5 movies I wish I had seen 2015

Like last year I once again missed out on many great films due to limited releases, a busy schedule, and I wanted to make a list of the 5 films I wish I had seen and plan on seeing and reviewing throughout next year.

5. Ex Machina

I have heard nothing but positive things about this film and recently purchased the Blu-Ray combo pack at Best Buy for only $10. What a steal, right? Within the next few weeks or so, expect to see a review of the film as there are still a few weeks till most of the TV I watch and review comes back on air and so I will be trying to get as much content on my blog as possible. 

4. Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs along with a few of the other releases all came out in the period of about a month or so which was quite overwhelming since so many of these films were Oscar contenders. I have heard nothing but great things about this film and am very excited to see it. 

3. Blackmass

The main reason that I want to see Blackmass is for Johnny Depp's performance which I hear is one of his best performances ever. Hopefully it will receive a DVD release soon and I will check it out.

2. Sicario

Sicario looks to be quite promising and got rave reviews so I'm looking forward to watching the film but just missed out on it due to my busy schedule.

1. Spotlight

Fortunately Spotlight is still in theaters so I plan on seeing it in the near future before it leaves theaters and I'm quite excited given all the positive buzz surrounding the film and it's amazing ensemble cast. 

Top 10 Films of 2015

It's that time of year again and I will be reflecting on what I felt were the Top 10 films this year. I didn't see "every" film released this year and there are many films that I just missed out on or wasn't able to see due to a limited release so throughout next year any time I watch one of the films I missed out on I will post a review for it and they won't be Throwback Thursday Reviews but just normal reviews. This list isn't quite the best made films of 2015 but the ten films I essentially enjoyed the most or had a great cinematic experience upon viewing.

Top 10 Films of 2015 

Honorable Mentions: The Good Dinosaur, Bridge Of Spies, McFarland USA, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, and Mad Max: Fury Road.

10. Joy

As I stated in my review I thought Joy was a pleasant surprise and it slipped into my Top 10 list as I really was intrigued by the film, it's messages and it's performances.

9. The Hateful Eight

I saw the The Hateful Eight yesterday and unfortunately it didn't quite snag the number 8 spot on my list, which would have been so ironic, but was very entertaining as one of my favorite films to come from Tarantino. It had gorgeous cinematorgraphy, great performances, interesting characters, a captivating mystery and some fantastic dialogue.

8. Inside Out

Inside Out is one of Pixar's best and showcased that Pixar can still make not only great animation but an ingenious original film based on an intriguing concept. I thought the idea of Inside Out was so interesting since the moment I hear about the film and can say the film delivered in spades. Inside Out not only had beautiful animation but a very heart touching story about emotions. Honestly this film deserves to be higher on my list but the film's above it had a greater entertainment value to them and appealed to me more. 

7. The Martian

 'The Martian' was a phenomenal space film that managed to successfully differentiate itself from two other recent films with a similar premise, Interstellar and Gravity. I really liked that The Martian had such a light tone and was filled with humor. The Martian was directed and written exceptionally well with gorgeous visuals, an entertaining story and a terrific cast.

6. Ant-Man

Ant-Man managed to bring a new spin on the superhero genre as one of Marvel's best origin stories yet! Ant-Man was a very fun heist film with great performances, epic small scale action, and some hilarious one liners and character moments.

5. Kingsman: The Secret Service

Kingsman: The Secret Service blew me away! It took the spy genre and flipped it on it's head as the film was completely self aware of the fact it was a spy film and payed homage while modernizing many of the classic spy film elements. Kingsman: The Secret Service had some mind-blowing action sequences, amazing performances, and a great story. Thankfully a sequel has been greenlit and has entered preproduction and I can't wait to see this franchise spawn since I loved Kingsman: The Secret Service.

4. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation was outstanding. It took everything I loved about Mission: Impossible and elevated it. Larger stakes, a better villain, bigger stunts, a compelling awesome female heroine that made for one of the best action films all year. I can't express enough how much I enjoyed this film and I can't wait for the sixth film in the franchise as the last three films have only got stronger with each installment. 

3. Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Avengers: Age Of Ultron divided audiences with people either loving it or being disappointed and I can say I fell in the "I loved it" camp. This film was genuinely entertaining and every moment elicited a reaction from me as I was either smiling, laughing, or my jaw was agaped almost touching the floor as I watched in awe. It took everything I loved about The Avengers and brought it back for the sequel, and now that the team had been brought together, the film wasn't required to focus on that aspect but rather the fun interactions that were merely glanced upon in the original. There was big action spectacle, a great villain, hilarious gags that all culminated and felt like I was actually watching a comic book in front of me. 

2. Creed

Creed was the seventh film in the Rocky franchise that managed to successfully recaptured the magic of Rocky. Every beat of the film has a familiarity to it yet feels fresh and new. It perfectly utilized the Rocky theme for an awesome training montage and some fantastic boxing scenes that captivated my attention and felt so real. It had great direction and some phenomenal Oscar worthy performances that make for one of the year's best films.

1. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

It should be no surprise that Star Wars: The Force Awakens is at the top of my list. I loved this film, and it has something that I believe is crucial to great films and that is a rewatchability factor. I have seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens four times and found more and more to enjoy with each viewing noticing small aspects that I missed upon initial viewings that make the film that much better. I liked the comedic relief present throughout, the amazing starfighter battles, lightsaber duels, and amazing performances. All of these things culminated to bring an amazing film and it was great to finally see the film I've been waiting for/wanting my entire life. And the fact that it was everything I wanted in an Episode VII and more just makes it that much better. 

5 Most Underwhelming Films 2015

This year was filled with many great films but I was underwhelmed by a few so I thought I would continue my tradition started last year and once again make a list of these films. Remember that just because these films are on this list doesn't quite mean that I hate the film or dislike it, but rather that I had high expectations that the film didn't quite meet Be aware this isn't my 5 Worst films of 2015 but rather what films disappointed me.

5. Pixels

Pixels was a film with a great premise and great potential that just fell flat. It wasn't the worst movie I've seen this year but it wasn't anywhere near the best or even the good films.

4. Fantastic Four

Fantastic Four was a disaster. The film totally falls apart in the third act where it's clear the studio took control. The film was just very dreary and boring when it was a superhero film about a superhero team that should be bright, cheery, and fun. The reason this isn't higher on my list is because the trailers weren't particularly promising so it wasn't quite underwhelming and this isn't quite my 10 worst films of 2015 list.

3. In The Heart Of The Sea

In The Heart Of The Sea has some spectacular trailers that looked to tell a very gripping engaging story behind the tale of Moby Dick. It didn't quite measure up to what looked to be a potential Oscar contender. The biggest issue was the lackluster characters and story that failed to captivate me or make me engaged in the film.

2. Tomorrowland

I'm a part of a minority that actually can say I liked Tomorrowland however there's a very strange ending that made me very uncomfortable and just came across as creepy. This film was disappointing to me in regards that it was made by Brad Bird, who has made some incredible films (No pun intended) and it was just "good" rather than amazing or spectacular. The end of this film just tanked the film and made it "good" or mediocre to me as opposed to what it could have been.

1. The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

I didn't quite hate this film but I didn't really like it that much either. I was very disappointed as I loved The Maze Runner and had high hopes for it's sequel but the best way to describe how I felt about this film was disappointment. It just didn't quite compare to the first film in my eyes but I hope the next film will be an improvement.

Top 10 movies of 2014 (Revisited)

So as I was making my Top 10 list for the Top 10 Movies of 2015 a thought came across my mind to revisit my 2014 list and update it now that I've seen many of the films that I missed out on watching last year showing what the placements were initially and the updated list.

Top 10 movies of 2014

Honorable Mentions: Interstellar, The LEGO Movie, How To Train Your Dragon 2, Fury,  Gone Girl, and Big Hero 6.

[Previously] Honorable Mentions: The LEGO Movie, 22 Jump Street, The Maze Runner, The Judge, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.

