The inevitable feeling of anti-climax (even if you loved TFA!)

I know exactly what you mean... I went to the midnight showing here in the UK and enjoyed, but didn't love the film. There was so much nervous anticipation, as like you, i've been a fan the Saga for years and years and years, so was never going to properly relax for the first sitting. I haven't returned for a second yet, but am looking forward to doing so.

I found the same with The Dark Knight Rises in that I had built it up and built it up and it was never going to live up to my hopes / dreams.

It doesn't mean that either film is bad by any means.

 

I read almost every non-spoiler I could about The Force Awakens, but kept myself from discussing the film. I think that is probably the best way to go about it, and it kept me from being too spoiled going into the new film. That being said, I felt a little detached from the characters in the film. My emotion when Obi-Wan Kenobi dies was a lot stronger than when Han Solo dies, for instance. I think it is definitely hard to live up to the anticipation, but at the very least, we now have the basis of what to expect for the coming films.

@henryjones2112; I had a similar experience with The Dark Knight, actually. I had heard so much about the performance of Heath Ledger, that when I finally saw the film, it fell flat for me.

 

After my first viewing I knew I liked the movie, but I wasn't entirely sure I loved it. I had been thinking about it for so long that I think I just couldn't process it all. I saw it a second time and thought it was amazing. So you're definitely not the only one! But the fact that this movie gets better on second viewing for most of us is a very good sign.

 

If the ending were more abrupt, it would be like No Country for Old Men.

 

Next time, for Episode 8, watch the three prequels back to back to reduce your expectation and hope levels. I did for Episode 7, it worked a treat!