I am an "old" (48 years old and saw SW in the old theater in Sugarland in 1977 when it originally came out) and I loved this movie.
The scenes with Finn and Rose were designed to put the notion of a romantic relationship between Finn and Rae to rest. So thankfully we won't be repeating the same love triangle thing from the OT. You have to have some bonding/connection thing between them and that was it. Plus the Canto Bight stuff was designed to actually show for the first time that the universe is not just a bunch of poor sack cloth wearing working class povs but that there was a huge chunk of the population that doesn't give a crap about the rebellion or the empire/first order. And we have never really seen that aspect of the universe portrayed in any of the movies. I helps explain why when the resistance sends out their distress call to their "friends", no one shows up. Most people (as is true today) can't be bothered to give a damn about much of anything that doesn't directly impact them personally.
Luke's battle with Kylo is terrific as well. He uses the thing that will always be the downfall of the Sith/darkside: emotion. Kylo is so emotionally involved in killing Luke (for personal rather than strategic reason like Snoke) that he ignores the evidence (no footprints, looks younger, survives the fusillade from the walkers) and actually puts off the attack on the base to have a one on one with a ghost.
Also, this time Luke actually saves the day using ONLY the Force. No x-wing, no light saber, just using the force to project himself to strengthen (and say goodbye to) his friends and defeat his enemies. It strikes me that a jedi's use of the force is his most powerful weapon, and Luke defeating Kylo in this way is a huge statement about his power and abilities as a Jedi. Can anyone else claim to have used the force in this way and to that effect?
Also, when did Luke get the reputation for being the baddest Jedi ever? He basically was the only Jedi left but that alone doesn't put him in the pantheon of badass Jedis. The expectation that Luke was some sort of ass kicking Jedi that could wipe out the first order with a swipe of his hand seems unsupported. I admit I am no rabid fan but I don't think the movies support this notion.
The notion that what Kylo told Rey about her parent's background was the truth seems to me to be farcical, particularly for real fans. He told her what she was most afraid of in order to manipulate her to joining him. "You're really a nobody. I'm a somebody, but not you. And no one will believe in a nobody. But I will. I think you're awesome. Join me and you can be somebody." It's a photo negative of the way Snoke treats Kylo earlier. He insults him and plays on his fears that he is weak because of his connection to his family. He doesn't need whiny "nobody understands me" Anakin, he needs pissed off rage monkey Kylo that is driven by his rage to do what Snoke wants him to do. The dark side and the sith are all about manipulation and fear. She fears she is alone and a nobody and he tries to use that to manipulate her decision making.
The last scene with the kid was as much a message to the olds like me as it was a statement of hope. The future (of the franchise, of the stories, of the money coming in) are the kids. The primary audience in 1977 was kids and going forward it still is. This isn't The Godfather in space.
Hence Luke's speech to Kylo. The rebellion is reborn today. It's small but it has stopped fighting yesterday's fight and has kicked over the traces with new heros and new villains. Reboot time. Let the past die. Obi Wan, Luke, Han, Leia, Yoda, the old Jedi order, the empire and the republic are gone. New heros, new bad guys, new struggles and stories.
We put the band back together and then ran it's tour bus off the side of a cliff. Going forward we are not nearly as beholden to the past as we have been. Let the past die.
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. It's inherent virtue is the equal sharing of miseries." - Winston Churchill