10. American Sniper
[Previously] 10. How To Train Your Dragon 2

9. Whiplash
[Previously] 9. Fury

8. Snowpiercer
[Previously] 8. Interstellar

7. Live. Die. Repeat.
[Previously] 7. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

6. The Grand Budapest Hotel
[Previously] 6. Unbroken

5. X-Men Days of Future Past
[Previously] 5. Big Hero 6

4. Guardians of the Galaxy
[Previously] 4. X-Men Days of Future Past

3. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes[Previously] 3. Guardians of the Galaxy

2. Captain America The Winter Soldier
[Previously] 2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

1. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance)
[Previously] 1. Captain America The Winter Soldier

'The Hateful Eight' Review

Nominated For: Best Supporting Actress; Jennfer Jason Leigh, Best Original Score, and Best Cinematography.

Won: Best Original Score.

The Hateful Eight is the eighth film to be both written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. This film very unique in the fact that it was filmed in 70 mm and is actually being projected in the 70 mm format in some theaters. I didn't see The Hateful Eight in this format but I do intend on seeing the 70 mm version for my second viewing of the film. Another unique aspect of the 70 mm version of The Hateful Eight's that it has both an intermission and an overture. The digital version I viewed also featured the overture and I can say that the overture allows for some incredible awe-inspiring cinematography showcasing the beauty of a winter wasteland. Tarantino brings this Western Mystery to life through the witty dialogue and interesting vile characters that he crafts so well. Tarantino manages to do the impossible and make the audience care about these foul characters. All of the performances on display make every character quite engaging and help propel the mystery of the story. Samuel L. Jackson gives one of his best performances in film to date since Pulp Fiction. Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Roth, Michael Madon, and Bruce Dern along with the rest of the supporting cast all help bolster the film breathing life into each of their disgusting characters and proving great performances. Be forewarned that there is quite a bit of gore and some appalling vulgarities, which are a staple of Tarantino's, so just keep that in mind if you are planning on seeing the film or considering it. I quite enjoyed The Hateful Eight and certainly plan on viewing the 70 mm version of the film in the near future. The Hateful Eight is one of Tarantino's best and fans of Tarantino's work will love it.

Film Assessment: A-

'Concussion' Review

Concussion tells the true tale of Dr. Bennet Omalu's discovery of CTE. CTE stands for Chronic traumatic encephalopathy and is caused by repetitive brain trauma which is commonly found in retired football player's due to concussions. The film then showcases Omalu's battle against the NFL as they attempt to sweep his discovery under the rug while he is trying to bring the truth to the people. I found this to be an interesting basis for the film and was engaged throughout in the intriguing conflict between Omalu and the NFL. Peter Landesman directs and does a great job ensuring the story was brought to the surface which is assisted by the intriguing subject matter and Will Smith's performance. Concussion functions best as a performance piece spotlighting Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu and Will Smith gives a phenomenal performance throughout the entire film. At no point in the film did I think I was watching Will Smith as he transformed himself into the well regarded Dr. Bennet Omalu. In becoming the character Smith uses a Nigerian accent and it was seamless throughout and never felt fake or forced but natural for the character of Dr. Bennet Omalu. Will Smith definitely deserves an Academy Award nomination at the very least if not a win. (I can't quite speak for that yet because there are several award contenders I haven't watched yet). Smith is reinforced by Alec Baldwin and Albert Brooks who both are fantastic in their supporting roles. While I really enjoyed Concussion, I did however find a few nitpick flaws in the plot and the story. I didn't feel like the romantic subplot for Omalu was crucial to the story and when the film cut away from his research or investigation into CTE the film became less interesting and somewhat dragged during these romantic scenes. Overall I can say that Concussion is a very thought proving film and doesn't quite attack the sport of football but rather the NFL for ignoring the problem and trying to sweep it under the rug. I would highly recommend Concussion as Will Smith gives one of his best performances in years and it was very interesting to learn about the CTE scandal and the NFL's cover-up of the crisis.

Film Assessment: B-

'Joy' Review

Nominated For: Best Actress; Jennifer Lawrence.

