Back to Basics

Rating: 8/10 (1 December 2017)

I just re-watched the movie last night after finally getting my 4K Blu- Ray player and television and 7.1 surround set up and was quite happy with the film (even though not 4K) overall with the visual and sound.
I gave the film an 8 rating only for what I thought was a somewhat disappointing ending. I know this is integral with how it will tie in with Episode IX coming out on December 15th.
After the dismal failure of the I, II, III trilogy where I almost walked out of the theater on Episode I but after paying good money I forced myself to sit through it. Needless to say, I did not go to the theater to see episodes II and III so, after all the hype this movie was getting I decided to see it on the big screen.
Everything about this movie worked and I think J.J. Abrams was smart by taking Star Wars back to its roots. Yes, he borrowed a lot from the second trilogy of Episode IV but it worked in his favor. Even if you had never seen a Star Wars movie, this was a good way to get both old and new followers to the franchise.
The story is fast paced and the visual effects are top notch. I especially liked the scenes on Jakku where old wreckage of Imperial ships are strewn across the sand dunes. Rey (Daisy Ridley) the protagonist of the story uses an old AT-AT as her home. She is unlike any other character shown in the Star Wars universe as she is a scavenger and every day is a struggle to survive in that harsh world.
She and Finn (John Boyega) is a former stormtrooper of the First Order and work well together as there is instant chemistry when they first meet when he sees her fight off a group of thugs.
It goes without saying that seeing Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford together again was a treat. Knowing their history together and finding out more of what happened to them 30 years after Return of the Jedi. Their appearance plays an integral part to the story and brings the story-line full circle.
I look forward to seeing Episode IX in two weeks but saddened as well as I know this was the final screen appearance of Carrie Fisher before her passing last year.