The force awakens: SPOILERS INCLUDED

[Samuel]

So, what did people think?

I thought it was good, not great. I loved the characters and the humour and the main plot points but a poor job was done to explain the wider context for the events in the film. I really didn't care when those planets were destroyed by the super weapon, supposedly wiping out the Republic... Er, what now? Who? Where? And I didn't get the difference between the resistance and the Republic or how the first order had emerged from the remnants of the empire. I came out feeling like a short scene showing the Republic where the new senate debated the situation and what to do would have offered the chance for some valuable exposition and also a bit of background for the destruction. A shame but not a deal breaker by any means.

Good ending too 

[Rhiannon]

I thought it was pretty awesome. But then I care more for characterisation than I worry about plot holes - I did used to be a Christian after all  - and I suspect that a lot of useful context scenes ended up getting cut in favour of yet more spectacle.

[Shaker]

I care more for characterisation than I worry about plot holes - I did used to be a Christian after all 

Oh, 10 out of 10 

[SqueakyVoice]

http://gu.com/p/4fa9a

Vatican newspaper says Star Wars: The Force Awakens' villains are not evil enough

I have to admit  having a baddie who looks like Alan Partridge does break the illusion somewhat.

When he took his mask off I kept expecting him to say "A HA!"

[Dicky Underpants]

http://gu.com/p/4fa9a

I have to admit  having a baddie who looks like Alan Partridge does break the illusion somewhat.

When he took his mask off I kept expecting him to say "A HA!"

I hope he didn't take anything else off and show us the back of his testicles (Alpha Papa).

[jeremyp]

http://gu.com/p/4fa9a

I have to admit  having a baddie who looks like Alan Partridge does break the illusion somewhat.

When he took his mask off I kept expecting him to say "A HA!"

I've just seen the film tonight and I have to say I absolutely loved it. The only problem I had was that certain events like the opening credits and the first appearance of the Millennium Falcon were so evocative of my childhood that I kept tearing up.

I thought the bad guy was a bit of a whimp, but thinking back on it, I think that is central to the plot and the film probably wouldn't work if he was more Darth Vader.

[Rhiannon]

I agree, Ren is still on his journey to fully fledged bad guy in this film. I quite like the fact he still has temper tantrums.

I surprised myself by not bawling at all, but I suspect I'd done that enough at the trailer.

[ad_orientem]

I watched it last week. I liked it. Gutted about Han though.

[Enki]

I loved it. It seemed to me a sort of remake of the original "A New Hope" which I saw in 1977ish on the big screen with superior graphics, great characters(especially the robot) and a neat, if underplayed sense of humour. I suppose quite a few people seeing this, one  didn't experience the first one on the big screen, and the impression it made.

[Rhiannon]

I loved it. It seemed to me a sort of remake of the original "A New Hope" which I saw in 1977ish on the big screen with superior graphics, great characters(especially the robot) and a neat, if underplayed sense of humour. I suppose quite a few people seeing this, one  didn't experience the first one on the big screen, and the impression it made.

I did; I was only 7 or 8 but I still remember the excitement. It was a huge event.

[Samuel]

Saw it again last night. Enjoyed it much more this time. I even managed to figure out what, I think, is the difference between the Republic and the resistance. That bothered me the first time.

The characters are so strong in this new film that it feels really grounded. None of them seemed to me to be archetypes particularly, except maybe Poe dameron, but he is so cool I don't care. I like how balanced Rae and Fin are as a double act. And I also really liked how basic the light sabre duel at the end was. More like the originals than all the spinny flippety stuff in the prequels.