Back to the Future - No Spoilers

Rating: 10/10 (27 December 2015)

Any review of Star Wars always comes with baggage. I saw the first one when I was eight and have watched it far too many times since. I enjoyed the next two but would certainly have joined the Dark Side to avoid ever seeing Ewoks again. I have felt less impressed with the offerings since.
There are no spoilers here because that's not cricket.
The Force Awakens retains all the intimacy and innocence of IV, along with the sense of it not only being a magical tale but the skillful telling of a magical story.
The headlines centred around the reintroduction of the old characters, but for me, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega are just amazing. Wasn't Luke Skywalker a bit ... well boring and worthy in comparison? Ridley is just perfect. She's no princess, a great role model and not once do you question her place in the fantasy or her casting. Boyega has a a difficult brief but he takes vulnerability, heroism and humour in his stride. It's great to see Han and Leia again but there's nothing corny or overly nostalgic here, it's played beautifully.
The film looks gorgeous, the first time I watched it for the story, the second time I admired its sheer beauty. It is really, really pretty.
The story is not new, but that doesn't matter because it's scintillating, fast- paced and exciting.
I love this film.