Star Wars: the Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Rating 8 out of 10

In all my MANY years of movie watching I don't recall one ever having the pre-release hype as this one.  I have actually seen this movie twice, but have held out in doing a review mostly for fear of giving away any type of spoiler and having my house burned down.  In a week or so I'd like to have a SPOILER conversation.  This one should be spoiler free. I hope.

This movie takes place many years after the third Star Wars movie: Return of the Jedi.  It's the one with the furry teddy bear looking guys and I hardly remember the movie.  After the good guys destroyed the death star life is good without all that evil.  Luke Skywalker has opened a school for budding Jedi's.  When one of the Jedi in progress students goes rogue and kills all the other Jedi Luke becomes so distraught he exiles himself to a far away secret planet.  With the Jedi gone the dark side has been able to flourish.  They have built ANOTHER death star.  This one many times bigger and weapons that can destroy several planets at a time.  The only hope we have is to find Luke Skywalker and return the Force to battle the Dark Side.

Director JJ Abrams does a good job mixing the action, comedy and drama to the new reboot that will surely bring us many more Star Wars movies in the future.  It's good seeing our old favorites of Hans Solo and Chewbacca.  Princess Leia (now General Leia) looks like the years have not been kind but does a good job.  The newcomers Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Poe (Oscar Isaac- probably my favorite character actor) are great.

My lone problem (You knew there had to be one) is... Movie starts with our star on a sand filled desert planet that happens upon a droid that has a secret video with information that can save the universe.  If she can just get that information to the good guys life will be saved.  The bad guys know of the droid and will stop at nothing to capture or destroy it. There is a guy with a dark helmet mask and deep scary voice and a death star that is impenetrable except for one secret spot that if you can just slip a well placed missile it will blow it to smithereens.  Does this plot sound familiar?

I have heard this movie is supposed to be similar to the first one for a reason.  I'm not sure I understand the reason.  Either way I was entertained.  Almost impossible to live up to the hype.  This is a good movie and I'm sure I'll be in the seats when the next one comes out.