"Star Wars The Force Awakens" Movie Review

Alright let me just starts this off by saying that I'm not a very big Star Wars fan. My step-mom and brother are obsessed with the movies, so I have seen them plenty of times and my husband made me go and see this new movie. Please keep this in mind as you read my thoughts on it.

This movie was very action packed and it seemed as though something crazy was always happening. It starts off with a bang and just continues the whole way through. I won't give any spoilers so this review will be short. In the past movies, I never had a character that I cared enough about to identify with. Luke Skywalker was cool, but I couldn't identify him. Han Solo was cute but that's about it. Princess Leia was cool and pretty bad ass, but I still couldn't identify with her. I liked them all enough not to want anything bad to happen to them, but at the same time if something had happened to them...I don't think I would have been too upset. Does that make sense? In this film, we meet Rey. She's a scavenger living a very rough life on the planet of Jakku. She saves BB-8 and he basically becomes her sidekick. She finds out that he is on a mission and she reluctantly helps him. I like Rey a lot. I think she is a great heroine and an excellent role model for young girls. She's a Star Wars Katniss Everdeen.

Anyways, Finn, a former stormtrooper, drops in after his escape with Poe Dameron (BB-8's master and an excellent pilot) to the planet Jakku. Finn believe's Poe is dead so he continues on without him. He comes upon Rey's town and while he is getting water, he sees people hassling Rey and trying to take BB-8. He goes to help her, but like the bad-ass she is Rey takes care of it herself. He lies to her and tells her he is with the Resistance and she tells him that they have to get BB-8 to his headquarters because he is on a classified mission. Finn decides to help and as this happens, Kylo Ren (the new baddie) has drones (or whatever they're called) do an airstrike in an attempt to get BB-8. Rey, Finn, and BB run for their lives and Rey leads them to a "piece of junk that hasn't flown in years" and she successfully gets it to fly. As it takes off, we see that it is none other than the Millennium Falcon. We learn Rey is quite the pilot, for having never flown before, and she is great with mechanical/electrical issues.

The Falcon ends up getting sucked on board a freighter ship and they are convinced that they are about to be swarmed with Stormtroopers. However, a very different crew boards the Falcon. Han Solo and Chewbacca themselves board their former ship and discover Rey, Finn, and BB-8. They run into an issue and once they get out of it, Rey serves as Han's co-pilot. Han is impressed by her skills. (sidenote: this lead me to believe she is his daughter...that theory has yet to be disproven, but I have another more likely theory that I will discuss at another time because it will give away a major spoiler).

Han takes them to a different planet to speak to a creater named Maz (i think that's how you spell it). She sheds some light on some issues, but their location is given to Kylo Ren and then First Order (the Sith, The Empire...) descends on them and attacks. Rey discovers something about herself and is also terrified in the process. Finn confesses that he was a Storm Trooper and says he's not part of the Resistance and wants to get as far away from the First Order as possible. He asks Rey to come with him and she refuses. She wants to finish the task at hand and then work with Han Solo. Finn is ready to leave when they're attacked. Rey runs off into the woods and is followed by BB-8. Resistance pilots come and fight off the First Order. Rey runs into Kylo Ren who renders her unconscious using the Force. He realizes she has seen the information he is trying to get from BB-8 so he can take her instead of the droid. He takes her on his ship as Finn and Han Solo helplessly watch. Princess Leia comes off of a ship, she's now General and no longer Princess. I have no idea why, but it is what it is I guess. It's clear something happened between her and Han, as there is tension but clearly still love.

They return to Resistance headquarters and devise a plan that includes saving Rey. Rey is meanwhile being interrogated by Kylo Ren who takes his mask off and reveals his actual face to her.

Basically this is where I have to stop, as everything that happens past this point contains major spoilers.

Overall, I have to say this is a (pretty) good movie. If you love Star Wars, you're obviously going to love it. However, if you're like me and you've never really cared one way or another, then I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with this movie. Don't let the prequels scare you, this one is actually good.

Book Review - "The Elite" by Kiera Cass

Wowwww. That's all I can say after reading this book. Never have I been so elated, nervous, excited, and embarrassed by a book before. I think that's one of my favorite things about Cass' writing is she has the ability to make you feel exactly what America feels, including being embarrassed for her.

In this book things start of going well between Maxon and America. So well in fact that he throws a Halloween ball for her. He plans on proposing to her and ending the Selection, but things never go quite so easily. Marlee has a major secret revealed which comes between America and Maxon. Maxon is driven to another one of the Elite which only drives the wedge further between our estranged couple. Of course America turns to Aspen in secret which drives me crazy. Things with the rebels only worsen as does the stress of the competition.

The girls are assigned a project which they will present to all of Illea on the Report and in anger, America chooses abolishing the caste system. Needless to say this does not sit well with the King and Maxon ends up taking a beating for her. It is made very clear that the King does not approve of America and she is nearly sent home for her choice.


I love this book and this series for that matter. I can't wait to keep reading to find out what happens between Maxon and America.



Overall, I give this book 5 stars and say it is a MUST READ!