10 Most Anticipated Films of 2016

Now that 2016 is rearing its beautiful head, the world of cinema is blessed with another year of outstanding films. We're having a plethora of superhero/comic book films, intriguing dramas from our favorite directors and a number of indie films coming our way this year and here are my top 10 most anticipated films of the year. Since this is a short list here are some honorable mentions (in no particular order):

"X-Men: Apocalypse"

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"

"Star Trek Beyond"

"La La Land"

"The Jungle Book"

"Bourne 5"

"Ghostbusters"

"Midnight Special"

"Gambit"

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows"

Now we got that out of the way, onto the top 10 list:

10.) "Doctor Strange"

Ever since Marvel Studios has revealed that they will be bringing Stephen Strange onto the big screen with director Scott Derrickson and Benedict Cumberbatch, people were really excited to see how this new cosmic story will fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And after the newly released images from Entertainment Weekly hit the web, my excitement for the film has quickly elevated. The comic accurate costume and overall appearance won me over, making November an exciting month for fans of the Marvel universe.

9.) "Hail, Caesar!"

The Coen brothers are two directors that are on any cinephiles' radar and after hearing that they will be tackling a caper set in the golden age of Hollywood with an incredible ensemble cast, the film has garnered quite a bit of attention. The first trailer for their latest film, "Hail, Caesar!", seemed to bring the promise that we were given when we first heard of the project. Big name actors, a sharp script, an interesting mystery and some nostalgic scenery; the Coen brothers are back and we can't wait to see their return.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMqeoW3XRa0

8.) "Silence"

Not much has been revealed about Martin Scorsese's upcoming historical drama, "Silence", other than the simple synopsis, telling the story of 2 priests that are met with severe persecution in Japan when trying to spread Christianity to the people. Seeing how this is a Scorsese picture, I can't help but get excited over this film. Ever since "The Social Network", Andrew Garfield has been one of my favorite [young] actors and seeing him work with one of the greatest directors of all-time is going to be one hell of a treat. I'm sensing great things are going to come from this film and I can't wait to see it when it debuts in theaters later this year [no release date is confirmed].

7.) "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"

After "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" crashed its way through the cinemas this year, which furthered the story of the iconic saga, I can't wait to see one that travels backwards in time and tells a story that takes place right before "A New Hope". With "Godzilla" director Gareth Edwards on board, I feel like this film will be a very different take on the "Star Wars" universe with a little bit more of an edge to it, which may end up being better than "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", which [as some of you may know] I wasn't particularly blown away by. Being the first stand-alone spin-off film, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" has my intrigue and my interest.

6.) "The Neon Demon"

Since 2009, Nicolas Winding Refn has been one of my favorite directors working today and with subsequent masterpieces like "Drive" and "Only God Forgives", I can't help but get excited for his upcoming film, "The Neon Demon", which stars Elle Fanning as an aspiring actress who gets sucked into a seemingly dark world of beauty and despair. Not much is known about this film but the mystery makes me all the more eager to see it in theaters when it comes out [no release date is confirmed].

5.) "Deadpool"

Comic book fans have waited years and years for this film to be made and it's finally come to us in a little over a month. "Deadpool" looks like everything we wanted this film to be, which includes massive amounts of violence, a hilariously outlandish script, numerous breaking-the-fourth-wall jokes and Ryan Reynolds just owning the role. Although not much of the film's plot is known, other than what is given to us in the trailer, it seems that us knowing less will only further our enjoyment of this rated-R superhero flick. The time has come for Deadpool to leap onto the silver screen and to acknowledge us audience members sitting in the theaters throughout the course of the film.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIM1HydF9UA

4.) "Suicide Squad"

Meet the Guardians of the Galaxy but in the DC Cinematic Universe and a lot more dark. The 3rd film in DC's line-up of comic book films, "Suicide Squad", has been a film that has been highly anticipated ever since the project was greenlit. Arguably more anticipated than "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" judging by the number of views the trailer has on YouTube, "Suicide Squad" seems to be a very interesting entry in the superhero genre with heavy shadows, darker characters, adult themes and realistic violence. The trailer's haunting tone has taken the Internet by storm when first released and I for one can't wait to see this bad boy in theaters this August.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLLQK9la6Go

