I have seen Star Wars – The Force Awakens three times now (don’t ask) and every time I see it I am less impressed with the filmmakers. Yes, Lucas disappointed the fanchise with episodes one though three. But I just cannot seem to get over how much Star Wars Seven was such a blatant rip off of episode four.

The first time I saw it, I left the theater feeling pretty good. I am sure the filmmakers figured that pushing all the ‘familiar’ buttons would elicit this reaction: bar scene, Kessel Run, etc. But then, the more I thought about it, the more I started resenting being manipulated. Lone fighter has to attack down a narrow alley to find the single point of vulnerability in the new ‘Death Star’? Really? I almost cringed watching that scene.

The second and third times I saw it, I left the theater feeling less good and more manipulated. It just felt like a weak, calculated effort.I understand that they needed to do this for business reasons: re-engage the fanchise (not that it ever disengaged) and set up a plot that would run over three movies, not one.

Would Lucas have gotten away with it if he had done this film? I suspect not. He would have been ripped for just rehashing his first success and really going nowhere with the story. Let’s hope things improve in Episode Five Eight.