*****SPOILERS*********YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED**********
Just as with episode VII, I am starting this topic so the latest installment can be discussed without spoiling it for those who haven't seen it yet. Although there must be a statute of limitations for how long you have to keep quiet.

So here is some commentary on Episode VIII having read a bit on line after watching the movie.

I was disappointed they didn't take the opportunity to give Leia the send off she deserved, and I do hope they don't cgi her into the next installment. To me, it would have been better for her to disappear into the ether at the same time as her twin brother. The simple device of empty clothes falling to the ground would have sufficed.

I was initially irritated by the Porgs (little creatures on Luke's island) and thought they were probably a merchandising opportunity by Disney. While the commercial aspect may be true, they were there to cover up (via cgi) the numerous puffins that are resident on the island where those sequences are filmed. The director also makes no secret of the fact that they are supposed to be annoying in a way the Ewoks weren't.

Likewise the island caretakers. Very Disney-esk, but apparently there to show not all creatures are affected by the larger goings on in the galaxy.

The whole sequence of looking for the codebreaker and going to casino was a bit of a waste of time, and the part of the film I found most tedious. Unless it was to introduce a new character for the future in the shape of DJ (Benicio del Toro) or to hark back to Luke's slave roots by referencing the children stable hands who obviously have latent force powers, as shown in the final scene.

I kind of liked some of the humour, particularly Luke's biffing of the lightsaber proffered to him with such gravitas at the end of the previous movie. And the fact that he was dressed almost identically to Alec Guiness' Obi Wan from Ep IV and a grumpy pensioner to boot. At last they didn't use a Jarjar Binks character for comic relief and ff I can only assume his kind were hunted to extinction as a favour to the universe.

The battle on Crate initially reminded me too much of the snow planet sequence in Ep V, but it really did set up the final showdown between Kylo Ren and Luke nicely. The bright red trails left in the salt flats looked awesome. And the 'blast Luke to smithereens ' scene where he emerged unscathed, and even brushed fake dust off his shoulder, had me thinking wtf until the fact he was projecting was revealed. I wondered why they were concentrating on the red footprints leading up to the reveal and the next time I watch the movie I will look out for it to see if there were clues.

There are also nice Easter eggs like Han's rear view mirror dice from episode IV showing up and ending up in the possession of Kylo Ren.

Was their introduction of the black droid BB-9E just to increase merchandising? I can see no other reason for its inclusion.

I believe there will be less confusion and more enjoyment they next time I watch this movie.

Your impressions please.