Kev Porter

Woke garbage. Wafer thin plot and characters who conduct themselves according to a diversity checklist rather than the complexities of the human condition. In looking back at The Revenge of the Sith the hidden agenda of the Emperor playing on fears of loss in Anakin manipulating him toward the darkside, the nuance of what was said and implied by him then appealing to Anakins' ambition and undermining the Jedi Councils' influence; these plots devices, character development and emotionally intelligent narratives stand so very high above this effort. Apart from a vague sense of Rey seaching for her identity, there is nothing at all that comes close in this film or trilogy. Finn is a cypher, apart from a valiant attempt at a decent performance he is hamstrung by a terrible script into coming across like a buffoon, literally nothing that speaks to the promise of the early scene where, as an assumed cold stormtrooper, he evidently "feels" something or is moved by conscience. This is never developed. It is referenced in the scene with the female ex-stormtrooper before the final battle, but it is almost non existent and speaks to the woeful extent of character in these films. What matters is the characters race, ethnicity, gender busting roles and all the political posturing of people who belive the way to practice equality is through a forced bias. The type of inclusive diversity that is actioned in the style of right wing zealotry. Nothing else matters as long as the superficial quotas of the blue-hairs are respected... Plenty of Female X-Wing pilots and engineers. Check. Every skin tone present and suitably represented on a "per shot" basis. Check. Same Sex expression of physical intimacy. Check. It's ridiculous and dilutes what really matters into something that could be represented on a spreadsheet. Equality and diversity are beautiful concepts, they are values that you can practice matching your beliefs. Here those values are something very different. Like many films these days, it costs dear in this movie and reduces its potential merit. Superficial, overly simplistic, emotionally and intellectually stunted.