Yes it was similar to A New Hope, but that is the point...

Rating: 10/10 (29 April 2016)

Most Star Wars fans are never pleased I guess. With the prequels they say it is not at all like the original, with Force Awakens, they say it is TOO similar.
While watching this film I noticed the similarities to A New Hope right away, but that didn't pull me away from the film. In fact, it drew me more in.
Apparently this film was purposely made to be more like Episode 4 to give old Star Wars fans a reminder of what made the original so great and feel nostalgic while watching it. It has been years since the mediocre prequels, and the director wanted to bring people back who saw the Star Wars franchise briefly receive a beating and give them something more familiar but also new.
The characters in this film are all interesting and you want to know more about them. Rey was a great main character with a back story just waiting to be revealed, Finn as well.
As for the characters who return, it felt so great to see these characters yet again and they didn't even come off as forced; they were all very crucial to the plot.
The effects used in this film are mostly practical like the original, and this style was used SO well.
The fighting --as well as the music-- was intense but also fun.
Overall, I loved this movie. I saw it twice in the theatres because I couldn't just see it once. It was an excellent movie that reminds you just how great the original trilogy truly was.
10/10