It would appear that some people (reviewers on the internet, to be specific) prefer to criticise the new film based solely on its relationship with the previous films, in-particular the original films. I am beginning to witness a trend in the way people are critiquing films as a whole, and as the YouTuber Chris Stuckmann pointed out in a recent analysis video on The Force Awakens, such reviewers do not explain or go into any detail regarding the elements of film making. They would rather say how the 'formula' has not changed from 'A New Hope' and certain elements are 'the same' or 'copy and pasted'. If you actually analyse the films instead of literally taking what you see at face-value, you will understand that it is not as simple as it sounds: the new film actually takes the 'forumula' in a very different direction, and with close examination done, you will also see that every single Star Wars film mirrors each other in particular plot points and style. This is not the first Star Wars film to use recurring elements.
By 'film making' I am talking about the technical expertise in-which professional film-makers know how to incorporate; this includes film editing, sound design, cinematography, the intricate analysis of the special effects (which involves more than simply shouting "PRACTICAL EFFECTS NOT CGI" in a click-bait article) and most important of all: the 'Mise-en-scene' which is the French term for 'Placing in the scene' and was originally used to describe the elements of stage theatre design and execution of each part of the plays. I will go into more detail with a video I will upload after my first semester of essays is completed.