OF THEM EVER CHANGE THEIR CLOTHES? THEY ARE ALL WEARING THE SAME CLOTHES THROUGH-OUT THE ENTIRE MOVIE. And this is what confuses me the most - how long "fiction time" does the movie actually take place over? I can't tell how many days it was - there never seems to be any "rest" - except when maybe travelling to the rebel planet on the millennium falcon - and then maybe rescuing Rey. I think its because none of them change their clothes, or ever seem to find a "point of rest", I don't understand how fast everything in the movie is occurring in movie-time.

Also - like someone said before - THIRD DEATHSTAR WITH SAME EXACT VULNERABILITY? I MEAN - you have enough construction capital to build massive planet-sized weapons but they can be destroyed by 1 common fighter ship - not once - but three times?

What the hell happened to the republic after the fall of the emperor? Did I miss this in the prologue? Why are the "rebels" still "rebels" or the "resistance" if the empire fell? Who are they resisting? The First Order? How did that reconstitute itself so quickly - and why hasn't it been challenged by anything else?

WHY did they make the bad guys so explicitly Nazi - even with the Heil Hitler thing. Its just bad taste - especially because it superficializes fascism - it takes the "ostentatious staging" - but not of the underlying passions for that in the first place. AND WHY were all the highest officers younger than 25 years old? General Hux is how old? Kyle Ren is how old? And the people that report to them are also college age?

The last thing I say - the holographic supreme leader Snoke - so they built an enormous hanger inside a star destroyer(or I'm assuming Star killer) - with all those strange ruins - just for a projector of him?

I have to say there were some really cool/creative action scenes, some really funny and cute moments - but the whole thing was soulless.… Expand

61 of 112 users found this helpful6151

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5

villaduneDec 19, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was relieved to read some of the reviews on here, because I was beginning to feel like the Star Wars Grinch. I grew up with the trilogy (Empire was the first movie I saw in a theater), and I was really hoping to enjoy this. My expectations were not very high, and unfortunately this didn’t live up to them. The main reasons:

1. HAN SOLO WAS UNBEARABLE. Painful. Ridiculous. Watered-down. I guess it would have been impossible for JJ Abrams (or anyone really) to tell Harrison Ford that his acting had become hokey. Or maybe nobody noticed. Either way, this portrayal had zero resemblance to the wisecracking, bad-ass, cool as ice Han Solo that I know and love. Sure, characters age, but they still retain their core.

2. THE PLOT WAS INCOHERENT. Some of the plot points were good. I like the “storm-trooper-with-a-conscience” concept. Luke Skywalker in hiding/exile was a cool idea. But the entire map thing (the basis of the movie) was silly and riddled with holes. It’s especially frustrating because if you look Episode 4 (which this completely knocked off), the plot was both clean and simple.

3. BAD USE OF LIGHTSABERS. The fights were pretty weak. This is Star Wars! Fight scenes and lightsabers are important. And two people who had never even picked up a lightsaber were able to compete with Kylo Ren, who was trained by Luke Skywalker and is supposed to be a master. This is like some random person who has never picked up a basketball but is a great athlete beating LeBron James one on one. Come on.

4. UNINSPIRED NEW CHARACTERS. The Jamaican E.T. (Mazy?) was terrible. The orange R2D2 was fine, but he was basically just R2. That giant villain both looked and acted like the villain from The Avengers. There were some characters that were basically knockoffs of the Cantina characters. I don’t know…none of them did anything for me.

5. LACK OF GREAT SCENES. After the movie, my buddy turned to me and said – “was there one really good scene in the movie?” And looking back…no. Not one. There are plenty of pretty good scenes, and no awful ones, but it’s just totally flat.

6. ENDED LIKE A BAD REMAKE. I just don’t get what they were trying to do. I understand keeping themes going (and the value of parallels), but the second half was just so incredibly similar to the original, but much worse. If you’re going to remake Star Wars, just remake Star Wars. I would much rather have seen either – (a) a totally different episode 7 that had no knockoff death star, no knockoff darth vader, no knockoff Luke Skywalker, etc., or (b) a straight remake of episode 4. The hybrid didn’t work for me.

7. KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID. That’s always good advice. They just tried to do way too much, and as a result sacrificed plot, character development and heart.… Expand

18 of 37 users found this helpful1819

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10

DonnySniperDec 19, 2015

By far better than Episode 1-3, on one level with Episode 4-6, maybe even better.

Dear Team of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I was flashed. The first time for about ten years. After Episode 1-3, Episode 7 brings Star Wars back to theBy far better than Episode 1-3, on one level with Episode 4-6, maybe even better.

Dear Team of Star Wars: The Force Awakens,

I was flashed. The first time for about ten years. After Episode 1-3, Episode 7 brings Star Wars back to the roots. There are only actors who know what they are doing and everytime they do it, you see that they love Star Wars. Everytime we recognize the spirit of the old movies (some on here call it "ripoff from previous movies", I would never call it like that) we see the spirit of the new movies based on the Originals. We see a mixture of drama, great humour, lovely nostalgia, hatred and sadness. I am just glad about this new Episode of Star Wars and I am looking forward to the next Movie. The entire Team of Star Wars Episode 7 brought the original Star Wars Trilogy back.
Thank you!
A Fan.… Expand

10 of 39 users found this helpful1029

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8

SchroederRockDec 18, 2015

JJ Abrams' vision of Star Wars is essentially a fresh coat of paint on an old car. The Force Awakens is remarkably similar to A New Hope in numerous ways, and while I enjoy both of these movies, The Force Awakens doesn't quite captivate theJJ Abrams' vision of Star Wars is essentially a fresh coat of paint on an old car. The Force Awakens is remarkably similar to A New Hope in numerous ways, and while I enjoy both of these movies, The Force Awakens doesn't quite captivate the same way the very first entry into this franchise does. What this film DOES do well is flash what lies ahead for us - the technical prowess is incredible here. X-Wings in formation striking beachheads or enemies in space are incredible. Everything George Lucas did through 6 episodes is suddenly garbage in the wake of the Abrams touch. The new cast is also solid, even if Kylo Ren's character isn't as well explained as I would have liked. Certain characters and the background story need some work to transcend all the other excellent franchises being iterated on year after year right now. Star Wars is no longer alone in the sci-fi world, it's merely a cornerstone and The Force Awakens does only enough to remind us of what Star Wars can be, but doesn't fully deliver in its resurgence. Regardless, this movie was very enjoyable and should please many fans worldwide. The BEST news is that Star Wars isn't limited to just episodes 7-9 as there are four other side-plot movies in development as well. So while the core story of this new Star Wars adventure isn't completely built yet (at least, in this movie), these other movies taking the Marvel universe approach could perhaps fill in some of the blanks and keep satiating our appetites for all things Star Wars.… Expand

208 of 275 users found this helpful20867

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1

tommyt1984Dec 18, 2015

What a crock. I feel like Ralphie in A Christmas Story when he finally gets his decoder pin and decodes a secret message only to find its a "crummy commercial".

I love Star Wars. This "film" is not Star Wars. The plot is garbage. It isWhat a crock. I feel like Ralphie in A Christmas Story when he finally gets his decoder pin and decodes a secret message only to find its a "crummy commercial".

I love Star Wars. This "film" is not Star Wars. The plot is garbage. It is riddled with holes and uses simply ridiculous devices to bring characters together and move things forward. The pacing is hyperactive and clunky. There is no character development at all. Relationships are hastily propped up and splinter like a mast made of toothpicks and Elmer's glue on the Bering Sea. Any intended emotional impact falls utterly flat. If this movie made you cry, you are delusional and numb to real feeling, I'm sorry. Star Wars The Force Awakens joins the ranks of Avengers, the X-men films etc etc by being flashy, trite, drivel that Hollywood bigshots know fans will gobble up in a hype induced stupor. Star Wars should be better than that, far better. JJ Abrams is laughing at you from atop his gargantuan pile of money.

