Saw the movie today and loved it - it wasn't perfect but really good.
As
@lockedoutlogic said it was more of a reboot than straight sequel ... though I see it as a reboot like Star Trek: The Next Generation, and this was A New Hope for The Next Generation. I actually enjoyed most of the nods to the original (general plot, that this generation has their bar full of strange aliens, their hot shot pilot, etc.) - though probably could have done without the canyon run in the battle scene (actually liked how that started with them wanting to do multiple passes at the center point)
I do think it makes sense that they would build a "bigger Death Star" - classic bad guy logic of "yeah, didn't work the first time, but it will this time since it will be BIGGER!" - though would have been a nice twist if they did just make the weapon not work vs destroying the entire planet (even could have had "fire" shoot out both ends if needed a big explosion type scene)
The one thing that kinda bugged me is how Rey was able to beat up Kylo Ren pretty handily despite no training and even Finn held his own and made some contact. As the only one with training with both using the Force and a light saber he should have done better. Perhaps that gets explained some in the next films and can see that he perhaps talks a bigger game than his skills are - and he does appear to be over-compensating with his fancy light saber, but still ...
Looking forward to seeing it again to pick up on more details and with different theories in my head now. Also can't wait for the next film and where they take Kylo Ren and Snoke (especially knowing how Andy Serkis described Snoke as "severely damaged. Although he's a powerful leader, he comes across as vulnerable. Very scarred and disfigured."
As of know I would rank them as:
- Episode V
- Episode IV
- Episode VII (though I could see this moving up as the acting is much better than in IV overall)
- Episode VI
- Episode III (though, I did like III probably more than most)
- Episode I
- Episode II
(I was very disappointed in the prequels, though probably hate them less than some - I feel like there about 1.5 really good movies if you took the best parts form the 3)