Some unconnected thoughts upon first viewing:
They put Luke’s X-wing underwater so they didn’t have to show it covered in bird shit.
Nice ‘Raiders of the Lost Arc’ moment with the Imperial laundry room.
Yoda looks the worst I’ve ever seen him.
Interesting that the only prequel-specific reference was to the name Darth Sidious. Regards to L8wrtr.
Someone earlier in the thread said they’d like to change Luke’s saber to green at the end. It seems likely that Luke had long since discarded his green saber. Plus, him using Anakin’s saber is a very good hint that he’s not actually there, because we already saw broken in two. (Assuming it will be reforged in 3,000 years’ time.)
I was so certain Leia was going to die in space. Then I was so sure she would simply remain unconscious; the characters were already grappling with how to continue in her absence. I know the story and plot were finished prior to Carrie Fischer’s sudden death, but it still surprised me. Not sure how Ep9 will address this at all.
I found myself in tears, but was a little surprised at when that occurred. For me, it was when Luke and Leia were onscreen together and John Williams’ “Luke and Leia” kicked in.
I’m happy with Rey’s parentage. Good. Less so about Snoke; I’d really have liked to hear who this guy is. Rey as a rando is good, Snoke as a rando is bad.
Why have ‘caretakers’ on Luke’s island? To me, that slightly undermines his solitude. I didn’t mind the porgs so much. Sort of made me want to go to Chik Fil A afterward.
Maz felt totally unnecessary. And WTF is she doing as Finn and company are talking with her?
I think it was a misstep to introduce Rose at all. Just keep Finn around and have him do something without going off on a side adventure.
Can’t put my finger on it, but it seems like having so many characters or things going on made it feel like an overstuffed blockbuster movie. Maybe like all these Marvel movies I don’t care about.
I found Luke perplexing toward the end, and not necessarily in a negative sense. I wonder why Luke died. I also wonder why he suddenly has such conviction that Rey will become a Jedi and that the Jedi will continue. I thought Yoda joined him in agreeing it was time for the Jedi to end.
The novelization doesn’t come out until March?!