Read User Reviews and Submit your own for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens - Page 5

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neoclonJan 4, 2016

Es una porquería.
Dialogos aburridos y muchas incoherencias.
Cómo es posible que Rey le gane sin entrenamiento al malo que si ha sido entrenado? Cómo es posible que el soldado no hubiera acabado muerto luego de pelear con el sable con elEs una porquería.
Dialogos aburridos y muchas incoherencias.
Cómo es posible que Rey le gane sin entrenamiento al malo que si ha sido entrenado?
Cómo es posible que el soldado no hubiera acabado muerto luego de pelear con el sable con el sid?
Rey se vuelve jedi sola, sin ningún entrenamiento previo.
Han Solo muere de forma estúpida, luego de ser un heroe o famoso traficante.
El sid, que hace de malo, en ves de dar miedo da riza, con su cara de pendejo, la verdad es que este personaje es un marica llorón.
La pelea es horriblemente mala.
Muchas lagunas en la historia de la nueva estrella de la muerte, que al parecer no aprenden de viejas experiencias, ya que se destruye igual que la anterior, solo hay que apuntar al centro y ya. ¿Cómo es posible que la república y los rebeldes no se hallan dado cuenta de la construcción de semejante arma? no tiene sentido.
Y por eso y muchas otras cosas le doy la calificación de malícima.… Expand

59 of 99 users found this helpful5940

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5

meowsedaiDec 19, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

87 of 146 users found this helpful8759

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hewhocavesDec 23, 2015

This was a movie clearly written by committee.. and by written I mean "random bits stolen from all across existing Star Wars lore and haphazardly shoved together with no regard for plot, pacing or character development". This, combined withThis was a movie clearly written by committee.. and by written I mean "random bits stolen from all across existing Star Wars lore and haphazardly shoved together with no regard for plot, pacing or character development". This, combined with Into Darkness, has pretty much solidified JJs reputation as a terrible movie maker.

It is, however, a godsend to Rifftrax, second only to a Star Wars Holiday Special.… Expand

87 of 146 users found this helpful8759

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1

Trent2012Jan 2, 2016

Feels more like a remake or remix than a continuation of the Star Wars saga. I felt almost like I was watching a fan made film that took the best parts of the original trilogy and combined them together. There are also too many plot holes andFeels more like a remake or remix than a continuation of the Star Wars saga. I felt almost like I was watching a fan made film that took the best parts of the original trilogy and combined them together. There are also too many plot holes and not enough creativity. I can understand leaving a few plot holes to be answered in the next movie, but so many things are left unexplained that it's hard to believe that they will all be answered in the next film.… Expand

87 of 146 users found this helpful8759

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1

ch77Jan 2, 2016

I watched this the other day in the cinema and to begin with was carried away on a glorious wave of nostalgia. The film went downhill quickly though, after a promising opening; derivative in the most lazy way imaginable, little to noI watched this the other day in the cinema and to begin with was carried away on a glorious wave of nostalgia. The film went downhill quickly though, after a promising opening; derivative in the most lazy way imaginable, little to no discernible plot, terrible pacing, zero creativity, huge plot holes, and a complete disregard for the OT. This film tries hard to recapture the magic and innocence of New Hope but comes across as a very well made advert for Disney.… Expand

87 of 146 users found this helpful8759

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3

SammifxJan 3, 2016

Shocker. Essentially a mashup of various parts of the 6 movies preceding it. As a standalone sci film, I'd give it a 6 for a Guardians knockoff ; as a continuation of the Star Wars saga i'd give it a 3. As my mum who watched it with me said,Shocker. Essentially a mashup of various parts of the 6 movies preceding it. As a standalone sci film, I'd give it a 6 for a Guardians knockoff ; as a continuation of the Star Wars saga i'd give it a 3. As my mum who watched it with me said, ' i have no idea why they were fighting but the effects were nice in 3d' .
Plagued by woeful dialogue and characters appearing out of nowhere for pure Deus Ex convenience.
-Bad guys are absolutely tame and the one truly horrible event in the movie is ignored immediately after. -
-Everyone becomes best friends within a few minutes of meeting each other.
-The force and fighting is can be learned within a few hours after you heard of its existence.
-droids can power up and down based on the timing of the plot for .. reasons. (see it to understand)
-the score was largely generic and unmemorable apart from a few john willams cues. nothing original again.

the plus side is rey and finn (actors) are good.. theyre just forced with a terrible script that regresses the series and wastes a glorious opportunity of expanding the SW universe and plot.… Expand

84 of 141 users found this helpful8457

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3

ToThePointDec 26, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I've seen it once and the more I think about it the more I dislike it.

I am a big SW fan of the originals, including ROTJ. Came in with an open mind, thought the beginning was strong but that was it. The special effects and cinematography are excellent with the story and characters being the weakest part. They had years to create a strong plot, they had seemingly endless possibilities (and budget).

This movie lacks menace and tension. There is no depth within any of the characters. I really didn't understand what was going on the universe. Another death star? Bumping into Solo? CGI emperor? CGI old woman? Evil person being outclassed by a newbie Jedi. The list goes on.

A criticism people are not discussing. Are we to believe LUKE SKYWALKER, a character with 3 movies worth of integrity runs away from his problems and evil after a set back. He stays hidden while evil amasses and ultimately destroys billions of lives. The scene is completely different from "Old Bens Kenobi" retirement to Tatooine, where he watched over the last hope of the Jedi (Luke) rather than hid.

Such a disappointment and now they've ruined it. They have to continue the films with these characters and this "new" universe. I don't believe they can turn it around. It did not feel like Star Wars. I'm not looking forward to the spin offs either with the director of Jurassic World (another over hyped empty piece of plastic) signed on. Hollywood is in shambles. J J Abraham's is a poor director. He has made millions but his legacy is that of a B class director.… Expand

56 of 94 users found this helpful5638

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3

realrutzDec 23, 2015

There's so much true Star Wars fans have to be upset about with this movie. The most lacking factor was wow, wonderment and awe. Plus the fact that this film had no suspense and not one great action set piece. (a first for a Star Wars filmThere's so much true Star Wars fans have to be upset about with this movie. The most lacking factor was wow, wonderment and awe. Plus the fact that this film had no suspense and not one great action set piece. (a first for a Star Wars film and sad) TFA feels like Star Wars The TV Movie. And if it was a TV Movie on ABC, I would have been a little more impressed but this is the first Star Wars movie in theaters that is not an EPIC. I never felt transported to other worlds, I saw a desert and a forest with minimal production design. The Prequels are looking really good right now in that aspect (actually in every aspect). I give it two stars because of the actors and the "funny moments" but besides that it has no build up, at times its silly, and pandering. (I feel that John Williams had no idea how to score TFA because every action scene has no buildup thus no need for his amazing talent to give rise and build to scenes, not his fault) Rey has an unusual knowledge of the force, even though she has no real idea what it is. Things that took Luke 2 movie's to do, Rey did in 1 movie. I was reminded of this while watching The Empire Strikes Back when Luke is hanging upside down and is reaching for his Lightsaber, he is struggling to reach it and its very close by. Rey was able to do it with ease with no training from Yoda and from a much further distance. Its ugly women empowerment pandering "Anything you can do, I can do better" in a film series that is more about Father and Sons than anything else. They destroyed a bit of the gravity of the series with that nonsense throughout the film. And I am not a Women Empowerment hater, Mad Max: Fury Road and Jupiter Ascending proved that that sort of Propaganda if you will can be done right and us guys have to shut up because it was done with thoughtfulness and heart. TFA is not that, the whole film feels rushed especially the characters development.

My final negative point is something I read in another review which summed up my worst fears of what this film could have been which is:

"Which brings me to what I hated the most about the movie, and the main reason I'm giving it such a low score: it erases anything good and fulfilling we had at the end of Return of the Jedi. Every single one of the original heroes failed miserably in every aspects of their lives. Where is the reward for being good, just and do heroic deeds?
So... Han failed as a husband, as a father, as a member of the resistance and overall as a man (a bitter one it seems)... same goes for Leia (oh, she is a general of a sidekick cell that's supported by the republic... great). Luke is the worse of them all: failed as a jedi master, failed as a protector of the galaxy, as uncle, as friend, as brother, as the owner of R2D2"

TFA broods with so much negativity and abandons everything that our heroes fought so hard to protect. Its a huge slap in the face. It undermines the power of GOOD. Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker all deserve a grace period after what they've been though and this film denied us that forever. We are right back in the same loop, and I get it most people come from broken homes, or fatherless childs, (I'm one of them) etc. But that doesn't mean films have to pander to society in such a manner. It could have been a great example to show that the GOOD in the world has to be protected and that its a torch of hope that we pass down to our children. TFA in my opinion has destroyed much history and has set us up for a very negative Trilogy, I guess one about the loop of destruction. And maybe that would have been acceptable if the movie was great via amazing set pieces, visual spectacle, wonderment, better pacing, a memorable score, and inspired production design but it didn't even do that. All things that are Star Wars Traditions. There's more of course, Plot holes all over the place and the misuse of Captain Phasma, is she dead?… Expand

56 of 94 users found this helpful5638

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1

kintarooeDec 24, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I created a metacritic account just for this movie. It sucks, seriously. Like it's been said in previous reviews the story is horrible, the relationships between characted terrible, the character developpement non existent, the villain ridiculous, humor is misplaced (this is not the avengers.) And what the **** is Voldemort doing here ?

I'll add that WE ARE IN 2015 : pretty SFX are standard now. It was amazing back in 70's/80's and was sufficient to make a great movie. But it's not anymore.

