I don't have a problem with the characters, they by and large were pretty memorable and entertaining. I just question the choice of settings. They could have literally have set it anywhere - they had an entire universe to play with, but no, they went with the desert planet and Death Star again. If you were in charge of these creative decisions - wouldn't you try and avoid being accused of a lack or originality? I agree it maybe seen as a surface level analysis, because that's what it is, but there's no escaping that it's there, on screen, however we try and spin it. I think I was just expecting more from a modern Star Wars movie with a 200 million budget when the franchise has consistently delivered amazing, sometimes ground breaking visuals and alien worlds. It's my main gripe with this film.
I wouldn't say the state of the galaxy is any more tenuous than in ANH either, in fact I'd say it was exactly the same - we have the First Order marauding all over the place threatening the galaxy with a large spherical super-weapon, which they end up using, with a small rebellion planning an attack with small fighters whilst the last of the Jedi are in hiding. Damn that sounds familiar doesn't it?
Anyway, I'm not here to bash TFA, I do still enjoy the film, just not as much as I did on first viewing. This all stems from my original point that I think TLJ really needs to stand on it's own two feet in terms of plot, setting... well everything I feel. If we witness any cribbing from ESB then I'll be extremely disappointed. Call it the difficult second album if you will.
<-- that's the alien that shot first at Han Solo
