Star Wars: The Force Awakens (4.0/5)

Abrams discards the cartoon characters of recent episodes returning Star Wars to its origins with a largely satisfying reboot of the first movie, with a couple of buts.  A pale skinned youth at odds with his parents is no menacing Darth Vader.  Too many half-formed characters: a famed X-wing pilot, a rebellious Stormtrooper and a heroine skilfully flying the Millennium Falcon and handling a light sabre with no apparent experience.  Despite the Hunger Games parallels Rey is rightly destined to be a role model for young women.  With Solo gone and a reclusive Skywalker revealed in the final minutes the next episode will have a few questions to resolve - can't wait.

Writer & Director: J.J.Abrams (with Lawrence Kasdan, Michael Arndt).
Cast: Harrison Ford [Han Solo], Mark Hamill [Luke Skywalker], Carrie Fisher [General Leia Organa], Daisy Ridley [Rey].

29 December 2015, Events Cinemas, Sydney