3.) "Captain America: Civil War"

In Marvel we trust. For the 13th film in the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe, everybody's favorite patriotic boy-scout is back to fight for America's freedom against a fellow Avenger. 2 years ago, when Kevin Feige took to the stage at the El Capitan Theatre to announce the films of Phase 3, fans went nuts when they discovered that third Captain America film will be heavily inspired from the iconic seven-issue series, "Civil War". Steven Rogers is pitted up against Iron Man himself, Tony Stark, in a physical and ideological fight between the two superheroes. With their respective teams fighting for their own cause, "Captain America: Civil War" looks to be a massive film that will tear our hearts apart when it hits cinemas this May.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43NWzay3W4s

2. "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice"

The clash of the titans. In 2013 at San Diego International Comic Con, Zack Snyder took to the stage and announced that in Superman's next outing, he will meet and potentially fight against the dark knight of Gotham, Batman in the follow up to "Man of Steel". While not a direct sequel to the 2013 film, the film takes place soon after the events of "Man of Steel" and pits Superman against an older and enraged Bruce Wayne, played by Ben Affleck, who's casting was met with extreme scrutiny when first announced. Gathering an ensemble cast of amazing and talented actors, it looks like "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" will be one hell of a ride. We have been waiting years to see these colossal giants meet on the silver screen and 2016 is finally the year they will meet [and fight]. Will this film be any good? I am a firm believer that this film will be good but only time will tell. But no matter what that outcome is, my excitement for this film cannot be understated.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WWzgGyAH6Y

1.) "Godzilla Resurgence" ("Shin Godzilla")

I'm sure my #1 pick came as a surprise to no one but "Godzilla Resurgence" ("Shin Godzilla") is my most anticipated film of 2016. Co-directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, the creative minds behind "Evangelion", the film is set to bring a brand new and contemporary Godzilla story which is both riveting, horrifying and important to the famous franchise. As a life-long Godzilla fan, this film delivers on the promise of being a dark reimagining of the 1954 classic and breathes new life into the long franchise. I cannot wait to see in on the silver screen this summer and I cannot wait for all of you to experience it for yourselves.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7hJW3wWoAo

What are you top 10 anticipated films of 2016?

BREAKING: First Look At Benedict Cumberbatch As Doctor Strange Revealed

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is about to get mystical.

Today, Entrainment Weekly unveiled their latest cover, which hits newsstands on Tuesday, featuring the Sorcerer Supreme himself, Doctor Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch.

As expected, the costume seems very much like his comic book counterpart and looks pretty damn impressive. Hoping the film will be another Marvel smash hit!

What do you think of this first official look at Doctor Strange?

"Star Wars" Becomes The Fastest Movie To Pass $1 Billion

Nothing stops this train.

Just today, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", the film we've all been waiting for, just passed the $1 billion dollar mark, internationally, in just one week and has become the fastest film to pass $1 billion at the global box office.

Will the film continue on this hot streak and beat "Avatar", the current highest grossing film of all-time? Only time will tell. But with this track record, it seems very possible.

Congratulations to the cast and crew over at Lucasfilm. You deserve it.

REVIEW: "The Revenant"

Alejandro G. Iñárritu has certainly made a name for himself over the decade after critically acclaimed hits such as "21 Grams", "Babel", "Biutiful" and most recently "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)", which won his the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. So naturally, many of us were excited to hear that his next film endeavor will star Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. Up until the release of the film, not many of us knew what the film was going to be about as the studio released two extremely vague trailers. Unless you knew the true life events of the protagonist in the film, many of us walked into the theater with a near blank slate. And was Iñárritu's latest film worth the anticipation and mystery?

"The Revenant" stars Leonardio DiCaprio, Tom Hardy and Domhnall Gleeson and is directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The film centers around a frontiersman in the 1820's who is left for dead by his fellow hunting party members after he is gruesomely mauled by a bear. With his dying breath, he summons the will to survive and begins a perilous odyssey to seek his revenge against the men that abandoned him in the cold winter forests. This is, without a shred doubt, one of the best films of 2015, if not the best. Even after the film ended, my body was left shaking. As the ending credits came on screen, the audience didn't even have the energy to clap after experiencing such a dreadful, visceral and disturbing film. Iñárritu has done it again with Oscar worthy performances from the film's two leads, breathtaking visuals, a haunting soundtrack and impeccable direction. Everything about this film, from the acting to the camerawork, is crafted meticulously and with great passion, which translates to a masterpiece of cinema.

