Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Has it really been 30 years since “The Return of the Jedi”?  Wow!  My, how time flies when you’re having fun.  In all honesty, I wish we could have forgone the “prequels” and just started up with this continuation; no Jar-Jar Binks, or crazy compatibility-free relationships.  We know Darth Vader is Luke and Leia’s real dad and so pointing out something that was already clear, just seemed a bit redundant, however, with this go, the questions continue right up to the last scene, as in “Where’s Luke?  Although everyone in the series is from a planet long ago and far away, this is a more “human” portrayal of the dark side than I think we’ve ever been exposed to in any of the first six episodes.  It reminded me, just a very tiny bit, of the Death Star Cafeteria by Eddie Izzard.  If you’re not familiar with this, it’s a conversation between a Cafeteria worker serving lunch to Lord Darth Vader.  Definitely worth a peek on YouTube or wherever you can get a listen.  So, in the infamous words of Diane Keaton in “Sleeper”, “rebels are we, steadfast and free”, but not if the dark side has anything to say about it.  The galaxy/universe is a big place, so why beings with magical mystical supernatural powers want to oppress others and not find a place where they can be happy and free and do their own thing without demanding others go with them, is totally beyond me.  It’s probably just me, but I think the strongest character is Rey, the “orphan”.  She’s had to kick-butt and take names for an awfully long time.  Follow her up with Finn, a recently defected Stormtrooper with a Han Solo attitude, a couple of new villains, a roly-poly droid, and some key members of the franchise and we’re off on a new adventure in that galaxy long ago and far away.  J.J. Abrams is at the helm under the wings of Disney and the transition, to say the very least, is brilliant.  Rating:  Pick a laser sword, any laser sword…blue, green, red, purple = 4 stars and may the Force be with you.