Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date: December 18, 2015
6.7
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Generally favorable reviews based on 7984 Ratings
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Positive:
5,073
Mixed:
1,217
Negative:
1,694
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10
GeorgieboyJan 30, 2016
Absolutely magical return to firm for the Star Wars franchise. Take a bow JJ Abrams, this was everything I hoped it would be. The Force Awakens rocked!
110 of 148 users found this helpful11038
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7
AxgrinderJan 29, 2016
How do you write a sequel to America’s most beloved space opera trilogy more than 30 years later? How do you make a movie which appeals to a multi-generation fan base more massive than the death star, and which has been badly damaged by aHow do you write a sequel to America’s most beloved space opera trilogy more than 30 years later? How do you make a movie which appeals to a multi-generation fan base more massive than the death star, and which has been badly damaged by a series of misbegotten prequels, and thus needs to make the jump to light speed quickly? Not an easy task. You return to the tried and true. You bring back the original cast, and write a story that recreates and revisits those most memorable moments in those original movies. The result is something familiar, maybe a little old and faded, but not totally out of date. So yes, the story is more than a bit of a remake of the original, but who cares! It’s a re-union tour. And a transition piece which allows for the introduction of new generation of characters, and in that regard Rey (Daisy Ridley) appears to be a winner. Expand
143 of 190 users found this helpful14347
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10
JackalJan 29, 2016
I grew up with the franchise as I was 12 when I saw the first movie - episode 4...and this movie goes back to the original formula and follows on form there...the three "first episodes" seem to have a life of their own and were detached fromI grew up with the franchise as I was 12 when I saw the first movie - episode 4...and this movie goes back to the original formula and follows on form there...the three "first episodes" seem to have a life of their own and were detached from the first 3 but this one brings it right back home and the story feels directly connected. All is well in the world when Star Wars is great. Expand
108 of 150 users found this helpful10842
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0
BarnyJan 29, 2016
The tantrums of Kylo Ren pretty much resume the whole movie: this is intended for teenagers and children mature enough to be accompanied by their parents to watch this 2 hour long ad. Apart from these aspects, the direction by JJA is goodThe tantrums of Kylo Ren pretty much resume the whole movie: this is intended for teenagers and children mature enough to be accompanied by their parents to watch this 2 hour long ad. Apart from these aspects, the direction by JJA is good enough to avoid the potholes (and not plotholes) of episodes 1-3 but it falls short of being able to deliver any sensible experience to the adult viewer. The plot holes however are an other story: any decent sci-fi buff will be seriously annoyed: the planet destroyer could not have any atmosphere, neither vegetation. The key characters could/should never have met (it was nearly inconceivable in episodes 4-6 but in this universe it is worse). The key characters are evolving from scene to scene: i.e. the non violent stormtrooper suddenly have not a single regret killing many of his ex-comrades (when they are sharing a similar enrollment). For the brain-equipped individuals, watching this production is a painful experience, for the others... well I cannot speak for them but it looks like they enjoy IT. Expand
26 of 129 users found this helpful26103
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10
shabooshabahJan 29, 2016
The Force Awakens is proper old fashioned swashbuckling stuff, made in the spirit of the original three Star Wars movies. Non-stop fun from start to finish. Bravo JJ Abrams!
107 of 144 users found this helpful10737
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0
drat2016Jan 28, 2016
I can't believe I spent money on this movie. This is just a remake of "A New Hope". As a fan who has read all the books Disney has decided to change everything and go in a new direction. What is up with a young Roberto Luongo as the bad guy,I can't believe I spent money on this movie. This is just a remake of "A New Hope". As a fan who has read all the books Disney has decided to change everything and go in a new direction. What is up with a young Roberto Luongo as the bad guy, Leia and Han Solo have a son who looks Italian, what a miscast. This is a movie for people who have only seen the six movies, not for anyone who has read the books. Expand
27 of 125 users found this helpful2798
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4
JudgyMcJudgeJan 28, 2016
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is an enthusiastic, big budget fan film. The story is forgettable, the main characters are a) a too-perfect damsel who is never in distress, b) a wide-eyed bad guy turned good who acts like he was kept in solitaryStar Wars: The Force Awakens is an enthusiastic, big budget fan film. The story is forgettable, the main characters are a) a too-perfect damsel who is never in distress, b) a wide-eyed bad guy turned good who acts like he was kept in solitary confinement before being let out into the cruel Storm Trooper world, c) a whiny good guy turned bad who is rebelling against his parents. And every few minutes there's a cameo. Look! It's Han Solo! Look! It's Leia! Look! It's C-3PO! Look! It's the Millennium Falcon sitting in a very convenient place for the girl who's unreasonably good at absolutely everything (including staying warm in cold climates without actual sleeves) to steal and escape at the last possible second!

The dialogue is bland. The exposition necessary to explain the political goings on is lacking. I'm not even sure I understand who the giant hologram guy was, but my attention had begun to wane by that point. The movie is moderately entertaining, but much too long.
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22 of 115 users found this helpful2293
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10
daveyboy873Jan 28, 2016
Thank you JJ Abrams for bringing the magic back! For me, previous to the prequels, Star Wars had an indescribable magic that made those first three films different to anything else. Abrams' triumph is that he has somehow been able toThank you JJ Abrams for bringing the magic back! For me, previous to the prequels, Star Wars had an indescribable magic that made those first three films different to anything else. Abrams' triumph is that he has somehow been able to re-create that magic and soul. JJ 100% gets what makes Star Wars different, and manages to express that on the screen. I don't see him as an artist, but more of a skilled craftsman. And that's exactly what this franchise needed. Expand
140 of 187 users found this helpful14047
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9
Bayonetwork1989Jan 28, 2016
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens is one of my favourite films of 2015 and this is why; For the first time since RotJ I've watched a Star Wars film that actually feels like a Star Wars film. Right from the opening shot of a StarStar Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens is one of my favourite films of 2015 and this is why; For the first time since RotJ I've watched a Star Wars film that actually feels like a Star Wars film. Right from the opening shot of a Star Destroyer casting a shadow across the planet Jakku, you immediately see how much care and attention has been put into this film. It could've been so easy for JJ Abrams to fill this film to the brim with CGI, but what we have here is a film with a healthy balance of CGI and practical effects (more in favour of practical) just like episodes IV to VI. I've seen some people score 0/10 and this film is nowhere near that. I can understand why some people may not like it, but I can't help but feel The Force Awakens is being hit with the super negative reviews because of how big and hyped this movie was and that it's now "cool" to rage on Episode VII. People have also been commenting on how the film is too much like A New Hope, but just remember that pretty much all three trilogies follow a similar path, the same way in which the first 3 Indiana Jones films do (and when they did change the formula, we got "The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"....) The film isn't without it's floors, but then again no film is. Overall, this is a very enjoying film and a great Star Wars film. Expand
139 of 185 users found this helpful13946
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10
wholetdadogaoutJan 28, 2016
Probably only the 4th best SW film, but that's still an amazing achievement. JJ Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan have created a handful of new characters that have a chance to become cinematic icons like those from the original trilogy. That wasProbably only the 4th best SW film, but that's still an amazing achievement. JJ Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan have created a handful of new characters that have a chance to become cinematic icons like those from the original trilogy. That was the real test - could these new characters hold a candle to some of the most beloved of all time? The answer is a resounding YES. Expand
108 of 145 users found this helpful10837
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10
mullabulla1932Jan 28, 2016
WOW! The Force Awakens was everything I hoped it would be, and more. A perfect mix of old and new, playing on nostalgia whilst introducing elements that will take the franchise onto new heights. Disney have proved themselves to be worthyWOW! The Force Awakens was everything I hoped it would be, and more. A perfect mix of old and new, playing on nostalgia whilst introducing elements that will take the franchise onto new heights. Disney have proved themselves to be worthy custodians of this precious franchise. Episode VIII can't come quickly enough. Expand
145 of 193 users found this helpful14548
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4
trooperdeniedJan 28, 2016
Film was conceived with the idea of diversity in mind and incorporates stupidly large amounts of plot points from 'Star Wars: A New Hope'. The prequels were poorly acted at times but were new, bold, and showed the Star Wars galaxy at a scaleFilm was conceived with the idea of diversity in mind and incorporates stupidly large amounts of plot points from 'Star Wars: A New Hope'. The prequels were poorly acted at times but were new, bold, and showed the Star Wars galaxy at a scale we hadn't seen it before. The visuals were great, but the story and soul of it wasn't. Disney should've had a closer look at Lucas's ideas or at least taken inspiration from the enormous amount of content created over the years in the extended universe.

If I had submitted this plot/screenplay to my media teacher as an original sequel I would've been chewed up, spat out and told to use my imagination.
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19 of 95 users found this helpful1976
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5
TheFotskiJan 27, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Best to review this from two viewpoints. As a Sci-Fi standalone "B" film, with a big budget I'd give it a '7'. In "B" films you have to "suspend disbelief" a lot more and not worry about details. As a science fiction movie in the Star Wars universe here's a '3'. Where historical or a scientific background has been established. So an average of '5'.

Some of my additional plot point issues from the beginning:

* Tech scavenger 1 captures robot and gives it up to scavenger 2 without a fight or payment.
7 Knows she's bad-ass and wants nothing to do with her.
3 Doesn't know she makes Star Wars dolls, eats with her mouth open and licks her plate clean, armed with just a knife and big stick. Hardly bad-ass.

* 20 minute mark. Need action scene. Let's have them steal a tethered Tie Fighter and start shooting things up.
7 Cool sequence, boom bam.
3 Tethered? Guess the storm-trooper missed the Tie 101 class that Tie Fighters don't have hyper-drive.
(First of a few action scenes that did nothing to move the plot along.)

* 30 minute mark. Heavy action.
7 Cool action, blowing up the camp, lots of running, and explosions.
3 If they wanted to capture the droid, why all the shooting. Might they destroy it?
(Guess they haven't invented keys to their starships yet.)

* Guy dressed in black gets pissed and chops up a control panel
7 Wow, really showed his mean streak.Light saber is powerful.
3 Control panel controls something, possibly important. Someone now has to fix it.

* Old guy with hairy sidekick recovers stolen ship.
7 Happened to be in the area.
3 Star Wars universe has over a million planets. Someone must have activated a distress call, hyperspace travel is fast.

* Bar on lush green planet with a hundred patrons.
7 Wow. Lots of aliens. I want a bar stool with my name on it there.
3 Bar in middle of jungle. How did all the patrons get there? No scene of a parking lot filled with Trailway Las Vegas buses, or a cool monorail system. Must have dosed off here.

* 70 minutes in. big battle scene.
7 Cool fighters blowing up the bar. Good guys arrive to save the day. Awkward reunion of estranged old people family.
3 Why attack this place? Nice reunion of previous young people.
(Another unnecessary shoot up.)

* Flashbacks
7 Hints of character cool hidden motivations.
3 "We don't need no stinkin flashbacks," but a couple of flashforwards are ok.

* Girl able to do well against all bad guys without training.
7 Anyone with the force thing can speak, robotese, hairy companionese, "repeat my words" mind trick, and dueling expertise.
3 Luke was a slow learner.

Need I go on?

In Summary:
7 Can't wait to catch up on the full series. Although, I do hear that episode IV is very derivative of this movie.
3 Time to re-watch the cartoon channel's "The Clone Wars," for superior villains, planets, good guys, and story lines. Collapse
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13 of 87 users found this helpful1374
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1
AustenJan 27, 2016
Luke Shywalker: disgusting coward. Having faced down Darth Vader twice, walking into Jabba's Palace and facing down the Rancor, and refusing to give in to the dark side and the Emperor on the second Death Star, the gutless Luke ShywalkerLuke Shywalker: disgusting coward. Having faced down Darth Vader twice, walking into Jabba's Palace and facing down the Rancor, and refusing to give in to the dark side and the Emperor on the second Death Star, the gutless Luke Shywalker shows his true colors and makes a complete hash of training his padawan - another recycled plot point - and runs and hides instead of dealing to the weak and confused teenager & his handful of 'Knights of Ren' - a grandiose title for a pack of angsty wannabe sith. Luke - far from being a strong and true Jedi - is the kind of muppet who would flee to the other side of the galaxy rather than deal with the new crisis, leaving a bizzare and obscure map as some sort of desperately inadequate cry for help. Having allowed the New Order to destroy 3 planets + their own planet (4 planets in total) now he's going to front up and stop being a ****
Also a comment on the Republic. From a seeming position of overwhelming strength after ROTJ they have allowed the New Order to construct a sun sucking base which has the power to destroy 3 planets simultaneously but the energy being sucked in doesn't seem to destroy Starkiller planet......what a joke.
It used to be that Botham spies had to deliver plans to the Death Star into rebel hands. Now the resistance have all the plans they need.....more deux ex machine.
But this movie is really all about Luke Shywalker. Run and hide Luke! Run and hide!
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28 of 103 users found this helpful2875
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1
HatirJan 27, 2016
More Mickey Mouse than Darth Vader.

JJ Abrams seems to be absolutely the right guy to kill every franchise. Except the old ones there are no credible characters that fit the Star Wars universe presented in this movie. Again that
More Mickey Mouse than Darth Vader.

JJ Abrams seems to be absolutely the right guy to kill every franchise. Except the old ones there are no credible characters that fit the Star Wars universe presented in this movie. Again that talentless director doesn't care a second of existing story lines of the franchise and so tossing the fans blatantly into the face, once more he shows that he is only able to make terribly childish remakes of existing movies - just like at Star Trek.

I'm glad I didn't pay a dime for that. Get LOST!
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28 of 99 users found this helpful2871
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0
jonweJan 26, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I find it amazing that people are giving this film such high marks? The plot is so full of holes that it makes swiss cheese look like a solid block of Monterey Jack! I have come to the conclusion that Disney had no chance of failure in making this film. All they did was recycle the plot of "A New Hope" with some other elements of the other Star Wars movies mixed in. That in and of it self I could have overlooked if there werent so many f*****g plot holes throughout the film. I understand that Star Wars is more a space fantasy than science fiction but unfortunately the writers can't seem to make up their mind which it is???

Take the Star Killer base for example: Here is a planet sized base that essentially sucks the mass of it's sun into it and in turn spits said mass out to destroy multiple planets anywhere in the galaxy. Okay, I can go along with that because this is a space fantasy but then the movie tries to explain some of the science behind it creating a occillator thingy that somehow can contain the mass of a star within the space of a planet. This presents all kinds of logistical problems that the movie just completely ignors. Like what happens to the planet as the mass of it's sun is steadily being consumed? Where are the quakes and other tidal forces that would be surely present on a planet that is in orbit around a rapidly disappearing stellar mass? With the suns output being rapidly diminished how is it that the weather on the planet isn't also adversely affected? How is planet able to suck up its sun while maintaining a force field around it? How is the planet able to suck up it's sun in the first place? Why does it have to absorb all its sun to fire?

