A new hope

Rating: 7/10 (17 January 2017)

What do we expect? Yet another StarWars installment, Disney's uptake on an eternal story, on a supposedly meaningful universe to tell infinite stories in. That's not the stuff of legend.
With those expectations you certainly can't complain. Disney continues to nourish Star Wars back to health, adding some grim, dark side to this universe. It is a rather safe approach, using the biggest untold yet referenced mission the good old films had to offer. The characters are likable, the force is rescued from overuse and receives some mystic balm. Yet again RedLetterMedia delivered Disney's road map - not a bad thing. The cameos were a bit overdone and first get us into the film to then question the film's own comfort as a stand alone. All in all a job well done - no more and no less. The routinely qualities Disney brings in are exactly what Star Wars needed after George Lucas' debacle. However: it remains to be seen whether Disney allows innovation and growth. They do continue gathering the right ingredients to make it possible. Although it is necessary, even commendable, to cling to safety and stability for now the same concept would come down to morbid necromancy after half a dozen more films like this. They'll need courage and a keen eye later down the road, to allow Star Wars to actually change, to offer new stories in an old universe. For now it couldn't be any better. There is hope for the Yedi universe.
Decent entertainment, professional through and through. Overall a good film and worth recommending to all the Star Wars fans out there. 7/10