What I find most frustrating and disheartening is the fan reaction or at least the perceived fan reaction at this time. We're in the honeymoon phase. Somehow "Star Wars fans" are managing to pull down their Kylo Ren underpants and pluck a 10/10 review out of their ass for this travesty. Some "fans" are such douchebags that they make a point of thanking George Lucas for not being involved in the making of the film. How low and disrespectful. History will remember George Lucas and his innovations, creations and contributions far more fondly and profoundly than JJ Abrams' flash in the pan nonsense. Wake up people, free yourself from the carbonite of flash and hype, you're being dooped by Abrams and Disney. They're laughing all the way to the bank.

I'm not some closed minded hater. I went into this film like most Star Wars fans, hoping for something fresh, something to bring back the original spark and excitement of Star Wars after the lackluster prequels. I sat down in the theatre with an open heart and mind, gushing with excitement and optimism. I left feeling like a cruel trick had been played on me. I left actually appreciating the prequel films and missing the genuine heart and love for these characters and this saga, admittedly not always with the most finesse and appeal, that George Lucas always displayed. This is a high budget fan film at best. At worst it's an exploitation of something many people hold near and dear to their hearts and that's simply a shame.… Expand

58 of 115 users found this helpful5857

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5

Dogboy1111Dec 18, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. My review of The Force Awakens
Hmm, where to begin? It’s a very good question and one that the writers of the latest Star Wars movie did pretty well. Things were looking good for a while, but when you look back on a good beginning it sometimes begs the other good question: How’d we end up going so wrong.
Well perhaps wrong is not quite the right word. The movie itself had some great acting and good effects, but it was hamstrung by, frankly, a lazy-a*** plot.
It’s probably easiest to list the big plot gripes rather than try to make sense of it all.
1. Why, why and why again go with the basic storyline of the original trilogy??
The “ultimate weapon” that was the Death Star resurfaces in the new “ultimate weapon”, which I presume makes the original Death Star the “penultimate weapon”… but then again we had the Death Star II, so the original becomes the “ante-penultimate weapon”, followed by DSII as the penultimate and then this new one must surely be the ultimate weapon in the universe (unless superseded by a revised and improved ultimate weapon in a later Star Wars film).
“But wait, this is different!” I hear you say, this one’s a planet, and IT’s BIGGER! Yes, yes, it’s bigger, all despots with ultimate weapons like to brag that they have the biggest ultimate weapon in the universe, but in essence it still blows up a planet, right? “No, no” I hear you call, “this one blew up 5 in one go!” Heck, you’re right, that’s really different and is certainly bigger.
But it still gets blown up by small rebel ships in the film’s finale on a tight countdown?
Not to mention, since it’s a planet orbiting a star, and it sucks the star to oblivion to power itself, and it’s a planet and doesn’t appear to have engines, how exactly does it end up firing twice? Surely if you drain your sun you’ve lost your power source, and your new and improved ultimate weapon is about as useful as Stormtrooper armour? Hmm, maybe it had a binary sun… geez, if they’d thought ahead maybe they’d have constructed it in a system with a whole bunch of suns.
Or maybe just built it as a moveable space station that could still obliterate a planet (albeit not 5 at once)

2. And speaking of sons, another brooding teen gone bad, turning on his master to score a cool red lightsabre?
“But in Episodes 2 and 3 Anakin wasn’t the son, he was just adopted. And in Episodes 4, 5 and 6, it was the father that was bad, and now it’s the son!”
Geez, original, never thought about those subtle variances. I just wish that the latest writers had thought about it a bit more and ditched that whole part of the plot, because it sucks.
If you wanted to have yet another good guy gone bad blah blah blah plot, get Luke Skywalker out of sulksville and finally have him succumb to everything Yoda saw coming.
It’s like making Darth Maul a distant relative of Anakin’s just to try to get some additional “oh my goodness, I can’t believe he’s turned out soooo bad” factor. I’m sorry son, but your Auntie had an illegitimate child and he’s gone and got himself some interesting tattoos.

