Star Wars: The Force Awakens - 8 Reasons It'll Live Up To The Hype (And 2 You'll Be Disappointed)

3. A Homage To The Past, But Looking To The Future

J.J. Abrams has already upset parts of one fanbase of something with 'Star' in the title, with his Trek movies not particularly well-received as being 'Star Trek'. He tried a balancing act of being respectful while doing his own thing, and didn't quite get it right. He's had that experience to learn from, but is also approaching Wars as both a filmmaker and a huge, boyhood fan of Star Wars, something he's admitted he didn't quite have when it came to Trek. Abrams understands these films, and the fact that they're far more than just being movies to people. He has spoken of paying due homage and respect to what's come before, but not just for the sake of it. There will be references, but only where they're natural. That's the idea at least, and so far that seems right: Han Solo looks exactly how an older Han should; the new villain pays tribute to Vader but with his own twist; the Falcon is the same but slightly different; the original cast is back, but it's not their film. He clearly knows the importance of what he's creating, and that the best way to honour the past is to look to the future.