Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams, grossed $1 billion in 12 days. It is the first film domestically to surpass Avatar as the highest grossing film of all time, and the highest grossing Star Wars film to date.

The numbers don’t lie.

The movie is amazing.

The plot hardly takes a break. The focal point is the disappearance of Luke Skywalker. While he did leave a map, it is incomplete and inaccessible.

Harrison Ford reprises his role as the famous scoundrel Han Solo, as well as Carrie Fisher, who comes back as General Leia Organa. Mark Hamill and Peter Mayhew return as Luke Skywalker and Chewbacca, respectively. The Millennium Falcon also makes a triumphant return and is still one amazing “bucket of bolts.”

Consider yourself warned: this review is not free of spoilers. The film centers around a new trio: Poe Dameron, Finn and Rey.

Finn, formerly stormtrooper FN-2187, has defected and joined the Rebellion. He was a part of the First Order, a new evil regime extremely similar to the Galactic Empire, run by Kylo Ren, the film’s new Darth Vader figure. Finn escapes the First Order after his battalion captures the rebellion’s poster child, Poe Dameron. Finn helps Dameron escape and they form the unbreakable bond of friendship, possibly even love.

However, Rey is the main protagonist. She is a scavenger on the desert planet of Jakku, where the audience first meets her.

We are left to wonder how Rey fits into the Star Wars family tree. There are two main theories: she is either Luke’s daughter or Obi Wan Kenobi’s granddaughter. Her strength in the Force lead many to believe that she is Luke’s daughter, but other hints, such as her accent, suggest she is a Kenobi.

Either way, she is a critical component of this movie’s success. Toy manufacturers’ initial decision to exclude Rey from nearly all merchandise is inexcusable. Young girls who love Star Wars finally have a determined, courageous, Jedi-like role model to look up to. This is not to say the Princess/General Leia Organa is not a powerful female character, but she was not the protagonist of the original trilogy.

Throughout the film, there are nods to the original series. While some feel this movie is simply a rehash of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, the subtle allusions to the film’s predecessors are greatly appreciated by anyone who grew up watching the originals.

The fight scenes are phenomenal. Dameron’s twists and turns are displayed brilliantly, punctuated with Finn’s expressions of amazement.

The Rebellion pays a great cost in human life to save itself. While the shock and pain from the gruesome death leaves the characters and audience reeling, the death seems justified. Han Solo might be gone, but his resourcefulness and cunning live on.

This movie is better than all three prequels combined, and fans get to wait eagerly for two more. The next two will not be directed by Abrams, yet, with this set up, it will be extremely hard to ruin this trilogy.

Many were apprehensive about the production of a new Star Wars film. However, this movie truly embodied the spirit of the series.

The original trilogy, in essence, is about the redemption of the common man. Those films taught that even a humble farm boy from a desert planet may be destined to save the universe. Similarly, this new film shows that a simple scavenger girl–also from a desert planet–can be destined for greatness.

For those who wish to escape to a galaxy far far away once more, or who just want to see a fun sci fi/action  movie, I highly recommend The Force Awakens.

May the force be with you.