Let's see:
Story:
You would pretty much need to get rid of everything besides things related to Ren so that we can actually have a story that wants to tell us something new instead of being the laziest approach for making a "good" star wars film. I mean, the story of Luke failing to reestablish the jedi order would itself make for a good story and would definetely be more than enough to fill an entire film (or atleast half of a film; the other half being about the aftermath e.g. what Rey, Finn etc. witness).
Characters:
Rey: She is pretty much the only big problem the film. For one she destroys part of the things that have been established in the star wars films e.g. training is fundamental for any kind of space wizardry (reflexes and force sensitive related stuff being exceptions). Then there is of course the fact that she pretty much ruins not only Ren as a villain but also the ending with Luke. Even though he ended up killing one of the main characters of the episode 4+ story, he is no real threat anymore. He is noticably weaker than Rey which was demonstrated in the whole mind control thing (resisting it would be one thing, but dominating him instead?), her taking the light saber from him, which you would assume he should have more than enough practice with since it seems to be one of the first things that jedis learn,and of course the fact that Rey has already beaten him, not only that, she did the jedi equivalent of tea bagging him (seriously since when do light saber slashes no longer go through people like knifes through butter [probably something related to his armor but it's not like it shielded him from the crossbow]). And with Luke you of course have the whole "come back we need you" scene at the end. But do we? The resistance stomped on the nuts of the new order, anything relating a sith was stomped by Rey so why bother? To fix her I would for one start of by changing the dynamic of the film. While star wars films tend to have one central figure or the devide between apprentice and master, I would introduce Finn and Rey both as possible Jedis and make both of them fight Ren during the end scene together. Considering that the film just loved to shove the image of Rey with her staff in our faces (besides the fact that she used that thing like.... twice?), I would give her a Darh Maul esque light saber to make the transition between staff and light saber more believable (perhaps not even a light saber, but instead a force pike similar to the ones used by Gervious' minions). Then I would get rid of the gun scene (where she hits the guy after two shoots besides never holding a gun before), add an explanation or two as to why exactly she actually knows stuff about spaceships or more specifically the falcon (just because you scavenge broken ships doesnt mean that you have a engineer/mechanic-esque knowledge about the bloody thing). Oh and the backstory about the 5 year old surviving on her own because she is a strong independant todler who doesn't need no parent to tell her when bedtime is can fuck off. Add somebody who took care for here; you don't even need show him or her; just say they died a year or so ago. They could also be the one who showed her how to fight with a staff. Oh and get rid off the jedi mind trick scene (seriously, you could altealst have her wave her fucking hands). She can still go and escape on her own, but in a way that is atleast somewhat believable ( dunno, something related to machines? atleast if you establiush how she knows so much about space ships etc. it might not be as far fetched, but still not ideal).
Ren: Darth Vader him. The voice I didn't mind but get another actor (he seems a little wimpy to be threatening). But overall don't make him get rid of his mask until he meets Han. The whole reveal was ruined, because we just had to have another scene to show how great Rey is. Fight wise I would have him be more dominant but still struggeling since the new fight I would go for would be against Finn and Rey at the same time. Throw in a lucky hit followed by the chasm seperating both parties and him throwing a hissy fit.
Poe: Either just kill him off right away or add him as another team member. He could e.g. fly the falcon, but in that case you might need to give Rey more stuff to do.
Finn: The two things that bothered me the most werethe rapid transition between I am a storm trooper to "oh no. killing is bad" and the fact that Finn didn't really accomplish too much in the film. I would probably use Finn to establish the order a little more (show how the members etc. act, give boba fett 2.0 a little more screen time; hell maybe even give the traitor! guy some more screen time so that the following fight actually means something [but still remove the meele weapon; boy oh boy was that dumb; why would he even be running around with that thing; there are like 2ish jedi in the universe; guns are way better in that scenario]). Instead of the meh-star I would maybe transport Rey to a base, which they can infiltrate using Poe's knowledge, but also soldier training (less flopping around; more clone tropper; those guys got shit done). Although I idea of having him use a light saber a bit so that he doesn't suck entirely
Story:
You would pretty much need to get rid of everything besides things related to Ren so that we can actually have a story that wants to tell us something new instead of being the laziest approach for making a "good" star wars film. I mean, the story of Luke failing to reestablish the jedi order would itself make for a good story and would definetely be more than enough to fill an entire film (or atleast half of a film; the other half being about the aftermath e.g. what Rey, Finn etc. witness).
