Where I’m at with it is this:
Do you want to like the film? Yes or No?
Constantly picking it apart for why it’s stupid, unoriginal, inferior, or whatever else doesn’t enhance the viewing experience. It doesn’t increase my liking for it nor the franchise. I would rather find reasons to enjoy it, and focus on them; and if I don’t enjoy it, I’d rather just move along as though these aren’t the droids I’m looking for and find something else to enjoy instead.
Sure, there are criticisms to be made, but once the horse is dead there is no reason to keep beating it.
Talking for myself, I just like discussing Star Wars the good and the bad. I don’t feel like having to find reasons to enjoy it, or not to enjoy it. You either like it, or you don’t, or you’re on the fence.
I have very much enjoyed this thread. It has made me think a great deal. The complaints have made me dig into the movie and pick it apart. I don’t expect my comments will meet with complete agreement, only make other people think. I think I know Star Wars better for all the various opinions. I think that every film has to be taken on its own merit, but when part of a series, things need to fit. I think I like TFA more after TLJ because I see the potential. After this conversation, I see even more potential. I hope I am right that they have a plan for this trilogy (not so much all the beats of the story, but where it is headed). But I also fear where Abrams will take it. He would be my last choice to finish this trilogy. I wish he had a script he was working off of. There was a script (or at least treatment) for IX. I hope they stick with the ending, even after rewriting it after Carrie’s passing.
Though a thought just occurred to me. Abrams does have a TV background so he may take up what RJ did and carry it forward. We may yet see the answers he intended to a couple of questions, but I don’t think those questions are important to the saga. I don’t think they ever were. More likely to be important to the characters.