STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS - Spoiler Free Review (Finally)

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

Sci-Fi/Action Adventure, 2015
2 hours, 15 minutes

Written by JJ Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt
Directed by JJ Abrams

Rated PG-13 for "sci-fi action violence"

Starring
Daisy Ridley
John Boyega
Oscar Isaac
Harrison Ford
Carrie Fisher
Mark Hamill
Lupita Nyong'o
Andy Serkis
Domhnall Gleeson
Anthony Daniels
Peter Mayhew

"That's not how the Force works!"

I love the phrase "the magic of movies." It's old and cliche, but I believe in that magic. Over a year ago, when the first Star Wars trailer dropped, I cried when the Falcon appeared. The trailers after that made my heart soar like an X-Wing through space, especially the last one that was released about two months ago. The hype surrounding the film can be overwhelming and the expectations are massive. 

A majority of the film left me speechless. The latest episode in the Star Wars saga was hugely satisfying and did not disappoint. Oh my God. It was so much fun. 

Sure, there are issues. Enough to discuss, but not enough to hate on. It's easy to nit-pick and it can be fun, especially with a movie of this scale and legacy. 

Humor comes from several unexpected places. Look closely and you'll find tons of easter eggs from the old trilogy. Several of the jokes are little throwbacks as well. There are a few new and badass Force moves we've never seen before. The dogfights are gorgeous and spectacular. The lightsaber fights are gripping and intense as they can possibly be. 

It's so hard to describe my feelings about a movie like this. From the moment the LucasFilm logo shimmered on screen to the final wipe to the credits (with the original score, obviously), I was so enthralled by the magic, the nostalgia, the Force. 

So go and see The Force Awakens. Hell, go and see it twice. I know I will. There's no better feeling than when a movie lives up to the hype-Falcon (no, not hype-train).

I'm trying to be spoiler-free right now, and just coming off of my first impression, this is my score. After seeing it at least one more time and letting it sit, I'll write a more detailed review filled with my full thoughts and feelings. For now, I'm just enjoying the high. 

9.6/10