Wonderful, with a very "first trilogy" feel to it.

Rating: 9/10 (18 December 2015)

I loved the first three star wars movies, and watched them when they came out on the big screen. I watched them again when they were updated and re-released. They were a lot of fun, but you have to be honest, these are not life-changing movies that really make you think. They're entertainment - good entertainment, but just entertainment. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
I watched the first movie of the second trilogy, and it had a spunky little boy who could fly racing bikes. And a princess who was way too old for him. It looked good, but it had very little entertainment value for me. I did not watch the second and third.
With that said, this movie is more like the first trilogy. Way more like it. In fact, it has many of the same people, and there are nods all the way through the movie toward the first trilogy. It's almost like the horrible second trilogy didn't exist. Yes, it has some similar themes -- but not really that similar. The plot is similar to the very first star wars, but honestly only superficially -- and I see that as a way of moving back toward what Star Wars should be.
Watching the movie has a very "Star Wars" feel to it. It's not a "JJ Abrams" movie using the Star Wars characters. It's a Star Wars movie that happens to be directed by JJ Abrams.
Watch it, if you liked the first trilogy (with Luke, Han and Leia). You'll feel right at home.
If you're wanting Jarjar Binks and little boys who can fly star ships... Maybe this isn't the movie for you.
Oh, and Chewie is great too!