Joy is the third film directed by David O. Russell starring both Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper that tells the underdog story of a woman who rose in an industry creating many household inventions. I was taken aback by Joy because I wasn't expecting too much upon entering the film but I really enjoyed it. I've noticed that this film's Rotten Tomatoes score as well as it's other reviews are somewhat low for a film that is obviously trying to be an Academy Award contender and I can say that's due to a clunky beginning and a few minor flaws. Some little nitpicks I noticed took me out of the experience were the lack of attention to Joy's son and one little awkward lip-sync that wasn't dubbed over very well. There was one moment where Joy was supposedly speaking to her son but he was hidden behind a door and didn't really say much that I just sat and thought to myself "Hmm I guess they didn't want to pay a child actor for this?" and I would have rather the film makers just ignored the fact she had a son and written him out of the film rather than try to force him into the story. However despite its' flaws, the final two-thirds of Joy are very enjoyable and really hooked me as the story becomes much more engaging. David Russell wrote and directed Joy and nothing he provided quite stood out to me as impressive or noteworthy but rather very reserved in his style. Joy s strength is that it bolsters many great performances. Jennifer Lawrence is terrific stepping into the role of the everywoman struggling to find their true self and really comes across as a strong, independent female character, which leads to some feminist undertones amongst the film's message. These messages don't overtake the film and rather help to service the story. The supporting cast were all serviceable but only a few slightly stood out to me in Joy. Bradley Cooper doesn't have too much to do in the film but is quite serviceable and does well in his role. Robert De Niro gives a great performance as well adding quite a bit of comedic relief to the film. I also enjoyed Edgar Ramírez's interpretation as Joy's ex-husband. As a whole, I can say the cast in Joy are all effective but primarily function as a support system for Jenifer Lawrence boosting her performance. Overall, I can say that Joy is a great film that really surprised me and I would strongly suggest it for those who have already seen Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens and are looking for a new film to watch this weekend.

Film Assessment: A-

'Mad Max: Fury Road' Review

Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Director; George Miller, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects.

Won: Best Film Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing.

Mad Max: Fury Road is everything the Fast and Furious franchise wishes it could be, an insane crazy action packed film with amazing visuals and a very sophisticated story. George Miller directs the film and really manages to bring this bizarre post apocalyptic world to life incredibly well. the film is charged by it's high voltage action that really helps to elevate the film throughout with some incredible chase action sequences filled with insane stunts. The cinematography is gorgeous and seamless from beginning to end and the visual effects are a delight. Miller also wrote the film and really managed to do a phenomenal job of bringing the more sophisticated themes to the surface of this film. The performances from the ensemble in this film are top notch, although there are a few weak links. Charlize Theron makes for an awesome female lead in the role of Furiousa as one of the best action heroines in film while maintaining a sense of emotional gravitas that really adds to the character. Tom Hardy portrays the character of Max and his performance was a little bland in my opinion as his character grunts quite a bit which I found to be so strange and a bit bothersome, otherwise I'd say Hardy did a great job but was really outshone by his costars. Nicholas Hoult was incredible onscreen with a very strange character, obsessed with the film's villain but still manages to provide a captivating performance with an interesting character arc for him that comes full circle at the end of the film. Now there are a group of women who are the villain's “breeders” portrayed by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoe Kravitz, Riley Keough, Megan Gale, and Abbey Lee respectively. Each do a serviceable job in their roles but aren't ever really given too much to do aside from function as a plot device to propel the chase sequence into a full two hour film. The antagonist, Immortan Joe, was portrayed by Hugh Keays-Byrne and was hard to understand at times because of his character's mask (similar to costar Hardy's performance as Bane in the The Dark Knight Rises) and felt like a very static boring villain who never quite felt menacing or all that powerful but rather very selfish. I honestly had no plans to watch this film before it was released since it looked very strange and out there for me as a film and trust me it's pretty weird. I've heard tremendous buzz about Mad Max: Fury Road since it opened in theaters with critics essentially praising it as one of one of the best films ever made and I have to respectfully disagree. I do think that Mad Max: Fury Road is a great film but I don't think I'll feel compelled to watch it multiple times, which is a characteristic I feel is very crucial to a film. I would recommend it for those who at least have some relative interest in the film. For those who think the film looks too weird, I can only agree that it is indeed strange but suggest you at least attempt to watch it and if you can't make it past the first thirty minutes without being weirded out then it's not quite worth your time. 

