Entertaining on its own terms.

Rating: 8/10 (19 December 2015)

No other movie this year, or perhaps ever, has been surrounded with as much hype as this long-awaited sequel set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. With lofty expectations and overly protective fans demanding the world, J.J. Abrams must walk a tightrope in returning this beloved franchise to the big screen for both decade-old fanatics and a new generation of devotees. It's not the first time Abrams has tasked himself with the impossible – after delivering the superb Star Trek reboot in 2009 – and he very nearly achieves it again here, albeit falling short of the "classic" status so many will be hoping for. He, and everyone else, will just have to settle for a damn fine fantasy flick that should be enjoyed on its own terms.
Focussing on the resourceful scavenger Rey (impressive newcomer Daisy Ridley) as she teams up with ex-Storm Trooper Finn (equally wonderful John Boyega), this instalment capitalises on the exuberance of its fresh faces without forgetting its past. Of the original stars it's Han Solo and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) who feature most prominently, the former played with nonchalant arrogance by Harrison Ford and the latter providing a few laughs here and there. In fact humour seems to be a priority for this episode, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments littered throughout – mischievous soccer ball droid BB8 is sure to be a hit amongst the younger viewers – and an overall tone that is playful without being childish. Although there's nothing playful about villain Kylo Ren. Conceptually striking and portrayed with sinister gravitas by Adam Driver, Kylo Ren is a formidable foe worthy of filling Vader's shoes as the series' antagonist. Elsewhere Oscar Isaac is charismatic as Resistance (the good guys) pilot Poe Dameron, Domhnall Gleeson is a misfire as First Order (the bad guys) leader General Hux, Gwendoline Christie is a disappointing non-event as Captain Phasma and Carrie Fisher brings nostalgic power as General Leia.
Visually there's not a flaw to be found, Abrams opting for practical effects over CGI where possible, harking back to the on-location tangibility of the original trilogy instead of the fake sheen of the empty prequels. That's not to say there's an absence of aerial action though: the Millennium Falcon's introductory flight is a rickety blast, a Tie Fighter escape sequence is exhilarating (and highly amusing) and the climactic outer space showdown is suitably grand. The light sabre battles are also decidedly old school, Abrams infusing them with an emotional rough-around-the-edges feel similar to those between Luke and Vader in episodes 4 and 5, rather than the heavily stylised duels of the prequels. The film's shortfalls primarily come from a less-than-perfect screenplay (by Abrams, Michael Arndt and Lawrence Kasdan), with a few missed opportunities with short-lived characters and a surprisingly substantial amount of plot holes and contrivances being allowed through to the final cut.
An immensely entertaining blockbuster that doesn't transcend the fantasy genre like a couple of its predecessors, The Force Awakens is a satisfying large-scale space saga that sates the appetite until the next Star Wars entry.