Finn had to be in this movie after playing such a strong role in Episode VII. The casino storyline wasn't perfect, but it did play an important part by teaching a hard, but hopefully valuable lesson to Poe if he is going to be leading the Resistance after Leia's death. I also thought it was important for Finn to see that both sides were being supplied by the weapons dealers. I loved the huge racing animals; but that kind of worldbuilding is just my thing as a DM.
I have a much different view of Star Wars and these movies because I have no nostalgia for the original trilogy. I liked this movie; I was balling my fists and sitting up straight in my seat several times throughout. In both VII and now VIII I think they have captured that Star Wars feel for a new generation.
My wife and I both agree that Kylo Ren is the best part of the new trilogy, and Rey is 1b. He
might be a weak bad guy when you compare him to Vader or Palpatine, but we don't compare him to those two. I see him as this conflicted being with crazy power. The movie is leaving the past (original trilogy nostalgia) behind quite effectively and creating its own way. No need to extol why Rey is great here, you guys get it, but I do feel the need to defend Kylo Ren.
I would probably grouse were I in the same shoes as most of this board's demographic, but I'm not. "My" trilogy was the prequels, and I don't really hold them in high regard outside of a few parts of epic stuff. Tbh, I'm not sure the original trilogy holds too high a place besides it being a really awesome story. My parents weren't SW nuts, I had no older family that made me watch and appreciate the original trilogy, like how I'm sure a lot of you pass down IV-VI to your kids. I just wasn't there to experience it is all. As a 7th grader for Episode I, the podrace holds a special place in my heart but now so do these new films, and I think it's cool to be a big fan of the franchise now. It might just get me to dig into the original trilogy a bit more now with this appreciation I have for VII and VIII.
(My favorite Star Wars movie is a Disney production: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1.

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