After being nominated 4 times at the Academy Awards (3 for Best Actor and 1 for Best Supporting Actor), Leonardo DiCaprio was never able to receive the Oscar gold that he has always deserved, however with "The Revenant", I am confident that 2016 is the year he will receive his Best Actor award. His performance in the film never felt like a performance. Not once in the film did I ever think the man was acting. Everything that his character, Hugh Glass, goes through in "The Revenant", we feel personally because of DiCaprio's ability to transcend the silver screen and bring us raw human emotion, giving us the best performance of his career. Even with very minimal dialogue, half of which isn't even English, DiCaprio is able to bring us a strong, uncompromising character that struggles through the worst of what nature has to offer and we as the audience members are with him ever step of the way through his journey for revenge. Truly the best performance of the year. There simply was not a performance this year with more depth, pain, hardship, beauty and humanity in 2015. DiCaprio, I hope you finally take home the Oscar next year.

With "The Revenant", Tom Hardy has worked with Leonardo DiCaprio for the second time, the first being Christopher Nolan's "Inception", but this time around they have a very different dynamic. Without spoiling too much of the plot, Hardy's character, John Fitzgerald, is directly responsible for Hugh Glass' path for vengeance and he plays a conniving, short tempered, violent and ruthless man who will do anything to survive, which the audience can strangely relate to. Although he is capable of doing unspeakable things, he is someone who will survive and that is his one goal in this harsh environment, thereby making his antagonistic wrongdoings, at times, understandable (but in the worst ways possible).

While boasting beyond stellar performances from the entire cast, what shines the most, at least to me, about "The Revenant" is its beautiful cinematography done by Emmanuel Lubezki, one of my favorite cinematographers working today, who previously worked with Iñárritu in "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)". This is one of the most beautiful shot films I have ever seen as Iñárritu's love for long unbroken takes creates a haunting sense of beauty and despair. The film never shies away from the pain and the brutality of nature as DiCaprio tries to grasp onto his life by any means necessary. There were many times during the course of the film where I honestly did not know how they were able to accomplish some of the amazing shots. And many of the brutal action sequences in the film are seemingly done in one long tracking shot and it is executed brilliantly with meticulous crafting.

Iñárritu has proven himself to be a very accomplished director and his passion for filmmaking and understanding of what creates compelling drama makes this film a masterpiece. Although DiCaprio brings to us an Oscar worthy performance, the star of the film is Iñárritu. Like "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)", the writing and direction Iñárritu creates in his films allow the actors in the film to breathe and become real. His devotion to character development and deep understanding of complexity and human emotions brings the best of everyone and creates enthralling drama that deserves praise from all lovers of cinema.

What I've talked about here on scratches the surfaces of how amazing "The Revenant" truly is. More viewings of the film are definitely need to carefully analyze it in depth, however, in first viewing, this is a excellently designed feature film that pulls on your every emotions and leaves you broken in pieces. One of the best films I have ever seen and one of the best films of 2015. If DiCaprio doesn't win the Oscar for his beyond amazing performance in this film, it is a true crime to the world of cinema. Iñárritu, thank you for your amazing achievement in film that moved and destroyed me as I was exiting the theater. Such power deserves a perfect 10 and "The Revenant" of course gets a 10 out of 10 from me. If you want to see the most hard-to-watch film during one of the most festive and jolly holidays of the year, definitely head to the theaters immediately.

Go see it in theaters today!

