The Force has Awoken in me.

Rating: 8/10 (23 December 2015)

It's an awesome time to be alive when your life co-exists at a time when 'Star Wars' ruled the cinema screens. This is the film I was looking for. Being reunited with some old friends brought a nostalgic smile to my face as I returned to a time long ago, in a galaxy far, far away. It was simply coming home for this 'Star Wars' fanatic. Before I even thought about reviewing this latest installment, 'The Force Awakens', I had to see a viewing not once but twice. The first was out of pure excitement and after allowing my brain to process what I had just seen, I took a quick trip to the local cinema and relive the magic all over again.
J.J. Abrams has to be commended for taking on this massive task. The self confessed fan knows exactly what 'Star Wars' means to the countless souls throughout the world but in saying this, the man is a professional and does get paid the big bucks. What Abrams has done well is instantly transporting the audience back to galactic worlds where the forces of good and evil are played out in an eternal struggle for supremacy. Against the backdrop of wonderful galactic arenas and timeless characters it doesn't take long for the audience to know that they are watching something uniquely 'Star Wars'. J.J has introduced new characters to drive the fresh direction of the space saga but is still respectful of the past by casting familiar faces that have made the 'Star Wars' epic so special. Abrams experience with the rebooted 'Star Trek' series has given him the knowledge and wisdom to recreate an epic universe and recognise the importance of George Lucas's story.
'The Force Awakens' begins thirty years after the events of 'Return of the Jedi'. A map containing the whereabouts of the legendary Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), is placed into a BB8 droid by a resistance fighter named Poe Dameron (Oscar Issacs) before he is captured by the New Order led by the evil Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) who possesses the power of the force. And so the episode begins and it isn't long before we are introduced to Finn (John Boyega) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) who cross paths with each other on the junkyard planet of Jakku. They are forced to escape the planet with the BB8 droid after being tracked by the enemy and it is here that they fortuitously run into Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). Together, they all set about returning the droid back to the Resistance before the New Order can intercept them. The Millennium Falcon races across the galaxy where General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) awaits the precious cargo. Absolutely brilliant stuff!
The new cast of Ridley, Boyega, Issacs and Driver drive this new trilogy for a new generation. Each have created their own piece of history in the 'Star Wars' saga and need to continue to grow in the roles that they have created just as the original cast did before them. Daisy Ridley looks very comfortable in her starring role and doesn't seem overwhelmed by the magnitude of the narrative. Ridley works well with John Boyega with each increasingly familiar in the others presence. Harrison Ford is prominent throughout the film as his timeless character, Han Solo, effortlessly engaging with the younger cast members. Han's relationship with his lifelong mate, Chewbacca, oozes charm and is worth the price of admission alone. They truly are two of the greatest characters ever to grace the cinematic screen.
J.J. Abrams has delivered an engrossing space fantasy that will satisfy the fans who have waited for the magic to one day return. He has been respectful to George Lucas's story but has had enough vision to open up avenues that the rest of the trilogy must explore. With the baton being past to a new Director for the next installment, the final trilogy has the potential for greatness. It is calling to us all.