I figured I'd start:
I liked the movie. It wasn't the best for me, but maybe my expectations were too high. I enjoyed it. I will watch it again many times. But I have a few criticisms.
A few thoughts:
1) Team Episode 8 must have read the no longer canon Star Wars books.
The parallels between Kylo Ren/Ben Solo and Darth Cadeus/Jacen Solo are too much to be ignored.
- He kills family not because he hates them, but because he has to leave his past behind to become stronger
- He cares for someone, which causes conflict
- Rey plays the role of Jaina Solo, having a relationship with someone who she also must defeat, as in the books. jaina was the sword of the jedi, destined to kill Jacen.
- Luke Skywalker tricks Jacen Solo with - yes, that's right - projecting his image across the galaxy, in order to save others. Did the same thing here
- Luke regrets training Jacen; Luke regrets training Kylo Ren. Luke places himself in exile and is not heard from for a long time
- Jacen becomes the head bad guy after his teacher, Lumiya is killed. Kylo becomes head bad guy after Snoke is killed
- The light-whip, used by the red guards in the movie, was first used by Lumiya in the books
2) The movie doesn't seem to care about characters first introduced in Episode 7
A lot of mystery and build up about characters ends with rather quick deaths before they become important.
Most importantly, Captain Phasma and Supreme Leader Snoke. Both are presumed to be really important, but both really end up having very short roles. Phasma is unnecessary - it's just another storm trooper with a few more lines and a shiny suit. Why have the character if she is so expendable?
Same with Snoke. We presume him super strong, that he has an agenda, and a past and - who cares, he's dead?
3) The movie doesn't know what to do with main characters introduced in Episode 7
Finn spends the movie going on a mission that keeps him busy but literally accomplishes nothing. They go across the galaxy to find a splicer. They don't get that splicer, they get a different one. Who then betrays him. Was the first splicer important?
Poe is a fighter pilot who again, goes through a bunch of actions that get him in trouble with his superiors, but again, doesn't accomplish anything. There was a mutiny, he was stunned for his mutiny, and then ... ok, that's it.
The only characters that GROW in this movie are Rey and Kylo Ren. We seem them changes and develop as they interact with others and each other. I enjoyed every seen with either of them, and they made the movie good.
Same with Luke Skywalker. I liked how he showed (some) of what he could do at the end of the movie. I wish we could have had more lessons with him before he dies. I hope He becomes a Force-Ghost guide for Rey, so we see him again in the future.
Episode 9 was supposed to be about Leia, and we saw a preview of her power in 8. Obviously, with Carrie Fisher's death, that won't happen.
Finally, the whole making the good guys the underdogs with time running out was a little contrived. The Republic is officially gone, the Resistance/Rebellion is literally dying as the clock strikes down, because star destroyers are too slow to catch up to a cruiser that is running out of fuel. By the end of the movie, the falcon IS the entire resistance. Thousands died, but the three dozen left, that's all we need? Sure...
OK
Again, I loved Luke Skywalker. The way he played off of Rey, Chewbacca, R2D2, C3PO, Leia. I've always been a Luke fan, and was glad to see Mark Hamill as into the role as ever.
I even appreciated Yoda coming back.
Rey is fantastic, though we still don't know WHY she is as powerful and talented as she is. That was never explained. Remember, she beat Kylo Ren at the end of 7. And she faced against him in this one.
Kylo Ren was more enjoyable in this film than the last, mostly thanks to his interactions with Rey. I think Adam Driver has grown into the role more. Also, I like his fighting style, which is unique, in stance, aggressiveness.
I really loved the in memorium during the credits to Carrie Fisher.
Oh, and General Hux has to die.
Discuss.