Film Assessment: A-

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Spoiler Discussion Review

I've waited to write this post to give people time to go see Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I felt like in my non-spoiler review I was really restricted to what could discuss thus I decided to do a spoiler discussion review as a little bonus content to my non spoiler review. If you haven't seen the film head on over and read my non spoiler review Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. So be forewarned this post will be filled with spoilers. So from this point onward there will be huge spoilers ahead as I discuss the huge spoiler heavy moments in the film. 

*******There will be Spoilers from this point on*******

If you're still reading along, then you will have most likely seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens. My first point of discussion will be Kylo Ren. We learn he is the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa. I wasn't too blown away to learn he was their son because I really suspected that he would be a Skywalker, given his obsession with Vader and the fact he's a force user. I thought that his parentage really added to his character filling it with layers and made him a very compelling villain.

Now the second huge spoiler point, the death of Han Solo. Many will complain that Han Solo died but I accepted it because it services the story and the character of Kylo Ren. When this scene took place and Han decided to speak with his son and try to convince him  to go back to the light side I was at the edge of my seat but must admit the death was slightly predictable. When Han screamed "Ben!" at Kylo Ren it clicked in my head instantly that Kylo Ren was named after Obi Wan Kenobi and his real name is Ben Solo. I found this to be somewhat ironic that he was named after one of the most powerful and lightest of the Jedi and fell to darkness. I also liked that Han's death somewhat mirrored Obi Wan's in Star Wars and I loved how Chewbacca reacted shooting Kylo Ren immediately and then blowing the charges he and Han had laid. I thought for a few minutes that Chewbacca had just sacrificed himself and that both he and Han died in the film and was shocked. I was very relieved to see that Chewie survived though.

My third point will be the character of Rey and some of the misdirection in the film's marketing. Now it turns out Rey is the force sensitive character for this new trilogy and will be a Jedi and not Finn, as the marketing lead many to believe since he wielded Anakin/Luke's lightsaber. I thought this was a brilliant move and liked that the marketing allowed this  reveal to be saved for the film. I liked how she felt drawn to Anakin's saber, and when she touches its a series of flashbacks/flash forwards are shown filled with plenty to discuss.

Based on these it seems to show Kylo Ren and the Knights of Ren murdering the Jedi, Luke possibly putting R2D2 into low power mode, and Rey being dropped off on Jakku. There are also several voiceovers including one from Alec Guinness saying "Rey" and Ewan Mc Gregor saying "These are your first steps." so it included both actors who had portrayed Obi Wan in an interesting way. This was the beginning of her journey into the force and I liked seeing her explore that power.

I thought it was hilarious when she used a Jedi mind trick on a Stormtrooper the way it was handled for the film and thought she was an awesome character.

The moment during the lightsaber duel when she pulls the saber to herself with the force was incredible. I got chills when it flew past Kylo Ren when Kylo Ren is trying to bring the saber to himself with the force and Rey grips the saber ready to take him on. And then the saber fight ensues which was one of my favorite moments of the film and one of my favorite lightsaber duels of the entire saga. I will discuss her further in my next and final point.

Now, Luke. I couldn't really talk about Luke at all in my non-spoiler review. So the reason Luke was absent from the film's marketing is that he is almost completely absent from the film. The film's opening crawl reveals that Luke has vanished and we learn throughout the reasoning behind to an extent. Luke after Return Of The Jedi tried to train a new generation of Jedi but Ben Solo turned against him after he was seduced to the dark side and became Kylo Ren.

As far as we know, Kylo Ren killed all of these new Jedi and Luke felt responsible so he went into hiding supposedly in search of the first Jedi temple. Luke left a map to his location and a piece of the map functions as the Macguffin for the film.  This drove the whole plot throughout the film as everyone like the audience wants to find Luke. BB-8 is given a piece of the map by Poe Dameron in the beginning of the film and must get it to the Resistance where we learn it's only a piece and they need the remaining portion. R2D2 had gone into low power mode after Luke left, likely because he missed Luke, and he exits this mode towards the end and provides the remainder of the map. Rey, Chewie, and R2D2 then all head to the planet.

