Finally saw the movie tonight and that makes me late to the party. I can agree with pretty much everything Exactimator stated...except the part about Leia and her Force feelings. She first used it in Empire Strikes Back. I elaborate a bit below.
I have been a Star Wars fan since I saw Jedi in theaters when I was four. I remember the Endor scene and the Ewoks, because some reason I got sick and we had to leave the theater.
Sorry mom and dad. I still love the Ewoks...sorry. I don't consider anything other than the movies to be canon. There is simply too many novels, comic books, video games and what-not to learn all that crap. Kudos to those who do and sorry also because you may be saying "But no, in
this book this happens" oh well, not here. The only non-canon thing that caused parts of this movie to fail to meet my expectations was the legend/theory/hearsay that Luke was to be one of the most powerful Jedi that ever lived. I don't know where I read that, so I can't cite the source. I was sure hoping to see Luke swoop down in his X-Wing out on the salt flats. And I thought he did, but it turned out to be the Falcon.
Not gonna dissect the movie too much. I only go to the theaters to watch "Epic" movies, and enjoy them. Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings and so on. So I don't go that often. I will not nit pick the details. I'll just nit pick what others have posted here. Post my observations and set straight anyone who strays too far.
Foot prints in the salt. Two references were made to the footprints. The old man walked out and left them (the 11B tasted it), then Luke was watching Kylo's. Good catch on not seeing Luke's prints, I missed it. I honestly thought the first shot from the AT AT or Kylo's ship (whichever it was) did him in, but I guess it was just the red soil "splattering" up. I knew he would still be there when they kept shooting.
The kid at the end was the kid that Rose and Fin met with the horse rabbit raptors (that has been established). I'm thinking Rose gave him the ring as a bribe or token. I did catch him picking up the broom without touching it but didn't even think about it being Force related.
Leia first revealed a bit of Force powers in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. When Luke is hanging beneath Cloud City she tells Chewy to turn around and she knows where Luke is. Remember? Lando argues a bit.
If ships are in space with engines burning, then they would be accelerating. So all the ships were steadily accelerating. But not in the Star Wars universe. I won't tear apart Star Wars physics.
Lesson #3. Rey left before Luke got to it.
Midichlorian's gave birth to Anakin. It was prophesied. Qui Gon and Obi Wan talked about it in Episode I:The Phantom Menace.
Seeing how no one knows who the heck Rey is, I am inclined to believe her parents were nobodies. In Episode VII:The Force Awakens, Leia walks straight to her and embraces her as a friend or daughter/niece, but that's it. She and Han were the only two to slightly hint at knowing her. Han not so much really.
Why was Laura Dern such a bad choice for her character? She done a fine job.
Del Toro. I honest to God expected Lando to be either the master code breaker or Del Toro's character after the one in the casino proved to not be Lando. Escpecially the way Maz would never mention a name.
The slow bombers may have been all they had at their disposal. They are a resistance and not a fully funded standing military.
I loved Yoda's return. Would've been nice to see Obi Wan as well. Old Obi Wan.
Loved the light speed kamikaze scene. Theater was dead quite here as well. I even mentioned afterwards about the no sound in space, finally. Wonder why KKVs haven't made it to the Star Wars universe sooner.
I liked it when the little penguin thing stuck to the window.
I thought the same thing about a big flux capacitor.
Until I actually saw Snoke sitting there I thought maybe he was Vader's ghost. Not Anakin. He turned to a ghost. Vader destroyed Anakin. Snoke was Vader's (Anakin's darkside) ghost. In The Force Awakens when Kylo is talking to Vader's mask. The damage on the mask matched the damage to Snoke's head. It was a theory that didn't pan out.
Looking forward to see what Rey does with the lightsaber. Will it be green? Blue? Purple? Yellow? Will it be all fizzy like Kylo's?
Did yaw catch that not only was Snoke cut in half, but his left hand was still "standing" on the arm of his throne? The lightsaber removed the hand from the arm, just thought that was neat little tidbit.
There were definitely a scene or two I was waiting for "the finger".
One hang-up that has bothered me, not related to this movie, is Chewy's weapon. The famed "Bowcaster". It is referred to once, in Episode VI:The Return of the Jedi. Luke calls it a crossbow. When did it become a bowcaster? Unless it was mentioned in Episode II or Episode III. I've only set through those a time or two.
Still expected more from Luke, and to see Lando show up. But not disappointed. A great movie.
Let's hope Woody Harrelson doesn't ruin Solo.