I think that a lot of the questions are probably explained in the novelization. The First Order believes Darth Vader slaying the emperor was a moment of weakness and did not diminish his legacy.
This honestly frustrates me more than anything. I really don’t like it when things are explained in novels or comics or other media that should be in the movie. The reason why Episode IV is my all time favorite Star Wars movie is because every small detail comes together perfectly when I watch it.
I didn’t have to read a book to find out Luke is an excellent pilot and that Luke is able to fly an X-Wing because of his experience with a T-16. It’s right in the movie, fit naturally into scenes so everything comes together.
I apparently do have to read a book to find out details like why the Republic is incapable of defending itself, how the First Order feels about Darth Vader, and other details like that. It’s just lazy world building. What makes me more frustrated though, is apparently there was a deleted scene with Snoke that talked about how the First Order feels about Vader. Why was this removed? It makes sense to add depth to your villains and help the audience understand them more.
I now believe Luke trained Rey before Kylo saved her from the knights of Ren, wiped her memory, and set her on Jakku. That would explain why she subconsciously knows how to perform a Jedi mind trick.
If they can explain Rey’s abilities in the next film, I’ll be happier with her character. I don’t know if I’ll be happier with the film or the idea of a mind wipe. Rey was dropped off on Jakku at what, age 9? So I’m assuming she trained 5 years as a Jedi which makes her Force use a lot more believable in some scenes (Mind Trick), but still somewhat wonky in others (fight with Kylo, grabbing lightsaber before Kylo).
I agree with you on Finn. The idea of a black stormtrooper was cool. John Boyega was a good actor, but J. J. Abrams made Finn too likeable to seem like an authentic renegade stormtrooper. Others may disagree with me on this, but that is just my opinion.
I agree. I had hopes for a much more morally grey character that dealt with the struggles of going traitor. It would have been great for Finn to mellow up over the course of the film instead of entirely at once.
I am surprised you would rate Episode I over Episode III.
I like the political intrigue in it, don’t mind Jar Jar, could care less about Midi-chlorians (never understood the outrage about them), and it has some of the best music in the entire series.
I also get a little nostalgic about TPM. I have a lot of fond memories watching it with my parents and friends when I was younger and the first video game I’ve ever played was the PC version of TPM.
The nostalgia really puts it just a hair above RotS. I guess a more accurate way of ranking the films for me if I put nostalgia aside would be 4 >> 5 > 6 >= 1 = 3 >> 7 > shit > 2.