The Kids Are Alright; but Han & Chewie are the golden touch to what's old is new again!

Rating: 9/10 (21 December 2015)

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015) *** 1/2 Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domnhall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Max von Sydow, Peter Mayhew, Gwendoline Christie, Simon Pegg, Greg Grunberg, Warwick Davis, Ken Leung (uncredited: Alec Guinness, Ewan McGregor, Daniel Craig) Every thing is old that's new again in this breath of fresh air to the sci-fi franchise unleashing a new chapter with echoes of its lineage - to wit: The Force is in full swing both light (newcomers Driver, Ridley & Boyega as a rebel force about to be reckoned with) and dark (Driver as Vader, Jr.-wannabe) and enlisting some welcome familiar old friends (trifecta of Ford, Fisher and Hamill) to continue the battle of good over evil. Director JJ Abrams (who co-scripted with veteran Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt) wisely incorporates touchstones of the past while impressing a new wrinkle into the forged chain of iconic moments : (the return of The Millennium Falcon and a fantastic blend of practical effects with gee-whiz enthusiasms of state-of-the-art CGI) Ford lends a surprising amount of ballast and gravitas and sprinkles of curdled snarky humor (much needed) with Chewie also having his moments in the sun. Fun, fast and can't wait for the open for a new sequel down the pike.