Man, there was a number of weird plot holes in the film.

Those aren't plot holes, they're speed holes. They make the plot go faster.

I have to say, Ren was not a scary bad guy at all.

Vader Mad = Force Choke the Messanger, everyone stands by in pure terror

Ren Mad = Slice up some perfectly good equipment and everyone just kinda pretends it's not happening.

Vader had a reputation, someone to be feared. Poe wasn't even phased by Ren...

He's pretty clearly not supposed to be the same sort of villain as Vader, though that's how he sees himself. He's a confused, angry kid whose issues(Leia mentions the hope that sending him to Luke would help with his problems) allow the Dark Side to get its hooks in him, who turns on his family and on the surface appears dedicated but secretly is conflicted over what he's done. He has some sort of reverence for his grandfather, Darth Vader, and is trying to live up to that reputation, but it appears he doesn't know the whole story, particularly his turn back to the light, or at least doesn't believe it for some reason. He calls Han a liar, did they try to hide it from him, and the revelation tied into his turn?

So no, he's not Vader, at least not Vader from the OT, and has more parallels with PT Anakin in some ways, but he works as a character, I'm curious to see more.

This movie would have been so much better if there were trying to destroy anything besides a super Death Star. Like seriously anything.

I mean they even had a trench run scene.

Yeah, I had feared this too. I couldn't help but be a bit disappointed when I saw the planet-gun. But all things considered, I was happy with it. I went in expecting little, and I left pleased.

I mean, it's not like the EU was much more original in that regard, *cough* galaxy gun *cough*. That's actually something that the prequels did alright I think, not have the main threat be some kind of super weapon.

Why would the republic senate be on coruscant? The Rebellion probably restarted the senate as soon as they could on the most secure planet they could find. That choice stuck I guess.

And the Resistence is what ever the old rebel leadership can scrape up on their own because the Republic is once again not able to do anything for themselves, but I guess for different reasons than before.

All those old rebel war heroes (Ackbar, Nien Nunb!) and Han just ran off like Luke. I'm sure they will honor Han later, but at that point he was just some old smuggler that used to be Han Solo. Obi wan didn't get a big send off either. Must have had something to do with a whole freaking planet blowing up. And they blew up like half a dozen planets in this one, so...

The Resistance is not in any way connected to the Republic (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

I think that was one of the big points of Hux's speech. The Republic was funding the Resistance, but completely denying it in public. It is essentially a Cold War type situation.

The Rebellion probably restarted the senate as soon as they could on the most secure planet they could find.

I saw somewhere that the senate actually moves every so often and they vote on the new location.

In Aftermath Mon Montha talks about how she wants to disband the military and let the individual systems maintain a military to protect themselves. She feels that if the New Republic has an army then it's not different enough from the Empire.

But in the prequels I got the impression that the clone army was something new, that the old republic didn't bother maintain much of a military either.

Perhaps spoiled by the complex mature storyline of Clone Wars compared to TFA. But once again that is a series vs. movie. Really felt left out of the Galactic picture.

From previous post...8. Storm Troopers with NO air filters? I would expect a fully self contained system protecting from all the different elements. Then why wear the things.

Whenever I watch the original trilogy, at the end of RotJ I sit through the credits because I want there to be more movie. Force Awakens had the same effect on me so I'm calling it pretty **** good.

Perhaps spoiled by the complex mature storyline of Clone Wars compared to TFA. But once again that is a series vs. movie. Really felt left out of the Galactic picture.

From previous post...8. Storm Troopers with NO air filters? I would expect a fully self contained system protecting from all the different elements. Then why wear the things.

Filtering smoke and particulate matter is very different that keeping tiny toxic gas molecules out and regular air in. In the case of poison gas you would need SCBA, and walking into that gas when you don't have a sealed system doesn't save you, you would have had to already have the system sealed. Even a system that seals itself when detecting toxins might be too late in some cases.

Eh, I dunno, just trying to make sense of it.

Ok I just saw it.. As was mentioned it was very good not great but a solid 4 out of 5 stars. However i do feel the entire movie was basically updated scenes from most all the other movies. Super giant space weapon check, lost soul discovering they have the force check, old Jedi guy in hiding,check cute droid,check. Barren desert planet full of scum and villainy,check. cantina,check I could go on..lol but it was good. Anyway when do we get a crew slot for the FO tie??

Anyway when do we get a crew slot for the FO tie??

When they release the Special Forces Tie FO. The TIE/sf is a different ship than the stock First Order TIE.

