Better than expected resurrection of the SW universe

Rating: 7/10 (20 December 2015)

Lucas' prequels set the bar so low that a documentary on mating habits of African swallows would have seemed good by comparison, but that does not diminish the fact that Abrams has essentially accomplished the first part of his mission. Considering his awful reboot of Star Trek, this is more than a slightly skeptical viewer might have anticipated.
Force Awakens is a good movie. It's fun, even titillating at times, and provides good immersion in the story. Having Lawrence Kasdan on- board to write the script has really paid dividends as both the plot and the characters are considerably above what Abrams could have conjured on his own. This movie also proves, once and for all, that Han Solo is Star Wars. Getting Harrison Ford to reprise his iconic role was absolutely crucial for this movie to feel like the real deal. It is difficult to say whether further installments, presumably without his participation, will be able to sustain the magic. The fact that he passed on the baton to younger characters makes that possible though. There is a sense of continuity.
The story is wisely pared down to essentials, but it does not feel overly rushed. There is just enough character development and expository dialogue to outline the context and setup the conflict. There is a legitimate complain to be made that this movie borrows too many plot devices from the original trilogy, certainly a couple more original ideas would not have hurt, yet even the rehashed material feels more nostalgic than derivative.
The characters are generally quite good. Han Solo, as mentioned already, is his usual charming self. Quite a bit more weather worn, but instantly and unmistakably recognizable. It just seems like he never once came out of character in the last thirty years. Boyega's Finn, a deserter Stormtrooper with a conscience crisis, presents a bit of depth and complexity that allow the viewer to identify with his challenges.
Rey is a bit problematic. She is a cool character overall, but the problem with her, just like with Kirk from Star Trek, is that she is a bit too "abramsy". There is no room for her to grow as she seems to be the master of everything already. More powerful Jedi than Luke, better ship mechanic/pilot than Han Solo, physically stronger than five men, and possessing the moral compass of the pope. A little bit more balance between virtues and flaws would have made the character more flesh and blood than this untarnished perfection.
Then there is Kylo Ren. For the first half of the movie, he seems to be the quintessential Star Wars villain. His silhouette, movements, charisma, and well chosen lines of dialogue, set him up almost perfectly as a worthy antagonist. Unfortunately the character falls apart later in the movie. One problem is that the actor's face, once revealed, triggers a sense of disappointment. Kylo Ren looks like a kid might be found sipping a tall latte at the neighborhood Starbucks. Certainly does not evoke the notion of a spiritual and literal descendant of Darth Vader. His role in the movie is "fittingly" capped off by him losing a light saber duel to Rey who picked up the Jedi weapon, for the first time in her life, about five minutes prior.
Other characters worthy of note include Poe Dameron as a hotshot pilot and very charismatic character, Leia and Luke who are rather superfluous, and 3 droids that provide the usual comic relief and occasional deus-ex-machina aid to the human characters.
There is much more to say and describe about the movie, but the above capture my essential first impressions.
The shortcomings of the movie do not change the fact that this is a very decent effort, and a movie that is enjoyable to watch with a good mixture of humor and drama.