Star Wars: The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams, premiered December 18 and has since met soaring success.

  The Force Awakens opens up on the desert planet of Jakku with the words, “This will begin to make things right.”  Luke Skywalker has gone missing, and everyone across the known universe is looking for him.  The sinister First Order regime stepped in after the Empire’s fall and the Resistance now steps into the former Rebellion’s shoes.

  The story follows Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) as they endeavor to aid the Resistance in its fight against the new Dark Side representatives, Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), General Hux, (Domhnall Gleeson) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).

  “I was surprised about where they took the film,” said Dahlia Pacheco (9).  “I thought they would forget some things, like the Luke-Leia-Han relationship, but they kept the original characters and that was really cool.”

  The Force Awakens was the perfect blend of nostalgia and epic introduction, featuring a new big three—Rey, Finn, and Poe—and villain—Kylo Ren while also bringing back parts of the original cast and characters.  Harrison Ford, reprising his role as the legendary smuggler Han Solo, found applause and cheers upon entrance, and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia was met with similar enthusiasm.  

  “I thought it was a great start to a new trilogy,” said Alexander Brey (9).  “I liked how they threw in Easter eggs for old fans, and I like how they made a new cast but included old characters as well.”

  Star Wars: The Force Awakens recently beat Disney’s previously top-grossing film, Frozen (2013), and is quickly catching up with James Cameron’s Avatar—America’s Top-Grossing Film.  In addition, many fans consider The Force Awakens to be a terrific comeback for the franchise, and hope that the next two installments follow through as well.

  “It was, without spoiling anything, climactic,” said Tyler Baethe (12), president of West High’s Star Wars Club. “J.J. Abrams made Star Wars VII a masterpiece.”  He recommended that anyone, loyal fan or hesitant newcomer, to check out the movie.

  Rian Johnson is slated to direct Episodes VIII and IX, and so far, production can only be called mysterious.  Much about the production is unknown, so fans eagerly await any hints regarding anything.  The Star Wars-related spin-off, Rogue One (2016), is said to be one of 2016’s most anticipated movies according to a survey by Fandango.  

  With all the new content released to the general public, Star Wars is rapidly gaining more public credit.  In years past, the best publicity the franchise received came in the form of video game accolades and past nostalgia.  Hopefully, the rush in content serves to stir a great revival in the Star Wars fandom and helps bring about a new generation of enamored younglings.