Now since I’m on the soapbox I might as well list a few other gripes that aren’t quite so critical to the whole storyline.
1. Plot discussion at Disney: “Okay guys, we’re definitely going with the rehash of the ultimate weapon and the brooding teen, but how can we make it even more different? Ooo, I know boss, let’s have a funny little droid that has some secret data to deliver to the Rebel Alliance! “No, no,” there you go again, “it’s not the Rebel Alliance. This time they’re called The Resistance!”
Yup, yup, that’s true. But then again, they both begin with an “R”, fight against the evil Empire oops, Order, and still use the same ships against the same bad-guy ships.
But you’re right, the Rebels won, remember?! Yeah, Episode 6 smashed the Empire and freed the galaxy from the Sith.
The new bad guys have a completely different name that begins with a completely different vowel… but true, they’re still led by the Sith.
And we still have a funny little droid that has the all-important secret data to deliver to the good guys, but this time we’ve made it the location of Luke in sulksville, rather than the plan to the new and improved ultimate weapon, so we’re sure that it’s a new plotline.

2. Back to sulksville.
Apparently, sulksville is in such a far-flung part of the galaxy that C3PO and the Rebel, argg, Resistance computers can’t identify where it is.
I mean no-one ever gone near that huge gaping area right next to the centre of the galaxy, and whoever heard of astronomy? The sum of all knowledge was apparently destroyed in the great Jedi Temple fire.
Or maybe Luke just unleashed the bacterial midichlorians upon everyone and they’ve gone and deleted half the star files so that he can enjoy some quiet alone time somewhere near Machu Picchu. Bad midichlorians, bad, bad, bad!

Doh! I've run out of room, so I'll just skip straight to: For me, it's a solid 5 stars. Unfortunately, that rating’s out of 10 stars.… Expand

14 of 30 users found this helpful1416

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10

dragonwar1Dec 18, 2015

J.J. is truly a master story teller. Here is why. Despite the fact that the core narrative structure being much similar to those of New Hope or TPM, the complexities of character development and interactions are more closer to the EmpireJ.J. is truly a master story teller. Here is why. Despite the fact that the core narrative structure being much similar to those of New Hope or TPM, the complexities of character development and interactions are more closer to the Empire Strikes Back. Unlike the remake of Star Trek series, his task was to satisfy fans by providing enough nostalgic moment but simultaneously feel attached to new characters ! ! In other words, he had to work on twice as many characters than any of previous installments. This of itself is such an undertaking! So having a simple plot for this episode was essential in order to appropriately introduce each character and give every one of them some moments.
I have to admit that the evil depicted in this film seemed to be rather weak. kylo ren seemed to be vulnerable rather than threatening. But this was by designed. Unlike any of previous films which had pure evil, this film is showing the evil we will find in the heart of every one of us. So, I was able to sympathize a lot more to kylo. Will he become a Sith or will he turn to the light side? As vulnerable as he is, any possible outcome can be worth considering . The film also had fun, excitement, thrill, humor, a bit of romance, a great music scores and everything else that made Star Wars a space opera.… Expand

11 of 40 users found this helpful1129

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6

AlphaIliumDec 18, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Went to Star Wars: TFA this afternoon. This is a flawed film, redeemed from being a complete failure through the efforts of the actors that portray Finn and Rey. I went with two other people, and we all walked out of the film with that same disquieting unease that occurs after watching something that you desperately want to like but cannot due to cognitive dissonance between your head and heart. I’ll try to keep this relatively spoiler free, but here are some observations:
1) JJ Abrams cannot properly pace a film. The formula is becoming obvious. Future M. Night Shyamalan. Hipster director, all flash and no substance. Master of self-promotion with the same bag of tired tricks. Did he forever wound Star Wars as a franchise? No, but this is a disappointing start. It cannot be unmade, and is now canon. After Star Trek (whose novelty has worn off) and ST: ID, this film confirms that Abrams is incapable of creating a film that doesn’t move at such a pace that it breaks its own neck. Again, another film where the characters never rest, where there is no time for exposition, where everything that happens (in a galaxy that requires hyperspace travel to traverse it, no less) feels like it happens in less than 24 hours. The poor pacing took me out of the film through sheer action scene fatigue, and once disengaged I had time to become critical of its component parts. Why not just make a 3 hour film and slow it down a bit? Star Wars audiences would happily endure it.
2) Why is it a “Resistance”, as opposed to an Army of the Reformed Galactic Republic? Where did the First Order come from? Why do they identify as something other than the Galactic Empire? What is the scale of both respective forces? Is anybody going to explain the past 25 years of political reformation, positioning, historical events, or significant conflicts? Who is winning, and to what degree? How much of charted space does the First Order control vs. the Resistance/Republic? Why do both forces appear to be comprised of less than a thousand members? There is nothing grandiose about the First Order, unlike the impressive, despair-inducing monolith of the Galactic Empire.

