As a well known serious Star Wars fan, I am getting a lot of questions about my opinions about Ep VII.
After watching it 3 times in two days a (and a 4^th since), I have determined that it is, in fact, a Star Wars movie.
It feels Star Wars, looks, smells, and pretty much sounds like it.
I agree that maybe Abrams and Kasdan over-did the mirroring of Ep IV plot line. However, I am so thankful that they did it at all, though, that I can forgive that perhaps they over-did it.
I don’t think it is fair for those of us who were children when 4-6 came out to look for the same feelings we had back then. We aren’t children anymore. However, even for today’s children, we cannot hope for the same experience.
Until we saw A New Hope, our best Sci-Fi involved a cardboard Enterprise riding a string toward the camera and Claymation aliens. Today’s kids have seen “The Avengers” and other well-written stories with brilliant special effects. I know that hoping for them to experience our wonder at a movie is likely just nostalgia now.
However, I was hoping for my kids to get to experience a Star Wars movie – preferably untouched by George Lucas when he has no accountability or controls over him.
In my only real critique at this point, I am super-frustrated with the poor handling of the grieving of Han Solo. I almost expect a cut scene to show it… but Chewbacca walks right past Leia in the immediate aftermath of Han’s death? I don’t think so. Epic error that I am sure they will hear about. No memorial for one of the legends of the rebellion? Of course, there are at least two more movies to make this right. To quote Snoke, “We shall see.”
Of course there are other details I could pick on, but that is true of any movie I think I have ever seen. My hope wasn’t that it would be the perfect movie… but that it would be good and be a Star Wars movie.
However, one of my favorite aspects I already love: in true Abrams fashion, he left us with an excellent mystery that will keep us guessing and writing for the next 2 years.
He left us with Maz’s question: “Who is the girl?”
In other words:
What is Rey’s real last name?
It seems obvious that someone hid Rey on a desert planet to keep her out of the hands of those who might control her.

1. Skywalker – she is the daughter of Luke Skywalker and some unknown mother.

Making the case:
* R2D2 comes back to full power when she sets foot on the same planet.
* She is a naturally gifted at mechanics (young Anakin), a super-naturally gifted pilot (older Anakin) and a quick study on the lightsaber (Luke).
* Maz insists that she gets the light saber (and says it “called to her.”)
* Maz references her finding what she has lost by recovering Luke.
* The light saber comes to her.
* This series of movies is about the Skywalker family (but this works for being a child of Leia too).
* This overcomes the difficulties with Han and Leia seeming either ignorant of her identity or weirdly not letting it be known. Granted, Han and/or Luke could have lied to Leia about Rey dying at birth or something and then hidden her.
* Her clothing matches Luke’s from IV.
Solo – she is the daughter of Han Solo and Leia Organa (presumably the fraternal twin of Ky Lo Ren)
Making the case:
* This would follow the pattern of the original with twins and allow for brother-sister interactions later.
* Ky Lo seems to engage with her in an odd way – like he is related to her. Their whole interaction feels brother-sister.
* There are a lot of “proud papa” looks and interactions from Han.
* Ky Lo references Han as the “father she never had.”
* Maz asks Han who she is and we cut away at that time.
* This keeps Luke from having a mystery-lover.
* Her clothing at the end matches Han’s… and her blaster is slung low, like his.
Kenobi – she is the granddaughter of Obi Wan Kenobi
Making the case:
* This would be a curve ball and that would be cool. I have nothing else.
She is a grandchild of Qui Gon Jinn
Making the case:
I cannot and will not since this would lend authenticity to Ep 1-3 which VII certainly did not do in ANY way. Also, who? That person doesn’t exist.
She is another immaculate Midichlorians child.
Don’t even think about it.
Another likely idea:
She is Luke’s child by an unknown mother (so far) and he is unaware of her existence. The mother hid her away to keep her from “following old [Luke] on some damn idealistic crusade”, so to speak. They could have chosen a nicer care-taker, though. Where is Aunt Beru when you need her?
Further Commentary:
One of the coolest things about Episode VII that sets it apart from Ep 1-3 (which I only acknowledge in criticism) is that I am already intrigued and looking forward to getting to know these characters more. Each of them are interesting and three-dimensional. I really want to know who Rey’s parents are.
One of my friends, who is a decade younger than me, already said “I am excited about the next one.” This is the pain I miss – waiting TWO WHOLE YEARS to find out what happens next! Maybe this is a little like hazing – wanting people to suffer as I did as a pre-teen… but it sure beats just hoping that the next one doesn’t stink as bad as the last one.
After 4 viewings, and listening to the soundtrack (loving anything with Rey’s theme in it especially), I find my affection for the movie continuing to grow.
Now you can chatter, Red 2… anything to add, Wedge?