Did you watch Starship troopers ? And then did you watch Starship Troopers 2 ? That's it, same sensation. But imagine there was all that big hype around starship troopers 2 and everyone said it was the greatest movie of all time. And you're here like : wait...what ??… Expand

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BenthereJan 6, 2016

Horrible. It was basically episode 4 but the stupid version. As bad as episode I and 2 were, this was even worse. Those ones disappointed me, but this was so bad I'm not even coming back for the next one. A ridiculous adolescent farce.Horrible. It was basically episode 4 but the stupid version. As bad as episode I and 2 were, this was even worse. Those ones disappointed me, but this was so bad I'm not even coming back for the next one. A ridiculous adolescent farce. Less than zero / 10.… Expand

56 of 94 users found this helpful5638

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TyekanikDec 27, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mediocre at best. 2hr long cameo. Predictable and primitive plot. All those "spoilers" are laughable. Main villain is a wannabe villain, which makes him a disappointment. Same applies to the whole movie - wannabe Star Wars, which makes it a total disappointment.
This is the last Episode I went to watch in a theatre.… Expand

28 of 47 users found this helpful2819

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SKELETOR420Dec 22, 2015

This film is going to have the same effect as The Phantom Menace - beloved for 5 minutes before reality sinks in. It's amazing that with such strong imagery it still manages to be the least SW feeling film of all. This is film making byThis film is going to have the same effect as The Phantom Menace - beloved for 5 minutes before reality sinks in. It's amazing that with such strong imagery it still manages to be the least SW feeling film of all. This is film making by committee with the end result coming across as poor fan fiction. JJ Abrams' take on Star Trek as a light-hearted action flick was wrong, but worked because it didn't have legacy storyline to carry and it was already predefined to a degree. The same trick has not worked here, with no regard for the impact of prior events. Essentially, this is just a soft reboot which does not seem to hold the galaxy in the balance. I never gave Lucas any credit for the prequels - and as little as possible for the originals - but TFA proves he understood the scale of the universe and how to convey it.… Expand

81 of 136 users found this helpful8155

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bansalJan 2, 2016

SO disappointed in this movie. Finally Star Wars has been wrested away from Lucas' control, and Disney had a clean slate to work with. What did they do? The basically gave us Episode VII - A New Hope 2015 Girl Power Edition. Basically takeSO disappointed in this movie. Finally Star Wars has been wrested away from Lucas' control, and Disney had a clean slate to work with. What did they do? The basically gave us Episode VII - A New Hope 2015 Girl Power Edition. Basically take Episode IV, change the protagonist to a female and have her effortlessly become a master jedi by the end of the movie. Unfortunately it looks like Empire Strikes Back will be the last good Star Wars movie ever made.… Expand

81 of 136 users found this helpful8155

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TtmDec 24, 2015

Unbelievable rehash. Did someone pay the critics to give it 5 stars? Are we Americans that thick that we can't recognize a re-run when we see it? Did we all watch the same movie?

I was really looking forward to seeing this--I have allUnbelievable rehash. Did someone pay the critics to give it 5 stars? Are we Americans that thick that we can't recognize a re-run when we see it? Did we all watch the same movie?

I was really looking forward to seeing this--I have all of the series at home and have watched them several times.

But... For the first time ever, I fell asleep watching a movie in a theater. No wonder Ford had to be paid so much to do this project; who would want to act in a movie that he's already done before? Both Ford and Fisher looked extremely bored, and rightly so.

All JJ Adams did was take out an old Star Wars script, change some of the names and scene locations and make the boom booms bigger, and that's it. Oh, and he also cut out *all* of the character and plot development (why bother if its the same story over again?) and sped the movie up for the Attention Deficit folks.
I cared *nothing* for the characters, and I now care nothing for the Star Wars franchise which was created, obviously, to make lots of money off of people who don't understand that they're being taken for a $$$ ride.… Expand

81 of 136 users found this helpful8155

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1

GiveitbacktoGLDec 30, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. As a LIFELONG Star Wars fan, I cant accept this tripe. Ive read thousands of pages of expanded universe material, played thousands of hours of the video games, am absolutely enamored with this setting, and its characters. If anyone could give it a pass, it should be me.

It wasnt just a bad Star wars movie...it was a bad FILM.

The main features of the movie are: a rehashed story, flat dialogue, uninteresting characters, More action than acting, Doesnt follow pre established lore, Deus ex machina all throughout, sad silly forced feeling comedy, Suspension of disbelief impossible.

The movie literally brought me to tears, not because of the emotional weight of the scenes or story, but in the fact that Disney has proven they have no respect for this venerated series.

Did the rebellion defeat the empire? Did the characters we love and missed evolve in any meaningful way? Does this movie feel like a legitimate sequel to episode 6? Nope, Nope, Nope.

It felt like the people behind this movie didnt even watch the original films or the prequels, how much would it have cost Disney to hire someone who actually knew anything about Star Wars?

Disney retconned the EU for THIS garbage?

The Lightsaber that Luke lost on Bespin is in the service room(that also serves as a force cave)in some random bar, in the box from Obi Wans house on Tattooine.

Han doesnt know what a bowcaster is, and is generally an incompetent boob, Fin is unbelievable, Poe is flat.

Rey is a mary Sue, Kylo comes off as a complete weakling that no one would follow into anything.

Luke going into hiding makes no sense, the map he left makes no sense, The first Order going after an apparently non issue in Luke whos hanging out in Ireland for some reason makes no sense, R2D2 makes no sense, The Falcon on Jakku makes no sense, the garbage man Fin not cutting off his own head with the lightsaber, makes no sense. Reys unexplained piloting expertise, force using expertise, The list goes on and on and on.

The death of Han Solo scene was so emotionally weightless, I didn't flinch.

It should be Illegal to do this to classic Americana, its like peeing on the Alamo. I hope the mockery of our mental capacities as fans bankrupts the monstrosity called Disney and everyone involved in writing, directing, and overseeing the creation of this movie lives in poverty and shame for the rest of their days.

Shame on you Disney, Shame on you Abrams

You've broken my heart.… Expand

81 of 136 users found this helpful8155

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IzakMeeyanDec 29, 2015

Man they're turning Star wars into a joke. The villain's meant to be son of Princess Leila, which makes him the nephew of Luke Skywalker and the grandson of Darth Vader, gets beaten up by some girl who's character build up doesn't justifyMan they're turning Star wars into a joke. The villain's meant to be son of Princess Leila, which makes him the nephew of Luke Skywalker and the grandson of Darth Vader, gets beaten up by some girl who's character build up doesn't justify why or how she's a match for the villain. Just make the whole plot very trivial. On top of that apparently Lightsabers are now some kind of magical weapon that is able to call people. "youve heard the calling of Luke's lightsaber... " WTF… Expand

53 of 89 users found this helpful5336

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alffffffieJan 6, 2016

TFA is a complete rehash of A New Hope, but it's done really badly. I can't even remember any of the music. My biggest gripe with this movie is that it never feels like it's going anywhere. Stuff blows up but there's no resolution. TheTFA is a complete rehash of A New Hope, but it's done really badly. I can't even remember any of the music. My biggest gripe with this movie is that it never feels like it's going anywhere. Stuff blows up but there's no resolution. The characters encounters thieves but they immediately die, they fight against the new order but there's no real resistance. The new Vader guy was okay, his mask is cool, but when he took his mask I couldn't stop laughing. And what's up with the ending shot? Seriously? In the end it didn't feel like Star Wars at all.… Expand

53 of 89 users found this helpful5336

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1

LucasMoltoJan 1, 2016

Worst of them all. Shame on Disney and the director you have ruin this world. Really bad script and editing. Score was awful and the acting from tv movie.

78 of 131 users found this helpful7853

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ZellySmadaDec 29, 2015

I just love the fact that more and more fans are coming out and rating this movie for what it is: pure trash! It is shameful that the critics can be so byass. It leads me to believe they have been bought by the Disney corporation to giveI just love the fact that more and more fans are coming out and rating this movie for what it is: pure trash! It is shameful that the critics can be so byass. It leads me to believe they have been bought by the Disney corporation to give this movie a good review.

I cannot give this movie even a one point rating, it is embarrasing to sea that supposed professionals can be so lazy and slopy to produce this kind of embarrasing movie.… Expand

78 of 131 users found this helpful7853

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ksanfranfanDec 30, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is the worst Star Wars movie of all. Sure there's action but it lacks any substance. The plot is horrible and all over the place. Fifteen minutes into the movie and you forget after what the mission of the story is all about. I was really hoping to see new ideas and things never seen before in a Star Wars movie but this was even worse.
Sure, many people condemned the prequels but at least you got to see new spacecraft, water craft, planets, new worlds, broadened horizons, great fight scenes, characters that drew you in, the development of characters as they grew throughout each movie and the compelling subject matter. This movie was just too big for Disney and even more J.J> Abrams to fill. Worlds are travelled to in the snap of a finger. Same old fighter air craft, less of them to defeat an already developed super death star?!? WTF? Destroying entire planets with no explanation as to why. The resistance not understanding how to take out the death star planet , remember the ventilation shaft? A scavenger girl that learns the force instantly almost and defeats a trained jedi villain twice with no understanding of what the force even is. Kylo Ren is one of the weakest villains of just about any movie I've ever seen, not just Star Wars. he comes off as plain childish and spoiled rather than frightening.
Everything about this movie just seems small. A call to the First Order and poof! They are there instantly. Then another call to the resistance and poof! they are there to take on the First Order. It doesn't seem hard to find anyone on these planets at all. The whole scale of things are just too small. Fighter aircraft seemed like a fraction of what it used to be. Time travel is less than light years. Worlds seem like just small cities. Even the most sacred jedi weapon is a common tool. Who the hell would want to take something like a lightsaber and turn it into that piece of crap Kylo Ren had? Really? Is this the creativity that we can expect from Disney? I had a fealing that Disney was going to blow it, but I was hoping to give the benefit of a doubt. This whole introduction to The Force Awakens was nothing more than hype and marketing to redeem the 4 billion dollars that they've paid to George Lucas for his biggest selling movies.
People criticize George Lucas for becoming stale and lacking new ideas and story telling but as I've already mentioned, look at all of the new things that he brought to the prequels. Comparing the prequels to this poorly written screen of crap is far and in between. I'll watch the next 2 Star Wars movies on blue ray before I pay for this mess again at a theater. As far as I'm concerned the first 6 Star Wars movies are a trilogy of their own. Starting with 7 and up is going to be a whole different thing.… Expand

78 of 131 users found this helpful7853

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tripitDec 31, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Drink the koolade Luke, the Force does not awaken, it merely rehashes itself in heap of poorly written dialog, a tantrum throwing baby Vader for the millennium set, a Jedi girl, who instantly picks up in a few hours what it took everyone else ages to master, a new and not so improved Death Star, a guest roll by smegal as the evil overlord and a painfully "to the letter" rehash. It's not a wonder that Harrison Ford begged to kill off Solo and Lucas himself does not approve of the film. This film is nothing more than the bean counters at Disney capitalizing on 40 years of Star Wars in the most simplistic and uninspiring way possible, to prepare the koolade drinkers for more worthless garbage under the Star Wars banner and new expanded theme park rides.… Expand

78 of 131 users found this helpful7853

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3

NoxosDec 19, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

-All of the ball turret scenes on the Falcon.

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

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

-Cantina scene

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

125 of 210 users found this helpful12585

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1

Fuzi0nDec 26, 2015

Mickey Mouse asked Jar Jar Binks' dimwitted twin brother Jar Jar Abrams to make a Star Wars movie. "Meesa good directa!", Jar Jar Abrams said to Mickey, "I maksa bestest Star Wars movie evars!"

And the result was a pile of badly directedMickey Mouse asked Jar Jar Binks' dimwitted twin brother Jar Jar Abrams to make a Star Wars movie. "Meesa good directa!", Jar Jar Abrams said to Mickey, "I maksa bestest Star Wars movie evars!"

