Which is a major structural problem of the film. Its a major distraction from the actual that simply tries to trade on nostalgic iconography. Its a re-hash of the death star trench run with none of the weight or importance.
In contrast, the original death star fight was a major step forward for Luke and also featured Han returning.
Also the film could have had Rey living on any kind of planet but instead she's just living on a visually identical desert planet, more or less as gender-bent Luke cosplay. She lives on Faux-Tatooine, the rebels are hiding on on Faux-Yavin and the Faux-Empire has an EVEN BIGGER DEATH STAR!.
I really wish the film would have done more to build out the Star Wars universe in the same way that Mad Max: Fury Road built onto its predecessors.
It's not a structural problem at all. The Starkiller base is a huge step forward but for the mirror version of Luke. Which is Kylo Ren. The whole base is thematic and symbolic around him, it is what Snoke is doing to him, sucking the light out of him, while using it as a weapon for his own dark purposes. Structurally it still works. The whole trench run was too fanservicy and could have been done without, however for the rest of it, it did what it needed to do to have the small First Order make a big blow to the massive New Republic sending the galaxy into chaos. No matter what like most comic book films there is some "doomsday device" that it's purpose is to destroy the human race, or planet, or city, or galaxy whatever. Except the superficially make it a gem, or a staff, or a nuke or sun making machine yadda yadda. (That's not a bash to them at all). But again it is superfical what most of these films change.
The Starkiller base had multiple purposes and served them well. Besides the Trench run the base actually had quite a unique look to it. I mean even the whole duel at the end showed that. And that was the true lead up was the duel at the end, and that the Starkiller base like Kylo was falling apart. I think some just focused on the fact that it was a doomsday weapon planet style and ignored everything else that is actually happening.
As for Rey/Luke they could not be more far apart. Gender Cosplay it is not. Rey is a loner, scavanger girl who can take care of her self and his been living on the edge of starving/dying her entire life. She does not want to leave Jakku in fear of her parents never finding her. Whereas Luke is a farmboy who has a family living a simple but safe life. Can't really take care of himself too well when getting in fights. Wants to get off his planet and leave everything behind. I would actually say they are far from opposite. Again I don't get other than her being the hero of the story. Again, a superficial quirk...that I don't know if any movie would have really escaped from.
Yes just like our world there is multiple deserts. Other than the fact that it is a desert, that's where the similarities stop:
Jakku-A desert planet that is now a massive graveyard of a gigantic battle that took place during the height of the Galactic War. Now people barley clinging on scavenge this planet to survive. You have a young female hero, that is tough as nails, is a loner, does not want to leave the planet in hopes that her family will return. Hardly survives the day to day life.
Tatooine (ANH) A backwater farming desert planet where not much happens. Luke is a young farmboy that would do anything to get away from his life there, that has really been quite mundane and boring. He seeks adventure and wants off the planet as soon as he can.
Again besides it being superficially a desert it ends there and the place is quite different.
Just because you see a green tree or a grain of sand does not equate to "carbon copy".
The First Order is far from the Empire and that's the greatness of the little quirks you pick up.
First Order- A small group of old Imperial Loyalists that have taken the ideals of the Empire and radicalized them in almost a religious fervor. They control only a small portion of the galaxy while the New Republic controls it all. There is a peace between them that is shattered in TFA. The New Republic does not see them as a threat, while Leia warns otherwise. This group radicalizes trying to take back what they think was theirs.
Galactic Empire-The massive uprising during the Clone Wars allowed Palpatine to create an iron fisted government that controlled everything in the Galaxy. Using fear and strict order to keep the galaxy in their control.
Again other than some of the visual cues of it being an old Imperial remnant group and having upgrades of their previous armor, TIE's ect. (See our military in the past 50 years and see how it's not some radically different ordeal). The group is akin to a neo-Imperialistic group that is trying to gain power where the rest of the Galaxy does not see them as a threat.
As for the McGuffin:
The Map to Luke Skywalker-It is the McGuffin of the entire plot. It centers around the villains and heroes searching for Luke. Which adds to the plot of his fallen apprentice and the destruction of his small Jedi Order. Him also running away to find the first Jedi Temple to help destroy this evil.
The Plans to the Death Star-It is the McGuffin of ANH. It centers around a destructive weapon that will make it harder for planets to dis-obey the Empire. Letting the Empire tighten it's grip and put fear into everyone. It is about them getting the plans to people that can help and destroying it.
As for the Resistance:
Resistance-The Resistance is a small spy group founded by Leia. The group has some support in the New Republic Senate. Leia has started this group because she knows the First Order is attempting to rise up and destroy everything. It is personal as well because Snoke stole her son.
Rebel Alliance-A band of many small systems and groups attempting to take over and destroy the evil Empire and restore the Republic to the galaxy.
Again besides having a small group against the bad guys (even smaller than the Rebellion) what the group is and it's purpose is quite different.
So my point is there are some plot beats from ANH, and some superficial visual nods to it. But everything has a context of it's own. It's not just Tatooine 2.0, not even close. Same with Rey, she is not like Luke at all, other than she is the main hero of the film. The points being made of "Hey it's like ANH" are mainly visual. I feel some are missing out of 95% of the other parts of the film, because they are focusing on what they want to focus on. Sometimes I think it's just people want to lay blame to JJ for it because he wears his "nerdy" on his sleeve. (Fun tip the Starkiller base was not JJ's idea it was Michael Ardnt's in February of 2013. Later turned into what the weapon was by Denis Mirren of ILM).
On a very superficial level yes, there was homage to what came before. But the meat and potatoes of TFA is extremely different. The complex characters and their relationships that were forged were the heart of the entire aspect of this film. And the two leads: Kylo/Rey trying to find Luke Skywalker.
