As I'm sitting here today and thinking about the movie, I can't help but draw some comparisons that suggest that TLJ is a bit of "greatest hits" compilation from the OT. I enjoyed the movie - even though it may seem as though I'm dumping on it - but like TFA was a bit of retread of Episode IV, a lot of this movie seemed pulled from the OT as a whole. MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD....
OT: promising student of the Force visits remote home of curmudgeonly jedi master in exile, who resists training this new arrival
TLJ: promising student of the Force visits remote home of curmudgeonly jedi master in exile, who resists training this new arrival
OT: promising student of the Force wins over jedi master, but shows head strong traits that lead him to explore the part of the swamp strong in the Dark Side
TLJ: promising student of the Force wins over jedi master, but shows head strong traits that lead her to explore the part of the island strong in the Dark Side
OT: promising student of the Force turns himself over to the Imperials in an attempt to turn the Sith apprentice back to the Light, leading to a throne room showdown with the Sith Master
TLJ: promising student of the Force turns herself over to the Imperials in an attempt to turn the Sith apprentice back to the Light, leading to a throne room showdown with the Sith Master
OT: promising student of the Force is tortured by Sith Master until Sith apprentice intervenes and kills Sith Master
TLJ: promising student of the Force is tortured by Sith Master until Sith apprentice intervenes and kills Sith Master
OT: Imperials stage ground assault on fortified Rebel base using Imperial walkers, which the Rebels fight from trenches, turrets and small aircraft
TLJ: Imperials stage ground assault on fortified Resistance base using Imperial walkers, which the Rebels fight from trenches, turrets and small aircraft
OT: Rebel transport ship is chased down by Star Destroyer and eventually loses
TLJ: Resistance transport ship is chased down by Star Destroyer and eventually loses
OT: Small group of Rebels attempts to secretly infiltrate the Death Star and deactivate the tractor beam so they can escape
TLJ: Small group of Resistance fighters attempts to secretly infiltrate the Star Destroyer and deactivate the tracking device so they can escape
OT: Rebels trying to evade the Empire are betrayed by newly introduced character with a penchant for gambling after he sells them out
TLJ: Resistance members trying to evade the First Order are betrayed by newly introduced character with a penchant for gambling after he sells them out
OT: Rebels on Endor surrounded by Imperial troops in a hopeless situation are helped, in part, when one of their own captures an Imperial walker to turn the tide
TLJ: Resistance members on the Star Destroyer surrounded by First Order troops in a hopeless situation are helped, in part, when one of their own captures an Imperial walker to turn the tide
OT: Rebels fly close to the surface of the Death Star to take out turrets so the other pilots can begin their bombing run, which is costly but ultimately successful
TLJ: Poe flies close to the surface of the Dreadnought to take out turrets so the other pilots can begin their bombing run, which is costly but ultimately successful
OT: Jedi master is not completely forthcoming with his pupil about what happened in the past with his student Vader and presents the truth "from a certain point of view"
TLJ: Jedi master is not completely forthcoming with his pupil about what happened in the past with his student Kylo and presents the truth "from a certain point of view"
OT: Jedi master selflessly sacrifices himself in a fight with his former pupil so that the "new hope" can escape
TLJ: Jedi master selflessly sacrifices himself in a fight with his former pupil so that the "spark of rebellion" can escape
OT: mysterious Boba Fett, fan favorite with a cool helmet, appears to die when he's hit with a staff during a fight and then falls into the Sarlaac
TLJ: mysterious Captain Phasma, fan favorite with a cool helmet, appears to die when she's hit with a baton during a fight and then falls into a fire below
I could go on - but the number of parallels is a pretty impressive. My last point - and one not mentioned prior to now - is: did they really need to kill off Ackbar and just throw in that line that, oh yeah, he's dead (since he couldn't propel himself back to safety with the Force like Leia). A trap, indeed....