Let's get it out of the way: Episode VII borrows a lot of elements from previous SW films. There are tons of parallels to the previous movies (especially the original trilogy) and you don't have to be a die-hard SW fan to look at some of the characters and plot points and go "Hey, that's really similar to [previous movie]". Like 90% of the complaints you'll see about VII is that it borrows too much from the original trilogy.
And to a point, it's entirely accurate. Jakku is basically Tatooine II, the First Order is The Empire II, BB-8 is R2-D2 II, etc. The movie also follows the same "heroes escort droid with important information and then have to attack a planet-busting superweapon with a tiny weak point" plot as ANH. And it's probably the weakest aspect of the film.
However, I don't think that it's as bad a problem as it looks, for two reasons.
1. The comparison of past and future events and characters is a major theme of the work. The protagonists are obviously meant to parallel the Luke/Han/Leia Power Trio of the original trilogy, but their personalities bear a very different dynamic. Kylo Ren wants to be like Darth Vader, but his role and characterization are very different. Luke's (minimal) role is almost Yoda-like (going into self-imposed exile after everything falls apart), but his actions won't be the same as Yoda's. The entire movie is designed around the theme of "how does the new generation live up to the old?" Finn, Rey, and Poe want to live up to Han, Luke, and Leia's legacy. Kylo wants to live up to Vader's legacy. Luke wants to measure up to Obi-Wan and Yoda. The similarities are deliberate to emphasize that comparison. To me, the movie felt less like a rehash and more like setting up a similar situation as a jump-off point for the new cast to take over.
2. Everything else is spot-on. The Used Future aesthetic is back, the new characters are strong and interact well with the old guard, the music is great and used effectively, the action scenes are well-choreographed and look amazing, and nearly every character is well-acted. In short, this movie did with the prequels didn't: it nailed the feeling of the originals. Yeah, there are a few issues, but they're all drowned out by holy crap the Millennium Falcon is fighting TIE Fighters again!
Has one main flaw... that might not be so bad after all.
Let's get it out of the way: Episode VII borrows a lot of elements from previous SW films. There are tons of parallels to the previous movies (especially the original trilogy) and you don't have to be a die-hard SW fan to look at some of the characters and plot points and go "Hey, that's really similar to [previous movie]". Like 90% of the complaints you'll see about VII is that it borrows too much from the original trilogy.
And to a point, it's entirely accurate. Jakku is basically Tatooine II, the First Order is The Empire II, BB-8 is R2-D2 II, etc. The movie also follows the same "heroes escort droid with important information and then have to attack a planet-busting superweapon with a tiny weak point" plot as ANH. And it's probably the weakest aspect of the film.
However, I don't think that it's as bad a problem as it looks, for two reasons.
1. The comparison of past and future events and characters is a major theme of the work. The protagonists are obviously meant to parallel the Luke/Han/Leia Power Trio of the original trilogy, but their personalities bear a very different dynamic. Kylo Ren wants to be like Darth Vader, but his role and characterization are very different. Luke's (minimal) role is almost Yoda-like (going into self-imposed exile after everything falls apart), but his actions won't be the same as Yoda's. The entire movie is designed around the theme of "how does the new generation live up to the old?" Finn, Rey, and Poe want to live up to Han, Luke, and Leia's legacy. Kylo wants to live up to Vader's legacy. Luke wants to measure up to Obi-Wan and Yoda. The similarities are deliberate to emphasize that comparison. To me, the movie felt less like a rehash and more like setting up a similar situation as a jump-off point for the new cast to take over.
2. Everything else is spot-on. The Used Future aesthetic is back, the new characters are strong and interact well with the old guard, the music is great and used effectively, the action scenes are well-choreographed and look amazing, and nearly every character is well-acted. In short, this movie did with the prequels didn't: it nailed the feeling of the originals. Yeah, there are a few issues, but they're all drowned out by holy crap the Millennium Falcon is fighting TIE Fighters again!