Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) ⭐ 7.7 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Reviewers say 'Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens' is a nostalgic and thrilling return, blending old and new elements. Praised for strong performances, especially Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, and compelling new characters. Visual effects and John Williams' score are highlights. Criticized for similarities to 'A New Hope' and plot holes. Most view it as a worthy, foundational addition to the franchise.

Even with low expectations I was sadly disappointed. The trailer was so much better and exciting than the movie. Poor filming, poor editing and spending 2 hours with actors who had no idea what to do or how to act in some scenes is not something I want to reward with my money.

With a story that's already been told, I was hoping the movie would take some time to develop the characters. But instead, everyone hugs/loves everyone right away while evil people are evil all the time and all the way. And why does the bad guy need to wear a mask?! I didn't see any breathing issue there.

A very long and boring movie. I give it 5 stars for the good casting of Rey, BB-8, the first 15 minutes and the fact that JJ Abrams won't be directing another Star Wars movie.

Ever since I was a kid, I loved this franchise. Even episode 1, by far the worst in the series, had that "star-wars feel". Mostly thanks to great casting of Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, awesome new dark side character and dual light saber. So despite extremely high expectations, the series wasn't ruined and effectively picked up in dark episode 3. Then Disney followed up with this one, with J.J.Abrams at helm, which once again rose the expectations. Well it's not good. Especially the casting and acting of younger stars. Even Harrison Ford and Chewy can't save this mess. It may be a blasphemy, but unfortunately Ford can't pull off ' "the cool". Sorry guys, he's a bit too old, so some action scenes look out of place. The casting of young stars was atrocious. Simply bad. Bad chemistry, Bad looks (ecpecially the Kylo Ren character), badly choreographed fights, Bad everything. On top of which, Abrams took the period as a remake of original which should not be touched! At all. Due to stunning (as expected) visuals, and a personal love to the universe, this movie can be watched, but if this awful trend continues, even special effects and millions of fans won't be able to save the series.

From the virtue signaling of social justice, to the cheap-jack plot-line which was easily discerned in advance, to the awful acting which evoked little but hooting from me, I was, as you can see, disappointed, and in some cases outraged. If you dare to join me, I will explain.

I have nothing against diversifying the Star Wars universe, which is why I LOVED Star Wars 1, with its Oriental villains, Jamaican Gungan, Jewish scrap dealer, and more. It was a delight of indulgence which fleshed out characters of charm, making the experience vivid and interesting. But after Lucas received flak for ethnic portrayal, Jar-Jar became boring in Star Wars 2. In Star Wars 7, this pandering becomes intolerable. It's fine that Leah has the force, and it's fine that Rey inherited it, but Finn is gratuitous in his race. I would have nothing against this either but they make Finn formidable with a light-sabre against Kylo Ren. And please don't soft-soap me that love gave Finn the strength and skill to take on a pupil of the force - only hate has that power, the dark side. Otherwise, one must be cool and focused. Given this, I dismiss Finn and therefore it irritated me to watch Kylo Ren sword-play with Finn and not simply crush his windpipe with a wave of his hand, or penetrate his mind, which seems to be Ren's forte. As for Kylo vs. Rey, a bit more believable, but it made Kylo seem almost inept. Really? Rey's raw ability with zero training is tougher than Kylo with training? Not even close to believable.

What didn't I like about the plot? Well, first, aren't we simply replaying Death Star destruction from the first trilogy? Why, yes we are. And it looks like the Supreme Leader made all the same engineering, logistic, and tactical errors as the Emperor, just on a grander scale, including the convenient "having to recharge the cannon" just long enough for the Resistance to "win the day." Yawn. Second, much of the plot was geared to exploit the Skywalker/Solo family tree, and there was no thrill to any of it. Darth Vader is Luke's father - WHOA! I jumped out of my seat. Han is Kylo's father? Zzzz. Even if you wanted to say this was a remake, which it's not, it doesn't have the pizazz, never mind the oomph, of the original. But what does?

But the acting is where I think I really blew my cool. I can understand characters of convenience, and plot-lines of olde being rehashed, but it has to be acted well to pull it off. Even in Star Wars 3, as sappy as it was, the acting was GREAT, IMO. In Star Wars 7, Harrison Ford is just about limping to his finale, Carrie Fisher looks doddering and not commanding, Daisy Ridley grits her teeth so often I thought she was Red Sonja, John Boyega makes a concerted effort to appear naive at every turn (which makes his good fortune all the more unbearable), Adam Driver does not look torn in the least, and so forth.

I can point to hundreds of interesting and thrilling moments from the first six episodes of Star Wars which makes a complete weekend binge-watch, over and over again. Star Wars 7 does not add to that excitement. The tech seems standard, the CGI a little too self-conscious, the nostalgic cheese forced, the push forward too bossy and not natural. Still, I give this film a 6 in the hopes that Star Wars 8 will push the envelope once again.

Well, where do I start.

It's a parody of ANH. Watch Space Balls instead.

Jar Jar Abrams wrote this after AA winning writer quit, presumably because Jar Jar wanted his name everywhere, he's a terrible writer, as well as a terrible director.

Cast is terrible. Wooden acting for Rey, overacting for Finn.

CGI is terrible for its time, that death star beam, terrible. That tentacle monster, terrible. Practical effects were hyped but barely used in the movie, when there were, CG were rendered on top. Looks crap.

Sound, not much originality there. It's called in.

It only broke records and box office because of the non stop hype nostalgia train, after people got on they soon realized what a sub par movie this is.

Disney won't be so lucky next time.

They will not get their $4b investment back. Some are Disney stock which has increase after the SW acquisition, so it's more like $6.xb. Better sell soon George.

I'm not sure i have spoilers here but - BE WARNED SPOILER ALERT.

This movie is a bad rehash of the first 3 movies With REALLY bad dialog, average actors (at best) no memorable events except for the ending - literally the last few minutes of the film (no spoiler here).

Whats Good: 1 they went with the old style full sets and it works , its been a long time since i felt i was looking at a real location somewhere out there in space. 2 The tried bringing star wars back.

Sadly , thats all the good i really want to scream at JJ for doing this to star wars.

Whats Bad:

1 Shallow back story - no immersion , people just pop up (Han solo). 2 Really bad dialog , i mean really bad , feels like a teen drama. 3 Forcing a female role for no reason ( i like good female roles) . 4 No new memorable characters , not a single one - i literally wanted to talk about the characters and found myself talking about han leia and sywalker again . 5 A bad guy that seems to have NO REASON to turn bad . 6 A bad guy that seems like he is a teen with a tantrum rather than an evil sith (a literal cry baby) . 7 The entire movie felt like they were trying to introduce as many new characters as fast as they can without telling us anything about them other than their name and occupation . 8 no sense in the plot:

• How is the republic destroyed in seconds . - Why are the rebels (resistance - sorry) are still rebels , they create the republic again . - Why don't they evacuate a planet about to be destroyed while attacking the "new order" planet killer (THERE IS NOTHING BLOCKADING THEIR PLANET). - HOW is an untrained uneducated (in the ways of the force) person (i don't care she is a girl) easily defeats a TRAINED Sith with ease?.

This entire movie feels like a teen flick , WHERE IS STAR WARS?.

to sum up : bad plot , bad writing and dialog , no back story or lore ,no sense in any of the core aspects , copied rehashed and generally bad.

i love star wars so for that reason alone im giving it a 4 (but it really deserves a 1).