Star Wars Episode VII: A New Hope(ish)

Rating: 7/10 (2 January 2016)

The Force Awakens, contrary to popular belief this is the movie fans have been looking forward to. After the dreadful taste left in many fans mouths because of the Prequel Trilogy, this is the film that acts as the mouthwash. After many groans and murmurings when Disney bought the Franchise, I can safely say that you shouldn't worry, at least not yet.
The Force Awakens brings back many classic characters, some a bit unexpected I may say. It also brings in with it a host of new characters, locations and fresh air. Even the music in which John Williams could've just replayed a CD containing his old soundtracks and gotten away with it, but instead has them hinting at the surface while bringing a fresh face to this universe.
When the film starts, we're instantly shoved straight into nostalgia, from the opening crawl to the cheesy 70's scene transitions. But that doesn't slow the pace down at all, the film chops between paying homage to the original (A New Hope) and bringing in a fresh exciting new tone to the movie.
This movie I could safely say is very good, it's exciting getting to see a fan in the reins of another one of the biggest franchises . Not only does Abrams managed to pull off the fine line between homaging and making new. He also makes sure that it isn't rushed or off-kilter.
This film could've been what many films are doing now and simply be full of action, near-constant CGI but it isn't. In fact, it seems that CGI is expressively been reserved for things not physically possible. The plot is well done and everything new brought in blends seamlessly with the old.
I have to praise both Daisy Ridley and John Boyega. Their characters are sympathetic and I could say that this film will launch their careers from their performances. Adam Driver's Kylo Ren seems to be a more well-thought out character and doesn't come across as a one- dimensional villain I felt that Darth Vader was in A New Hope. He is conflicted and unstable and delivers a powerful performance, especially in the last half-hour.
After saying all that though, it doesn't all come to a fantastic movie. Some characters that aren't especially well done include Emperor Snoke, who doesn't really seem to compare that well to his counterpart Emperor Palpatine. Oscar Issacs Poe Dameron seems extremely underused considering that he was advertised as one of the three heroes of the new trilogy.
My other concern is that the nostalgia is going to overcrowd it. The homaging that frequents the movie at times borders into outright recreation, which makes it feel as though the only reason that the film is liked is because it is the movie they love remade. There's enough new content for it to be its own entity and I just hope that in the next two instalments they can shake off the reins and become its own.
I have high hopes for the next instalments after this, especially with JJ Abrams who helped Rian Johnson work out some of the kinks in the upcoming Episode VIII and Colin Trevorrow who helped revive the Jurassic Park franchise after a lot of dead-end sequels will be directing Episode VX.
In short, fans of Star Wars will love the new film, it shocks, amazes and rings true to what came before. It will capture the interest of new watchers and possibly bring more into the fan-base. To casual viewers, it'll be fun to watch but nothing spectacular. And that is kind of what this film is, it's better than you would of thought but still nothing compared to the originals.