It has been a month since Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been released to theaters. The hype from the film has died down a bit, making it the perfect time to release an honest review without the danger of being attacked by hardcore fans.

First of all, to make a new Star Wars movie after the legacy that already exists is a gigantic amount of responsibility and pressure. It seems like the direction that J.J. Abrams chose to go with was to please old fans with nostalgic elements in the film. Episode VII loosely echoes the plot of Episode IV: A New Hope. The new movie tries to appeal to the fans by recycling already used plot devices, making the film enjoyable to watch, but somewhat predictable and repetitive. However, The Force Awakens definitely stays true to the previous movies, making it easy to ease back into the series after so many years of absence.

Okay, but can we just take a minute to talk about Kylo Ren? After watching intimidating villains like Darth Vader, Maul, and even Palpatine creep their ways across the screen, it is hard to take Ren seriously. He was not scary at all and was more of an angsty teen than a powerful commander of the First Order. While there is a lot to critique on the film’s main villain, it is also important to consider that he is battling between the light and dark sides of the Force and he is still learning how to maintain his emotions. This part of his personality will probably (or hopefully) lead to some intriguing stories in future movies, and maybe that is what Abrams intended for this character.

Despite having only those couple of flaws, the movie was still amazing and lived up to the hype. It is a great movie that can stand on its own and can even convert my “Star Wars is so lame” friend into a fan. The special effects are just as impressive as the humor throughout the movie (except for Snoke, because that CGI was whack). The jokes, which were just the right amount of cheesy, provided a great number of laughs, giving the film a lighthearted tone in between all of the action. Including the original cast was a phenomenal idea. Seeing Han, Leia, and especially Luke not only made older fans shed some tears, but it made fans who are from a newer generation be overwhelmed with excitement to be able to see the characters they love so much in a movie of their own time. It was an effective way to bring older and younger fans together.

Overall, the movie is a must-see with a lovable main protagonist and good feels. You will leave the theater asking so many questions, which will leave you in eager anticipation for the next Star Wars film. The Force Awakens is a good first installment for the rest of the series, as it will lead to more character development and intriguing conflicts for future episodes.