And the result was a pile of badly directed steaming bantha poop with horrid writing. But Mickey Mouse was more than happy, because he hyped it so much that it made a lot of money anyway.… Expand

50 of 84 users found this helpful5034

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0

MaXiMuS_54Dec 24, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Movie is just a rewrite of the originals. Its basically a feminist remake with a bunch of plot holes. There's hardly any introduction, to sum it up its says "Luke isn't in this movie, and now an edgy cult order rules the galaxy." The new girl literally does whatever she wants with no training. She even tells Han Solo how to fly his freaking ship. Which she even stole it as well with 0 effort because there's no security at all on it (no wonder why Han Solo lost his ship in the first place to random bandits) How an insult like this to Han Solo is even allowed to exist is beyond me. So the girl is the "chosen one" except apparently with no flaws. Kylo Ren is just another conflicted Vader who is at the whim of the top dog. They couldn't even do a big dramatic reveal that hes the son of Solo. Its told in a freaking mission briefing, wow how dramatic. No other movie in existence has messed even that up. So they're all brought together and forced into action over an important message a droid has which is held by discount R2-D2. The character names aren't even good, Finn, Rey and Snoke? I mean you use a name that is close to Snooki for the discount emperor? By this point you already know where everything is going, no need to comment further. The movie is an offensive feminist plagiarizing remake of the originals. 0/10… Expand

50 of 84 users found this helpful5034

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0

TapTwoDec 24, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Why bother with this Movie.
Good
1.Started amazing villain looks badass
2.Good Effects
Bad
1. Pacing sucks and does not give time for character development. I know nothing about the characters because there was no character development in this movie.
2. Logic in this movie does not exist. Somehow a garbage salvager is more brave than someone trained from birth to be a soldier. Somehow that garbage salvager can repair the Millennium Falcon better than someone whom has several decades of experience with the ship. Ill tell you what next time I have car troubles Ill go to the salvage yard rather than a mechanic, because that makes perfect sense. Somehow it takes 3 movies for Anakin to control the force as good as he does as Darth Vader. 1.5 movies for Luke Skywalker to be able to lift a rock and five freaking minutes for the main character to do a JEDI MIND TRICK. The reason not everyone is a Jedi is because very few are able to use the force and among those that can in order to control the force it takes years of training it is earned. Rey does not earn her skills its as though she magically has the ability to control the force. Being strong and the force and controlling the force are two different things entirely.
3. Somehow a Sith Apprentice trained by Luke and a Dark Lord cant seem to win against a 5 min beginner force wielder that pulls Jedi Mind tricks out of her ass and a storm trooper.
4. Kylo Ren started strong in the beginning and became a whiny crying **** with daddy issues midway through the movie.
5. Story had no depth they recycled Episode 4 and couldnt think of a better plot than to increase the size of a death star to the size of a planet with the same **** WEAKNESS. This borderlines on retardation.
6. Phasma was nowhere to be seen and is so inept that when she is asked as to how someone went AWOL her excuse was he was supposed to show up at this location at this time.
7. The writers do not know a thing about suspense. Everything was obvious. The way they revealed the identity of Kylo Ren was a joke. The fact that Han Solo was going to die was obvious from the start of the scene.
8. The Sith Lord looks like Gollum. I kept waiting for him to utter my precious every scene they show him.

This movie was **** and the writers and direct should feel like **** They scrapped George Lucas script in favor of this trash and while George Lucas is not a good writer he could still be more imaginative than the retards that wrote this pile of fecal matter.… Expand

50 of 84 users found this helpful5034

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3

icaci90Dec 24, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this movie is way better than any of the prequels but it's just "a new hope" with different characters( of course related to the old ones). what's really upsetting me is the fact that all the critic reviews are way too positive. I mean are you really praising JJ abrams for directing a movie that has no new ideas(first order=empire, star killer=death star,Rey=luke,Leia is still the rebels commander etc.)? and what about the villain? he's just like a teenage boy who's got issues with his parents. i know that this movie was made for the fan-dom but that doesn't justify the lack of originality.… Expand

50 of 84 users found this helpful5034

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0

Adi_DorsetJan 9, 2016

Signed up here today just to make my feelings known and to warn others who love the Star Wars universe of my experience with this truly terrible piece of story telling.

I have thought for days about why The Force Awakens left me feelingSigned up here today just to make my feelings known and to warn others who love the Star Wars universe of my experience with this truly terrible piece of story telling.

I have thought for days about why The Force Awakens left me feeling unmoved and numb at it's conclusion. I have finally worked it out. JJ Abrams has killed the franchise for me, and many others.

The plot and the lead character simultaneously 'jumps the shark' within the first 20 minutes, my brain was screaming what the f**k are you taking the pi*s. From this point on all I saw on screen were actors going through the motions, none of it seemed real, nothing moved me, even events that should have saddenned me to my core. Maybe I could forgive one such event but the movie is littered with them. I suspect people who parked thier brains at the door didn't notice but anyone who's seen the original trilogy will react with disbelief and then anger.

The only thing that will get me to watch episode 8 is if I find out that in the yellow scrolling message at its start that Luke had gone psychotic on his lonely island hideout and when Rey hands him his lightsaber, he neatly cleaves her in two with it. Then the story could begin again with something more original and hopefully credible. I suspect this will not be the case, so Star Wars in my eyes is dead and the numbness I felt was actually grief for the death of a friend I've known and loved for 38 years.… Expand

50 of 84 users found this helpful5034

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4

KrotosDec 20, 2015

Sadly, this latest Star Wars installment is further evidence that Hollywood really has run out of ideas. As stilted and humorless as the prequels could feel, they at least told a new story, even if we could guess at the ending. Plot-wise,Sadly, this latest Star Wars installment is further evidence that Hollywood really has run out of ideas. As stilted and humorless as the prequels could feel, they at least told a new story, even if we could guess at the ending. Plot-wise, Episode VII is basically a retread of Episodes IV and V (and a little bit of VI) with some cosmetic alterations: Luke is a girl, Yoda is an old woman, Han is black, and R2D2 is a soccer ball. The Empire is now the Third Reich, or something. Otherwise, if you've seen the original trilogy, you've seen this movie. It's the same kind of lazy, derivative writing that was on display in JJ Abrams's Star Trek Into Darkness, which in places verged on being a scene-for-scene, even word-for-word remake of Wrath of Khan. You don't make a great movie by blatantly stealing characters, plot twists, and dialogue from another great movie: you make a forgettable imitation.… Expand

25 of 42 users found this helpful2517

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5

getatyourboyDec 28, 2015

I agree with rederp's comment, "Sadly, we get a rehash of the same story we have seen before. The same plot lines with the same progression as before. It's paint-by-numbers star wars. You have seen it all before and it's missing the adventureI agree with rederp's comment, "Sadly, we get a rehash of the same story we have seen before. The same plot lines with the same progression as before. It's paint-by-numbers star wars. You have seen it all before and it's missing the adventure movie magic in an immersive fantasy world."… Expand

25 of 42 users found this helpful2517

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4

bullywugDec 29, 2015

So, basically this is a remake of Episode 4. What people are calling nods are actually the entire movie. There is almost no original content. As with all Star Wars films the action is plentiful and fun but the acting is weak and the storySo, basically this is a remake of Episode 4. What people are calling nods are actually the entire movie. There is almost no original content. As with all Star Wars films the action is plentiful and fun but the acting is weak and the story filled with holes. I don't want to sound too critical. I think it's at least as good as Hunger Games or Maze Runner but it is certainly not an amazing piece of art.… Expand

25 of 42 users found this helpful2517

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3

armchaircritic9Dec 26, 2015

Like many other review will tell you, this film is literally a rehash of A New Hope. It becomes laughable how much material they took from the OT after you see them blow up ANOTHER death star. I wanted to see a continuation of the story, notLike many other review will tell you, this film is literally a rehash of A New Hope. It becomes laughable how much material they took from the OT after you see them blow up ANOTHER death star. I wanted to see a continuation of the story, not a recycled version of the existing one. JJ has failed this franchise and the millions of fans who follow it. There is no excuse for this lack of creativity. If episode 8 continues this trend I will not be watching the finale of the new trilogy.… Expand

97 of 163 users found this helpful9766

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0

Ladiesman727Dec 23, 2015

Very boring movie. Can't believe this is rated as high as it is. Say what you want about the prequels at least they have a plot. So much of the plot felt forced. Oh this place happens to have a lightsaber, oh R2D2 wakes up and has the map, ohVery boring movie. Can't believe this is rated as high as it is. Say what you want about the prequels at least they have a plot. So much of the plot felt forced. Oh this place happens to have a lightsaber, oh R2D2 wakes up and has the map, oh Han Solo just happened to be in the system, and the main characters happen to be in the millenium falcon.
And the death planet blows up an entire star system and no one gives a ****… Expand

72 of 121 users found this helpful7249

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3

BBC1Dec 23, 2015

God, I was so dissapointed with this movie. It was honestly the worst film of the entire franchise. I never felt immersed in the movie and there were just to many awful moments for me to really enjoy. There were a few good action scenes, butGod, I was so dissapointed with this movie. It was honestly the worst film of the entire franchise. I never felt immersed in the movie and there were just to many awful moments for me to really enjoy. There were a few good action scenes, but there were too many awkward scenes. I am a huge star wars fan and i was majorly dissapointed.… Expand

72 of 121 users found this helpful7249

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2

Dude77Dec 24, 2015

This was nothing but a high-budget fan fiction.

I had a completely open mind, and during the first half-hour I actually really enjoyed it. And then in true J.J. Abrams fashion, it became apparent that there really was no point, and thatThis was nothing but a high-budget fan fiction.

I had a completely open mind, and during the first half-hour I actually really enjoyed it. And then in true J.J. Abrams fashion, it became apparent that there really was no point, and that it was being made up as they went. The prequels had a long list of flaws, but they at least had heart, whereas this one is a soulless counterfeit.

The viewers who are rating this 10/10 will say that critical reviewers are just looking for something to be upset about. Not true. It’s completely reasonable to be disappointed by such a slap-dash, string of stitched-together nonsense presented as a coherent story.

I guess for some fans, no dramatic tension or pacing is needed – just neat ships and fun action – like when playing action figures or video games. And all this talk of “nostalgia…” The original Star Wars wasn’t good because of “nostalgia.” So while some viewers enjoyed the jokes and the self-parodying, force-fed references to other Star Wars movies, what makes a movie work is and always will be competent storytelling.

The problem is that Disney has heard loud and clear that playing to the lowest common denominator sells tickets, so they have no reason not to continue to do so.… Expand

163 of 274 users found this helpful163111

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0

MrCommonSenseDec 31, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Let me start by saying that JJ Abrams is quite possibly the biggest hack on the planet with the release of this movie.

70% in this movie was taken from the original trilogy. One of the main characters, A force sensitive girl. Is stuck on a desert planet in the middle of nowhere and her family is killed by the empire. Leaving her with no reason to stay on the planet.

The empire has somehow turned a planet into a rip off of a death star, and the rebel forces attack and of course destroy it. (But not before they fly through a trench of course).

The main bad guy is a cheap rip off of darth vader, mask and all. And he fails in every possible way to be an interesting or even remotely worthwhile character. It is revealed early on that he is an anorexic snow white emo pretty boy with the depth and complexity of a mud puddle and maturity of a five year old with the temper tantrums to match.

This utter loser literally does nothing the entire movie but throw temper tantrums and whine about being a useless piece of crap. Oh, And they made him han and leia's son and he ends up killing han in a truly **** way. You know, Just to give him a reason to exist. Because who cares about being original?

Is this **** starting to sound familiar? A masked villain dressed in black? A large round object capable of destroying an entire solar system? A force sensitive child left alone on a desert planet? Seriously? You get tasked with bringing the most beloved film franchise in history back and you do a garbage unoriginal half assed re imagining of the original? JJ Abrams, You freaking SUCK.

Now onto a list of OTHER reasons why this movie is lame.

1. Light saber combat is slow and painfully awkward. These fools act like they are swinging 20 pound sledgehammers instead of beams of pure energy.

2. They bring in main characters and pretty much just have them stand there for the duration of their screen time. It's like the idiots forgot to actually write them into the script. princess leia just stands there and only moves like three times the entire time she's on screen.

3. We all know that the force takes a lifetime to truly master, Right? Well the main jedi chick pretty much masters the force in a day despite never before being exposed to jedi teachings or anything. Even managing to pull the jedi mind trick out of her ass and reading the mind of han's worthless coward of a son at one point. Skills that are supposed to take years to learn. Luke spent three movies learning how to use the force and this little girl does it in 30 minutes. Right.

4. I hope you don't like serious movies because this movie tries to make a joke like every ten minutes it seems. Star wars isn't a comedy you idiots!

This movie is nothing but special effects and recycled characters and plots made exclusively to take your money and leave no lasting impression. This trilogy is already shaping up to be the death of star wars as a series. No depth. No complexity. Not even worthwhile characters or even an ounce of character development. Abrams is the M Night Shyamalan of scifi without a doubt. A complete and total hack with no real skill who gets work because his name is famous.… Expand

94 of 158 users found this helpful9464

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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 (… Expand

47 of 79 users found this helpful4732

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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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3

Joeycs74Jan 5, 2016

Very disappointed with this star wars. Same story of the IV episode with a new look. Recycling of an original storyline to a younger generation. Lack of creativity and originality in the script. The saga came into loop. Luke is Obi-wan, theVery disappointed with this star wars. Same story of the IV episode with a new look. Recycling of an original storyline to a younger generation. Lack of creativity and originality in the script. The saga came into loop. Luke is Obi-wan, the girl is the new Luke, the stormtrooper is the new Han Solo and so on ... only Chewie does not need to be renewed. There's also a new death star, of course. All within the politically right, now with women and black people as protagonists.… Expand

69 of 116 users found this helpful6947

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3

KoreUptdDec 23, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. No character development, predictable plot with many holes, forced chemistry between actors, weak and laughable villain, unoriginal story.
It is ridiculous that the "critics" give this film such high praise. I think it's hype and nostalgia that is masking the critical reviews so far. In time the mediocrity of this movie will sink in and the consensus of the SW community will be that it is pretty much just a less-than-worthy reboot of the original trilogy.

A few specific things that really bothered me:

1. Rey is an orphan, scavenging for parts to get by, but magically somehow when she is told that she has the Force, she suddenly knows out of nowhere to use the Jedi mind trick, can beat the bad guy in a lightsaber duel, and fly the Falcon like an ace pilot. No training needed - I guess Luke is a dunce for having to train under Yoda, huh? Sorry, not buying ANY of it.
2. CGI for the supreme leader, it's the same actor who did Gollum, and it shows. How original. And the cantina owner, unnecessarily CGI too.
3. Another Death Star, only bigger. Destroys a solar system, minutes later everyone acts as if this were just a mere inconvenience. Oh, and it has a weakness...sound familiar?
4. Kylo Ren is the lamest villian yet in Star Wars. I'll let you figure out why for yourself.
5. The Han Solo and Kylo face off was so predictable I saw it coming from a mile away, and afterward it just made me feel empty and sad. Also, when Ren and Chewy return to Leia, she totally ignores her long time friend Chewy and instead goes to Ren (whom she hardly even knows!), and shares in their grief. I guess Chewy's grief is irrelevant to Leia because why; he's a wookie? I am just shocked.

Yeah, there were some good moments, but after it's all said and done, I'm just feeling let down and depressed.… Expand

69 of 116 users found this helpful6947

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3

JMLedDec 26, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Thanks to the angry nerds who chased George Lucas away from Star Wars, we ended up with this garbage JJ Abrams nonsense because of you people.

How this movie ended up with an overall positive response from the media is baffling.

The gaping plot holes, cheese-ridden dialogue, and shameless recycling of OT scenes was painful to endure.… Expand

69 of 116 users found this helpful6947

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3

Kevdog33Dec 26, 2015

I thought about walking out twice which would of been the first time I have wanted to walk out of a movie since the Phantom Menace. Han Solo and Chewbacca were at least enjoyable. Sadly Jar Jar Abrams has likely ruined 2 movies. This one andI thought about walking out twice which would of been the first time I have wanted to walk out of a movie since the Phantom Menace. Han Solo and Chewbacca were at least enjoyable. Sadly Jar Jar Abrams has likely ruined 2 movies. This one and the next Star Trek which he really seemed to be very adept at directing. To think he was to be the new hope. However, it is too derivative to be anything but what it came from. Crap… Expand

69 of 116 users found this helpful6947

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3

BarzDec 30, 2015

Disappointed. I'm giving it 3 stars for special effects only although with all today techs available to it compare to original Star Wars movies it may not deserve it either. Bad screen play, bad editing, bad directing, bad acting, clichéDisappointed. I'm giving it 3 stars for special effects only although with all today techs available to it compare to original Star Wars movies it may not deserve it either. Bad screen play, bad editing, bad directing, bad acting, cliché action scenes... It seems all high ratings by critics is either nostalgic -meaning blind minded- or a giving favor to Disney if was not paid!… Expand

69 of 116 users found this helpful6947

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0

NlamDec 31, 2015

I started getting nervous when I kept hearing from all of these people who knew little to nothing about Star Wars how great it was, people who had no idea what made Star Wars great. And it turns out my fears were justified. This movie isI started getting nervous when I kept hearing from all of these people who knew little to nothing about Star Wars how great it was, people who had no idea what made Star Wars great. And it turns out my fears were justified. This movie is awful. There is nothing original in the entire two hours, and it is NOT made for people who love the franchise. This is for young people who have never seen it before and don't realize how derivative it is from the other films, especially episode 4. No risks are taken and no imagination shown. The result: a truly useless final product. I will not be back for more.… Expand

69 of 116 users found this helpful6947

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3

tsumeoneDec 24, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is probably my least favorite Star Wars movie for the following reasons:

-No Pacing. After the anticlimactic lightsaber fight between Rey and Ben where they obviously were setting the stage for the sequel, the movie was rushed. There was no pacing whatsoever. The scene transitions from that to their base to the completed map to Luke in what seemed like a blink of the eye.

-Little character development. They did not put nearly as much effort into developing Finn as they should have. His defection seemed forced by the writers, and only later in the movie does he very briefly and vaguely touch on why he defected. Rey fared off a bit better but the movie doesn't explain her attachment to Jakku and pretty much has her instantly mastering the force, easily defeating Ben who had way more experience than she.

-Everyone seemed to get over Han Solo's death way too quickly. Also, the foreshadowing was almost insultingly obvious. Having the light shining on him and Ben go dark just before he is killed? Come on.

-All of the combat was bland and uninspired. This movie could have redeemed itself if the action scenes were worth it, but they were not. The movie did nothing to get the viewer invested in the combat. It was nothing but the same tired movies in both the fighter combat and the lightsaber combat. Many of the scenes and maneuvers where they are attacking the "big deathstar" seemed to be near identical clones of the original deathstar fight.

I did not expect the movie to live up to the hype, but it was a much bigger let down than expected. I had high hopes for Disney and am disappointed.… Expand

110 of 185 users found this helpful11075

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2

masamunerikuJan 4, 2016

There are so many plot holes in this movie that prevents it to be even slightly enjoyable. To enjoy this movie one would need to throw out any logical sense and focus only on the decent action and characters. Most negative reviews would pointThere are so many plot holes in this movie that prevents it to be even slightly enjoyable. To enjoy this movie one would need to throw out any logical sense and focus only on the decent action and characters. Most negative reviews would point out the major flaws in the plot.

Watching this movie is like watching little kids play fantasy/sci-fi make believe where illogical things will happen and the plot armor is invincible. Treat this movie as such and things will start to make sense.… Expand

88 of 148 users found this helpful8860

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0

scorp18Dec 27, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Congratulations Disney. You turned an Epic Saga into a poor franchise...
Rip-off... First I want to make clear that I'm a fan of the Star Wars Saga, movies and Expanded Universe alike. Have seen the Original Trilogy and the Prequels countless times and read more than 50 EU books (like many others have done as well of course). This "review" is not against anyone who like the movie but against the movie.
The first letdown was when Disney announced that the Expanded Universe is not Canon anymore and the Sequel Trilogy will be based on an "original" plot. No matter how much I disliked this fact I hopped that they could have still made up an interesting and original plot.
Unfortunately this is not the case... They have messed up the Expanded Universe and tried to make it fit in the plot of Episode IV. In the EU, Han and Leia have a son (Jacen Solo) whose Master is Luke (who else could it be?) and finally Jacen falls to the Dark Side and becomes something like Darth Vader. Luke Skywalker leaves everything behind and searches the Galaxy to answer what made Jacen become a Sith (Second Galactic Civil War, "Legacy of the Force" and "Fate of the Jedi" series).
So they kept this as a base, tried to make it fit in the plot of Episode IV and then named it "The Force Awakens".
- A droid has important information and is lost on a desert planet (they just renamed the droid from R2-D2 to BB-8 and the planet from Tatooine to Jakku)
- A person with Jedi powers with no knowledge of it gets the droid (Luke became Rey)
- The Imperials err.... sorry, the First Order has created a Super-weapon they call Starkiller base which is just a bigger Death Star!
- The bad guys take the good girl to the planet-sized space/battle station and the good guys go for the rescue
- As we all know from Episodes IV and VI the Death Stars had a weak point, so the new Imps were loyal to this and created the Starkiller base with a weak point as well! =)
- The weak point can be hit only if someone lowers the shields from the inside!
- On the Death Star, damn... I mean the Starkiller base the father figure is killed by the son figure, just like Obi-Wan was killed by Darth Vader...
On top of that there are many plot holes. Only Disney could make Rey, who just learned to use the force, overpower Kylo Ren who's supposed to have been an apprentice to Luke Skywalker and now of Snoke (seriously, Jar Jar Bings is a more serious name than Snoke...)
Episode I and II were far from perfect but AT LEAST had an original plot. The Prequels took the Saga another step forward. On the other hand, The Force Awakens (I refuse to call it Episode VII and they did well to omit it from the title) is a bad copy of Episode IV, a re-imagination of the original without a soul. It's a disrespectful spit on the face of the Star Wars Saga. A blasphemy.