Buy tickets now: http://www.fandango.com/therevenant_179969/movietimes

REVIEW: "The Hateful Eight"

For decades, Quentin Tarantino has been hailed as one of the best, if not the best, writers working in the film industry ever since his groundbreaking work on "Pulp Fiction", which made him a household name. Since then, he's gone on to make critically acclaimed works such as "Kill Bill", "Inglorious Bastards" and "Django Unchained (his most recent film), and now, his latest film "The Hateful Eight", which we feared would never see the light of day, has finally come. For those of you who do not know, "The Hateful Eight" almost didn't make it to the silver screen after one of the drafts of the script was leaked online and spread like wildfire. Tarantino originally scrapped the project and later directed a live read of the leaked script at the United Artists Theater in Los Angeles, which eventually led him to change his mind and go forward with the film's production. It's been almost 2 years after the initial leak of the film and "The Hateful Eight" is finally playing in theaters in 70MM. So, how is Tarantino's last cinematic achievement?

"The Hateful Eight" stars an ensemble cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demián Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, and Bruce Dern and is directed by Quentin Tarantino. The film is set in post-Civil War Wyoming as 8 strangers find themselves trapped in a lodge up in the mountain sides and each person's true motives are revealed one by one. Now, when one sees a Tarantino film, they go in expecting masterclass filmmaking mixed with a terrific sense of humor and violence, well thankfully "The Hateful Eight" is another instant classic from the master of dialogue. All of the trademark Tarantino-isms are in this film and more that's boasted by a spectacular cast, classic-style cinematography, a breathtaking score, impeccable writing and sharp direction. Each of these 8 characters are memorable, likable, despicable and ruthless; characters you come to know and love from Tarantino films. And in typical Tarantino fashion, it's very hard to place this film in a certain genre. It's a Western style mystery film while also being a comedy and a drama, which honestly makes the film a whole lot more charming, like the famed director's other works.

Samuel L. Jackson as Major Marquis Warren (a.k.a. The Bounty Hunter) is simply amazing and is definitely Oscar worthy. Warren might be the best character Jackson has played since Jules Winnfield from "Pulp Fiction". Every single note this man needed to hit was done perfectly as he created one of the most interesting, likable and memorable characters of 2015. From his spine-chilling monologue in the middle of the film to his methodic mind at work, Jackson as Warren was an amazing sight to see from beginning to end.

Who would've thought that Kurt Russel would graduate from "Furious 7" to "The Hateful Eight" in the year of 2015. After working with Tarantino previously with "Death Proof" back in 2007, Russel feels, once again, at home with the director's unique style of filmmaking. Russel plays John Ruth (a.k.a. The Hangman), another bounty hunter who, like Warren, just exudes charm and charisma. He is cool, witty, funny, likable [again] and a complete badass, who is worthy of being listed amongst the other amazing characters from Tarantino's other films.

Now, outside of Jackson as Warren, I believe that the stand out performance in "The Hateful Eight" was from the magnificent Jennifer Jason Leigh who played Daisy Domergue (a.k.a. The Prisoner). Out of the entire ensemble cast, she was the most surprising revelation amongst these top quality actors. Her manic, almost animalistic, features shine brightly through her insane performance as she awaits for the sealed fate that is waiting for her.

Out of all the amazing actors in "The Hateful Eight", I was most excited about seeing Tim Roth back in another Quentin Tarantino film. It's been a while since they collaborated together so I was extremely delighted to see him working with the master himself again, and it was worth it. Roth plays Oswaldo Mobray (a.k.a. "The Little Man") who is a creepily charming British hangman who chews up every line of dialogue that comes out of his mouth. The execution and delivery of each and every line is just spot on and is just amazing to see unfold in the film. His quick witted and polite remarks that are sprinkled all around the film just adds so much layer and character to the plot, which makes his Mobray one of the more unique characters in "The Hateful Eight".

Last seen working with Tarantino on "Django Unchained", Walton Goggins returns to work with the director again as Chris Mannix (a.k.a. The Sheriff) and is at the top of his game. Playing a drastically different character from the slimy Billy Crash from "Django Unchained", Mannix is a man who means well but may not get the respect of the other 7 members so quickly, but through the plot's twist and turns, and Goggins' stellar performance, the character of Mannix becomes more essential to the story and forms into the underdog of "The Hateful Eight", in terms of character development and the actor slowly outshining the other cast members. Goggins, never stop working for Tarantino and never stop wearing a cowboy hat. It suits you well.

