The Force is strong with this one

The newest Star Wars film reinstates the belief that the franchise will live on

The new instalment in the Star Wars franchise comes a decade after the last film (Revenge of the Sith in 2005) and three decades after the original trilogy (Return of the Jedi in 1983). Directed by J J Abrams - famous for his Star Trek movies and TV show Lost - the film features Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, who also starred in the original trilogy. Besides, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac appear in lead roles.

Ever since the prequels were released, the fans of the saga were divided into two segments: one for whom the original trilogy constitutes the franchise and the other that does not discriminate and loves all six films equally. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens hoped to please both segments.

The Force Awakens begins where Return of the Jedi left off, set 30 years after the events of the latter. The film features nostalgic elements synonymous with the franchise, such as lightsabers, Death Stars and the Skywalker family. However, for those new to the franchise, certain concepts need to be grasped: the Force, an energy that flows through all living beings, can be used for both good and bad and is measured through the number of midi-chlorians, a fictional microorganism, in one's body. There are two monastic orders in the cinematic universe - the Jedi (the light side) and the Sith (the dark side) - who are also at war with each other.

After Darth Vader retreated to the "light" side, the Empire pieced itself together and formed what's been called the First Order headed by Kylo Ren (Driver), a Sith. The plot revolves around the disappearance of Luke Skywalker (Hamill) and the First Order seeking to eliminate him, along with the Republic and the Resistance. The Resistance's X-wing fighter pilot, Poe Dameron (Isaac), entrusts his droid BB-8 with a map that can locate Skywalker. Rey (Ridley), a female scavenger, is the protagonist who becomes embroiled in the conflict after she comes across Finn (Boyega), a former Stormtrooper and BB-8. The film also brings back characters from the original trilogy - Han Solo (Ford); his companion, Chewbacca; and his love interest, Leia Organa (Fisher), who is now a general in the Resistance.

The film is fast-paced and doesn't have dull moments. Finn, along with BB-8, provides comic relief. Abrams has played it safe and stuck to the old formula of Star Wars films. He showcases similar themes, picturesque locations and exhilarating action scenes. Some might even argue that he has tried to add what the other films in the franchise lacked. His directorial capabilities are evident in scenes involving emotional confrontations. Although Luke Skywalker was the protagonist in the original trilogy, Han Solo and Darth Vader stole the show in it. One can see how Ford has passed that baton to Ridley and Driver in The Force Awakens.

The Force Awakens is as much a homage to the original trilogy as it is a reboot. The Empire and the Republic still exist, and the war between the Resistance and the Empire continues to wreak havoc in the galaxy. Ren, much like Vader, is a former Jedi seduced by the dark side and becomes a Sith. The map hidden inside BB-8 is eerily similar to Death Star blueprints hidden in R2-D2 in A New Hope. Also, Jakku resembles the planet Tatooine. However, Abrams has done a spectacular job, which will definitely go down well with the fans - divided as they may be. And, perhaps, that's the reason why two sequels have already been announced.

Of course, one does miss the Imperial March and James Earl Jones' baritone as Darth Vader. Even so, The Force Awakens reinstates the belief among Star Wars fans that the franchise will live on, much like the Force.