5) Short shrift for mass destruction and genocide: The pacing of this film was so off that Abrams could not even convey the weight of grief that would occur after the first discharge of the Starkiller Base. In Star Trek, the sudden and unexpected destruction of Vulcan was a successful gut punch for the audience (I even watched as one Trekkie in the audience started screaming in disbelief at the screen). Really though, the concept of a Starkiller Base is absurd. If you drain a sun, the region it once inhabited would becoming extremely inhospitable to the weapon's user. Also, who terraformed the planet to create such a thing? How does the First Order have access to the resources necessary to build it? What was the planet once called? How could a planet contain the power of a sun? How does an energy beam split itself halfway to its destination? How could a new star re-form after said planet collapses? It all just feels thoughtless, as though Abrams is asking the audience to leave their ability to critically analyze plot devices at the door. I’m surprised that the core chamber of the base wasn’t the Budweiser brewery or something.
6) Is that Admiral Ackbar?! Why is he being treated like the janitor that wandered into the warroom? Why does the military meeting feel like a group of forcefully sarcastic twentysomethings playing cards against humanity in the local brewpub? Where is the solemnity for the fact that th7) I feel that, unlike Lucas (who loved the Star Wars universe even while mismanaging the prequels), Abrams was too obsessed with the cinematic style of the original films, and as result emulated the originals to the point of neglecting the universe in which the new plot is contained. As a comparison, I brought up the opening scene of Episode
8) Overly fortuitous moments everywhere: Convenient planetary rifts separating characters, needle in galactic haystacks character encounters, and inconsistent character actions everywhere. Why send somebody a map (in a deactivated droid) in order to find their location, while leaving a piece of the map missing? Unnecessarily cryptic, much? The Force, I suppose. Felt lazy. And “Oh, I just happened to run into you in the middle of space”, without which the entire film would come to a halt. Deus ex Machina all over, shifting Force potency when the scene demands it. Example: I can force push you across half a forest one moment and freeze a blaster beam in time, but now I cannot win a lightsaber duel against someone with no prior lightsaber experience because, well, the plot demands it.… Expand

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5

MrDeacon74Dec 18, 2015

I have waited years for this saga to continue ,sadly I must report that I'm very disappointed. The plot needed more work to truly grab ahold of the most die hard "Star Wars" fan. This movie is just a set up, I hope. To something much greater.I have waited years for this saga to continue ,sadly I must report that I'm very disappointed. The plot needed more work to truly grab ahold of the most die hard "Star Wars" fan. This movie is just a set up, I hope. To something much greater. JJ Abrams dropped the ball on this one.… Expand

37 of 70 users found this helpful3733

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7

TheBiasedTruthDec 18, 2015

Perhaps Star Wars: The Force Re-boots would be a more apt title.

A lot has, and will be, written/said over the weeks/months/years of this films release, attitudes adjusting accordingly once the Disney train really gets rolling - so I'll bePerhaps Star Wars: The Force Re-boots would be a more apt title.

A lot has, and will be, written/said over the weeks/months/years of this films release, attitudes adjusting accordingly once the Disney train really gets rolling - so I'll be brief.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a solid film, designed to appease, tasked with introducing a fresh set of characters into a familiar structure, and coating the resulting recipe with a heavy dose of comforting nostalgia. Mission accomplished and box office records, probably, broken.

You will be entertained - great cast, practical effects, fantastic looks. What is uncertain is whether you'll actually care much beyond your first viewing, as it treads the same good vs evil , soap-opera style storyline we've already seen, particularly in A New Hope. No new insights into the force, Jedis or existing characters. If plot holes are your thing then fear not, plenty of ammunition here to fire back at star wars fans/apologists.

Ironically, as a non-stars fan, I found a wealth of interesting, nuanced stories buried within the lore of Wookiepedia - all ignored in favour of continuing to circle around the same characters, worlds and themes. I have high hopes that a Rian Johnson Star Wars will invest more heavily in expanding, exploring or pushing in a new direction - we'll see.