They arrive and Rey walks up several steps to find a hooded figure. The figure turns around and it is indeed Luke Skywalker, now bearded with a new robotic hand and wearing Jedi master garb. Rey holds out his lightsaber to him and the film ends. I thought this was a crazy cliffhanger ending for the film and can't wait to see Episode VIII.

Now I will be entering the speculation portion of my discussion as I share my theories for what could happen in this trilogy (not necessarily Episode VIII). So first off, I think Rey will be revealed to be Luke's daughter and the next film will show Luke training her similar to Yoda training Luke in The Empire Strikes Back. I think we will also see Kylo Ren being trained by Snoke and the two will likely have another confrontation with both more powerful. I can't wait to see it. I came out of the film and Kylo Ren and Rey are my two favorite of the new characters and I think it's interesting to think it's very likely they may be revealed to be cousins.

That will be the conclusion of my first spoiler discussion for a film and I may continue this for any other films that have huge spoilers that prevent me from discussing too much in my regular review. I made sure to touch on the biggest spoiler parts of the film and the ones I had something to share my thoughts on. Once again this is a great film and I loved it. I watched in IMAX on Monday for a second viewing and the IMAX is totally worth it. I can't wait to watch it again! 

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Review

It's finally here, the seventh installment in the Star Wars franchise. Ever since I was a child and finished watching Return Of The Jedi for the first time I distinctly remember asking my father if there would ever be a Star Wars Episode VII and I remember being disappointed to find out that it was very unlikely, but I always had a small glimmer of hope that it would happen. Now, this was just the beginning of my obsession with Star Wars (Yes, I am indeed admitting I'm a HUGE Star Wars fan) as I had just completed the Original Trilogy and soon would see each of the Prequels as they rolled into theaters. I remember how bittersweet it was watching Revenge Of The Sith in theaters for the first time worried that it would be the last Star Wars movie ever made.

Life moved on of course, and I distinctly remember two years ago coming out of a rehearsal and scrolling through Facebook to learn that Disney had acquired Lucasfilm for 4 billion dollars and had plans to continue the saga. Since that moment, I've remained vigilant, keeping my eyes peeled for any news regarding the film and counting down the days till release. I remember the announcement J.J. Abrams would be directing, any rumors spiraling around on the internet, and all casting announcements (and my immediate research of who these new actors were that would be joining the franchise). I was at home waiting for the moment all of the trailers were released at the edge of my seat ready to watch them and being fascinated by each one. I went out on the night of Force Friday and purchased a bit of the first wave of merchandise for the film and even watched a live stream of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens panel at both Star Wars Celebration and San Diego Comic-Con, and on Monday watched a live stream of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens red carpet. I bought tickets to see a marathon of all seven films the moment it was available after about an hour of refreshing due to ticket website's crashing.

Now if that doesn't tell you how big of a fan I am, and how much I've awaited this film, I don't know what will. I'm sharing my life experience with Star Wars in this review for a few reasons. One, it helps to convey just how much anticipation has built up within me for this film, and two, this is a film reviewer's blog, and I think sharing some of my past experience only adds to the review.

'Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens' Review

Nominated For: Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects.

Star Wars is back! Star Wars: The Force Awakens captivated me from the opening crawl text to its cliffhanger ending. I had a reaction to every event that unfolded onscreen. Whether it be a grin from ear to ear, my jaw unhinged from my face, or tears (both tears of sadness and joy). Honestly, I was hit with a massive wave of emotions when the opening crawl text came onscreen and cried tears of joy. I wasn't quite expecting that to be my reaction to the text, but I think it was the principle that I saw the opening to Episode VII for real. 

J.J. Abrams did a phenomenal job not only revisiting the franchise after 30 years with the original cast and paying homage to the Original Trilogy but also injecting fresh elements into the film as well. J.J. brings the films back to the place it was 30 years ago with practical effects and location shooting that immerses you inside that galaxy far, far away. CGI is only used when absolutely necessary, and there are two characters that were brought to life through motion capture that I felt looked like they fit in this universe, and I understand why they couldn't be made through practical effects. Speaking of which, the film's visual effects were some of the best I've seen anywhere to date. 

