Kepling said:
IMO the plot was about finding Luke, the main problem though is the empty filler consisting of:

Han’s freighter

Though it was a good way to establish Han’s character this was filler

Maz’s Cantina

The Starkiller Base

I disagree. Remember the name of the film is The Force Awakens so not only is it about finding Luke; the plot of the film is also about a lowly scavenger finding she has this immense power within her and her flashback alongside her interrogation at the hand of Kylo Ren was her first step into a larger world. Now the destruction of SKB was filler.

I am still pissed that they promoted the practical effects so much, only for them to be mediocre at best compared to what was accomplished 30+ years ago. Overall effects wise TFA is just another Hollywood CG wankfest to me, and I think the lack luster practical effects were just an excuse to not bother with them in VIII.

Personally I don’t care about the amount of practical effects they used in TFA or lack thereof because most things looked real. Which is something no one can say for the prequels.