All what you needed for the biggest movie event of 2015, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is one satisfying ride.

Rating: 9/10 (17 December 2015)

The most awaited movie of 2015 has finally arrived with full throttle. It had been years since the last movie in the saga was released. And now to officially start a new trilogy, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" kicks off the series in one satisfying ride.
"The Force Awakens" starts off where "Return of the Jedi" left off. Luke Skywalker had vanished. Princess Leia Organa was left scarred to command the Resistance. Han Solo parted ways with them. And the Empire rose from the rubble in the form of the First Order. Now fully functional with a huge Stormtrooper army and a new space station, three heroes must stop the forces of the Dark Side from setting the fate of the galaxy.
I say "Force Awakens" is a "satisfying ride" because despite being a fulfilling cinematic experience, it does not hold up as the landmark movie I was counting on. J.J. Abrams, labeled as the "remake king" by 60 Minutes and company really do their best to breathe new life to the saga. The task was risky. The attempt is futile. But the end result is a grand spectacle that made George Lucas' "Star Wars" a spectacle, back in 1977. That being said, it would make you forgive "Force Awakens" for rehashing the same story pattern from the original. Not a bad move like John Williams redoing the "Star Wars" score but creating a new composition to stand out with Episode VII.
Speaking of spectacle, it would be best attributed to its universe building. Give praises to Abrams from making everything grand and massive that you feel the movie experience in your very eyes. From the abandoned remains of the Imperial fleet to the chilling fortress of the Starkiller Base, every setting is amazing to behold. It also helps that Industrial Light and Magic ups their game with the effects that made them the defining effects players of the film industry. It could help if more of the Star Wars universe is expanded but from what was shown, it satisfies at best. If I could nitpick something, the editing is too frantic that getting from sequence to sequence is breathless and sudden. No harsh words for Abrams regulars Mary Jo Markey and Maryann Brandon, but they should have learned from "Star Trek Into Darkness".
Of course, "The Force Awakens" will not be without its robust cast of characters. The original "Star Wars" entourage is back in full swing, with a lot of twists and turns for them. The presence of Harrison Ford's Solo, Carrie Fisher's Leia, Mark Hamill's Luke, Peter Mayhew's Chewbacca, Anthony Daniel's C3PO and Kenny Baker's R2D2 will provide cheers for fans and non-fans alike. But the crucial part of the cast is the people who will be passed on their baton. John Boyega provides a resonating, if not affectionate, presence as a redeeming Stormtrooper, given the name of "Finn". Oscar Isaac is basically impersonating Lando Calrissian with a hint of Solo, in an okay fashion. BB8 as well is a cool scene stealer. However, the biggest praise of the cast goes to Daisy Ridley as Rey. A scavenger in a desert planet, she is provided with the simplest persona but with the deepest secrets from her past. Give props to Ridley for making her one of the year's greatest heroines in a year of great heroines. And her chemistry with Boyega's Finn is exquisite. You will truly love the newbies. The cast is not without its faults. They go more to the antagonists. Though the presence of Domhnall Gleeson and Andy Serkis is kind of average, it is Adam Driver as Kylo Ren takes the most mixed bags. Kylo Ren is an intriguing antagonist. He is no Darth Vader, for the better. Ren at least leaves a scar from his back story. Without the mask however is a different opinion. Probably because it is seeing Driver still as the guy from "Girls" or because I am not sold to his performance. I could have asked more dimensions to the characters, but that will be left to the next chapters.
Besides the cast, there are serious nods and Easter eggs for avid fans and more genuine action set pieces from non-fans. But one must truly experience the movie to behold its wondrous spectacle. Abrams should not feel worried for as much as a tiny fraction of plot elements might flaw, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is truly the movie event you cannot miss.