same story and yet unexpected

Rating: 8/10 (23 December 2015)

Expectations where high on this blockbuster, but though I was in fear of being disappointed, that was not the case. The movie keeps your attention and packs everything a movie needs. The makers knew it packed everything it needs, because it is a shameless remake of A New Hope and that was about the only really annoying thing about it. They should have made it "more different".
The main characters are quickly introduced in the movie and their journey throughout the story makes sense, but even in the characters the remake is way too obvious. Kylo Ren is, just like his example Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker), a winy little snot on a power trip and this is where I did expect something more. The older Leia and Han and Chewie are a nice touch, BB-8 holds is own and though I would have preferred R2-D2 it will be nice to see those two side by side in the next installments.
Visually the movie grasps your attention and at times the 3D is astonishing (and I'm not a 3D fan). At no point was the movie doing "too much" visuals or 3D.
The first links to the older movies have been laid, but it will be nice to see how things start tying up further down the road.
Job well done and I can't wait to see the next one.