Although I knew all of the main cast members of "The Hateful Eight", Demián Bichir managed to slip passed my radar with his predominantly Mexican filmography, which allowed me to observe his performance with completely fresh eyes. Bichir as Bob (a.k.a. The Mexican) was one of the more interesting choices in the film that could have made or broke this film. Thankfully, Bichir was able to bring a certain amount of gravitas to his character and some good comedic timing. After this, Ill d'finitely will check out your other films, Bichir! Promise!

Michael Madsen has been out of the acting game for quite a long time now. Sure, he has been in films but nothing of note. Not since "Kill Bill: Vol. 2" has he had a role this big and I'm pleasantly surprised by his role and also extremely glad that Tarantino was able to bring Madsen back for a much bigger project. Madsen as Joe Gage (a.k.a The Cowpuncher) is that character we all know and love from the classic Western films. A man of few words, doesn't tolerate people's bullshit and has that amazing gravely voice. Madsen really did feel comfortable as his role and brought that classic Tarantino performance once again for us all to marvel at. Thank you, Madsen, for not half-assing your performance in "The Hateful Eight".

Bruce Dern, a man who has worked with a slew of legendary directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, Roger Corman, Sydney Pollack and Francis Ford Coppola, returns to Tarantino world, after briefly appearing for a small role in "Django Unchained", as General Sanford "Sandy" Smithers (a.k.a. The Confederate) and brings of stubbornness and tradition in his role in the film, which contrasts greatly with the other 7 extremely energetic and rumbustious group of actors. As the oldest actor in the film, Dern holds his grounds against the other cast members by delivering a sense of power and authority over the bounty hunters and murderers, which really does balance out the crazy of the whole scenario. There is one scene in particular in the middle of the film where Dern and Jackson have a fantastic scene together, which I won't spoil here. Dern was captivating as his character, Sandy, and we appreciate every second he's on screen.

As you would expect, great acting and great writing are guaranteed in a Tarantino film. This one in particular goes back to Tarantino's filmmaking roots of having the story's location stay in one particular place for the majority of the film, much like his directorial debut, "Reservoir Dogs". The writing on "The Hateful Eight" really does make you feel cold while you're sitting in the theater as the impeccable timing of the actors and the screenplay deliver a claustrophobic and yet hilariously violent scenes that will have you on the edge of your seats until the film closes. It truly is a compliment to a film's screenplay when it allows the audience to really feel like you are in a certain place. While sitting in the theater, I felt goosebumps crawling all over my arms as I watch these fully fleshed out characters in the film, shiver from the sheer cold of the freezing Wyoming winters. The location of the film was so well utilized and Tarantino's skills as a writer only amplifies the emotions all the characters are going through in that very moment. We feel all of the struggles and predicaments these strange and memorable characters are going through and it is all because of the Tarantino's Oscar-worthy screenplay.

Throughout the years, Tarantino has really progressed as a filmmaker, starting from cult-following indie films, like "Reservoir Dogs", to larger Hollywood films, "like Django Unchained". With "The Hateful Eight", we can really see his progression as a filmmaker and as a storyteller. The way Tarantino utilizes each shot to move the story forward with seamless and executed with masterful technique and style. And although Tarantino is usually against creating original music for his films, this time he was able to collaborate with the legendary Ennio Morricone to create an eerie, somber, fun and thrilling soundtrack that I will have stuck in my head for days. It really is amazing to see all the attention to detail the film showcases as we, as the audience, as fully sucked into this warped world that Tarantino has created. The cinematography done by Robert Richardson, who has previously worked with Tarantino on "Kill Bill", "Inglorious Basterds", and "Django Unchained", has shot the film on 65 mm film, using Ultra Panavision 70 and it looks incredible. The extreme widescreen aspect ratio of the film (2.76:1) harkens back to the classic looks of "Ben Hur" and "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World", which obviously gives "The Hateful Eight" a more cinematic and classical look. However, the most interesting choice was to add an opening overture and an intermission in the middle of the film, which marks the first time I've ever seen a new film with an actual overture and an intermission. It was a surreal experience for me as my mind traveled back in time to the late 50's and early 60's. Tarantino clearly knows how to make a cinematic experience that is both classic, stylish and traditional.

