edits made on 1/7/2016 to correct some grammar.

Like the Force itself, the Force Awakens maintains a delicate balance of good and bad.

So I finally got around to seeing the Force Awakens and I can’t remember that last time I felt so conflicted about a film. It’s not a bad bit of filmmaking, but I’m not sure the gushing reviews and overexcited reactions are justified either.

Now before you go getting the pitchforks and torches just hear me out. After all, if you remember, moviegoers had a comparable reaction to the Phantom Menace back in 1999; but if you ask most how they feel about that particular installment today, you get some very negative feedback now that the meal has been digested.

Even though it’s been out for a couple of weeks, I realize there may be a half dozen people who still haven’t seen the Force Awakens yet, so I’m going to do my best to keep this spoiler free while informing you on what I enjoyed and loathed about the movie.

The

s appearance actually captures the atmosphere of Star Wars quite well. The various planetary landscapes, the characters attire and the used environments ground the film in the mythos George Lucas idealized decades ago. Here's some main points to get out of the way right now...

CGI
A big credit to this film is the switch back to more practical effects versus the CGI that audiences were forced to suffer through with the prequels. CGI is spattered in here and there but it only stands out in a few scenes. This was a great decision, kudos to director J.J. Abrams and Disney for recognizing the significance this would have on the look and feel of the film.

Right: Discounted HeroClix

LENS FLARE
I was a little worried there would be an overabundance of lens flare, but Abrams managed to restrain himself and boy did it pay off. Abrams is a fine director and his hyperspace style fits the Star Wars universe’s like one of Vader’s gloves. I particularly enjoyed the preference for lightsaber duels that favor function over flash. I never could get on board with the prequels exhaustive use of fancy spins and twirls while wielding such a deadly and precise weapon.

ACTORS
The actor’s, both old and new do a pretty great job with what they are given. The emotional range displayed by Rey (Daisy Ridley), shows she has the right stuff to bloom into a fine actress. Carrie Fisher’s return as Princess General Leia was heartwarming, it was good to see her in role once more. Oh and Harrison Ford; he knocked it out of the park. I’ve heard that he has mixed feeling about playing the character, but it didn’t show on screen. He seemed to be enjoying himself and brought the sarcasm and swagger you’d expect from an aging but spry Han Solo. That ladies and gentleman is called professionalism.

MIDICHORLIANS
Oh and you won’t find a single midichlorian reference in the movie. That’s almost enough reason to rejoice in itself.  So it sounds like a pretty good time so far, right? Well as I mentioned, there is plenty of bad to balance out the good.