Characters:
Rey: She is pretty much the only big problem the film. For one she destroys part of the things that have been established in the star wars films e.g. training is fundamental for any kind of space wizardry (reflexes and force sensitive related stuff being exceptions). Then there is of course the fact that she pretty much ruins not only Ren as a villain but also the ending with Luke. Even though he ended up killing one of the main characters of the episode 4+ story, he is no real threat anymore. He is noticably weaker than Rey which was demonstrated in the whole mind control thing (resisting it would be one thing, but dominating him instead?), her taking the light saber from him, which you would assume he should have more than enough practice with since it seems to be one of the first things that jedis learn,and of course the fact that Rey has already beaten him, not only that, she did the jedi equivalent of tea bagging him (seriously since when do light saber slashes no longer go through people like knifes through butter [probably something related to his armor but it's not like it shielded him from the crossbow]). And with Luke you of course have the whole "come back we need you" scene at the end. But do we? The resistance stomped on the nuts of the new order, anything relating a sith was stomped by Rey so why bother? To fix her I would for one start of by changing the dynamic of the film. While star wars films tend to have one central figure or the devide between apprentice and master, I would introduce Finn and Rey both as possible Jedis and make both of them fight Ren during the end scene together. Considering that the film just loved to shove the image of Rey with her staff in our faces (besides the fact that she used that thing like.... twice?), I would give her a Darh Maul esque light saber to make the transition between staff and light saber more believable (perhaps not even a light saber, but instead a force pike similar to the ones used by Gervious' minions). Then I would get rid of the gun scene (where she hits the guy after two shoots besides never holding a gun before), add an explanation or two as to why exactly she actually knows stuff about spaceships or more specifically the falcon (just because you scavenge broken ships doesnt mean that you have a engineer/mechanic-esque knowledge about the bloody thing). Oh and the backstory about the 5 year old surviving on her own because she is a strong independant todler who doesn't need no parent to tell her when bedtime is can fuck off. Add somebody who took care for here; you don't even need show him or her; just say they died a year or so ago. They could also be the one who showed her how to fight with a staff. Oh and get rid off the jedi mind trick scene (seriously, you could altealst have her wave her fucking hands). She can still go and escape on her own, but in a way that is atleast somewhat believable ( dunno, something related to machines? atleast if you establiush how she knows so much about space ships etc. it might not be as far fetched, but still not ideal).
Ren: Darth Vader him. The voice I didn't mind but get another actor (he seems a little wimpy to be threatening). But overall don't make him get rid of his mask until he meets Han. The whole reveal was ruined, because we just had to have another scene to show how great Rey is. Fight wise I would have him be more dominant but still struggeling since the new fight I would go for would be against Finn and Rey at the same time. Throw in a lucky hit followed by the chasm seperating both parties and him throwing a hissy fit.
Poe: Either just kill him off right away or add him as another team member. He could e.g. fly the falcon, but in that case you might need to give Rey more stuff to do.
Finn: The two things that bothered me the most werethe rapid transition between I am a storm trooper to "oh no. killing is bad" and the fact that Finn didn't really accomplish too much in the film. I would probably use Finn to establish the order a little more (show how the members etc. act, give boba fett 2.0 a little more screen time; hell maybe even give the traitor! guy some more screen time so that the following fight actually means something [but still remove the meele weapon; boy oh boy was that dumb; why would he even be running around with that thing; there are like 2ish jedi in the universe; guns are way better in that scenario]). Instead of the meh-star I would maybe transport Rey to a base, which they can infiltrate using Poe's knowledge, but also soldier training (less flopping around; more clone tropper; those guys got shit done). Although I idea of having him use a light saber a bit so that he doesn't suck entirely
