There has been so much hype for this movie, the pressure on the production team must have felt like a lead weight.
JJ Abrams took the helm; after much discussion. He admitted that he was tired of doing sequels, but thankfully Kathleen Kennedy persuaded him to sit in the directors seat for this one. I'm so glad he did, and as a self-confessed fan of the originals, Abrams said this was a film for the fans by the fans.
When the casting was announced, we knew we would see Han Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker again, along with the newcomers for a new age. Daisy Ridley (Rey) and John Boyega (Finn) are both terrific in this episode; it's incredible to think this is the first full-length feature for Daisy.
Before I saw the movie, I was careful not to read any reviews that might "give the game away" as I wanted to learn it all as the story unravelled. So, no spoilers here either.
If you remember seeing "A New Hope" when it was first released in 1977, then you won't be disappointed. It's no secret that this is not a complete "green screen" experience. Full size sets were built (including a Millenium Falcon) and apart from 2000+ CGI effects, there are real life explosions, actors in full body costumes and a totally real feel to the movie. It has soul, it has magic and.... it has the music of John Williams.
Williams, who scored the original, has once again married the action with music perfectly to bring mood to the party. From the opening chord, to the final note, the master of movie music has done it again.
What about the returning characters. All now aged by 30 years (since the end of Episode 6 - Return of the Jedi), Harrison Ford looks like he's having a lot of fun (notwithstanding his ankle injury during filming) and brings Han Solo back to like with the wit, charm and sarcastic humour we know and love.Carrie Fisher, as the now General Organa, brings that feisty attitude she also had in the original trilogy.
C3-PO and R2-D2 also return (indeed, C3-PO is on fine form) and the new robot BB-8 bring a higher level of 'cuteness' than R2-D2 ever could!
Mention must be made of the other "newcomers" to this franchise, as Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Domnhall Gleeson and Gwendoline Christie are all great.
Finally; here's something I learned the other day - Daniel Craig is also in this movie. Whilst shooting "Spectre" on a nearby soundstage, he took the opportunity to pull on a Stormtrooper uniform.
His official designation is JB-007 and whilst you don't see his face, his voice is recognisable during a scene with Rey.
I loved this movie. It had the right amount of humour, plenty of action and whilst it's possible to see this as a stand-alone story, there were more than enough references to the past to pull this well and truly into the fold. This is "classic" Star Wars.
And the best part - my two, teenage, sons, had the biggest smile on their faces when the music started. Priceless.
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