Well-done

Rating: 10/10 (26 December 2015)

The Force Awakens is about as faithful a Star Wars movie as one could hope for. Return of the Jedi is a challenging movie to make a sequel to, but J.J. Abrams and company have pulled it off. While perhaps not quite on par with the originals in terms of sheer innovation, the latest installment in the saga succeeds in that it draws ample inspiration from the original films without trying to outdo them.
As this is the first film in the series without Lucas's involvement, as well as the first to feature the original cast in over thirty years, it is, naturally, going to feel a bit different. Many things had to come together in order for this film to work. The shift in ownership, three years prior to the release of this film, has caused some to speculate as to whether or not the new Star Wars movies would be the same. Despite Disney's acquisition of the franchise, however, most of the themes of the originals are still evident, which is a testament to the timeless appeal of the series' subject matter.
From a financial and creative standpoint, the artists involved in this project were generally smart to imitate previous Star Wars films without going so far as to remake them (even though the film does stray a little too close to A New Hope at times). Though there are scenes and touches in this movie that some viewers consider to be "fan service," the movie would probably not have been as enjoyable overall had the writers not made the attempt to appeal to fans of the original trilogy. The film does introduce new characters and plot lines, but this is necessary in order for the story to progress.
Among the new characters are Finn, a rogue and free-thinking stormtrooper, Poe Dameron, a talented pilot, and Rey, a mysterious young woman who, despite having no training in the Jedi arts, already seems to have a powerful command of the Force. Finn and Rey team up early in the movie, fighting alongside Han Solo, Chewbacca and The Resistance in an effort to destroy the fascist First Order and their Starkiller Base, which dwarfs The Death Star. At the forefront of the First Order is the lightsaber-wielding Kylo Ren, a masked figure who bears a slight resemblance to Darth Vader, whom he idolizes.
The story, though often familiar, is intriguing nonetheless, thanks in large part to the movie's quality writing, gifted cast and crew and thrilling action sequences. The Force Awakens may be a bit of an unnecessary sequel in some ways, but that does not make it any less satisfying. Although, for some fans, Star Wars is well past its heyday, The Force Awakens proves that, in a galaxy far, far away, there are plenty of stories still left to be told.