Review: Star Wars - The Force Awakens

I’m most definitely not a self confessed Star Wars fan boy. My knowledge of who’s related to who in the film and the names of each spaceships is very limited. The only other film I’d seen before this was Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace - the one with Darth Maul as the villain.

Like many blokes who get the occasional call up from the misses to accompany them to the cinema, I didn’t know what an earth I’d let myself in for. If I’m honest I expected to be yawning my head off joining her and a load of other space geeks. How very wrong I was!

From the word go you are left flying by the seat of your pants when Stormtroppers go berserk and start creating utter carnage.

This is a mystery film where everyone wants to know the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker, the last of the Jedi Knights. Simplified, everyone who’s good (Resistance fighters) want to stop those who are bad - (The First Order) from getting to him.

At an early stage Kylo Ren the main antagonist gets under your skin when he unleashes brutal anger towards everyone and everything.

A very touching relationship between new characters Rey a tough scavenger and defector Finn ensues and there is a very welcome return from characters Princess Leia, Han Solo and Chewbacca.

Among the other newcomers, Maz Kanata – think an orange Yoda with an in-house ska band fits in nicely while silver-armoured First Order Stormtrooper Captain Phasma though a little underplayed adds more evil.

Throughout a gripping father son, love hate, relationship between Han Solo and Kylo Ren consumes your focus and leaves you wondering will they make up or will they reign terror on one another.

There is a touch of class about this film. No gimmicks, none of this “Luke I am your father” nonsense. Just out and out warfare and pure entertainment.

I’ve seen a lot of very unfair criticism levelled at director and mastermind JJ Abrams in the media recently. Nevermind what’s gone on before or if this film is too reminiscent of the original trilogy.

My advice to you is, if The Force is calling you. Embrace it and let it in.