How much more praise can I give this film? It really was nice to finally see a masterpiece on the big screen again. Besides "Mad Max: Fury Road", "The Hateful Eight" was the first film that really did 'wow' me. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire picture while also laughing my ass off after every amusing quip. Tarantino is back in full force as usual and brings us another instant classic that makes up for all the production troubles the film has faced, even before the film started filming. It was worth seeing on the big screen and I'm extremely glad Tarantino decided to not scrap the project and start from scratch. The acting is perfect, the screenplay is beyond amazing, the cinematography is gorgeous, the score is haunting yet beautiful and the set/costume design are spot on. Everything about this film is nearly perfect. I would give "The Hateful Eight" at 10/10, so please, go out and see the film now in 70MM. It is a one-of-a-kind film that needs to be experienced on the big screen.

Go see it in 70MM today!

Buy tickets now: http://www.fandango.com/thehatefuleight:70mmroadshow_189434/movietimes

BREAKING: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Breaks Opening Weekend Record

The force is strong with this one.

As expected, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is stampeding its way through the box office and opened with the highest opening day of all-time. And now, it seems the film has broken another record. As of today, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" broke the record for the highest grossing opening weekend of all-time, earning $238 million domestically, beating the previous record held by "Jurassic World", which grossed $208.8 million in its opening weekend. Outside of the United States, the film went on to gross $279 million, making the international total gross $517 million.

I am so happy to see "Star Wars" back to its usual self and destroying the box office again with a quality film that fans and critics alike adore. "Star Wars" is back!

REVIEW: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (SPOILER FREE)

UPDATE: My thoughts on the film have slightly changed after repeated viewing so this review has been updated to fit my new opinions.

Well, it's that time of year, folks. Probably one of the most highly anticipated movie reviews of 2015. Ever since Lucasfilm was purchased by Disney, fans were anticipating the return of, arguably, the most beloved franchise of all-time: "Star Wars". With the last "Star Wars" film being 10 years old, we needed something fresh and new to reinvigorate the franchise, so in order to do so, Disney and Lucasfilm hired J. J. Abrams (the man behind the new "Star Trek" reboots and "Super 8") in 2013 to continue the saga with the 7th episode in the series, "The Force Awakens". Since the film began its production, countless rumors have been circulating on the Internet, hypothesizing what the film would be about and fans just waiting years and years to see if their predictions were true. Now, before this film was released, it already broke several records and crashed several movie ticket selling websites across the globe. No matter what the reception of this film is, it will be a monster hit. But after the dreaded prequel trilogy, critics and audiences wanted the "Star Wars" franchise to regain its glory on the silver screen with a relatively new, young cast, a decently popular director and some of the original staff members. Did this move by Disney and Lucasfilm pay off?

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is directed by J. J. Abrams and stars an ensemble cast including Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max von Sydow. The film takes place 30 years after the events of "Return of the Jedi", where a former Stormtrooper named Finn (John Boyega) and a scavenger named Rey (Daisy Ridley) have to battle a new villain, Kylo Ren, who vows to finish Darth Vader's unfinished work. Well, ladies and gentlemen, "Star Wars" is back in action, but not in full capacity. Was the film enjoyable and fun? Yes. Absolutely. Is it any good? That is debatable. It does feel like a "Star Wars" film but does fall short on many of the promises we were hoping for. Atheistically it recaptures the magic of practical effects (aside from two motion-capture characters I can't talk about because it's a spoiler) and the tone and spirit of the film does bring back some of the magical experience that "Star Wars" is known for.

Let's first talk about Rey, played beautifully by Daisy Ridley, who is clearly the main character of the film. Not only is Ridley's performance instantly likable, she delivers a good blend of strength and innocence. Something similar to that of Luke Skywalker in the original film. In my humble opinion, following her journey throughout the story was one of the more compelling parts of the entire film. Every time she was on screen, the film suddenly became alive and made everything feel like "Star Wars" again. Her interactions between the characters, especially BB-8, are cleverly written, perfectly executed and contains a lot of chemistry, unlike the characters in the prequel trilogy. Rey has the charm, the looks, the kickassery and the elegance to pull off a "Star Wars" leading lady and I hope to see her in Episode VIII and IX coming up. There is still so much I would like to discuss about her character but that would go into heavy spoiler territory so just wait and see for yourself when you go see the film in theaters.

