Preface by Rock of GeekForE!:  Thanks so much to Matt Snider for contributing this review.  For all followers of GeekForE, below is an unfiltered (and unread by the Editor/me, straight from one of our finest.  As you can guess, I haven’t seen the film yet and I don’t want Matt’s review to spoil anything for my experience.  Here’s hoping I can stay free of ‘plot talk’ till this weekend. Enjoy if you dare….

Do you remember Alias; you know Jennifer Garner in amazingly small outfits kicking ass as an international spy? With that no-body named Bradley Cooper? That was JJ Abrams.

What about Jack and Kate on an island, that turned out to be somewhere familiar yet strange? That was JJ Abrams. Even JJ has done the other, less important, star movie. I forget what it was called…

JJ Abrams is the man and it shows from past, present and future.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is his best work yet! A full on Geekgasm!

This review will possibly have subtle spoilers but nothing big. So enjoy the read, and the movie!

It starts out in a very familiar way and blends together both old and new in a seamless storyline all wonderfully set in a galaxy, far far away.

The Story

There is only one Jedi left, you know who it is, but he has gone missing. Han, Leia, C3PO and even his buddy R2-D2 are unaware of where he has disappeared to.

Everyone is looking for him, from the bad-asses of the First Order to the Resistance lead by no other than General Leia Organa. Everyone in the galaxy is looking for this Jedi, to bring balance back to the world or remove it for good.

Introduction of new characters at every turn all while weaving in the beloved characters of old, is the key to making this film work so well.

Surprises abound for the casual viewers along with even the hard core Star Wars cannon elite. The story does well to include both the old and the new worlds, in a unique yet familiar way.

 

The Special Effects

38 years after the first introduction of our beloved characters, the technology to bring to life the galaxy in which they live, has far surpassed the amazing paintings and practical effects of old.

Not to become a green screen failure, The Force Awakens brings together both the old and new (see the reoccurring theme!?!) of both practical and special effects. From puppets, to droids to Maz Kanata’s bar on the far side of the galaxy, it’s all familiar yet all new.

The computers involved in bringing to life the amazing landscapes, the explosions, the entirety of the New Order, to even the light saber of Kylo Ren was flawless.

The special effects, are just that; special!

 

The Score

John Williams is back and has totally brought his beloved music of old into a new era. I have already purchased the official soundtrack!

Williams splices together his arsenal of instruments to conduct what I believe to be Academy award winning music. The ways in which the music fades in and out to bring up or down the storyline is stunning. Without all of the story or special effects the music would still hold up as something to love.

Williams is back and he brings with him, his years of amazing music to score an amazing movie.

 

The Conclusion

You must go see this movie, for the story, or the score, or the special effects. You must go see this movie for all three that interplay so well with one another.

The Force Awakens demands the extra hard earned cash for the highest resolution and sound possible. It demands that you pay attentions and kick anyone’s ass for talking during it. This movie demands a lot of you. Your heart, your ears, your eyes, but most of all, your childhood.

Although not perfect by any means, this is the closest I have seen anything come lately.

I give Star Wars: The Force Awakens 4.5 out of 5 stars.