Star Wars: The Force Awakens

InThe Force Awakens, director J. J. Abrams adds a worthy chapter to the Stars Wars saga and confirms that the franchise lies in good hands. Abrams includes enough nods to the first films to please fans, but the movie itself is strong enough to please an audience Star Wars has never had before.
The filmmakers closely guarded the plot’s details before the premiere, and a sense of surprise is valuable to the experience, so I will proceed with caution.

Thirty years after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983), the remnants of the evil empire remain locked in conflict with the heroic resistance. Stories of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker, and his foe, Darth Vader, are considered myth by most. A new generation of heroes and villains rise up to join the struggle.

While the plot covers much familiar territory, the new characters breathe new life into the story. Anchored by a deserting stormtrooper, a hotshot pilot, a complex villain, and one of the most exciting young female leads in years, the cast is strong and surprising. They, not the familiar faces, will make the next film so hard to wait for.

While its cultural influence cannot possibly match the original series, this film offers the same fun and adventure. For any Star Wars fan, this is a must see. And if there is one film in the franchise that might work for those who have avoided them in the past, this is the one. (Disney/Lucasfilm)