Not perfect but an excellent starter for a future wider scope of the Star Wars Universe

Rating: 8/10 (16 December 2015)

Well first thing is its a whole lot of fun !!
I can see what JJ has done here which is to introduce new characters as well as reviving the older ones. This creates a huge nostalgia trip and gives you a very familiar setting.
The story is nothing new granted and I can understand avid Star Wars fans who are well versed in the expanded Star Wars universe that may be a bit disappointed. Having said that as a stand alone film it is far from disappointing and for the younger audience this is a new story.
The new characters are great, Fin an ex Stormtrooper plays a rather naive young man who is clearly trying to impress the girl Rey. Rey takes the lead however yet Fin is not just a tag along buddy. Rey certainly seems like the most interesting character with the most depth, a scavenger from a desert planet who doesn't know her parents ( sound familiar )
Ren as the bad guy seems more like a petulant child early on who hes a lit of anger issues. Cant say too much more without spoilers although I wish he had kept his helmet on.
Poe is the dashing Xwing Pilot as part of the resistance and he is quickly separated from his sidekick BB8. BB8 is a very likable character and is an R2 replacement but slightly cuter.
You then have other characters such as supreme leader Snoke, Captain Phasma ( who looks awesome ) and the quite scary General Hux.
On top of that Han, Leigha, Luke, Chewie, C3P0 and R2 all return in varying degrees.
What we end up with in story terms is a bit of a reboot of a New Hope with slightly different elements. This is not a terrible thing as for older fans its a great nostalgia trip and for newer fans its a great introduction to the Star Wars universe.
You will however leave the cinema knowing the previous 6 films wanting more answers as to why things have turned sour again. As a standalone film it works on all levels but is slightly vapid in depth and at times could have done with a slow down in pace.
It seems JJ tried to cram as much as possible into one film to move the sage forward, JJ is of course not directing the next instalment so I can see there being a lot more depth in the next 2 films ( plus 2 or 3 more expanded universe films )
I just hope that the following films can find some emotion and spirit that is somewhat lacking in the Force Awakens.
I will look forward to a second viewing but one thing Force Awakens does do is puts you back in the Star Wars universe with a great big bang !!
May the Force be with you !