*Some Spoilers* Star Wars is back.

Rating: 9/10 (21 December 2015)

I am so happy to say Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is every bit the sequel that the original trilogy deserves.
Like many Star Wars fans, I went into this film with a degree of trepidation after the "jar"ring experience of the prequels. The prequels weren't just bad, they were turgid. Jar Jar gets all the blame, but he is just one symptom of a wider malaise. Those films have terrible acting (from world class actors), terrible CGI, an appalling script, and are riddled with bad slapstick humour, dollops of awful cheese, and a romance that would fit perfectly into a cheap lunchtime TV soap opera. If only they had just made Anakin likable we might have had a real tragedy... and all those bad things might not have mattered, as much. But that's an argument for another day.
SWTFA gets what the prequels got horribly wrong, wonderfully right. The CGI is used sparingly but effectively. The script is good, and it gives the actors something to work with. There is real humour - more than I expected for a Star Wars film, but it feels right.
The story itself will be criticised given the many similarities with Star Wars IV: A New Hope, but I feel this is already overblown and eventually people will see SWTFA for what it is... a much needed refresher for the Star Wars universe that breathes new life into a familiar but new story using characters we deeply love.
Almost all of the new characters strike home. Rey is an amazing figurehead played staggeringly well by newcomer Daisy Ridley. I'm sold on Rey already. This 30 something man will follow her into battle any day. She's going to be to every little girl, what Luke Skywalker was to boys of my generation.
Finn brings humour and humanity. He's flawed and scared but loving, loyal and funny. He's sometimes bumbling but always ready to fight. Finn will bring what has been lost by the tragic end of Han Solo, and maybe a little bit extra.
Adam Driver is staggeringly good as the enigma Kylo Ren, the flawed petulant nemesis trying to stay loyal to the dark side despite being from a family of the light. His journey was brilliantly contrasted with Rey's. I can't wait to see these two clash again.
Oscar Isaac oozes raw screen charisma as Poe Dameron the best pilot in the RESISTANCE.
Of the old cast, I was worried and half expecting another Indiana Jones-esque cringefest. Thankfully they all fulfil their allotted roles admirably. Han Solo has the most stuff to do and he does it well. It's Han, it's really him, and not a bored actor going through the motions.
After the first watch, I really liked it but rated it 7.5/10. After the second it's up to 9. The blend of humour is right, the story works, but it all seems to fly by (always a good sign).
The minor criticisms I have are around the Spaghetti Meatball CGI monsters; the occasional over-the-top cheesy line "That's one helluva pilot!!!"; and the lack of context for incinerating 5 planets. This is all small fry though. SWTFA is a brilliant film. I am highly wary of being biased on this, so I was interested to hear my girlfriend purr "That was completely amazing!" as we left the cinema. Good sign - she's not really a Star Wars fan but does like to make Chewbacca noises. I'm sold, bring on 8. I'll buy JJ a pint if I ever see him.