SPOILER FREE -- My two cents on what is certain to be one of the most talked about films...ever.

Rating: Null/10 (30 December 2015)

THIS REVIEW IS SPOILER FREE--- Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Those five words will change cinema moving forward. It will likely topple Avatar being it has made almost 1 billion dollars in a week and hasn't even opened in China yet. It has rebooted a beloved franchise with a new director, new owners (Disney), new marketing, new technology and it has taken on the most veracious fan base ever known. And for the most part...it has blown away everything it has come up against. Critics love it, a lot of fans love it and there is mostly an outpouring of love and respect for what JJ Abrams has done with his beloved franchise. It's beloved to me too. It has always been a huge part of my movie watching life and some of the favourite films and definitely a part of my childhood so I was beyond excited to experience this. I had astronomical expectations like most people. I also chose to wait to review this until I had seen it twice because as many people have said...it gets even better subsequent viewings. The natural build up and hype inevitably mars your first viewing. Coming out of that I was prepared to say it was too long, too many holes and give it a solid 8. Coming out of my second viewing...I have to give it a 10. A 10 because it is the best film experience I've had this year even if it has its flaws. When something is this ambitious and this anticipated, you can find holes anywhere.
I absolutely love that they went out and found virtual unknowns for the new leads. I also love that they are fantastic...mind blowing maybe. Charisma on screen and kick-butt chemistry together both romantically and action-wise. Daisy Ridley might be my latest Hollywood crush. They have found a star in this girl and she fits into the world like a round peg in a round hole. She is so easy to relate to and tough as nails and passionate about this role. In my world she would be Oscar worthy. Equally as impressive is John Boyega nails his role as an AWOL StormTrooper (a great side story in its own right) and he makes an equally terrific hero with room to grow much like Luke Skywalker was in A New Hope. Boyega and Ridley have some of the best buddy chemistry I've seen in years. Adam Driver is wickedly awesome as Kylo Ren. He might be a tad campy in some of his performance but it works and he comes across as spoiled brat in some ways and yet is evil to his core and his battle with Ridley is almost as epic as Skywalker vs Vader was. Oscar Issac has a small but important role and I really hope they elaborate more on him in the future because he has a distinctive old school Han Solo feel to him and I'd love to see him become more important to the story. Same with Lupita Nyong'o's much talked about but achingly small role as Maz Kanata. Andy Serkis does his usual incredible motion capture work bringing the mysterious Emperor Snoke to life. And then we have the return cast...Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker. Daniels and Baker and Hamill I'm not going to touch on in this review. It's great to see them back, they are back in their roles flawlessly enough said. I adore Harrison Ford, I've been a fan of his for decades and he has been in a definitive slump. I can tell you this is Ford's best film in years. I didn't think he could do it but Ford steps onto the screen and Han Solo is back in every way shape and form. He is mesmerizing and a commanding presence. He is fantastic. Carrie Fisher looks terrific and while she has a smaller role, she is still a welcomed addition and definitely has that air of Princess Leia she had thirty plus years ago. The old and the new cast blend together seamlessly and magic happens in front of us.
Again, if this were my world, The Force Awakens would be nominated for Best Picture and JJ Abrams would be getting Best Director. I have now seen the film twice and there are scenes in this movie that are literally jaw dropping. People poke fun at his lens flare but he brings the Star Wars Universe to life like I thought no one could ever do since George Lucas. Abrams make it bigger, bolder, makes you feel like you are there and bleak planet is alive with danger and life and questions and mystery. Disney/Marvel and now Abrams has a knack for taking a single film and growing an entire Universe out of it for endless numbers of film to build on. In The Force Awakens alone there is probably 100 mysteries that could have films built off of it. The Force Awakens is magnificent, acting, entertainment, an experience like I haven't had in years at the movies. I would go again right now. The best reboot/remake I think I have ever seen. 10/10