I dare to say that Luke will die on Episode IX just like Yoda on VI and that Rey is Kylo Ren's sister and will kill him and redeem him on Episode IX too.

Congratulations Disney. You turned an Epic Saga into a poor franchise...… Expand

66 of 111 users found this helpful6645

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3

necromsisDec 23, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie is a rehash of episode 4 a new hope with parts of previous movies. The little new the did was ok at best and generic at worst. It's the same empire versus rebels, shoot the weak point in the death star, lowly main character on desert planet wishes to be on an adventure.this movie literally doesn't advance the story of star wars at all. The story is a string of coincidences. The characters and their relationships are developed in an instant.

The actions scenes are from previous movies. The plot is from previous movies. The characters that are worth while are from previous movies. The locations are designed to look like ones from previous movies. I knew the ending just by watching a new hope. It's obvious that this wasn't intended to be a good movie but a good cash grab. Designed for nostalgia. Don't fall for it. It has good CGI and a star wars soundtrack, that's it.
The people I know who love this are bandwagon fans who quickly saw each trilogy only once without retaining anything and would cry for hours because a squirrel tripped.… Expand

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0

j1261922Dec 28, 2015

This is the worst Start Wars ever.
The story is mostly from episode 4 with additional stupid stuff and plot holes.
Not much new and especially nothing uniques in this film. Even Episode 1 was better and more creative as this one. For meThis is the worst Start Wars ever.
The story is mostly from episode 4 with additional stupid stuff and plot holes.
Not much new and especially nothing uniques in this film.
Even Episode 1 was better and more creative as this one.
For me Start Wars is unfortunately dead. Or was killed by Disney!?… Expand

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0

j1331418Dec 29, 2015

It is really disappointing.
I was always a Start Wars fan but I can only hate this episode.
This movie is a proof that Hollywood do not need to create great movies, but only rehash old popular movies in a bad way and hype it as much asIt is really disappointing.
I was always a Start Wars fan but I can only hate this episode.

This movie is a proof that Hollywood do not need to create great movies, but only rehash old popular movies in a bad way and hype it as much as possible to generate profit.… Expand

66 of 111 users found this helpful6645

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3

TicklefistJan 7, 2016

The movie does little more than take the same formula Disney uses for its Marvel movies and apply Star Wars iconography to it. Stars Wars deserved better.

44 of 74 users found this helpful4430

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0

Nate3nateDec 29, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. How this movie is getting so much praise is beyond me. Oh it's got Han and Leia and Chewie and Luke? Oooo must be 10/10 woo!

It's basically a parody of Star Wars a New Hope, at one point I thought "Am I watching an Austin Powers reboot?" the "First Order" Empire was so inept it was bordering on three stooges stupidity with them not giving two **** about anything.

Oh something crash landed on your planet base THOUGH YOUR SHIELDS no less and no one cares or investigates or even makes a remark about it.

Oh somehow out planet base shields are down and NO ONE MENTIONS IT OR EVEN TRIES TO TURN THE DAMN SHIELDS BACK ON!!!

Oh there is a force user loose in the base, shesh better not alert anyone or put anyone on guard or even how about sending out some storm troopers with those light saber blocking electro weapons... nope nothing.

Hey how about locking a door so Han, Chewie and Finn at least have to blast it open or even hack it open or even fight to get into the base!!! NOPE! Nothing, no cameras, no security, no nothing.

And that's all just the last scene, I could go on and on and on about everything in this movie like how the Xwing pilots have no problem sniping storm troopers to free Han, Chewie, Finn (the three amigos as it were) but miss the giant imperial shuttle that's parked right out back.

Or how Finn, who was a storm trooper janitor, knows important information about the imperial base. Or how the imperials have THE REST OF THE DAMN MAP TO WHERE LUKE IS!!!! But can't be bothered to send even 1 damn probe droid! I mean seriously?!

Ugh... I could go on for another 10000000 words on why this movie is awful and not worth money to see or your time, but I would basically just be pointing out more of the same.

OH OH OH!!! Don't get me started on a magical 2 seater tie fighter with back lasers and missiles!!! TIE FIGHTERS ARE A SINGLE SEATER SPACE CRAFT WITH FORWARD FIRING LASERS ONLY! Holy **** I still can't believe they couldn't come up with anything better than, hey lets just pretend Tie Fighters have this stuff cause we need them to be able to escape. Hey JJ, how about they just take idk, a Tie Bomber... oh pry cause you didn't actually read up on any Star Wars lore... oh...

0/10 for the love of all that is good with the Force do not pay to see this movie!… Expand

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0

abresslerDec 28, 2015

Abrams did a dis-service to Star Wars. It was Disney, yep you got disney. I expect Jedi princess Rae dolls in stores from now to forever...Movie was enjoyable but could have been told as episode X. There's 25 years missing between episode 6Abrams did a dis-service to Star Wars. It was Disney, yep you got disney. I expect Jedi princess Rae dolls in stores from now to forever...Movie was enjoyable but could have been told as episode X. There's 25 years missing between episode 6 and episode 7 .. It was a copy cat film re-playing episode 4. Should have taken on the EXPANDED UNIVERSE for the trilogy. HEIR TO THE EMPIRE would have made a better Episode VII then this... I want GRAND ADMIRAL THRAWN and Mara Jade. Dont get me wrong It enjoyable but overall writing was weak. Great screen play. I hope to see how the new Republic actually rises on screen some day.....… Expand

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2

ThePhatNinjaDec 28, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie, had so much potential, but like Anakin, it was cut short. Kylo Ren in the beginning was seen as a strong force user who was seen to have strong mastery of the force as he not only stop a blaster bolt in mid air, but kept it there for several minutes and then release it at will. He also built his own lightsaber which suggest that he has training with it. However as the movie progress Kylo Ren turns out to be a b*tch. Not a badass b*tch, just a **** He got destroyed by the two main characters, and both were non-jedi. Rey also somehow becomes super good at the force FOR NO REASON AT ALL. That's not how the force works, yes it can guide people, but mastery of the damn force takes years. J.J. Abrams just gave a big f*ck you the legacy universe (what used to be cannon). Kylo Ren should have easily killed both Rey and Finn, but no, turned out he sucks at not only using the lightsaber but incapable to use simple force pushes or pulls against his opponents. Overall, Kylo Ren is a little b*tch, Rey somehow gets force powers that should take years to master, and Finn somehow managed to hurt Kylo Ren in a lightsaber duel. If you haven't watched ANY Star Wars movies before, its ok. But those who are true fans will be disappointed.… Expand

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0

Dutchmaster1Dec 27, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 0 for the plot

Without a plot there is not point in making a film. Therefore a higher score cannot be justified.

BB8 does not have to deliver the map. It is not integral to the unit. R2D2 had to be delivered safely, everyone was looking for the droid, being associated with the droid lead to the deaths of Luke's uncle. When one can simply remove the map from the droid where does the tension lie with being associated with the machine?

Why would someone in such deep hiding leave a map. This plot line is beyond moronic. A map is there to find treasure or inanimate objects not a human.

Max von Sydow dies after 1 whole minute of meaningless dialogue. I don't know who he is. Therefore his death is meaningless, the bad guy in the film is not elevated to evil, just a senseless killing.

A Stormtrooper, janitor, sent with a death squad to wherever, suddenly develops a conscience. Later in the film Budha trooper has no hesitation in killing his once fellow comrades, or picking up a sabre to strike out. He is not a Jedi the first to wield a light sabre without training, or believing in the force. Saving his once enemy Poe they become best of friends straight away. Upon crashing, with a handy parachute which seems to be located beside the downed craft, Poe is nowhere to be seen. He doesn't reappear for most of the film. No Tie Fighters chase the fighter to the planet to check it has been destroyed?

Rey, the healthiest scavenger in the galaxy, soon to become insta Jedi, mechanic, pilot, just takes BB8 without any fuss from a fellow scavenger. Then decides to keep it instead of trading for food, really! You are starving to death and find a top of the range television, you can complete the rest. It is out of character. Straight away you question her and her motives.

Rey knows the Falcon, inside and out, this heap of junk which by all accounts would have been a part of the "legends" which both Finn and Rey are aware, yet there it lies melting under the baking sun on the sandy dust hole all along in her back yard and no one thinks to scavenge it? When she does expertly fly it and later on partners Han she knows the ship better than Han or Chewie. Doesn't that make them the worst pilot and copilot in Star Wars lore, no wonder the Falcon never flew properly, all they needed was Super Rey the whole time. Undermines two vital characters, I didn't even trust Han to fly the Falcon for the rest of the movie.

Ren, stops a laser blast mid air, gets hit by a wookie blasting him from farther away?

3P0 has a red arm, this furthers the plot, how? Apparently no spares even though Chewie meticulously reconstructs him in Empire?

A third Death Star, that can be easily defeated after a quick briefing and no detailed plan on how to defeat it, just some off the cuff remarks as to here we go again folks. The purpose of the ship is to remove the sun from the solar system therefore meaning any or all life is not possible unless a droid populated planet were possible. Therefore removing the sun removes all life. What was the need to destroy the planets, just to have mega explosions to show children in the theatre that the big metal plant is bad and resistance is good. But what are they resisting against, wasn't the Empire defeated?

Ren removes a mask upon which we find he doesn't need life support? So the mask is a toy, Disney sales for the mask cannot have been in the minds of the executives?

The often scant use of the force, fast food Jedi mind tricks, insta powers, even Vader reminded us "do not underestimate the power of the force". It seems as if it's power has been diluted, somewhat. Jedi on tap.

Hux a pre pubescent general, shouting and tantrum minded like Ren, exhibits immature and leaderless qualities, responsible to lead a force called the failed order?

No new ships in either the Empire or Resistance fleets? Upgrades with new paint but no new craft, I remember wanting to buy Y wing, B wing etc... Disney missed a trick there with the lack of craft. Again lazy.

