A masterful weaving of the old and the new

Rating: 9/10 (19 December 2015)

Don't let the shrill minority fool you, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is one of the greatest films ever set in a galaxy far, far away.
J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan have accomplished what I thought to be impossible: they have resurrected the Star Wars franchise with more life and vigor than ever. From a beautifully nostalgic, yet not overbearing story to crackling dialogue that doesn't take itself overly serious, this film is brimming with everything we ever loved about Star Wars.
The acting is better than we've ever seen it, with our returning cast, specifically Harrison Ford churning out their best performances yet. My favorite part of the film, however, are the new players. All of the young cast, specifically Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley stun in their respective roles.
This film plays as a love letter to fans, from a fan. And while it's impossible to please everyone in the internet age, as a man who loved the original trilogy long before the prequels, I can assure you that if you consider yourself a Star Wars fan, you will fall in love with this film.
I implore you to see it multiple times. It's gotten better every single time. It's now tied with A New Hope as my second favorite Star Wars film behind The Empire Strikes Back. This film will stand the test of time for generations to come. Thank you J.J. and Larry for this gem of a trilogy kickoff.