The latest film in the Star Wars saga, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was released Dec. 18, and to say it’s been successful would be an understatement. Not only has the movie earned an impressive list of box office records (all listed here), but has been met with positive reception from critics and casual moviegoers alike. It’s not hard to see why.

The movie follows Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, a scavenger on the desert planet Jakku, as she embarks on a life-changing journey. Rey is accompanied by Finn, played by John Boyega, a rogue stormtrooper on the run from the First Order, the new big bad (a la Galactic Empire). Other important new characters are Poe, a charismatic and very talented resistance pilot played by Oscar Isaac, BB-8, the adorable and loyal droid, and Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver, a big name in the First Order who utilizes the dark side of the force. Along with these fresh faces and old beloved characters like former-princess-now-general Leia and Han Solo, played by Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford respectively.

The movie is action-packed, hilarious, and emotional. In no time at all the audience will find themselves attached to and rooting for Rey and Finn. New fans will have no problem immersing themselves into the Star Wars universe, and old fans will be excited to explore new parts of a familiar universe. Both Ridley and Boyega are new faces and really prove themselves in this movie. Rey is an interesting character, she’s lived alone for a very long time, but instead of becoming jaded, had maintained a sense of hope and almost childlike wonder. Ridley captures the essence of Rey’s character perfectly and really carries the movie in some scenes. Finn has some of the funniest lines in the movie. Boyega manages to balance being funny without being over the top and making sure Finn stays human, not walking comic relief.

John Williams returned to score the movie, and did a phenomenal job, earning an Oscar nomination for best original score. The score adds to the movie intensifying any emotion in a scene, whether it be suspense or sadness. The  movie also earned nominations for best sound editing, best sound mixing, best film editing, and best visual effects. The visual effects in the film were really beautiful and seamless. A few pictures from the film’s VFX video showcasing some of the impressive effects are shown below.

The movie gets 5 out of 5 stars and is showing at all major theaters.

By Sienna Mata