Review Detail

Though it had its flaws, I quite enjoyed the original TFA and thought it was a very promising start to the new Trilogy when I first saw it in 2016. One of the criticisms TFA had was its structural similarity to ANH, and while I think TFA was different enough to set it apart, the demonstration of the Starkiller weapon and the destruction of the Hosnian system felt like the destruction of Alderaan by the Death Star. Moving that sequence toward the end made good narrative sense and I thought that the Takodana section was edited fantastically to facilitate this change, but I couldn't help but feel like it threw the pacing of the third act off, despite how well edited it was. Maybe it's just a subjective thing, because this edit is definitely well done otherwise and I highly recommend it. It's a great alternative cut, but it doesn't replace the original for me.