The force is still strong

New beginnings

It's hard to think of a franchise that has been as enduring and influential as Star Wars. Spawning a legion of fans and crossing over into other mediums from books, toys, videos games, and T.V., Star Wars literally conquered the galaxy. The first Star Wars film I ever saw was A New Hope (the original VHS version, not the special edition one because that's how I roll) back when I was in elementary school; at the time, watching the lightsaber duel between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi was about the coolest thing I had ever seen in movies. Although I wasn't too fond of the prequel trilogy that came later and to an extent waned me away as a fan, in the least the films were still unlike any other in the sci-fi genre. Depending on how you stand as a fan of the older films or the franchise as a whole, The Force Awakens will be seen as either a welcome addition into the Star Wars universe or simply just another sequel. In keeping with the cardinal rule of Star Wars which is "If you see Star Wars, don't spoil it!", I will refrain from any possible spoilers and just briefly mention what is happening based on the opening prologue. The Force Awakens takes place approximately 30 years after the events in Return of the Jedi. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last remaining Jedi has vanished without a trace, his whereabouts unknown. As a result, the First Order, rising from the shadows of the former Empire are hellbent on locating and eliminating Luke. Meanwhile, Luke's sister General Leia (Carrie Fisher) searches for Luke as well all the while leading a group called The Resistance against the First Order. Going into The Force Awakens, there are two things to expect: the first being that you have seen the previous films prior to this one because the film will not be merciful to those who have no idea who Han Solo is or what a lightsaber looks like. The second is acknowledging that the events that take place in this latest episode are officially canon, and whether you agree with what Disney dictates or not, it won't change the fact that it is still canon. With that out of the way, The Force Awakens is a pleasantly entertaining and enjoyable blockbuster and is the best Star Wars film since the original trilogy. Director J.J. Abrams single-handily fixes the problems that plagued the prequel films (which was practically everything), infusing the same flair he put into the 2009 reboot of Star Trek. Although it doesn't quite recapture the same strength from the films in the first trilogy, in the least The Force Awakens will satisfy whatever bad taste the prequel trilogy may have left behind. Whether you're an old-school fan like me or a newcomer, rest assured the force is definitely strong with this one. Strong leads, great action, some cool set-pieces and spot-on humor makes The Force Awakens one of the best of 2015. 

-Reviewed by Razor, 12/30/15