When the trailers began to appear, I remember watching them several times, moved close to tears by a heady mix of visuals, sound and possibility - sadly, during the film, I only felt discomfort from a full bladder.

So, again, a solid start to the Disney-approved series, safely filed away from the prequels but lacking a distinct voice of it's own - happy to keep one foot firmly in the past and another desperately seeking surer footing in front.… Expand

17 of 38 users found this helpful1721

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9

ydnar4Dec 18, 2015

EXTRA WARNING DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE YET. I HAD THE MISFOURTUNE OF HAVING ONE OF THE MAIN TWISTS SPOILED FOR ME AND DO NOT WISH TO DO SO FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

Star Wars Episode VII is 100% worth all the hype. I hadEXTRA WARNING DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE YET. I HAD THE MISFOURTUNE OF HAVING ONE OF THE MAIN TWISTS SPOILED FOR ME AND DO NOT WISH TO DO SO FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

Star Wars Episode VII is 100% worth all the hype. I had stressed myself out over this film for the whole year of 2015 and it pulled through. I spent countless hours thinking and worrying about this film and it turns out the franchise was left in good hands. The Star Wars golden age has returned.

JJ Abrams, a man who I did not envy, managed to make a film that the fans wanted that also stayed true to the original trilogy. In my opinion he has finally reached his potential, like many other people involved with this film. The film is not completely original of course as we do get another death star like weapon but it seems to be less of a part of the story. It'll be interesting to see what Abrams next move will be now that he will not be directing episode 8 or 9.

The new cast in this film is incredible. Daisy Ridley is a star. No questions asked, there is no questioning why this young lady is now the face of the franchise going forward. Rey is a lovely character that is well developed, we go on a full journey with her much like we did with Luke Skywalker in 1977. I am very intrigued to see how much Ridley can improve as the story continues as well as her character. She's also a strong capable woman, and we can never get enough of them in film.

John Boyega is also a force to be reckoned with. The chemistry between Ridley and Boyega is great and its lovely to see them grow together throughout the film. Both young actors also fit in very well with the more recognizable faces from the original trilogy.

Kylo Ren is the best villain in Star Wars since Darth Vader. Kylo Ren seems to have become more experimental with the force which was a must for this movie. We needed to know that the force itself had grown over thirty years and it did. Adam Driver finally shows that he was worth waiting for as he has stood in most of his recent movie roles but really needed one big part that would demonstrate his talent to the world. Kylo Ren draws inspiration from Vader, which was apparent by his appearance, but he is easier to empathise with than Vader was in his first film. Kylo Ren is the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia, which is revealed fairly early in the film which makes him even more appealing to the audience. I also like the fact that they are looking to ride Driver for at least another film. One of the things I always disliked about the prequels was that it seemed like they were getting rid of their villains too quickly. Then when Disney bought the franchise I was worried that Star Wars would begin taking more of a "Marvel approach" with villains, but Kylo Ren seems to be sticking around.

Then we have the old cast. Han Solo is the member of the original cast that gets the most screen time outside of maybe Chewbacca who is once again on point like he always has been. Han Solo managed to age beautifully as a character but he also maintained those elements that you will never forget. Harrison Ford will always be Han Solo and his performance in this film is as good as it was in any of the originals. He also contributed a lot of humour. Leia gets a bit less attention and I'm okay with that, but I think there is going to be more involvement from her later on.

Now to the hot topic among everyone who has seen this film already. Han Solo's death at the hands of Kylo Ren (which I had spoiled for me). I think it was perfect. It did not come without warning which I think works because it gives the viewer enough time to come to terms with what it about to happen. I believe that Harrison Ford chose to sign on for The Force Awakens on the condition that Solo got the death Ford wanted back in Return of the Jedi. I think that a death of a old cast member had to happen just to prove that they were not invincible. Solo's death has an impact on the characters kind of like Obi-Wan Kenobi's death in Episode IV.

I thought the lightsabre duel between Finn, Rey and Kylo Ren was great. It showed that Kylo Ren is still learning to master the dark side and that he will likely come back even stronger for episode VIII. As a fan I wanted to see Luke Skywalker pop in to save the day, but I think that leaving him out did better for the story overall and it completed Rey's arc.

