Reed Hofer

(2.75/5) I don't feel mad, just...disappointed. There are a lot of great pieces at work in this film, but when put together all it really equivocates to is a decent first draft for what would have a much better film. I think it was George R.R. Martin who commented that it is the duty of a storyteller to put clues in a narrative so that every landmark it reaches feels like it was always meant to be, that when looking back over the course of a whole series, would make complete sense and you wouldn't have it any other way. Disney and LucasFilm would've benefited from coming up with multiple plot and character arc drafts prior to writing any of the scripts for the sequel trilogy. I'm having a hard time convincing myself that this was indeed a culmination of nine films. Again, when the pieces are put together, it feels like the aforementioned "first draft" and out and out damage control by Abrams and company. Going into the trilogy with a consistent vision and plan for executing that vision would've made a fantastic trilogy. Abrams and Rian Johnson both came from two completely different perspectives on what the trilogy should be about. Unfortunately they don't mesh well together. There were some scenes in the film that I absolutely loved for a few minutes. Then, when I thought back to them, I was able to poke logical holes through the actions and narrative decisions. A first draft could be turned in straight out of the gate, and may appear to have the polish of a final draft, but when enough holes are poked, the whole thing falls apart. It pains me to write this. It truly does. There was so much potential here.