IMDB says: Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a ragtag group of heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance.
In this J. J. Abrams (Super 8, TVs Lost) directed, Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Silverado), J. J. Abrams (as before), Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3, Little Miss Sunshine) and George Lucas (Star Wars, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) written film, newcomers Daisy Ridley (TVs Silent Witness, Mr Selfridge) and John Boyega (Attack the Block, Imperial Dreams) play Rey and Finn pulled into helping the Resistance by BB8 and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac: Drive, Ex Machina) in their search for Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill: Star Wars, TVs The Flash). Along the way they meet Han Solo (Harrison Ford: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Cowboys and Aliens) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew: Star Wars, Killer Ink), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher: Star Wars, TVs The Big Bang Theory), Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, TVs Game of Thrones) and C3PO (Anthony Daniels: Star Wars, TVs Holby City), but they also come across the First Order Kylo Ren (Adam Driver: Frances Ha, This Is Where I Leave You) and General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 & Part 2, About Time) who are led by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis: The Prestige, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes).
My family are big fans of the franchise and my husband and son in particular had been counting the days until we saw it, they were not disappointed. I do not want to put any spoilers into this review as there are probably still many who will have not been to see it yet, but there are plenty of nods to the original movies for the die-hard fans to pick up on and some tried and tested tropes that they follow.
The film, for some, will transport you right back to your childhood and for others, will start the journey into a fantasy adventure.
Trivia: British actor Denis Lawson who portrayed X-wing pilot Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars trilogy, has confirmed that he turned down an invite from Disney to reprise his role in the new installments. Lawson told British press that "I'm not going to do that. They asked me but it just would have bored me." In a real-life parallel to the film Fanboys (2009), Mark Hamill and John Boyega successfully lobbied director J. J. Abrams to allow Star Wars fan Daniel Fleetwood to see the film before official release, as Fleetwood had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and was not expected to live to see the film's actual release date. Fleetwood was shown the film at a screening in his home, after Disney agreed. Fleetwood died 10 November, 2015. Mark Hamill claimed George Lucas nonchalantly told him over lunch a new Star Wars trilogy was going to be made by Disney, and if he did not want to be involved, Luke Skywalker would simply be written out of the script. However, Hamill immediately agreed to reprise the role. Hamill admitted, however, that he pretended to also be nonchalant about it so it didn't seem like he was excited for the role. The first J. J. Abrams film not to have a musical score by Michael Giacchino. Aptly enough, Giacchino stated in an interview that he would rather hear the music of John Williams in a new Star Wars film than his own. Giacchino's name shows up in episode VII's credits as a stormtrooper.
Tagline: Coming to your galaxy this winter. 9/10
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