For me, this ticks all the boxes

Rating: 10/10 (21 December 2015)

I'm disappointed in the disappointment that surrounds this latest installment of the Star Wars franchise.
Maybe I'm not fussy enough but when I go to the movies, especially one featuring characters and a genre I'm a fan of, I kind of sit back and enjoy the ride.
Given that the principles have aged a fair bit and the demands of the fans are in line with the way we've all been spoiled, I reckon Mr Abrams and Co did a fantastic job. I enjoyed every minute. The scope and spectacle were phenomenal. The effects were seamless and the aliens didn't come across as 'Muppets in space' like the early offerings did.
As a sci-fi fan, I hated what Ridley did to Alien with Prometheus and don't even start me on the final Indiana Jones fiasco. I'm shaking in my boots considering how they might botch Blade Runner if the sequel goes ahead and I'm seldom satisfied with super hero movies because they're seldom made by fans. But when they are; (eg: Jackson with LOTR) it works. It seemed to me that Abrams respected the chemistry like a fan would and if he is guilty of copying it, so be it. It erased the horrific prequels and entertained me thoroughly. Jaw-droppingly so. Don't be looking too harshly because there's a lot to love. It was nostalgic enough to recreate the magic of IV and there's enough meat on the bones to sustain a pretty amazing future for the Star Wars mythology. For me - 10/10