When this film first released I would have rated it a 9, mostly out of the exhilaration of a new Star Wars film being released. However, after sitting on it for a few years, I believe it deserves a 5. The film follows the first Star Wars film too closely and feels like a rehash of things we have already experienced. However, with solid acting, decent to great characters (Kylo Ren), and having excellent effects, the film is competently made. However, in service of the greater Star Wars canon, it provides very little and, with the sequel trilogy complete, becomes a wholly inconsequential story. Most of what is introduced here is either borrowed from Episode 4 or is retconned later, thus I cannot suggest watching any of the sequel trilogy film other than for the spectacle. It is truly a shame, as this film, and the sequel trilogy, could have been much better with creative and passionate minds behind the camera and a concrete plan as to where the story would go.
