Interesting to see others echo many of the criticisms I had while watching it. I felt it started off very strongly and in keeping with the original trilogy's vibe. As things got towards the middle, they just got more and more muddled IMO.
-Finn's arc was very hamfisted and done too quickly. I would've liked something more as to his change from a storm trooper (/sanitation worker?) to wanting to get out ASAP.
-Poe was used so little that it kind of seemed unnecessary to have much focus on him. Oh by the way, I got off Jakku with no explanation.
-The use of desert and snowy planets again felt very rehashed. I think a look at another interesting alien world would've done wonders for adding some unique visual variety to the film, instead of feeling like we're seeing Tattooine 2.0 and Hoth 2.0.
-Like others, I found Kylo's acting/manniersms/physical features to be a bit strange. I get they're wanting the character to be conflicted and immature, etc., but overall it just didn't work for me. I laughed at his tantrums (especially when the two soliders see him breaking things and walk away); his character seemed more like a joke than anyone intimidating. Ditto for the other commander who gives the full-blown Nazi speech; I just didn't buy it.
-Killing Han was another callback to Obi Wan's death in A New Hope (in a film with numerous intentional parallels) and it just didn't feel earned to me. You know it's going to happen once he walks out onto the catwalk, but I don't know. I needed something more from either character, or some idea why Kylo hates his father, doing good, etc.
-I love John Williams, but definitely felt the film was missing some of its unique identiy or new musical themes to work with.
Ultimately, it felt like A New Hope for a new generation, minus the character, gravitas, and unique qualities that made the original work IMO. It had good qualities, but unfortunately to me it came off as a streamlined retread of the original versus forging its own path, which the prequels did, albeit not successfully.