We're home

Rating: 8/10 (23 December 2015)

Quickie Review:
The Galactic Empire has fallen, but thirty years later from its ashes rises a new threat to The Republic. A rag-tag group of heroes and resistance fighters must come together to face The First Order and the dangerous new weapon they've built. Meanwhile, the mysterious figure known as Kylo Ren is on a mission to finish the journey to the dark side, following his idol Darth Vader. Star Wars TFA, is not perfect but it is the film the fans have been aching for. The focus is back on the characters and their relations, set in the grand operatic setting of Star Wars. Familiar heroes are back to bring out your nostalgia but more importantly the new cast make an impactful impression, leaving you excited to see more of them in the future films. TFA does traverse some familiar plots from the original story but sets the stage for exciting adventures ahead without sacrificing the thrill of this film. If you aren't one of the millions already seen the film in the first weekend, make sure you aren't missing out soon.
Full Review:
At work I've seemed to have built up a reputation of being a rabid fan of Star Wars. Though that's true, I am a huge fan of the franchise, the fandom all over the world goes far beyond. Considering the hate towards the prequels, many fans including myself had their hopes riding on TFA. Thankfully, the movie was able to re-capture the magic of the original Star Wars.
While we do see some of our favourite characters returning, the focus of the movie is truly on the new cast. First of all, the two leading heroes Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (Jon Boyega) are instantly likable. These are not the one note characters of the prequels, they are layered and have growth that feels natural. Their charming personalities had me invested in the perils they are thrusted into. On the darker end, we have Kylo Ren so wonderfully portrayed by Adam Driver. He deserves the honour of being a great addition to Star Wars hall of villainy. In just one film I got to know so much about his conflicts and ambitions. Yet at the same time there is still a veil of mystery on the character, an intrigue behind him that I can't wait to see be explored more in the later films. We also get to see more characters from the original trilogy, the highlight of which was Han Solo. At no point did it feel like he was just playing this role again for some easy cash. He was right at home playing Han which made it all the more fun for me to watch him return to this beloved franchise. Other recognisable icons are used in a smart way, with moderation as to not grab the attention away from the story.
Aside from the great cast, I enjoyed the way the film was shot. One of the biggest point of their marketing was the use of practical effects, and it pays off. I will make the claim now, this film will age much better than the prequels, because everything feels authentic and tangible. The practical effects brought a sense of realism to the fantasy of this world. The action scenes were beautifully shot with all the dogfights and gunfights getting your blood pumping. On top of that I loved the light sabre fights. There are no fancy CGI jumps and twirls, instead it was a messy fight for survival, driven purely by rage and fear. These weren't scenes for just spectacle but ones that furthered the growth of the characters involved, a critical moment in their journey with the Force. I'd like to say more about some scenes that I feel will become iconic in the future but I will leave that for you to experience.
Though I loved the film, it is not perfect. The main issue it comes down to is the fact there are too many similar story points in TFA borrowed directly from the original trilogy. So for the most part the movie plays it quite safe. At the same time my main complain of the prequels was that they don't feel like a Star Wars adventure. However, TFA does capture that sense of magic and adventure of Star Wars, so in a way borrowing the story elements did help. Moving forwards I'd like to see newer ideas come into play but that's something to discuss in 1.5 years from now (let the countdown begin for Episode 8!).
Again if you aren't one of the millions who have rushed out to see it, don't wait too long. Go now and experience what we've always loved about Star Wars, great heroes, great villains, great action, and great mythology. Star Wars The Force Awakens gives me confidence in the future of this franchise.