Is this a perfect movie? No, but what film is? This is however perfect endless entertainment and it surely lives up to its expectations.

Rating: 9/10 (17 December 2015)

''Real sets, practical effect, you've been here, but you don't know this story. Nothing's changed really, I mean everything's changed but nothing's changed. That's the way you want it to be really. To see the way the technology has evolved, and yet keeping one foot in the pre-digital world.''

Mark Hammill

There was no escape. On buildings, public transport, billboards, everywhere there was something Star Wars related. The expectations for The Force Awakens has been high since the boundless promotion for the franchise a year before release. Does it live up to its expectations? Absolutely, yes. This is the Star Wars movie fans have been waiting for since the original trilogy ended in 1983. Is it as good as the original trilogy? I would say it is better than return of the Jedi. It is a great start to a new trilogy.
Rey is a scavenger on the world of Jakku. She accidentally confronts the droid BB-8 who appears to be of significant value for the first order and the rebellion. She also crosses paths with the Stormtrooper Finn whom she goes an unplanned intergalactic adventure with. The trio meet old legends, new allies and new threats and enemies. The Star Wars universe is full of diverse interesting characters and episode VII isn't shy of introducing a handful of new ones. The main characters are introduced with care and nuance, but the introduction of some side characters can feel a little hasty. However, this is Star Wars. We know that this isn't the last thing we have seen of them.
The style of this movie is a perfect blend between the retro and post-modern eras. It tells the story in a modern way, but has some winks to the old fashioned 70's. The mix between the well-crafted practical effects and the stunning, breathtaking CGI in the action scenes are a big factor in to what makes this film a Star Wars film. A big positive adjustment to the franchise is that the Stormtroopers have new designs and are more humanized which gives the battle scenes a more hazardous responsiveness. However, some CGI character designs are however notably derivative of some characters. Something that could've been handled with more nuisance.
Before pre-production began, director J.J. Abrams announced that he wanted to use practical effects whenever he could. The practical effects are a great addition to the quality of the story telling. The real explosions, the costumes and the physical sets give the milieu and atmosphere of the film something unique. The reaction of the actors to these appearances has a natural flavor. Like there is something at stake. The actors are most likely not even acting but are naturally reacting. The dialogue is written in a natural way and the movie is more fast-paced and good-humored than you would think. The natural tone gives the two leads (and the rest of the ensemble of course) Daisy Ridley (Rey) and John Boyega (Finn) some space to shine. After watching this movie, the only thing I can say about this couple is that they are superstars in the making. One could say this is the best acting a Star Wars film ever had.
Although the new cast is a great addition to the franchise, the original cast is still in the game, and they are playing a really good game this time. They all do a great job but Harrison Ford deserves a special mention because he is 100% back as Han Solo. Not the Han Solo that we know, but the Han Solo that had a rough 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. It is great to see him back on the big screen again. Revisiting the original cast is a good thing because it gives the audience some sense of closure. Mix it with a new cast and you'll be satisfied with the end product: Closing one chapter and opening another in this epic saga.
Some will say that the storytelling looks like the Episode I: A New Hope. I couldn't agree more with that. The archetypal story structure is basically the same. Is this a problem? No, because even though the beats of the movie are the same, it has a new fresh feeling to it. The events in this movie are comparable with the original Star Wars, but the characters are new and so are their motivations and decisions. The quote of Mark Hamill above this review is exactly what this movie is. We've been here, but we don't know the story. Everything's changed, but nothing's changed.
I can conclusively say that this movie met its expectations. Maybe even exceeded it. It is a familiar story with new, fleshed out characters and has a high entertainment value. Even though we see a lot of well-known faces, it doesn't rely too much on the nostalgia of the original trilogy. The majority of the CGI and the practical effects look impressive and the acting is excellent. Is this a perfect movie? No, but what film is? This is however perfect endless entertainment and it surely lives up to its expectations. General movie goers? they will really like this movie. The fans? The fans will love it.