My rant.
The whole island thing. Seemed drawn out and for the most part didn't achieve a lot. Rey didn't really learn anything other than skywalker was a bit of a twat. I've since read that Hamill didn't agree with the treatment of his character either but got on with it. From Jedi to weird, grumpy fisherman.
Porgs. They brought nothing to this movie other than pushing cuddly toys at small kids. They didn't even work as a food source because Chewy couldn't eat them. Pointless things that ended up as one of those garfields you stick to your window in the falcon. And yes, folk will say "But Ewoks!" And I say at least they served a purpose. They were kick ass teddy bears if nothing else. They took out Scout Troopers. They were useful.
Admiral Ackbar. Kill him off by all means, I get this is moving toward a new generation but a mention in passing for an iconic character? Deserved more.
Mary bloody poppins. Why? Cringe worthy and the point DH and I looked at each other with WTF faces.
Snoke. Build up a big menacing character, make him Palpatine MKII and leave you wondering where he came from, his air of mystery as a hologram only to chop him in half?
He was imposing as a hologram, kept us all guessing about him, to reduce him to a wrinkly, man sized character so soon did not sit right.
Speaking of which. This great all seeing man with the power to read minds and force connect rey and kylo didn't see that coming? Hmm
Phasma. Another forced character for me. You'll never recreate an icon like fett so stop trying. You've brought her on twice now with a couple of lines and then thrown her in a saarlac pit esque hole of fire. She's not boba, she will never be boba. Stop trying so hard. Oh, and you had her defeated by the maintenance man. Is that supposed to be believable?
The casino. Every movie does not need a cantina. I get that showcasing puppets and cgi is great, but frankly I find it unnecessary to have that many background aliens and yet another cantina band. It's old. I Also, the flying horse riding things were a mix of pod racing harry potter beasts.
Master Codebreaker. Pointless Sub Plot to throw Finn and Rose together.
Kylo. Now I liked him. Tormented, petulant. His anger started to come through. Especially happy that he ditched the daft mask, Vader needed his, Kylo not so much.
Rey has a permanently startled expression as if she's wondering if she left the gas on.
Yoda. Loved his inclusion but wanted him to say "miserable twat you are, forgot where you came from you did". Can't help but feel he was included to keep us oldies happy.
Knights of Ren. Where did they go then? We know Kylo left with a handful of other Jedi. Where are they?
Ade Edmundson. Very odd choice.
Comedy. Felt forced, and weird.
I need to watch it again, but unlike TFA it won't be several cinema trips. Felt very much like a filler movie 6/10
And if you turn my beloved princess into a hologram or CGI and make more of a farce out of her than you did in this movie I shall be very pissed.