Not a masterpiece, not original, but it's authentic and exciting

Rating: 6/10 (22 December 2015)

You know what you're going to get with J.J. Abrams: an effective and entertaining blockbuster, never short on excitement and rarely failing to succeed in its goals - because it never strays far from a pretty basic formula.
The most crucial thing that Abrams had to get right was creating likable new characters, and he's succeeded. Daisy Ridley's Rey makes for a great protagonist - competent, headstrong and wilful whilst being sufficiently youthful and uncertain to give plenty of scope for growth over the trilogy. John Boyega's Finn sums up everything I found refreshing about Abram's approach to Star Wars compared with the prequels: he's fantastically fun and energetic, and not afraid to be humorous. Although the plot of this particular film was derivative, the introduction of characters we enjoy watching bodes well for the new trilogy.
I really enjoyed some of the sets and settings in this film. As he did with Star Trek, Ambrams has tried to use real sets as much as possible, and it pays off - there's a grit that keeps the action gripping. The action is excellent throughout, with classic space-battles and lightsabre fights. Nothing is too drawn-out, and every action sequence advances the plot in a clear way; there's always something at stake. There's a clear sense that the best is yet to come, however - I anticipate bigger and more innovative battle sequences in the sequels. I also enjoyed how the protagonists felt vulnerable - there was a proper sense of threat and danger.
The film integrates itself pretty well into the Star Wars universe. All the old characters seem to have developed realistically and are doing things that seem plausible. None of the references were obnoxious, but some were unnecessary. Inside the Millennium Falcon, it's enough for us to see the holographic games console from Episode IV; we don't need a character accidentally leaning on it and turning it on. Other little things - like a visit to a cantina - also felt like creative choices that were too obvious (although I'll forgive the cantina because it was so well-realised, unlike the forgettable sterility of similar sets in the prequels). My favourite call-backs were the more subtle ones, particularly the use of iconic edits and camera shots from the original films. I, and I think most viewers, prefer authenticity to blatant call-backs.
Without spoiling by saying anything specific, I think the old characters should have ushered in the new generation of stars in this first film, and then be strongly sidelined for the rest of the franchise so that this can really be its own series of movies. Unfortunately, it seems that certain old characters will be central to the overarching plot of the coming sequels, which I'm worried will prohibit the new generation from taking centre stage.
One of the few other flaws of this movie which I'm worried about going forward is the ambiguous position of the Republic vis-a-vis the First Order. Even though the Empire was supposedly destroyed in Episode 6, in this film their First Order successors still seem to be marauding around the galaxy like they own the place, and there's a Rebellion/Resistance faction. Not exactly rebels if the Republic rules the galaxy - and surely no longer underdogs. The fact that I was confused about the relative power of the different factions detracted from the tension, and I hope the threat is clearer in future films.
Now here's the interesting question - could this have possibly been more than a 7 or 8 out of 10? I don't actually think so. This was a fun action/adventure film which had the primary goal of setting up a new franchise. There isn't the room for the emotional depth which makes a masterpiece; furthermore, the plot meandered slightly even though it was driven along well by the sheer energy of the film. The sequels, and this trilogy as a whole, have the potential to be something grander. For now let's celebrate that J.J. Ambrams did a great job creating a movie that was enjoyable without being overly reliant on references, and made something that was fun and exciting - unlike those bloody prequels.