I pretty much agree with everything you said, but I liked it more than alright. At least on first viewing. It had some flaws. The whole scene where with the random space gangs and some badly CGI'd monsters was pretty bad. And while I liked Rey's scene with the lightsaber at Maz's palace and Poe's awesome flying, that…

Ah I see, I think we're totally in agreement :)

True dat. I think its safe to assume that we'll open up a few years later in VIII, closer to the end of Ren and Rey's training…or maybe they'll go full on TESB and the whole movie will them training while Poe and Finn are trapped somewhere, betrayed by Benicio Del Toro :)

I'm not sure I agree that it's a remake, but I do agree that the writers were trying to communicate the same effect and feeling of the OT for a new generation. I don't think there's anything wrong with using the same basic plot formula (even OT is famously recycle from thousands of years of human myth).
And, really,…

that's why they call it "run time"
:)

I found it really interesting that he was kind of a joke, but still obviously capable of committing evil deeds. IDK, I think it gives him the potential of an arc either towards true villainy or redemption…I mean if his training ends up with him actually fulfilling his dream of being as badass as Darth Vader, it will…

Fair enough! :)

100% agree. Even with the call-backs and nostalgia, this is a brand new adventure, and my first thought when the credits came up was "What happens next?!?!" Can't wait to find out.

Yeah I think Rey could have a really interesting arc. She's super powerful with the Force obviously, and Luke has already failed…not that she'll go to the Dark Side (that might be a cool twist?) but I think it'll be tempting for her.
But yeah Finn was kind of a blank slate overall, though he was a joy to watch.

I actually liked petulant Ren, because it showed how weak and broken he is. I think that's what they were going for with Anakin but didn't have the direction to pull it off. I mean, part of that petulance is fear, which leads to anger, which leads to bad guys.
and Hux, yeah, Gleeson really hammed it up, maybe went too…

they were literally on a cliff!!
lol :)