There’s been an “Awakening,” have you felt it?

In just a week’s time, the heavily-anticipated seventh installment of the “Star Wars” franchise will be in theaters in all of its sci-fi wonder and glory.

Set 30 years after the original trilogy, “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” showcases a fresh, young cast with the likes of Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega and Adam Driver.

Returning to the fray is Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford – who played Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, and Han Solo, respectively in the original trilogy among a few other original cast members. That however, is merely the tip of the iceberg – here’s a rundown of everything we should be excited for in anticipation of “The Force Awakens.”

With the release of a new “Star Wars” film under the wing of director J.J. Abrams who directed the “Star Trek” reboot, things can only bode well for the new films.

First and foremost, there isn’t an excess of Computer Generated Images (CGI) which the prequel trilogy was heavily chastised for abusing. Abrams in fact, favors more practical effects in all of his films, constructing vivid sets and giving all his works a very realistic feeling. BB-8, a new astromech droid featured in the film, was thought to have been originally added in with special effects, but in fact Abrams and crew made a fully functional robot to be used throughout filming.

Second, there’s a new cast to carry on this saga for as long as its popularity demands it to – which I personally hope to be for a very long time. From this saga’s fresh start and the spin-off movies planned out between the main movies, there is so much content to indulge in.

Lucasfilm’s recently adopted parent company, Walt Disney Studios, recently wrote off
many of the old comics, books, and video games from the Star Wars canon. However, shows like “Clone Wars,” and “Rebels” as well as the Electronic Arts produced “Star Wars: Battlefront” leave me overwhelmed with the sheer amount of “Star Wars” mythology to enjoy.

Last and certainly not least, it’s “Star Wars;” what’s not to be excited about? We get to see Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, C-3PO and R2-D2 back on the big screen like they rightfully deserve. The legendary Millennium Falcon is soaring through the skies once again. The villainous Kylo Ren, the Darth Vader inspired, First Order leading pseudo-Sith, is carrying legions of Stormtroopers in tow.

I can vividly remember leaving school early to go see Episode III over ten years ago, and the fact that the magic and wonder of these movies is coming to the big screen again makes me feel like a kid.  From the people who saw “A New Hope” all the way back in 1977 to those whose first “Star Wars” movie will be just at the end of finals week this year, this series has a way of capturing our imaginations and giving back so much more.

Perhaps I’m simply buying into the hype that has surrounded “Star Wars” ever since Episode VII was announced. The way I see it, these movies are in the right hands to continue on with all the power and prowess that they once had all those years ago.

While the next phase in the “Star Wars” saga is just beginning, it’s going to be more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

– Feature Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

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