Star Wars is back, yet not without flaws

Rating: 8/10 (20 December 2015)

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS*
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away...
I didn't know how much I missed those words until I was sitting in the theater. Star Wars has been one of my favorite movie franchises, but like many I felt disappointed with George Lucas' prequels a decade ago. I am glad to say that Star Wars The Force Awakens is a return to form for a franchise that badly needed it, yet it's not without flaws.
This movie will certainly have those who absolutely hate it, some of the reasons are valid and some are not, so I'll first start with the flaws as there is far more good than bad so might as well get it out of the way. The plot heavily mirror's that of A New Hope, it's fair to say that it relies on it too much. This approach was certainly the safer one, drumming up nostalgic moments for the old school moviegoers while still adding brand new characters and backstory for the new generations of Star Wars fans. I did wish there was more originality within the script, but for a first movie in a brand new trilogy that needed to show fans Star Wars can still be great I won't fault it too much for sticking to what worked in the past.
The villains (excluding Kylo Ren) were also fairly weak in the movie. Captain Phasma got the Boba Fett treatment for most of the film, but I will hold out hope for more screen time in Episode VIII. Supreme Leader Snoke and General Hux were much weaker, Hux especially seemed miscast. It was very hard to take Domhnall Gleeson seriously, any general of the First Order should be an older grizzled war vet, Gleeson is 32 and looks much younger within the film. We only see Snoke through a CGI hologram, he doesn't look very intimidating or scary, and seems out of place entirely within this universe. Hopefully they do something with him in future movies as right now he does not give off an intimidating presence like the Emperor did in the original trilogy.
With those criticisms out of the way, let's talk about the positives of the film. The rest of the cast did a superb job, especially Ridley (Rey) and Driver (Kylo Ren). Ridley has all the makings of a star, as she delivered a fantastic and emotional performance. She was on point throughout the whole movie and stole the show. Driver played what Anakin should have been in the prequels. Powerful, yet naive and conflicted. He follows the path of Vader without knowing why, and clearly shows vulnerabilities beneath the strong/fear- inducing persona. He is by no means your cookie-cutter Sith Lord, which is fitting as we actually get to see the emotional conflict that one has to go through to truly dedicate themselves to the Dark Side.
The returning cast also makes a big splash, especially Ford (Han Solo). Han is back in full force with his trusty sidekick Chewbacca, and boy does Harrison Ford still look the part of a mega-star. The Han Solo of old returns, a bit more grizzled and tired, but still the same old smuggler we've all grown to love. Han carries a lot of the movie in the 2nd and 3rd acts. We see a different Han towards the end, one that is weary of the fighting and war and ready to end it all for the sake of family.
As previously mentioned, the plot mirrors quite a bit of A New Hope. To keep the spoilers to a minimum, I will just say that while the plot isn't extremely innovative or deep, it works for what Abrams was trying to do, and does a good job of setting up the rest of the trilogy.
The cinematography and CGI are outstanding. While some people complained about the aliens not improving since 1977, that was the entire point. There are very few true CGI characters in this movie, the rest are done using costumes and practical effects. The galaxy feels old, rusty, worn down. Gone is the sleekness and shininess of the prequels, in it's place is a universe that feels lived in and harsh. This is my biggest plus for the movie, it feels like Star Wars. The universe is fleshed out, believable, and feels alive. The sounds and visuals feel nostalgic, even though they look amazing. It definitely does not feel like cheap CGI. The score by John Williams is great when heard, but felt a lot more muted than in the past. The rest of the SFX is great, with blasters and lightsabers making the same beloved sounds they have in the past.
Overall, The Force Awakens feels like a nostalgic trip to the past, and it works quite well for the majority of the movie. While a few minor flaws certainly appear quite evident, the majority of Star Wars fans will appreciate what Abrams has managed to do. With the movie ending where it did, Episode VIII has a lot of potential to branch out into its own independent story arc.
To sum it up, The Force Awakens is very much a return to the past, and saying goodbye to the Star Wars we knew and loved to make way for a new era. And I am perfectly OK with that.