John Williams gives an exhilarating new score that from time-to-time reutilized some of the classic themes without forcing nostalgia upon the viewer as the viewer would gladly take it and couldn't watch some of these scenes without it. The film's story at times feels like a rehash of A New Hope, but only borrows a few key moments as a homage to the classic that made us love these films the first time we saw them. The film moves at a very quick pace, but never feels rushed. This allows the film to go from one action sequence to another seamlessly. 

And there are tons of great action sequences in this film including very fun starfighter battles and an awesome lightsaber duel. There's some great comic relief in the banter between the cast that works perfectly in the film's favor, which makes it simultaneously the lightest and darkest film to date for the franchise.

The new cast and characters will captivate your hearts as soon as you meet them and that attachment only grows throughout the film. Daisy Ridley shines brilliantly in her first major motion picture role ever as Rey, bringing a very strong powerful female character to the franchise. John Boyega is a great hero in Finn, and he had some great line delivery balancing his emotional moments and comedy. Oscar Issac is just so cool and slick as the Resistance's best pilot Poe Dameron. 

The new droid BB-8 is the most adorable little droid, and it's impossible to even consider hating it.

For the film's new villains within the First Order, Kylo Ren specifically stood out to me, and everyone else is held back a little bit more to hopefully shine in the next film. Adam Driver brings a very complex layered malevolent presence to the screen in Kylo Ren. Now, be aware he is not another one-off villain like Darth Maul or another Darth Vader, but rather a very new type of villain for the franchise. 

Domhnall Glesson provides a very Nazi-esque villain as the First Order officer General Hux. 

Unfortunately, Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma has literally almost nothing to do, so you should temper your expectations for her character. 

Andy Serkis provides an interesting motion-capture performance as Supreme Leader Snoke, who is very much the Emperor of this new trilogy, and despite his important role, he doesn't get too much screen time (although he was on screen more than I thought he would be). 

Now for the returning cast and characters, I can say that everyone's back as our favorite Rebel heroes. Harrison Ford gives a great performance and steps right back into the role for the first time in 30 years, and this doesn't feel like an "old, tired geezer" Han Solo but that same lovable scoundrel who encapsulated audiences everywhere. 

As soon as Carrie Fisher arrives onscreen, you feel she's still Leia, although she may not have aged quite as well as Ford. Ford and Fisher's scenes together were pure magic, and you could just feel all that their characters had been through the last 30 years in their interaction. 

Chewbacca's back of course as everyone's favorite Wookie and his interactions with Solo were among the best interactions in the film. It really made me feel like I was back in that galaxy a long time ago so far, far away. They both had some great back and forth banter that was hilarious. 

C3PO's reappearance is hilarious, and I wasn't able to stop laughing. His counterpart, R2D2, is indeed in the film, but I don't feel I can discuss him without spoiling anything... So just know that R2D2 will be in the film. 

I don't think it's possible to discuss Luke Skywalker at all without spoiling anything, but be aware he's very important despite not having much actual time on screen and no dialogue. So temper your hopes for Luke, but be aware J.J. Abrams kept him out of the film's marketing for a reason. 

Really one of the best things was the interaction between the new and the old cast that brought laughter, tears, or just intensity to the film that just perfectly sums up what Star Wars has always been. 

I can't currently definitively rank it with the other films just yet, but as of right now I think it just might be my favorite Star Wars film. I'll have to see it a few more times to determine if that will be concrete or not though. 

I loved the melding of the old and the new to create one of the best films I've seen in recent memory. For the best possible viewing experience I highly recommend at least watching the film in 3D (I can't vouch for IMAX because I haven't seen it in IMAX yet), and to go into the film with no spoilers so watch out and stay away from the dark corners of the internet (specifically comment sections). I will also be making a spoiler review for the film, so once you've seen the film feel free to go check it out. Best way to sum up my reaction upon walking out is "Bring on Episode VIII!"

Film Assessment: A+