Movie Reviews: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Snoopy & Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie and Sisters

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (12A) opens 30 years on from the events of Return of the Jedi (1983), with the rebels, led by General Leia (Carrie Fisher), hard-pressed by the evil First Order, led by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson). 

Desperate to discover the whereabouts of the self-exiled Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), fighter pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaacs) embarks on a secret mission to the planet Jakku, where a young scavenger, Rey (Daisy Ridley), proves herself a rather remarkable young woman…

Directed by J.J. Abrams, The Force Awakens is both a loving homage and vibrant reboot – Abrams, who previously proved himself no slouch at space opera with his Star Trek reboots, is obviously a fan of the Star Wars franchise, and delights in slyly humorous touches that will delight the older fans as much as the return of old favourites such as Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Leia and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew).