So it turns out that Episode VII is basically a remixed version of Episode IV— most of the same points are hit, but in a different order, and the characters don't line up quite the same way
While being a retread is hardly great, most of the new stuff is kind of subpar. The way the plot is set up results in everything dragging once they hit not-the-cantina. Not helped by having really long scenes when it's trying to be dramatic. Emphasis on "trying". Han's death was way too telegraphed to have the intended effect, and was Luke being at Luke's coordinate's supposed to be a surprise?
Finn is an interesting idea that wasn't capitalized on at all. His past as an indoctrinated stormtrooper means that... he's particularly afraid of the Order. He's not ignorant of what's going on, not racist, social skills only slightly subpar. And it's not like their trying to humanize the enemy soldiers, either, given how their deaths are brushed aside
Rey is waiting for someone, practically perfect in every way, probably Han's bastard daughter, and that's it. Luke wasn't the most interesting of leads, but this is a bit much
Kylo Ren is kind of a good idea— a major villain that actually feels human and has a character arc. In practice he comes off as a melodramatic twat with the charisma of a wet dishrag. At least his temper tantrums are amusing
Snoke is the emperor with a slightly better design and a silly name. The similarities are strong enough that I'd actually kind of prefer it if he turns out to literally be the emperor. Which is saying something given how bland he was in the original trilogy
Poe Dameron was easily my favourite character. He barely appears after the first few scenes
The OT characters had a strong presence but didn't really need to— Leia was fine, but C-3PO was annoying, R2-D2 a Deus ex Machina, and Han got more focus than I felt his role in the plot quite warranted
On the plus side the action scenes were good, even if tonfa stormtrooper was kind of baffling
Overall I'd rate this somewhere around Attack of the Clones— Decently entertaining, but not what it might have been
Just rewatch A New Hope instead (spoilers)
So it turns out that Episode VII is basically a remixed version of Episode IV— most of the same points are hit, but in a different order, and the characters don't line up quite the same way
While being a retread is hardly great, most of the new stuff is kind of subpar. The way the plot is set up results in everything dragging once they hit not-the-cantina. Not helped by having really long scenes when it's trying to be dramatic. Emphasis on "trying". Han's death was way too telegraphed to have the intended effect, and was Luke being at Luke's coordinate's supposed to be a surprise?
Finn is an interesting idea that wasn't capitalized on at all. His past as an indoctrinated stormtrooper means that... he's particularly afraid of the Order. He's not ignorant of what's going on, not racist, social skills only slightly subpar. And it's not like their trying to humanize the enemy soldiers, either, given how their deaths are brushed aside
Rey is waiting for someone, practically perfect in every way, probably Han's bastard daughter, and that's it. Luke wasn't the most interesting of leads, but this is a bit much
Kylo Ren is kind of a good idea— a major villain that actually feels human and has a character arc. In practice he comes off as a melodramatic twat with the charisma of a wet dishrag. At least his temper tantrums are amusing
Snoke is the emperor with a slightly better design and a silly name. The similarities are strong enough that I'd actually kind of prefer it if he turns out to literally be the emperor. Which is saying something given how bland he was in the original trilogy
Poe Dameron was easily my favourite character. He barely appears after the first few scenes
The OT characters had a strong presence but didn't really need to— Leia was fine, but C-3PO was annoying, R2-D2 a Deus ex Machina, and Han got more focus than I felt his role in the plot quite warranted
On the plus side the action scenes were good, even if tonfa stormtrooper was kind of baffling
Overall I'd rate this somewhere around Attack of the Clones— Decently entertaining, but not what it might have been