A star is just a huge nuclear reactor that produces energy by turning hydrogen into helium...nuclear fusion in other words. The immense gravity of a star makes this possible so when Poe states they have until the sun goes dark before the weapon is charged just doesnt make any sense since it is just hot matter (or plasma but still matter) the Star Killer base is syphoning off. So what does it mean when the sun goes dark? The sun is gone, all used up? The sun's mass has been lessened to the degree that fusion is no longer possible?

I am a science nerd and when the writers try to explain science behind a film they need to make it make sense or it just throws me out of the film! Why not just make the star some kind of dark force star that the Star Killer base is sucking up? Forget the science and just stay with the fantasy and satisfy nerds and non nerds alike???

There is so much wrong with this film that I could write 10,000 words and not get through a quarter of the film so I am going to stay with the Star Killer base sequence. Here are some further examples of plot holes or conveniences concerning the Star Killer base.

1. How was it possible that the New Republic/Resistance not even know about it's contruction given the fact the entire galaxy is easily traveled thru hyperspace?
2. Such an endeavor would have made that particular solar system heavily traveled and no one noticed?
3. The base appears to have no fleet protecting it and minimal ground forces which is very odd for such a huge undertaking?
4. The base's shields can be compromised if a ship comes out of hyperspace into it's atmosphere. Han thought of it within 10 minutes of film time and no one on the First Order side thought of it at all during all the time it was being constructed?
5. The shield could be disabled by a single person who has access codes but there were no fail safes put into place to prevent this or at least alarm the base that the shields were about to be disabled?
6. Captain Phasma put up no fight or alarm when disabling the shields. I would think Snoke or General Hux would have her head for that if she survived the base's distruction?
7. This base was the size of a planet yet all the key people in the movie were all conveniently in the same area?
8. The base seemed largely a ghost town except for the firing control room and some random storm troopers placed as blaster fodder!
9. Han & Co. just so happen to see Rey climbing the wall of some huge trench but there isnt enough of a presence on the base for anyone else to notice! Hence the ghost town analogy.
10. Han & Co. are able to conveniently cross this huge trench and pick the exact spot when Rey decides to reenter the structure at the exact same time!
11. The occillator is lightly defended (apparantly useless gun turrets and a few storm troopers). One would think that after two previous failed attempts the engineers of these death stars/star killer bases would recognize their design flaw and make it impossible for x-wings to be able to conveniently blow it up.

Rnning out of space but to be fair could have overlooked a lot of the above however, when sloppy writing gives way to convenience after convenience...I say enough is enough!

I give this film a 0 to offset those who gave it a 10 which it doesn't deserve!
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37 of 111 users found this helpful3774
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9
MlleChichiJan 26, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. After watching the movie 3 times at the cinema (3D, full Imax, regular) - I can safely say that for me, The Force Awakens places itself in the Top 3 of the Star Wars franchise.

STORY:
I don't agree with people complaining about the fact that the movie looks like A New Hope and is uninspired... This is Star Wars. Star Wars was never about ''re-inventing'' anything. As a big fan, I was happy to feel at home while watching it. And even if you're a new fan, the movie has enough twists and action to catch your attention and curiosity to the entire saga. Also, this is the 1rst movie of the 3rd trilogy, so they are going for a safer approach (getting us attached to new characters etc), which is perfectly fine. The movie is well paced. All scenes have their place. The nice attention to details is appreciated (ex: the BB-8 vs Finn scene where BB-8's lighter). Overall, the only thing that maybe bugged me a bit was Starkiller base. I did find it a bit odd that after 2 Death Stars destroyed, the baddies would've known better that making a bigger Death Star.

CHARACTERS/ACTORS:
Rey: I'M IN LOVE with her character. I'm also very happy to finally see a kickass main female jedi in the movies! Daisy Ridley did an amazing job and I think they casted the perfect woman for the role.
Finn: John Boyega was on point. Character is funny and loveable, however I did find he was missing a little bit of depth. For a guy that spent his whole life being a slave-soldier for the First Order, he should've had a little bit more sadness or PTSD or something. Nothing that ruined the character - more of a personal opinion.
BB-8: I want 1000000000 BB-8s. I haven't felt that attached to a character since R2-D2 (not just droids). So loyal and sweet. Best droid ever.
Kylo Ren: DUDE. I loooooved Kylo Ren. Loved the fact he was a whiny and immature man still struggling with the force. Very weak inside and clearly in pain. I cannot wait to see if he will come back to the light side or not. Adam Driver was so deep and delivered an amazing performance in my opinion.
Capt. Phasma: I think she was a little overhyped. Great character, but very un-important. Nothing specific to say about her.
Poe Dameron: The love of my life. Best pilot EVER. I adore the relation he has with Finn and Oscar Isaac played Poe so naturally. He fits the role so perfectly. I really really hope we will see more of him in the next movies.
Han/Leia: Was very happy to see them again. Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are great actors and I really felt that they just jumped into their old shoes... Natural, on point and so heartwarming perfomances from the both of them. RIP Han, you're the best. We'll miss you.
Luke: We did not see much, obviously. But I loved the final scene. Also, Hamill looks badass!?!?! The look he had... what do you think? Is he Rey's dad?
Snoke: The most mysterious guy in the movie for sure. All the theories... That character confuses me, but I'm not sure if it's positive or not yet. Time will tell!

Ill stop here about the actors and characters, but honestly, all of them were amazing and easy to feel attached to.

VISUAL:
AMAAAAZING. Also, shout out to the scene transitions. A great balance with today's technology and old school set props. Beautiful landscapes as well. Breathtaking shots really.

CONCLUSION:
A GREAT Star Wars movie just like we love them. I am NOT disappointed and am very excited for Rogue I and Episode VIII. Let the THEORIES time begin!
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83 of 123 users found this helpful8340
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7
SaikronJan 26, 2016
It's mindless sci fi action, just like the original trilogy. It's good to see the franchise back at it's peak: somewhere around "good but not great".

I encourage people who consider themselves film buffs to go back and watch the original
It's mindless sci fi action, just like the original trilogy. It's good to see the franchise back at it's peak: somewhere around "good but not great".

I encourage people who consider themselves film buffs to go back and watch the original trilogy and ask yourselves if it even reaches the standards you remember it setting. That bar really wasn't so high, which makes it even more sad that the prequels couldn't reach it.

It's no problem for JJ Abrams to rehash some genre tropes and throw them on the screen in a stylish setting. That's what The Force Awakens is and what the franchise has always been.
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73 of 98 users found this helpful7325
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9
NestorBJan 25, 2016
Star Wars is back strong ! " It suck its new hope all over again " .. That's just weak logic.. Episode VII is a soft reboot but it is just better in any way.. Acting , Visuals & Audio , Character Development , Emotionally , the directing andStar Wars is back strong ! " It suck its new hope all over again " .. That's just weak logic.. Episode VII is a soft reboot but it is just better in any way.. Acting , Visuals & Audio , Character Development , Emotionally , the directing and generally is better as a film than any other star wars except Ep.5 maybe .. So stop on hating that its kinda unoriginal and enjoy the god-damn movie because it really keeps you on till the last moment ! And for those who hate on Kylo Ren i inform you that he is by far the best character they've created on the star wars saga . Expand
72 of 101 users found this helpful7229
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8
Ki-Rich51Jan 25, 2016
я согласен, этот фильм не лучше других, но и не хуже. Нормальная история, а про спецэффекты вообще молчу. мне понравился.
72 of 99 users found this helpful7227
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7
jamessJan 25, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Finally saw SWTFA this past weekend after all the hype and hyperbole has died down and stayed away from any spoilers. That said, the movie was definitely entertaining. But afterward, I felt something was missing. I hate to use the word pedestrian, but besides the nostalgic feeling seeing the favorite characters (Chewie practically stole every scene he was in, IMO, not to take away from Ford though) return to the big screen, the magic was missing. The action sequences were well staged, the special effects (except for the Rathtars in the hallways) were well done (let's admit, effects artists can create ANYTHING nowadays) and mostly practical. John Boyega and Daisy Ridley (her first film??!!) did very well as our protagonists, while Adam Driver was mixed (seriously, SPOILER......Han and Leia created THAT face?) And that's another problem I have with the series as it continues. It's like the line from Spaceballs..." I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate." In a galaxy not only far away, but assumingly populated by billions of people and creatures, does everyone have to be related? Expand
106 of 141 users found this helpful10635
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0
illexionJan 25, 2016
This movie is an utter disgrace to the star wars franchise, very poor story, plot holes, bad characters and don't get me started on the feminism propaganda in this film. How the hell does this has a meta critic of 81?
40 of 105 users found this helpful4065
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9
spencieJan 25, 2016
Wow, J.J. Abrams is awesome and so is his incredible view of Star Wars, the new characters are so cool and they are better than all of the characters in the prequels. Rey is awesome, Finn is awesome, Poe is awesome, and Kylo Ren is anWow, J.J. Abrams is awesome and so is his incredible view of Star Wars, the new characters are so cool and they are better than all of the characters in the prequels. Rey is awesome, Finn is awesome, Poe is awesome, and Kylo Ren is an incredible villain. Expand
64 of 93 users found this helpful6429
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1
CameraBounceGodJan 24, 2016
the only thing that could have made this movie more annoying.....is the girl ...its like why would a girl be trying to take down the government....i don't even understand......women can't even relate to being in that underdog position.....ifthe only thing that could have made this movie more annoying.....is the girl ...its like why would a girl be trying to take down the government....i don't even understand......women can't even relate to being in that underdog position.....if anything positive comes from this one maybe this movie might make women see that they are next to black guys on the list...and rappers or black guys always like women so theres no surprise there that hes helping her...with only a half hour left i really don't care if napolean dynomite gets new world order girl to the reptilian so that she can lose to its dark side ....if i wanted to see a girls face worshiped like its the second coming i would have watched anything else.......i would have killed my dad too if a girl I was in charge of killing escaped too......how dare the world not realize that woman are terrible overpopulaters drawing everyone in..how dare you all conspire against me How DAarre Youuu...there might has well have been a graphic sex scene....that actually sounds pretty good seeing how a black guy with a regular saber is holding his own against a guy with training and crucifix saber...wow dynomite can't do the first thing luke learned to do " get his saber from the snow with the force"....did they just already blow up the new death star? someone behind this movie has to know that there are people in the audience like me or else i've never been so pissed....im glad i waited to watch this online.....I would never go to the theater even to watch catcher in the rye....it would just ruin it especially now seeing how everyone alive is a phony...........Ok... maybe the next one won't have girl face in it or at the very least no rebel N Expand
22 of 73 users found this helpful2251
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6
mixxalotJan 24, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I just saw it after reading all the negative reviews.

First the good

1. Special effects and see new characters and old. The actress who played Rey was good.
2. I liked the new BB robot droid he was cool.
Now what knocked off a few stars:

1. Complete rehash of Star Wars A New Hope Episode IV. Nothing original.
2. Fake in that Rey could pilot the Falcon and fix it better than Solo with zero training or experience!
3. Lame how Rey could fight better with a light saber and use force powers with no Jedi training!
4. Harrison Ford was a major letdown as Han Solo. He did poor job acting and looked like he did not even want to be in the movie!

5. Lame end with Luke and Rey stare at each other with no words spoken that sucked.

6. Villain was weak and Kylo Ren could have been better if he never removed his mask!

7. Stormtrooper guy Finn was out of place in the movie.

I paid $6 for matinee but probably won't watch it again. Disney and Jar Jar Abrams ruined Star Wars!
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16 of 63 users found this helpful1647
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10
Evyan2002Jan 24, 2016
Star Wars episode 7 is one of the best Star Wars movies. The actors were amazing and the special effects were outstanding! The score for this movie should be higher than it is because it was amazing.
52 of 78 users found this helpful5226
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0
montell088Jan 24, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Force Awakens is a COMPLETE disaster as a film. How anyone can even pretend it's good genuinely baffles me. Here's the short version of why this film sucks:

1) Leia is not a Jedi. Really? Does it make sense that a force-sensitive person would walk away from the power to be a Jedi? Especially when she saw 1st hand how dark Jedis can almost take over the galaxy. Does it make sense that she'd let Luke teach all the Jedi alone? No. I get we dont want to see a cgi Carrie Fisher with a lightsaber, but story-wise, it makes no sense.

2) Luke Skywalker is a running coward. Seriously? Kylo Ren made the last Jedi run away and hide? Kylo doesn't seem that bad ass to me, but whatever, he made Luke hide for an entire film...

3) Kylo Ren is a **** Like a GIANT **** This Skywalker trained dark Jedi can barely take out stormtroopers (Finn) and gets his ass kicked by someone who has NEVER once held an ignited lightsaber before the moment of the duel? LOL

4) Finn is Jar Jar Binks. I went into this film wanting to like Finn the best. Why? Cause he's on the poster holding Luke's Lightsaber. That leads you to believe that he's a Jedi. They've never before shown someone on a Star Wars poster with a lightsaber who wasn't a Jedi. Until now. Had they put Rey on the poster holding the lightsaber, I'd have no problem with Finn losing EVERYTIME he touches the thing. But as it stands, they did put Finn on that poster holding the lightsaber and ALL he ever did with that lightsaber was get his ass kicked with it. One of his losses was to an un-named character... LOL

5) Rey is god. I don't mind my make believe tales of fantasy having a female lead. I do however mind when that female lead is vastly overpowered without trying. Rey is more powerful than Luke was in Empire Strikes Back. With ZERO training. She can fly as good as Han/Lando with no experience flying the Falcon, she's as strong as Luke, and she can even translate every language like C3P0. I love that we have a female lead. I hate that she is a Mary Sue.

6) Han Solo's death held no emotion. I went into this film with no spoilers, but I saw Han Solo's death coming from an hour and a half away. Then when the actual scene is setup, its insanely obvious what's about to happen. They may as well have had a neon sign in the background that read: "Han solo dies in this scene! don't go for popcorn!" This is the kind of thing that pulls people out of movies. Then the actual death happened and I was like, "meh". The problem with me seeing the death coming from so far away is, I'll see the death in my head 1st. And it was cooler in my head.

7) Chewie and Leia walk past each other after Han dies. This is a film breaking error on the part of JJ (Jar Jar) Abrams. It makes absolutely ZERO sense that 2 old friends and comrades would simply walk right past each other after the death of someone so important to both of them. They walked past each other without SO MUCH AS A GLANCE BETWEEN THEM. If they aren't ready to talk or if Leia wants to talk to Rey, fine, but you have to show SOMETHING. A simple nod. Anything. As it stands, these 2 characters are broken until its explained why they behaved as if they'd never met before.