The characterization of Finn, played by John Boyega, in the film was something I wasn't expecting but it wasn't an unwelcome surprise either. Boyega had to pull off most of the film's comedy and, for the most part, he does a fairly decent job at keeping the lighter moments of the film humorous and funny. But not only does Boyega handle the comedy, he also brings a lot of emotional baggage in the film. He, along with the audience, are in for a new adventure and we, at times, see this entirely new world through his eyes. However, at times his comedic sensibilities were a bit overplayed by the film's script and direction, but it doesn't drag the film down or make it seem like a comedy. Boyega  as Finn was fully committed to his role with a lot of energy, enthusiasm and fun.

Now, one of my biggest problems with "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" would have to stem from Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver. Although he starts off as a menacing villain with a short temper, he gradually turns into something I did not want to see in a "Star Wars" villain. Although Ren's character is fully fleshed out and has a backstory we can all understand, there are some specific things he says and does in the second half of the film that cheapens the gravity of his strength and power. This franchise, in particular, is known for having amazing villains throughout most of the movies and to see Ren join the likes of Darth Vader, The Emperor and Darth Maul is rather disappointing. It really is unfortunate I can't go in depths about my problems with his character without going into spoiler territory so to sum it all up: his design is amazing and threatening, but his character (again, in the second half of the film) is not strong enough to pose a sense of danger to any of the characters we see in the film.

But... he was amazing in the opening sequence. Without spoiling anything, I thought he was going to be an amazing villain judging by the intro... But sadly that promise wasn't kept.

Out of all the new cast members, I was most excited about seeing Oscar Isaac, one of my favorite actors working today, in a "Star Wars" film. From "Drive" to "Inside Llewyn Davis" to "Ex Machina", Isaac is a very prestigious upcoming talent, so to see Isaac not have a substantial role in the film was rather disappointing, but he brought a lot of on-screen presence that felt like something out of the original trilogy. As Poe Dameron, the most skilled pilot in the Resistance, Isaac was able to bring something that was akin to 

Not only does "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" bring new cast members, but it also brings back our favorites from the original trilogy. Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew and Anthony Daniels are back as their respective characters and I honestly was impressed with all of them. Ford, unlike most of his recent roles, actually brought a sense of emotion and levity to the film that I was hoping for. He slipped into the character like he never left it to begin with, along with his partner and co-pilot, Chewbacca. But somewhere in the back of my head, I knew that Ford would be able to pull it, so the biggest surprise for me with Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa. I really had no idea what to expect from her so seeing to step back into Leia's shoes did surprise me for a moment, although it is, only at times, obvious the Fisher hasn't been acting for a while. However, their performances do suffer slightly from the strange shift in character dynamic that the filmmakers have set up for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens". Yes, Han and Leia do have genuine moments in the film, but they also seem a little out of place due to their new relationship. But overall, seeing Ford, Fisher, Mayhew returning as Chewbacca and Anthony Daniels as C3-PO did actually put a smile on my face and their performances did make this disjointed "Star Wars" film a little more familiar.

Without ruining anything from the film: Yes, Luke Skywalker is in the film. Some people were worried he wasn't but I can confirm that he is in the film for sure.

And also Anthony Daniel's C3-PO voice this time around seemed a little different, which sort of came out of left field. It was odd and I can't quite pinpoint what was in fact wrong about it, but it definitely did not sound like his usual voice from the past 6 films.

Ever since we saw this little cute droid from the first teaser trailer, people fell in love with him. As our replacement for R2-D2 in the sequel trilogy, BB-8 is a sassy, emotional and humorous little droid that  was utilized in all the right moments in the film and also was [thank god] never annoying. The filmmakers knew when to use him and when not to use him; unlike George Lucas' attempt at making Jar Jar Binks an important character in the prequels. Without giving away too much, what J. J. Abrams does with this character is what George Lucas did with R2-D2 in "A New Hope". The roles are extremely similar and their purpose for being in the film is to, of course, progress the plot forward, which is not a bad thing. I'm just very happy that they didn't overplay him in the story simply for the kids, so I wouldn't have to get sick of seeing this metallic ball roll around for the duration of the film.

