The latest Star Wars movie reawakened not only the force but the entire series as well.  The nostalgic  “Force Awakens” brought the integrity and cohesiveness of the original trilogy back to Star Wars after the disappointing prequels.

J.J. Abrams’ new movie lived up to massive hype.  It created original and comedy-filled characters meeting up with veterans like Han Solo and Chewbacca.  When Finn (John Boyega) and Rey (Daisy Redley) are forced to help each other escape the desert planet Jakku, viewers can’t help feeling some sort of familiarity: the constant bickering, the desert planet, and finally the escape on the millennium falcon perfectly connects this new trilogy to the beginnings of Luke and Han’s partnership in the original film.

Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is not just a new Darth Vader, he is his own character entirely.  He is completely controlled by his anger that springs from his surprisingly familiar origins.  Obsessed with finishing the work of Vader and the Empire, Ren seeks to stop the resistance from finding Luke Skywalker at all costs.

In “A New Hope” little is revealed about who Vader is, which is in contrast to how “The Force Awakens” introduces Kylo Ren with more depth.

Being compared to the originals is exactly what Abrams shot for as the original trilogy was essentially a masterpiece.  On Rotten Tomatoes “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back” received an outstanding 94% approval rating, and “Return of the Jedi” earned a respectable 80%, but when excitement built up about the release of “The Phantom Menace” in 1999, the movie completely disappointed and Rotten Tomatoes tagged it with a “rotten” 56% approval.

The lack of flow and politically focused plots of the prequels, were nonexistent in “The Force Awakens”, bringing promise to the new trilogy.

“The Force Awakens” received a 93% rating and had the crowd in the palm of its hands, as every nostalgic moment and every entrance of old characters came with a loud standing ovation.

The movie had a perfect mix of old timers and newcomers, evidenced by scenes like the escape on the Millennium Falcon, or the parallels to “A New Hope’s” story.

The humorous and natural interactions between Leia, Luke, Han, and Chewy were completely lacking in prequels, and it was apparent J.J. Abrams made a point to bring it back, this time with a new cast of characters.  Arguments between Rey and Finn brought back memories of Han and Leia, and the Star Wars fans got a nice treat as both Chewbacca and Han Solo were not only in the film, but had a lot of screen time.

Along with nostalgia, the movie had some great original characters and components.  Kylo Ren brought back the evil of the dark side while still being tied to the Resistance, and after seeing the movie it is obvious a series can be built around these new characters.

“The Force Awakens” returned to the cohesive and flowing story of the originals, while also succeeding with the CGI effects that the prequels tried and failed to utilize.  The new installment in the Star Wars series offered up stunning visuals of planets being destroyed, new ways to use the force, and epic lightsaber battles.

The movie was visually stunning, funny, and it flowed.  Viewers will spend the whole movie hoping the next scene is not the last, and when it’s over they will eagerly await Episode VIII in May 2016.  “The Force Awakens” gave fans everything they hoped for and brings a new hope to the series as the new trilogy begins.