Star Wars: The Force Awakens - B

Rated PG-13, 132 minutes

Kylo Ren (Adam Driver)

I will admit upfront, though I have seen all the "Star Wars" films and a fan, I'm not a fanboy style geek either. Still, I get chills when John Williams' iconic music grabs you at the beginning and those familiar yellow words scroll across the screen, because not only is it one of the greatest film series of all time, it's like a reunion with a long lost, beloved old friend. With the latest entry, the thrilling "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," director J.J. Abrams of "Star Trek" and "Lost" fame rolls out a new trilogy of films based on the George Lucas characters, and if they're all as solid as this one, they'll remind you of the gravitas of that first film series. "The Force Awakens" with a sense of lean fun and efficiency and energy the second series seemed to miss, and while it's not perfect (but who is?), it's a big enough thrill ride to please both the huge "Star Wars" fan base and those outside the galaxy. Thirty years after defeating the Galactic Empire, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his allies face a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and his army of Stormtroopers. He has the help of two young resistance fighters, Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega) along with a tiny droid named BB-8 (with voice help from comedians Ben Schwartz and Bill Hader) as they all search for a vanished Luke Skywalker (Mark Walker) before Kylo Ren can find and destroy him. With Abrams at the helm and co-written by Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan, who helped write two in the first series, and Oscar-winner Michael Arndt ("Little Miss Sunshine"), "The Force Awakens" continues the series with energy and aplomb, making for terrific entertainment that brings the Galaxy Far Far Away to a whole new generation. Most of it works well, with solid visuals that clearly channel the original series, nice action set pieces and a talented cast with special nods to Ford and Carrie Fisher, along with a script that includes some witty one-liners (most courtesy of Ford's Solo). Of the new additions to the cast, Ridley and Boyega are good though it seems they will grow along with the material and future outings. Overly earnest in the some of the opening scenes, both young actors seem a little overwhelmed at first but relax more in later scenes as they become more comfortable with their surroundings; the lithe and gifted Driver, best known for the TV show "Girls" and a few movies as of late, is a good actor but seemingly not a great fit as the chief villain Kylo Ren, lacking the overpowering menace needed for the role, and some of it wasn't as convincing as I'd like, maybe because his helmet and mouthpiece came across as a little awkward. Watch for "Star Wars" stalwarts C-3PO, R2-D2, Chewbacca as well as the Millennium Falcon, most of which are integrated well with memorable new characters, the distinctively sinister Snoke (Andy Serkis) and diminutive pirate Max Kanata (Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o, stealing scenes). I won't give any plot spoilers here, particularly a mildly shocking one late in the film, but with the entertaining and generally satisfying "The Force Awakens," Abrams manages to mix solid visuals and story, even if it's not terribly original or revelatory. If you're a "Star Wars" fan and haven't bought your ticket yet, don't waste any time. Get in line now, and may the force be with you as you navigate the crowds packing theaters to see it.