Watching Star Wars when you are almost 50. My review of 'The Force Awakens'

I went to see the film yesterday. It was a great and pleasant surprise! But let's start from the beginning. And I promise there will be no spoiling - I am not going to tell you what the film is about.

I saw part IV (the first one that had been made) back in 1978. I was 12 at that time. It was stunning. 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'The Return of Jedi' were less of such surprise, but they were still good.
In the 90s and 2000s', parts I-III came out. I watched them with my son, who was 4 years old at the premiere of Part I. I did not like those films particularly, there was a lot of computer effects and showiness (as the technology had progressed so much by then). At the same time, the plot was rather dull and boring, lacking the emotions of parts IV-VI. The acting was so-so.
So how about part VII? Well, had it not been shot in 3D,  would say very little change from parts IV-VI. The same views, the same scenery, even the same people. Natural continuation. And there is no overload with special effects; I would even say that the director keeps them on a leash, lest movie did not differ too much from the first completed part of the saga. What a surprise and relief!
The actors do a great job. The film is about people, not about robots, spaceships, and creatures-that-are-out-of-this-earth (yes, there are a few, but again - things are well balanced). Harrison Ford is magnificent, more or less like Clint Eastwood in the later productions.
One may comment that the story is based largely on the themes from part IV. And what? Even if it is, I do not mind. Anyone who reads a lot of classical literature knows that human and social problems do not change much. On the principal level, people's behaviour today does not differ too significantly from what it used to be hundreds, or even thousands, years ago. This is why most religions are based on rather dated texts and principles, and most of them (not all) apply in today's world. In the end, most books, films and plays tell very similar stories. Thus the numerous references to Part IV are not a problem - actually, they feel nice to me.
In conclusion - quite a wonderful movie. More of these please. Innovation is good when it brings some value, but when it is innovation just for the sake of innovation, it can kill a good product. And when something is good, it is better to hold to it. This film illustrates this principle very well.