It's not like anyone ever watched Star Wars due to the insanely complex story. Hell, if I want a deep story, I read a book. Star Wars has always been more of a fairy tale in space.
We'll see some great cinematography, wonderful FX possible in the second decade of the 21st century. The story is going to be sort of "meh", but let's just hope they'll at least try to depict the empire in a more human way. I'm somewhat sceptical about the lacklustre PG-13 rating.
I'm tired of films being showed into this "all audiences" mould. It's superficial and rather hypocritical. I mean, it's as if it's OK for kids to see heads and limbs flying around like leaves on an autumn day, but blood is a no-go. Take the Hobbit for example. Because certainly if you chop someone's head off (on a frozen lake no less!) there is not a trace of blood. Come on! Stylised violence & whatnot is worse than a bit of realism. But no, PG 13. This "let's make a compromise" attitude is starting to really shine in its rapaciously dollar gobbling way.
In the end we get loads films that can't deal with more serious matters (and would really benefit from some question inspiring gore), plus a load of films that should be rated R but wind up with stylised violence instead.
JJ seems to love the "gloomier" side of things; something especially notable in his Star Trek films. But I have a feeling he's being held back by the quest for PG 13 rating. He doesn't seem to know how to make PG rated films work, thus, in the end, his PG 13 films get stuck halfway between R and PG. He can't do things his way and can't make the PG parts work.
I'm assuming we all are a bit too embittered to enjoy Jar Jar style nonsense in one scene and massive space battles with people getting fried in another. As kids we could enjoy Star Wars (as will today's kids, no doubt about that) but nowadays it just won't - it just can't - live up to the memories we have formed.
So, to make old fans happy it would have to be a much darker, R rated film. But no, all of us will go there expecting a mesmerising experience just like we had all those years ago and end up disappointed. The kids will love it though. Years later they'll be in the same position as we are right now.
