The Force Is Strong With Jar Jar Abrams

Rating: 9/10 (16 December 2015)

Star Wars is back, that is the highest of compliments. JJ Abrams has masterfully directed us 40 years back in time to a dirty world in a galaxy far, far away. The nods back to the original trilogy are many, but never feel forced or makes you go "enough already". And the moments we've all been dreaming of were there including an amazing last scene. The new main characters Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and bad guy Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) are introduced in a fantastic way and I was blown away by the talent of Adam Driver who plays a very complex character that not at all feels like a new version of Darth Vader but very much his own character. The chemistry between Finn and Han, and between Finn and Rey I found to be great enough to ensure an intriguing new trilogy in the Star Wars universe. The movie does leave a lot still open which bodes well for Episode 8 and probably even Episode 9. Perhaps the only problem I had with the movie is that it does imitate A New Hope one too many times, but while being blown away by the fantastic shots of The Force Awakens it is not something that really takes anything away from the movie. The Force has awakened in a big way, and I would like to personally thank JJ Abrams for taking me back to my childhood.