J.J. Abrams produced a sequel that is faithful to the Magic of Episodes IV and V (before Special Editions)

Rating: 10/10 (19 December 2015)

This movie brings back the fun-filled Magic and excitement of the first two movies and (THANKFULLY) avoids the excessive CGI & stupid characters (ala Jar Jar Binks) that made later movies painful to watch. I'm doing my best to avoid any spoilers; so I'll only discuss in general terms. The closest I'll get to plot specifics is to provide rebuttal to reviewers who have criticized this movie as being a mere "remake" of Ep. IV & V. As an actual "Sequel" to the first series; it would be absurd to produce a movie that didn't include many of the same ship designs and other technology from the earlier films. It's not as if all of those ships would conceivably disappear and be replaced over a supposed 30 year time frame.
Moving on, I admit that this movie does not have the deepest plot possible. As the first film in a new trilogy; it serves as the vehicle to introduce all of the new characters, reintroduce some old beloved characters and acclimate the audience to the "Galaxy far far away" in this time period. This is performed masterfully. With a blend of non-stop action, well-timed humor and tasteful nods to the earliest films; no Star Wars fan should be disappointed.
Prior to its release, I read that J.J. Abrams decided to be faithful to the original films so much that he eschewed the use of digital recording in favor of 35mm film and whenever possible, used live action and stunts in favor of CGI. Thie results are a film that is beautiful in its rendition and captivating with its visual presentation. Starting with Return of the Jedi and to a much greater extent with all of the prequels; I found myself distracted from the movies with thoughts of "That's pure CGI" , "wow, look,how that CGI character was inserted into the film" and ancillary items. This time around, the effects were far more subtle. Rather than being in-your-face and screaming "Look at this cool computer graphic" the SFX are there to support the plot, not be it.
I saw The Force Awakens in a D-box equipped theater. (Motion enhanced seats that tilt, vibrate and shake in a closely choreographed relation to what is going on on-screen). I've demo'ed D-box technology at electronics trade shows for years; but this was the first time I actually watched a full movie in one of these seats. While I can see the D-box experience enhancing a movie such as Fast & Furious XXX; I found that I was pulled into the non-stop action & plot developments of this film that I never really noticed any of the "enhancements" offered by this advanced technology. If I were to go see the movie again; I think I'd opt for seeing it in IMAX.
In summary, If you are a fan of the original SW movies, you will love this one. The elements that made the prequels a massive disappointment are gone. This movie is pure fun for all ages. I can't wait for Episode VIII in 2017.