I’ve been looking forward to seeing Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, but I haven't had the time yet. Instead, I wanted to share my thoughts on the film that launched this new trilogy: The Force Awakens. When it was released, it was easily the most anticipated movie of the year and ended up as second-favorite film of 2015, just below Mad Max: Fury Road. Yes, I really enjoyed this movie; it’s definitely among my top three favorites in the entire saga! The casting choices are a clear indication of how successful the film has been. Daisy Ridley (Rey) is an amazing discovery—her talent seems limitless as she fully embodies her role. She delivers a very emotional and powerful performance, showcasing her acting abilities. You can tell that she’s completely dedicated to her character, which is quite something for someone's first major movie appearance. Rey’s development throughout the film is excellent; she may initially seem like just another scavenger, but as the story progresses, she becomes a compelling character involved in some of the most exciting moments. She has an intriguing backstory that will likely lead to interesting theories and plot twists in future installments. John Boyega (Finn) is a fantastic supporting actor, and his casting was also spot-on. He brings just the right amount of humor with well-delivered lines, and his timing and facial expressions are perfect. Finn is sure to become a favorite among audiences; his journey alongside Rey is unique within the saga. I feel that his story really drives the beginning of the film and establishes many characters and plot points. Adam Driver’s portrayal of Kylo Ren… wow! What an impressive performance! Driver is incredibly subtle during meaningful moments but intensely compelling when he's menacing. He elevates Ren into a phenomenal antagonist thanks to a well-written script. J.J. Abrams and his team did an excellent job with both the plot and the characters. Kylo Ren stands out; he’s a complex character with so much hidden behind his personality and intriguing past, and I can't wait to see what theories emerge about him. Oscar Isaac is wonderfully exciting as Poe Dameron, another great addition to the franchise. His character forms an honest connection with Finn, and their interactions are quite enjoyable. They share some memorable scenes, and Poe gets to participate in all of the incredible X-Wing battles. Andy Serkis’s portrayal of Supreme Leader Snoke isn't extensive, but he creates a very threatening presence through impressive motion capture work. As for the original cast, Harrison Ford delivers one of his best performances in recent years. Han Solo is among his most popular characters, and he portrays him perfectly. Carrie Fisher returns as Leia, adding a touch of realism to everything. Every time she appears on screen, things feel more grounded and believable thanks to her graceful and understated performance. Chewbacca has the usual humorous exchanges with Solo and participates in some thrilling action sequences. BB-8 is something many people worried about because he could have easily been annoying or irrelevant. Fortunately, he’s another success story for the Star Wars universe. It's amazing how a droid can provide so much laughter and exciting action scenes; he’s definitely a toy worth buying for Christmas. C-3PO also appears, adding to the overall sense of nostalgia. Regarding the film’s technical aspects, J.J. Abrams proves his skill to anyone who doubted him because he's largely responsible for making this such a great movie. From the seamless editing to the excellent camera work during the impressive action sequences, he enhances the story with his distinct visual storytelling style. It feels like a real film rather than just another Star Wars movie. The special effects are top-notch, and the cinematography couldn’t be better thanks to the incredible practical backgrounds. Abrams uses many wide shots featuring beautiful landscapes, and most of it is real (aside from the obvious—there's less CGI than you might think), which elevates every scene and shot into something more special. The balance between comedy and action is well-maintained, the storytelling is handled exceptionally well, and the pacing consistently maintains a sense of excitement. One common issue with Star Wars films has been excessive exposition scenes, but J.J. significantly improves on that aspect, including only a few—I’m counting the traditional opening text. As mentioned earlier, there's an extensive use of visual storytelling; everything you see provides information and advances the plot without explicitly telling you what’s happening or going to happen. John Williams’ score continues to beautifully accompany every scene, not just the action sequences, but also strengthening the dialogue. I loved the ending, although this is where fans and critics are likely to have very different opinions. It concludes with a significant cliffhanger that some people will find disappointing because they'll feel like something is missing. If you’re not prepared for it, you might think you didn’t enjoy the film. The truth is, you can’t expect everything right away. This is a trilogy, so it’s unrealistic to expect all your questions answered in the first movie of a new era. I wanted more immediately after the film ended, and I felt slightly let down that the movie concluded with something I had been anticipating for a long time. However, that's actually a great feeling because it means the film resonated with me—it was so amazing that I can’t wait for the next one! Despite all of this, The Force Awakens isn’t without minor flaws. While nearly every character is well-developed, Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong'o) doesn’t quite measure up. With so much practical effects surrounding her environment, a completely CGI character stands out negatively. Also, the subplot involving meeting with Maz feels somewhat unnecessary and the story could have progressed without it. My main issue with this film is its lack of originality when creating a new threat to the galaxy. The Starkiller Base is essentially another Death Star, just bigger. Really? Couldn't they come up with something else besides another giant planet destroyer? It doesn’t reflect J.J. Abrams’ incredible direction or the production team’s excellent work. Finally, there are some aspects I’m unsure about—whether they’re flaws or not

Source on TMDB