star wars movie the force awakens full movie

The Force Awakens: A Course Correction for the Franchise?

It's been three decades since we last saw our favorite characters from the original Star Wars trilogy. We wanted to revisit the same people we remembered, with the same sense of nostalgia and wonder that we felt during the great Ewok-hosted Stormtrooper BBQ on Endor. We yearned for a universe that felt real, not a computer-generated green screen background, and characters we could connect with.

After George Lucas' often directionless inorganic CGI-laden prequels, fans longed for what they loved about the original trilogy. It's easy to feel like The Force Awakens was a bit of a course correction for the franchise. But then, we ended up getting a lot more Star Wars than we knew we wanted.

The marketing buildup leading up to the film's release was incredible, making the wait feel interminable. We were promised the return of Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and of course, Luke Skywalker! The excitement was palpable when the first teaser trailer dropped, and I still remember replaying it over and over again.

The Force Awakens introduced us to a new galactic supervillain in The First Order, led by the formidable Kylo Ren wielding his crossguard lightsaber. We also met a trio of new characters: Poe Dameron, Finn, and Rey, a new Jedi apprentice with a mysterious past.

After the bloated CGI of the Prequel Trilogy, The Force Awakens was a breath of fresh air. It was the first film in decades that actually looked and felt like it belonged in the galaxy far, far away. Director J.J. Abrams, producer Kathleen Kennedy, and the entire Disney marketing machine worked together to create a new and exciting George-free adventure under the watchful eye of writer/director J.J. Abrams.

Episode VII: The Force Awakens promised a new and exciting journey for fans, something that felt like what we originally experienced decades ago in theaters. With its stunning visuals, engaging characters, and nostalgic nods to the original trilogy, The Force Awakens was a triumphant return to form for the Star Wars franchise.

Star wars movie the force awakens full movie