TIP: Remove Rathar sequence entirely. Proof of point, this took me five minutes to edit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=736lH16Szns&feature=youtu.beIt does nothing to the story, it destroys pace, it gives us deus ex machina’s, it gets Chewie shot within his first five minutes back into the movie, we are introduced to two silly gangs that serve nothing to the story or the characters and the CGI for the rathars is not particularly good or interesting.
Just watched it and its going to create some problems if you cut the complete Rathtar sequence. For one, why would Rey be copilot when Chewie is perfectly healthy? There is no way Chewie would just lie back, on the bunk, while Han is trying to escape. Then later why does Chewie suddenly have a bandage on his arm if he wasn’t injured? You also have Finn following Han with rey and then he is suddenly back in the hold area. Why did he just suddenly stop running along with Rey and Han when he is obviously after some answers? (you can also see that they run right past the cockpit). It’s a very harsh jump cut that doesn’t work i’m afraid.