It's Star Wars. I get the need to want to love this. And it's also trailblazing for girls and women everywhere and that's a great thing. I get why it's hard to say its a bad movie when you want to like it so bad. But this is a JJ Abrams film. And it's a very bad film. And as a die hard Star Wars fan it causes me physical pain to admit that.
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39 of 92 users found this helpful3953
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10
MCUSR360Jan 24, 2016
Before this movie i wasn't really into star wars, i had seen some parts of the movies but wasn't really interested in them at the time but episode 7 changed that for me. A great start to the new trilogy and an excellent way to end it leadingBefore this movie i wasn't really into star wars, i had seen some parts of the movies but wasn't really interested in them at the time but episode 7 changed that for me. A great start to the new trilogy and an excellent way to end it leading up to the next two films. Can't wait for Episode 8 and 9 to come out. Expand
49 of 73 users found this helpful4924
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0
Edward4468Jan 24, 2016
Let me declare at first. The problem is not coming from nature of Star Wars itself, nor the reason why they have decided to create another movie of the series. It's WORSE. The cause of my disappointment is that, the story line of this filmLet me declare at first. The problem is not coming from nature of Star Wars itself, nor the reason why they have decided to create another movie of the series. It's WORSE. The cause of my disappointment is that, the story line of this film is not following the basic rules of fiction writings. In another words, THIS MOVIE DOESN'T HAVE ANY CLEAR VISIONS ABOUT WHERE TO GO.
I don't want to give EVEN a 0 score, I am completely honest, nor to call this thing a fiction tale, IT'S JUST A -FAN-APPEALING-VIDEO-WITH-A-BIG-SCREEN, I'd rather say. At least its not worth to pay for watching it.
I don't really understand why there are so many of them who are yelling this "greatest ever!" or something like that.
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37 of 82 users found this helpful3745
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0
PCforeverJan 23, 2016
The most disappointing film I have ever seen. Phantom Menace was superior to this movie that's how bad it is. I don't want to repeat what everybody else is saying about why it stinks but just google "40 major plot holes in the forceThe most disappointing film I have ever seen. Phantom Menace was superior to this movie that's how bad it is. I don't want to repeat what everybody else is saying about why it stinks but just google "40 major plot holes in the force awakens" by Abramson of the Huffington Post.

It nails it perfectly as to why this is one of the worst films ever made and adds to the growing evidence that JJ Abrams is the worst directer in the history of film making.
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39 of 85 users found this helpful3946
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9
TimeOfTheChimpsJan 23, 2016
Though some new characters are underused and the plot retreads ANH slightly, The Force Awakens is a great start to this new trilogy due to the excellent acting from Daisy Ridely, John Boyega, Adam Driver, and the rest of the new and originalThough some new characters are underused and the plot retreads ANH slightly, The Force Awakens is a great start to this new trilogy due to the excellent acting from Daisy Ridely, John Boyega, Adam Driver, and the rest of the new and original cast, its insane final lightsabre battle, and the excellent practical effects used in place of overused CGI. A- Expand
33 of 57 users found this helpful3324
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9
JB562Jan 23, 2016
It's a new Star Wars film that everyone has been waiting wait for and it didn't disappoint. It's very superior compared to any of the prequel films and the first of an epic sequel trilogy. J.J. Abrams's directing has helped rejuvenate theIt's a new Star Wars film that everyone has been waiting wait for and it didn't disappoint. It's very superior compared to any of the prequel films and the first of an epic sequel trilogy. J.J. Abrams's directing has helped rejuvenate the film series. Expand
32 of 57 users found this helpful3225
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6
crazypndaJan 22, 2016
Scoring this movie is hard. One the one hand, I wanted a movie that FELT like Star Wars, and not merely LOOKED like Star Wars, and this movie did not deliver. On the other hand, it was a solid sci-fi action movie in its own right, which if itScoring this movie is hard. One the one hand, I wanted a movie that FELT like Star Wars, and not merely LOOKED like Star Wars, and this movie did not deliver. On the other hand, it was a solid sci-fi action movie in its own right, which if it didn't have a legacy to uphold, would be deserving of a higher score.

Many reviews complain that this movie was a rehash of A New Hope, but that's not a bad thing. The franchise reboot isn't just for existing fans, it's for future fans-to-be. The formula of A New Hope is a solid one worth borrowing heavily from, but the problem with this movie is its mood and pacing, not where it decided to plant its roots.

If I were use a list of words to describe the feeling given by the original trilogy (and even episodes I, II, III), I would use the following words:

1. Epic
2. Adventure
3. Mystery
4. Fun
5. Exciting

If I were to use a list of words to describe The Force Awakens, I would use:

1. Dark
2. Gritty
3. Struggle
4. Drama
5. Intense
6. Gripping

The mood is *completely* different from the first six movies. To compound the stark difference in mood, we are given a stark difference in visual effects. The thematic style remained consistent, but the technical style was much more realistic, bringing the franchise out of the surreal and into the real. The realness of the visuals combined with the mood, created a large gulf between it and the original movies - a gulf hard to reconcile for anyone who grew up with the originals.

Pacing was another problem. The story jumped through one adventure after another (which is consistent with Star Wars), but rushed through them. Combine that with how quickly Rey learns what we have all been told is a skill that must be taught or learned over time, and the pacing feels quite off.

Third, the villains were not well done. The "sith lord" is a poorly done CGI character. It's very difficult to love to hate a villain who isn't real. The primary villain, Kylo Ren, is also kind of an annoying little **** He's not a strong lead villain like Vader was, and when we learn where he comes from, it's almost impossible to draw a line from his origin to where we see him in the film. Either we're given too much information about him in this movie, or his character was poorly constructed given that information was available. He felt out of place.

Speaking as a sci-fi fan, this movie was awesome. Speaking as a Star Wars fan, this movie was a disappointment. If you carry no legacy Star Wars baggage, go and enjoy this movie. If you do carry legacy Star Wars baggage, you may want to adjust your expectations before seeing this film.
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18 of 51 users found this helpful1833
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9
nahtan1244Jan 22, 2016
Star wars the force awakens was an nostalgic action packed awakening to my childhood hence the name. First off the new comers to the franchise were amazing. Daisy ridley as Rey was fantastic John boyega was excellent as finn and Oscar IssacStar wars the force awakens was an nostalgic action packed awakening to my childhood hence the name. First off the new comers to the franchise were amazing. Daisy ridley as Rey was fantastic John boyega was excellent as finn and Oscar Issac was great as Poe dameron. Adam driver was fantastic as the villain. Many people complain he was a taper throwing sith lord who could never kkeep his cool like Darth Vader could. What do I have to say to that? well yes your right but honestly who can live up to one of the most infamous movie villains of all time. I liked Kylo ren's struggle between the dark and the light side. To me It felt compelling and real and never came across as cheesy. However i do have but one gripe and that is i feel Carrie fisher did not get enough to do unlike her counter part that is the one and only Han Solo also excellently played by Harrison Ford. This movie excellently bend the old cast and new cast to make one of the best star wars movies movies sense the empire strikes back. Mr.J.J. abrhams you never fail to amaze me. Expand
29 of 54 users found this helpful2925
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0
Prometheus_tsJan 22, 2016
The movie is a pure rip off of the first episode squced with pie es from the other movies of the first trilogy. Though those are poorly connected with senseless events in the plot that really make no sense to the smart spectator.The movie is a pure rip off of the first episode squced with pie es from the other movies of the first trilogy. Though those are poorly connected with senseless events in the plot that really make no sense to the smart spectator. Unfortunately the movie was just a big cash cow from Disney to sell to childs and rehash the serie in order to sell more merchandise and products like that . Its really a bad movie , bad script , bad sequel and terrible product . Expand
42 of 81 users found this helpful4239
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10
DonathinJan 22, 2016
If Metacritic existed in a vacuum, one might think that Star Wars: The Force Awakens generated so much nerd rage that it is almost as divisive as the Prequel Trilogy. It's not, nor should it be.

JJ Abrams, an extremely gifted storyteller
If Metacritic existed in a vacuum, one might think that Star Wars: The Force Awakens generated so much nerd rage that it is almost as divisive as the Prequel Trilogy. It's not, nor should it be.

JJ Abrams, an extremely gifted storyteller who has proven himself on both the small screen and the large screen, executed Disney's plan for rebooting the Star Wars franchise at an incredibly high level. The new characters were the emotional engine that moved the story, and their performances were more elevated than any performers' in the other six Star Wars films. The Force Awakens, first and foremost, establishes a new set of characters worth caring about.

Beyond that, the cinematography and effects in The Force Awakens are simply stunning. They far eclipse the cinematography of the previous films, to the point where some shots are truly pieces of art, while taking the heart of the original trilogy's special effects and bringing them to a modern day level of execution.

Finally, the film acts as a successful bridge to direct the audience's view of the Star Wars franchise forward and into the future. Sure, there are some similarities to the original movie. Those plot devices, the Ultimate Weapon, the hero's journey and discovery of untapped power, they weren't invented in A New Hope: those have been archtypes in fantasy storytelling for thousands of years.

There is just enough mystery (Who is Snoke? Who is Rey? What really happened with Luke?) to hook us into future installations, just enough new ideas and elements that they can be expanded on, while a good portion of the movie is (necessarily) focused on bringing old characters together with the new, of reminding of us of what we loved in the original trilogy to prove to fans that they will be getting the Star Wars that they deserve.

It's a great sci-fi film. It might even be the best of the Star Wars franchise when you judge it on its own merits alone, though I still rank The Empire Strikes Back as the series' heaviest hitter. But, in many ways, The Force Awakens' characters are more intriguing, its villain more dynamic and frightening, its dialogue more natural, its comedic moments sharper, and its potential reach with future stories greater and more original than all of the Star Wars films that came before it.

And with all of that said, I fully expect the films to come to be even better. This was the "bridge" that was necessary for Star Wars to return to everyone's lives. Most films serving that purpose would be terrible. It is only via the absolute joy on the part of the young actors, JJ Abrams, and everyone involved with this project (except for, perhaps, Harrison Ford) that a transition tale such as this one ended up being so damn good.
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25 of 51 users found this helpful2526
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7
StevieGJDJan 22, 2016
While The Force Awakens is certainly derivative of the first Star Wars movie, now known as Episode 4: A New Hope, there are many things to love about it. The effects are amazing. It is wonderful that the main protagonist is a young woman.While The Force Awakens is certainly derivative of the first Star Wars movie, now known as Episode 4: A New Hope, there are many things to love about it. The effects are amazing. It is wonderful that the main protagonist is a young woman. It was a joy to see the original characters again. It ended leaving me anxious about the next film. But the main villain is weak, There are a too many Nazi overtones of the bad guys for my taste. One of the best new characters (who clearly is the Yoda of this film) is not given enough screen time or enough to do. So it is at least an inconsistent movie. The first movie came out when I was a kid and I loved it. There had never been anything like it before, ever. The Force Awakens is not that film. But it is entertaining and fun, albeit not particularly original. Expand
27 of 49 users found this helpful2722
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10
DrunkdroodJan 22, 2016
One of the best Star Wars movies to date. The action is exciting and well thought out. I have seen it twice now and firmly believe that the complaints are unfounded, yes there are similarities to the original but it is still a fresh storyOne of the best Star Wars movies to date. The action is exciting and well thought out. I have seen it twice now and firmly believe that the complaints are unfounded, yes there are similarities to the original but it is still a fresh story with new faces. I can not wait to see where this trilogy takes us next. Expand
23 of 48 users found this helpful2325
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4
FuzzyWahJan 22, 2016
Star Wars is now just like Transformers. All the cool and pretty stuff thrown about over a story and characters you couldn't care less about because clearly nobody is trying to make anything beyond a "good" Star Wars film. No amount ofStar Wars is now just like Transformers. All the cool and pretty stuff thrown about over a story and characters you couldn't care less about because clearly nobody is trying to make anything beyond a "good" Star Wars film. No amount of searching through the original trilogy will net you a magical formula for making a good movie, because you still need a vision and a passion for creative storytelling.

Everything about the movie was good: the acting, the sound, all that stuff. All the pieces were well made, but there was nothing for them to come together for.

At least the film was fun to watch.
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26 of 52 users found this helpful2626
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8
twall3Jan 22, 2016
Weird to watch the negative user reviews grow for this movie. With a movie this anticipated, bad reviews aren't going to stop anyone from seeing it. They only serve to lower our expectations, and therefore increase our enjoyment when weWeird to watch the negative user reviews grow for this movie. With a movie this anticipated, bad reviews aren't going to stop anyone from seeing it. They only serve to lower our expectations, and therefore increase our enjoyment when we finally see the film. I read several of the angry reviews and heard countless people explain that it's a shameless rehash of Star Wars IV. So when I saw it I was surprised how much it DIDN'T feel like a rehash. It felt like new people entering an old story we knew, picking up decades later. Familiar faces and ships, but now a new story. And it IS a story that circles round and round (Palpatine killed Vader's dad, Vader's son inspires Vader to kill Palpatine and his daughter is a key fighter in the Rebellion, Obiwan trains Anakin and eventually has to kill him but doesn't, Anakin becomes Vader and kills Obiwan - but not before Obiwan begins Luke's training, etc.). Why complain when there's more similar storyline? It wasn't a perfect movie but it WAS a new Star Wars movie - and it was rich and spectacular. It was a labor of love by all who worked on it and a gift to the rest of us fans. Enjoy it for what it is. Sounds like a 2nd viewing is even more enjoyable (now you know what to expect). Expand
20 of 51 users found this helpful2031
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6
TheMasiMan1Jan 22, 2016
Is the plot recycled for the third f**king time? Yes. Is the music good? Yes, but not as good as the previous Star Wars films. Is it a good movie? Kinda. Do I hate it? No.

Force Awakens is a good way to start off a trilogy. Snoke just
Is the plot recycled for the third f**king time? Yes. Is the music good? Yes, but not as good as the previous Star Wars films. Is it a good movie? Kinda. Do I hate it? No.

Force Awakens is a good way to start off a trilogy. Snoke just feels like a s**t character. Kinda like the dark sides Jar Jar Binks. Why is my score so low then? Two words: STARKILLER BASE. The plot of this almost-to-2-billion-dollars movie has the same plot as did A New Hope back in 1977!
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12 of 37 users found this helpful1225
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4
MooseNineJan 21, 2016
I don't even know where to start. This movie is so huge disappointed. I was waiting for new star wars movie for so long and now... i wish "this" would never happend. Most of this movie is "copy&paste" from the old trilogy. Just look on theI don't even know where to start. This movie is so huge disappointed. I was waiting for new star wars movie for so long and now... i wish "this" would never happend. Most of this movie is "copy&paste" from the old trilogy. Just look on the first scene from "A new hope" and then on "Force awakens" - exactly the same schematics.
Another terrible matter is political correctness - especially exaggeration of women role and minimalized men role.