Finally the film ends with Rey coming into contact with Luke. It results in a cliffhanger that really doesn't both me that much. Empire Strikes back left a huge cliffhanger and that only made the film better. Luke's in the film for essentially 10 seconds but getting a look at that character for the first time in 30 years gave me chills. Luke's involvement in the next film will almost be certainly bigger and I already can't wait.

The Force Awakens gives you enough of the new and the old as well as the surprises of the original trilogy. Episode VII is certainly better than the prequels.… Expand

17 of 70 users found this helpful1753

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0

kaytaroDec 18, 2015

I honestly didn't think it was possible to be more disappointed in a Star Wars movie than the prequels. Star Wars has always been about the characters, and J. J. Abrams manages to butcher every new character and kill off the only memorable one.

52 of 106 users found this helpful5254

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10

wlielolnardDec 18, 2015

I just got back from the movie and all I have to say is I loved it. They story was compelling and just overall fun to follow, even knowing what was coming around the corner. For those of you that complain that the story was just ripped off ofI just got back from the movie and all I have to say is I loved it. They story was compelling and just overall fun to follow, even knowing what was coming around the corner. For those of you that complain that the story was just ripped off of episode 4 you have to look more into the film aspect of things. The star wars films especially episode 4 where built all around a simple hero cycle. George Lucius took this simple hero cycle and turned it into a story we all know and love today, and JJ Abrams followed in the foot steps of George Lucius and did exactly twisting it up and forming into something new that should be looked on as great. People hating on this movie came in with a closed mind and weren't willing to change what they believe it to be, no matter how great it was. Now you guys are stuck unable to enjoy the movie while people who maybe had there doubts gave it a chance and saw what the movie really had to offer. Sucks to suck. I'm definitely watching it again and many times over. There has been an awakening!… Expand

10 of 41 users found this helpful1031

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7

PerfectJayDreadDec 18, 2015

Extremely recycled to the point of obscenity, with nostalgic nods in such frequency and magnitude its hard to not feel like some of the main characters of the film aren't just extended cameos! But for all its faults, in the end this is stillExtremely recycled to the point of obscenity, with nostalgic nods in such frequency and magnitude its hard to not feel like some of the main characters of the film aren't just extended cameos! But for all its faults, in the end this is still a GOOD Star Wars. Is it great? No. Is it bad? Definitely not. Its a first step in the right direction, if a small one.… Expand

15 of 29 users found this helpful1514

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7

stevegroundhogDec 18, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Felt like I was watching Episode 4 for the first time again. Pros: It got the extremely bad taste of the prequels out of my head. No Jar Jar. Scenes that definitely weren't for younger kids. Good start to a new trilogy. Liked how the Republic was finally wiped out and the weapon had multiple beams for multiple planet destruction. The ginger General did a good job motivating the hate while the weapon fired. Cons: Kylo Ren I thought at the beginning would be a good Sith Lord and then he turned into a whiny college grad with career issues over the light and dark side. The new Supreme Leader I have no clue where he came from but all the Star Wars characters seemed to had issues with him. Really confused how a Storm trooper training since he was in diapers suddenly has compassion. It was way too easy to destroy the Death Planet and trenches were reintroduced again like in Episode 4. Even had a guy who resembled Porkins. Gwendoline Christie's character I was disappointed she had very little screen time, how easy it was to have her drop shields, and never took her helmet off. She looked sexy with all that chrome. Han getting killed was a shocker but again his son was extremely whiny. Plus the mourning period was incredibly short. Well Han died so you can take the Millennium Falcon girl I hardly know -Said Leia. Finally I was uneasy about Daisy Ridley, she did a great job, but looked almost identical to my ex wife. The planet blows because once again another obvious exhaust port that wasn't well defended. The ginger General flees the planet along with Ren (didn't show that part), and did Gwendoline Christie survive or was she killed in the planet's explosion? The ending where Daisy Ridley pulls out the light saber and Mark Hamill stands there thinking how the hell did you find me. Finally they tried to put too much information into the movie.… Expand

15 of 34 users found this helpful1519

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