My only problem with Leia’s scenes is the editing and position of the resistance base in relation to the stakes of the film.
I don’t know why Carrie’s appearance received so much criticism. I think she looks just fine for 60. Anyone expecting her to look like she did when she was 27 and be a sex symbol is delusional. That said, her acting wasn’t great but the real problem with her scenes was the writing. The dialogue between her and Han was painfully on-the-nose. Where was the subtext? They just stood there doing nothing and saying exactly what they meant to each other for a couple of minutes. Those scenes just died on the screen. Considering Kasdan wrote the script, I just don’t get it.
Her character just didn’t seem believable or well utilized, outside of the fact that we all know her from the other films. If you had no other context, you would wonder why the film is slowing down and stopping for this woman who basically doesn’t do anything. Imagine if Admiral Ackbar or Mon Mothma had their own scenes in the OT, wouldn’t it feel out of place? Maybe she just wasn’t in the acting shape to contribute more to the film, I don’t know, but her character just didn’t work for me.