And of course there's a lot of plot gaps , big changes making no sense in relation to old trilogy, and a lot of funny scenes where Abramas tell us "one thing" and later in the movie make "other thing" where in relation to the "one thing" makes no sense.

Two good things i can tell about Force Awakens is pretty good directing and nice looking special effects but that's all.

And i know that so many people defend this movie and sayin' "it is good" or "IT'S AWESOME". That's what 2 years of commercials, good PR, marketing and "HYPE" doing with customers brain. I was great fan of Star Wars franchise since 80'. But now? I am still a HUGE fan of Star Wars... but not Force Awakens.
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20 of 40 users found this helpful2020
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1
Betamax77Jan 21, 2016
This movie and The Martian made me lose all respect toward official reviewers. A movie should not get a high score for including ”all” possible minorities. It should not effect the rating of a movie in any way. And still both movies got raveThis movie and The Martian made me lose all respect toward official reviewers. A movie should not get a high score for including ”all” possible minorities. It should not effect the rating of a movie in any way. And still both movies got rave reviews, when The Martian is very average and Force Awakens is just plain bad. The latter of course benefits from the fact that it's super hyped SW film. Even on rotten tomatoes, my (ex) go to site, even the users review are overtly positive. Because of this I'm using Metacritics' user reviews as my guide for now on because here you can still find some common sense.

Jar Jar Abrams has now remade A New Hope twice. It was ok when it was called ”Star Trek” but not in the case of TFA because it's in the same movie series. It doesn't work when you watch them in order. How he is not ashamed to deliver a ”soft” reboot of one of all time classics?? On top of it being a completely lazy rehash, the plot and happenings in it don't have any weight in them. It's a super hollow movie ticking fanboy pleasing boxes: Desert planet, check. Falcon, check. X-wings, check. Tie fighters, check. Some new design please other than beginning's flying popsicle. In addition the planets and environments in this are so basic the movie is lacking any sense of scale except one speech scene. Most of these ”other worlds” could be shot by fanfilm makers near their homes. And yes, prequels had better story, scale and sense of wonder.

One point comes from two original scenes/ideas in the movie that were quite nice. Those who say this is better than RotJ: Go take a look in the mirror, then slap yourself hard to wake up! Want to see a good recent space adventure? Watch Guardians of the Galaxy instead!

I feel dirty paying money to see this.
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45 of 77 users found this helpful4532
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0
AladgarJan 21, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Story was nothing and I can't understand this. I mean that there's a universe of star wars but they put that into a trash can and just steal from the other star wars movies but the most funny was
SPOILER

that there's kylo ren who is a good sith but a stupid soldier can defende his strikes with a lightsaber what that soldier never used before... and what they did with the characters.. erm why anyone let them to make this :(
I'm really sad because they destroyed something in the star wars universe... :(
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42 of 73 users found this helpful4231
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6
skykappahJan 21, 2016
I came out of the cinema with the same feeling as when I finished watching The Phantom Menace.... It's questionable if TFA is even better than the prequels. It is entertaining, though it feels empty. There's lots of lazy writing, convenientI came out of the cinema with the same feeling as when I finished watching The Phantom Menace.... It's questionable if TFA is even better than the prequels. It is entertaining, though it feels empty. There's lots of lazy writing, convenient situations and plot devices.

Having gone in thinking JJ would make his own Star Wars film, I didn't expect it to be an embarrassing re-tread of episode 4, a bit of Empire Strikes Back and others. If I knew TFA was going to be like that... Then I'd have actually wanted to see what Lucas would have done with it. JJ didn't make this his own film... He borrowed heavily from Lucas.

On positive ide there's a lot of visual goodness in this and the new characters are on the whole, are likeable. Daisy Ridley is the best thing about the whole movie. She fits into the universe like a glove. Oscar Isaac was seriously under used and his character, Poe should really have been the costar. Not enough of Poe at all. Kylo Ren, Adam Driver was basically an emo Darth Vader. Finn, played by John Boyega was the usual slightly bumblesome male character... I'm on the fence about Fin. We'll have to see if he gets better in the next film. As for seeing Han Solo and Leia? Hmm... it was weird.... I thought I'd get quite emotional, I did not. It's got to be the writing...

So yeah the lazy and convenient (at times perplexing) writing totally knocks off a good portion of the score from me... Above average at best.
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27 of 64 users found this helpful2737
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7
saintandrewsfalJan 21, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Before I begin, I see a lot of 0s, 1s. 2s, and 3s along with a lot of 10s. I'm sorry but no matter how you shake it, those are unjustifiable number ratings. I know that movies are subjective and we call come from different cultures and experiences, but at the same time we all know that a ham sandwich tastes better than one filled with dog poop. So, all ratings have to be within reason. With that being said this movie is a solid 7 (maybe an 8 on a good day). I'll as brief as possible.

PROS:
1. Felt like Star Wars.
2. Entertaining and fun.
3. Great acting, dialogue, scenery, special effects, pace, etc.

CONS:
1. Vague on the details of the situation with too many unanswered questions (ex: What happened to the Empire? Did the rebels start a new government?) You can find some of these answers in other places but you shouldn't have to..
2. Another Death Star...ugghh...which wouldn't be too bad since it's extremely powerful, but it also gets destroyed in a similar fashion like the previous two.
3. Captain Phasma is not only under used but a wimp that costs the first order the Starkiller base. She lowers the shield with barely any resistance. She should have fought back in that scene and the good guys had to figure out another way to lower the shields. In fact, the explosions that Han and Chewbacca could have been to destroy the shields instead of weakening the base.

There you have it. It's a solid 7. Not a 10 or a 1, but a 7. Looks like the User score is pretty on par with my rating as well.
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13 of 31 users found this helpful1318
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1
AbsozeroJan 21, 2016
Disappointing at best. There isn't much more to say. It's was poorly written and was boring, trite and uninspired. I give it a 1 and I wish people didn't drink the koolaid so hard with this film.
49 of 85 users found this helpful4936
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10
DavidV293Jan 21, 2016
I watched this film like 2 weeks ago and forgot to give it my review. Well I'm not a Star Wars fan but I have seen the trilogy and the prequels. This film is to get yourself entertained and leave you a big smile throughout the whole film. TheI watched this film like 2 weeks ago and forgot to give it my review. Well I'm not a Star Wars fan but I have seen the trilogy and the prequels. This film is to get yourself entertained and leave you a big smile throughout the whole film. The film is packed with action and some laughs. Kylo Ren might not be everyone's favorite but he's a good villain. Don't really have much to say but I did love the cast and the lovely characters. Kids today are sure lucky that this movie came out because it sure as hell will make them fans. Expand
12 of 36 users found this helpful1224
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10
harrrrrrolllldJan 21, 2016
Whilst its great to see the old favourites return, its the new cast that really make this latest SW movie an unqualified triumph. A perfect mix of old and new, this was hands down the must fun I had at a movie in 2015.
10 of 31 users found this helpful1021
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10
Zenn3kJan 20, 2016
Was it similar to Ep4? Sure! But it needed to be, it needed to show us they knew what Star Wars was suppose to be. I'm highly looking forward to Ep 8. I've been a Star Wars fan since I could walk.
8 of 40 users found this helpful832
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3
OsixuanJan 20, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm going to give it a 3. There were parts that I liked, some of the cinematography was good, some dialogue, the effects. Not an out and out bomb...but...still lacking. I was really hoping for a NEW Star Wars film, not Episode IV again. And the characters, they don't all make sense to me. The new characters seem pathetically unfulfilled because so much screen time was given over to familiar faces, telling the same story as IV again. Like Finn, who decides he can't kill for the First Order. He says it in his own words, he can't kill FOR THEM. He's fine with killing. Somehow, he finds it in him to blow away hordes of his colleagues, who he has apparently been training and working with since childhood. Somehow that's okay with him, but shooting the villagers who were already shooting at him, and killed his friend right in front of him was out of the question. He's also the biggest blabbermouth in the galaxy, constantly telling everyone within earshot that he's on a super-secret important mission. Ren is a completely unredeemable nemesis, too annoying to be taken seriously. It feels like there is no real archenemy at all really. This "Snokes" is bad I guess, but who really knows what's up with that? The Storm Trooper lady in the silver armor...she's somebody, I don't know who but she exists, or existed anyway, she probably blew up and now I'll never know why she was important anyway. And how is it the rebels couldn't figure out where Skywalker was after having the map fragment that looked like an eighth of the entire galaxy "uncharted". Don't you have any astronomers? Has anyone ever looked at that huge segment of the galaxy before? Why do you need the rest of the map to figure this out, and why is your only copy of a galactic map being stored in a comatose droid? I could go on and on...3 is what I'm giving it. Expand
19 of 35 users found this helpful1916
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10
EpicLadySpongeJan 20, 2016
I find it funny that there's people in alternative disguise giving this movie a negative review when you know you can't stop the positives from growing high every day. If you want to know a movie where to give a 0 in, trust me on this one. II find it funny that there's people in alternative disguise giving this movie a negative review when you know you can't stop the positives from growing high every day. If you want to know a movie where to give a 0 in, trust me on this one. I have the movie waiting for you. This movie's not worth giving a 0 in unless you want your opinion to suck so badly.

Along with Inside Out, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a success for the movies and you're going to love it more than how I gave a 10 on such a movie like this. Don't even try to crap out that "No" button on the "Helpful?" section unless your opinion's so bad it deserves to go for my 0's.

I know I've been spoiled before watching this movie, but I'm not giving you spoilers so you're safe if you haven't watched this movie yet. Don't even try to crap out another negative review unless you want your opinion to once again suck so badly.

I've actually watched this movie in 3D and it was a fun blast. I hope you'll love it as the same as I did because this was actually better than the prequels.

If you want to give this movie a 0, don't do it. You're just wasting your time. Waste your time giving a 0 on my 0's.
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149 of 208 users found this helpful14959
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10
monster0420Jan 20, 2016
A great movie and a great return to the Star Wars franchise! Brought back the best feeling of standing and waiting in line for hours waiting for the new Star Wars film! Gives me hope for the next trilogy!
8 of 30 users found this helpful822
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4
NoelManojJan 19, 2016
The Force Awakens is a let down - repeating same concepts and story from from before - having like another death star 2 - another attempt by rebels to destroy it but the bigger oversight here is not having any important character destroy it -The Force Awakens is a let down - repeating same concepts and story from from before - having like another death star 2 - another attempt by rebels to destroy it but the bigger oversight here is not having any important character destroy it - so the excuse of showing the former glory of star wars in the movie is baselessly inadequate- the decision to have Luke Skywalker wear a beard is ridiculous considering that as an actor in real life, he looks great and the same thing was done for Han Solo and it worked....seems unclassy ...again despite Leia appearing , she seems so ordinary - earlier in previous star wars movies whenever u see her, she would appear dressed in a regal manner- Even now as the leader of the new republic(which they show no evidence of in the movie) , she should have been given a better look - plot wise- the story is really makes a senseless appeal which only true star wars fans would recognize - in the previous movie , with the fall of Darth Vader and the emperor , we saw all planets celebrating so we feel the empire is over but now again they continue this so called empire like an unnecessary charade...it seems pointless- the new evil sith warrior dressed like darth vader is a disgrace to the movie - he doesnt have great looks - luke and anakin ( Mark Hamill and Christen Haydensen) were absolutely great looking characters but the new guy looks pathetic and the way he uses the force is a disgrace to both the sith and jedi order - he has to reach out his hand so close to the face or body to make it work - that totally ridicules the ability of the force....the new actor does not resemble Han Solo , his supposed father in any way too ....u might suppose that with handsome and great parents, this new guy would look great too but unfortunately that s not the case, - another point is that the story is kind of flawed by making this guy appear everywhere like a magnet - he didnt even have a glorious stage entrance ( i mean like a suddenly dramatic appearance)....he becomes like a clonetrooper going everywhere in the movie, really not impressive....also the acting of han solo and leia seem forced - han solo's class and charisma doesn't appear much - its only his memory in previous star wars that seems to carry him through the movie - when Han dies , there doesn't seem to be a big reaction ....even leia's reaction seems unprofessionally subdued in terms of acting.....as for the new girl actress, she seems kind of too good to be true - its very irrational the way she suddenly becomes so adept at using the lightsaber especially against a sith warrior ...its a hypocrisy - she also uses the force as if she knows it well...its not like she discovered it in a great way....even anakin skywalker and luke were shown to have receiving training and almost were destroyed in their first fights ( against Count Dooku and Darth Vader respectively)....That she even suddenly using force on the clone trooper to release her without using her hands withh such confidence - it should be considered blapshemy for a person who is not yet a jedi to do all this....- another plot wise blot is the clone army - it is supposed to be consisting of clones but suddenly that famous concept seems to be a risk with the new guy coming out as a clone soldier, when he is not a clone.....the addition of the new guy actor who leaves the clones seems good though,,,,,,another disappointing fact is that the filmakers didnt seize a crucial way to represent the glory of the earlier star wars movies - the moment she touched the lightsaber , she has visions of the past - but it only is concerned with herself and slightly on luke....that moment should have been used to display the actual legacy of star wars heroes , by showing the flashbacks of anakin skywalker using the lightsaber ...him fighting obiwan..becoming darth vader....luke receing the lightsaber from obiwan ....using it in battle...so all this coupled with what was shown in the movie at that moment would have made it a truly dramatic moment so that Rey (the new girl) would truly understand the terrible yet great legacy attached with the lightsaber ....but the filmmakers dont do this and this makes rey 's fear of touching it somewhat unreasonable ..Again plot wise- the finding of luke skywalker seems so easy - the way he was standing there in the island makes it appear like he was there all along, aware of everything going around in the universe...and thus he should have come to the aid of his friends like han solo..... The filmmakers should have left finding him for the next movie , maybe make it a heroic quest for rey and others , which would have built the mystery and the powerful significance of him being a great jedi , being a key to the first order's defeat....but they don't do this ....even finding and recognizing yoda was not an easy task for luke but this dampens it all .The only two thumbs ups for the movie would be the funny moments and Han Solo's dramatic death on screen Expand
14 of 26 users found this helpful1412
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8
NigelJan 19, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What a ride. Within a couple of thrilling hours all memory of the prequels are well and truly laid to rest. The Force Awakens recaptures the core feeling and experience of the original trilogy in spades, whilst introducing refreshing new characters, locations and concepts.

