Thrilling adventure like '77 Star Wars but missing creativity

Rating: 8/10 (20 December 2015)

After a decade long hiatus, Star Wars is back in a big way, this time directed by JJ Abrams, who does a yeoman's job of continuing the swashbuckling saga by re-connecting to the original trilogy. Back are Han Solo, "Princess" Leia, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2, even if some do a cameo.
The newcomers, Daisy Ridley as Rey and John Boyega as Finn, jump right into the action. Rey is found to be a highly skilled fighter pilot and Finn must battle with his own purpose as a defects from a Stormtrooper to a Reistance Fighter. Rey and Finn are thrown together fighting for the same cause, the free Resistance against the evil First Order. Through an unexpected meeting with Han Solo, they are astonished to discover that the mystical Force they believed myth, and The Resistance leaders—Skywalker, Leia and Solo—whom they were told were legends, are indeed real!
The camaraderie that made these characters fun—the wisecracks, sarcasm, fly-by-the-seat of-your-pants heroics—are back as well. Kidnapping and rescue missions, unlikely heroes, saddening emotional loss, the underdogs skillful planning to destroy a much larger enemy and escaping impossible traps are all elements from the first trilogy that JJ Abrams cleverly and nostalgically incorporates into "The Force Awakens."
The special effects in the battle scenes are breathtaking. The scene with the two TIE fighters chasing the Falcon as it careens off the ground, twisting through canyons, and doing backward loops into an abandoned battleship, all while firing shots at the enemy, is thrilling. Their new nemesis, Kylo Ren, is cloaked in the same wicked manner as his grandfather, Darth Vader. The power he wields with The Force is awesome. With a wave of the hand he not only controls his enemies like puppets on strings but can stop a ray from a blaster in mid air. He terrifies his adversaries with his telepathic ability to extract secrets from their belligerent minds. Kylo reports to an intimidating dictator, The Supreme Leader Spoke, in the form of a grotesque five story high hologram.
Finn and Rey's mission is to find a map inside a droid that leads to Luke Skywalker, the key to The Resistance, who has the ability to use the Force to train Jedi knights that can overtake the First Order. "The Force Awakens" takes us on a journey to find Luke. But, The First Order's army and new "weapon" stands in the way.
When Rey's curiosity leads her to open a sort of Pandora's box containing a relic belonging to a former Jedi knight, she unleashes a harrowing flashback that terrifies her to refusing confronting the First Order. The brainwashed Finn is resolute he cannot win a fight against those he defected from. Han Solo is trapped by Stormtroopers. Will Luke ever be found? Will anyone battle the First Order?
While the reminiscence of the former Star Wars scenes seems fun, it unfortunately demonstrates the director's own reservations with innovation and creativity that made the original Star Wars great. The story line lacks depth and hence drama. For instance, when Kylo Ren removes his mask there is no shock and awe as in "The Empire Strikes Back" when Darth Vader reveals his true identity. How does Rey, naive of The Force, with no Jedi training and unfamiliar with the light-saber suddenly match the skilled Kylo clash-for-clash? How does Finn, a former sanitation worker, suddenly have insight into the inner workings of an entire space station and possess incredible marksmanship with a gun turret? Hopefully, Abrams will remedy these lapses in future episodes.
Despite these flaws in the script I still strongly recommend the film for its immense escapist entertainment.