But back to the film, R2 is depressed, Luke was by his side for three films even in Degoba, dumps him, his loyal friend, saved by him in many occasions, but dumped so he switches himself to standby mode. Suddenly at just the right time in the movie he switches on and reveals the rest of the map. Phew!

Han locates the Falcon, fifteen seconds after it leaves Jakuu. Cue Ray Harryhausen inspired calamari to inspire him to take back his ship, even while watching this I thought please god no!

But it got worse, cue triads from big trouble in little China and an extra from trainspotting. Bobba Fett would have been my choice, the worst scene in any of the franchise. Take a bow Disney.

I paid to watch a 200 million pound B movie. I cannot fathom how this film made it past the cutting room floor. Don't even get me started with the lack of music score.

Episode 8 the title can only be FROZEN the carbonite years! Han is dead and so is the franchise.

It's crap all of i… Expand

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0

satyr1349Jan 2, 2016

Awful.. Disneys, Lawrence Kasdans and Abrams retro-movie ist totally missing the magic of star wars. Just memories and ghosts. The Force Awakens is just another shallow blockbuster. Poor writing, directing, acting etc. Even the score byAwful.. Disneys, Lawrence Kasdans and Abrams retro-movie ist totally missing the magic of star wars. Just memories and ghosts. The Force Awakens is just another shallow blockbuster. Poor writing, directing, acting etc. Even the score by Williams is dull and uninspired. After screwing Star Trek, the next franchise is blown into pieces.… Expand

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4

RMIngriaDec 26, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I just saw this movie on Christmas Eve in IMAX with a packed house expecting great things from all the talent represented that contributed to the making of the film. The writing team seemed to be a perfect fit with Kasdan, Abrams and the others, which in my opinion were a good choice to fuse the old with the new. Also, George Lucas was brought in as a consultant.

WTF happened????? I am certain, that if the filmmakers went by the original script for Star Wars, which was so long originally that it had to be broken down into 9 episodes, that the last 3 episodes had little, if anything in common with this new release.

I find it hard to believe that these characters are part of the original story. It appears that all that was done was to look at what is needed to market a old product in a new market. Now we have a young girl (an orphan, who has Force powers with no training because she was told so by a stranger) we have a Black Leading man, no doubt for the cross marketing, who never comes across as a believable defector from the Empire, now reborn as the First Order) and a cute droid that has a secret map to Luke Skywalkers location. This begs the question, why is he hiding? 30 years later after he defeats the Empire and blows up their stronghold, and the death of the Galactic Leader and his father Darth Vader is he cowering alone at some remote island. Why would he not be with his sister? Han Solo, a hero, is now a bad dad? Leaves his wife for whatever reason and abandons his son? Hans Jr. has the power of the Dark Side? So strong he can stop a phase blaster in mid air but can beat a novice at a mind game or with his light saber? The girl happens to find one and master it in 1 lesson? I wouldn't be surprised is the orphan girl is none other than Luke's little darling. She was born with the force that was passed on. Stay tuned for another mystery reveal like Luke and his Da da.

Leia had zero charisma or strength as she did as Princess Leia. The chemistry between Hans and her was sadly lacking. Its was as if the actors said, "hey they paid us a lot of money to redo this, so let's just make the most of it and get it over with". I felt uncomfortable watching those two for a extended period of time.

There were entertaining moments, but I kept feeling that there were too many attempts at tossing in elements for the sake of a modern viewing audience and foregoing any real attempt and making clarity of a 30 year gap in the story line.

Death Planet was absurd and its effects barely noticed. The race against time was too trite this time out. Recall that the plot point of SW4 was the plans of the Death Star in R2 and the retrieval of those were needed to save the Rebellion. Now we have a Droid with plans to protect the Location of Luke. Is that even close as a plot device?
I don't get it. The massive hunt for the droid and subsequent failure by the First Order to capture it is beyond any logic. And who is the Great Overlord? I guess we needed him as the old leader was killed. This is a big hole.

And how is it that Master Luke did not foresee the arrival of the girl and the light saber. Why was the light saber left in a box in a bar? Hmmm, was this done by Luke as a prevision to his daughter finding it and ultimately bringing it to him. Let the training begin. Hence the beginning of SW8.

All this commentary for naught. I am but a single ticket sale in the host of millions that will be sold. I am glad the movie is making a lot of money. Disney paid 4 Billion up front to by Lucas Film. That took Star sized balls to do!… Expand

22 of 37 users found this helpful2215

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5

MavZeroDec 29, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I created an account to write this review. I grew up on the Star Wars movies, extended universe books, video games, everything. After the failure of the prequels I was hesitant but optimistic for TFA. I really, really wanted to like this movie.

The Plot
I know that if some Disney exec came to me a few years ago and asked me to sit down and write out a plot to a new Star Wars movie, I would be terrified. It is just insane how many stories they could have told with this new trilogy, and the pressure to come up with one that would please both the old fans and newcomers would be crazy. It is hard to put into words my disappointment when I discovered I was watching a rehash of A New Hope. JJ Abrams basically selected all his favorite scenes and themes from the original trilogy and recreated them with fancy visual effects and new characters. The Resistance, Mini Vader, Mini Boba Fett, shiny new Luke/Han mash-up (who can do seemingly everything perfectly on the first try), droids holding plans to things, cantina scenes, new Death Star (why?). All that and more, hastily thrown together. The little cameos and nods to the original trilogy were interesting at first, but after Finn accidentally activated the chess board on the Falcon in an absolutely pointless scene, I found they were getting stale. I don't need you to beat me over the head with the fact that I'm watching Star Wars, I already know I am, show me something new and let me enjoy it. It is like they realized the movie was not strong enough to stand on it's own, and kept pointing "See? See? It's STAR WARS!! You love this!" There is also no explanation on the origin of The Resistance and First Order. If the Resistance is backed by the Republic, why is it the Resistance? Why do they have a single base and why is their entire "fleet" 12 X-wings?

The Characters
The Old
In the time between ROTJ and TFA, existing characters did not act like themselves. Luke has run off. Why? Because his new Jedi school was destroyed. But dont worry, there is a map to him. Where did the map come from? Who cares, we don't need to explain it. The Luke Skywalker I know and love would not hide while the galaxy is being ripped apart by one of his pupils. Han Solo leaves Leia and runs off with Chewie. AND loses the Millenium Falcon!! Why, how? Because his son is evil. Leia doesn't even care that both Luke and Han have abandoned her to fight against the First Order by herself, she is mildly annoyed by it, if even that. Just a "how do you do" to Han with some cringe worthy chemistry on the side when he finally shows up. The Leia from the original trilogy would be pissed off, and probably would have dragged both of them back by herself 20 years prior to the movie.

The New
The new characters suffer from being smashed into pre-defined roles as the new generation. Kylo Ren is a laughable attempt at a new dark lord. Lightsaber temper tantrums do not make him scary. His power seems to fluctuate wildly with JJ Abrams giving and removing power to fit him into whatever is happening and move the plot forward. First of all, he can read minds with the Force. Not even Vader or the Emperor could do this. Next, we are shown that he wiped out Luke's entire new generation of Jedi. So this guy can potentially stand toe-to-toe with Luke Skywalker, he must be pretty damn powerful. But wait...now he is fighting a stormtrooper with no force sensitivity...and almost losing? He can sense Han Solo landing on the Starkiller, but can't sense him 20 feet away? This man who was trained by his uncle Luke Skywalker and whatever Snoke showed him cannot defeat a scavenger who used the Force for the first time that day? Rey suffers from this same power fluctuation. She is a combat, mechanical, and Force genius. She outsmarts Han when fixing his own ship, despite probably never having been in a running ship in her entire life. Without any training, she deduces that she can use the Force to control another being's mind, and immediately does so successfully. She handily defeats a trained ex-Jedi, the grandson of Darth Vader, after remembering the Force exists and closing her eyes. Captain Phasma as the Boba Fett-ish character is weak and serves no purpose whatsoever. Finn is totally forgettable and could be replaced by anybody. There is little character development. At the end of the movie I thought, "Gee, I cared a lot about the characters after seeing A New Hope. Do I care about these?" I had trouble even remembering their names.

In all, I would say that this is an okay Science Fiction movie. The visuals are wonderful, music is great as always. However, when you add the Star Wars title to it, I expect more. I expect it to fit in an established universe and its rules. I expect the characters to act like themselves. I expect NEW STORY for god's sake. You have the entire Star Wars universe to play with and you choose to recycle an old story...it is just mind boggling. An average rating for an average movie, 5… Expand

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5

AustinscififanDec 30, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Highly disappointing. How can a neophyte can do as much with a light saber and the force as a trained Sith? Plot is a total rehash. Han Solo wisely departed through death. I think Harrison Ford will be happy in the long run. Why does Ren need a mask given he has no wounds and it would be cumbersome? He is a very weak character as well - not so much evil as childish or irrational. Glitzy production and music save it from a worse rating. Unfortunately, this feels like the story of the emperor with no clothes, but here it is the movie with no soul or intellegence.… Expand

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0

RunePlJan 3, 2016

TFA had almost no plot and childish enemies. It was not a true sequel to ROTJ because it had no backstory or setting whatsoever to tie the movies together, much less provide much of a setting with explanations for this movie itself. It reallyTFA had almost no plot and childish enemies. It was not a true sequel to ROTJ because it had no backstory or setting whatsoever to tie the movies together, much less provide much of a setting with explanations for this movie itself. It really seemed like an implausible Marvel snoozefest with no internal consistency or logic. The camera worked sometimes but other times was very unflattering with strange soap opera angles and unbelievably awkward closeups.

FWIW, I didnt mind Rey, Finn, or even Kylo Ren, but the movie can't break a "1". Waited 20 years for this, shouldnt be too hard to write even a generic plot with some minimal backstory.

One good thing: I finally was able to appreciate and enjoy the prequels.… Expand

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0

BarefootedjediDec 22, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. After five days of thought, my judgement: a travesty

The prequels explained too much, this sequel explains too little. The most prominent example of this is Rey. Having barely been aware of the existence of the force at the beginning, without any instruction – such as Luke (son of Darth Vader, hence strong in the force) needed from Obi Wan, later Yoda – she (magically?) becomes aware of it, competent in its use, and powerful enough to defeat Kylo Ren, despite the fact he is Vader’s grandson and Leia’s son (hence strong in the force) and has been the padawan of Luke before being turned to the dark side by Supreme Leader Snoke. Apparently women, unlike men, can use skills without first learning them.

