Star Wars The Force Awakens is out now in theaters directed by J.J. Abrams and starring newcomers Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn) and Oscar Isaac (Poe) along with returning favorites like Harrison Ford (Han Solo) and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia).  For those living under a rock – the new Star Wars film picks up after events in Return of the Jedi jumping forward in time to a new villain named Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and a new threat called The First Order.

Star Wars The Force Awakens exceeded our expectations and erased all doubt that the movie franchise was in good hands with Disney and J.J. Abrams.  The newest movie is very action packed with tidbits of Star Wars lore sprinkled into the mix for second and third time viewing.  Kylo Ren is a captivating villain who shows both an extreme use of the ‘The Force’ and a also displays humorous childlike behavior.

The new Star Wars movie may be the most action-packed one yet – there is never a dull moment and almost all exposition is explored through action or light-hearted scenes.  There is an excellent balance of different perspectives to soak in as a viewer like seeing the war through the eyes of a hot shot fighter pilot, being a fish-out-of-water on the run or a crafty tech savvy scavenger.

Some of our favorite moments from Star Wars The Force Awakens revolved around the newcomers and their chemistry while most of the weaker moments of the film included the returning ‘old-timers’ who seemed to skip on some important emotional beats.  J.J. Abrams did an amazing job of bringing the visual style back to its roots with practical effects and action a high priority with most of the extravagant CGI scenes saved for the space battles.

If you don’t already have tickets yet – run to the theaters before loose lips spoil any surprises from Star Wars The Force Awakens – we look forward to seeing what becomes of the franchise and their future films.