THE FORCE AWAKENS

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.... QUE MUSIC!!!!

It's been thirty years (THIRTY FREAKIN YEARS!!!!) since we last left Han, Leia, Luke, Chewbacca, R2D2, and C-3PO and the galaxy is in pretty bad shape. Luke has mysteriously vanished and in his absence The First Order arose out of the ruins of The Empire (consider them The Empire 2.0), their aim is total and complete control of the galaxy and they have a special weapon of ultimate destruction to aid them in their quest.  One of the most feared leaders of The First Order is Kylo Ren, who has been spreading fear and destruction wherever he goes as he attempts to complete his own special, personal mission. The Galaxy's best hope lies in a stormtrooper named Finn and an orphaned scavenger named Rey.

This is the movie fans have been waiting for. It's big, heartfelt, very cool, touching, adrenaline-filled, and very, very fast. The whole film moves at a breakneck speed, but is unafraid to slow down for a few minutes here and there and has no problem with somewhat developing our new heroes and villains. I'm happy to report that Han Solo and Chewbacca are both lead characters here and we get to spend a great deal of time with them. Harrison Ford easily steps back into one of his most beloved roles and is just about flawless. The way he speaks, his mannerisms, his facial expressions....it's all still there. This is easily the best he's been in a very long time, and the material he's given to work with is strong stuff (and he interacts with our two new leads perfectly).

Chewbacca is  exactly as we remembered him as well, and is still very memorable and funny. His chemistry and friendship with Han continues to be one of the defining things about this franchise. Carrie Fisher is also quite good, and the scenes she shares with Han and Chewie are simply fantastic and touching. The chemistry between Han and her is still rich. R2-D2 and C-3PO also show up for a few minutes. BB-8 is completely adorable as well, and makes for a welcome addition to our cast of humans and droids.

As for the new characters: Daisy Ridley as Rey was definitely a fantastic find. She is one fine actress that sells her role very well, and is also super pretty. I found myself falling in love with her as Finn did. Speaking of Finn,  John Boyega as Finn was super likable and cool, even though he spends a good deal of the film in a panicked state as his first instinct is to escape from the clutches of The First Order (naturally, saner heads prevail). It was cool to have someone who is knowledgable about the weapons and tactics of The First Order, and therefore can better guide Rey and our returning heroes numerous escapes (not to mention he's pretty ok with a lightsaber). His chemistry and back and forth with Han Solo was highly entertaining and his relationship with Rey was sweet and believable (definitely more than I can say for the relationship between Anakin and Padme in the prequels).

Adam Driver as Kylo Ren commanded control of the screen whenever he was on. He is essentially Darth Vader 2.0. He is filed with a raw power, but lacks control. He is a tortured soul who is struggling with himself, but finds strength in the legacy of Darth Vader and has committed himself to becoming even greater and more powerful than Darth (And indeed, he is considerably more powerful than Darth. He does things we've never seen anyone do in previous Star Wars films. Call him whiny all you want, I personally consider him a bad-ass).  Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron was also great as the head resistance fighter and ace pilot. He's cool, he's funny, he's likable....basically he's going to be our new Han Solo. He doesn't get much screen time, but I expect (and hope) that changes in the ensuing sequels.

One of the areas where The Force Awakens towers over the prequels are the action scenes. They are all beautifully shot (in fact, the whole film is beautifully shot), and the lightsaber battles are filled with raw adrenaline. The lightsaber battles in the prequels resembled more of a well-choreographed dance, but in The Force Awakens they feel real. It's two people fighting for dominance, control, and survival. The stakes are real, and the battles are intense and breathtaking. I forgot how much I loved seeing two people slashing at each other with lightsabers. The aerial battles are also fantastic. I loved the way the camera followed the numerous X-wings and Tie Fighters, swooping, diving, and spinning along with them....it's almost dizzying and gives you a YOU-ARE-THERE feeling.

Another thing I loved about The Force Awakens was the sound design. All the sounds from the original trilogy are back (one of the first scenes that really made me squee featured a tie fighter firing off rounds. This was my first time getting to hear that sound in theaters and it filled me with joy). There are also constant references to the original trilogy, although this never really bothered me. It all helped to bring you back into a world we all missed very much.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens drops audiences right back into The Star Wars world with little pomp and circumstance. Yes, there is some clunky dialogue here and there, and I feel that some characters could be a bit more well developed (That said, what we get here is still enough, and I expect them to continue to be developed with each sequel) but overall this is one hell of a successful film. I have no problems saying this is WAY, WAY, WAY better than Return of The Jedi. Star Wars has been redeemed and my interest in this awesome franchise has been renewed. I eagerly await the sequel. May the force be with you all.

4 STARS