The Force is strong with this one

Rating: 9/10 (17 December 2015)

Welcome from Michael Lai's Magical Movie Reviews: "Ahhhhhh!" That's the sound you'll hear from the majority of Star Wars fans around the world breathing a huge sigh of relief. This is what Star Wars was meant to be, qualities not exhibited in Episodes I and II...characters you cared for, exciting action pieces not dominated by CGI, engaging plot twists and revelations plus a story that doesn't become bogged down with too much technical exposition. It's a combination of the old and the new with characters we remember and love from the original trilogy as well as new characters that have their chance to breathe a life of their own. We have the chance to reminisce with our beloved characters yet be intrigued by what will happen with the new characters. These characterizations ultimately drive the story with the action scenes helping deliver a spectacular and rewarding two hours plus of fun-filled entertainment.
Set three decades after the death of the Emperor, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has vanished and the Resistance led by General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), is trying desperately to locate him before the First Order led by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) captures him, thus eliminating the main threat to their galactic dominance. Second in command is a Darth Vader figure in Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) who also has Force-like powers like his idol. The droid, BB8, has been entrusted with the map of the location of Luke. BB8's companion is Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), the best fighter pilot in the Resistance. Poe is captured by the First Order but his escape is assisted by a Stormtrooper in Finn (John Boyega). Meanwhile, BB8 is separated from his companion and winds up in the company of Rey (Daisy Ridley), a young woman living on a desert planet, who is hunting for spare parts to trade for food, just so she can survive. Finn and Rey eventually team up with each other along with old favorites like Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew).
This is the ultimate homage to the original Star Wars trilogy, which some people might complain about as playing it too safe. J.J. Abrams, the director and co-writer of the film, employs traits such as the slide swipe and 'eye' closing between some scenes, but it is this familiarity which will endear him to Star Wars fans. There are several scenes and plot points which you know you have seen before but you can forgive Abrams for doing this as it doesn't alienate the Star Wars fans. As a stand alone film and not comparing it to the original trilogy, it attracts the audience. For that, Abrams deserves credit for bringing in a new legion of fans. He also maintains an up-tempo rate, ensuring that there is never a dull moment.
We are emotionally invested in the characters. Daisy Ridley is a newcomer worth keeping an eye on because she portrays the heroine with conviction. Her scenes with Boyega are engaging and they make us care for the fate of their characters, something that wasn't always evident in the rapport between Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman in the CGI trilogy. Harrison Ford appears in quite a fair bit of the film and shows here how much his acting has improved since the 1977 original. The major villain in Kylo Ren is brilliantly portrayed by Adam Driver and he capably exhibits the rage and angst his character is experiencing.
The abundance of CGI which detracted from the first three episodes is thankfully not in evidence here. It's a return to what made the visual effects so special in Episodes IV, V and VI. There are CGI characters (more like motion capture) like Snoke and Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong'o) but they're never as annoying as Jar Jar Binks was. Kudos also to the sound effects team for bringing all those space vehicles to life. You'll feel like you're involved in the action.
Other technical aspects to flourish include the superior set decoration, costume design, cinematography and editing, all contributing to the overall pleasures of this movie. Who could forget to mention the score by John Williams? Star Wars and John Williams go hand in hand and again, he has fashioned a score that is exciting and atmospheric. He is a living treasure and we must appreciate every score he composes, now that he is close to the end.
As a side note, this is the first Star Wars film not released by 20th Century Fox and it's sad to not hear the 20th Century Fox fanfare that introduces a Star Wars movie. It's a good thing though that Disney, the studio that has acquired the rights from George Lucas, didn't include its usual "When You Wish Upon a Star" tune and the image of the fireworks above the castle to introduce the film. Those iconic words to begin a Star Wars film..."A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" will give you goosebumps.
Disney plans to release a new Star Wars film in 2017. If the adventures of these characters, both and old and new are anything to go by, the next sequel promises to be an exciting chapter in the Star Wars franchise. The hype won't be as big for that installment but the hype for Episode VII has certainly been justified. http://mlaimlai2.wix.com/magical-movie-review