Daisy Ridley and John Boyega are two magnificent acting talents to be leading the franchise into the future, and Rey is the perfect female lead Star Wars so desperately needed to bring the films into the 21st century. The dynamic between her, Finn and Poe is electric, and Poe's contribution to proceedings will hopefully grow as the trilogy plays out; he seems a real gem of a character already.

Adam Driver plays perhaps a more interesting and layered version of Darth Vader in Kylo Ren, displaying the internal conflict of a transition to the dark side through his fine acting. Those moments Ren lashes out in rage at control panels and electrical equipment with his crackling cross-guard lightsaber are shocking to say the least and show us we have an unpredictable and inexperienced villain who is clearly going through a very rough time mentally. The reveal that Ren is in fact the son of Han and Leia is tragic, and one I didn't see coming. If anyone was in any doubt as to whether he could live up to Vader as a central villain, those doubts would have been shattered the moment he slayed the Star Wars fan favourite, his own father. Although perhaps an unpopular turning point, this scene will surely prove to shape the events of the next two films and gives the audience reason to hate Ren even more than they did Vader.

The set design and props for the film are stunning and prove old filming techniques and methods still have a vital role to play in modern cinema. Some of the creature animatronics were unbelievable in intricacy and seeing the Millennium Falcon in all its glory once more was worth the ticket price alone.

The lightsaber duels felt weighty and grounded in reality, with the inexperience and vulnerability of the lightsaber users clearly evident. A scene involving a lightsaber-wielding Finn getting beaten by a furious stormtrooper and his staff was one of the standout moments of the movie and dared to venture into new Star Wars territory.

Although certain scenes felt unnecessary or too long (the rathtars attacking the Falcon springs to mind immediately) The Force Awakens takes it's audience on a journey back to the space opera 70s but also on a path to the future of this expansive universe. I went into the cinema with incredibly high expectations and was not disappointed. Christmas 2017 cannot come sooner. Luke might even get a line this time!
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7 of 27 users found this helpful720
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1
jjsucksJan 19, 2016
Episode VII is an exact remake, plot point for plot point, of Episode IV with a dash of elements from Episode V and VI, except with far less compelling characters who undergo zero character development throughout the film. Though I'm a fan ofEpisode VII is an exact remake, plot point for plot point, of Episode IV with a dash of elements from Episode V and VI, except with far less compelling characters who undergo zero character development throughout the film. Though I'm a fan of throwbacks and self references, Episode VII takes it too far - to the point where I started to wonder if JJ was trying to constantly remind me that I'm supposed to be watching a Star Wars film. Its attempt at humour fell flat, is misplaced for the Star Wars series to begin with, and is reminiscent of the goofy attempt at humour of the much hated prequels.

On the plus side, the CGI was fantastic. Although it is far from a saving grace, seeing the Millennium Falcon and X-Wings dogfight with Tie Fighters again was a nice, albeit brief, reprieve from an an otherwise terrible film.

Star Wars Episode VII: A New Hope (2015) is a mediocre attempt at a remake falsely marketed under the guise of furthering the saga.
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23 of 39 users found this helpful2316
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3
drmikepphdJan 19, 2016
Well, I broke my rule and saw SW-FA last night, having vowed after seeing the trailers I would wait until its on hbo! My suspicions were confirmed. The hard-to-ruin storyline was satisfying (I mean, really, even JJ Abrams couldn't completelyWell, I broke my rule and saw SW-FA last night, having vowed after seeing the trailers I would wait until its on hbo! My suspicions were confirmed. The hard-to-ruin storyline was satisfying (I mean, really, even JJ Abrams couldn't completely derail a basically good story) but the three main new "actors": really? Were we all that hard up for a contemporary sequel that we accepted any body that Disney threw at us? Never mind the all too gratuitous casting, but c'mon, the bad- and overacting! Ok, now grimace ("I'm angry now"); now wide eyes ("I'm afraid now") and now yell ("I'm intense now"); and the lackluster (lets be honest, crude) reading of dialogue makes for, well, very not only run-of-the-mill (read: bad) performances that were "saved" (read: marginally excusable) by 1. a huge interest in wanting the movie to be good; 2 the veteran actors (thankfully) that helped keep things together and 3. great special effects. Finn character was almost completely arbitrary; Poe was ancillary and I cant figure out for the life of me why he was inserted. Oh well...Disney. I understand the need for this generation to embrace and make their own a part of the Star Wars phenomenon(now approx. 35 years since); granted And, even the worst tourist restaurant stays in business for years because of the millions of one-timers who never return to that bad restaurant (but they still keep making money, right?:) ). Same here: the hype and anticipation and (in my case) curiosity created a $$ blockbuster that really wasn't all that good when you really look objectively at it as a movie. Expand
22 of 38 users found this helpful2216
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0
depoJan 19, 2016
Star Wars is about Jedi magic. That's the only way to explain its acclaimed success.
Critics and viewers consent was created by Walt Disney Company's Jedi abilities. Or eventually bought by the billions they spend on every single media
Star Wars is about Jedi magic. That's the only way to explain its acclaimed success.
Critics and viewers consent was created by Walt Disney Company's Jedi abilities. Or eventually bought by the billions they spend on every single media channel worldwide to advertise their products.

The whole movie is a joke. There is NO ONE SINGLE ORIGINAL IDEA in the plot or the screenplay.
While watching it I could not decide if it was a sequel or a remake of the original saga mixed with teen drama. Actors are bad, dim, childish with the only exception of the young girl.
Nostalgia quickly leaves place to eternal boredom
It's a colossal (yes) eye-candy. So disappointing, even worst than Lucasfilms prequel trilogy. And I don't understand why....they had all the budget to make something memorable, but failed. Just exiting the cinema, the wind wipes away all of it.
J.J. Abrahams you've been warned! One more fiasco and you're off my list of favorite directors.
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38 of 62 users found this helpful3824
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6
Cyclictunic209Jan 19, 2016
Eh, The movie was meh. Very disappointing. The first ten minutes contain some of the best cinematography I have seen in modern film. Practical effects were awesome. But behind all of the glamour and special effects lies a very lacklusterEh, The movie was meh. Very disappointing. The first ten minutes contain some of the best cinematography I have seen in modern film. Practical effects were awesome. But behind all of the glamour and special effects lies a very lackluster story. Way too many plot parallels between this and a New Hope. It's almost like they ripped the plot out of the first movie and just made everything bigger. Very lazy. The new actors are ok. I liked Finn. Rey seems like a Mary Sue. She's too good at everything. I thought the new villain was okay. Harrison Ford does give the film a lot of life. The plot twist was expected. Carrie Fischers acting is god awful as always. Not a good actress at all. Oscar Issac was pure charisma. I liked his character a lot. All in all it really was average. Kind of disappointed. This is coming from a Star Wars fan who wanted something different. Expand
9 of 18 users found this helpful99
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10
sploodge1976Jan 19, 2016
Old skool SW fan here - This movie flat-out ROCKS! Daisy Ridley ROCKS! John Boyega ROCKS! BB-8 ROCKS! And most of all Adam Driver as Kylo Ren ROCKS! Exciting times ahead watching these characters develop......
6 of 30 users found this helpful624
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0
LogenNineJan 19, 2016
The movie was absolutely gutting and soul destroying. I am really shocked and appalled that Star Wars is now just soulless commercial product, with no heart, no wit and no intelligence evident in the mess that was presented on screen. Very,The movie was absolutely gutting and soul destroying. I am really shocked and appalled that Star Wars is now just soulless commercial product, with no heart, no wit and no intelligence evident in the mess that was presented on screen. Very, very sad and disappointed that a much loved and cherished saga has now been destroyed in a such a callous fashion. Expand
47 of 79 users found this helpful4732
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9
Slashstar314Jan 18, 2016
I'm not really a Star Wars fan, so I can't say I highlight the first six that much because it's not my thing. Personal tastes, and everything. But episode 7 is a good movie for me not because it's Star Wars, but because it's overall a reallyI'm not really a Star Wars fan, so I can't say I highlight the first six that much because it's not my thing. Personal tastes, and everything. But episode 7 is a good movie for me not because it's Star Wars, but because it's overall a really good movie. Had great story, great characters, an excellent pace, and overall I loved it! Expand
27 of 68 users found this helpful2741
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10
PipeCJan 18, 2016
"New emotions, new exciting faces, new exciting faces wake up. JJ Abrams is reborn a hope that inexplicably had died in the world. Fans! Calm! Jeffrey has done and the best way. Jacob to renovated, improved and matched what has been achieved"New emotions, new exciting faces, new exciting faces wake up. JJ Abrams is reborn a hope that inexplicably had died in the world. Fans! Calm! Jeffrey has done and the best way. Jacob to renovated, improved and matched what has been achieved by George"

It has finally arrived. From the moment where it appears "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" with the intergalactic background, the imposing yellow and majestic musical piece until the last sentence of "Rey" was felt the true awakening of the "Force". My eyes filled with tears, my heart beat faster than normal, emotion penetrated the entire audience in the theater, hands shaking me, I sweated, I screamed, I lived the "Force".

Such is the beauty of the movie that you forget about the chronology of this saga, the only thing you care about is this loaded with action - adventure and fun as the first. 'The Force Awakens' has reborn in my the love for this saga, and it's true, very few films keeps me on the edge of the seat for 135 minutes but you have achieved it, and not only to me, also to the billions of fans and non-fans of the world.

The stealthily beautiful new creation of JJ Abrams and his co-writer Lawrence Kasdan opens the way in an epic manner for the following parts of the franchise that will break records at the box office. Familiar characters, new scenarios, new weapons, new ships, new characters, same chemistry, same love, same rapport are the mix that will end with points basic plot and story already known.

The real "Star Wars" films have been based on personal and family ties: love, dreams, blames, family and other ingredients that create the human being, in the seventh part revived all these family dilemmas raised in the previous films, about the secret of brotherhood between 'Han Solo' and Princess 'Leia'.

Disney made us suffer with the extreme 'Luke's' absence in all marketing campaigns and even made us doubt about his presence in this episode, although all that suffering was worth it.

The ancient characters: Leia Organa, Han Solo, BB-8, Chewie and others re seen with characteristics more old, showing his age to the surface. Dark force rises with more force than ever before as 'First order'. To replace the action that the masters can no longer take us, enter new and fabulous characters to the saga.
Rey (Daisy Ridley), a survivor of resources in a desert country, Finn (John Boyega) or ex - guard of assault, and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) a pilot expert.

This entails, to the spectacular performance of Adam Driver as Kylo Ren the great new villain, It's perfectly careful with the details, and his single voice shows his spite, hatred and disgust and sadness with his tantrums of toddler when they give a bad news. But personally who really woke up in my sentimentality was the Harrison Ford's performance , just displayed in screen and my madness explodes, ending with the incredible event that even I can't believe.

Lightsabers (obvious blue and red) are cleverly better designed than the 80s and 70s and intuitive. So beautiful is this film that if there were no same lightsaber would be perfect.

As we all know Abrams is fanatical to the landscapes of George Lucas's "Star Wars" films and in this film does so with a vengeance, from deserts enigmatic to terrifying forests. Our fields of vision are carried to the limit, Abrams takes care of every imperfection, and gives us an impeccable result, giving us drones, galaxies and other fantasies that would be impossible without the involvement of new technologies deployed (Industrial Light & Magic).

"Star Wars" is one of the largest franchises (or the largest franchise) in the cinematographic world, and this time "The Force" does it in an exceptional way. Destroying the box office, praising to criticism, like fans, entertaining young and old that never had seen the saga, is a product for all and for everybody.

"The Force Awakens" is ironically perfect, beautiful, sentimental, outstanding, entertaining, interesting, and not only is the best gift of Christmas, it's the best gift in the world to "Star Wars" and the fans because this time:

"The Force" really awakens.
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6 of 28 users found this helpful622
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4
lightbetsoinJan 18, 2016
the main problem i have with this movie, is the lack of context we have. what is the state of the galaxy after episode 6? if the republic have been restored, why is there still the rebellion? what hapened to the empire, how is the first orderthe main problem i have with this movie, is the lack of context we have. what is the state of the galaxy after episode 6? if the republic have been restored, why is there still the rebellion? what hapened to the empire, how is the first order related to it?
at some points the new super weapon destroy a full system, at first i thought it was coruscent, but the lore seems to pretend its an other planet. the thing is, theres nothing we know on this planet.
its just an other mindless destruction some group that looks related to the empire, even if we dont know exactly how..

you know nothing about the universe you enter in.

after that comes the obvious for anyone who likes star wars first trilogy.
the movie is a carbon copy of episode 4.
the main protagonist is stuck on a desert planet that feels like tatooine.
theres a search for a rebel robot on this planet.
theres a "death star" the destruction of a solar system.. everything just look way too close to episode 4.
its almost like they were doing a complete reboot of star wars instead of doing the episode 8.

the music is not memorable, theres really no great theme. sometimes you are happy to listen to the old era themes like leia's or luke's, but theres no new imperial march, no new duel of the fates. you'll forget everything, and 1 month after seeing the movie i still havent had the drive to listen to the ost.

finally, and that is very subjective, but i hate the fact that the main character is a woman.
its just impossible for me to identify as rey.
i believe sf is mostly appreciated by men, and especially star wars.
i see the choice of the main character beeing a woman, and the choice of his black partner as a strategy to attracts those 2 demographics that are historically not attracted into star wars.
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19 of 33 users found this helpful1914
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9
MrWonderfulJan 18, 2016
Finally got to see SW:EVII-TFA yesterday. I am impressed that for one month being in theaters I have not heard of any spoilers that would have undermined my movie-going enjoyment. So kudos to the internets and IRL people. The movie itself isFinally got to see SW:EVII-TFA yesterday. I am impressed that for one month being in theaters I have not heard of any spoilers that would have undermined my movie-going enjoyment. So kudos to the internets and IRL people. The movie itself is well-done and JJ Abrams really delivered a spectacle making me completely forget about the abysmal Eps 1, 2, & 3. The story, while a derivative of Episode IV was enough to keep me interested and look forward to Ep VIII although a different director is taking the helm. The only puzzling thing about VII is how in the hell did Han Solo & Leia produce such an unattractive child? Expand
11 of 35 users found this helpful1124
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5
xXGaming101XxJan 18, 2016
Warning Minor Spoilers Below (yes i know there is a button for spoilers but this is just a warning)

Movie was overall Ok but it ripped off its plot from Star Wars The New Hope Giant Weapon Of Death Exhaust Port? Sound Familiar? it should
Warning Minor Spoilers Below (yes i know there is a button for spoilers but this is just a warning)

Movie was overall Ok but it ripped off its plot from Star Wars The New Hope
Giant Weapon Of Death Exhaust Port?
Sound Familiar? it should
The Dark Side was also underwhelming with Kylo Ren being much younger than he should and less threatening unlike Darth Vader who was more mature and threatening
And his master is apparently the alien from the Crystal Skull? Lol XD
But the movie retained its old style with original transitions between scenes and good actors
Was dissapointed that Jar Jar did not show up
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11 of 22 users found this helpful1111
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8
SquadPoopJan 17, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If you are a Star Wars fanboy then please get off the internet, and go back to your special little corner where the only movies in the world that matter are the original trilogy, please, its time for the grownups to talk.

Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens is a good movie. That is a summary of it all. However for more reasons, just continue reading. Lets start with the story, people are complaining that it is a terrible rip off of A New Hope, and my response is: So what? Does this reasoning mean that you also hate A New Hope? Does it mean that this movie recreates it badly? No. It retells the story in a way that is familiar and also fresh. The cinematography helps the feeling of hugeness and epicness that JJ Abrams wanted, in the action scenes the camera is moving at a pace that feels intense but also lets the audience see what is happening and let them breathe, during more soft moments, Abrams lets the camera linger and slowly move to help immerse us into the scene, basically the camera work and lighting is phenomenal. The dialogue and character interactions and acting are also well done, people may not remember, but the acting and dialogue for A New Hope wasn't as brilliant as we think today. People may argue that there are plot holes and plot points that don't make sense, but guess what? ITS THE FIRST IN A TRILOGY. They are bound to explain it, there are 2 more movies coming. There is also the argument that the villain Kylo Ren shouldn't have been beaten so quickly, but guess what? He was still in training. I wonder if people just forget the scene when Hux is talking to Snoke, and Snoke clearly says: "bring me Ren, it is time to complete his training" so that argument is invalid. Basically this is a good movie, and unfortunately, it has reached the point where suddenly its cool to hate it because "Yeah, I'm different." and that is a shame. Don't let those people defer you, because most likely they are a bunch of fanboys who know nothing about film making and just want to dislike something because it doesn't reach the standards they set. I would highly recommend seeing this movie
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7 of 27 users found this helpful720
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3
noobmsu93Jan 17, 2016
A very unoriginal film. I am perplexed as to how anyone who grew up watching Star Wars would consider giving this a high score. It is just a pathetic rehash of Star Wars IV!
I'm not going to reiterate what has been written by so many
A very unoriginal film. I am perplexed as to how anyone who grew up watching Star Wars would consider giving this a high score. It is just a pathetic rehash of Star Wars IV!
I'm not going to reiterate what has been written by so many thoughtful viewers. But I will ask all of you this...why are we as a culture accepting this vapid excuse of creativity from film makers? Why redo/remake works by more creative people just to keep a profitable franchise alive? Why not try something new?
Who knows it could even be profitable (and it probably would be)! Stop listening to the "bean counters" Hollywood!
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50 of 85 users found this helpful5035
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6
43in2014Jan 17, 2016
This is a utter rip off of A New Hope! So many elements of that early film is use here to bait viewers back into the franchise that plagiarism charges should be considered. The worse of this can be seen in the most commonly seen A ForceThis is a utter rip off of A New Hope! So many elements of that early film is use here to bait viewers back into the franchise that plagiarism charges should be considered. The worse of this can be seen in the most commonly seen A Force Awakens poster. If you have seen HISHE's parody of Return of the Jedi, then you would understand why a second time around there was already quite dumb and third time around here is ridiculous!

Other poor elements here are the acting by the two young cast members. Daisy Ridley had the desperate expression whenever there is a close-up of her while Oscar Isaacs is way too enthusiastic whenever he meets his friends, as if he is mirroring A New Hope. Finally the rules behind who can use the force are totally disregarded and the film loses a lot of credibility here.

This is definitely a lazy job and I was quite bored during the film. At the end of the film I was hoping for a Marvel post-credit scene, but there was none. JJAbrahms should be ashamed of himself! He had a grand opportunity to reboot the franchise and he tricked us all with his trailers into watching this cheap sequel.

Score: 3/5 (no half score). Save your money and watch it on TV.
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19 of 34 users found this helpful1915
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5
bcatonJan 17, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This wasn't a bad movie, but the problems were substantial. There's the feel of politics and PC driving this rather than internal logic. Why is Rey so powerful, so skilled at things she has never done before? Because raisins.

The answer I have been given is "because Phantom Menace". That is a terrible reason, no-one thought that movie made sense, and mostly you want to forget that movie to enjoy this one.

I thought about it afterwards. Rey is there because they wanted a woman who could do everything a man could do, but better. She out-pilots Han, out-fights trained soldiers, and can use force powers without any training.

Kylo Ren does that to an extent, showing abilities that even Darth Vader didn't have, which I assume was done because the effects allowed for it.. I gave that a pass, one unbelievable thing shouldn't break a movie, but everything Rey does is overpowered.

She's not quite a Mary Sue - she makes the mistakes of the hero's journey pretty much on cue - but she's not really much of a person. "Star Wars Rebels" actually did a much better version of her story.

The twist of the movie was revealed to me by a friend without my consent, which kind of killed the emotional impact - but honestly, it seemed gratuitous. I really just wanted Kylo Ren dead anyway - I didn't need any more motivation for it.

Everyone being related to everyone is a weakness of the whole franchise - you could get away with it in the originals, because it was a fairy story, but this seems to want to be more realistic, and should have tried something new.

I don't regret spending my money on it but don't feel any urge to do so again. It's hyped up as being the best thing ever, but i can see much more enthusiasm for other movies. Most people will see movies like Casablanca or Gone with the Wind many times in their life, but will there be any market for repeat viewings of this?

All that said, this was so much better than the prequels.
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9 of 18 users found this helpful99
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3
docbill4uJan 17, 2016
Anyone remember the scene when Han Solo's beast-of-a-right-hand-man's tennis shoes were briefly shown as he walked to greet Leia? Unbelievable editing flaw. To think this could perhaps be the biggest money maker of all times and nearly 75%Anyone remember the scene when Han Solo's beast-of-a-right-hand-man's tennis shoes were briefly shown as he walked to greet Leia? Unbelievable editing flaw. To think this could perhaps be the biggest money maker of all times and nearly 75% of the movie involves "shoot em' up" or "blow em' up" scenes that one's visual system cannot even really track, is just plain crazy! Saw this in iMax and that wasn't enough to make it worth the experience.

Then, the ending hike up the never-ending flight of stairs to return the precious metal to Luke. Hey, anyone here ever hiked up stairs? Well, you know what, you get out of breath along the way, but, not Rey...another very serious editing flaw that would be more typical of a junior director filming his/her first film. How can anyone really give this positive views? I am glad Solo is now dead...it would be too painful to ever see such poor acting again.
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26 of 44 users found this helpful2618
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0
theaznfishyJan 17, 2016
***SPOILERS***
Some disappointments and points of confusion:
1) So much miscasting: Ex. Kylo Ren made me think of Maryln Manson... CRIPES! They never should have had him take off that mask. T_T 2) Finn's character makes no sense.
***SPOILERS***
Some disappointments and points of confusion:
1) So much miscasting: Ex. Kylo Ren made me think of Maryln Manson... CRIPES! They never should have had him take off that mask. T_T

2) Finn's character makes no sense. Traumatized by the First Order's massacre of a city after one of his fellow troopers gets killed > proceeds to massacre an entire planet's worth of fellow troopers he essentially grew up with. WHAT??? And remember: these storm troopers [according to Finn] are NOT volunteers, they're stolen and raised from birth to fight for the First Order. I guess he just didn't have sympathy for any of those other guys who went through the same traumatizing experiences as him I suppose. And I guess there's no reason for them to explain why Finn would suddenly feel this sense of guilt or emotion while the thousands of other troopers raised like him had none at all.

3) Kylo-Ren's character's force powers are dwarfed and overemphasized to the point where you're left wondering how weak/strong is KR at all. a) Freezes a laser in midair, able to force push and interrogate the Ace pilot >>> b) proceeds to get whipped first by Finn [who showed no actual force potential but can somehow turn on a light saber] then by Rey in several ways [cannot interrogate, is beaten in a light saber battle when Rey had NO prior experience to even holding one] > cannot even withdraw a lightsaber that's stuck in snow... [like Luke was able to withdraw his saber when it was stuck in frozen ice... and he was still being trained]

4) Rey's character knows how to do too much to the point it's unrealistic: Mechanic [fine], somehow knows how to pilot the Millenum Falcon though never having had piloting experience outside of a landspeeder [what?], is able to master several jedi techniques w/o ever having exposure to any of them [Mind tricks, light saber battling, resisting the Force interrogation by KR] (are you serious???), btw, she's never been off Jakku [hence the "Ive never seen so much Green" comment]

5) Phasma is such a let down character- only scene she's seen as "badass" is the beginning massacre scene-> after she only appears when Han/Chewie get her to lower the shields whilst mocking her and proceed to throw her down a trash compactor [So I guess she's dead now?]~ yeah... girl power to the MAX!

6) Writing kinda doesn't make any sense:
a) The destruction of that one system that had the Republic made no sense. Why is the Resistance and the Republic 2 separate entities? It's been 30 years, but last I recall [in Movies: 3 and 4- the Senate/Republic was liquidated with the rise of the Empire where the Emperor had essentially an iron grip on the galaxy. There was no mention of a formation of a New [or old] Republic post-Empire until right before they blew away those 5 planets. Does that mean there's no more Senate? Why wasn't it on Coruscant? (huh? what???)

b) And why are people so forgetful of the destruction of a PLANET KILLER [aka: Death Star- from the Return of the Jedi] only after 30 years? We all remember the Titanic and that was in the early 1900s. Something that big that happened TWICE can't become a myth/legend only after 30 years...

c) How did the building of a SOLAR SySTEM destroyer the size multiple times that of the old death stars go unnoticed by the entire galaxy when it's SO BIG? The original trilogy made such a big deal of these planet sized super weapons but now that the First Order has built one hundreds of times the size with the capacity to knock out several planets in one blow--- no one bats an eye? It was "find Luke Skywalker" plans, not "here's the weakness to that one super solar system destroyer" plans. What kind of priorities is that? But whateves, it only wiped out billions of people from 4-5 different planets including [supposedly] the Republic Fleet.

d) How did Finn [being a sanitation Storm Trooper (
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47 of 79 users found this helpful4732
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0
SowceJan 17, 2016
I'm giving this a 0 because it's incomprehensible for this to get a 10. This is a fundamentally flawed movie. The writing is horrible. JJ absolutely was the worst director for this series. SO many unexplained plot points that make no sense.I'm giving this a 0 because it's incomprehensible for this to get a 10. This is a fundamentally flawed movie. The writing is horrible. JJ absolutely was the worst director for this series. SO many unexplained plot points that make no sense. This is an insult to the Star Wars franchise. It is so obvious this lacks George Lucas's creative vision. Expand
31 of 51 users found this helpful3120
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4
DounutsMCJan 17, 2016
Ok so i thought that the movie is gonna be great But i expected better . The story is stupid . I wanted a good movie and i got exactly the oposite of a good movie . The charecter Finn is just not key to the story spoiler alert i didnt likeOk so i thought that the movie is gonna be great But i expected better . The story is stupid . I wanted a good movie and i got exactly the oposite of a good movie . The charecter Finn is just not key to the story spoiler alert i didnt like how they just killed off han solo . i hated that Captian Plazma just left the movie . the only thing that was good in the movie was BB-8 he was funnny and just good . I leked that there was the famous frase I've got a bad feeling about this This is a movie thats just an attempt at a star wars film this movie doesnt even deserve this rating At least JJ.Abrams tried to make this movie good but he just failed Expand
13 of 19 users found this helpful136
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5
BarbudezJan 17, 2016
Yo esta pelicula, cuando salió los teasers, fue como, esto no es Star Wars, esto no tiene alma, no tiene ese encanto. Pero pensaba en mis adentros, a lo mejor, es una pelicula de Star Wars decente, respeta al universo, tiene una nuevaYo esta pelicula, cuando salió los teasers, fue como, esto no es Star Wars, esto no tiene alma, no tiene ese encanto. Pero pensaba en mis adentros, a lo mejor, es una pelicula de Star Wars decente, respeta al universo, tiene una nueva perspectiva, mas atrevida, esta JJ Abrams, que hizo dos putos peliculones como son las 2 pelis ultimas de Star Trek, tenía un material que el amaba con toda su alma.

El resultado no podia ser mas....deprimente, desolador, decepcionante, viniendo de alguien que iba con las expectativas bajas. Es increible que me sienta como si hubiese muerto alguien cercano a mi, ese pequeño niño agradable que conociste en el colegio, encontrarterlo muerto de sobredosis en un parque con una jeringuilla clavada en su brazo 30 años después.

Vayamos por partes:

Primero tenemos el guión, un guión que han cogido la estructura y situaciones episodio IV y lo calcan descaradamente. Persona especial que vive en un planeta desierto? Listo. Malos que buscan un robot con unos planos valiosos? Listo. Un Darth Vader? Listo. Una cantina? Listo. Una secuencia calcada a la secuencia final de la estrella de la muerte? Listo, Otra estrella de la muerte?.Listo Stormtroopers? Listo La fuerza? Listo. JJ es muy listo, en efecto, sabía perfectamente que esto era un refrito o un remake de la IV y lo ha ocultado muchísimo, porque sabría que los fans, se sentirian decepcionados y tanto.

Una aventura epica, tan artificial, tan superficial, tan intrascendente, no interesa, no llama, no arranca. ¿Como demonios una historia de Star Wars no tiene ese gancho? tios, teneis un puto material rico, que os podeis expandir por mil cosas. La historia original enganchaba por concepto de la fuerza, la lucha del bien contra el mal cierto, aquí todo funciona a golpe de calzador, situaciones de calzador, personajes metidos con calzador, que habia momentos, que parecian Sketches de SNL, que solo faltaban los falsos gritos y aplausos, no...el fan no es imbécil, no es retrasado, que tienes que presentarlos de esas maneras tan cutres y tan artificial. La parte narrativa, es un totalmente errática, la trama avanza lentamente mientras intentan desarrollarte a unos personajes planos y algunos los desarrollan demasiado, que le quitan la gracia de las sorpresas....Hacia falta descubrir que Kylo Ren es el hijo de Han Solo a los 30-40 minutos de pelicula?o sacar de golpe a Snoke no una, ni dos sino hasta 3 veces? y encima ni contar que leches ha pasado?. Y cuentas nada, de lo que le pasó a los Jedi (otra vez) con la Nueva República? o un poco de trasfondo?...han pasado 30 años, no 2 horas después de la batalla de Endor.

Los villanos, en serio, pesimamente elaborados, La Primera Orden que son? Fachas Nostalgicos con un fondo fiduciario del copón? Kylo Ren, un desgraciado llorón que le hicieron falta dos bofetones en su juventud? En serio?

