Another criticism is the tonal problems. The prequels had the same problems with tone. Really not even considering the gravity of certain moments and jumping straight to buffoonery or bathroom jokes. There is a lot of that in TLJ and also talk about how bad the Jedi are.
Honestly this movie felt like an homage to the prequels and was even worse than them. TFA was at least much better.
Just going to go ahead and share something i have been thinking lately. Have you noticed how with every new SW movie there seems to be a small contingent who say “At least X was better” where X is the film out right before this one? its a sliding window. First, TFA was bad, at least the prequels were better. Rogue One was bad, at least TFA was better. TLJ was bad, at least TFA/RO was better…
so there are at least some people who just struggle taking in new films… doesn’t make the new film bad.
This is one thing I feel is going on. The new and different scares some. And I know there are a few people who didn’t like the direction TESB went and only accept the first movie. It also ties in to expectations. It is all fine and dandy to theorize what will happen in the next film, but ultimately we fans have no control over that. To expect them to do anything in the next film is setting the next film up for failure. TFA had fewer detractors because it didn’t do anything. It introduced new characters and set the stage without taking a single risk. TLJ takes risks and tells a story that sets up the end of the saga. There is no telling if Abrams will follow that ending (which was already written but due to Carrie Fisher’s death, has to be redone). Like TESB, this is a middle chapter. Like TESB, a lot of fans don’t like it (go read the fan reaction to TESB from 1980 - it has grown on many, including myself). Now TESB is considered the best of the saga. So initial reactions are not a good indicator of the quality of a film. Its saying power and how it furthers the story is what is the real indicator of quality.