Then there is the political correctness (o.k. I suspect that last was motivated by PC too). J.J has to have Finn stupidly hold Rey’s hand too long after getting her to run, just so she can say “I know how to run. Let go of my hand.” J.J. also has to have her say “I can handle myself” when Han hands her a blaster. In general there is too much of the telling of strength rather than just showing it. Leia never had to say she was a strong capable woman, she just showed it through her actions, like grabbing the nearest available blaster to make an escape passage into a garbage compacter. Add to the hand holding silliness the fact that Finn, despite being trained as a soldier from childhood, always looks out of his depth in any fight, and it becomes apparent that the only way this “genius” can think of making a female character strong is to make a male character next to her look stupid or weak. I have nothing against intelligent feminism, but this is not that. Actually, I think feminists should be insulted by this too. It’s certainly insulting to the female fans of the original Star Wars, who saw in Leia a strong, intelligent, witty, and, most importantly, well-motivated character. Here instead we see lip service (or [eye] lid service?) to feminism accompanied by contempt for the underlying mythology of the Star Wars universe. You have to be a padawan before becoming a jedi J.J.; you have to be a student before becoming Sensei. What Rey does here is equivalent to someone with a white belt picking a fight with the master and kicking his arse around the dojo. I’ve chosen the masculine pronoun there, not because I think a female martial arts master is impossible – I don’t – but because the kind of feminist who would think this sort of thing is good film making would have no problem with a woman being bested by a woman but, no matter how great the skills of a man, no matter how mediocre those of the woman, they would be offended by her being beaten in such a fight. The kind of feminists who admire this sort of rubbish are, unfortunately, more common than their more intelligent namesakes in our anti-intellectual culture. All that said, if you like your feminism brain dead, of the warrior without wit variety, you’ll love the character of Rey. To be fair the fault isn’t Daisy Ridley's. It's entirely that of the writers and director. If I ignore this stupidity I can quite like the character of Rey, presumably because Daisy has plenty of her own charisma.

Kylo’s helmet looks like a silly beak. He has no good reason to wear it either, other than perhaps trying to imitate grandpa Vader. Or is it worn to disguise the fact that without it he looks a bit wet? Then there are his tantrums, which look ridiculous, although they do provide opportunities for comedy.

General Hux when ranting like Hitler to the assembled storm troopers sounds nasally and weaselish rather than threatening. In his conflict with Kylo Ren he looks more the smug schoolboy than the imposing general.

Supreme Leader Snoopy – the big baddie, literally – is impressively threatening, but it turns out his giant stature is hologrammatic. This has comic potential. Is he a Wizard of Oz type fake? Could he possibly be only 2 inches tall?

Poe Dameron. I like his sense of humour when taken captive. He would make a good replacement for the now dead Han.

Oh, that’s right, Han Solo dies, but we all expected that to happen anyway, so no great surprise there. I was a bit disappointed in the manner of his death though. I was hoping he would go out in a hail of blaster fire or chopped down by multiple assailants, thereby allowing his companions, in a desperate situation, to escape. Instead, on top of yet another Freudian conflict between father and son we have a soppy attempt at reconciliation resulting in a too predictable death by Kylo’s lightsaber being turned on. Kylo doesn’t even look threatening when he does it. The only good thing about that scene is the rage of Chewbacca that follows. Good ol Chewy! Friend for a lifetime. I felt more for him than for Han.

How will he cope without Han? Will he turn to drink or drugs to cope with his loss? Will he cruise all the brothels in the galaxy in a futile attempt to replace that male to male bond with "romantic" companionship.… Expand

63 of 106 users found this helpful6343

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3

Simple1DEADec 24, 2015

In a world where there are nuances and parodies of Star Wars everywhere from Spaceballs to Family Guy I would never have thought the franchise itself would fall victim to this trend. The similarities with A New Hope are endless but that's notIn a world where there are nuances and parodies of Star Wars everywhere from Spaceballs to Family Guy I would never have thought the franchise itself would fall victim to this trend. The similarities with A New Hope are endless but that's not what I'm going to write about. Star Wars always has an honest story to tell. This was more fan fiction than film yet even fan fiction can still be great. Some people don't understand that there's more to Star Wars than lightsabers and spaceships. The originals was a story about a revolution in a pirate themed sci-fi world with heavy Taoist philosophy and samurai. The prequels were sort of a cold war/medieval war blend, freedom vs fascism, and the originals being good vs evil. This film's themes were just so bland! I love a fun movie but in the end, it's completely worthless without proper context.

It's strange that there was nothing I can call original or a motif but only things that were rehashes. The film fails to have an identity of it's own. It isn't genuine or adventurous enough to be considered Star Wars. Many people have a positive attitude to the notion of Star Wars being a massive Universe with limitless possibilities. When I watch a Star Wars movie I always say to myself ''wow what an engaging story'' and if you summarize the plot into one sentence it would give me chills reading it. Sadly the newest instalment offers nothing interesting, nothing that captures the imagination. There's no context and Star Wars is often about context. There's no investment hence there is no pay-off, there's no stakes hence there is nothing to give a **** about.… Expand

82 of 138 users found this helpful8256

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1

besstDec 28, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. STAR WARS a review from a fan. Spoilers!!!

Banal story, poorly told. Uninspired, silly, forced dialogue. Unqualified actors with zero chemistry with the script or other actors. Under developed characters. Sluggish pacing. Ridiculous, absurd, nonthreatening, lightweight, villain. (Worst bad guy in history) Princess Leia is his mother? Luke is his uncle? Darth Vader is his grandfather and he's an inept Jedi, beaten up by a silly, underwritten, girl????? The villain alone gives this movie an F, and everyone who has seen it over 17 knows it. Attempt at humor a complete failure. Old characters tired looking with nothing to say, yet the only redeeming factor of the whole movie.
Stupid. Poorly cast. Poorly written. Better CGI in the prequels. Terrible fight scenes. Special effects sucked.
Boorish mess that should have been left on the cutting room floor.
I almost walked out.
Like J J Abrams Trek films, it was nonsensical, loud, and instantly forgettable.
My grade: D+
Now all the star wars nuts will flip out, when they know in their little hearts that this was not a good movie.
And this is how hey kill off Han Solo? By some wimpy, whiney, temper tantrum throwing show girl???
Your kidding, right?
I am stuned by the reviews.
I think this was the worst of the series.
Come on! You thought that villain was worthy???? You thought that RN was a good character? Or a good actor for that matter? All that panting and sweating for the first 10 minutes of the movie. Zero chemistry between the 2 main leads????
Please.
This movie is a disgrace.… Expand

82 of 138 users found this helpful8256

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3

Alastor00Dec 31, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. You know what? Special effects are cool. That's why so much people gives 10 (10!!!!).
Han Solo is not the same anymore. The whole story is copy-paste. The final scene is totally nonsense. Kylo Ren is lame and Rey is overpowered. Chewbacca is the only true character of this movie.
And stopping laser midair... c'mon.… Expand

82 of 138 users found this helpful8256

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4

NathonasDec 27, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Star Wars: Force Awakens is a fun movie, and deserves a watch. But that's about all the good things you can say about it. JJ Abrams played it way too safe - the story is very similar to star wars: a new hope, and the pandering to liberal ideas and old Star Wars fans is quite ridiculous.

I don't have a problem with a woman in the role of a jedi, but I do have a problem with her defeating a trained Sith in literally her first time wielding a lightsaber. This is liberal feminist pandering at its best.

Meanwhile Finn is just there so they can say they have a black guy in a lead role.

And of course they brought back a slew of old characters to make more money, so everyone who was a fan of the original trilogy will pay to see the movie.

Then they killed off a major character just to add tension, and it is conventionally someone that who used to link this film to the old trilogy and isn't needed.

The story is predictable and doesn't make sense at times, like characters just literally running into each other at the perfect moment. And the overall plot is basically a copy of the first Star Wars film with a deathstar-esque super weapon, the resistance (new name for rebel alliance), and the first order (new name for galactic empire).

Bottom line, this movie feels like a formula. There aren't any original or interesting ideas, just rehashing and pandering to what the film makers expected will make the most money. Still a fun spectacle, but really dry and soulless at its core.… Expand

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LobsterDec 23, 2015

What is Force Awakens? Does it feel like Star Wars? No it doesn't. It took me maybe 1/3rd into the film to get a smidgen of a Star Wars vibe. Ever wonder what Star Wars would look like fast paced & gritty with hard color grading, editing, &What is Force Awakens? Does it feel like Star Wars? No it doesn't. It took me maybe 1/3rd into the film to get a smidgen of a Star Wars vibe. Ever wonder what Star Wars would look like fast paced & gritty with hard color grading, editing, & angle shots? You know, like Star Wars fan-films you see online? Force Awakens is filmed in JJ Abrams style. Lucas would use mostly flat & face shots. Yes that is a very static way of filming, but it is also a very classic way. It lets you focus on the richness of the scene. Everything was so stream in Force Awakens that it felt like a cheap 3D amusement park ride.

But how were the characters? Rey? Daisy Ridley is wonderful, but sadly she's written as a Mary Sue. Literally every action she does is: showing up the boys. & I mean every. single. action. There are at least 28 moments..... in the film where they directly show this to you, then do a camera wink nod - she can take care of herself. But I love her charisma and my "only hope" is to see her in other things besides Disney Star Wars.

Ohh Finn. The new Jar Jar Binks. Ohh wait, Jar Jar actually had a strong character arch & came from a creative well designed species with incredible indigenous technology. What was Finn? A former Storm Trooper who gets sad one of his unit dies, then has no problem murdering his poor fellow troopers to go AWOL. What's more? They remove Boyega's beautiful Chav accent & make him talk like....a "typical" American. Yes they go out. Even giving him cringe lines like "Droid Plz" "H3ll No", & everything trope you can imagine. He was a clown buffoon & was literally saved by Rey every scene they are together. What's more, his fake US accent is horrible and sounds HORSE while yelling (which he does a lot). If you thought Anakin and Padme were awkward in the prequels, baby you ain't seen nothing yet. I had to look away, close my eyes, etc many times during this. It was that cringe worthy. Wow. Do Boyega and Daisy have good chemistry irl? Absolutely! But it's lost when you change accents. Typical Hollywood fare, changing accent for zero reason. It doesn't work. It's not convincing to native speakers of the accent. Stop.

Onto design The new Stormtroopers look horrendous, okay. We have to see so much of them, and it's these goofy gigantic duckfaces. They also seem to be composed of pure eggshell white non-reflective bristol board.

....George Lucas exercised a level of Quality Control over Lucasfilm that is now gone. JJ was given Kasdan, Williams, & Struzan. Keys to the kingdom. But what does he do? He does what he SAYS he did. Sat there like a giddy fan-boy, letting them "do their magic". Lucas certainly did not. He micromanaged them. The results are obvious.

TFA John Williams score: mediocre

TFA Drew Struzan poster: mediocre

TFA Lawrence Kasdan script: rehash

Experiment made! And the results are...guess what! It really was Lucas' genius that pulled together his 6 films. Lucas even added all of the good elements to Empire Strikes Back. Yes, George Lucas.

