From what I gathered, this is tv movie.

It's Ewoks, with a bloated visual budget and on the big screen.

No, and to be fair, it was sppectacular, visually, and looked epically expensive on the screen. Not like Television at all. It was however, rather... bloated?

Sorry about that, it's just the best analogy I could think of.

SyFy Channel TV Movie story, with a big budget's visuals? I'll wait for the Blu-Ray to drop in price, thanks.

"bloated" is EXACTLY what I'd expect. The New Trilogy plot line is overly focused on - that trap of all fantasies that become franchises - putting in things they think fans want to see, with a literal interpretation (Droid on a Desert Planet! Bigger Death Star! Lightsaber with 3 blades! etc.), padding it out to 3 hours, as opposed to Tell A Good Story. Or at least Follow the Existing Plot to Its Obvious End. This is why I remember what Rogue One was about, but have to rewatch The Force Awakens in-preparation for The Last Jedi, it's all a blur.

I'll wait for the DVD, then.

It's funny, the only Star Wars movie I saw in a theater was the first one back in '77 when it was just 'Star Wars', not 'Episode IV'.

I wonder if you were expecting too much from it. I go into these anymore without any expectation of art or story, and in this case, it had, if nothing else, a lot going on, so kept one occupied for the whole run. There was a bit of story, lots of explosions, some cute bits, some bits that were suppose to be 'deep' or touching, and it carried the franchise forward. I liked it, though it was fun, and would recommend it.

I won't go into specifics, as this is a spoiler free zone, but, I wasn't expecting all that much going in, as I had seen Force awakened, and it was pleasantly entertaining. I saw it in a good theater with a crisp picture and excellent sound. (Regal Cinema in Newhall). after thinking about it, and the more I think about it, the less I like the film. There were some great set pieces. Some superb visuals, but as a whole, it felt... sloppy? I don't regret seeing it, but it was like going to a favorite restaurant, but the particular dish was... unsatisfying? I may do a more in depth post, full of spoilers later, given enough courtesy time.

From what I saw, they just didn't have any idea where to go with the story at all so it came off as a chaotic mess to me. Too many plot twists and things happening, as well as some parts of the story that were just unnecessary.

... or fell on the floor, flat. It's examples like this, that illustrate, why Disney, and Pixar "sweatbox" the stories to find flaws and strip the fat. Oddly, the "J.J. Abrams-isms" were the highlights, but they were moments rather than scenes.

Yeah, I enjoyed it, but too many bouncing back and forth between the previous films references. Though I did enjoy Chewie's reactions to the clearly Disney plan to market stuffed animal toys.

Chewy was a better dad to Rey, than anyone else in the film. Drove her to practice, kept the car running, took care of the pets.

But, but it had a cute new critter in it (that wasn't Jar Jar Binks). I'm starting to wonder if the series has jumped the shark, or outlasted its interest, or if I've just become jaded.

I don't think it's jaded as much as this film felt different. Now that I have seen it, I have been reading reviews of it, and a couple of theories have popped up, that seem to confirm why the film felt "off" to me.

And those theories are?

Outside the writer sucked and managed to piss off Mark Hamell.

I'll send notes.