Movie review by Dennis D. McDonald

I passed on seeing this movie in theaters. I wasn’t that interested in paying top dollar for a nostalgia-fest. Plus, I was sick and tired of the constant social media barrage pushing the movie. Too excessive, I thought.

I was wrong about the movie. It’s a great ride. The old is very well-balanced with the new. Production values, script, performances, photography, and music are all top-notch. This is an entertaining film that bears repeated watching, even for someone who still remembers standing in line for opening night at the Uptown Theater in Washington DC for the first three films.

I enjoyed seeing the old characters, but it’s the new ones I really enjoyed. Ridley and Boyega are terrific. The climactic combat on Jakku, both on the ground and in the air, is spectacular. I especially enjoyed seeing what a light saber can do to a tree trunk, a reminder of how dangerous these “elegant weapons” really are.

There’s a lot of overlap story-wise with A NEW HOPE but I really enjoyed the drama and character development compared with the last three Lucas efforts. THE FORCE AWAKENS focuses on the main characters, involves them in extraordinary circumstances that force them to grow, then it reveals just enough about them to make us want to know What Happens Next.

Review copyright (c) 2016 by Dennis D. McDonald