Like a lightning bolt to the heart

Rating: 9/10 (24 December 2015)

This film invigorated an interest and a curiosity I haven't felt in so long. I've never been so gleefully entertained at the cinema in my life. Maybe I have been but not in this way. It is a film that excites, enthralls, captivates, wonders, breaks your heart and everything in between. The best part about that is that it earns those moments and executes them with the urgency they deserve. The laughter, the tears, and the joy are all there in a way that purely inherent to the script and Abram's direction. Since it is Star Wars there are some familiar faces like Harrison Ford's "Han Solo" but it doesn't rest on nostalgia by integrating them into the film. It's earned by the narrative and the 30 years that have passed between films. The only noticeable flaws for me really are just cosmetic nitpicks. It's like a lightning bolt to the heart.
The new cast are perfect. It's almost as if the trailers underplayed what they bring to the film. Especially Daisy Ridley who I can't speak of highly enough, she is outstanding. Her character has so much heart, grace, and strength but with a vulnerability at key moments that make you empathize so heavily with her character. Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver and John Boyega all infuse their characters with a spark of curiosity and intrigue. There's no life that couldn't be improved by having your own real life BB-8. Adam Driver's Kylo Ren has the potential to be one of the most interesting antagonists in cinema history. His character is unstable, volatile and darkly compelling in unexpected ways which allowed the drama to captivate you as you see some key moments play out. The character dynamics and arcs have the potential to play out better than the original trilogy did.
Technically the movie is also pretty much flawless, visually breathtaking, blocked in a way that makes every scene heightened and operatic to fit the scale of the universe. Some desert scenes are shot with a grandeur not seen since "Lawrence of Arabia", "Starkiller Base" brings out the best of the snowy landscapes almost as if it's a blend between "Doctor Zhivago" and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". The sound mix is highly detailed with many interesting and well-observed surround effects. There's a cheeky "Willhelm Scream" thrown in there for good measure too, a nice touch. The art direction of the interiors draws inspiration and pays fitting tribute to Ralph McQuarrie but adds so much to the energy of a new age in this universe.
The finale is touching symbolic, a scene that means so much yet invites you to want more. It can't be understated how much of a good time I had with this movie. This was an enjoyable movie that meant something to me, not just as a guy that loved the original movies but as a guy who loves movies. That to me is one of the biggest achievements of all.