Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" directed by JJ Abrams is a fun, thrilling ride.

Possible spoilers ahead. I'm going to try and review this without giving too much away, but if I do you can't say I didn't warn you.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is the newest film the in the Star Wars saga. It reveals new things about the force and how it works. We are reunited with beloved characters while being introduced to some awesome new ones. George Lucas' creation gets new life breathed into it, and while it is so far getting more favorable reviews than the prequels, there are still plenty of fans who are disappointed with the outcome. Is the film an overly-hyped retelling of "A New Hope" or are fans never going to be happy with anything that is not the original trilogy?

There are plenty of things in the new story that can keep fans happy. The overall use of the force by a character who is not aware how much flows within them. An epic lightsaber fight between new characters. The Millennium Falcon. Chewbacca. The list goes on. However there are also a lot of similarities between this film and the original Star Wars film "A New Hope". The use of the force against a simple-minded Storm Trooper. A character who is destined for greatness despite a childhood of suffering. The death of a mentor.

Wow. Way to go JJ Abrams. Way to remake a film.

 Yet I find it to be more than that. Yes I see the similarities, but they don't bother me too much. Of course, that may be because while I like Star Wars, I'm not necessarily a huge fan. Harry Potter is my franchise, but I digress. I've seen all the films before this one and I think JJ Abrams and Disney decided to go back to the roots since that was the basis of the entire story. Could they have taken more risks in telling the story? Absolutely, but if they needed a firm base to build upon, that was the way to do it especially since it seems they now want to add episodes 10-12. This was the way to get fans excited for the story again, while bringing in the love of a new generation. Now if episodes 8 and 9 are just a rehash of "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" then we have a problem, but for now, I think the films are headed in the right direction.

Luke is missing. Foes want to find him in order to get rid of the Jedi once and for all, while friends want to find him in order to fight against the new threats of tyranny. The key to finding Luke is within BB-8. He is entrusted with a map to Luke after he and his friend, pilot Poe Dameron, are attacked while meeting with the one ally who is aware of Luke's whereabouts. BB-8 flees the attack and is then trying to reunite with those who need him.

The protagonist of the film is Rey, played by Daisy Ridley and she is fantastic. While there have been other females in the Star Wars franchise, this is the first time I was truly excited to see a female character in the saga and to find out she's the lead was the cherry on top. Rey is a scrap-metal scavenger waiting for the family that left her in Jakku to come back. She is strong, smart and not afraid to stand up for herself. The life she planned for herself changes when she meets Finn.

Finn (John Boyega) is a stormtrooper with a conscience. Despite being raised to believe that there is no other life to be had except that of a stormtrooper, he sees the wrong they are doing and decides he does not want to be a part of it. He flees his former life with the help of Poe Dameron. They steal a tie  fighter, but crash in Jakku after being shot. Finn makes his way to the nearest town where he meets Rey.

BB-8 is with Rey and since it is now known that he has the map to Luke, an attack on him, Rey and Finn ensues. They have to get off the planet and quickly. This is when we see the Millennium Falcon for the first time in years. They board and escape Jakku only to be captured by none other than Han Solo and Chewbacca.

The nostalgia continues as the fans are later reunited with Carrie Fisher, no longer a princess, but a general now. There's a lot more stuff that happens in between, but I don't want to give too much away.

JJ Abrams does a fantastic job of reuniting us with our favorite characters, while making it clear that the new films are not about them. The new story line is about Daisy, Finn and my personal favorite, Kylo Ren. Adam Driver is the perfect person to play the part. He transitions easily from emotion to emotion. He is commanding one moment, while struggling within himself the next. He is evil and it all culminates into a major moment.

The final lightsaber battle is spectacular and it involves two of my favorite characters. It's unexpected and kicks total butt. If you've seen the film, we can discuss the details of this battle in person, but just know that it is breathtaking for more reasons that great fight choreography.

Overall, I feel this is another way for fans to nitpick on the franchise. While more risks could have been taken, I think the filmmakers mainly wanted to bring Star Wars back to its core, wash the bad taste of the prequels out of peoples' mouths and start with a familiar slate. I'll start complaining that there is nothing original about these films if the next two films really are completely unoriginal.