Y sobre las batallas.. En Star Trek esos planos funcionaban, porque eran 3 naves malcontadas, pero aquí queda fatal, parecia eso un gameplay del nuevo Battlefront.

Y ese humor? en serio? las clásicas tenían tantos gags? No lo creo.

La conclusión a Abrams le ha pasado lo de "Las croquetas de mi madre están ricas, pero las mías no saben igual" porque esto no tiene alma ni encanto que tenia las de Lucas, hasta las precuelas, o que ese enano judío NO tiene alma y el señor Kasdan que le encierren en un puto asilo y que tiren la llave.

PD: Creo que me sigo quedando con el Legends, al menos tiene mas coherecia XD
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11 of 19 users found this helpful118
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8
SuperSamuelJan 16, 2016
Best things: For such a high budget fim, I don't even need to tell you the VFX are incredible. The Rey (Daisy Ridley) - Finn (John Boyega) duo works incredibly, and they get the story going in an amazing partnership, I'd say they're the bestBest things: For such a high budget fim, I don't even need to tell you the VFX are incredible. The Rey (Daisy Ridley) - Finn (John Boyega) duo works incredibly, and they get the story going in an amazing partnership, I'd say they're the best thing in the movie. They didn't overdo in the fan service, that it's just the right amount. And BB-8, it's great, a perfect replacement for R2-D2. And Adam Driver plays Kylo Ren very well.

Worse things: The story is basically 'A New Hope' with a few changes, and it's disappointing especially if you watched A New Hope near the date you see/saw this movie. The 'Empire' (now called The First Order) is stupid, they have build ANOTHER death star, they never learn... And, you get a constant feeling of "I saw this coming", you really don't get surprised a lot

The Force Awakens is a good return to the Star Wars saga, well directed and with an excellent cast, gets us waiting for what will come up next. But, the fact that it's basically the same story as A New Hope sucks.
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4 of 24 users found this helpful420
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7
DelphiosJan 16, 2016
It's nice, satisfying and "oddly" frustrating, like a beautiful birthday cake that is eaten till only one last peace is left. Like that birthday cake has aged after it was put in the fridge, has the star wars in the Force Awakens aged. But itIt's nice, satisfying and "oddly" frustrating, like a beautiful birthday cake that is eaten till only one last peace is left. Like that birthday cake has aged after it was put in the fridge, has the star wars in the Force Awakens aged. But it has aged backwards, from the mature wine of Empire strikes back has it turned into a childlike grape juice. And like grape juice is it nice to take in but not as exciting as a prickling wine. The new good characters are well developed and very likable, while the new bad characters seem like toddlers who donned a cape and start crying when they don't get their new toy. The portrayal of the galaxy is very much like the first Star Wars but it lacks the grandiosity of Empire and Return of the Jedi.
The land battles are kept dissappointingly small but the air battles are GREAT.
All together it's a bit like the first one but made with different camera's and camera angles.

Lets just hope that the next one will be like the first coke you drank, very prickly and sweet at first while it keeps you awake all night.
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4 of 21 users found this helpful417
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9
Jess_HillJan 16, 2016
The force is strong with this one. I'll begin by saying I had very high expectations for this film, whilst accepting that I might be sorely disappointed. Therefore I'm delighted to report that this film exceeded my expectations in manyThe force is strong with this one. I'll begin by saying I had very high expectations for this film, whilst accepting that I might be sorely disappointed. Therefore I'm delighted to report that this film exceeded my expectations in many respects. The storyline was excellent, the cinematography and overall aesthetic superb, and the performances were masterful. Visually stunning, with a plot beautifully paced, and one that will keep old school fans intrigued, this is a complex and thoroughly detailed homage to the classic Star Wars form, structure and pathos. A worthy successor to the The Return of the Jedi this is, see it you must. May the force be with you. 9.33/10 Expand
5 of 29 users found this helpful524
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8
HQJACKSON77Jan 16, 2016
It's a pretty good movie. However, one or two parts about the story didn't really make sense. The villain wasn't really powerful as I hope he was. Still a good movie.
4 of 28 users found this helpful424
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7
GameReviewJrnalJan 16, 2016
Overall it was a good screenplay and had a modern twist to "A new hope" to reboot the franchise into this era of film. However it was too fast paced for certain things to be believable, most notably the protagonists connection to the force.Overall it was a good screenplay and had a modern twist to "A new hope" to reboot the franchise into this era of film. However it was too fast paced for certain things to be believable, most notably the protagonists connection to the force. It's okay to setup a sequel, but there are way too many open questions at the end of this film. The antagonist has emotional issues and appears weak too often to be considered a Jedi. The progression of the antagonist also does not make much sense the way he behaves in the beginning of the film compared to the end. Certain parts just don't add up, but a fun film to watch if you're not that critical. Expand
3 of 23 users found this helpful320
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2
deathmachineptJan 16, 2016
Very mediocre film equal to the prequels like episode III but with no cool epic scenes but no boring scenes either.
This movie copies the entire script of New Hope but fails with flying colors on understanding what made New Hope Great and
Very mediocre film equal to the prequels like episode III but with no cool epic scenes but no boring scenes either.
This movie copies the entire script of New Hope but fails with flying colors on understanding what made New Hope Great and that was perfect passing, original story, incredible character development, prefect blend of music to every scene and a very satisfying ending none of these are present in Force Awakens.

I thought this movie had fewer CGI but it doesn't feel like it, the CGI is really bad as well, very noticeable there are at least 4 fully CGI characters that make a negative impact on you.

The story doesn't make any sense for fans and non-fans both bad guys are poorly used and poorly developed. The dialogue was awful so despite both Finn and Rey being well acted the lack of good writing didn't make them stand out.

Anyways everyone on my family left the movie disappointed, I left not remembering any scene or anything that made an impact on me(at least the prequels did), I didn't even heard any music, the movie has too much action but it's bad action not like what you see in MadMax, it wasn't worth the ticket price and I wish this movie would never had been made because it destroyers the original movies history and characters something that the prequels were not able to do.
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26 of 44 users found this helpful2618
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10
cjmgamerJan 16, 2016
Forget the negative whiners. They saw the originals age 10 and expected to get the same awe struck feeling when they are knocking on 50.
It is a ripping yarn, definitely echoes of a new hope and at times a little contrived. But hey, it is
Forget the negative whiners. They saw the originals age 10 and expected to get the same awe struck feeling when they are knocking on 50.
It is a ripping yarn, definitely echoes of a new hope and at times a little contrived. But hey, it is humorous, dark and raw at times and full of spectacle and energy, just the formula of the original films.
People who think the 7th episode in a film franchise is going to be a classic original need a wake up call.
Like all hugely anticipated events there will be those who's expectations will never be met. However - take this film on face value or as a continuation of the greatest franchise in sci-fi history and it hits the spot beautifully.
10/10 for me every time.
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3 of 32 users found this helpful329
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3
Praseidimio666Jan 16, 2016
If this movie vote was to consider the marketing and hype and compare to its value, the vote would be a huge negative.
This is a poor remake of the early movies, though it's completely uninspired and forgettable, the plot predictable and
If this movie vote was to consider the marketing and hype and compare to its value, the vote would be a huge negative.
This is a poor remake of the early movies, though it's completely uninspired and forgettable, the plot predictable and uninspiring, the evil character is one of the lamest ever
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34 of 58 users found this helpful3424
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5
Joker92Jan 15, 2016
The visuals and sounds were spectacular in the Imax I watched it in, but that's were the good stops. This movie should be the poster child of "over-hyped" and "overrated". The praise this movie gets from the establishment is from having theThe visuals and sounds were spectacular in the Imax I watched it in, but that's were the good stops. This movie should be the poster child of "over-hyped" and "overrated". The praise this movie gets from the establishment is from having the star wars logo on it alone. Writing was horrible, very boring. It's so obvious how hard that they try to shove the whole " strong female protagonist" thing down your throat the entire movie, that it takes away from the value that it there. Am glad I had seen it in the theatre, because like I said the visuals and sounds in the movie were really good. Horrible actor for the villain role too. That guy looks like he belongs in a 90's boyband, not an agent of the dark side.

""Mild Spoiler"'

I did like how they humanized a storm trooper. It was an interesting story point to see a person behind the helmet.
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22 of 38 users found this helpful2216
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6
mrhotmoeJan 15, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It was very safe and basic no big things other than han solo dying which people guessed before it came out. If you want a good time then this is ok not worth a second viewing Expand
8 of 17 users found this helpful89
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6
RipandreadJan 15, 2016
I thought the Storm Troopers were all cloned from Bobba Vett’s father. If so where did this black guy come from?

Why does Luke look more like Obi One Kenobi? He couldn’t have aged that much. Take away the special effects and this movie
I thought the Storm Troopers were all cloned from Bobba Vett’s father. If so where did this black guy come from?

Why does Luke look more like Obi One Kenobi? He couldn’t have aged that much.

Take away the special effects and this movie leaves so many unanswered questions.

Finally, according to Sith legend, there is a master and an apprentice. But Darth Vader killed the Emperor and Vader died. Thus no master or apprentice. So where did all these evil folks come from?
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10 of 55 users found this helpful1045
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10
AntoGrayoJan 15, 2016
First of let me say that I gave this film a 10 because I am a Star Wars fan and I absolutely loved the movie. Yes, I am biased. This film in actuality probably deserves an 8 or a 9.

Let me start by saying everything that I loved about the
First of let me say that I gave this film a 10 because I am a Star Wars fan and I absolutely loved the movie. Yes, I am biased. This film in actuality probably deserves an 8 or a 9.

Let me start by saying everything that I loved about the movie. The movie touches upon new concepts, like a storm-trooper having emotions! Usually storm-troopers are dispassionate hoards of soldier simply used as a means for conquering the galaxy this film builds on storm trooper self awareness and for me that is an entertaining angle.

I personally liked the comedy that is placed into the film, but comedy is a matter of taste, so I can understand how that might not be for everyone.

The storm-trooper advanced weapons. Oh my god! So cool. A storm-trooper holds his own against a lightsaber. This was much needed in the series since droids could do it in 1-3, but then nobody but sith could in 4-6?

Highly entertaining scenes, with a lot of action and emotion throughout. I was disappointed when they didn't kiss (no spoiler, if you've seen it, you know). This is not a bad thing because it REALLY made me feel disappointed and I believe movies are meant to make you feel emotions. Besides I'm sure they will kiss in the future. On that same level, I believe the new actors put in some great performances and if your a fan of the franchise, then you definitely know where the next few films are heading simply based of this.

It was also great to see a lot of the original cast return. That must have been hard gathering them all back together.

Overall, the reason I would give this an 8 is because I felt like the whole movie relied way to heavily on the previous entries into the franchise. One or two nods to the previous films would have been a great homage, but every other scene directly took or imitated from a moment in a previous film and it made me feel like that was a bit of a cop out.

Can't wait for the next one! Kylo Ren is a rat! :)
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4 of 37 users found this helpful433
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1
dunboy7Jan 15, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What to say? With so much hype and anticipation I was always worried it might not live up to expectation, but I really was shocked and taken aback by how many missteps this film makes! I love the original Star Wars movies, I didn't think to much of the prequels or though I loved the story and the back story of Palpatine / Darth Sidious.

So I was hoping for a fresh story, some new and old characters that could push the films forward. We got the characters but not much else, the story is possibly the laziest, most patronising piece of drivel you could come up with. They have literally just rehashed A New Hope and sprinkled in a few bits from Empire and ROTJ!
If you ran a competition for 12 year olds to come up with the next Star Wars story i'm convinced it would have been x10 more original, thought provoking and true to origins than this!

The plot holes are too numerous to mention the amount of ridiculous coincidences are embarrassing even if the force is somehow guiding the characters destinies it still boarders way to often on the ludicrous. I really could have lived with all this if they just made it semi believable and at least tried to explain things but they didn't.

As many people have mentioned the main character Rey manages to pick up everything way to quickly, within minutes of being on the Millennium Falcon she's telling Han Solo whats wrong with it!? She masters Jedi skills quicker than any Jedi from any of the movies or even the books (admittedly I've not read all of the EU books...YET?) but still this just comes across all wrong, we want to see her grow in a way Luke did in the original trilogy. I liked the idea of Finns character a storm trooper with a conscious, but again its handled in way to pander to a younger audience and felt like another missed opportunity.

Kylo Ren was my favourite part of the film, I know a lot of people thought he was too weak and no doubt he was but I liked Adam Driver in this role and thought he conveyed the inner conflict thing well and couldn't help think if only Anikin had been done more like this in the prequels. Ultimately he disappoints though as he gets bested way to easily by the two leads, I mean come on? He was stopping blaster bolts with the force at the beginning of the film but by the end he struggles with a ex storm trooper who's just picked up a lightsaber for the first time!

One lesson I hoped they'd learned from the prequels was when to use CGI characters and when not too, but for some reason they thought the role of the wise old Maz Kanata would be better suited to CGI, she just didn't fit in with all the other real characters around her, the whole cantina/cafe/bar was full of fantastic aliens all of whom looked real and true to the original films so why CGI Maz? Especially when you've got a fantastic actor in Lupita Wyong'o doing the motion capture and voice work?? Just get her to actually play the character?

Another scene was on Han Solo's ship when he's transporting/smuggling some huge monsters, this done right could have been a great scene! but instead we get ridiculous poorly done CGI giant otcoslugs! that conveniently get accidentally released and eat all the bad guys who again conveniently show up at that exact moment! I mean come on Disney, surely you must have realised that this scene just looked like something straight from Farscape or doctor who?

I really could go on all day expressing my utter disappointment but I think I have already ranted on far too long and for that I apologise but it hurts to see a franchise beloved by so many get treated like this.

