This is Star Wars

Rating: Null/10 (17 December 2015)

The Star Wars original trilogy films have been my favourite movies for a very long time. Episode VII, The Force Awakens, is absolutely a perfect fit in to the Star Wars universe.
This film pays homage to the original trilogy and original characters while introducing the new. It's a generational changeover. I half expected not to but I immediately warmed to the new characters. All of them. They're strong and feel like Star Wars style heroes. They're they're own unique character but have elements of ones we love which helps them take their place as the new leads. I thought I might keep wanting to see original cast members the most and focus on them but I didn't feel that way as I liked these new ones straight away. I was happy to see them all on screen.
There are elements to the film I've read people labelling rehashed or recycled from previous films because they are familiar but what they neglect to note is the previous films, even within the original trilogy, used to recycle these same lines, parallels and story patterns. Pick one of those mentioned as being recycled and you can pretty much find it repeated in the old movies already. To do it actually makes this film part of the universe. The Force Awakens isn't using these ideas to rehash and be cheap or because they don't have any new ideas, they've selected just enough old concepts to make it a very Star Wars thing to do. I do not believe they took it too far or crossed a line with it. They have blended in some entirely new ideas but balanced them perfectly with familiar ones so that ultimately it's not a new trilogy that feels disconnected and dissimilar from the others. They've done it so that this IS Star Wars. The familiarities were ones that made me smile. I feel they "got" the universe and respected it too. I encourage you to enjoy these things and go "This is Star Wars and what I love" because I believe that is the spirit of it. I felt that and was loving it. Try not to pick apart everything that follows the first movies as a sport because I think you'll love this film.
Abrams and Kasdan can be proud of the balance in the script of the old and the new, bringing two generations together, making it feel like Star Wars and rejuvenating the saga. Perhaps this a reflection of Abrams and Kasdan as a team, the original generation and the next. There is great character depth, excellent acting and fantastic action that makes you feel caught up in it especially for how close it occurs to the characters. I love how they've done that. If only they could have done I, II and III! I'm so sad they aren't continuing with VIII. It worries me if we will be down again from this high.
This movie and everything in it feels real. There is no plastic CGI, it's real and gritty.
I did not see any lens flare either. Good work on recovery JJ. You are a talented guy with directing, writing and a score too. You can play in the Star Wars universe anytime.
I have been left hungry for the next film. I rated it down one only because I'm not sure how comfortable I am with one thing in the script but won't say what that is or why.
This movie is up there with the original trilogy and is exceptionally well done. It is flat out awesome.