I didn't really like Undiscovered Country. That, Final Frontier, and the first one were my least favorite Star Trek movies. Even though they were lackluster, I liked the other Next Generation movies better than those. Into Darkness was a very well done derivative of Wrath of Khan. It's a new timeline of events that already happened. Events that occur now should naturally seem a bit derivative.

It would have completely ruined Vader's intimidation factor if he took off his helmet, sure, but Kylo Ren isn't Vader. He acts like a kid because he is a kid. Vader was in his 40s in the original trilogy. Ren is still figuring stuff out. Ren is the equivalent of a Padawan, whereas Vader was a legitimate Sith lord.

There could also be another reason why he's not that intimidating. There's more to Ren than what was presented in the film, and if his motivations are what I think they are, he'll end up being one of the most interesting characters. Despite how unintimidating and inexperienced he seemed, he was vicious at the climax of the film. That lightsaber duel was ****ing raw. And his control of the force is superlative. I've never seen anybody stop a blaster bolt in midair.