'The Force Awakens' is even better the second time around

Harrison Ford in The Force Awakens

I knew even while I was watching The Force Awakens for the first time that I would need to see it again, at least once, in theaters. I think most Star Wars fans feel the same.

This is a once in a lifetime moviegoing experience -- and we'll have to wait at least another two years for the next direct installment (although Rogue One should be intriguing) so we have to savor this epic while we can.

The second time I saw it on IMAX, which I highly recommend. The visual perfection of this film is unparalleled.

I appreciated it even more after watching the trailers for upcoming films like Warcraft and even the new Batman vs. Superman, which all look overwhelmed by far too much dicey CGI.

The Force Awakens is about to become the highest grossing film of all time. Even when inflation is taken into account it will be one of the biggest ticket sellers ever, which is a miraculous thing in an age when movie attendance is being seriously threatened by streaming sources of entertainment.

Even if you couldn't care less about Star Wars -- I'm always encountering these vehement haters -- you should at least be pleased that people are going to the movies again. Because this rising tide will lift other ships.

Here are some takeaways from the film, now that the rush of an initial viewing has come and gone:

John Boyega is what makes this movie work: Daisy Ridley is getting much of the praise for her breakout role as Rey, and that's understandable -- it's a showy, star-making role. But it's Boyega who brilliantly sets the film's more humorous and exuberant tone with his fantastic performance as Finn.

He is a character unlike any in the previous Star Wars adventures -- both earnest and opportunistic at the same time. I've so excited to see how future films develop him further.

Harrison Ford deserves Oscar consideration: If The Force Awakens hadn't screened so late for critics and missed out on early awards (a necessary evil to preserve the surprises on the plot) I honestly believe that Ford would warrant serious Best Supporting Actor consideration for his flawless return as Han Solo.

Unfortunately, this year the supporting race is stacked and Ford's turn in a more unconventional movie will likely not make the cut. But his charming presence here ranks among his best work.

Adam Driver gives the most underrated performance: I've heard some snickers when Kylo Ren reveals his mask and turns out to be fresh faced Adam Driver, but he's actually really terrific in this movie, and in some ways he has the hardest role. Replacing Darth Vader as the principle baddie is no small feat, and he really uses his physicality to create a fully realized character without the benefit of showing his eyes or mouth for most of the film.

Snoke is growing on me: The first time I saw this movie I was a little underwhelmed by Snoke, who is essentially the new Emperor. I felt his artificial presence stood out, and not in a good way, in a film largely buttressed by practical effects. But I have come to appreciate Andy Serkis' ominous performance and I am hoping to see more of this character in future films, not as a massive projection but as a more flesh and blood freak. Like the Emperor, he seems motivated by a desire to destroy Luke Skywalker, which is a testament to the power his character still must possess.

It is NOT a remake of the original film: The complaint I keep hearing about this film -- and there are few, because most people really like it -- is that it's a carbon copy of 1977's A New Hope, even George Lucas has knocked it for being "retro." But that's just absurd. There are several elements in this film that are totally fresh to the saga and what nods there are to previous films feel more like clever homages than straight plagiarism. In some ways this film combines elements from Episode IV and V, while spinning off into new directions of its own. After six films (and the original trilogy in particular) being so watched and re-watched, it's hard for a lot of this not to feel familiar at this point. And for fans, it's better to have a way in than being hit with a lifeless hand in the face (a.k.a. the prequels).

This is a truly exciting and joyful movie. I found myself smiling and cheering throughout it, but it had depth too and real emotional grounding. You can't ask for much more from mainstream entertainment.