Back to reality

Rating: 10/10 (13 January 2016)

It has been a while since I remember sitting through five showings of Return of the Jedi at the local cinema. The Star Wars films had always interested me but this film resonated at so many levels it just became a part of me.
Watching Episode VII has hit that sweet spot again. Fast paced, familiar faces, witty comments/asides/jokes and some, wait for it, great acting from both the good goodies and the bad baddies. From the Buck Rogers homage opening and scene changes through to the very end I found myself involved with the story and caring about what would happen next.
Key points for me were that the light sabre duels were not over embellished to the point where gravity and the Laws of Physics no longer applied. CGI was thankfully kept to a minimum, or thoughtfully applied, so as not to distract from the plot. Some terrible and some joyous scenes were completely underplayed, like a good Pratchett novel, leaving the consumer to ponder the deeper truths at a later point.
I am now very much looking forward to the release of the next episode.
PS. I am also looking forward to the making of a Star Wars film where Health and Safety inspectors have a go at all the unsafe construction practises of both the villains and heroes...