Anyway when do we get a crew slot for the FO tie??

When they release the Special Forces Tie FO. The TIE/sf is a different ship than the stock First Order TIE.

ok when does the T-70 get a turret.. lol or is that a special forces T-70?? lol

Perhaps spoiled by the complex mature storyline of Clone Wars compared to TFA. But once again that is a series vs. movie. Really felt left out of the Galactic picture.

From previous post...8. Storm Troopers with NO air filters? I would expect a fully self contained system protecting from all the different elements. Then why wear the things.

Filtering smoke and particulate matter is very different that keeping tiny toxic gas molecules out and regular air in. In the case of poison gas you would need SCBA, and walking into that gas when you don't have a sealed system doesn't save you, you would have had to already have the system sealed. Even a system that seals itself when detecting toxins might be too late in some cases.

Eh, I dunno, just trying to make sense of it.

There's a lot of different grades of respirators... a painters mask isn't going to do much for a welder, and a welding respirator isn't functionally equivalent to a tactical mask.

I was pleased to see the Stormtroopers and TIE pilots to be actually not only effective but down right competent.

I was pleased to see the Stormtroopers and TIE pilots to be actually not only effective but down right competent.

Seriously. They were good at their jobs, and when they were missing, they had every reason to miss.

That CQC one beat the SH*T OUT OF FINN TOO!

I was pleased to see the Stormtroopers and TIE pilots to be actually not only effective but down right competent.

for the most part...

From previous post...8. Storm Troopers with NO air filters? I would expect a fully self contained system protecting from all the different elements. Then why wear the things.

They're wearing black sweats with plastic armor plates stuck on. That is not an environmental seal; it's over-exuberant motorcycle gear.

My reactions:

1. Unique look to the other two trilogies.

2. Fastest paced, ever

3. Best acted, ever

4. PRACTICAL EFFECTS!!!

5. Did a single TIE just best a Star Destroyer?! Lamest-Capital Ship-Ever

6. BB-8 needs to stop getting captured.

7. Ray is kicking ass!

8. Dude, Fin, he's White Knighting so hard it's adorable

9. "Han Solo ur daddy" reveal poorly timed

10. Hux and Ren bickering: "My evil plan is better.

"No, mine is!"

11. The First Order is basically the Team Rocket of the Star Wars Universe bc:

A. Absolutely no plausible explanation on how they got the funds to build that thing

B. Blows up the second time they use it

C. All this fuss for just one Pokémon-I mean-droid!

D. The Resistance seems to have more of their **** together despite being financed out of the Republic's slush fund.

12. Dude, did they just blow up Coruscant?!!!.....Well, guess we're never going back their again.

13. Proton Torpedoes are purple. Not complaining. Just saying they're purple.

14. Okay, so, do wanna say Snoke is Plagueis, or should I?

15. That shuttle, idk what it does, but I want it...gonna be a pain in the ass to store, though.

16. Kylo Ren: "We trained him wrong on purpose, as a joke."

17. Poe Dameron = Me Playing Rogue Squadron

18. When the next Rogue Squadron game comes out I'm gonna poop myself with joy.

19. I wanna know the First Order's back story more than the heroes. Seriously, how did these undisciplined, winey twats build a super weapon in the first place, take paper runs and put the money in a jar?!

20. Wish I could see Han Solo's new ship better that just a shadowy piece of durasteel

21. Wait, it's over?! I have so many questions!!!!!

My reactions:

1. Unique look to the other two trilogies.

2. Fastest paced, ever

3. Best acted, ever

4. PRACTICAL EFFECTS!!!

5. Did a single TIE just best a Star Destroyer?! Lamest-Capital Ship-Ever

6. BB-8 needs to stop getting captured.

7. Ray is kicking ass!

8. Dude, Fin, he's White Knighting so hard it's adorable

9. "Han Solo ur daddy" reveal poorly timed

10. Hux and Ren bickering: "My evil plan is better.

"No, mine is!"

