Best Star Wars since Empire, welcome back Lawrence Kasden and thank you JJ Abrams.

Rating: 9/10 (2 January 2016)

It was worth the wait, that's the first thing I'll say about STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, the very highly anticipated sequel to the original trilogy. J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasden clearly have dug deep and come up with a story that logically continues the STAR WARS saga into a new generation, one that brings back iconic figures beloved by millions of fans, while at the same time, introducing new characters with whom the audience can fall in love. Those who say this is the best STAR WARS film since EMPIRE are right on point, if for no other reason than there is not a hide nor hair nor scale of an Ewok or Jar Jar Binks to be seen. In short, there is none of George Lucas's ill-conceived attempts at being cute.
The thing, which makes this STAR WARS ring so true, is the way Abrams and Kasden remind us that at its heart, STAR WARS is only a space opera, but also the story of a most dysfunctional family. The original trilogy centered on a father who had turned to dark side and opposed by his children who followed the light; FORCE AWAKENS simply reverses the dynamic, where now we have two good parents who must try to save a son seduced by the Dark Side. They make it very plain that there was no truly happy ending after the final scene in JEDHI.
Another thing I loved about THE FORCE AWAKENS is the way it truly brings back the STAR WARS universe, a place that was often dirty and very lived in, filled with vivid and distinctive creatures and worlds that were not always what they appeared to be to the viewer. We see crashed and derelict Imperial cruisers and Walkers, the remains of battles past and an implication that war is a constant in this place. The Millennium Falcon is discovered in a junk yard after being stolen by smugglers years before.
One of THE FORCE AWAKENS great strengths is the way so many of it's scenes are clear echoes of what has come before: Obi-Wan and Darth Vader's final encounter, the cantina on Mos Eisley, the medal awards at the finale of the first movie, are among the very many that are not just simply recalled, but are improved upon in ways that will hit with a deep emotional wallop for many fans. I'm so glad I made a point of not hearing about any of the numerous plot twists and revelations in the script; also happy Abrams and company did not try and explain everything by the final scene, which actually raises many questions and sets up the fan anticipation for the next movie.
Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill are back as Han Solo, Princess-now General-Leia, and Luke Skywalker; so is Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2D2 and host of other familiar faces, even Admiral Akbar turns up and gets to say a few more lines this time besides, "It's a trap." The new faces belong to Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac as characters who blend seamlessly with the old pros; Boyega's Finn, a deserter from the Imperial Storm Troopers, is the everyman through whom the audience sees the action and intrigue unfold. Ridley's Rey is the best kind of heroine, resourceful and brave despite the fact that she's terrified to be confronting the worst evil in the galaxy. That evil being personified by Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, a disciple of Darth Vader and follower of the Dark Side; truth told, Driver's Ren is my favorite character in the movie, but I'm a sucker for a good bad guy and Ren is a character with so many interesting possibilities. Domhall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie and Andy Serkis round out the formidable villains whom we will be seeing much of in future films. And Max Von Sydow shows up, not looking that much older than when he played Father Merrin in THE EXORCIST all those years ago. J.J. Abrams is the George Lucas for whom we have been waiting, especially after the original proved he simply didn't have anything more to offer; he, with the help of many others, have revitalized the most beloved franchise in the history of movies and given it new life in the 21st Century. We are home indeed.