In Conclusion...Star Wars Episode 7 The Force Awakens is THE worst SW film by far. I rank it below every prequel & guess what. Lucas said it is "not his story". meaning Not Canon. The closest thing we can get to his treatments are the EU material that yes, still did go across his desk to get approval.

So please. Don't insult me this fan service JJ fest. Blips. Tiny references. Blowing up Coruscant. Death Star 3 (destroyed in the most passionless way imaginable) With Lucas there exploration, freshness, richness. Now we know why he left the project. Those people didn't understand. It's about Imagination. Wonder. Pushing Boundaries.

Never again will we have wild NEW RISKS like a muppet kungfu master..giant gangster worm who chains up women in bikinis..forest kingdom of man eating bears..pod-racing..arena fight..kamino..courosaunt Any of that. It's just ripoff the originals time. Even Geonosis, also a desert planet, was completely fresh under Lucas' s supervision.

Tarkin > Hux

Emperor > Snoke

Boba Fett > Phasma

Vader > Kylo Ren

Darth Maul, General Grievous, Count Dooku too all of these prequel villains far surpassed those two bit unoriginal variations in TFA.

Sadly with Kathleen Kennedy ... quality control lack extends to everything. SW Battlefront, Novels, Comics, everything. She's not an artist & doesn't have Lucas' mind for approving design. and remember, this is Disney, so NO SPACE BATTLES.

*sigh* it looks like Star Wars is over. I did not enjoy this film one bit. I was bored by the nothing because there was nothing. I followed this film for an entire year. What we're given is an MCU level film. A film that is not re-watchable or even cohesive. I have no desire to own the Blu-ray or watch it again. Why would I? For what? It's a forgettable movie with nothing creative or interesting. Nothing to feed the imagination. It's Hollywood.

You made me appreciate George Lucas that much more.… Expand

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dwillDec 23, 2015

I am a long time star wars fan. I've watched all of the movies multiple times. I like both the clone wars and rebels cartoons and I've read about 12 of the books. With that being said, I did laugh a handful of times and enjoy the specialI am a long time star wars fan. I've watched all of the movies multiple times. I like both the clone wars and rebels cartoons and I've read about 12 of the books. With that being said, I did laugh a handful of times and enjoy the special effects but I was looking for something new and creative. I clapped and cheered in the beginning of the movie and by the end I was slow clapping to JJ Abrams. I was so disappointed by the copy cat scenarios and the utter disrespect for the force as I suspect any invested fan will be. The greater betrayal is ultimately these are not the droids I was looking for and probably will never again be.… Expand

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richie5150Dec 26, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One big dreadful cliff hanger.

Question: Why does Poe decide to leave Jakku after Finn and him crash the tie fighter on their way back to Jakku?

I thought the whole point of going back to Jakku was to find BB8? He would have had no idea that Finn would complete his mission for him.

This is just one example among dozens.

One of the criteria for choosing a new director should have been that they were actually a star wars fan...

DREADFUL!… Expand

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boppyJan 12, 2016

When I first saw the trailer, it gave me goosebumps. It hit all the right buttons with fans, and was intriguing enough to draw in new fans as well. Mission accomplished in that respect.

The movie itself sucked balls. Superficial, DisneyWhen I first saw the trailer, it gave me goosebumps. It hit all the right buttons with fans, and was intriguing enough to draw in new fans as well. Mission accomplished in that respect.

The movie itself sucked balls.

Superficial, Disney cartoon nonsense.

No depth or mystique.
No compelling epic/saga vibe which all the other Star Wars movies had.

It just sucked, and I'm not any kind of butt-hurt fanboy either.

More than anything, I'm irked that I was duped by the awesome trailer into seeing this ridiculous Disney formula rubbish...… Expand

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mindclearerDec 28, 2015

THERAPY FOR STAR WARS FANS. Long-time Star Wars fans out there, I feel your pain. I am your pain. I've loved this franchise since 1977, and after 38 years, it is over for us. JJ played it safe by making a movie that was sure to appeal toTHERAPY FOR STAR WARS FANS. Long-time Star Wars fans out there, I feel your pain. I am your pain. I've loved this franchise since 1977, and after 38 years, it is over for us. JJ played it safe by making a movie that was sure to appeal to younger viewers who never cared much for Star Wars but would crush the hearts of long-time fans, a stunning new experience for newbies, a problem-ridden remake to the rest of us. Why did he do it? Because younger viewers are where the money is. Ignorant of the fact that this is just a sad cobbling together of scenes from the classic films, younger viewers are gobbling it up as if it’s a stunning new breakthrough film. They just don't know any better, and that's the whole idea. Blind to what they are actually seeing, they are paying hand over fist for this movie while those of us in the know sit in slack-jawed amazement at the travesty that we are witnessing. There is just no gentle way to put it. JJ Abrams has sold us out.

But here is how we have to deal with this. Yes, we were all looking forward to another chapter in the Star Wars saga, and yes we are all disappointed that we didn't get it. But there is no changing that now. What's done is done. That being the case, what we must now realize is this. There is only one way that we could have possibly enjoyed this film and the future installments as well. We would have to watch them in the same condition of ignorance that these younger fans are in. In other words, we would have to have never seen and loved the classic films that captivated us so. We would have to erase from our past the amazement and the wonder that Star Wars has given us for all of these decades. Yes, it would have been great to have enjoyed this movie, but such enjoyment could only have been purchased at the price of the original epics. No one who has ever been truly moved by this Franchise would ever accept such a tradeoff. Let the younger viewers have this film and those to come. Let them enjoy this shadow of the original under the delusion that they are witnessing an innovative new marvel. Let them do all of this while we rest firm in the knowledge that what we ourselves experienced was the true masterpiece, an irreplaceable treasure that these merely derivative new episodes simply will never be.… Expand

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AzlesikJan 4, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Kylo Ren, a whining fanboy, who dresses up as a pathetic wannabe-Vader, and doesn't know or understand anything about the legacy of the past, throws tantrums and thrashes around his own ship when he doesn't get what he wants. And then kills his own father, who, unlike him, was a true iconic hero.
A deeply symbolic film.
Every hero from the past is made a total failure. The Republic is blown to pieces. Morals, logic, coherence, originality, imagination are eliminated, as is the established visual and storytelling style.
For the "fans", that's not Star Wars.
Replace it all with explosions, zig-zagging camerawork and mindless editing (today called "quality filmmaking"), poorly choreographed dogfights, dumb, tonally misplaced jokes, over-the-top space nazis, totally out-of place Scottish gangsters and yakuzas, and cheesy, Highlander-style, circling helicopter shots. To hell with everything else! Especially with that mumbo-jumbo about the Force! Let everyone wield a lightsaber and have their instant Force-powers! (You may keep the old costume and starship designs. And the plot, because we don't need a new one. Don't worry, we'll call it an "hommage".)
There you are. Rejoice.

For me, Star Wars was a luminous thing, not this crude matter.… Expand

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CounterpunchDec 26, 2015

After doing his two Star Trek movies, JJ was stuck in rehash mode with this one. The difference is that Star Trek was announced as a relaunch, but this film is called 'Episode 7,' in other words, a continuation of the existing franchise.After doing his two Star Trek movies, JJ was stuck in rehash mode with this one. The difference is that Star Trek was announced as a relaunch, but this film is called 'Episode 7,' in other words, a continuation of the existing franchise. Talk about a disappointment. I breathed a huge sign a relief when I saw all of the critic reviews (which I now find inexplicable), only to be astounded by what a God-awful film this was. To quote Luke upon first seeing the Millennium Falcon, 'what a piece of junk!'… Expand

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JustinsbDec 31, 2015

Daisy Ridley ("Rey") was brilliant and may save the franchise - overall though this is the most overhyped movie of the decade. The performances were mostly weak, the script was mediocre, other than Rey the new characters are uninteresting (orDaisy Ridley ("Rey") was brilliant and may save the franchise - overall though this is the most overhyped movie of the decade. The performances were mostly weak, the script was mediocre, other than Rey the new characters are uninteresting (or annoying) and most of the film is borrowed from the original trilogy or other franchises.… Expand

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G-YoDec 24, 2015

Have you seen a Star Wars A New Hope ? Then you've seen the Force Awakens.

If you think that's bad, unfortunately that's not all. Actually, it gets worse. This movie not only borrows HEAVILY from its predecessors, it is INCONSISTENTHave you seen a Star Wars A New Hope ? Then you've seen the Force Awakens.

If you think that's bad, unfortunately that's not all.

Actually, it gets worse. This movie not only borrows HEAVILY from its predecessors, it is INCONSISTENT with what has already been established in the Star Wars Universe. Unoriginal, uninspired and undoing what we have come to accept as constants in the Star Wars Universe.

Actually, it gets even worse. This movie is not only inconsistent with the Star Wars Universe, it lacks character development, and relies far too heavily on nostalgia. Others have stated it amounts to poorly done fan fiction. I would have to agree. I couldn't help but thinking to myself damn Mr. XXXX looks soooo old... Believe it or not, it actually killed the nostalgia for me and made me wish I hadn't seen the character/actor like that. I would have preferred to remember him/her in her prime, 30 years ago.

To be honest, it gets even worse, the plot twists are obvious and there is an abundance of coincidence used to move the story along.

This was not a good movie.… Expand

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Ldeighton2Dec 28, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have no idea how this film is getting such rave reviews.... I actually don't mind that it has plot similarities with a new hope, my problem is with the use of Deus Ex Machina as the sole means of plot advancement. For example, why is there a map to Luke's location if he disappeared? How did Finn manage to crash land on a planet in a location that just happened to be near Rey's village? Why was the millennium falcon on her planet and how lucky that Chewy and Han found it just after Rey and Finn? That's the first half hour of the movie alone and it continues for the duration. Really lazy screenwriting....… Expand

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WylyQuimbyDec 30, 2015

A lazy con-job by the best con-artists in the business.

The Force Awakens is a poor copy of the original with none of the vision, scope, or artistry. Most of the plot elements, sets, and props are poorly recycled from A New Hope. TheA lazy con-job by the best con-artists in the business.

The Force Awakens is a poor copy of the original with none of the vision, scope, or artistry. Most of the plot elements, sets, and props are poorly recycled from A New Hope. The established rules of the galaxy's lore, technology, politics, and economy tossed out the window. The treatment of the original characters is baffling. Somehow, JJ Abrams has made the galaxy seem small.

If you must watch this train wreck, watch it at second-run theater that serves beer and pizza. Afterwards, I recommend watching the original again.… Expand

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3

Shion16Dec 24, 2015

It's a fun movie, but really REALLY uninspired.
It's just episode 4 with different characters.
Also there's some out of nowhere moments that really kills the tension, mostly about our resident mary sue main character.