Well, Star Wars fans, after a long wait and much hype, the saga continues. I was not disappointed. I had such a good time watching this movie that I had to come right home and write about it.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens begins roughly thirty years after the events of Return of The Jedi. The empire has been defeated but now the New Republic faces a new threat encompassed by the dreaded and powerful First Order. I won’t spoil anything, but I will say that this movie does a good job of helping you forget the prequel trilogy. This movie brings all of the elements back that made the original film a success and also introduces new characters and events into the Star Wars universe.
The movie stars newcomer Daisy Ridley as Rey, a young scavenger left abandoned on the planet Jakku waiting for her family to return, and John Boyega as Finn, a former Storm Trooper seeking redemption. The film also stars Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, a young hotshot X-wing pilot and resistance leader, and Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, a Vaderesque leader in the First Order. Along with these new stars, the film features the return of beloved and familiar faces Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford as Luke Skywalker, General Leia, and Han Solo respectively.
The film is capably directed by J.J. Abrams, a self-professed fanboy of the original trilogy. He said that he wanted to make a Star Wars film that long-time fans and new viewers alike would enjoy and I think he succeeded. The action scenes were impeccably well done, and the special effects used just the right mix of practical and digital effects. This movie had it all: Comedy, drama, tears, joy. It took me back to the day that I saw Episode IV for the first time, when it was known simply as Star Wars. Two hours later, my heart was still beating fast. I enjoyed every minute of my time in the theater and plan on going back for more.
