A bridge between generations of Star Wars fans. JJ Abrahams got it right!

Rating: 9/10 (19 December 2015)

After the prequels I was very sceptical about another Star Wars movie. Mainly because the prequels -despite the fact if you like them or not- lacked that feeling I have when I watch a Star Wars movie from the Original Trilogy. And to be honest, I was pretty sure it's impossible to create a movie in this age that would be able to give me that same feeling again.
When I left the theater I realized how wrong I was. THIS WAS STAR WARS! I mean everything in this movie felt and breathed like a Star Wars movie. The characters, the settings, the story... I watched Star Wars. And I was as excited as I was 30 years ago.
But what made this movie so special. What is the reason it gave me that familiar old feeling I had? Well simpel, The Force Awakens is a remake of the best of the Original Trilogy.
HEAVY SPOILERS BELOW:
Let's sum it up. It starts on a desert planet were a droid BB-8 (= R2D2) escapes the First Order (= Empire) with important data information. The droid falls in the hands of Rey (= Luke). Rey falls under the guidance of Han Solo (= Obi Wan). Kylo Ren (= Darth Vader) is trying to capture the information hidden in the droid. The First Order also has a mighty weapon, that can destroy entire planets (= Death Star). During the movie we learn that Kylo Ren is the son of Han Solo and Leia. And Leia believes that there is still good in the boy and that they can convert him back to the light side. There is a confrontation between the estranged father and son where Han gets killed (= Obi-Wan vs Darth Vader). And of course there is the end battle where the weapon gets destroyed by X-Wing fighters blowing up the entire planet.
And now I can hear you think "So it's a cheap remake. That sucks." But if you think that I have to disagree. I think it's a brilliant idea! By making this first sequel a remake of the Original Trilogy, JJ Abrahams basically placed the new characters in a familiar Star Wars environment. Because of this we accept Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren and all others immediately as Star Wars characters and we want to see their stories develop. And unlike the Prequels this solution ensures that the older generation of Star Wars fans recognize this movie as something they enjoyed for so many years. At the same time the new generation can enjoy the characters and make them their own for the future movies. JJ Abrahams created an almost impossible bridge, between all generations of Star Wars fans with this movie. And, in my opinion, that's pretty impressive.
This movie is a fantastic set-up for a trilogy that can go any direction but because of the brilliant connection of this movie to Episode IV, V and VI, despite where the new trilogy will take us, it will already feel like a real Star Wars trilogy. Something -I- missed from the prequels.
As a Star Wars fan I have to say that JJ Abrahams got it right! all in all I give this movie a solid 8,5 to 9 out of 10. (and 10 stars on IMDb because of the haters who gave it 1 star just to troll)