The Force Awakens sucks! *MAJOR SPOILERS*

[Magicstorm]

/incomiung wall of text alert....

I've been reading these forums for years, somehow I missed this thread with all the busyness of Christmas. But this will be my first reply/post because quite frankly this review is 0/5 and deserves as many responses as possible.

A New Hope came out nearly 40 years ago and served up just about as much information in its plot as this movie did, yet it was beloved. Who was Darth Vader? What was the empire and the clone wars? What can the force actually do? How big is this "galaxy" and what is the current state of political scene? How does Luke go from a whiny moisture farmer to an elite xwing pilot blowing up the biggest most terrifying weapon in the universe after a few days?

Empire was my favorite movie of the series but all three were great. However, even RTJ was criticized for not being more like the first two. The prequels actually took almost all of the questions left open from the original trilogy and answered them all, except the execution wasn't done well and the movies were criticized for not being like the originals. Now we get a near perfect Star Wars movie and some people just can't be satisfied because all of a sudden being like the originals and not having all the information laid out in front of them is a bad thing.

The Force Awakens is not A New Hope. It borrows similar styles and themes from the first 2 movies to help bring back that Star Wars feel and it did a fantastic job. It also borrows tid bits from the old expanded universe, combines a little of the new expanded universe and leaves many possible doors open as to why certain things happened the way they did, but overall it leaves enough clues as to make a plausible guess.

I just want to address one of the biggest annoyances I hear from both critics and fans. Which was the combat.

Jedi training is not a "set way". In the prequels the Jedi have been using a very specific method which was also partially their downfall. Jedi for thousands of years have learned both on their own and with help. We know absolutely nothing about how Luke may have tried to change that or not following RTJ, but in the expanded universe he abandoned the teacher/padawan method. But one thing did seem pretty clear, and that was Jedi training much like University involves "specialized learning" and "generic learning". Specialized training is fine tuning combat skills, force powers..etc, while generic is diplomacy, caring, life skills..etc. We don't have any idea what level Kylo is at in his training and what was being withheld from him. We also have no solid information about what happened to Rey. She clearly had memories or visions of the Island Luke was on and the new Jedi slaughter. So chances are she has had training as a young-ling but had her mind blocked at some point and was removed from anything that might reignite her past.

What they were showing through most of TFA is that Rey has learned how to survive among the toughest conditions imaginable. She has learned more about survival and fighting to live than most would ever have to. For her picking up a lightsaber is not a lot different than her proven staff combat skills. They are very raw and unrefined, but still powerful and effective. This also appeared to be the same with Kylo except he had more experience, but was still very unrefined.

Watch it a couple of more times. You will see that Finn had weapons combat training as im sure all those Storm Troopers did as evident in his first fight. He had a proper fighting stance and movements, but was bested by clearly a more experienced and angry Trooper with an electrostaff.

Kylo was superior than both Rey and Finn, and had he fought either of them at the beginning of the movie it would have ended very quick. At the end of the movie Kylo had multiple issues. He was steal dealing with having just killed his own father very emotionally and was starting a new transition into the deep dark side, but he also took a bowcaster bolt right into his gut. Something that would have killed anybody else as they intentionally showed multiple times. Kylo was also arrogant though in typical dark side fashion and wanted revenge on Finn for causing so many issues. The fight itself though, was an ass kicking. Kylo wanted to inflict pain and fear and after Finn got the rather lucky shot Ren ended it.

Rey was awakened or as it will probably be shown later "re-awakened" to the force by the saber and Maz. Kylo further inadvertently began unlocking the raw power that Rey has with the force trying to mind swipe. But she is clearly more powerful with the force that she was able to turn it on him. Kylo has the tools at his disposal as well and has used them more, but as he begged for Snokes guidance it was clear he hasn't been given proper training either. His internal conflict has also been preventing him from becoming a true dark force lord. By the time he faced Rey he was emotionally and physically worn down, injured heavily and facing a much more talented fighter who is both powerful in the force and has a proper lightsaber. He still had her on the run the entire time until she focussed and wore him completely down.

There is also great symbolism in the way the ground separated the two, just as there always has been. The Force is everywhere and continually keeps balancing itself. Making sure there is always light and dark to oppose one another in some way.

Just my personal guess. I think in the next movie we will see a much different Kylo Ren emerge from Snokes training. An even more brutal, yet fully refined and focused dark lord. We may also see a Rey who has "NOT" been given the proper training by a still hesitant Luke which will put her farther behind. Luke will be forced to intervene which will set up her training for the third movie showdowns.

...anyhoo lol