Could we talk about Captain Phasma for a moment please? This isn't really a spoiler but she doesn't do anything in the film. Literally nothing. She stands around and looks amazing, but doesn't deliver on her potential. I wanted to see Gwendoline Christie own that role as one of the first big female baddies in the "Star Wars" [film] universe but, again, the film just glances over at amazing potential and just passes by it.

The screenplay for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" was written by writer Lawrence Kasdan ("The Empire Strikes Back"), J. J. Abrams and Oscar winner Michael Arndt ("Little Miss Sunshine"), which sounds like a dream come true and thankfully their collective talents brought us back to the magic and wonder of the "Star Wars" universe that we all fell in love with. It's honestly quite amazing to see these 3 gentlemen get together to make this film for us "Star Wars" fans. However, the script contains everything bad and everything good about J. J. Abrams' style of filmmaking as it does lack some of the depth, strength, motivation and hard-hitting questions that the "Star Wars" films are so famous for. It is an action-packed thrill ride that is enjoyable to watch, but I'm still unsure if I can use the word "quality" to describe the film. "The Force Awakens", while having its moment, does not stand on its own as a solo film (pun intended) and suffers from "A New Hope" envy at times. Some of the references to the previous film do feel a little forceful at times, but I know they are done with love and passion so I can't fault J. J. for wanting to pay tribute to his childhood fandom.

J. J., in the past few years, has shown us that he can direct an amazing looking action sequences and that tradition continues here. For the most part, everything in "Star Wars: The Force Awaken" is shot beautifully with intensive care and staging with cinematographer Dan Mindel ("Star Trek" (2009), "Star Trek Into Darkness" and "The Amazing Spider-Man 22") returning to working with Abrams again for the 3rd time. And combining Mindel's camerawork with state-of-the-art special effects (practical and computer generated), the filmmakers gave "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" a sleek, beautiful look that is worthy of the "Star Wars" name. The use of amazing practical effects and real sets was the right decision for this amazing team of filmmakers, which gave "The Force Awakens" a distinctive aesthetic. However, two new characters, played by Andy Serkis and Lupita Nyong'o, were created entirely through motion-capture technology and are very distracting. While Abrams was so adamant about using practical effects in his films, why these two characters couldn't be created through puppetry and/or make-up is still a mystery to me. For a moment, it did feel like I was watching the prequel trilogy, which is honestly the worst insult I can give to this film. Although the scenes involving those two characters are short, they are very distracting and rather noticeable.

For most of us, the most recognizable and iconic things in all the "Star Wars" films is, by far, the music. John Williams' score is, arguably, the most famous film theme song of all-time. Everyone knows the "Star Wars" fanfare and hearing it again as the text crawl comes on screen almost did make me cry in the theater. However, it is unfortunate that the new soundtrack to "The Force Awakens" is honestly quite forgettable, which is hard for me to say. Although the score featured in the film sounds beautifully, it doesn't resonate with me as it did with the original trilogy and, to some extent, even the prequel trilogy. Each "Star Wars" film has a least a few tracks that I find to be emotionally powerful pieces of music but I unfortunately can't pinpoint a single jaw dropping track from this film. However, Williams is getting rather old (83 years old) and since he composed most of my favorite film scores, I will give him a pass for creating a slightly normal or mediocre one.

After having said all of my problems and gripes about the film, most of you may think I actually don't like this film. No, I don't. It's definitely not "Attack on the Clones" or "The Phantom Menace". While the film does have its problems, "The Force Awakens" is a definite return to form for the franchise and opens doors for more interesting stories, compelling villains, and new planets to be explored. Abrams' love for the original films, practical effects and shooting on film instead of digital really does show here in this film and seeing it all come together in a beautifully crafted film is a marvel to behold. Although I have numerous complaints about this film, I do recommend seeing it. "The Force Awakens", while not resonating or powerful enough to be the masterpiece we wanted, is an outrageous fun and entertaining film that we deserved after struggling with the prequel trilogy. I would give the film a 7.5 out of 10 (tied with "Revenge of the Sith" in my opinion).

Go see it in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and 2D!

Buy tickets now: http://www.fandango.com/starwars:theforceawakens_169229/movietimes