11. The First Order is basically the Team Rocket of the Star Wars Universe bc:

A. Absolutely no plausible explanation on how they got the funds to build that thing

B. Blows up the second time they use it

C. All this fuss for just one Pokémon-I mean-droid!

D. The Resistance seems to have more of their **** together despite being financed out of the Republic's slush fund.

12. Dude, did they just blow up Coruscant?!!!.....Well, guess we're never going back their again.

13. Proton Torpedoes are purple. Not complaining. Just saying they're purple.

14. Okay, so, do wanna say Snoke is Plagueis, or should I?

15. That shuttle, idk what it does, but I want it...gonna be a pain in the ass to store, though.

16. Kylo Ren: "We trained him wrong on purpose, as a joke."

17. Poe Dameron = Me Playing Rogue Squadron

18. When the next Rogue Squadron game comes out I'm gonna poop myself with joy.

19. I wanna know the First Order's back story more than the heroes. Seriously, how did these undisciplined, winey twats build a super weapon in the first place, take paper runs and put the money in a jar?!

20. Wish I could see Han Solo's new ship better that just a shadowy piece of durasteel

21. Wait, it's over?! I have so many questions!!!!!

I have so many questions too! Namely:

How did Han Solo lose the Falcon(I know they said it got stolen, but why) and it ended up on Jakku?

Why did no one care that Han died?(the Rebels would have known of him and been saddened by his death)

Why did Disney scrap the entire EU to give JJ a clean slate, and then use a EU story as a big part of the plot(Han and Leia's son turning to the dark side)?

How did Ren get off the planet before it blew?

Why create a little pumpkin alien for a good actress to play?

Why have no cool scenes with Captain Phasma?

The list goes on and on.

Just got back from the cinema. It was good. Had the SW vibe. And Stormtroopers!!!!! Bad ass Stormtroopers. Well apart from Finn. He was bad at stormtrooping

I have to say, Ren was not a scary bad guy at all.

Vader Mad = Force Choke the Messanger, everyone stands by in pure terror

Ren Mad = Slice up some perfectly good equipment and everyone just kinda pretends it's not happening.

Vader had a reputation, someone to be feared. Poe wasn't even phased by Ren...

I actually feel like this makes a lot more sense, honestly. If someone is truly ruled by "anger, fear, and aggression", they aren't calm, cunning, manipulative, scary dudes with a low tolerance for failure. They're petulant whiny brats who go off on who or whatever happens to be close when they snap, regardless of their actual relation to the cause of their frustration.

I'm also not sure Poe's reaction is the proper judge - honestly, it didn't seem like ANYTHING phased the guy. He went through a couple rounds of torture without being phased by it. And given what we saw of Ren's powers - grabbing a freaking blaster bolt with the Force - there's a fair argument that if Poe wasn't afraid of him, the problem there is with Poe, not Ren.

Perhaps spoiled by the complex mature storyline of Clone Wars compared to TFA. But once again that is a series vs. movie. Really felt left out of the Galactic picture.

From previous post...8. Storm Troopers with NO air filters? I would expect a fully self contained system protecting from all the different elements. Then why wear the things.

Filtering smoke and particulate matter is very different that keeping tiny toxic gas molecules out and regular air in. In the case of poison gas you would need SCBA, and walking into that gas when you don't have a sealed system doesn't save you, you would have had to already have the system sealed. Even a system that seals itself when detecting toxins might be too late in some cases.

Eh, I dunno, just trying to make sense of it.

Tracking, but I always thought Stormtroopers had sefl contained environment armor so that they could operate on all the different types of planets. Also, I would build it to deal with toxic gas molecules rather than particulate. I can handle smoke but not a big fan of tear gas and other stuff.

I liked it overall. Too fast paced at the end though. There were times they should have slowed it down just a little and delved a bit deeper. The planning stage for blowing up the Death Star thing for one, and the aftermath of Han dying. I felt like a rock skipping across the top of the water most of the movie. Exciting, but I wanted to sink into it more.

Perhaps spoiled by the complex mature storyline of Clone Wars compared to TFA. But once again that is a series vs. movie. Really felt left out of the Galactic picture.

From previous post...8. Storm Troopers with NO air filters? I would expect a fully self contained system protecting from all the different elements. Then why wear the things.

Filtering smoke and particulate matter is very different that keeping tiny toxic gas molecules out and regular air in. In the case of poison gas you would need SCBA, and walking into that gas when you don't have a sealed system doesn't save you, you would have had to already have the system sealed. Even a system that seals itself when detecting toxins might be too late in some cases.

Eh, I dunno, just trying to make sense of it.

Tracking, but I always thought Stormtroopers had sefl contained environment armor so that they could operate on all the different types of planets. Also, I would build it to deal with toxic gas molecules rather than particulate. I can handle smoke but not a big fan of tear gas and other stuff.

Yeah even the USAF has Gas Masks

Not going to lie, seeing it a second time really helped. The Han/Kylo scene hit me much harder the second time.