News Digest

The Force is with Abrams: Film critics give new Star Wars movie five-star rating

The verdict on the new Star Wars movie is in and the Force Awakens has been given the thumbs up. According to Sky News entertainment reporter Lucy Cotter, there is a powerful story at the heart of The Force Awakens which has enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. New actors John Boyega and Daisy Ridley are brilliant and hold their own on screen with legends Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, and what was really refreshing was the diversity of the cast. Harrison Ford still has it, despite being in his 70s, and the biggest cheers went up when he appeared with Chewie, who has some of the best lines.

Wherever possible, whenever possible, we tried to do things as much in camera as we could.

JJ Abrams

There was also less reliance on CGI and more on traditional methods of filmmaking, such as the use of puppets. Star Wars devotees can revel in the nostalgia as the feel and spirit of The Force Awakens goes back to the original films, but it will also capture the imagination of a new generation of Jedi worshippers. Robbie Collin, in the Daily Telegraph, gave the film five stars, saying JJ Abrams’ effort managed to “reconnect with its long-missing past”. The Daily Mail’s Brain Viner offered four stars, and said: “The empire has struck back." Kate Muir, for the Times, called Episode VII a "humongous piece of cinema” and gave it five stars,

All I can say is The Force Awakens evokes magical memories of 1977’s Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, with plenty of humour, action, drama and heart.

John Hiscock, in the Daily Mirror