Creative bankruptcy to the highest level.
It is disturbingly the same story as the first film.
New characters are very thin.
The new girl is a "Mary Sue" fan fiction character as others are saying.. Amazingly good at everything with no flaws and learns in seconds what Luke took to learn years. Bonds with one of the big characters quickly. Look it up. It's dead on. "Mary Sue". Bad writing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue
FN has no story purpose whatsoever, why is this character here? Oh yeah, diversity and they need a new Han next time I guess.
Another bad guy in a helmet, another Tarkin, another Emperor behind the scenes, another super death weapon, another droid with a secret message, another trench run, another empire, another rebellion, another another another it goes on and on.
And Han goes out like a chump, sucker punched by his "b" word son. Failed father, failed husband, failed leader, runs off to champion a unremarkable life. That's not my Han. Sorry.
Luke runs off after failing, Leia apparently can't keep the Empire down, so rebellion fail.
Bad writing, unoriginal, predictable to a level that is off the charts.
But hey it's pretty right?
Rogue Squadron is my only hope. At least Abrams has nothing to do with that! And they aren't going to focus on Jedi or Skywalkers for a change.
There is so much the original Star Wars is based on.
Myth, fairy tales, cliffhangers, serials, samurai films.
SO much a truly creative team could have tapped into to bring us totally NEW stories that would blow us away. But no. Same story.
Rebooquel. Nostalgia they call it, "homages", "easter eggs" and people squeal in delight.
Is this what passes for good now days?
OH, John Williams.
WTF?
He has been fading for years but there was no memorable themes to speak of in this film. Nothing.
The first films we're filled with grand memorable themes. I remember playing the record, yes vinyl to death back in the day. It was a big part of the joy of watching those films.