Its clear that this film was all about ticking boxes to maximise its marketing potential to recoup some of that 4 BILLION Disney spent buying up the franchise. I suspect JJ Abrams probably had a lot less input into this film than he'd of liked, it really feels like a board of directors tore up the original script and said we have a better idea JJ now tow the line theres a good boy! Two words sum up The Force Awakens - Corporate Greed!
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54 of 91 users found this helpful5437
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0
DabishaJan 15, 2016
I still remember my impressions when I left cinema after I have been watching New Hope some almost 40 years ago, when I was child. These days one man ruined my childhood memories his name is J.J. Abrams and he proved that he is mediocrity andI still remember my impressions when I left cinema after I have been watching New Hope some almost 40 years ago, when I was child. These days one man ruined my childhood memories his name is J.J. Abrams and he proved that he is mediocrity and talent less director and screenplay writer. J.J. Abrams desecrate G. Lucas lifework, masterpiece in SF genre, insult and humiliate generations of SW fans. This movie is simply nothing, this movie is trash or better this movie is nothing but the feminist propaganda and humiliation of man. J.J. Abrams I wish you never make any movie ever, go and direct soap opera or better go and grow vegetables if you are capable to do it. Expand
35 of 60 users found this helpful3525
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1
Kalasanty11Jan 15, 2016
If you have watched New Hope, don't bother with this one. Story is just a rehash, only worse in almost every regard. Villain is just a pathetic imitation of Vader. People were complaining about how Anakin's turning to the dark side looked...If you have watched New Hope, don't bother with this one. Story is just a rehash, only worse in almost every regard. Villain is just a pathetic imitation of Vader. People were complaining about how Anakin's turning to the dark side looked... But it was still a masteriece compared to how terrible character of Kylo Ren is. Relations between characters are artificial and... damn, so much to say, but can't because of spoilers. Don't waste your money on this movie and just wait until it will be released on TV. In 2 years, or 10... doesn't really matter, you aren't loosing much. Expand
47 of 78 users found this helpful4731
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2
xxxkombajnxxxJan 14, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie was really good until 2 things happened:

-minor thing- Kylo Ren took off his mask
-major thing- Rey just used all the force she needed and defeated Kylo Ren in a lightsabre fight without ANY training. She also repaired millenium falcon just on a hunch... Absurdity of this is beyond anything ever imaginable. The political correctness that told someone to make female character practically a god ruined really great movie
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30 of 51 users found this helpful3021
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3
DailyNiteCriticJan 14, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Several years after the events of Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker has gone missing and a new empire known as the First Order rises from the original Empire after its defeat, vowing to not stop until every Jedi is dead.

In the beginning, we see Rebel Resistance pilot Poe Dameron meeting with a companion that gives him a small device that poses significance of searching for any of the remaining Jedi. It isn’t until The First Order creates an ambush and leader Kylo Ren kidnaps the pilot. One of the Stormtroopers, however – cannot bear the trauma and chaos The First Order delivers, and decides to escape the reign of the dark side.

Along the way is a girl Rey, strong-willed and sort of resembles a female Luke Skywalker based on mannerisms and her slow transition into a much stronger character with a surprise twist in the middle of the movie.

Soon, all three meet up together along with a likely group of old friends from the original Star Wars movies that will band together to take out Kylo Ren and The First Order, while protecting the droid with the clue to Skywalker’s whereabouts.

Pros:

Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac are the only stars in the movie who really stand out. Daisy as the adventrous and rebellious Rey and Isaac as the wisecracking badass Rebel pilot Poe Dameron.

The visuals are amazing (the space fights, the large creatures in the Millennium Falcon, the new Death Star’s laser)

Bringing back the old cast (Harrison Ford, Carrie Fischer, Peter Mayhew).

Good character development with Rey, Poe, and the new Resistance.

The sets and locations in the movie remind me of the original trilogy’s planets Tattooine, Hoth, and Yavin 4.

The supporting villain General Hux is powerful with his speech to the First Order when they are about to wage war with the Resistance.

CGI with certain characters (Clerk that Rey goes for metal money, Supreme Leader Snoke, and other supporting roles who help out Han Solo and the Resistance.)

The script is better than some of the original trilogies’ dialogues and has improved from the prequels.

The movie is fun with its sense of humor and visually striking battles.

The twists and turns, such as Kylo Ren being a former son of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker exiling himself after Kylo Ren turns to the dark side is surprising.

Mixed:

Finn is an all right character, goes from traumatized by the First Order’s cruel and violent actions toward anyone affiliated with the Rebels to being some sort of happy go lucky hero. Poorly developed but could have had a better start and better actor to play the role. They should have also made the character more conflicted.

The story moves at a slow pace until the newcomers meet up with some of the rebels and the old allies feels rushed.

The friendship between Rey and Finn feels forced, but could progress a little better.

How do these characters know how to fly the Millennium Falcon? If this was a real situation, nobody would even know how to pilot a ship like that!

Cons:

Kylo Ren and the actor who plays the villain is one of the most critical mistakes ever made in this movie. Where Darth Vader showed plenty of power, discipline, and was super calm under pressure and receiving bad news, Kylo Ren is so weak – He walks like a Californian surfer, throws tantrums like a little child and has a monotone Batman voice when interrogating his victims.

Rey is given Mary-Sue qualities near the end of the movie instead of just giving some sort of background as to how she is able to fight well.

Han Solo was killed off too quickly and it was obvious and predictable as to what was going to take place that moment when Han Solo confronts his son, convincing him to change back to the light side.

There isn’t too much background about how the First Order was established after the fall of the Empire.

There was only one lightsaber duel in the end, and it was TERRIBLE. It looked more like horror icons going at each other rather than a real, intense fight with heroes and villains who have practiced REAL light saber duels for a very long time. Felt like a style-over-substance type of movie, with the story being less of a concern in the movie and visuals being important. The Stormtroopers are lame as well. In the originals, the Stormtroopers were more combat hard and authentically genetically controlled soldiers while in this movie they act like rookies and are more like video gamers who were transported into a virtual reality. Lor San Tekka was only in the movie to advance the plot, but could have been useful later on in the movie..
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29 of 49 users found this helpful2920
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6
guyweknowJan 14, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First off, congratulations, Star Wars, on reaching adulthood. From the opening shots, one cannot miss that the franchise is under the Iron fist in a three fingered glove management of Disney, not LucasFilm; there is no doubt that it will be handled with the same careful nurturing that managed to husband the tiny shoots of diverse 19th century fairytales into unstoppable GMOs of worldwide marketing. Abrams successfully puts Star Wars back on the main line to tons of future stories. By the end of the movie we introduced a new generation of bold characters (Finn and Rey) and dispatched old storylines with prejudice. We have no more Jar Jar; no more Yoda, no more Obiwan, no more Qui-Jon. In fact, and more on this later, aside from the main opposition characters, no master figures at all who aren’t related to the bloodline.
As one might expect, SW:TFA does have a real identity crisis. Is it a reboot, a sequel or a retirement tour? It’s asked to serve all three masters so ends up a bit of each, which makes it feel torn in different directions. It does give a very loving sendoff to all the old characters. And, I mean all of them. They managed to tip the cap to every race and minor character that the writers thought the audience could even vaguely stand* (who knew that the Cantina band had gone Reggae?) even if they had to herd them into one shot together so they could all take a bow without chewing up any storyline (I’m looking at you, former Admiral, now 5th spearcarrier from the left, Akbar). Come on, R2D2 was literally rusting in the corner and got woken up for one scene just to bleep goodbye.
Others have observed as well, and I agree, with the innumerable look and feel ‘tributes’ this film gives to the original - lines, shots, visuals, music cues, sound effects, in every scene. I had to overcome the feeling that SW:TFA writers were rummaging around in my emotional pockets trying to scrape together enough loose change to buy them a genuine nostalgia for the original SW, back before the dark times, before the prequels. But, I suppose thankfully, it became so routine by the middle of the movie that I became numb to it.
Abrams also wastes no time in advancing the story, delving not a jot into the interior life of the characters, except in the most cursory way with Kylo Ren, which is both good and bad. Star Wars is at its best a good rollicking adventure - short on planning ahead, long on diving in.
However, I am not alone, I hope, in noticing that the only sources of conflict in the latest two Star Wars movies are child figures who are possessed by the dark side of the force in what seems to amount not to the telling of a grand monomyth of oedipal conflict but rather to their teenage snits over how their parents didn’t like them. I commented on this in re Episode III, but Kylo Ren in SW:TFA seems to suffer from it also. Doesn’t the galaxy have any pressing problems other than parents who are a pain in the ass?**
As an aside, since this looks like the last hurrah for all the old actors, will the character of ex-princess Leia of Alderaan disappear before her legacy is explained? As we follow all the plot, the other Skywalkers leave a legacy, either good or bad, in the next generation. What about Leia? For instance, between Mr and Mrs Solo, who is more likely to have turned young Kylo on to the Dark Side? Han, who despite his protestations, as played by Harrison Ford, doesn’t have a mean bone in his body and runs rather than fighting, or Leia, who as played by Carrie Fisher, practically claws everyone’s face off in every scene where she appears. Leia actually has some motivation for Dark Side revenge too. She actually had a planet shot out from under her adopted family (well, even her whole adopted culture) by the Empire, now under new management as the First Order. Speaking of misses, it is notable when Poe Dameron who seemed to have some promise as the swashbuckling replacement for Han Solo disappears off screen, only to turn up half the movie later without more than a brief explanation. Shades of Biggs and Wedge, I guess X-wing pilots don’t deserve screen time except when attacking large round death stars, uh, death planets.
Overall, not too bad. And, yes, JJ Abrams is much better suited to do Star Wars bang-bang than ponderous Star Trek man-man-vulcan love. Sure, lots of rehash of the old, but we expected that. On the up side, this movie opens the door for some good stories if the writers can take advantage, especially to create new situations and characters in the Star Wars universe. The open question is still, by time this series has gone the full nine innings, and credit to my wife for this quote: “Will it be anything more than ‘At Home with the Skywalkers’”?
[*] Sorry, Jar Jar, or is that Darth Jar Jar?
[**] Perhaps it is the writers’ opinion that the Skywalker men are simply whiny **** but I suppose teen angst will fit right in with the Disney model.
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4
MagicpickleJan 14, 2016
Very unoriginal and uninspired. "Star Wars" used to be a space opera with regal dialogue, fantastic musical themes, and a plot sticking to the traditional mythology of "the hero's journey" while being innovative in exciting new ways. "TheVery unoriginal and uninspired. "Star Wars" used to be a space opera with regal dialogue, fantastic musical themes, and a plot sticking to the traditional mythology of "the hero's journey" while being innovative in exciting new ways. "The Force Awakens," on the other hand, just sloppily cuts and pastes together different parts of the already existing Star Wars Expanded Universe (which is excellent, by the way) and Lucas' mythos in the Original Trilogy. At least the prequels explored new territory in terms of story and lore; this movie did not.

Overall, it's very lazy and intellectually boring. It's quite clear that this movie was made for the lowest common denominator, and thus is why the movie is doing so well. However, if you're able to turn your brain off and just enjoy the mindless ride of explosions and blaster shots, you might enjoy it.
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32 of 53 users found this helpful3221
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0
ofthreeJan 14, 2016
Myself and my two kids did not like it. And we are all big Star Wars fans. Not only was this just a remake of A New Hope, but...

- How could Rey learn the Force in a few minutes when it took Luke years? - The bad guy isn't really that
Myself and my two kids did not like it. And we are all big Star Wars fans. Not only was this just a remake of A New Hope, but...

- How could Rey learn the Force in a few minutes when it took Luke years?
- The bad guy isn't really that good at all. I mean, two lowly people can hold their own in a lightsaber fight?
- If you suck up all the energy from your star, won't you pretty much destroy your planet in the process?
- I miss the storytelling of George.
- Did not get the New Order v Republic v Resistance thing. I mean, if there was a Republic, why would there need to be a resistance? What are they resisting? The Republic?
- And, our biggest complaint - why kill Han? Totally lost me after that.
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43 of 74 users found this helpful4331
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10
jar_jar_dinksJan 14, 2016
The Force Awakens is a refreshing return to the classic hero story used in the original trilogy and repeated all across human history. It has the quality story line of the original trilogy combined with the special effects of the prequels.The Force Awakens is a refreshing return to the classic hero story used in the original trilogy and repeated all across human history. It has the quality story line of the original trilogy combined with the special effects of the prequels. I do not normally like re-watch movies, but The Force Awakens is one that I was eager to see again. Expand
4 of 36 users found this helpful432
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2
Punisher1978Jan 14, 2016
I am writing this review in the hope that you will see it before you go to watch Star Wars VII, and in the process save your money and time. If you're 10, then you might like it. If you're an adult and appreciate well crafted story-tellingI am writing this review in the hope that you will see it before you go to watch Star Wars VII, and in the process save your money and time. If you're 10, then you might like it. If you're an adult and appreciate well crafted story-telling with good acting, you're out of luck. I saw the positive reviews by various critics and my hopes were raised - then dashed like an egg thrown at a wall, upon seeing it. "What's wrong with it?" You say?, I say "Nearly Everything!". The only saving grace was the production values which were amazing. Everything else was pretty bad.

Script - Awful
Plot - Awful
Acting - Dreadful

I was really hoping for something good, and instead they made a cash-in for the franchise (as expected, but I thought the glut of critics reviews were to be trusted - What a fool I was!). If you really liked this film, then you -

A) Can't be trusted to recommend anything else - ever (especially film)
B) Must be J.J. Abrams
C) Must be any film executive @ Disney.

For the record, I really like the 'Star Wars Universe', but not this. Definitely not this.
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43 of 73 users found this helpful4330
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3
NotPaid4ThisJan 13, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a very mediocre action blockbuster movie, and typical JJ Abrams - sparse on character development, retreading old plot lines from the original series, plot holes you could drive a truck through and rush-rush-rush. As a result, the relationships in the movie ring false and there is no tension - especially since the pilot is in the movie for maybe 10 minutes, Leia in it for maybe five, Luke shows up for even less than that, and the main female protagonist doesn't seem to have much of any struggle as the story progresses. Still doubt my assessment? Do a search for reviews on YouTube. Check out the movie quotes on IMDB. If you think the prequels were turd sandwiches, well this is a vomit taco. Not really an improvement! Expand
34 of 58 users found this helpful3424
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10
DarthRose2Jan 13, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Excellent, very true to the original spirit of Star Wars.

The parent-child theme so strongly featured in the original trilogy returns, but with an excellent twist: the child is the villain. The parallels between Ren and Vader are strong and well-constructed, including the mask (which he wears not because he has to, but because it makes him feel like Vader) and the outfit (which is Vader-esque but lacks the long, large cape that helped to make Vader intimidating). Kylo Ren is a fascinating character, and I can't wait for Episode VIII to hear his backstory.

Rey is an equally interesting character. Much of the Star Wars fanbase now believes that she is Luke's daughter; if so, it is a storyline that is very effectively set up. The parallels between Rey and Luke, much like those between Ren and Vader, are strong, portraying how the Star Wars universe changes, yet simultaneously remains.

I could continue with analyses of the other characters, but I'll conclude by saying that I was extremely impressed with how well TFA met my expectations and that I'm very excited for VIII.
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4 of 37 users found this helpful433
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3
pierremJan 13, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The least charismatic evil guy ever. Even Edward from Twilight seems charismatic next to him.
Saved by a bloody editing glitch!!! A whole canyon disappeared to save his life from a ravaging girl who never ever held a lightsaber!!!
Same scenario as the very first star wars. More like a reboot style...
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27 of 47 users found this helpful2720
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