STAR WARS

OK…I will just start out saying that Star Wars: The Force Awakens is THE best Star Wars since the original. Kudos to J.J. Abrams for keeping the integrity and energy of the franchise in tact with the same respect he did with the Star Trek franchise.

OMG!!! There is so much to say and I will do my best without spoiling it for you.

First off, we see the some of our favorite original characters, Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia, who is now General Leia (Carrie Fisher), our favorite droids C-3P0 and R2 D2 and maybe a few more original surprises.

The new droid BB-8 gives R2 D2 a run for his money with the cute factor and he kind of reminds me of space weeble…

So, in this installment, three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and with the help of the Resistance an unlikely trio aids in thwarting that takeover.

Daisy Ridley (Rey) is kicking butt in her first feature film and I kinda love that fact that she intimidates the boys just a tad. She is one step ahead of them every time. Of course, this comes as no surprise, since Ridley is the real life daughter of Carrie Fisher, who made for a very feisty Princess Leia. Nepotism may have played a role in her having the door opened, but homegirl is truly holding her own and making it look really effortless.

Her better half, John Boyega (Finn) has that comic relief that made the first Star Wars so incredibly enjoyable. He is charismatic, rugged and takes on the task of being a Storm Trooper crossing over the light with flying colors.

However, it is Adam Driver who walks away with this film. His turn as the villain Kylo Ren and a HUGE departure from the last role I witnessed him in back in Noah Baumbach’s 2014 comedy “While We’re Young”. The dude has a talent range of which we don’t see that often these days. He is letting us have it and I can’t wait to see him do it again!

Last year, Oscar Isaac was a con man in “Two Faces of January” and gave a stellar performance in “A Most Violent Year”. 2015 and 2016 are shaping up quite nicely for this brilliant actor as well. I’ve said before that his presence reminds me very much of a young Al Pacino. He has that quiet intensity that makes one wonder what he’s thinking and what he’s up to…I love it!!!

All the fight scenes are fantastic and Lupita N’yongo has immortalized her voice in the character form of Maz Kanata.

I’ll stop now before I give up anymore, but before I do let me just say that it warmed my heart as a HUGE Star Wars fan to watch Princess Leia and Han Solo embrace once more…