I first saw The Force Awakens at a midnight screening, the day before general release. It was a magical evening, with many people dressed in costume, and the anticipation was intense. But, I’m sorry to say, I actually fell asleep during the middle of the movie! I know, hang my head in shame! My only excuse is that I’d had a long tiring week, and… I’m getting too old for late nights – 2:30am is way past my bedtime!

Anyway, I managed to return for a second viewing over the Christmas holidays, during daylight hours! I was amazed at how much I’d missed during my first viewing, but I absolutely loved it.

I’ve had the Blu-ray since it was released but hadn’t got round to watching it yet. Now that a few months have passed, and the hype has eased a bit now that we have Rogue One and Episode VIII to look forward to, I was interested to if it’s still as good as when I first saw it (properly). Does it hold up well with repeat viewings? Well, it’s Star Wars, of course it does!

I still get goosebumps and that spine tingling sensation, every time I hear a lightsaber swish, or a Tie Fighter scream past, or the ever familiar John Williams soundtrack. The new characters are amazing, the old characters are like old friends that you haven’t seen for many years. There’s action, wonder, and sadness. I feel like a 5 year old boy again, seeing Episode IV in 1977 for the first of many times.

If you’ve got any interest in Star Wars at all, then you’ll already have seen this latest chapter probably more than once and will know and appreciate all I’m saying already, so I don’t even know why I’m writing this! It’s Star Wars. It’s back, it’s better than ever and it’s here to stay…

Lee Boardman

Web developer by day, with a movie and TV watchlist that continues to grow as much as my spare time reduces! My favourite movie is Inception and, despite what everyone says, I do not have a man-crush on Tom Cruise.