That's not how the 'Force' works!

Rating: 7/10 (12 April 2016)

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' has been the most anticipated and over-rated movie for a decade, but is it worth the the hype?
1. To start, this film heavily mirrors 'A New Hope' just by plot alone. A lone scavenger named Rey (Daisy Ridley) discovers a stranded droid called BB-8 who carries classified information regarding the whereabouts of the last Jedi; Luke Skywalker. Sounds familiar? That's cause it is. You can say that this films serves best for the new generation of 'Star Wars' fans but doesn't deliver on the fresher take we've all been hoping for.
2. The stand-out performance in this movie is Harrison Ford himself, playing the infamous Han Solo. His charm, charisma and rebellious style is something you can't help but love. Both he and Chewbacca are more of a dynamic pair that the younger leads. Carries Fisher returns as Princess Leia, but this time goes under the 'General' title as she is now the leader of the 'Resistance'. Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) doesn't appear until the last 3mins of the film, so it's kinda confusing why he's credited in the main cast when this is more of a cameo appearance.
3. Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron) and Daisy Ridley (Rey) fit well into this universe, except for John Boyega (Finn). This is a prime example of horrible miscasting with this particular actor. I suppose the main reason for his casting was the fact that they wanted someone with an ethic background in this film. Boyega plays a 'Storm Trooper' from the 'Star-Killer Base' that goes rogue and becomes entangled with the resistance. He doesn't fit well as a leading-man as he screams, shouts and frantically stumbles his way through the movie. The point where Rey is captured by the 'First-Order', Finn acts more like a nerdy p#ssy-hound to the point where it seems like he's only coming to her rescue in hopes of getting in her pants.
4. Adam Driver plays the emerging Sith-Lord 'Kylo Ren' of the First-Order, who is ultimately revealed to be the son of Han Solo and Leia Skywalker. The costume design is devious and intriguing as Driver's performance. He is a presence to be felt as he goes ruthlessly searching for the droid BB-8, cutting down anyone who stands in his way. He has aspirations to follow in the dark foot-steps of his late grandfather Anakin Skywalker/Darth-Vader. It would be a lie to say that his scenes aren't gripping, the most stand out being where he murders his own father (Han Solo).
5. JJ Abrams does a fine job taking the helm, considering he's fresh off directing the rebooted 'Star Trek' films. His directing style here couldn't feel more different than the films he's done in the past. It's a breath of fresh air that Abrams didn't use any of his constant lens-flares in this film.
All in all, 'The Force Awakens' is a decent film and more of a natural progression from 'Return of the Jedi'. Having been a fan of the classic movies, this one feels all too familiar to take the story that serious. That aside, I think 'Star Wars' fans can still appreciate this film for all the things it does right, cause it does outweigh the wrong.